Turkey Alternatives
This vegan protein is made by coagulating soy milk and pressing the curds into a block.
What is tofu?
While hibernating in its den, this common NWCT animal’s heart rate can drop from a typical 50 beats per minute to just 8 beats per minute. It won’t be going through anyone’s garbage cans in that state!
What is a black bear?
Talk about a serial monogamist! This English king’s marital drama led to the formation of the Church of England after the pope refused to let him divorce Catherine of Aragon. He proceeded to be married a total of six times.
Who was Henry VIII?
This action film stars Bruce Willis as Detective John McClane, who must fight his way out of a skyscraper and reunite with his wife Holly on Christmas Eve.
What is Die Hard (1998)?
This pop star, in the video for his single “Thriller,” comes onstage as a zombified version of himself.
Who was Michael Jackson?
Born in Missouri and famous for his novels taking place on the Mississippi, this author lived for many years in Hartford, CT where you can still visit his house.
Who was Mark Twain?
This small legume is packed with protein, comes in a variety of colors, and can be used in soups, salads, curries, sweets, breads, and more. (If you’re adventurous, I have a particularly good “meat” loaf recipe featuring them!)
What are lentils?
Although some types of this animal do hibernate, the common gray example you’re likely to see in your NWCT backyard actually does not. It relies on bulking up through increased food consumption in fall, combined with stashing supplies of nuts and seeds, to make it through the winter.
What is a squirrel?
This Roman emperor had a complicated relationship with his mother, Agrippina the Younger, whose scheming helped him ascend to the throne. That assistance didn’t stop him from having her murdered. Ungrateful kids!
Who was Nero?
Things go awry quickly in this film after protagonist Billy receives a cute, furry creature that shouldn't eat after midnight as a Christmas present.
What is Gremlins (1984)?
This English pop-star and actor put on a variety of personas in the course of his career. Among the most famous was Ziggy Stardust, an alien musician who comes to a dying Earth to deliver a message of hope (and rock and roll).
Who was David Bowie?
This author, who wrote Uncle Tom’s Cabin, was born in Litchfield, CT and lived next to Mark Twain in Hartford.
Who was Harriet Beecher Stowe?
This food, also known as miànjīn, has been prepared since ancient times and is created by separating the wheat gluten protein from wheat flour through a process known as “washing the dough” or “washing flour.” (If you want to make your own, though, it’s probably easier to just buy the vital wheat gluten from the store.)
What is seitan?
Some types of this amphibian hibernate underwater or in deep soil below the frost line, but other species that aren’t as good at swimming or digging can actually freeze during the winter, then thaw out unharmed in the spring.
What is a frog?
This US president’s last words were, “Thomas Jefferson still survives.” Little did he know that his longtime frenemy had actually died five hours earlier.
Who was John Adams?
This film includes a pair of memorable scenes in which the titular character carves ice sculptures using his strange bladed hands.
What is Edward Scissorhands (1990)?
This band created the character Blurryface, who for one of the singers “represents all the things that I as an individual, but also everyone around, are insecure about.”
Who are 21 Pilots?
Born in Hartford, this author wrote the popular Hunger Games series.
Who is Suzanne Collins?
This food is a dense cake made of fermented soybeans. Unlike tofu, the soybeans here remain whole.
What is tempeh?
It’s important to avoid disturbing the hibernation roosts of these flying mammals, especially because you run the risk of accidentally infecting the roost with highly fatal white nose syndrome, which spreads among the hibernating animals.
What is a bat?
Aristophanes, the Ancient Greek comedic playwright, penned a whole play making fun of this guy. In turn, the philosopher took a moment of his defense just before being sentenced to death by hemlock to complain about Aristophanes in particular.
Who was Socrates?
In this film, directed by Tim Burton and based on DC comics, a pair of penguin- and cat-themed supervillains kidnap the city’s beauty queen during a Christmas tree-lighting ceremony.
What is Batman Returns (1992)?
This techno duo disbanded in 2021, but before that, when they appeared in public, they did so under the guise of robot personas, complete with gloves and helmets to obscure their identities.
What is Daft Punk?
Born in Waterbury and raised in Litchfield, this author gained international success after the publication of her memoir Eat, Pray, Love.
Who is Elizabeth Gilbert?
This yellow powder has a nutty, cheesy flavor and can be a good vegan source of B vitamins.
What is nutritional yeast?
This little snake has several adaptations that make it well-suited to life in chilly New England, including hibernating and producing live young rather than laying eggs.
What is a garter snake?
This pigeon-loving weirdo may have been overshadowed in the history books by his rival Thomas Edison, but ultimately he did win the “War of the Currents,” as his alternating current (AC) systems could more safely transmit power over long distances.
Who was Nikola Tesla?
Katharine Hepburn stars as Eleanor of Aquitaine, returning from exile to celebrate Christmas in 1183 with her estranged husband and their three scheming sons. It’s not warm and fuzzy, but hey, what family hasn’t tried to kill each other to take the throne of England over the holidays?
What is The Lion in Winter (1968)?
Headed by George Clinton, this funk music collective had various science-fiction plotlines on their albums, with Clinton himself taking on alter egos like Starchild and Doctor Funkenstein.
What is Parliament-Funkadelic?
This famous playwright’s family spent summers in New London, CT. His deep New England roots influenced works such as Desire Under the Elms and Long Day’s Journey into Night.
Who was Eugene O’Neill?