Chances are there will be at least one vegan (maybe you?) at most holiday gatherings this year. We talked with PETA member Madeline Karpel about how to “veganize” favorite holiday recipes … and perhaps even start some new traditions.

When did you go vegan, and what was your inspiration?

I went vegan 10 years ago when my daughter showed me “Meet Your Meat,” a video that shows how animals are raised and killed for meat, dairy products, and eggs. I saw images of a pig, who I learned was as intelligent as my dog Duncan, going insane from being locked in a metal crate for 24 hours a day. After seeing those images just once, I immediately started eating only plant-based foods. I did it for the animals, but I got some unexpected benefits to my own body. I no longer needed any medications, including pills that managed high blood pressure, and I lost 30 pounds that I have been easily able to keep off for 10 years.

Is your whole family vegan?

Yes, my husband, three daughters, three sons-in-law, and three grandchildren are all vegan. I appreciate how easy this makes our Thanksgivings and other family meals. I’m very proud of my family!

Madeline and her adopted grand-pup London

As a vegan, what do you do differently than your parents during the holidays?

It is traditional to dip apples in honey for the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah. Instead, we dip our apples in maple syrup, which is just as sweet as honey and just as meaningful to us. In this way, we avoid the cruelty of taking honey from bees.

My parents and grandparents made roasts, chopped liver, and egg noodle dishes as traditional holiday fare. My family has a great time creating vegan versions of these foods. We’re lucky to live in a time when being vegan is in the mainstream enough that you can buy mock meats at almost every market in any city. Plus, you can search online to find a vegan version of any dish. This year, we might take on the challenge of making vegan gefilte fish! My husband makes a delicious vegan brisket, and we have perfected the vegan matzo ball for Hanukkah (the secret is soft tofu). We also order a water challah with no eggs from our local bakery.

What new traditions have you created since going vegan?

As I mentioned above, we dip our apples in maple syrup instead of honey on Rosh Hashanah. When celebrating any holiday, we always offer up thoughts and prayers for the animals who are suffering. My family celebrated Hanukkah one year by making dog and cat toys for our local shelter instead of presents for each other.

Madeline and her daughter Melissa protesting Ringling in LA

Any favorite recipes?

I love making vegan chopped liver for all the holidays. It’s really easy and always a family favorite. It’s a mixture of sautéed onions, mushrooms, walnuts, and a little salt and pepper that we mix into a pâté—that’s it! It’s so good spread on matzo. Even non-vegan guests love it and add it to their own holiday tables.

Have the holidays taken on any different meaning to you since you went vegan?

Absolutely. Passover is a holiday to celebrate the liberation of the Jews from slavery. It just didn’t make sense to celebrate freedom over a meal that involved slavery to animals. The holiday took on a whole new meaning to us once we eliminated animal-sourced foods from our table. We now truly celebrate a holiday of freedom with delicious and cruelty-free foods.

PETA member Madeline Karpel lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Don. They are guardians to adopted dogs Bailey and Duncan and cats Belle and Gus. They also have a rescued macaw named Magic. Madeline teaches “grandma and me classes” at a local temple. She loves spending time with her grandchildren. She also enjoys joining protests with her adult children in order to speak up for animals.