The Great East West Christmas Food Clash!

Traditional British Christmas Dinner

What can I say? Traditional Christmas dinner consists of potatoes ( roasted and mashed), Brussels sprouts, carrots, roast parsnips, bread sauce, cranberry sauce, gravy, sausages wrapped in bacon and turkey. Therein lies the rub. According to the Russian Orthodox church calendar December 25th is a strict fast of bread, vegetables and fruits (for monastics). There are exclusions from the fast for some people (pregnant, lactating, sick and children under 7).


Fortunately I was once a vegan so I have a celebration nut roast recipe to share from The  Vegan Recipe cookbook. (for 6)
Part 1
4oz wholemeal breadcrumbs
8 oz finely ground nuts
1 tblsp flour
1 onion (chopped)
margarine (or water if oils not allowed)
1/4 pint soya/nut/rice milk
1/4 pint of veggie stock
1tsp yeast extract (marmite or vegemite)
pinch nutmeg and pepper
part2
3 oz breadcrumbs
2oz melted margarine or alternative
1/2 small onion grated
garlic clove crushed
2 tbps fresh parsley
rind of 1 lemon grated finely
Oven Gas 5/ 190C/ 375F

Grease  a 2lb loaf tin with grease proof paper. Grease well ( I am sure greasing a tin doesn't count as the food on oil free days.
part 1.
Fry ( or steam) onion until soft. Add flour and cook for 1 minute.
Remove from heat and slowly add the liquids. Stir constantly to avoid lumps.
return to the heat and bring to a simmer and continue stirring until the sauce has thickened.
Stir in the yeast extract and spices
Stir in the nuts ad breadcrumbs. You should have a stiff moist nut meat.
Part 2
Combine all the ingredients for part 2 and mix well.

Place half of part 1 into the tin and press down. Add all of part 2 and press down. Add rest of part 1  and smooth the top.

Bake for an hour. Remove from tin by inversion. Garnish with parsley and lemon.

Serve with a mushroom sauce or creamy gravy.

Creamy gravy (from the single vegan) (for 1)
1/2 oz rolled oats
1/4 pint warm water
1tsp oil (or milk replacement if oil not allowed that day)
1/2 tsp yeast extract
Put oats water and oil in a liquidiser and blend.
pour mixture into a small saucepan and heat gently stirring until  the gravy has thickened slightly. Add yeast extract and stir. 

Alternatively there are a number of sites offering Vegan Christmas recipes
http://www.vegkitchen.com
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/
http://www.vegansociety.com


With fasting the rule to remember is that you get out of it what you  put into it.