DD bringing a super-strict Vegan friend for tea tonight

[maddiemookins16mum]

Hi all, DD (17) is bringing a pal home for tea (dinner, supper - delete as appropriate 🤣). We are big meat eaters but would never dream of having meat on this occasion. My normally very level headed DD is very keen for ‘us’ to get it ‘right’. So here’s the menu.
Vegan sausage hotpot (browned off Heck vegan chipolatas - made of pea protein so the pack says), I’ve added onions, carrots, tinned toms, garlic, herbs and veggie stock.
Cauliflower cheese
Roast potatoes (they are Aunt Bessies though, as we’re all at work/college until 5-6pm and I’ve no real spuds.
Other veg (peas and broccoli probably).
Pudding - mince pies and custard (Alpro plant based).
Does this sound ok?

Dominos do vegan pizza! I think puddings are harder but I have a choc fudge pudding recipe which is basically a lot of sugar, cocoa and some flour and oil (no egg or butter) which you can serve with Elm Lea cream (which I think is dairy free, need to check though).

Gosh @JellyfishandShells I bet it did!

I thought we were bad enough for Christmas with 1 DF (me) 1 vegetarian and 1 allergic to "anything with wings".

Lots of teenagers hate mince pies (vegan or not) and that sounds like a weird pudding to me unless it's actually December and it's either a Christmas meal or a Christmas-themed get together.

Aside from that, you're totally overthinking this. Is all the food vegan? Are you sure? If yes, then you're fine.

Carrot and lentil soup followed by a falafell, humous and salad wrap. No idea what desserts are vegan.

Why is the answer always a hummous and salad wrap

I'd be asking superstrict vegan friend to provide recipes s/he likes and brands they know they can trust. Southern Indian food and some Mediterranean food is almost entirely vegan. Roast peppers, onion, garlic and tomatoes is okay, I think? and delicious for everyone.

I make vegan cauliflower cheese all the time ,always comes out lovely.
Sometimes I cheat with the Tesco free from vegan cheese sauce powder but it’s always yummy

I'd also be asking about his/hers/its their views out of season veg. Shouldn't have suggested the tomatoes and peppers in previous post.

My son’s girlfriend is vegan and whilst I have no interest in becoming vegan (or even vegetarian) I am enjoying trying new meals we can all enjoy.
She is also very supportive and helps me if I have any questions.

Sounds delicious OP, I'm sure she will be very grateful for the effort!

Your DD is also very lucky to have a mother who will support her friends too

@Mosky Dairy has more of an impact on the environment than vegan alternatives! It uses 9x more land and produces 3x more greenhouse gases, and uses more water too. Obviously some plant milks are worse than others but they’re all better than dairy. Soya is one of the best all-round if you’re wanting to give one a go.

I'd second what everyone else has said about the stock cube; the cheese; the roast potatoes (there are different types of Aunt Bessies so check the ones you have - they may not be the type a PP posted); the mince pie and the custard. We have vegans in our family.
More importantly, what word do the youngsters use instead of snogging ? I'm so old I didn't even know there was another term.

What a caring host you are

Love the menu so cute x

@SVRT19674

Ah how times have changed...i was taught when you are invited to someone´s house you eat what is offered, no pursuing personal fads...now everyone bends over backwards to accommodate people who wouldn´t dream of accommodating you...

I was taught that you make guests feel comfortable. You wouldn’t give a Jewish guest ham sandwiches, would you?

Just a note about mince pies - standard mincemeat (the filling) usually does have suet in - even shop bought ones, though it may be vegetarian suet. I think Nigella has a mincemeat recipe without suet, but that is definitely not the norm, in my experience (of eating a lot of mince pies, and making my own mincemeat).

@MountainAshley

Check the vegetable stock cube, if using a cube. Some are vegetarian but not vegan.

I would absolutely draw the line at that.

I eat quite a lot of vegan food and enjoy it, but threads like this really hit home why I couldn't be strictly vegan forever - who can be doing with the stress of it all? I have a vegan family member and its just really stressful having them round as I'm always worried that I have 'slipped up' somewhere!

@SVRT19674

Ah how times have changed...i was taught when you are invited to someone´s house you eat what is offered, no pursuing personal fads...now everyone bends over backwards to accommodate people who wouldn´t dream of accommodating you...

It's nice that people make an effort these days!

I used to be vegan. I hate mushrooms. If I went to someone's for dinner back then and they'd cooked vegan for me, but with mushrooms, I'd eat it. I think most people will put up with things they don't like as they know the host has made an effort.

That's entirely different than eating meat if you're veggie, pork if you're Jewish, beef if you're Hindu.

Most people will be polite and eat something they don't want, but there's some things some people just don't/can't eat.

It’s too early in the year for mince pies. We haven’t even had Hallowe’en yet.

@ShinyHappyPoster My DD is late teens and I'm never entirely sure that I have translated her terminology correctly - but fwiw I have assumed "getting with" means snogging...

@maddiemookins16mum the menu sounds great and I hope to read about the words best vegan cauliflower cheese recipe soon!

Take out - Let them order take out- always take out- you can't be the bad person then if you miss that the stick cube is vegetarian not vegan

You're so sweet, hope they all appreciate the effort you've gone to

Sounds yum OP.

Although we’re a fully omnivorous household I’m trying more veggie and vegan recipes on environmental grounds and some of the tastiest meals I’ve eaten recently have been the veggie and vegan ones.

Having a reason to try something new is a good way to experiment and find new favourite recipes.

It sounds lovely OP and I'm in Kent if there's any leftovers .
Hope you enjoy your evening

@LaetitiaASD

You do realise that chocolate is vegan by default right? A bar of dark chocolate is no more a fake food than a bar of milk chocolate.

There are also hundreds of indian dishes that are vegan and super tasty you could try next time. I wasn't allowed friends over or allowed to go to their's either which is why I actively allow my kids to invite their friends over. We have our first sleepover this weekend and I think I'm more excited than them!