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Original poster

DD bringing a super-strict Vegan friend for tea tonight

239 replies

maddiemookins16mum · 27/10/2021 12:32

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?

OP posts:
RacketeerRalph · 27/10/2021 20:01

@SunshineCake1

I make my own mincemeat and the recipe has suet in. I use the vegetable one. Why do mince pies these days not have it in?
They do on the whole. Almost always vegetable suet though. Beef suet is rare in anything but traditionaly made, small batch stuff.
JasperTheHungry · 27/10/2021 20:18

It’s so weird, people saying “I don’t like vegan cheese so you shouldn’t serve it”

You could literally say this about any food. Your preferences are not fact.

Original poster
maddiemookins16mum · 27/10/2021 20:27

Well dinner was lovely. I appreciate all your comments.
The Heck vegan chipolatas were actually very nice, it was all demolished with vigour. I’d buy them again.
The girls have cleared up and gone upstairs to watch last nights Wentworth. The Cauli cheese was, to be fair, a bit bland but nobody else seemed too fussed. The hot pot was not an overly saucy hotpot (if that makes sense) so the cauliflower cheese went fine.
Nobody was hungry enough for pudding so that’s in the cupboard still.
Many of you have given me some good ideas for vegan meals, I think we’ll make it a weekly thing now.

OP posts:

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General food
GirlWithAGuitar · 27/10/2021 20:30

Glad it went well OP. Smile

Fetarabbit · 27/10/2021 21:16

Sounds great OP, glad it was a success! You sound wonderful, honestly I bet making the effort to prepare a vegan meal meant a lot to your daughters friend, and even better you all enjoyed it too!

TheNarwhalBalloon · 27/10/2021 21:38

Jasper, a large percentage of people don't like vegan cheese and the OP, like most non vegans, would probably have no idea about this. I'd be mortified if I went to a friend's house and they'd gone to the effort of making me a lovely meal and used what they thought was going to be a delicious cheese substitute. I think people were trying to help the OP avoid the awkwardness of serving something that a lot of people dislike.

OP, I'm so glad it went well. I think it was very considerate of you and your daughter to do this and I hope you can ignore the rather odd posts advising you not to go to any trouble to cater for your guests. Such a bizarre attitude to have!

GirlWithAGuitar · 27/10/2021 22:03

TheNarwhalBalloon

The OP did say that it was her daughters friends favourite food so people saying don’t serve it were either a bit weird or hadn’t read OPs posts.

DoraTheScottishExplorer · 28/10/2021 09:28

My MIL had recently started making a vegan cauliflower cheese and its lovely. FIL ibs that is made worse by dairy so she tried it to prove a point and he was none the wiser till she told him later.

AlfonsoTheUnrepetant · 28/10/2021 11:20

OP, so glad to hear that it went well.

Repecka · 28/10/2021 17:45

I think it’s awesome you’re reaching out for help/ideas!
It’s definitely not pandering - this used to just be considered kindness and good manners by wanting your visitors to feel welcome.
I hope it all goes down well and you find a nice meal you enjoy

PinkPanther27 · 28/10/2021 18:04

I'd be really happy with that menu- very considerate of both you and your daughter 🙂

PinkPanther27 · 28/10/2021 18:06

@maddiemookins16mum

Well dinner was lovely. I appreciate all your comments. The Heck vegan chipolatas were actually very nice, it was all demolished with vigour. I’d buy them again. The girls have cleared up and gone upstairs to watch last nights Wentworth. The Cauli cheese was, to be fair, a bit bland but nobody else seemed too fussed. The hot pot was not an overly saucy hotpot (if that makes sense) so the cauliflower cheese went fine. Nobody was hungry enough for pudding so that’s in the cupboard still. Many of you have given me some good ideas for vegan meals, I think we’ll make it a weekly thing now.
Glad it went well. The heck chipolatas are amazing- and I've tried most (vegan) brands
UltimateBugKilla · 28/10/2021 18:09

I'm glad you enjoyed the meal, we have atleast 2 nights a week meat free, not always vegan, but OMG thank you for reminding me about Wentworth!

