Meatless Monday ~ Vegetarian Variations of Italian Dishes
Eggplant Parmigiana ~ Jamie Oliver
Way back, I kicked off a Meatless trip around the world starting in Ethiopia and featuring classic dishes with a vegetarian twist. With the American Thanksgiving, a weeks holiday, and a cookbook giveaway thrown in the mix, the trip around the world took the back-burner for a while, but today it is back in full force!
In the past I have shared my Italian heritage, and because of this many of my comfort foods include dishes from Italy. I know I am not alone in my love for this type of cuisine, it is popular all over North America and many other areas as well.
There are actually quite a few meatless dishes popular in Italy as well, both using veggies, and with fish or seafood. Today for Meatless Monday I thought we’d share some delicious veggie options from the different regions of Italy, hopefully they will inspire you to join in with the Meatless Monday movement and go meat-free one day a week!
Rice Stuffed Tomatoes ~ Le Delicieux
Zucchini Boats ~ Home Cooking in Montana
Caprese Panini ~ Amazing Sandwiches
Vegan Meatballs & Spaghetti ~ Work Life Joy
Gluten-Free Vegetarian Lasagna ~ Gluten Free Goddess
Seitan Scallopini with Lemon-Olive Sauce ~ Fat Free Vegan Kitchen
Meatless Monday ~ A Round-Up Of Vegetarian Main Dishes For Thanksgiving
Pumpkin Sweet Potato Lasagna ~ Holy Cow Vegan
Last Monday we skipped the recipe round-up in favor of an amazing Vegan Cookbook giveaway featuring Spork-Fed. Spork-Fed was written by by sisters Jenny Engel and Heather Goldberg, owners of Spork Foods in LA. You still have plenty of time to enter, contest ends Nov. 30th.
Today we are getting back to Meatless Monday recipes, and in honor of the US Thanksgiving holiday this week I am whipping up a batch of Thanksgiving recipes for you. 
You may remember a similar post back in October, where I provided a many different vegetarian options for the Canadian Thanksgiving. Today’s post will contrast our previous post in that the recipes you find here today are main events for the Thanksgiving meal. These are dishes that can replace meat at any holiday table.
Even if you do cook a turkey and make one other main such as the ones listed here, you may be surprised how many meat-eaters reach for the vegetarian option!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Nutloaf – The Kitchn
Dairy-Free stuffed Portobello Mushroom Caps ~ Got No Milk
Portobello Wellington - Virtually Vegan Mama via Made Just Right
Curried Quinoa Stuffed Pumpkins ~ The Joy of Clean Eating
Vegetarian Garden Loaf with Maple Apricot Glaze – Gluten-Free Goddess
A Meatless Monday (Vegan) Cookbook Giveaway! ~ Spork-Fed By Jenny Engel & Heather Goldberg
Last week I stumbled upon a documentary that I had watched quite a while back called Rebecca’s Wild Farm. The documentary focuses on Rebecca Hoskins, a farmer’s daughter from the UK who takes over her family’s conventional livestock farm. The film documents Hoskins as she faces the challenges that have arisen for conventional farmers in the face of industrialization.
She learns of the “peak oil” concerns, and is introduced to the Permaculture concept by visiting active farms.Most importantly, she explains where our food comes from and how it gets to our plate from a farmer’s perspective.
Simultaneously while Rebecca’s Wild Farm was on the television, Anthony Bourdain was special preparing a locally grown and raised holiday feast. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Perhaps I am just more aware than ever, but it does appear to me that even the mainstream media is focusing on the fact that we need to make some changes to our eating habits.
As I have mentioned in the past, this is why I love Meatless Monday and blog about it every week. It is just one small thing that you can do yourself that has a major impact. Nancy Callan, member of the Board of Directors of Earthsave provided the following information on impact;
“More greenhouse gasses can be prevented by going meatless one day a week than by eating locally seven days a week.”
That is pretty amazing no?
Today for Meatless Monday, I wanted to take a brief break from my usual recipe listing and share a cookbook giveaway! A vegan cookbook. Sure, it isn’t called “Vegan Monday”, but it is simple to add a little dairy in to a vegan dish if you wish to.
Spork-Fed is a newly released vegan cookbook written by sisters Jenny Engel and Heather Goldberg, owners of Spork Foods in L.A.. The sisters provide cooking lessons, in-home consultations, cooking parties, and more. Their fans include Emily and Zooey Deschanel (who wrote the foreward), Gene Baur, President and Co-Founder of Farm Sanctuary, and Skinny Bitch author Rory Freedman.
The book has been receiving rave reviews by readers for it’s yummy dishes, and gorgeous photos to go along with each recipe. There are also gluten-free recipes included! (You can view the book trailer here!)
TO ENTER
1. Leave a comment on this blog stating your favorite cookbook. Vegetarian/vegan/gluten-free/dairy-free, any healthy book that you love best!
2. Become a fan of The Conscious Perspective on Facebook
Contest begins November 14, 2011 and ends November 30th at 11:59pm!
The contest is now closed. Congratulations to Teslaca!
THANK YOU FOR ENTERING!
Photos: Courtesy of Spork Foods Facebook
Meatless Monday ~ Canadian Thanksgiving Edition
Roasted Acorn Squash w/ Wild Rice Stuffing ~ Chow
I’ve mentioned before that Autumn is my favorite season. I love the change of every season, but I enjoy it even more when it involves bright Red Maple leaves falling from trees, cozy cardigans, and warm soups and pot pies.
Right around the time the leaves are beginning to fall rapidly, in Canada we celebrate Thanksgiving. Much earlier than in America, our Thanksgiving lands on the second Monday of October.
Having a Meatless Monday will be tricky for those who look forward to a turkey every year, but today I am including some yummy vegetarian recipes that will work as side dishes or mains.
Enjoy planning your veggie-filled Thanksgiving!
Herb & Spice Roasted Veggies w/ Red Wine & Gravy ~ Picky Cook
Vegetarian Stuffing & Gravy ~ Girls Gone Child
Cranberry Sauce ~ Easy Vegan Meals
High Protein Garlic Mashed Potatoes ~ Oh She Glows
Carmalized Onion Gravy w/ Roasted Snap Peas & Green Beans ~ Sweet Beet & Green Bean
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