thanksgiving

Lindsey | Dolly and Oatmeal

GARLIC LOVER'S MASHED CAULIFLOWER by Lindsey | Dolly and Oatmeal


i feel like we’ve hit somewhat of a stride with our day-to-day. i just cracked the code on getting dinner on the table for all of us at the same time, which has been a job in it of itself since amesy eats a different dinner than us (small steps!). and while there’s more meltdowns and overly emotional outbursts, amesy is becoming such a little person and it’s just been the biggest joy to witness. he’s recently been talking and chatting, and describing his little world with such enthusiasm (and intensity at times). i couldn’t be more thankful, especially this time of year that i get to call him mine.

part of why i’ve been trying to get us all to eat together is to get amesy more interested in different food since he can be apprehensive in trying new things. that’s where this recipe comes in. it’s easy, a cinch to make, and is so delicious. your toddler will likely love it, and yes, it’s perfect for your holiday table, too! basically, it checks all the boxes.

it’s really just a basic cauliflower whip made a bit more vegan/special diet-friendly, and whipped up with roasted garlic and garlic salt for a garlic lover’s dream of creamy goodness. it’s a riff off of the mashed potatoes my mom used to make with the biggest difference there being that.she used onion salt. but she would whip them so creamy, with little-to-no lumps, so that’s what i was going for here. with all the carb-loading this holiday season this dish is quite the welcome.

biggest holiday hugs going out to you! forever thankful for this community!

xo’s!



garlic lovers mashed cauliflower | v & gf

  • not all vegan butter is created equal. i tend to use miyoko’s, but earth balance is pretty good too. just keep an eye out for how much salt the butter contains (if any) this will be an indicator of how much salt you use in the recipe.

  • i call for garlic salt, if you don’t have it, see below for the recipe*

print the recipe!

| serves 4 |

  • 1 head garlic

  • avocado oil

  • 1 head cauliflower, cut into florets

  • 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk, at room temp

  • 3 tablespoons vegan butter

  • 1-1/2 teaspoons garlic salt

  • fresh ground pepper

  • 1 tablespoon chopped herbs (i used a mix of sage, thyme, and rosemary)

  • 1 tablespoon chopped parsley

  • extra virgin olive oil (optional)

*garlic salt

  • mix together 1 tablespoon fine sea salt, with 1 teaspoon garlic powder. store in a lidded container at room temperature for up to 3 months.



method

  1. preheat oven to 400°F. slice the top of the garlic to expose the garlic cloves. place the garlic head on foil, and spray or drizzle with the oil to coat. fold it loosely to make a packet. cook until the garlic cloves are tender, roughly 30-40 minutes. remove from the oven and let cool.

  2. place cauliflower florets into the basket of a steamer.  bring about 1-inch of water to a boil and set the steamer inside, cover and cook until very tender, about 12-15 minutes.

  3. while the cauliflower is steaming, get your other ingredients ready. place 2 roasted garlic cloves, milk, butter, 1 teaspoon garlic salt, and pepper into the container of a food processor fitted with a metal “s” blade.

  4. carefully transfer the cauliflower to the food processor and blend until creamy and fluffy, scraping down the sides as needed, about 45 seconds. taste the mashed cauli, add more roasted garlic, garlic salt as needed, and pulse once more to combine.

  5. place the mashed cauliflower in a serving bowl and sprinkle with the herbs and a few drizzles of olive oil (if using). serve hot.


similar recipes:

sweet & spicy cauliflower cups

sweet & spicy cauliflower cups

roasted fingerlings w/ garlicky-turmeric sauce

roasted fingerlings w/ garlicky-turmeric sauce

garlicky tamari roasted chickpea salad

garlicky tamari roasted chickpea salad

(VEGAN) HASSELBACK POTATO & SHALLOT GRATIN by Lindsey | Dolly and Oatmeal


i’m going to keep this short since i think we can all agree that potatoes - especially creamy potatoes - speak for themselves. essentially, this dish is a combination of the thin slices of hasselback potatoes, combined with the creaminess that is a potato au gratin. there’s a sauce that includes almond milk simmered with garlic, and mixed with soaked cashews, some nutritional yeast, and a couple other pantry goods. it smothers said potato slices, and then is topped with vegan cheese shreds. it’s a pretty easy dish to compile, and quite inexpensive as well, if i may add. the most labor intensive part comes when you arrange the potatoes and shallots vertically in your pan, other than that, it’s a pretty smooth ride for something so delicious :)

this pot of potatoes could possibly feed a small army, or some very hungry guests at your thanksgiving or holiday table. i’ve included some recipe notes below that may answer some questions. i truly hope you get the chance to make this one, it’s so good :)

happy days, friends. xo!



HASSELBACK POTATO & SHALLOT GRATIN | v/gf

notes -

  • using a mandolin is your best bet here. it streamlines the process, and gives you even slices and guarantees even cooking.

  • vegan cheese tip - if there’s a preferred shredded vegan cheese brand you like, go for it. however, i prefer using miyoko’s vegan mozzarella. the flavor is on point, and it melt, bubbles, and browns like dairy-based cheese. the only down side is that it’s super soft. while you could definitely crumble the cheese, i like throwing it in the freezer for 10-15 minutes, then using the large holes on box grater.

  • this dish is best made the day of. unfortunately it tends to dry out if you make it ahead and try to reheat (i haven’t tried to reheat leftovers in the microwave, however. let me know if you try!).

