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Years ago, before they were readily available here, I paid $50 to have a Tofurkey shipped to me (I think it was like $20 for the Tofurkey itself and $30 for the shipping--it arrived packed in dry ice via Fed Ex) and it was absolutely terrible. Looked like an inside out sweat shock, and tasted about what I'd imagine is the same, with the added bonus of a rubbery texture. A waste of money and a disappointing centerpiece to our meal. Maybe they've improved them over the years, but when I see people rave about them I boggle. I'd have been better off just marinating some nice simple tofu.

Now I just go all out with the sides, which is more than enough.

My family's vegetarian and I'm proud to say we've never had a tofurkey for Thanksgiving. For a vegan dish, I'd recommend stuffed grape leaves or this Bosnian vegetarian "meatball" recipe from Sundays at Moosewood:
http://www.recipezaar.com/Bosnian-Vegetarian-Meatballs-in-Yogurt-Sauce-134497

The recipe calls for eggs but you can probably use egg substitute or more tofu instead. They're really tasty, with a lot of flavor from ground almonds, caraway, parsley, and other spices.

Or, pan-glazed tofu with red curry sauce, which is less time-intensive but equally delicious:
http://wednesdaychef.typepad.com/the_wednesday_chef/2007/02/post.html

I make this vegan by leaving out the fish sauce and subbing vegetable stock or water for the chicken stock.

Good for you for taking the time to provide tasty food for your brother!

My left over goes to the local hospitals ER breakroom. It does'nt last long there.

Just wanted to add that vegetarian gravy is ridiculously easy to make if you have a good veggie broth or stock. Just make a roux (you can even use olive oil for a vegan gravy) and whisk in the broth, then season the crap out of it.

I'm no longer vegetarian, but when I was, I unabashedly went the parade-of-sides route. Green bean casserole was a must for me, along with stuffing (with apples!), roasted spiced sweet potatoes, homemade cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. My vegetarian ex-husband, on the other hand, would just mix corn and stuffing into his mashed potatoes and call it a day.

My aunt is vegetarian and came to our place for dinner last year. She was the only vegetarian among us omnivores, so it was Mom to the rescue. Having grown up Seventh Day Adventist--though not vegetarian--I am accustomed to occasional vegetarian dinners. Mom made one of her delicious vegetarian loaves--which is always a hit at church pot lucks--from cottage cheese, eggs, ground nuts, bread crumbs, and perhaps mushrooms. She also made vegetarian gravy to go with, so we had to two gravies, the other being made with the drippings. I think more than half of us--owing to the general Thanksgiving pile on--had some of this veggie loaf special addition to the table and it was delicious. I think I also did a vegan stuffing with veggie stock, and all the other veggie sides were without bacon or drippings or chicken/turkey stock, which is not my preference, but everything was a hit!

I think if I were to do a veggie entree it would be three sisters stew, (corn, beans, squash) using either summer squash and corn or winter squash and hominy. The stew can be done in the crockpot and it celebrates foods of the New World and the fall harvest. The veggie loaf, the gravy, and the three sisters stew can all be made ahead and taste better the next day anyway.

Since my favorite thing has always been the Cornbread Dressing, I make a pan of that and also some white gravy (not a vegan). And then I make Candied Sweet Potatoes, Green Bean Casserole. Hardly miss the turkey!

I have a vegan sister-in-law and we have fun making delicious sides that she will enjoy (and the rest of us will enjoy too). We end up kind of having a contest to see who can bring the most outrageous and delicious side dish. I make a dressing with lots of different mushrooms in it and it is hearty enough on its own, and one of the best leftovers.

My mother-in-law did buy a Tofurkey one year (with gravy!) and we all agreed (especially my sister-in-law) that really it was just salty soy goop.

My parents-in-law are vegetarians, so when we have Thanksgiving at their house, everything other than the turkey bird is vegetarian. They were happy to have just the sides (green bean casserole, mashed 'taters, roasted vegetables, stuffing, etc), but last year my FIL bought a Tofurky with mushroom gravy. (He thought it was okay.)

As a vegetarian, my Thanksgiving meal is a starch fest (all sides -- potatoes and stuffing, I'm looking at you -- plus some sautéed mushrooms for funsies). Not that I mind :) My mother is also a vegetarian and nary a met product makes an appearance in her house.
Besides, It's all about the pie anyway isn't it.

Oh, and I should add, you can totally tell when it's spiked with chicken broth or other meat bits sometimes..

I've been a vegetarian since I was 13 (I'm 31 now) and I was never much of a meat eater before that, so my family has been wise to Veggie Holiday foods for a while now: We never have meat in the stuffing and we never put it in the bird (that's more for bacteriological reasons; everyone in my family also works in the healthcare field). My grandmother sometimes makes a gravy with turkey drippings, but there's also always a meatless one (usually from roast veggies). The sweet potatoes don't have marshmallows on them, and there's always tons of other traditional and non-traditional sides, non of which contain meat. We do all the holidays and family gatherings this way and no one's ever complained about not having enough meat. -- My most-requested dish is a Kraft Stuffing Ball recipe where I substitute sautéed mushrooms, green onions and garlic, for the pork, and use vegetarian stuffing and vegetarian cranberry sauce. So good!

goodness... one thing I am THANKFUL for this Thanksgiving is my family and friends for being omnivores. No offense to anybody but I just can't imagine having go to cater to all these special requests.