ya know you're a veg when...
Posted by nutdragon on Jun 07, 2007 · Member since Aug 2006 · 807 posts
Your grandmother asks you to bring a "salad" to a family function.
I'm at a loss as to which direction I want to go: bagged greens and cukes so she can serve HV Ranch dressing ::) or get all "veggie weird" (maybe not so much tofu chunks), but no iceberg either.
It sounds a bit odd, but do any of you have a "show stopper" salad? I hesitate to get too creative without a plan....these are the grandparents who didn't think my nutritional yeast gravy was nearly as fabulous as I did.
I'm making the brownies {http://vegweb.com/index.php?topic=6640.0} from this site, but I have no intention of letting on that they are vegan.
Anyway, all ideas are welcome.
I would suggest adding a grain to it, make it better for everyone :) My work sells this absolutely delicious mix of black beans, corn and isralei cous cous which I always throw on a bed of greens with whatever other veggies are in the fridge. it's fabulous:)
or just make an absolutely amazing dressing because for some people that's all it takes to convince them a salad is good :) (note with the cous cous and such I don't even use a dressing cause it's made with rice wine vinegar so it gives TONS of flavor ;))
I love my take on a Mediterranean salad. Red fancy lettuce, young spinach leaves, red onion, cherry tomatoes, red capsicum and balsamic vinaigrette, and some good kalamata olives - if you can find good ones. I love balsamic vinaigrette, I have it on everything.
If I want a heartier salad, I make a roast vege salad. Roast anything you can find. I use a lot of kumara (I think it's the same a sweet potato), and not a lot of potato. Potato is boring. Roast in olive oil and rosemary (it grows like weeds here). And serve with balsamic vinaigrette on the side.
I know it's not as exciting, but I'd go for a green salad. Here are a few recipes that I've been eying:
Cranberry Spinach Salad
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Jamies-Cranberry-Spinach-Salad/Detail.aspx
Strawberry Romaine Salad
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Strawberry-Romaine-Salad-I/Detail.aspx
Curried Cashew, Pear, and Grape Salad
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Curried-Cashew-Pear-and-Grape-Salad/Detail.aspx
Other than that, I'd suggest coleslaw or potato salad. They are both family summertime family foods.
I've got one! My mom makes a great spinach salad that has strawberries (sometimes Kiwi) and toasted almonds-the dressing is sweetish (lotsa sugar). She makes this all the time and everyone loves it. If it sounds good to you, I can post the dressing recipe-its just not handy right now.
She makes this all the time and everyone loves it! Its accidentally vegan.
:)
Yes, the spinach salad with strawberries and either toasted almonds, or candied pecans, has been a hit at my lunch and dinner functions.
A pasta salad using corkscrew pasta and tossed with Italian dressing, bell pepper slices, olives and cherry tomatoes is a winner, too.
Both are aesthetically appealing, as well as easy to make.
We always make a salad out of: spinach, mandarin oranges, almonds, and strawberries for picnics, etc. You can add a balsamic or light vinaigrette. It's simple and the ingredients are typically not too threatening, even to the most conservative omnis! If you are making pasta, my absolute favorite is: whole wheat corkscrew pasta, fresh basil, chopped tomatoes, and cubed soy mozzarella tossed with a little olive oil and salt/better - it's fantastic and takes about fifteen minutes!
Spinach Salad with Orange-Soy Dressing, Candied Almonds and Sweet Potato Croutons
http://vegweb.com/index.php?topic=14490.0
I too would go for a Greek/Italian style salad, prettily arranged, with lots of greens, thin cucumber slices, olives of both colours, tomatoes, red onions etc. even grated carrots give a nice note of colour and sweetness. Dress it simply with olive oil and half vinegar, half lemon juice. You could add a sprig or two of fresh basil if you have some on hand.
