To me, Thanksgiving is the quintessential American holiday.  The idea of giving thanks for the abundance in our lives resonates very strongly with me.  I love that when Thanksgiving comes in America, regardless of one’s faith, ethnicity or natural origin, all Americans celebrate and give thanks together.  Having grown up in an Orthodox Jewish family, celebrating many holidays throughout the year that most Americans don’t even know exist, I especially love the fact that we all come together to celebrate Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving also has a very personal and special association for me:  I went vegan on Thanksgiving in 2009.  I think most of us who made the choice to be vegan for ethical reasons would agree that it is a joyous transformation in our lives.  Even though those who look at veganism from the outside see it as a diet of restriction, we vegans know that living this compassionate lifestyle opens a world of abundance we never knew as omnivores.  I often think about how fortunate I am to have “woken up” to the realities of animal use and exploitation and chosen to live as a vegan.  Truly, it is one of the greatest gifts I have received in my life.  The fact that I get to celebrate my “Veganniversary” each year on the day when we  pause to give thanks for all we have in life, just makes Thanksgiving all the more joyful for me.

Needless to say, Thanksgiving is the holiday in our home!  Michael and I make quite a production of it.  For many folks, the idea of a turkey-less Thanksgiving is inconceivable.  For us, it is impossible to imagine a celebration and expression of gratitude that centers around the rotting corpse of an exploited, tortured and murdered sentient being.  To that end, we want to share our very own Thanksgiving recipes with you.  These vegan, cruelty-free meals are satisfying, familiar and seasonal.  Beginning tomorrow, we’re going to be rolling out a new Thanksgiving recipe for you, each day for the next week and a half.  Please feel free to share these recipes, make them and bring them to your own family gathering.  And when people ask you about  a turkey-free Thanksgiving, just tell them, “I prefer my turkeys free.”