My vegetarian Christmas

I came across an article in the Guardian last week by Adharanand Finn. Towards the end he posed the question ‘If you're making a meat-free main course this year, what will it be?’ I didn't dwell on it too much, as it is just the two of us this Christmas, yet it still got me thinking about past Christmases spent with family and friends. My husband is not a vegetarian, but like me he is quite content with all the trimmings, as portions are always generous this time of year. But family and friends around us think our meal is not complete without a piece of meat on the plate, even it if is a 'mock meat' substitute. So over the years when we have gone to D’s parents for Christmas we have had the meat replaced with slices of this, which I can take or leave. I personally would be happy with a traditional nut roast, but it is hard to get a good shop bought one, so tend to make versions of my own. Often the carnivores and omnivores in my life, and I am referring here specifically to my brothers will try a little, then snug their noses ‘it’s okay’ but they could never be a vegetarian, they 'love their meat way too much…’, this is something that Ardharanand also wrote about.

In the past I have also made variations of The Vegetarian Society’s cranberry raised pie, Rose Elliot's Flaky Mushroom Christmas Tree and Nadine Abensur’s fabulous Mushroom Wellington and thoroughly enjoyed them all, but that’s me, my husband is not keen on nuts roasts and thinks of them as an equivalent to a stuffing, so opts for the above meat substitute; or failing that he picks up a few slices of turkey from the Deli for his plate.

So what will be on my plate this Christmas, (hopefully) there will be home-grown roasted parsnips (If I can prize them out of the icy ground); Sprouts (tiny bullets they may be); Roasted potatoes (stored in the shed in a jute bag) and carrots (about a dozen covered in sand, saved for specifically for Christmas. Fingers crossed they haven't gone mouldy). As well as home-made Yorkshire puddings, stuffing and a shop-bought Vegetarian gravy, which even my mother-in-law approves of. To be truthful, Christmas for me it isn’t about the food or the presents, its about sharing and enjoying time together.

Anyway, I now ask you the same question ‘will you be cooking a vegetarian Christmas dinner, either for yourself or some guests? And are you going for the traditional nut roast, Tofurky or something completely different?’ Let me know.