Writing Wednesday: Vegetarian Adventures without a Recipe

Our Thanksgiving adventure began early in November when my sister posted a link on my son's Facebook page to an Epicurious blog post. The title: How to Make Vegducken.

My sister is an organic farmer in Northern Vermont, and a vegetarian. Two of my kids are now vegetarians as well, and they took this post from her as a challenge.

Except... if you go read the blog post, it's more of a rant than a recipe. No, really. A good rant, and anti-tofu loaf rant, but a rant nonetheless. Still a challenge. Which we accepted.

First, we scoured the post to make a list of ingredients. Shopping and assembling were done without true direction, just going by the pictures. Oven temps? Time-to-cook? To use the food processor or not to use the food processor? These were all questions hovering somewhere near the kitchen ceiling, elusive and unanswered until we chose a path.

The author wrote that the outer layer was a Butternut Squash, stuffed with an eggplant, stuffed with a zucchini. No problem. Except for the part about hollowing them out with a spoon. The kids found that a bit tedious. But hey, they're the vegetarians, not me. We left the skin on the Butternut, but peeled the other two veggies.

 

All those scrapings then got combined and chopped in the Cuisinart, along with chopped garlic, shallots, mushrooms and onion. It looked a little like veggie pate when it was blended. And then it got sauteed in a frying pan with butter...

Okay, it wasn't terribly pretty when it was put together. Each section was filled with stuffing, then the next layer was brushed with melted butter and snuggled into place, filled with stuffing, etc. A very large scallion nestled into the very center - not in the original recipe, but then again, there really isn't a recipe to follow.

The two halves were fitted together, and tied up with kitchen twine. I was actually on the phone with my brother in law, saying Happy Thanksgiving and whatnot, when the kids screamed that they needed help with the tying. The "kids" are 15 and 17. Really? Can't tie a knot? I apologized and hung up. I tied the knots.

Okay, so our family "secret recipe" for cooking chicken or turkey is to add beer in the bottom of the pan to help keep it moist. We figured what the heck, beer will work for vegducken just the same way, right? No, the kids did not drink any. Cooking purposes only.

So then we're into a big grey area - what temperature? How long? Covered or uncovered? We chose 400 degrees, one hour and covered with foil to help steam. We also timed it to be finished a little after the turkey was done cooking (yes, we also cooked a turkey. We have a double oven and it's not Thanksgiving without turkey, no matter what my sisters say.) I made vegetarian gravy ahead of time, using vegetable stock, chopped onion and mushrooms, flour and spices. (It turned out really well. It was a good gravy day.)

The blog article shows the vegducken sliced into rounds and served on a platter. So that's what we did. It didn't come out as pretty as in the picture, but then again, we're not Epicurious. We're just an author and her veggie kids.

Was it tasty? You betcha. Was it worth the time and effort? Ummm, no, not according to the kids who did most of the work. It was good. But not fabulous. 

It did, however, make for a fun Thanksgiving day in the kitchen.

Happy Thanksgiving to One and All!

Giving Thanks for all my blessings, large and small, 

even turkeys built of Lego and shlepping kids to the mall.

It's the little things that make each day worth while

Especially when you help your family smile.

Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving Weekend!

(....and stay tuned for a special BLACK FRIDAY SALES ANNOUNCEMENT from one of my publishers! But don't think about shopping today - think about giving thanks!)

Friday Feature: Excerpt from Hebby Roman's New Release, MIDNIGHT PROMISE

Today I'm visiting with Angela Hayes on her blog, participating in her Thankful Author Roundup. You can come visit me there...

...and meanwhile, I have a little treat to make you thankful you stopped by! Hebby Roman visited my blog last month to talk about the Mexican tradition of Los Dias de Muertos, a holiday she researched for her latest romance, Midnight Promise. Today I've got an excerpt from that novel to share - enjoy!

Excerpt from Midnight Promise, by Hebby Roman

Ruíz's eyes appeared sleepy. His gaze lingered on her, open and unguarded for the first time since he'd returned home. And the admiration in his golden-brown eyes was unmistakable. Like a silent caress, his gaze slid over her. And her body responded immediately with a shuddering awareness and a hot rush of blood, making her dizzy.

"I believe a toast is in order." He poured a fresh glass of wine. "Won't you join me?"

Julia considered his offer and then shook her head.

He shrugged one broad shoulder and sauntered around the table. He stopped a mere breath from her. His own distinctive masculine scent mingled indiscriminately with the earthy aromas of the wines.

Ruíz propped one hip on the table. "If you won't take the credit for your plan, Julia, then I must toast someone. Me gustan los vinos. They are excellent. Paco is a genius." He lifted his glass again. "To Paco, the master vintner."

She scooted backward on the bench by the table, but he caught her arm and gave it a gentle squeeze. She faltered, enthralled by his touch. Tentatively, he rubbed his calloused thumb up and down the soft inner flesh of her arm.

The candlelight glowed softly behind him, and Julia was bewitched by his touch. Trailing tendrils of fire scorched her skin where his fingertips brushed her. Gooseflesh rose on her arms and her breasts swelled, hot and heavy.

He abruptly withdrew his hand, and she almost cried out. Almost. Instead, she took a shaky breath and prayed that he wouldn't notice how she was trembling.

