Fast and animal-friendly feast!

by Katerina Lorenzatos Makris ~

Here at Spicy Stories Save Lives we’ve been up to some hands-on rescuing, without much time left over for holiday cooking. So we came up with a super easy and animal-friendly solution to the problem. We’re enjoying a fast and fabulous feast that requires zero animal products and thus gives the critters a holiday too.

“Mock” but mighty on flavor

Field Roast from Grain Meat Co.

Usually I’m not too keen on meat substitute products. I’d rather skip the processing and just use the veggies themselves. But… wow! This mock meatloaf changed my mind. Flavors of onions, carrots, celery, mushrooms, and peas come through loud and clear in a delightfully seasoned and textured medley. Even the committed carnivores at your table are bound to enjoy it.

All you have to do is heat for 20-30 minutes till it’s nicely browned, slice, and serve!

Alternatively, if you can’t find Field Roast in your markets, or if you have time to prepare a mock meatloaf yourself, here’s a simple recipe…

Vegan Holiday “Meat” Loaf

Dairy-free and just as yummy

Sumptuously Stuffed Spuds

This dish might look rather naughty with all the “cheese” and “sour cream,” but no animals are involved in these tasty potatoes, and they couldn’t be easier to prepare.

Simply wash then bake the potatoes in the oven for about 30-60 minutes, depending on their size, until easily pierced through with a fork.

Split each in half and fill generously with the following:

Drizzle of olive oil or non-dairy butter

Cheddar-style vegan cheese (we used Follow Your Heart)

Vegan sour cream (we used Follow Your Heart)

Dried or fresh chopped dill or chives

Lucky day when we came across these little gems at a local supermarket.

Parmesan Sweet Potatoes

People often go to great lengths in preparing their yams or sweet potatoes for holiday meals, smothering them with marshmallows and whatnot. But they’re so wonderful on their own that we don’t see the point.

Just wash then bake them for about 30-60 minutes till easily pierced through with a fork, add a little extra flavor with a few dashes of parmesan-style vegan cheese (such as Go Veggie!), nutmeg, and cinnamon. If you like, you can squirt on some orange juice too.

We used baby organic sweet potatoes that we found by chance at a local supermarket. Divine!

Herbed and Buttered Broccoli

This vital veggie is packed with nutrients and has a rich, earthy flavor that goes well with winter holiday meals.

Just rinse, chop into bite-sized pieces, drop into boiling water for 30-60 seconds or until barely fork-tender, and drain.

Make a little mound of florets, add a pat or two of a non-dairy butter, sprinkle with dried basil, and they’re on for the show.

Vive la France!

Rasberry Pomegranate Jam

We actually bought fresh cranberries, intending to find time to cook them up with oranges into a compote in time for the holidays. But alas… they’re still sitting in the fridge. So we dashed to the pantry and found a jar of jam that makes a lovely substitute. Just the right blend of sweet and tart, adding something a bit out of the ordinary. Vive la France! But you can use any flavor fruit jam or jelly you might have on hand.

Wishing you happy, healthy holidays and bon appetit for your own fabulous feasts of kindness!

~ With love from all your friends at Spicy Stories Save Lives

Here at Spicy Stories Save Lives, we depend on sales of our romantic fiction to help create real-life happy endings.

Won’t you please use a couple of bucks to enjoy a fun read, to spice up your life, and to replenish our rescue fund?

We, the animals, and our fellow rescuers will thank you kindly!

For more animal adventures please FOLLOW Spicy Stories Save Lives by clicking the ‘SUBSCRIBE’ button above. You’ll receive email notifications of our new articles. We will NEVER give your email address to anyone else. And it’s free!

Spicy Stories Save Lives proudly sponsors needy animals in the U.S. and around the world.

For example we help Kefalonia Animal Trust (KATs) provide free spay/neuter for hundreds of animals per year, which is one of the best ways to prevent the abandonment and misery of puppies like Noah and Kyla. Please give to KATs via PayPal or bank transfer. Spay/neuter and education are the animals’ best hope for a better future.

Also please consider Animal Rescue Kefalonia (ARK), another group on the Greek island of Kefalonia who run a shelter  and work miracles with terribly few resources. 

Spicy Stories Save Lives and the author of this article have no affiliation with the rescue groups mentioned above, other than as a friend, volunteer, and donor.

Seen our book?  Your Adopted Dog: Everything You Need to Know About Rescuing and Caring for a Best Friend in Need, by Shelley Frost and Katerina Lorenzatos Makris, available through Amazon.com.