Dating A Vampire: The Holiday Dinner

So you’ve been dating a vampire for several months now and you’re ready to introduce him to your family. It’s the holiday season and everyone will be gathering at your parents’ house; what better time and place to introduce them to the love of your life? Now, while you’re obsessing over how your family will react when they meet your darling love, try to remember to be sensitive to his circumstance as well.

The hallmark of Thanksgiving and Christmas is the big family dinner. You’ll sit down at the table with your vamp boyfriend by your side. Everyone else will be exchanging nervous glances as they pass the yams and the dinner rolls. But your sweetheart won’t be able to partake of any of it. Maybe he’ll be polite and fill his plate, but he won’t actually eat any of it. (Word of advice, don’t let that become a topic of discussion at the table; someone’s likely to faint.)

What’s a decent fellow to do when he’s literally allergic to everything on the dinner menu except the guests? Well, if you’re a sensitive girlfriend, you’ll plan ahead with a special treat just for him.

Bloody Mary

Photo by Gina Collecchia under Creative Commons license

This tantalizing drink will blend in a little in front of the other guests. Top with a slice of veal or other juicy raw meat. Don’t forget to label the mixture in the fridge so someone else doesn’t decide to try it.

Food allergies can really dampen the holidays. They create a barrier that prevents a person from fully participating in the festivities, which are usually centered around food. Even though I would sit at the Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner table with a scoop of mashed potatoes on my plate, I always felt like I was really standing outside with my face pressed against the window as everyone else “mmmed” and “ahhed” over the other delicacies. If you’re going to have a holiday guest with food restrictions, try to make something special for them. Or better yet, try to adapt the whole meal with substitutes. There are some great and tasty alternatives out there. Besides, the holidays aren’t about the food, but about the people you share it with.

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Let Them Eat French Toast

It’s time for Friday Fancies!  Earlier this week Catie Rhodes blogged on household tips that are cheap or make your life easier, from cleaning to cooking: “Household Hacks.”

So here’s my tip for the person who’s too busy to make a scrumptious breakfast every morning.  Not only that, but I hate to cook, so I’ll include a recipe “shortcut.”

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and for me, fitting protein in is a challenge.  French Toast is a great way to get that needed protein and enjoy a delicious breakfast.  So first, here’s my recipe.  Note: I don’t actually use measurements, so these are approximations.  Catie wanted to know how I kept the French Toast from sticking to the pan.  I honestly don’t know, but if you have that problem, maybe you can compare recipes and see if something I do makes the difference.

Ingredients

* A loaf of bread (I use brown rice bread)

* 2 eggs (if you’re going to make the entire loaf)

* 1/2 cup of milk (I use almond milk)–my mom informs me this is too much, but I try to make the mixture last long enough to use up the whole loaf, and I’ve never noticed a problem.  Again, the measurement is an approximation.

* 1 tsp vanilla (I probably use a little more because I love the flavor)

* Cinnamon (as much as you want, IMO)

Mix all ingredients in a bowl, dunk the bread, and fry in a pan already heated to temp on medium high.  Make as much as you want, because after they all cool, put them in serving-size Ziploc bags and store them in the freezer.  When you want them for breakfast later in the week, just pop them in the toaster on defrost!

Want a little something extra to make that French Toast interesting?  Take 1/2 package of cream cheese (or Tofutti) and 3 Tbs of your favorite jam and mix together.  Store it in the fridge as an easy spread.  (I adapted that from a recipe for stuffed French Toast.  See what I mean about shortcuts?  I am so not a gourmet chef.)  Add real fruit for an even tastier meal!

That’s it.  I hope you find this trick for the kitchen useful in your busy lives.

Have any recipe shortcuts to share or tips on making good food with a busy schedule?  (Or for people like me who just don’t like spending time in the kitchen.)  I love hearing from you!