Pre-Thanksgiving Vegan Thanksgiving Potluck in Albany Nov 8!

[rabid_child]

Here's what we've got for Menu so far. If you are planning on coming please let me know since we are going to make/freeze the "turkeys" in advance and I want to make sure we plan for enough since it takes ALL DAY to make them!

Bryanna Clark Grogan's Seitan Turkey Loaves
Gravy
veggie & bread stuffing
mashed potatoes
pumpkin & zucchini bread
grandma's stuffing
artichoke dip
corn chowder
pumpkin pie
"mincemeat" pie
And by popular demand -- probably ice cream sandwiches

[VeggieLizzie]

Sounds like alot of fun! I am a few hours from Albany (NYC) and would normally love to come but I have something that day ALL day (and this is like the 3rd event that has come up for that particular date).

ENJOY all the goodies! Please keep me in mind for the next one! :)

[rabid_child]

Sounds like alot of fun! I am a few hours from Albany (NYC) and would normally love to come but I have something that day ALL day (and this is like the 3rd event that has come up for that particular date).

ENJOY all the goodies! Please keep me in mind for the next one! :)

I'm originally from Westchester about 30 min from midtown Manhattan. :) I'll be there for most of Dec. to take care of my Mama who's having surgery. The trip to Albany isn't bad. When my brother comes up he takes the train (he lives in Brooklyn). It goes up the Hudson, which I understand is picturesque by train. haha. The next one the really-local folk and I have been discussing is a New Years Day Brunch.

[VeggieLizzie]

I am pretty familiar with Westchester- I lived in Bedford for elementary school and my good friend is from Yorktown Heights. I also just interviewed for a job in White Plains but the commute is a bit rough. Where are you from originally?

If you want to hit up a veggie place when you come down in Dec to take care of your mom, let me know. I am sure there are more people in the NYC area too.

As much as the Hudson is ummm...gross... the train ride really is lovely. I used to take metronorth all the time when my family lived in Dutchess County and I would imagine the Amtrak ride isn't bad at all either- that is prob how I would get there if I were to come up there. Or Zipcar.

[rabid_child]

I am pretty familiar with Westchester- I lived in Bedford for elementary school and my good friend is from Yorktown Heights. I also just interviewed for a job in White Plains but the commute is a bit rough. Where are you from originally?

If you want to hit up a veggie place when you come down in Dec to take care of your mom, let me know. I am sure there are more people in the NYC area too.

As much as the Hudson is ummm...gross... the train ride really is lovely. I used to take metronorth all the time when my family lived in Dutchess County and I would imagine the Amtrak ride isn't bad at all either- that is prob how I would get there if I were to come up there. Or Zipcar.

When I lived downstate, I used to try to organize gatherings in NYC... but it always ended up being one other member and me, so after time we gave up and we'd just go out to eat together. Haha. I'll let you know when I have an idea how nuts it'll be at my parents' house with my mom recovering.

On the Thanksgiving front... Two new menu additions:
Mashed sweet potatoes with candied nuts
Sweet cranberry rice dish

If you are coming and I haven't heard a confirmation from you yet let me know so we can plan for how many people are coming. :pibo:

[VeggieLizzie]

Yes - please do, I am sure it will be busy so I will understand if you can't come down, but if you can just let me know.
My mom does the sweet potatoes with nuts, bakes 'em in the oven, they are gooooood.

I know I definitely can't make it- I have an all day event that day and its so ironic bc I had so many random invites for that day only, but I really wish I could. It sounds very yummy! :)

[rabid_child]

There used to be an awesome vegetarian place in Port Chester called Green Symphony but they closed and eventually moved to Long Island. :| NOT COOL!! I don't want to drive over an hour and a half to get dinner (though I have been tempted). I might as well just go into the city. We ate at Cafe Blossom last time I was home and it was awesome, and insanely expensive, but that's NY for you :lol:

[VeggieLizzie]

Have you been to New Paltz lately? I hadn' tbeen in 13 years and was just there for a few days as a quick break before I start my job. SO many veggie friendly places. Veggie and vegan symbols are on menus like they are the most common things ever. Its not too far for you I dont think if you ever want a quick, cheap veggie friendly break. We had a great time! I am now a tofu convert :)
Dang= I was gonna sugget Blossom- this one on 9th (the orginial)- is it the same food:
http://www.blossomnyc.com/home.html

Caravan of Dreams in the East Village is vegan and raw and I heard Candle Cafe and Candle 79 (same owners) on the UES are supposedly great- I haven't tried any of them though!

I can't believe in all of Westchester no veggie places!

[rabid_child]

I hate to be a pest, but you guys who expressed interest in coming -- if you could please let me know ASAP if you're still planning on being here and what you're planning on bringing I would really appreciate it. This is in under 2 wks, and BP and I are trying to plan on what we need to make/prep/buy and make sure we have enough seats/dishes/etc... for everyone, and it's really hard to do when the number of people coming ranges from 8 to about 25!! :o

[megbot]

I'm going to have to bail. I'm supposed to be in two different states that weekend and I'm pretty sure I'm on call for work as well. I think I'm going to crawl under a rock.

Hope you guys have fun!!

[Tom]

Looking over the menu, I could make either vegan baklava or some sort of dish with beans. November 8th at 3 pm should be okay for me.

Or... I could bring my (in)famous, jawbreaking, thick-as-a-brick, Weapon-Of-Mass-Destruction wholegrain bread... suitable for either sustenance or construction of a fallout shelter.

[rabid_child]

Looking over the menu, I could make either vegan baklava or some sort of dish with beans. November 8th at 3 pm should be okay for me.

Or... I could bring my (in)famous, jawbreaking, thick-as-a-brick, Weapon-Of-Mass-Destruction wholegrain bread... suitable for either sustenance or construction of a fallout shelter.

:lol: Sounds like that'll keep things moving and cure what ails ya! Homemade bread is the best :rockon:

[Tom]

I could also make a simple garlic-free hummus with garbanzo beans, lemon or lime juice, and sesame tahini. That way, if the vegan baklava is an epic fail, I'll still have something good.

[rabid_child]

I could also make a simple garlic-free hummus with garbanzo beans, lemon or lime juice, and sesame tahini. That way, if the vegan baklava is an epic fail, I'll still have something good.

That sounds good too! :) I'm sure whatever you make will be well appreciated by all!

[rabid_child]

I bought some cranberries for cranberry sauce today, and stuff to make stuffing with, and some pecans and maple sugar for an apple pie with maple-pecan crunch topping. Also got stuff to make some brown sugar and cinnamon ice cream to go with the desserts! :P

[rabid_child]

If anyone else is planning on coming to this and still needs the location info, etc... please PM me. It's only 4 days away!!

[megbot]

so how was it? delicious as it sounded??

[rabid_child]

It was great! I just have been too insanely busy to post the pics. I have a blog post saved but then blogger kept putting my pictures sideways and I got impatient and wandered off..

We're actually doing vegan TG round 2 tomorrow with a few of the albany locals cause none of us had plans.

[XvegankateX]

haha im boycotting the family thing tomorrow.. there was just gonna be way too many people that i didnt need to see.. i have a date with my couch..

[megbot]

I'm jealous. I'm doing the family thing. While I am armed with a vat of vegan stuffing and 2 pounds of celebration roast, I'm still dreading it.

Have fun both of you :)

[rabid_child]

THERE! Potluck pics.. finally... http://megatarian.blogspot.com/2008/11/pre-thanksgiving-vegan-thanksgiving.html

Next up I have to deal with all the pics we took yesterday

[megbot]

very nice! The desserts especially make me jealous, I'm glad you guys had fun