My stepkids just had their first Tofurkey holiday.

[HopeHoops]

2. We grow blue potatoes - they are beautiful, especially mashed.

Mashed cauliflower is good, but I tend to add hot sauce to it rather that gravy (on my plate, not the entire dish). We've been vegetarian (eggs and dairy) for over 20 years, but I've never tried Tofurkey. Veggie dogs are really good, especially over an open fire and we like a few of the veggie burgers (not the Boca type). The Morning Star "veggie strips" are great for a quick BLT, and all of the kids love the links and "chik" nuggets/patties. We prefer the products that have their own flavor rather than those that try to be a duplicate of meat (with the noted exception of the veggie dogs). Mostly we cook from scratch, but the kids like a few of the fast-cook things, especially if they're in a hurry.

Have you tried the cauliflower that's green and looks like a fractal? I forget what they call it - little spirals instead of heads. Purple and orange are good too, but BEWARE! Do NOT steam different colors in the same pan/steamer. They turn a sickly gray. They taste fine, but you sort of have to close your eyes. It sounds like a good idea, but don't do it. It's better to use the multiple colors on a salad. That's pretty.

My meatasaurus brother-in-law devoured a vegan lasagna I made 20+ years ago. I mashed soft tofu with a little paprika, oregano, basil, and probably some other things, and used it in place of ricotta. He loved it until he found out the "cheese" was tofu. It's not easy to introduce people to vegan/vegetarian foods, but it sounds like you did a great job! I'm glad it turned out well.