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Re: Vegan recipes/advice needed for omni boyf!
I sympathise with you totally Ara! My boyfriend is the same. :o
The one thing my boyfriend will happily eat with me is mushroom risotto. Rice (arborio is the best), mushrooms (dried & fresh), vegetable stock, onion, garlic, seasoning, white wine.....
Pretty straight forward to make but whatever you do keep stirring as it sticks to the pan really easily!
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Re: Vegan recipes/advice needed for omni boyf!
Fussy eater are annoying aren't they! I don't really understand myself - i've always been a food lover! hehe.
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Buffet for friends
My boyfriend and I am having some friends round Saturday evening for some food and drinks. There will be approx 15 people. I want to do a buffet if possible and make as much of it as I can(instead of buying pre-made stuff).
Everyone is omni apart from me so there will be meat and dairy stuff but I wanted to make some really nice vegan food for them to try.
Any suggestions on what I could make that isn't too difficult? I thought maybe a cous cous salad, some vegan choc cakes....
What else?
Thanks guys :D
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Re: Buffet for friends
Hi Raquelle,
things that immediately come to mind are crostini (little triangles of toast, or crackers, or crispbread) with a variety of spreads and dips - tapenade, various bean dips, baba ghanoush. Put the spreads on at the last minute, or let your guests do it, so the bread doesn't go soggy.
Also fresh veggies for dipping - sticks of pepper and celery, julienne carrots... All that could be made up in advance so you have loads of time for your guests :D
Little pizzas with lots of fresh veggies (you can serve these cold).
Or sushi :D
As for desserts, you could make a wicked cheesecake/key lime pie (or little individual ones) with a graham cracker/digestive biscuit base and vegan cream cheese or tofu topping. This is one area where you really can't tell the difference from a traditional cheese cake. And carrot cake...
Good luck with it all!
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Re: Buffet for friends
what about a large or individual tartlets with fillings like onion or roasted red pepper and roasted tomato? and extras like olives, capers, artichoke hearts?
there is always the cold pasta salad or bulgar wheat salad/couscous with fresh herbs and veggies in?
cold roasted veg like zucchini, pepper, mushrooms, scallions, celery, fennel?
cold potato salad made with vegannaise and chopped chives?
mini pittas filled at the last minute with grated carrot and fresh ginger with a dollop of hummous on top?
tortilla chips spread with canned refried beans and topped with salsa?
enjoy your day anyhow :)
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Re: Buffet for friends
I'll be round to yours for tea tonight, Cedarblue ;)
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Re: Buffet for friends
Quote:
fiamma
I'll be round to yours for tea tonight, Cedarblue ;)
weeeeellll - we'not having those things tonight but you're welcome to share our roast veg with dressing and new potato (from the garden) salad! :D
or - i am holidaying in italy next year, so i may appear on your doorstep for yummies ;)
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Re: Buffet for friends
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Re: Buffet for friends
Quote:
cedarblue
or - i am holidaying in italy next year, so i may appear on your doorstep for yummies ;)
Oh you must come by, Cedarblue - that would be wonderful!
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Re: Buffet for friends
Probably too late for you now, but my boyfriend and I made a lovely salad last night, which might be nice for people to dip into.
It was lettuce leaves with diced onion, fresh sun dried tomatoes, tomato and pepper cous-cous, pine nuts, roasted courgette, pepper and onion. All tossed together and it was scrummy!
Salads are made for summer!
Right now I'm looking forward to some vegan potato salad, vegan coleslaw, salad and a porkless pie for dinner!
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Re: Buffet for friends
how did your buffet go raquelle??
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Cooking for omnis
I've decided to cook dinner for a couple of friends. The problem is that the guy practically survives on a diet of meat only, and barely eats any vegetables at all :eek: I have cooked for them before, before I was vegan, and had a tapas party, and even cooked meat for him as a compromise :eek: But that was a while ago and this meal is going to be 100% vegan. Does anybody have any suggestions or experience of dishes that omnis and especially hardcore meat eaters have gone wild over? I'm thinking along the lines of a Mexican dinner - chilli with guacamole, salsa and all the trimmings, but any suggestions would be most welcome. :)
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Re: Help cooking for a hardcore carnivore!
I'd a roast dinner (but I am English!! :D ) with something Seitan or Veggie Ribs or a good Nut Roast, potatoes, stuffing, veg, etc, followed by fruit and soya ice-cream. Mmm, in fact I think that's what I'll do tonight :D .
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Re: Help cooking for a hardcore carnivore!
I think that sounds like a good idea. When theres no options he migth have to try to taste something new & different. He migth be picky. Or maybe he loves it.
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Re: Help cooking for a hardcore carnivore!
I think the Mexican idea would probably work well, or something else "ethnic" (maybe a roast dinner would qualify too in Italy :D).
I find it's usually better to feed omnivores something they wouldn't normally have, rather than a vegan version of something they would normally have, because that way it's harder to make comparisons. Sometimes they don't even notice that it's vegan.
Good luck!
