There is no problem producing a tasty and nutritious vegetarian or vegan meal, even one that can please the carnivores on your guest list.  Putting together a vegetarian meal with the festive qualities for a celebration like Christmas is another thing.  Since in our culture we equate such a meal with a central focus of a roasted bird or joint of meat, well, an eggplant or veggie burger can leave a bit to be desired.  With a little creative energy however, it is well within the reaches of a thoughtful cook to produce a special holiday meal, free from flesh, which will produce a celebratory atmosphere befitting the holiday.

At our house we always have the holiday meal in the evening, not mid day.  To stave off starvation during the early part of the day, and to keep guests occupied while I am in the kitchen, I always provide an array of tasty munchies for midday munching.  An elegant Baked Brie fits the bill and an Antipasto tray is an excellent thing to serve before the meal begins, particularly since it can be a delight for the vegans on your guest list.  It can be as simple or as complex as you care to make it.  You can simply open cans and jars of prepared items like olives, Marinated Mushrooms, Roasted Peppers, pickled veggies, artichoke hearts, baby corn etc. or you may prepare some of them yourself.  Be creative.  Sometimes I open several cans of assorted beans, marinate them in a good Italian dressing, with extra garlic of course, and add them to the antipasto tray.  Accompany your tray with slices of baguette or Whole-Grain Bread.  For non vegans you can of course add several nice cheeses, wedges of hard-boiled eggs, Pickled Eggs or Basic Deviled Eggs.

Dips accompanied by Crudités and flour tortillas or pita are another easy and delectable choice for pre dinner munching.  These are some of my favorites.  Some for vegetarians and some for vegans.  All are delectable.

Guacamole

Blue Cheese Dip

Spinach Dip

Three Cheese Dip

Black Olive Dip

Roasted Garlic & Herb Dip

Garden Fresh Herb Dip

Curried Pineapple Dip

Hummus

Now on to dinner.  How about beginning the meal with a lovely Fresh Mushroom Soup, with chunks of fresh baguette of home-made Honey Whole-Grain Bread?

For the main event consider a delectable Vegetarian Loaf served with Vegetarian Mushroom Gravy and Yorkshire Pudding or a festive Vegetarian & Vegan Pot Pie, filled with mushrooms, pearl onions and chestnuts.  For side dishes consider any or all of the following:

Brussels Sprouts with Almonds – Glazed Carrots - Minted Peas

New Potatoes in Horseradish Cream Sauce

Christmas Eve Salad

Spiced Apples – Mulled Wine Jelly

And for dessert there’s;

                      Plum Pudding or Traditional English Trifle.

Now, there is a meal truly befitting of the holidays, delicious and delightful, festive and celebratory and hey, guess what; it will even please the carnivores on your guest list.