A Vegan Thanksgiving with the Carbons.

This year for Thanksgiving we did things a wee bit different than our usual “sit and eat a feast” considering many new factors. One, our new little fella got to join the festivities. Two, Alex had a stomach virus and Sebastian had a runny nose. At the start of the day, we were planning to spend our evening in the emergency room because Alex just couldn’t take it anymore.. However, he pushed through it and thought a big meal might help liven his spirits. Forgetting the fact that he didn’t feel much like moving. We casually decorated one of our upstairs desk chairs each and decorated our hallway ‘room’ fit for Thanksgiving dinner and sick family movie night. I assembled a lovely dinner filled with the homemade goodness of gluten free macaroni and yease, gluten free cornbread stuffing, garlic rosemary mashed baby red potatoes, mushroom gravy, pumpkin pie, and broiled brussle sprouts (Mustering up all the energy he had, Alex even helped with the brussel sprouts). The only thing boxed or packaged was our huge chunk of gluten-ous goodness of the Tofurkey. The vegan me was totally against the Tofurkey but the sale-lover insisted upon it since I had a $4.00 off coupon.. I’ll tell you the taste was good, although, beware if you have even the slightest of gluten-intolerance.. I was bloated out of my mind and had a pain in my gut till morning. The majority of Alex’s night was spent in the bathroom following dinner.. Apparently gluten is one of the WORST things to eat while suffering from gastroenteritis.. SO glad he’s better now. Being alone out here for yet another holiday is nothing new (I prefer it if it means spending the holiday with my side of the family. Seriously, one minute with them and you're reconsidering your whole life and ready to  jump from a moving car onto a bed of nails and then submerged into a sea of acid. No exaggeration). I am so thankful we got to spend it together though, even if the circumstances weren’t ideal. Got to love Carbon family holidays, haha. We are chaos, controlled.

Our beautiful little man:)

Getting dressed for his first Thangsgiving!



Our lovely Dinner:)

Drink Station!

Temp. Carbon Theatre.

<3

Gnomey joined the fun!!

 

So yummy!!

Preparing to feast.

Pretty much how we all felt after our meal.. Haha

Cuddle time!

Sebastian is always hungry for more!



GF, Vegan. Hot Holiday Breakfast Cereal.

When it got cold I just didn't have it in me to sit and eat a bowl of cold cereal for breakfast. I needed something warm and feel good. Oatmeal is usually my first choice and with the endless possibilities on how to 'dress it up' it is a sensible option. Until I got bored. All the dressing up couldn't mask the fact that I'm eating oatmeal EVERY morning. Healthy- yes. Tasty- yes. But just like anything, moderation truly is key. I've recently stumbled upon Bob's Red Mill GF Mighty Tasty Hot Cereal. It's a lovely mix-up of brown rice, corn, buckwheat, and sorghum. Naturally low in fat and sodium, it easily replaces my oatmeal while still yielding great health benefits. It's basically grits but... grit-e-er? I don't know how else to explain it but it sure is 'mighty tasty'.

*As a side note, grits should also work here. They too are naturally gluten-free and vegan:)

Pumpkin Pie Hot Cereal

1/2 cup cereal

1 cup water

1/2 cup fresh or canned pumpkin puree

2 scoops stevia (or a sweetener of choice)

Splash of soymilk*

Top with toasted unsalted pumpkin seeds and raw almonds*

*Optional

 

In a microwave safe cereal bowl add cereal and water. Microwave for 2 minutes, uncovered. Stir, microwave another 2 minutes or until cereal is fully cooked; adding extra water as needed. You may also follow the package stove top directions, I just find it easier to microwave in the morning. I hate seeing dishes in the sink that early. Once your cereal is finished cooking, stir in pumpkin, cinnamon and stevia. Top with soy milk, almonds, and pumpkin seeds if you choose to do so.

<3

Chocolate Raspberry Hot Cereal

 

1/2 cup cereal

1 cup water

1 tbsp cocoa powder

2 scoops stevia

Splash of soy milk*

1/4 cup fresh raspberries*

*Optional (Although it would just be plain chocolate without the berries..)

 

Follow the cooking directions above for cereal. Once it is finished cooking, mix in cocoa powder and stevia. Top with a splash of soy milk and raspberries.

Voila!