Gardein Holiday Roast

Several weeks ago, I spotted this Gardein Holiday Roast on sale at my favorite grocery store (the Skagit Valley Food Co-op, in Mt Vernon, WA).  Of course I had to buy a box, since I’m always eager to try new vegan food products.

Gardein Holiday Roast

Since we’re skiing for 4 days over this New Year’s holiday weekend, I thought it would be the perfect time to cook up this animal-free treat.  The roast will feed Eric and I for 3 dinners.  The box suggests that the roast serves 8, but I think 6 servings is more realistic and appropriate.

Preparation is a snap…

1.  Keep the roast frozen until you’re ready to cook it.

2.  Prepare the (optional) Basting Glaze from the recipe on the box…

Whisk together:  1 T tamari, 1 t vegetable oil, 1 T orange marmalade, 2 T orange juice, 1 t Dijon mustard and 1/4 t dried thyme.

(I didn’t have orange marmalade, so I used the apricot jam that I already had in my fridge.  I also used all of the juice from a fresh-squeezed orange.)

3.  Place the frozen roast on top of your choice of veggies with about half of the glaze.  I chose onions and carrots.  My loaf pan was perfect for the job.

4.  Bake covered at 400 degrees for 30 minutes.  Drizzle half of the remaining glaze over the roast and bake another 15 minutes.  Repeat one more time, for a total of 60 minutes.

Basting Glaze and Frozen Gardein Holiday Roast

Cooked Gardein Holiday Roast with Basting Glaze over Carrots and Onions

Instead of baking the potatoes in the glaze (which probably would have been better), I baked 3 potatoes in a pan.

Baked Potatoes

The roast includes a 14 ounce gravy packet that you simply thaw and heat.  Note that we ate the whole packet of gravy in one night!  We didn’t need to skimp on the gravy since I made extra (Mmm…that would be the Mushroom Gravy recipe out of “Big Vegan,” by Robin Asbell.)

Gardein Homestyle Gravy

If you follow this blog, you’ll recognize this Pineapple Cranberry Sauce:

Pineapple Cranberry Sauce

We rounded out the meal with steamed broccoli and cauliflower.  After I took this picture I drenched everything with more gravy!

Basted Gardein Holiday Roast with Carrots & Onions, Baked Potato, Homestyle Gravy, Pineapple Cranberry Sauce, and Steamed Broccoli & Cauliflower

Finally, I must NOT forget to mention that the Gardein Holiday Roast is absolutely, utterly, and wonderfully delicious!  YUM.  I look forward to my next 2 dinners!

Speaking of forgetting…

I forgot to prepare a dessert…oh, BOO.  Instead, a spoonful of Wax Orchards Classic Fudge will have to do!