7 Tasty Tips for a Solo Thanksgiving

The premise of Thanksgiving is not something I personally celebrate, and I definitely don’t eat turkey (here’s 50 million reasons why), but I am always grateful to have time off from school to spend time with loved ones. And it’s a time for students like me to catch up on studying, of course. Some break!

Quite a few of my friends at UT Arlington are international students, so they will not be attending large family Thanksgiving dinner parties. This is a post dedicated to them. If you’re having a quiet holiday this year and are unsure of what to make, here are a few yummy suggestions for a solitary, vegan Thanksgiving celebration. You don’t necessarily have to cook for hours and most of the dishes can be also be made gluten-free.

Loving Hut’s Thanksgiving special plate: If you don’t feel like cooking this year and want to try something different from traditional Thanksgiving fare, Arlington’s Loving Hut will be open for both lunch and dinner. In addition to their regular menu of vegan pizzas, rice dishes and wraps, they are offering an awesome Thanksgiving special, as pictured on the left. The main star of the dish is the Gardein protein, sauteed with red onions, red bell peppers, and fragrant lemongrass–a quintessential Vietnamese ingredient. This dish is served with rice, sliced cucumbers, balsamic sauteed cabbage and a savory soy sauce. I have sampled this several times over the past few weeks and I swear, it just kept getting better each time.
The Post Punk Kitchen’s Stuffed Thanksgiving Burger: “You’re basically eating a beautiful Bob Ross landscape of the prettiest autumn foliage you ever did see.” Isa Chandra Moskowitz is a genius. Made with lentils, mushrooms, hazelnuts, cranberries and stuffing, this decadent recipe combines all the rich flavors of Thanksgiving into a single burger. The recipe makes six burgers in one hour, so you will have plenty of yummy post-Holiday leftovers to enjoy during dead week.
Thanksgiving Bean Burger: Another GORGEOUS Thanksgiving sandwich. The photos alone made me want to try this recipe. This patty, made with white beans and rolled oats, will come together much quicker than any cooked bird. It can also be made gluten-free, for those who are inclined.
One Pot Wonder Tomato Basil Pasta: The title says it all. I would love to make this with whole wheat pasta and eat it with almond parmesan.
Butternut Squash and Apple Soup: This is probably the easiest recipe on the list. If I didn’t have family Thanksgiving plans, I would be making this soup to dip some crusty French bread in–while watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer in the background.
Spring Vegetable Pot Pie: A creamy mixture of veggies and potatoes, surrounded by a flaky crust–yes, please. This recipe takes a little over an hour, and makes 4-6 individual pot pies. I love adorable leftovers. Pepperidge Farms’ pastry dough is accidentally vegan, by the way.
Single-Serving Deep Dish Apple Pie: Making pie can be a chore,but this 4″ pie only requires ONE APPLE, and not even a whole cup of flour. Too cute and delicious–treat yourself to dessert for one!
Five-Minute Carrot Cake for One: I am always amazed at Katie’s single-serving dessert creations. If you are watching your weight, one serving of this cake has 70 calories, .5 grams of fat, 3 grams of fiber, 2.5 grams of protein, and of course, no cholesterol. It’s still a lovely treat, and it can also be made gluten-free.
Hot Chocolate: End the night by indulging in the art of hot chocolate and put on some dreamy Christmas carols–recipe and music compilation by yours truly.

Grab your ingredients ASAP if you haven’t yet–stores close early today for the holiday!

I hope you all have a happy break, whether you are celebrating with family or not! If you are celebrating by yourself, I hope you don’t feel too lonely and take the time to relish being with yourself, as described in the beautiful short film below. Solitude is wonderful.