Vegan Turkey for Thanksgiving

For vegans and vegetarians, the Thanksgiving holiday is the cruelest time of year. It's hard to resist joining in on the ritual of eating a bit too much turkey, gravy, and stuffing.

Several years ago, we discovered of a recipe for tofu turkey, and with its reasonable approximation of the real thing it has become a family tradition. Little "legs" are formed from mashed tofu, to be placed on either side of the-- well, carcass. This main part of the turkey is formed by pressing mashed tofu into a colander lined with cheesecloth, then inverting this domed shape onto a baking sheet. The bird is marinaded with a mixture that uses dark sesame oil (available at Asian food markets) for a hint of meatiness.