Saturday, November 28, 2009

A Tale of Two Pies

Thanksgiving this year was kinda ridiculous. We had guests coming but they couldn't make it because one of the kids got sick. Era and I had a decent amount of food, but it got done so late that I couldn't photograph it. My kitchen has no overhead lighting. There's one small fixture that is supposed to light the kitchen and dining room. Ridiculous! But the dinner was absolutely delicious and drama free.


Clockwise from top: cornbread dressing, cranberry, mac n cheeze, green beans, wellington w/ madeira gravy, cajun corn maque choux, champ, roasted brussels/sweet potatoes/onions, and seitan roast w/ mushroom gravy.

My absolute favorites were the wellington and the cajun corn maque choux.  These will be staples at every Thanksgiving henceforth!  Ha ha.

What I was really looking forward to was the pie.  In my pregan days I was all about the lemon meringue and pecan.  Of course these are probably the hardest pies to veganize.  I just have to be difficult.  I made Bryanna Clark Grogan's Reliable Vegan Pecan Pie.  Unfortunately, it wasn't so reliable for me.  The filling tasted good, but it really didn't set.  Somewhat disappointing because it means I'm still on a quest for great pecan pie.


What wasn't a disappointment: the lemon pie with cheesecake topping and shortbread streusel.  It was just a combo of a few recipes.  I used a premade crust and baked it according to directions, but took it out a little early.  I used this recipe for lemon filling and let it set.  I topped it with the Mini Ice Box Cheesecake from My Sweet Vegan (leave out the lemon juice and add 2 tsps of tapioca starch).  Then I topped it with the Old-Fashioned Pie-Plate Shortbread recipe from Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar.  I didn't add too much because this was my first time making it, but it was good.  After I assembled the pie, I threw it in the oven at 375 until the shortbread turned a little golden.  SO GOOD.

And now for a cocktail "recipe."

Spiced Caucasian
ice
lowball glass
1 oz coffee liqueur (recommended: Kahlua)
1 oz espresso vodka (recommended: Seagrams)
vegan nog

Fill a lowball glass with ice.  Pour coffee liqueur and espresso vodka over the ice.  Top with nog and give it a little stir.  Enjoy the deliciousness.

Triple Caffeinated Caucasian variation: replace regular coffee liqueur with mocha liqueur (recommended: Kahlua).

Perfect for sipping on while you lounge around in your bathrobe.  Mmm.  I hope everybody had a fantastic Thanksgiving!

20 comments:

kmouse said...

Whoa deliciousness!!! The food looks amazing and the pies even more so!

Mihl said...

Happy belated Thanksgiving! I am sorry your guest couldn't make it. But on the other hand...more great pie for you! That lemon pie sounds really amazing, it's agreat idea to use a streusel topping.

Jessie (Vegan-minded) said...

Oh Yum! Your Thanksgiving feast looks so amazing!

Kristin said...

I was looking for pecan pie recipes the other day and found 2 that look promising. One of them is in 1000 Vegan Recipes by Robin Robertson (but I haven't seen anyone test it out yet - but I probably will at Christmas) and another by Millenium Restaurant that everyone seems to use:
http://marybakes.wordpress.com/2009/06/30/pecan-pie/

Link to millenium recipe:
http://books.google.com/books?id=UiNdOYk8jlYC&pg=RA1-PA204&lpg=RA1-PA204&dq=millenium+pecan+pie&source=bl&ots=Hsh6h4_zbS&sig=ow4IgiOoNoBV04qW6TuP_8R5GoE&hl=en&ei=nJgSS8fQJ4bsMafZzDM&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CB0Q6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=&f=false

The latter has too many pecans and not enough filling for me. :) So, that should give you some others to try next time.

Tami said...

I can't get over the awesomeness of that piled high plate. What a feast!

Brilliant job on that lemon pie, too.

Anonymous said...

Wow, you made so much food! Everything looks great, I bet it was delicious!

Bummer about the pecan pie. I hae been on a quest for a good vegan version too. There's a recipe that's been circulating on the PPK for pecan pie (I think it's ToddX's recipe), have you tried it yet?

Kristin said...

The ToddX recipe and the Millenium recipe are one in the same (I'm pretty sure).

River - The Crafty Kook said...

That is an awesome feast! Too bad about your guests not coming - more pie for you though! :-D

Kelly said...

That Thanksgiving spread looks delicious--and the vegan corn bread stuffing: awesome! Pie is one of my favorite things in the world, mistakes or not, it is always welcome!

jessy said...

sweet gloriousness, Monique - that's one plate of deliciousness you've got going on. a low-key, tasty, and drama-less thanksgiving sounds great! i'm glad it was all so awesome, even if that pecan pie didn't set - hooray for it still being tasty! now i need to get me some espresso vodka and make myself a few spiced caucasians! superw00t!

The Kuntrageous Vegan said...

i've done a vegan pumpkin pie that worked out well. i know corn syrup isn't healthy; but it works wonders in a pecan pie. i use a corn syrup/brown rice syrup combo and it seems to work out fine.

have you ever played with food chemicals? i've made decent meringue with versa whip and almond milk.

Anonymous said...

mmm your meal looks fabulous!

Monique a.k.a. Mo said...

Kristin-I will have to check out both of those recipes. Thanks!

Kiersten-Nope. I never have maple syrup, but I think I will. I heard it's the same recipe as the Millenium one. Maybe for Christmas.

Lacey-Not sure if I've made it with corn syrup before. I've only ever made the one in How It All Vegan and this one. I like the HIAV one, but it's chocolate. Please tell me more about this versa whip!

Jessy-Espresso vodka will change your life! Ha ha.

Embee Breedlove said...

One thing is for sure: if I'm ever anywhere near California, I'm coming by your place!

Jen Treehugger said...

Oh yummy yummy yummy! Everything looks amazing and I reckon that pecan pie still rocked even if it didn't set properly - naughty pie.
:)

x said...

Yummo looking plate of food, I want to try making wellingtons.

And I was going to suggest the ToddX pecan pie because a lot of ppkers liked it. Pecan pie used to be my fave sweet treat in pregan days, I NEED to make one!

Sunny Anderson said...

YUMMMMMY! i'll take the pie on the right and work my way to the left! i can taste it from here! i'm just stoppin by to say happy holidays and now my mouth is watering ... thanks :-)

Veganosaurus said...

Ohh all that food looks soooo good! :) And who cares if the pecan pie didn't set, as long it tasted great, that's what matters. :)

aTxVegn said...

That is one gorgeous Thanksgiving dinner plate!

Jen Treehugger said...

Ha ha found it! Bookmarked it.
:)