I have been somewhat vegetarian in the past . . . for about ten years I was lacto-ovo-pesco-vegetarian (milk, eggs, and fish) and quite strict about it. That changed years ago for various reasons, including social as well as health.

Recently, however, a young member of my immediate family has become more environmentally and ethically aware and has decided to become vegetarian (lacto/ovo, but not pesco). Normally for a family gathering, I would serve vegetarian friendly options and still maintain the traditional fare for those interested parties, but that is hard to justify to someone so young, especially when even the mere presence of meat seems bothersome to him.

Since I have the luxury of only feeding a small handful of people on this particular holiday, I have decided to go lacto-ovo-vegetarian for the meal. The other folks have been warned and have agreed to the terms, so my preliminary menu (subject to change, possibly) is as follows:

Quiche

I have made my own quiche before, and I am tempted to try it again. The ones I buy, though, are generally so much prettier than my own. I usually purchase mine from the nearest PCC bakery (admittedly, they are actually concocted by an outside bakery), as they usually have a good selection, including some vegetarian options.

I like quiche as an option for protein since not everyone at the event is quite as keen on tofu. Served warm, I feel as though quiche can take the place of a hearty (meaty) main dish with relative ease.

Roasted Vegetables

Although I love cold salads, I definitely prefer warmer fare in the winter months, and so our veggies will be cooked for this meal.

My father and son both love Brussels sprouts (seriously, they will compete for the last one) and so I will do some form of them. I have previously done them in a pan or in the oven, and I definitely prefer them from the oven, usually with some olive oil, honey, and lemon (simple recipe coming soon). Since it is a holiday, I am considering doing a fancier version, like this one from Kalyn’s Kitchen. With nuts and gorgonzola, it looks delish!

I will also probably do a quick roast of sweet potatoes, squash, and/or some asparagus. If I am very lucky, perhaps my saintly husband will do us up a batch of homemade kale chips! (If anyone wants the recipe, let me know and I will see if I can convince him to post it here on Cozy and Sage!)

Quinoa Salad

I have discovered the wonders of quinoa just this year and I am in love! I usually make a cold quinoa salad (like my Mediterranean-inspired one), but I think for the most part, except serve it warm and exchange the cucumbers for roasted yellow and orange peppers.

If you like couscous, I highly encourage you to give quinoa a try! It is different from couscous, but still very delicious in its own right!

Biscuits

. . . from a refrigerated Pillsbury can, and mostly just because my son likes to help put them on the cookie sheet and “make” them. Absolutely too cute!

Pie

Although I so love pumpkin pie, I have had requests for something different. I think we will go with a cherry pie (if I purchase it, I suppose I will have to check for ingredients such as gelatin and the like) and vanilla ice cream. Not quite traditional, but perhaps it is time for a new tradition.

 

What holiday are you celebrating this year? Are you planning a holiday meal? What are you having?

Peace and warmth to all; stay cozy!