Vegan Entertaining -- Made Easy!

Melissa writes:

I really enjoy reading your blog, and I've tried making some of the recipes that you share (most recently, the vegan oat pancakes, which were tasty!). I was wondering if I could ask for your advice on a vegan recipe matter -- I'm having some friends over for an after-work get-together, and I'm hoping to make it vegan friendly. Do you have any suggestions about good vegan appetizers that are pretty low maintenance? I'll have about an hour-ish after work to make stuff. Usually I'd go for cheese and baguette in this situation, and for some reason I'm stuck in thinking of something equivalent that's vegan, aside from a hummus and veggie tray.


What a great question, Melissa! Entertaining can be stressful -- am I right? You want to please everyone -- fill their stomachs with the foods they like to eat -- but you also want to keep it budget-friendly and fast. You're in luck -- vegan appetizers and finger foods are not only easy on the wallet . . . they can also be super simple to make -- AND more impressive than veggies and hummus.


Here are some ideas that we can offer from our recipe archives:

• Easy Guacamole is a sure crowd favorite. It's hard to resist the stuff when you pair it with some chips (our favorite are blue corn tortilla chips) or pita bread. The trick is in the mix of seasonings, so be sure to test yours before serving!
• Portabellas with Peanut Sauce are just about as easy to make as it gets. Plus, they're something unexpected.
• Pumpkin Garlic Knots can be made vegan by substituting nutritional yeast for the Parmesan cheese. If you don't have time to make your own dough, go store-bought.
• Veggie Summer Rolls seem difficult at first, but once you get a hang of the rice paper -- you're golden. Serve with different sauces -- our favorite is hoisen sauce.
• Coconut-Garbanzo Bean Salad has a unique mix of flavors and is incredibly healthy. Eat leftovers for lunch the next day, too!
• Frozen Banana Bites are a great dessert-y thing to try. Even if you make them five minutes before company arrives, by the end of the night, they'll be done . . . a sweet treat to enjoy.
• Red Zinger Lemonade is a fun drink choice that will work for kids and adults alike. If you can, make the tea in the morning -- it will be all the faster to mix together in the afternoon.

Those are just a few of our favorites. But there are a ton of other vegan appetizers on the web:

• Easy Bruschetta (About.com)
• Seven Layer Dip (About.com)
• Kale Chips (by Ashley)
• Easy Garlic Scape Pesto (by Angela)
• Sweet Potato Fries (by Kath)
• "Anytime is Good" Sangria (by Jessica)
• Tahini-Free Hummus (by Abby)
• Sugar-and-Spiced Candied Nuts (by Shannalee)

However, if you're really pressed for time, consider asking guests to bring a dish to pass. That way, you can learn what kinds of foods they enjoy for future gatherings. And Melissa's idea for a veggie and hummus plate isn't as dull as it might seem. If you pick out some unique selections (think parsnips instead of carrots or radishes instead of broccoli, etc.) and mix up some flavorful hummus dips (use your spice drawer to the max), you're sure to leave everyone full and happy!

Do you have a burning question you'd like to see us answer on the site? Just leave a comment or email us at neverhomemaker [at] gmail [dot] com. And while you're at it, tell us what YOUR favorite fast and tasty vegan appetizer is. The more the merrier!

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Cherry Pepper Poppers

When Stephen does the grocery shopping, I know I'm in for a surprise. He likes to find at least one produce item that we don't normally purchase to spice things up a bit. Last week, it was cherry peppers. When I returned home from work that day, he was all excited about making cherry pepper poppers . . . he could hardly contain himself!

First, let's just look at how gorgeous these little fruits are:



We didn't totally know what to put in them, so we improvised. We had some leftover Tzatziki, cheddar cheese, whole wheat breadcrumbs, brown mustard, and cayenne pepper. Seemed like just enough to mix together a satisfying filling.

Am I right?



CHERRY PEPPER POPPERS

What you'll need . . .

• 10 to 12 cherry peppers
• 1/2 cup Tzatziki (or mix together some garlic powder, pepper, and Greek yogurt)
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup whole wheat breadcrumbs
• Generous squirt of brown mustard
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Method . . .

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. Line a small baking dish with aluminum foil.
2. Cut the tops off the cherry peppers and scoop out the insides, including the seeds.
3. Mix together the tzatziki, cheese, breadcrumbs, mustard, and pepper. You may need more or less of this filling depending on the size of your peppers. Just stick with the equal parts measurements.
4. Use a spoon to scoop filling into the peppers. Press filling in to ensure each is filled to the brim. Place them in the baking dish, opened part up.
5. Bake for around 25 to 30 minutes, until cheese is bubbling and pepper is soft.

We want to know: Do you stick with the same produce picks each time you visit the grocery store . . . or do you try to mix it up for fun?

Us? We used to always get broccoli, green peppers, onions, and white mushrooms. Every time. Now we vary our cart with parsnips, portabellas, purple potatoes, asparagus, etc. We like the variety and how it allows us to cook different dishes. But all that different stuff is good for nutrition, too.

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

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