PRINT THE RECIPE!

cream

  • 3/4 cup cashews, soaked for at least 3 hours or overnight, drained and rinsed

  • 2 cups unsweetened almond milk

  • 5 cloves garlic

  • 2 1/2 teaspoons salt

  • a few cracks fresh pepper

  • 1/2 cup nutritional yeast

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons dijon mustard

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar

potatoes & shallots

  • extra virgin olive oil

  • salt & pepper

  • 4-5 lbs (about 6-8) russet potatoes, peeled

  • 5 shallots

  • 2-3 sprigs fresh thyme, plus more for garnish

  • 4 ounces shredded vegan cheese



method

  1. preheat oven to 325°F.

  2. make the cream. combine the almond milk, garlic, salt and pepper in a small saucepan. bring to a simmer, and whisk frequently, until the garlic cloves are tender, about 12-15 minutes. let cool for about 10 minutes.

  3. pour the almond milk mixture into the container of an upright blender. add the cashews, nutritional yeast, dijon, and vinegar. blend on high until everything is creamy and smooth, about 45 seconds. taste and adjust any seasonings (keep in mind: the sauce will be quite salty, that’s ok since we don’t season the potatoes). set aside.

  4. oil the bottom and sides of a 3 - 3 1/2 quart baking dish, braiser, cast iron pan, etc. sprinkle the bottom with coarse sea salt, a couple cracks of fresh pepper, and a few thyme sprigs.

  5. using a mandolin (or if you have really great knife skills, a sharp knife), carefully slice the potatoes and shallots very thin, about 1/8-inch thick. fan the potatoes out vertically, making your way from the edge of the pan into the interior as you go. wedge the shallot slices between the potatoes. you want everything to cook evenly, so pack them, but not too tightly. sprinkle over the remaining thyme, then evenly spread the cheese over top as well.

  6. cover tightly with parchment paper, and then with foil. carefully transfer to the oven and bake for 60-80 minutes, until potatoes are tender. remove the parchment and foil and increase the heat to broil. broil until the cheese is lightly browned in spots and bubbling, about 5-10 minutes.

  7. remove from the oven and garnish with more thyme. let the potatoes cool for 20-30 minutes before serving.


more thanksgiving recipes:


vegan twice baked potatoes w/ pumpkin seed dukkah

vegan twice baked potatoes w/ pumpkin seed dukkah

cheesy herb-crusted squash

cheesy herb-crusted squash

ginger apple crumble pie

ginger apple crumble pie

8 Make-Ahead Sides, Salads 'N' Soups For Thanksgiving by Lindsey | Dolly and Oatmeal


hi guys! popping in here real quick before the holiday to lend some thanksgiving recipe inspiration in case you're in need.  if you're anything like me (a major procrastinator!), then maybe you do ;)  we're having quite a bit of people over this year and all of our guests are pitching in, so it doesn't seem too overwhelming, at least not yet - there's still time!  

my family's general meals tend to made ahead of time, or at least parts of it get prepared ahead of time.  so i thought it might be helpful to some of you to round up some make-ahead side dishes, salads, and soups, that can be prepared (or mostly prepared) and heated up or brought to room temperature the day of.  

i wish you all a lovely holiday.  i can for sure say that i'm so thankful for you all and the opportunity to connect through this space.  big holiday squeezes to each of you! xo


turmeric carrot apple soup

this soup is definitely one of my favorites flavor-wise.  i make a version of this with winter squash each year but  swapped the squash for carrots.  the carrots make for a more subdued sweetness and a thinner consistency which is nice and light for a heavy thanksgiving meal.  mixed together with the tart apple and the earthy turmeric, makes for a beautiful flavor that only gets better the longer the soup rests.  perfect to make a couple days beforehand.

kabocha squash, fennel & ginger soup w/ spicy coconut cream

this is my go-to, never-fail, fall soup.  it has so many bright flavors that play nicely off of one another, and the spicy coconut cream brings it all together.  kabocha squash isn't easy to find everywhere, but you can easily replace it with your winter squash of choice.

charred broccoli & red onion salad w/ shaved apples & arugula

another salad that's heavy on the veg and light on the lettuce which makes for another great make-ahead dish.  the broccoli and red onion are roasted, then added to shaved, crisp apples and peppery arugula.  then it's all tossed together with a creamy lemon dressing.

twice baked sweet potatoes w/ pumpkin seed dukkah

twice baked potatoes are an easy make-ahead recipe for your thanksgiving table. you could easily make these 1-2 days before serving, and once you heat them they will be perfect for serving.

stuffed za'atar roasted acorn squash w/ pepper-lemon tahini dressing

this dish has a few steps, but it makes for a great side, or meal for any guest who's vegetarian or vegan.

fennel-roasted carrot & shallot salad w/ shaved apples

lettuce-less salad at it's best! another super simple recipe to put together ahead of time.  the only work required is roasting up some carrots and shallots, and add ing sliced some apples to it.  easy-peasy.

sprouted brown rice pilaf w/ roasted grapes & fennel

what i love about this dish it that it gives off thanksgiving stuffing vibes without the bread.  and aside from roasting the grapes, it's a one-pot wonder!  and you can totally make it ahead of time ;)

warm fingerling potatoes with garlic-turmeric sauce

if you're wanting to go a different than mashed potatoes, this potato salad of sorts is a great way to get around that.  the sauce is the total boss here.  it's a super creamy, dairy-free yogurt mixed with turmeric, garlic, and a bit of tahini which coats the potatoes each part of the in the best way.