If you want to go grain-salad, what about the famous Morroccan Couscous Salad whose proper name I can't spell? The one with onions, tomatos, cukes...I usually add lamb's lettuce (aka corn salad) and black olives because I will put black olives in everything given half the chance. Chop some fresh parsley and mint to sprinkle over all, and offer the couscous on the side in case some of the Iceberg Eaters freak about it. Once again, olive oil and lemon is better because of the mint.
I would bring two salads - for the first one choose one of the lovely green salads suggested here, and for the second one, bring a grain salad, like tabbouleh or a rice salad, couscous, or quinoa. The nice thing about a grain salad is it can double as a main dish for you if no one brings anything you can eat. :)
I would bring two salads - for the first one choose one of the lovely green salads suggested here, and for the second one, bring a grain salad, like tabbouleh or a rice salad, couscous, or quinoa. The nice thing about a grain salad is it can double as a main dish for you if no one brings anything you can eat. :)
That's good advice...I had been leaning toward just bringing something else anyway (the reason I'm bringing the brownies is the "ice cream cake.")
Lot's of great ideas here guys, I'm definitely going to do the fruit/nut/greens route. I have a pineapple that has been waiting for me to get inspired.
Little 2 Ant, do you mind giving me the recipe for the sweet, grandma friendly dressing?
Then a Mexican themed fiesta salad. Beans, corn, peppers, quinoa, etc... yea, I think that's what I need to do...
Thanks for the inspiration (and for keeping me relatively on target, grandpa doesn't like it when I bring raw collard greens to these sorts of things :D ::) )
That's good advice...I had been leaning toward just bringing something else anyway (the reason I'm bringing the brownies is the "ice cream cake.")
Thanks! *blushing* Glad you liked it :)
Sorry this took so long....I didn't see the post!
This is not the healthiest of recipes (lotsa sugar), but it sure tastes great!
toast your almonds in earth balance in a skillet
dressing
1/2 c sugar
2 Tb sesame seeds
1 Tb poppy seeds
1 1/2 tsp minced onion
1/4 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp worcestishire (sp?) sauce-vegan of course-the one with the wizard on it
spinach-about a pound
1 pint strawberries cut up and tossed on top
mandarin oranges or kiwi is good too as an alternative
Mom mixes the dressing right into the spinach, then puts the strawberries and almonds on top.
She would be so proud if I knew I was posting her recipe on a vegan site! Or maybe she wouldn't? :)
I would bring two salads - for the first one choose one of the lovely green salads suggested here, and for the second one, bring a grain salad, like tabbouleh or a rice salad, couscous, or quinoa. The nice thing about a grain salad is it can double as a main dish for you if no one brings anything you can eat. :)
That's good advice...I had been leaning toward just bringing something else anyway (the reason I'm bringing the brownies is the "ice cream cake.")
Lot's of great ideas here guys, I'm definitely going to do the fruit/nut/greens route. I have a pineapple that has been waiting for me to get inspired.
Little 2 Ant, do you mind giving me the recipe for the sweet, grandma friendly dressing?
Then a Mexican themed fiesta salad. Beans, corn, peppers, quinoa, etc... yea, I think that's what I need to do...
Thanks for the inspiration (and for keeping me relatively on target, grandpa doesn't like it when I bring raw collard greens to these sorts of things :D ::) )
WOW!! :o WHEN AND WHERE IS THIS FEAST?? ;D
8)
I wish you had been there, it would have been a lot more fun.
The weirdest thing...and I'm pretty bummed over it...was my grandmother accused me of "just trying to get a rise out of everyone" by bringing additional vegan food (especially the brownies). I was stunned and hurt. I don't even know where to file it in my little brain yet.
I even wimped out and opted for a green salad (romaine, toms, cukes, bell pepper) and the SW fiesta salad (and I'm glad I did, the other options were chicken casserole and lima beans with chunks of bacon :P )
She's the one who asked me to bring something....
This sucks, I don't want to even try for them anymore.
