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@jwalz A combination of flat-leaf parsley and basil would work nicely. I don't usually combine ginger and chili powder, but if you do it, let us know what you think!

hahaha so perfect. love the dressed up sweet potato. my family favorite though is this Semi-Sweet">http://www.biggirlssmallkitchen.com/2009/04/cooking-for-others-red-wine-reduction.html">Semi-Sweet Potato Mash with Spiced Caramelized Onions.

I've made this meal for years, and now have a set menu everyone likes. If anyone wants to bring a turkey or anything else that's fine. I sometimes have a quorn roast, but don't bother with it much anymore. Here's the menu:

Cornbread dressing (I use No-Chick Broth, works great)
Mashed Potatoes ( and this year we grew them, along with most of the veg)
Wild Rice with toasted almonds
Acorn Squash with honey, cinnamon and rosemary
Fresh Cranberry Sauce
Light Wheat Yeast Rolls
Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Cauliflower Salad with Remoulade
Yellow Squash
Green Beans
Corn
Sweet Potato Pie
Pecan Pie
Vanilla Ice Cream
Iced Tea with the meal, Coffee with dessert
Everything is made from scratch. I have a game plan written down and start 3 days ahead.
I wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!

This year is my first vegan Thanksgiving and my aunt, whose house I'm going to for the meal, is sort of put-off by it, I can tell. But, her sides are always amazing and delicious, and I am going to bring some mushroom gravy and maybe some Field Roast for my main dish. She makes an incredible apple pie - made with vegetable shortening and Earth Balance margarine - that is the best I have ever tasted, and I'm not a pie person so that's a saying something.

I'm not a vegetairan by any accounts but I did make this recipe one Thanksgiving and it is truly a show stopper.

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Pumpkin-Stuffed-with-Vegetable-Stew-240601

So, for the record, I have never met or corresponded with Damon Gambuto (but, I would love to!). Also, for the record, I had Baby Blues delivered a few weeks ago, and had an extra-ordinary experience - story to follow.

To all the folks who are upset that Damon did not review the BBQ at Baby Blues, from what I can tell Damon Gambuto is a Los Angeles based burger correspondent, and he is great at what he does. Sometimes BBQ joints can offer up a good burger. In fact, Damon recently reviewed three burgers at Zeke's Smokehouse, which is directly across the street from Baby Blues. It is a great write up, and you can search for it on this site.

I went to Zeke's Smokehouse last night based on Damon's review and I loved it, and commented earlier today on that piece - thanking him, because the burger was so tasty. Damon gave baby Blues the same shot, and didn't love the burger. Oh, well. Get over it. At least he was brave enough to give that combination of flavors a fair shake.

BTW - I once had a a grilled veal chop topped with melted brie and lingonberries that was exquisite. Perhaps the burger would shine if the blue cheese and bacon stood out more and the sauce had whole berries rather than being more of a pureed sauce. It would probably require arugula to balance the sweet, salty and pungent with some peppery goodness. But, as a purist, I would still prefer a good, quality burger without all the hoopla and dressy fanfare. That's just how I roll.

I am assuming Lincolnberry is an Ebonics-esque play on lingonberry. If you are truly curious, give Baby Blues a call.

My experience at Baby Blues? My husband and I wanted beef ribs, and when I asked the gal on the phone how many came with the order she replied, "one - it's like a big steak." We decided to give it a shot, and each ordered one, which came with a choice of two sides. I opted for collards and mashed potatoes, hubby had corn and cole slaw. The sides were delish, but one of the ribs was burnt and less than half the size of the other rib.

I let my honey have the good rib and insisted he eat it while I called, because I am sweet like that (and we had just moved into our new place and he had been doing hard physical labor and desperately needed the fortification). The hostess got the manager who apologized profusely and asked if I wanted another rib. I did. Forty minutes later, the manager showed up at the door and told my hubz he cooked it himself. Maybe it was my sultry phone-sex voice, but I'd like to think it was solid dedication. Anyways, it was nice. A chuck blade, essentially. It didn't rock my socks off, but it was a good chuck rib weighing in at 16 ounces or more, and it was properly (lovingly?) cooked. The sauce was not my favorite, as it was a bit sweet and overly tart with vinegar for a tomato based sauce, and the XXX sauce was a bit salsa-like for my taste. The service, on the other hand, made a strong, favorable impression.

Thanks for the well-written review, Damon. As I left Zeke's last night, I glanced across the street and wondered if Baby Blues had a decent burger. Now I know what to expect.

Maack out.

I am a vegetarian and I was born on a Thanksgiving Day so this is a BIG DEAL for me... I just don't like to eat a bunch of side dishes that seem to have nothing in common... That's why I have taken it upon myself to make a vegetarian menu with which noboby will miss the traditional turkey. This is what I have done in the last few years:

2006
Butternut Squash Lasagna from Giada Di Laurentiis
I guess we accompanied it with a salad... can't remember

2007
Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese
Vanilla Maple Glazed Carrots
Sweet Potato Flan
Arugula/Red Onion Salad

2008
Pumpkin Rissoto
Baked Sweet Plantains
Vanilla Cheese Flan - same recipe as above, but without the sweet potato added.

2009 - this menu is still in the works... but here are a few options I am considering
pumpkin polenta
sweet potato mash with a homemade cranberry sauce
truffle mac & cheese - just because its delicious and super simple to make
roasted pears with blue cheese and hazelnut pralines

I've always gone the sides route and have been vegetarian long enough that my family respects my decision and doesn't make the sides with chicken broth or whatever. It also helps that many of our family's traditional dishes don't have animal products, like my grandmother's roasted eggplant salad.

But, if there's any worry that you're putting someone out with your request (or that you're being put out), there's no harm in bringing something to the table yourself (or asking your guest to). It lets the vegetarian be in control of their food, introduces other family members to their lifestyle choice/veggie foods and helps the host/hostess out. Honestly, most veg*ans are used to this anyway and it'll be a good experience for your brother.

Since my grandmother is getting on in years, I plan on doing a lot of cooking this year anyway. I'll be making a veggie gravy (roux of margarine/flour, veggie broth, various herbs and soy sauce for umami), green bean casserole, garlic mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes from The Modern Vegetarian Table. My husband, an omnivore, is making his signature "bird in a bag" (roasting a spice-rubbed turkey in a paper bag).

@Nickiter

Like not be a difficult eater for a day and just deal with what's given them?

@wunami: Toushe. I was wondering if someone would catch that. Maybe I'm delusional, but I believe the Special K with Berries flakes are more coated (ergo more protected against sogginess) than the normal Special K flakes. So I bumped them up to the other category. Does that make any sense?

- Avoid the flake family. (Honey Bunches of Oats, Frosted Flakes, etc.)
- Yes on clusters, freeze-dried fruit, and other chunky additions (Special K with Berries, granola, etc.)

Um...isn't Special K in the flake family? How does adding dried fruit make it okay. The flakes are still going to be unpalatable after getting soggy with the water instead of milk.

Bravo, Rhetor. Bravo.

My cereal mishaps have never had to do with the liquid (I won't use anything but non-dairy milk) but one time I was out of cereal, so I crumbled up granola bars and popcorn into the milk and ate that instead. Mmmm. Soggy starch.