We're having a smallish get-together here this Friday evening, for our friends who live in the area. (Because we did our wedding on short notice while on the west coast, we wanted something to celebrate out here with our friends as well...) We're expecting probably 12-20 people. I've been racking my brain to try and figure something good to cook. I have a lot of limitations.... Most of the people I'm cooking for will be omnis. I know it won't kill them to eat veg for a night.... but to further complicate matters, my oven's messed up so things don't bake in it properly. The broiler works fine, but the bottom element doesn't heat. We don't have any sort of grill or anything, so we're llimited to basically stovetop/broiler/raw. I already planned on making a big salad (choice of dressing/cheese on the side), and having a bunch of melon. But I'm sure everyone would appreciate some sort of "meatier" hot dish. I'm just not sure what to do... I'm really at a complete loss! We do have a farmer's market on weekends. I could go down there Friday morning and buy some acorn squash or something... But I don't have a lot of experience cooking it. The only other thing I can think of is some sort of thing with eggplant, maybe... but I don't know if anyone but me would eat it lol...
Ok, you can cook something like ziti on the stove top and use the broiler to finish it. maybe a dairy tray and a vegan tray? both with portabellas or eggplant and tvp for that meaty texture. garlic bread can be done under the broiler: just use the middle rack.
Good idea, thanks! I was toying with some sort of pasta thing, but couldn't think of anything good. That'll be perfect, and I can do a big tray w/cheeses on it and a smaller one without. Try and find a good whole grain but not-too-heavy loaf to make garlic bread from. I need to get that dang oven fixed - I miss baking my own everything!
I was thinkin' pasta too... there are SO many vegetarian/vegetarian-possible pasta dishes out there, so it wouldn't be anything "weird" to them. Sure hope you get your oven fixed soon! (((((((((hugs!!!))))))))) love, mom
for an appetizer I've found that hummus usually goes over well with an omni crowd. My sisters really like it. Serve with ripped chunks of bread and some crackers. I also have a veggie mexican dip recipe (well, its veggie when you use veggie cheese!) that is great while tortilla chips. PM me if you would like the recipe! Good luck! I also vote pasta for the main meal. Fruit plate with dips for dessert?
Some kind of hot dip would be good too I think. You could do bean dip or something like that. You should go look at recipes! Good luck, hope everything goes well =)
I have a great recipe for a veggie baked ziti that uses veggie crumbles. My husband swore it had meat in it. He loved it. The only cheese is a small amount of parmesen that is added at the very end. You could leave it out. Or serve it on the side. And it's made in a crock pot so you don't need an oven. I also hae a killer chili recipe that is vegan although I serve it with cheese on the side. Both or either of these would be good with a fruit and veggie tray and maybe a cheese and cracker tray. Some chips and dips would be good to have sitting around too. Kathi
It turned out really well. I fixed up ziti, with onion and garlic, red and green bell peppers and baby 'bellas and marinara. I did it in two trays, one with soft tofu and the other with mozzarella and parmesan. And a great big salad and garlic bread. Melon for dessert, water/o.j./stout beer for drinks. I think it went over pretty well -- our (tiny) house was about as packed as we could comfortably get it with about 10 grown-ups, and for an extra-special treat, a 16 month old and 18 month old who knew just how to focus everyone's attention! Thanks for all the ideas. Next time I'll have to try chili. That does sound good! More of a winter-time dish though... It's so hot and muggy here I can barely do pasta!
