By I know how hard it is to find a low-carb vegetarian meal on a daily basis. Yet, I have made this struggle easy and enjoyable for myself. Now, I would love to share with all of you, my vegetarian Christmas menu.
Vegetarianism and spirituality for me was my path to awakening from within.
Meditation or dhyana is a spiritual journey through which I had found so much more than I ever thought was humanly possible. Clear consciousness filled my entire soul. I walked upon this path with a candle in my hand for myself and all others whom needed this light. The glowing candle guided me through the dark nights. Being a vegetarian was my inspiration and prayers answered.
During Christmas 2011, I had donated all my food filled in the freezer to a shelter for mothers and young children, who needed a helping hand.
I had seen firsthand how these children who were out of their warm comfortable homes found these shelters as their home. For the first time in my life, I had walked into a shelter trying to think of the others, not myself. Donating in person at a shelter was never a thing I had done as I always heard about it, but never did I actually participate.
I always think about the kids of this world who await for one hot meal.
Marble floors, air-conditioning, and a warm bed were gifts from my family. Hot meals and luxurious dinners were made as the helpers had stood there to hear my compliments. I don’t know why all the luxuries of life found no peace within my mind, body, and soul unlike that one cold winter night of December where and when I began my new journey. Tears rolled down for the children of this world, not over my own troubles.
I awakened as my love for the humans and their love for me tied me into a bond called humanity. The first thing I let go of was meat and became a vegetarian. Then, I started this walk where my life became simple. I did not ask for the helping hands of my family or friends. However, I began the journey to walk on my own. I became the lonely traveler, exhausted and tired. Yet, I was completely satisfied within my journey.
Therefore, I found myself and my complete faith in spirituality.
My journey began as I tried to unite all different race, color, and religion into one house through my words of wisdom. I also worry about the children who don’t eat meat and are vegetarians but still want to enjoy a good holiday meal.
Now each holiday, I know how hard it is for a vegetarian to feel welcomed or welcome all within the same dinner tables.
My friends would worry what would I eat if I had no meat? They would think how not to offend me when entertaining during the holidays. I would always offer to take a dish and fresh baked bread as a gesture. I have learned and taught all holidays are filled with aromas of fresh baked breads, and different spices creating different recipes within our neighborhoods. All the houses are filled with love, joy, and peace. Candles are burned to keep peace alive throughout all. It is not about the particular food but the love we share for one another.
This season, I would want all the children of this world to come under one roof through our blessed kitchens cooking holiday meals for all. May all little faces belonging to different race, color, and religion find love, joy, and harmony. May all tiny little hands find themselves hot cakes baked just for them. Let not a single child be left alone in the cold harsh winter without a meal. May all the parents trying to give a holiday gift to their children know children only want love and hugs from all.
No money can buy these precious gifts given from a mother or father to their children.
Let this season be a season of love, joy, and harmony. Let us not allow the lack of money or too much money to take away the blessed miracles of this season known as love and kindness.
My life’s goal is to open an orphanage for all different race, color, and religion. The meals we share shall be the same. The prayers the children recite as they give grace would not divide them but unite them within my little home. Until I can afford and create one such house, I ask you all to keep your children safe and do give to those children who are sleeping with an empty stomach. Hold on to the children of this world, through your blessed giving of love and kindness this holiday season.
Food should unite all of us, not divide. So, I have created a vegetarian meal where all differences are celebrated as we become one.
My vegetarian meals have found their guests throughout this world. United for humanity we the humans are. So, all my inspiration and love I have found are from you the humans with humanity. Thankful I was for the blessed Thanksgiving menu I had created for my gift was given as you all have accepted my Thanksgiving menu. Today, I have again created my Christmas dinner menu for all of you.
Vegetarians and non-vegetarians can all enjoy a great vegetarian meal. Today, you can invite all of your friends to your vegetarian dinner table without worrying about what to serve. Take inspiration from the colorful rainbows and the beautiful tulip fields. Know The Artist, The Creator has placed all colors within one art as we were created differently but placed within one world. So we the humans can accept all different humans and different food choices and place them upon one dinner table to share with all.
India, the land of spices, has given this world luxurious vegetarian meals to share throughout this world.
