The KInd Life Community Forum

I am having a family dinner party of 16. I have received a lot of flak from family members during my three years of vegetarianism, but have now been vegan for three months. I am throwing a family get-together and want a meal that will impress, but won't break the bank. Any ideas for a springy main dish? Sides? Dessert? Thanks!

Hi Jennifer!

My group of friends just put together a vegan potluck last weekend, and it was SO much fun! I didn't realize how STUFFED i could feel. Ugh, I ate waaay too much.

We started off with yummy guacamole and flavored hummus with blue corn chips, red/yellow peppers (buy organic if you can, cuz these have the most pesticides). I made a miso soup, but it's up to you if you think your family would like it.

We also served an amazing quinoa spaghetti w/ avocado, green olives, and olive oil; sauteed sweet potato balls (YUM-O!), red wine vinegar green beans, and I picked up Haroset from Whole Foods (cashews, almonds, walnuts, red wine, cinnamon, sugar). My gal pal brought the cheesecake in Alicia's book and it was very good! I can get you the name of the recipe book the pasta and sweet potato's came from. They were SO flavorful and served many people!

I also recommend the peanut butter cups from Alicia's book. Those are amazing and everyone LOVES them.

Just take your fear away from serving your family, and put LOVE into the preparation :) the more fun you have with it, the happier everyone will be. There are so many options, you're sure to find a few dishes offering Two Thumbs Up!

I agree that mock meats aren't a great idea for everyone, I also stick to things that would be vegan anyways. I like the guacomole idea! I just use avocados, red onions, jalepeno's, lime juice, olive oil, salt and pepper of course, sometimes peppers, and a fair amount of tomatoes, cilantro and garlic. You could make a whole mexican dinner easy! Instead of meat, just make homeade refried beans, or black beans all seasoned up with onions, peppers, chili powder, cumin...lettuce, tomatoes, onions, salsa, make them juicy so no one needs the cheese, wrap in a tortilla or taco shell, also a nice homeade mexican rice. The peanut butter cups are delicious for dessert!