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Re: Help cooking for a hardcore carnivore!
Legend has it that this guy once ate tofu :eek: , but sources are unreliable.. :D
Thanks for your replies by the way, all very valid suggestions and much appreciated.
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Re: Help cooking for a hardcore carnivore!
I'm rather mean about this sort of thing. Unless they have a particular dietary problem, they can eat what I serve all of my guests. You may want to try the whole Tofurkey meal in a box, I've never seen anyone who didn't like that. It comes with wonderful gravy, the tofurkey has stuffing inside and it comes with great apple dumplings. I just throw together a great salad, bread, some side veggies and an awesome dessert. If that's not good enough for them, then poo on them. Personally, I think it's a great tasting meal and a great choice to show them how good vegan food can be.
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Re: Help cooking for a hardcore carnivore!
what about curry with something like sweet potato & mushrooms as the main bulking agent?
if you need a recipe that cannot fail to impress let me know! we make in for omnis all the time and they love it :)
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Re: Help cooking for a hardcore carnivore!
Quote:
focus
I'm rather mean about this sort of thing. Unless they have a particular dietary problem, they can eat what I serve all of my guests. You may want to try the whole Tofurkey meal in a box, I've never seen anyone who didn't like that. It comes with wonderful gravy, the tofurkey has stuffing inside and it comes with great apple dumplings. I just throw together a great salad, bread, some side veggies and an awesome dessert. If that's not good enough for them, then poo on them. Personally, I think it's a great tasting meal and a great choice to show them how good vegan food can be.
focus:
I get what you're saying, but you have to admit that some types of vegan foods are more "acceptable" to omnis than others, generally speaking. I'm sure most people would agree that some naturally "omni" foods can very easily be veganised and they wouldn't really notice, such as chilli. Remember too that many types of processed foods, Tofurkey included, are not available everywhere, certainly not here in Italy. I've never seen Tofutti, Swedish Glace or Earth Balance. But I do agree that they should be happy to eat what I serve. I just want him to enjoy what he's eating, that's all!
cedarblue:
That recipe sounds great. Would you mind passing it on? :)
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Re: Help cooking for a hardcore carnivore!
I like your idea of a mexican meal, it has a strong flavour and good textures that should please most people.
I had a friend like yours who refused to eat vegetables at all, I cooked him a vegan meal but was economical with the truth until after the meal and after he'd said how much he enjoyed it. Had I told him before the meal that it was vegan he would probably have either refused to eat it or decided that he hated it before he even tried it.
Basically he was a fussy eater but then I think that most people who refuse to eat vegetables are.
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Re: Help cooking for a hardcore carnivore!
It could be a bit more work, but if you did it buffet-style with a lot of different options to pick and choose from he may not feel threatened by the lack of meat and sample lots of different things? I like the mexican food idea, and also indian snack foods (samosas, pakoras, curry, naan bread, puris, etc.) provided he likes spicy food? And there are all kinds of different salady things you could make. I used to go to an arts centre cafe where they had an awesome salad bar which included things like korma potato salad, and marinaded mushrooms.
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Re: Help cooking for a hardcore carnivore!
A # 1 = the purpose of food is to fuel the existance of a souls body to burn at its brightest / healthiest / strongest / most energized state . and what is best at accomplishing this job is RAW PLANT MATTER .
sad thing is that most people of this day dont realize that and are still clinging to our old / wrongful ways of eating . and shall thusly crave cooked slush . so if im you i give zero consideration to what my guest want to eat (see them as babys that dont know whats best and your the mumma ;) ) and present a varied raw food table with the main fuel being a giant vegi rich salad . make a raw dressing of extra virgin olive oil , raw apple cider vinegar , crushed garlic and fresh basil , plus other herbs for salad .
feed em whats healthy , dont care if they whine . then in a few years or so theyll quit pouting and say you know she was correct . BE A LEADER ! !
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Re: Help cooking for a hardcore carnivore!
We have a similar problem. The guest in question will eat veggie sausages. I suggest you don't divert too much from what he normally eats (our guest won't eat "foreign" food) maybe something with fake meat of some sort. Depending what he usually eats.
It is worth it though. Our friend sometimes buys fake meat products for himself to cook at home now.
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Re: Help cooking for a hardcore carnivore!
My fiance is a hardcore omni, mainly only eating meat and french fries (I know, it's sad.) However last night I made some vegan burritos for myself using tofo crumbles in place of the "beef." It smelled wonderful and the whole house smelled yummy. Anyway, I had some black beans, an avacado, and some stirfried seasoned veggies on the side with spelt tortillas and he was reallllllllly fighting with himself on eating one. BUT his pride got in the way and he settled for a microwavable dinner, which he ate as he watched me eating all of my lovely foods.
maybe try something like that, it seems that it's very appealing to even the most hard core meat eaters.
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Re: Help cooking for a hardcore carnivore!