I have traveled through Mexico, the Caribbean islands, Europe, Asia, and Australia (These are the places or continents I have traveled to. All the others, I have not traveled to, so I hope I am not offending anyone. I will travel to you all one day.) I found vegetarian meals have taken their places within all hotels and fast food restaurants. As I was in the Netherlands trying to order food, I found unknown men and women stand by my side. They explained to the waiters and helped me with the menus. These strangers also tried to give a carbohydrate calculation. I stood watching these unknown strangers. I wondered are they vegetarian or diabetic?
They replied no they were not vegetarians but respected vegetarianism and were just trying to help. I had hugged so many unknown Dutch strangers who had given hugs back to me and reminded me they were from the land of the Peace Palace. Food unites the travelers to the cultures of this world as we all unite upon the dinner tables in union.
Again this Christmas, I have made my vegetarian dinner menu for you the vegetarians to have and you the non-vegetarians to keep for your vegetarian family and friends.
Let us light a candle for all different race, color, and religion upon our dinner tables, as we give grace this holiday season. Spirituality is a path and you are the traveler. Life is a journey where you are on a vacation. Not all days will be as we plan. Yet, the diary will be written as you complete your journey through life. Through this journey, may we find one another as friends and blessings for one another. Be there for all the human race as they are all there for you.
My blessings be with all of you as you decorate your dinner tables. Do light the candles of hope for yourself and all others whom walk by you. All candles of hope will then be blessed with the helping hands of all humans united.
Vegetarian Christmas Dinner Menu:
STARTERS:
EGGPLANT FRITTERS
Ingredients
- 2 Eggplants
- 2 Cups Almond Flour
- 7 Eggs (or equivalent egg substitute)
- 1 Pinch Salt
- 1 Pinch black pepper
- Olive Oil (as needed for deep frying)
Instructions
- Cut eggplants into small pieces.
- Dip the eggplant pieces in a batter made out of almond flour or chickpea flour and eggs or egg substitute.
- Add salt and pepper to taste. Fry in oil and do dry out the excess oil on a paper towel. I personally use olive oil.
JALAPEÑO POPPERS
Ingredients
- Jalapeños As Needed
- Cream Cheese As Needed
- Shredded Cheese As Needed
Instructions
- Cut jalapeños in half. Scoop out the inside, leaving the shell.
- In a separate bowl, mix cream cheese and shredded cheese.
- Fill the jalapeño shells with the cream cheese and shredded cheese mixture.
- Top with shredded cheese and bake for 10 to 15 minutes. Serve hot.
MAIN COURSE:
PASTRIES WITH BEYOND BEEF VEGETARIAN PLANT-BASED GROUND MEAT
Ingredients
- 3 Carb Mission Tortillas (Street Taco Variety For Small Pastries)
- Precooked vegetarian plant-based ground
- Eggs (Or Egg Substitute)
- Water
Instructions
- Place a small spoonful of precooked vegetarian plant-based ground (follow direction on box to cook the ground) on half of a tortilla, making sure to leave the edges exposed.
- Fold the tortilla in half like a taco shell, covering the filling. Dip your fingers in water and pinch/press the edges with your fingers to seal the pastry shut.
- In a separate bowl, have a few eggs (mixed) or some egg substitute ready.
- Dip the pastry in the egg mixture and immediately fry the pastry. Make sure there is not any extra egg mixture on the pastry before frying.
- Fry until golden brown. As the egg is cooked, the pastry is done.
VEGETABLE SOUP
Ingredients
- 1 Yellow Squash
- 2 Boxes Mushrooms
- 1 Bell Pepper
- 2 Jalapeños
- Lemon Grass (Half Bunch)
- 2 Green Chilies
- 1 Box Vegetable Stock
- Salt (To Taste)
- Pepper (To Taste)
- 2 Tomatoes
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a pot and boil together.
- I add green chilies to make it spicy. Please avoid green chilies if you don’t take it spicy.
- Let it all cook together. I usually cook for 20 minutes.
CRANBERRY SAUCE
Ingredients
- 1 Bag Fresh Cranberries
- 1 Cups Blueberries
- 2 Cups Splenda
- 1 1/2 Packets Pectin
Instructions
- In a pot, boil the cranberries.
- Then, add Splenda, blueberries, and pectin as you turn the stove off.
- Mix all of the ingredients and place in the bowl you will be serving.
- Place in refrigerator overnight. I top with blackberries and sour cream.
BAKED TOFURKEY
Ingredients
- Quorn Meatless Roast
- Olive Oil To Taste
- Italian Seasoning Few Pinches
- 1/2 Box Vegetable Broth
- Salt To Taste
- Pepper To Taste
Instructions
- Mix ingredients: olive oil, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper to marinate the roast.
