Turkeys and Pumpkin Pie the Gluten Free Vegetarian Way

I love Thanksgiving.  I love the idea of pausing to be consider and appreciate the local harvest, and those who have brought it to us.   I love the idea of a celebration that is not focused on the giving of gifts, but rather on the expression of gratitude for the myriad gifts and blessings we experience each day in our lives.  I love having the opportunity to spend time with my family.

My problem with Thanksgiving is the food.  As a vegetarian by choice, and a celiac by chance, typical Thanksgiving foods like turkey, stuffing, and pie are either not very appealing, or off limits to me.  Unwilling to completely abandon tradition, here instead is my take on Thankgiving, gluten-free vegetarian style.  

Hand and Footprint Turkeys: 

   

This is one of my favourite Thankgiving crafts to do with kids. Most little ones are delighted by the experience of having their hands and feet traced, and by making it each year, you have a record of how they have grown.  Imagine the sweetness of seeing this craft made with your one year old's hand and footprints, and then being able to compare it with the size of the turkey made by that same child six or seven years later.

Here's what you need to make it:

• brown, beige, red, orange, and yellow construction paper
• googlie eyes
• scissors
• glue

Here's what you need to do:

1. Trace your child's foot (in a shoe works best) onto two sheets of brown construction paper.  Cut out.
2. Trace your little one's hand onto red, yellow, orange, and beige construction paper.  You should have two red handprints, two beige handprints, two orange handprints, and one yellow handprint. Cut out.
3. Use scraps of orange and red construction paper to cut out feet, a beak, and a wattle.
4. Arrange the brown footprints so that they are slightly overlapping, wide ends pointing down.  Glue together. This forms the turkey's body.
5. Turn the body over.  Arrange and glue the red, orange, and yellow handprints onto the back of the turkey to create the feathers. Glue on feet.
6. Turn turkey over again.  Glue beige handprints onto front of turkey. Glue on eyes, beak, and wattle.
7. Enjoy your turkey!

Gluten Free Crustless Pumpkin Pie (with a dairy free option)

Ingredients: 

2 cups (500 mL) pure pumpkin puree 

1 370mL can evaporated skim milk (substitute coconut milk for a dairy free option)
3/4 cup (175 mL) liquid egg substitute (or 3 egg whites)
1/2 tsp (0.5 mL) salt
1.5 tsp (10mL) cinnamon
1 tsp (5 mL) ginger
0.5 tsp (2 mL) nutmeg
1.5 tsp (10 mL) vanilla extract
2/3 cup (150 mL) granulated sugar

Method:

1. Preheat over to 400 degrees, and lightly grease a 9" pie pan.
2. Combine all ingredients in bowl, and beat with hand mixer until smooth.
3. Pour into a 9" sprayed pie pan, and bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes.  Reduce heat to 325 degrees, and continue to bake pie for 45 minutes, or until a knife inserted in center comes out clean.

You can find more turkey themed crafts, and Thanksgiving recipes at www.momstown.ca. Happy Thanksgiving!  What's on the menu at your house?