A Vegan Holiday Option

OK, I'll admit it. As a former meat eater, I miss the tradition of eating turkey at Thanksgiving and Christmas.

It's not that I miss the taste, but I miss how it served as the centerpiece of the meal that tied everything together. We'd have turkey with gravy, stuffing, cranberries, vegetables and a roll.

Since I became a vegan, holiday meals seem a bit lost. Sure, I have tons of recipes, but it's hard to make them fit in with old traditions that are stuck in my head -- those traditions that bring back all those great memories.

A few years ago, before my parents and sister went vegetarian, my mother made me a Tofurky. It was pretty good, but it can be hard to find at my local grocery, even if they carry other tasty Tofurky mock meat products.

This Thanksgiving, however, mom found a delicious "Celebration Roast" from the Field Roast Grain Meat Company that fit right in with our old holiday traditions. The roast is stuffed with sausage-style stuffing made from butternut squash, apples and mushrooms. Served with mushroom gravy, cranberries, veggies and whole wheat rolls and this was just as good as any holiday dinner I can remember.

All I can say is WOW. The holidays may be over, but I'll be looking for any excuse to have this again. And I would highly recommend this to anyone who likes a hearty dish -- vegetarian or not.

The unfortunate news is that it is not available in Athens -- not at Kroger and not at the Farmacy. Next time I remember, I'll have to ask them to get it. It would make a great addition for local vegetarians.

Until then, the closest place to get these products may just be Whole Foods. I do not know if they carry it in Columbus, but the grocery chain is the only one in the midwest that currently carries it. You should give it a try.