- Place in the oven and pour vegetable broth on it.
- You can add potatoes and other vegetables to the baking pan and place in oven.
- I slow cook for two hours. For each roast though, it is suggested an hour of baking time. I added extra items so increased the cooking time.
VEGETABLE LEMON FRIED RICE WITH BAKED BEYOND MEAT BEYOND BURGER
Ingredients
- 4 Cups Low Glycemic Index Basmati Rice
- Beyond Burger
- Lemongrass (1 Bunch)
- Fresh Lemon Juice
- Mixed Vegetables (Of Your Choice)
- 1 Carton Vegetable Broth
- Salt To Taste
- Pepper To Taste
- Olive Oil
Instructions
- Place all the ingredients in olive oil and fry the rice for a few minutes.
- Add 9 cups of water and boil the rice.
- Turn the stove to medium heat and then to low heat as the rice cooks. I usually double the water but increased by a cup as I had extra items added to the rice.
- To bake the beyond burgers follow directions on the box and after baking, slice and place them on the cooked rice.
BAKED BEYOND BURGER WITH FRENCH FRIES
Ingredients
- Baked Beyond (Store Bought)
- French Fries (Store Bought)
Instructions
- Bake in oven and follow directions written on the packaging.
STIR FRY PARVAL
Ingredients
- 2 Packets Parval
- Olive Oil
- 1 tsp Curry Powder
- Chili Powder (As Needed)
- 1 tbsp Lemon Juice
- Salt To Taste
- Pepper To Taste
- 1/2 Bottle J.L Kraft Chipotle Aioli
Instructions
- Marinate all of the vegetables in olive oil, curry powder, chipotle aioli, chili powder, salt, and pepper.
- Add lemon juice while marinating.
- Then, fry in olive oil until crunchy.
MASHED CAULIFLOWER WITH BEYOND MEAT BEYOND BURGERS
Ingredients
- 3 Packets Mashed Cauliflower
- 4 Beyond Burgers
- 1 Cup Vegetarian Broth
- 1 tbsp Olive Oil
- Salt To Taste
- Pepper To Taste
- Jalapeñoes
Instructions
- First, cook the mashed cauliflower according to the box.
- Substitute water for vegetable broth and add salt and pepper to taste. I also added cut jalapeñoes.
- I precooked the beyond burgers and added it to the mix as I served the dish.
DESSERTS
DOUBLE LAYER CAKE WITH WHIPPED CHEESE CREAM FROSTING
Ingredients
- 2 Boxes Swerve Sweets Cake Mix (And Ingredients Required For The Cake Mix As Indicated On Box)
- 1 Box Heavy Whipping Cream
- 16 Ounces Whipped Cream Cheese
- 1/2 Cup Splenda (Adjust To Taste)
- 1 tbsp Vanilla
Instructions
- These cakes are low in carb and can be layered as you wish. These were store bought boxes and I bake according to the box. I baked two cakes, chocolate and vanilla, and then layered them on top of each other.
- I however made the cream cheese whipped cream separately, I used one 16 oz cream cheese container and one bottle of heavy whipping cream. Add one tablespoon vanilla and Splenda to taste and keep on mixing until you have your preferred consistency. I mix using an electric hand mixer. The bowl you beat everything in should be chilled beforehand. I then added pecans to top the cake. You could also add berries or anything you prefer. I bake it this way to keep the carb counts low.
ICE CREAM
CHOCOLATE PASTRIES
I hope you enjoy creating these items as I have enjoyed making them. For nutritional values and carbohydrate calculation, please check each item as per your personal needs. These are all however low-carb in general. I always check my blood sugar level after each meal to see if the particular food had affected my blood sugar level. Personally, some foods low on carbohydrates effect my blood sugar level. However, some foods do not affect me at all. Always check the food calculations yourself.
Let the season of love, joy, and harmony not leave without you being on board. Always remember, it is you who drives the vehicle, for the vehicle does not drive you.
Find peace, joy, and harmony for yourself first then all around you will be filled within peace, joy, and harmony.
This holiday season, gift yourself and all sharing dinner at your table peace, joy, and harmony, through your blessings for them as they shall give their blessings upon you too.
Here are some more behind-the-scenes pictures from my menu:
Blessings from Seattle,
