This is going to be the 5th year of going to my mom's for Thanksgiving and being a vegan. It started actually 7 years ago as a vegetarian, and she made a big deal of it then. Being vegan has just made things worse. Every year I tell her I'll make something for everyone, or just myself, and she INSISTS that I don't. But then she always reminds me how hard it is because I'm the only one who is vegan.

Actually one of my sons is a vegetarian now, and my daughter is on a low FODMAP diet for the time being as recommended by her dietitian, so this year has become a mini-crises for her. This year the big thing is butter. Apparently EVERYTHING has butter in it she said except the salad. I told her if she doesn't want me cooking then she can use a vegan substitute, like Earth Balance. Her response? That she's concerned about "synthetics". If I had hair I would have ripped some out! THAT'S what she's concerned about? I didn't bother to ask her what she meant exactly because I didn't want it escalating. I finally put my foot down and told her that she can either let me cook for me and my kids and bring it over, or she can let me teach her how to cook with vegan alternatives. She finally acquiesced and said I could bring enough over for us but not everyone as no one would want any. Nevermind the poached pears she asked me to make which I have for the past 4 years and are vegan.

It really bugs me because before going vegan, I used to be in charge more or less of all the cooking. Now that I'm vegan I'm treated like all I know how to do is make bland healthy food with the consistency of rice cakes.

Sorry for the rant, but I needed to get this off my chest.