Planning a Vegetarian Thanksgiving

One way many families are cutting back their food budgets is by eating less meat. Meat costs a lot, utilizes way more natural resources in its production, and can be bad for us. For me, a vegetarian of 18 years (that makes me sound OLD), it comes naturally by now. Thank goodness, because I don't think our budget could handle the expense of meat on a regular basis.

But with the concept of very local eating, including meat, emerging in our collective consciousness, and in my own neighborhood, I see the value in eating locally raised meat from farmers you know and trust.

I really like the idea of buying my organic, hormone free turkey from my neighbors and friends at Tangletown Farms. They supply schools and families with locally and ethically raised meat, and the farm is a mile down the road. But I want to spend less this Thanksgiving, and NOT cook a bird myself. I'm really not interested in learning, but for folks who must have a turkey, buying one local and organic is a great green and healthy option.

So we will have a vegetarian Thanksgiving Feast. Here are some of the recipes I am considering (I will be one of those Wednesday night after work shoppers--ugh).

This menu from Cooking Light I will follow with some modifications. I love the idea of a mushroom strudel: crispy, flaky, flavorful. I will make it without a run through first! Wish me luck with that phylo-dough.

This tomato bread pudding looks divine, although I have never made bread pudding. I hope mine looks like the picture!

Here are a few other sites with great recipes:

*Treehugging Family

*Divine Dinner Party

*and for those vegetarian families without a nut allergic child, this nut roast looks interesting.

Readers, what are your favorite, somewhat fancy and nice looking vegetarian main dishes? Please tell me, in case I can use one for the big day. And wish me luck because I am not a very talented chef or homemaker-- let's just hope it is all edible!