I love cooking and I love a good challenge. How about create a Vegan Thanksgiving menu and cook all the food for four people solo? Challenge accepted. 

I transitioned from a Vegetarian diet to a Vegan diet in February of this year and honestly haven't looked back. It has been one of the best decisions I've made. And no, I don't really miss cheese. The only thing I do miss is that plant-based cheese alternatives definitely don't melt well, if at all. But as my husband recently pointed out, plants don't melt, so it shouldn't be surprising! 

This will be my first Thanksgiving entirely Vegan and I was asked to create the menu for my parents and husband. At first, it seemed a little daunting, but I did some research and am very happy with the results. Let's just hope it will all taste as good as it sounds! I will admit, there are a few items I am buying from Flour Bakery in Boston to provide a little assistance. 

• Dinner rolls (Flour Bakery)
• Roasted Heirloom Squash with Pomegrante Molasses, Pear, Pepitas & Sage (Flour Bakery) 
• Cranberry Chutney with Orange and Ginger (Flour Bakery)
• Butternut Squash & Sweet Potato Soup (my own recipe)
• Green beans with sliced Almonds sauteed in Earth Balance Vegan butter with salt & pepper
• Pumpkin Muffins (Trade Joe's mix subbing the oil for Apple sauce & Eggs with Neat Egg so it's nearly guilt-free)
• Autumn Kale Salad (chopped Kale, sliced Apples, dried Cranberries, diced Cucumber, shredded Daiya cheddar cheese, crushed Walnuts)
• Individual Vegan "Chick'n" Pot Pies inspired by Minimalist Baker. I'll be adding Tofurky lightly seasoned chick'n strips for more texture and protein. 
• Whipped mashed potatoes using Earth Balance Vegan Butter and unsweetened almond milk (salt & pepper)
• Pumpkin Pie (Whole Foods) & cupcakes (Georgetown Cupcakes) 
• I also bought a Gardein holiday roast as a back up in the event the "Chick'n Pot Pies" are a bust. You can pick them up at Whole Foods for $14. 

If this menu doesn't sound creative or exciting, here are more Vegan menus to peruse from other plant-based food bloggers.

• Bon Appetit  
• Forks Over Knives
• Sharon Palmer
• Minimalist Baker
• Food & Wine
• Delish
• Buzzfeed
• Oh She Glows
• New York Times
• Cooking Light 

One of my favorite things about fall (and there are many) is the plethora of soups to sample! And I only discovered within the last two years how easy it is to make soups at home. This was made particularly easy with the purchase of what I consider one of the best kitchen tools--the immersion blender! This must-have kitchen tool will be your best friend for making the creamiest, smoothies soups and other dishes like mashed potatoes. The best news is that immersion blenders will only cost you about $30. 

But let's dive into this easy, relatively cheap, and hearty butternut squash sweet potato soup. It was so delicious that I've made it two weeks in a row now. 

Prep time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 40 minutes

Ingredients:

3 cloves minced garlic
2 tablespoons fresh minced ginger
1 medium onion, chopped
2 large carrots, chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
2 sweet potatoes, chopped
1 medium butternut squash
2 tablespoons Earth Balance vegan butter
4 cups vegetable broth
1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
2 tablespoons organic coconut sugar
Salt and Pepper to Taste
Dash of oregano 
Dash of cinnamon

1. Preheat oven to 400 F. Cut the butternut squash in half and place on a cookie sheet with some water, so the squash can absorb it. Bake for 30 minutes or until you can easily stick a fork in it. 
2. While the squash is baking, saute garlic, ginger, onion, carrots, and celery in a large pot with the Earth Balance vegan butter for 5 - 10 minutes, stirring constantly or until brown. 
3. Add the sweet potatoes, almond milk, vegetable broth, and coconut sugar. Simmer for 30 - 40 minutes until all of the vegetables are soft. 
4. Add the squash, salt, pepper, and oregano to the soup. Cook for a few more minutes. 
5. Turn heat off and set the soup aside. Use an immersion blender to mix all of the ingredients together until creamy and smooth. Add a dash of cinnamon to each serving. 
Bon Appetit!