I wish you had been there, it would have been a lot more fun.
the other options were chicken cassarole and lima beans with chunks of bacon :P )
Why is it that all veggie dishes here in the South have to have bacon or diced ham, etc. added to them? Will people just not eat veggies if they don't have meat, fat, and butter slopped all over them? There's a new No. GA. magazine that I received in the mail a few weeks ago and when I was thumbing through recipes sent in by local readers, there were 6 or 7 side dish veggie recipes and everyone of them had butter and/or meat added! (sorry...felt like venting and ranting after I saw the lima beans/bacon thing)....
-dave
Nutdragon, c'mon down to the Imaginary VegWeb Party! (see thread) All the ovolacto dishes are on a separate table, and there's mostly vegan stuff here so far. You are more than welcome, you and your brownies!! ;) Baypuppy brought some amazing cupcakes but I'm always up for a good, gooey brownie!
(Shhhh---don't tell anybody, but I've got some water balloons on the go...here, you can be the first to throw one! ;D Who you gonna hit?)
Nutdragon, c'mon down to the Imaginary VegWeb Party! (see thread) All the ovolacto dishes are on a separate table, and there's mostly vegan stuff here so far. You are more than welcome, you and your brownies!! ;) Baypuppy brought some amazing cupcakes but I'm always up for a good, gooey brownie!
(Shhhh---don't tell anybody, but I've got some water balloons on the go...here, you can be the first to throw one! ;D Who you gonna hit?)
Actually, my puppy dog Raika loves to chase water balloons. I assume it'll be dog friendly? I'd probably just throw her one.
Thanks Yabbit, I feel better already :)
I'll see you there!
and Dave, this was the D'ville side of the fam.
True story: while my brownies got dissed, they were seriously discussing getting my cousin's stomach stapled for her 14th BIRTHDAY!! She's "too embarrassed to go outside and exercise." To quote my aunt.
Like I said earlier, I'm not sure where to file this in my brain yet. ???
True story: while my brownies got dissed...
Did anyone TASTE your brownies before they started dissing them? I haven't had any vegan sweets that DIDN'T taste good--yet, anyway.
True story: while my brownies got dissed, they were seriously discussing getting my cousin's stomach stapled for her 14th BIRTHDAY!! She's "too embarrassed to go outside and exercise." To quote my aunt.
Like I said earlier, I'm not sure where to file this in my brain yet. ???
Ahh! That is one of the most frustrating things I've ever heard!
Excuse my language (and on a Sunday, too), but--Dear. God. In. Heaven. Have they never heard that this expensive and invasive procedure should be a last resort AFTER they've tried the diet and exercise? And how come they can't find an indoor way for her to do some? Goodness there are certainly enough gyms, tapes and home-use apparatus available there!!
I do have a friend who had to have a gastric bypass but only after it was determined that he had a definite metabolic problem, which did not respond to normal treatment, was he allowed to have it done on the National Health. He was in his late twenties and the scale topped out at 170 kg and he was off the chart. He hadn't lain down to sleep for years. They went so far as to admit him to hospital and put him on a special liquid only diet and monitored exercise programme and he only lost like 10 lbs in a month. Definite problem there, so he went ahead. It was the saving of Lolo, but it shouldn't be the answer to every weight problem.
Nutdragon, you're right...I would be so flabbergasted that I wouldn't know what to do with this experience either.
Did anyone TASTE your brownies before they started dissing them? I haven't had any vegan sweets that DIDN'T taste good--yet, anyway.
I was a dumba** and told my very vege friendly, much younger aunt that they didn't have eggs in them and I used whole wheat flour, after which she cooed (while they were being served along side the ice cream cake -made from stacked store-bought sandwiches and frosted) "These are almost good for you."
I can't get mad at her though, she's the closest thing I have to an ally at these family events (except for dear Will). But I admit, they certainly tasted "good for you" as compared to the ice cream cake.
I only found out about my cousin's "birthday present" in the car on the way home; they had pulled my mom aside (nurse) to ask her opinion. And Mom, thank God, was vehement that this was a bad idea. But she said they pretty much seem to have made up their minds because "their pastor and several people at church" had it done
I won't see these folks again until Christmas...
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