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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Sneak Peek of Lulu Powers: Food to Flowers

Good morning! I'm super excited to share this gorgeous book with you all today. I was recently sent a copy of Lulu Powers: Food to Flowers to review. For those of you who are unfamiliar, Lulu Powers is one of Los Angeles's premier caterers and event planners.

I love to throw a good party. But sometimes I get stuck in my ways. The same treats. The same decor. The same everything. Food to Flowers offers up a multitude ideas to make any event unforgettable. Lulu covers EVERYTHING you could possibly think of from decor to drinks to dishes, etc. But at the heart of it all is the food. And there are recipes that vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike can enjoy.

Let's take a peek inside . . .


The book is divided into sections by time of day and type of party. I personally love that it's organized this way. And there are gorgeous party-throwing pictures throughout that are definitely drool-worthy. (Plus, I love Lulu's outfits. Wish they had a section just on her style!)




So, whether it's a clambake, retro game night (my favorite), baby shower, high-end brunch, or child's birthday party, you're covered. Not only that, Lulu provides tips and tricks for any stage of life (and by that, I mean BUDGET!). The pages are teeming with clever ideas to make an event not only memorable, but also easy on the wallet. Of course, for more lavish affairs, there are tons of ideas, too.




The book's subtitle is "Simple, Stylish Food for Easy Entertaining" -- and that's definitely accurate. But what's better is that the book isn't just for entertaining guests. No, you can even entertain yourself by using it as a cookbook! Seriously, there are many, many delicious recipes to choose from. I mean, we like to treat many of our weekend meals as events even if it's just the two of us. So, if you're looking for a book that will do double duty -- this one is it. It's bursting with recipes for anything from chocolate-cranberry oatmeal cookies to fresh mint tea!


The book, as all do, comes to a close . . . but not without pages upon pages of sources, tips, and checklists. Overall, if you're looking for a good book on entertaining, you should seriously consider checking this one out. It's one of my new favorite go-to books, especially for the food photography inspiration (by Stephen Danelian).

Want to check it out?

Lulu Powers: Food to Flowers
288 pages
William Morrow Cookbooks; 1 edition (April 6, 2010)


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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