He poured himself another glass of wine and raised it to his lips. He lowered the glass, but her gaze was riveted upon his lips, stained crimson from the wine.

He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, but his gaze never left her. And what she found in his eyes jolted her to the very core of her being. His brown sugar-colored eyes were dark with lust and something else, too. A look of longing. Their gazes locked in silent understanding. An understanding as old as time itself.

He finished the glass in one swallow and set it upon the table. "No more for me, I'm afraid. If I keep going, I'll drink up all the profits in one night." He quirked one eyebrow at her.

This was the Ruíz she knew, always in control. Sometimes, though, she despised his cold and aloof demeanor. A glimpse of the warm and more relaxed Ruíz had been welcome tonight, even if his usual guard had been eroded by Paco's wine.

He reached out and touched one of the braids of her hair. Gently, he tugged on the braid. "I used to tease you unmercifully when we were children, Julia. Do you remember? Pulling on your braids."

"Sí, I remember."

He grinned but didn't remove his hand. Instead, he gently threaded his fingers through her hair, working to release the interwoven strands and combing his fingers through them. She trembled again and her nipples pebbled into hard points.

What was he doing? What did it mean? And did she have the fortitude to push him away?

But when she tried to pull away, she couldn't move or speak. What he was doing to her hair was unspeakably intimate. And when he freed the coils of her hair, it was as if her body and heart soared free, too. Her hair fell about her face, unfettered, like a thick curtain. The strands caressed her shoulders and bare arms. A blind craving rose within her, turning her insides to masa and causing simmering heat to build between her thighs.

Melting slowly, from the inside out, she leaned into his arms.

He buried his hands in her hair and pulled her closer. Rational thought fled as she savored his hands stroking through her unbound hair. His touch was soft and tender, just as she'd always known it would be.

            "Your hair. How I've longed to … Julia. You are beautiful. So very, very beautiful."

            And then his mouth captured hers.

            She'd envisioned this--their first kiss. Ruíz's lips on her mouth, and his strong, muscular body pressed against her. She dug her fingers into the coiled strength of his shoulders. The hard planes of his chest crushed her breasts. The powerful sinew of his thighs molded themselves to her legs, making a mockery of the flimsy protection of her skirts.

            And the hard evidence of his desire swelled against her abdomen.

            His mouth moved over hers, tasting her fully. His lips were soft but firm. He grazed the corners of her mouth and tested the seam of her lips with his tongue. She opened to him, and he insinuated the hot tip of his tongue between her lips. Her body dissolved into his, her bones liquefying.

            With their mouths open and hungry, they devoured each other; their tongues intertwined.

            Tiny shivers of pleasure chased up and down her spine, and she clung to him, her body perfectly fitted to his. More than that, her body craved his. From the pit of her stomach the pleasure-pain wove itself through her heated blood, setting her female passage on fire--filling her with an achy, craving that had been long denied.

            His mouth feasted upon hers, and she responded with an equally fierce passion. The passion she'd felt for him since time began. The passion she'd freely bequeathed him. Ruíz was hers. She was his. Secretly, she had promised herself to him, long ago.                      

 ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

 Buy the Book on Amazon ~ http://amzn.com/B00MLSBYEK

About the Author:

Giving Thanks...

 

Today is traditionally the biggest travel day of the year, and Puppy can't wait to get on the road. She's going to have to battle my daughter for her seat - both of them claim the same seat in the minivan as "exclusive" - Puppy has more weight to throw around but my daughter has been known to throw elbows. We'll see who wins. As long as Puppy stays away from the apple pie and the basket of chocolate we have for the hostess, we'll all be fine...

Actually, Puppy and her sister are convinced they're being left behind with the house sitter. But this year, they've been invited to join us for Thanksgiving at their cousin Louie's insistence.

Puppy has never been to visit Louie's house - hopefully she behaves herself and the cousins don't get into too much mischief. But I'm thankful that we can all be together for the holiday, whether or not there's an "emergency" bath involved.

For all of you traveling this week - be safe out there! And for all of you hosting holiday feasts and holiday guests - take a deep breath. Remember why you're busy cleaning house and preparing food, and be thankful for your abundance of friends and family. Because that's what this holiday is all about. Giving thanks.

And if you're thinking about skipping out on dessert to get a good place in line at some super store that plans to open Thanksgiving night, or skip the football game so you can wake up before dawn to shop the Black Friday sales...don't. Relax, and enjoy this holiday first - the only one with NO gifts involved or expected. Saturday is early enough to start shopping for the next holiday.

Remember to give thanks for all you have, and be grateful for each of those people around your table.

I'm grateful for all the blog and Facebook friends I've made over the last few years, and for your words of encouragement and support. I'm thankful for the opportunity my new publisher is giving me to break into the world of YA with my mermaid tale, and for having found such a wonderful, supportive environment with the authors of Crescent Moon Press. I'm grateful for both my immediate and extended family, and that everyone is now relatively healthy - illness in the family is so hard on everyone it touches. And I'm grateful for my three wonderful children - five if you include the dogs - who bring joy to my life every day, even when they're making me crazy.

Now, tell us something you're grateful for.

Happy Thanksgiving!