An Alternative Christmas

Apart from the customary turkey, most of the rest of Christmas dinner dishes are vegetarian-potatoes, sweet potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, salad, and oodles of fresh vegetables. So this Christmas, why not take that extra step and try a completely vegetarian dinner? Going vegetarian doesn't necessarily mean losing traditional ingredients or any of the savoury tastes. In fact, many vegetarian Christmas recipes jazz up traditional tastes and enhance them. Visit the Web sites listed below for some great new twists on potatoes and stuffing. The Vegetarian Society's Broccoli Cream Cheese and Pear and Almond Soup looks especially good and would make a great starter for the big day. Or try a tofu turkey dish, finished off with Italian chocolate nut cookies-vegan, of course. You'll feel healthier having not stuffed yourself with protein and starch, and who knows, maybe vegetarian dishes will become a new Christmas tradition in your house.

• The Vegetarian Society: www.vegsoc.org/info/xmas.html
• International Vegetarian Union: www.ivu.org/recipes/holiday/
• Veg Web: www.vegweb.com/food/events/index-xmas.shtml