Well, the dinner was last night. I made a big bowl of hummus and a bowl of tapenade, and we had crackers and raw veggies (carrot, cucumber and yellow pepper) cut with Japanese veggie cutters, all put together DIY style into crostini-type things. Then I made Cedarblue's African Sweet Potato curry which we ate with some bread, and there was soya ice-cream to finish off. When the guys were out smoking a cigarette, my bf's friend told him he'd eaten really well and was really surprised that vegan food could taste so good :cool: I'd say that's a pretty good result...:D :D :D
Thanks again guys for all your input and advice, you were a massive help :) And to Cedar for the recipe sent from heaven... ;)
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Re: Help cooking for a hardcore carnivore!
i'm so glad you enjoyed it - we have to stop ourselves cooking it too often :)
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Re: Help cooking for a hardcore carnivore!
Cedar, have you posted your curry recipe anywhere?
I'm cooking for my friend and her boyfriend, who thinks that a meal without meat is 'not proper food!'
I was going to make a chilli because I know they like (meat) chilli, but my friend didn't like the sound of that - or to be more accurate she pretended to throw up when veggie mince was mentioned, and she refuses to try any beans other than kidney beans so it would be a pretty boring chilli!
So a really good curry could be just what I need!
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Re: Help cooking for a hardcore carnivore!
Cat, have you considered making a chili with tempeh instead of meat? That tastes pretty good :) Cedarblue's recipe is here.
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Re: Help cooking for a hardcore carnivore!
cat if youve never used mushrooms in your chili they really thicken / hearty it up and may go a long way towards replacing meat if you use alot of them .
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Re: Help cooking for a hardcore carnivore!
Just wanted to tell you that the guy I cooked for told my bf the other day that he couldn't wait to eat more of what I'd cooked - seems like the vegan food really made an impact on him. *very happy*
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Help! Brother Wants Dinner!
Hi,
I need help! My mom doesn't want to cook 2 meals everynight. So I need a couple recipes that my very non-vegan brother would like to eat. PLEASE HELP!
MM
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Re: Help! Brother Wants Dinner!
I'd suggest VegWeb. Go there and look around in the various meal types. Although this forum is quite helpful, using vegweb would give you time to plan ahead, as well as get photos and advice on preperation for individual recipes. :)
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Re: Help! Brother Wants Dinner!
^ oooh yes, vegweb is a wonderful resource.
my favorite recipe for suckering my non-vegan brother into eating my cooking is chilli!
sauteed onion and garlic (however much you prefer)
1 can tomato paste
1 can kidney beans
1 can black beans
1 can hominy (or just regular corn - but i'm a hominy addict)
some veggie meat crumbles (however much you like)
cumin and chilli pepper to taste
when i make this for myself i add chopped zuchinni and carrots...but it's fine to leave them out if your brother is like mine and thinks vegetables are pure evil.
VOILA! super easy and completely indistinguishable from the real thing...or at least i think so and my brother hasn't complained!
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Re: Help! Brother Wants Dinner!
Thanks a lot! I'll try it!
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Vegan dinner for omni-family
Hey guys :)
I'm cooking dinner for my omni-family on Thursday evening. Any ideas? They're big on taste and flavour, and don't mind exotic food. As long as it isn't too "burny" (for my ten-your-old sister)! The dinner is to be complimented by her oven-baked carrot chips.
Thanks very much!
Kayla xx
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Re: Vegan dinner for omni-family
How about couscous with some kind of vegetable stew/tagine? If you can buy harissa (hot Moroccan sauce) you could serve it on the side for those that like that kind of thing.
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Re: Vegan dinner for omni-family
Hah. That's pretty ironic, I just had that this evening, so it won't do, I'm so sorry! But thanks for the input!
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Re: Vegan dinner for omni-family
Um (racks brains) how about a curry then? Or a stir-fry?
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Re: Vegan dinner for omni-family
I had a peanut stir-fry in mind. Mmmm... Good idea. My sister always complains when we eat curry... Blahh. It's too burny.
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Cooking for parents
::)No big deal,but I am a little stuck
I am going to visit my parents tomorrow and I want to cook something for them.My mothers ill with severe food intolerances, and an underactive thyroid which has only just been diagnosed, she has been ill with it for ages before although they do not know whether it is related to the food intolerances.
My father, is ill with high blood pressure and side effects of the tablets he takes for its symptoms.In fact he has just stopped taking these tablets because they were making him too ill:(
I want to cook them some food because my father always says 'You dont enjoy any of the pleasures of food now!:rolleyes:(because of my veganism) and my mother is a little more convinced,but although she likes my soups, she thinks still that I cant cook anything (apart frm that) and I can!
My parents live in Leeds, 70 miles from me.
So, I want to cook for them tomorow,something simple,healthy,with not too many ingredients seeing as I have to travel with them or buy them when I get there and I do not have so much time.
They are the kind of annoying folks who eat meat but use the terms 'But we dont eat much' and 'well we could be vegetarians'...:rolleyes
So I want something tasty that they will eat !Lol
I have thought about cooking some low fat pasties, polenta with roast veggies, or someting with soya mince perhaps ...grr i dont know.
Help anyone ? lol