A Very Veggie Thanksgiving

Similar cheese board from Target

The most annoying question I get as a vegetarian is: "What do you eat on Thanksgiving?"  I usually answer, "Beer...so that I can sleep through the barrage of stupid questions like that."  But in reality, there are tons of things I eat at Thanksgiving.  Think about all the appetizers...not much meat in a cheese plate or various dips.  Also, think about all of the glorious sides at dinner.  Pretty much at Thanksgiving the only thing that has meat in it is the turkey.  Well, here are some of my personal meat-free favs.  (You can get the recipes by clicking on the links because I don't take pictures when I cook...and I obviously have not started cooking yet for Thanksgiving).

Appetizers

Baked Brie with Raspberry Jam

Spinach and Artichoke Dip (and don't forget the bread bowl!)

Brushcetta (with little crusty breads...duh)

And you should always arrange your appetizers prettyily (that's a word) for your guests like so:

Side Dishes (aka my dinner)

Baked Mashed Potatoes

Sweet Potato Casserole (it needs pineapple and marshmallow, but make sure to use vegetarian-friendly ones like these)

Stuffing (Unfortunately Stove Top is not vegetarian)

Cranberry Sauce...Ocean Spray in the can.  It needs that delicious can shape with the lines.

Baked Ziti...you shouldn't need a recipe...it's a combination of cheese, sauce and pasta (I grew up in an Italian-American household...a tray of baked ziti or lasagna is never far away on a holiday)

So there you have it...I eat a lot on Thanksgiving.

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Stuff I Ate: Haloumi is a Gift from the Gods

Let me just start this whole thing out by saying, I love cheese, any kind of cheese.  While in Cyprus on vacation back in October, I discovered possibly the best cheese (maybe even the best food) I have ever tasted: Halloumi cheese.  

It's a mild and salty goat cheese with a texture similar to mozzarella.  It has a really high melting point, so it can be grilled or fried.  It is almost exclusively produced in Cyprus, but in recent years Middle Eastern countries have started to produce it.  In Cyprus is is sometimes served on pita bread with just tomato or lountza (some kind of ham I think).  It can also be served alone as an appetizer garnished with just mint or watermelon or some grilled vegetables.

Since coming back from vacation, I have been CRAVING halloumi.  This cheese is hard to find.  The only store that carries it near me is Wegman's.  And, of course, the Wegman's near me is a pain to get to and is comparable to the ninth circle of hell on the weekends.  Seriously, the parking lot is so crowded that it feels as though people are flinging themselves in front of your car.  Before even getting into the store you've probably already committed several vehicular crimes.  Once you are in the store, you might be driven to assault.  There are children hanging off of carts and parents just clinging to their sanity.  I think I knocked over an old lady just to escape the store.

  

So, a few weeks ago, I made the trek out to Wegman's ON A SATURDAY MORNING.  I may have run over a few soccer moms and their teams with my cart.  You know this cheese is good if I braved that jungle.  

Haloumi with roasted red peppers on pita.
Yes, I am using left over Happy Birthday napkins.

And it was all worth it.  That day for lunch I had grilled halloumi on pita with roasted red peppers.

I purchased the roasted red peppers from the salad bar and grilled the haloumi, peppers and pita on my Forman Grill.  It's a simple meal, once you obtain the halloumi.