Birchtree1 · 28/10/2021 18:45

Just don't put Worcester sauce in stew...it has fish something in it. I once did this for a family whose daughters are vegetarian and mum quietly told me afterwards. I was mortified about my mistake!

Cam77 · 28/10/2021 18:50

Next time just do some vegetables/lentils/chick peas + rice or noodles. With the right sauces and seasoning can be delicious and saves an awful lot of faffing. Healthier too than weird vegan cheeses and sausages.

BackBackBack · 28/10/2021 18:52

@Birchtree1

Just don't put Worcester sauce in stew...it has fish something in it. I once did this for a family whose daughters are vegetarian and mum quietly told me afterwards. I was mortified about my mistake!
Henderson's Relish is a suitable vegan alternative to Worcester Sauce (which has fish sauce as an ingrediant) Smile
Taoneusa · 28/10/2021 18:58

Soy sauce is a good sub for Worcestershire sauce, isn’t it?

blueskyday12 · 28/10/2021 19:13

That sounds good! If she comes again and you need another recipe, I would consider making pasta with sautéed peppers, garlic and olive oil. You could serve it with pesto garlic bread and some brussel sprouts/some other side veg. I'm not vegan, but this is a tasty dish! Hope you had a lovely tea.

Weareallvirgins · 28/10/2021 19:21

Are you mad! Let your17 year old cook the vegans meal. You stick to chicken.

Weareallvirgins · 28/10/2021 19:22

Pesto isnt veggie or vegan friendly. My sons been veggie for 20 odd year

BackBackBack · 28/10/2021 19:24

@Weareallvirgins

Pesto isnt veggie or vegan friendly. My sons been veggie for 20 odd year
There's a sacla vegan pesto now which isn't made with parmesan
Unicorn34 · 28/10/2021 19:27

I haven't read the who thread so apologies for any duplicates! I have a strict vegan in the house and these are the favourites:

Ilchester melting cheddar (in Tesco)
Naked Glory sausages
Beyond Meat burgers
Jamie Olivers vegan mac'n"cheeze recipe
Soya protein (in H&B) lasagne with dolmio sauce and homemade white sauce topping
Garlic bread made with vegan spread and garlic puree
Lots of pizza base recipes are vegan, also Pizza Express pre-made ones are too - just need to do the toppings
Naked Glory flavoured pieces (frozen - bbq, roast and tikka)

Hope this helps.

Romney981 · 28/10/2021 19:28

It's so nice of you to make such an effort. I've been vegan since 1973 (when I was 11) Your meal sounds wonderful. I've made vegan cauliflower cheese and it was good and I get my mince pies from Asda as they are vegan. Used to get from Iceland but not near an Iceland where I live now so not sure. Hope the meal goes well.

number87inthequeue · 28/10/2021 19:29

@Weareallvirgins

Pesto isnt veggie or vegan friendly. My sons been veggie for 20 odd year
You can buy vegan pesto now quite easily.

OP- I'm glad it went well and, thank you for making your DD's vegan friend feel welcome. I was a vegetarian teen many years before most people in my area had any idea about vegetarian cooking and I was always quite uncomfortable about being invited to dinner and having to explain that I couldn't eat half of what was being served (usually fish or chicken on the assumption that I must just be avoiding red meat)

BackBackBack · 28/10/2021 19:37

@Romney981

It's so nice of you to make such an effort. I've been vegan since 1973 (when I was 11) Your meal sounds wonderful. I've made vegan cauliflower cheese and it was good and I get my mince pies from Asda as they are vegan. Used to get from Iceland but not near an Iceland where I live now so not sure. Hope the meal goes well.
@Romney981 if you fancy sharing your cauli recipe then I'd welcome it! I love cauliflower cheese but bloody hate vegan cheese (bleurgh) so if you have found a way to make it palatable then I am all ears
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