Prepare ahead veggie dish but no onions or mushroom?

[abigboydidit]

Okay.. I need to breathe as am stressing out! It is my DS's birthday this weekend and we're having what was meant to be an informal family gathering but is getting more complicated by the second! So far, my DH needs a wheat free diet, my DS is dairy/egg free and my SiL is picky about red meat (but will eat chicken and fish). All this I could cope with but now my little brother has announced he's bringing his new girlfriend who is veggie but wont eat mushrooms or onions.

I really want to enjoy the day and not spend it all in the kitchen wrestling with a very old and very temperamental aga so had planned to do 2 prepare ahead dishes (I was thinking a casserole for the kids/wheat free/dairy free and then a veggie tagine with couscous as the second option) but now am stuck as every veggie recipe I know uses onions!

Does anyone have any suggestions? My friend suggested macaroni cheese but I never find pasta in sauce that nice the second day. I really appreciate any help as am stuck!

Asparagus tart or quiche? Spanish tortilla?

I wondered about quiche/tortilla but have to say I'd always bung onions in! Does it taste okay without them?

Oh - and thanks for the speedy reply by the way!

I sympathise :)

Assuming that you're happy to have a range of dishes to meet all these issues rather than wanting 2 things that fit all criteria. And I'm assuming that DS is the priority, followed by DH, then SiL with DBs new girlfriend somewhere down the bottom of the ladder?

Also 'wont eat onions or mushrooms' basically = picky eater. I bet she'll eat something with onions in if they're chopped up small and she can't spot them! Its not like your DH or DS have specific requirements....

So how about:

1. DS' favourite dish, regardless of what it is, and also ignoring whether your SiL or the new girlfriend (for example) will eat it

1. Bean and pesto bake (very small chopped up onions (or leeks) and garlic with some fresh herbs, softened for 10 mins in olive oil, then add 2 tins chopped tomatoes, 2 tins cannelloni beans (drained), 2 tins borlotti beans (not drained), and about half a pot of pesto (I use dairy free pesto). Bring to boil, then simmer for 15 mins. Pour into casserole or large baking tray. Add a topping (200g dried breadcrumbs (can use gluten free), 150g grated cheese (you could skip or replace with non-dairy substitute). Bake in oven 200 C for 15 mins. Reheats brilliants, serves 8-10.

1. Spelt, butternut squash and cranberry salad. (Boil spelt 15-20 mins, leave to cool. Peel and dice butternut squash, toss in oil, roast in oven with a sprinkling of chili flakes and oregano. Leave to cool. Mix with spelt, 200g dried cranberries, some finely chopped shallot and (ideally) cubed feta cheese. Dressing = a touch of olive oil, cider vinegar and maple syrup. Mix well, and leave to stand for at 1 hour (better 24 hours!) before serving) Its lovely without the feta, so you could separate some out for your ds before adding the cheese, or just serve without. Your dh should be ok with spelt.

1. Vegetable strudel. (Filo pastry layers with, effectively, a very chunky, almost dry veg pasta sauce filling). Or you could make a meat strudel (very yummy, reheats amazingly) - 1lb beef or turkey mince, cooked through with some ketchup, chopped peppers. onions, tomatoes etc, but keep it dryish. Roll out puff pastry v thin, to about size of chopping board. Add meat filling along one long edge (leaving a 2 inch margin) then roll up, tucking the ends in as you go. Brush with egg, sprinkle with sesame seeds if you have. Using a sharp knife make diagonal cuts at 2 inch intervals along the top. Bake 210 C for about 30 mins.

Good luck :)

Ahem. Its not like your dh or dh who have specific requirements.

Just to be clear :)

Risotto? Leeks, spinach, asparagus and peas, veg stock, parmesan to grate over for those so inclined...

Various curries - chicken, vegetable, lamb - with labels and choice of rice or nan.

Fajitas, burritos, tacos (I'm pretty sure at least one of those is corn not wheat but could be wrong) in make your own style - just lay out meat, veg and sauces and let people get on with it!

Or order in pizza with various toppings and dh can have a freefrom oven one. Sucks a bit for him but loads less stress for you :o

abigboydidit, I am a veggie who doesn't eat mushrooms and onions (even though I love them) and can assure you, people won't miss onion that much for one meal! Things still taste pretty much the same. My favourite meals are: spanish omelette (without onion, but with a tiny bit of paprika and spinach), stuffed butternut squash or peppers, curry, and fajhitas.
I think fajhitas, like PurplePidjin suggested, is a good idea. You can buy corn tortillas from most shops, and create two different fillings, one chicken and one refried beans/vegetable. Lay out a spread with homemade nachos etc, some salad.

Fillybuster, I know it might seem like being a picky eater, but she might have other reasons, so force-feeding her onions is not a good solution! I avoid onions and mushrooms as I follow a yogic diet (hope that doesn't sound preachy or tree-huggy, but it really makes a difference to my mood and energy levels!) Though I agree, when you are going to someones house and they are making you dinner, I think you should be adaptable and gracious.

Oh and veggie tagine sounds delicious too! As long as you get enough taste in there with your spices etc, I promise you won't miss the onions!

what about baked potatos with veg chilli (made with garlic and leeks not onions)

Feta, garlic and parsley filo parcels - deepfry or bake til crispy and golden then serve cold.
Just stick a big bowl of salad and some rye bread on the table.

Veggie lasagne?

Jaali, I would probably go one step further and have separate dishes of:
Chicken or beef strips
Quorn fillets or soy mince chilli
Peppers
Onions
Tomato salsa
Guacamole
Sour cream

20 minutes in the oven (apart from the Chilli which can be done the day before and microwaved) and no one can fuss because it's up to them what goes in their mouth :)

PurplePidjin, you are making me so hungry!

Wow! This is fantastic. Lots of great ideas. Now i just need to make a decision

Thanks everyone!

Do not assume she's just fussy about onions unless you know it for certain. Some people are allergic to onions, but in that case, it's normally to all alliums, including garlic and leeks. Go back and check whether that is the case. If DB confirms that she's just fussy/a crank even then I wouldn't risk putting in any onions - normal people eat so many onions that we're desensitised to the taste, but someone who doesn't eat then would find even a small amount really noticeable so if you snuck any in you'd risk a hideous scene.

Ummm, tomatoe and cashew nut risotto?

Do not assume she's just fussy about onions unless you know it for certain. Some people are allergic to onions, but in that case, it's normally to all alliums, including garlic and leeks. Go back and check whether that is the case. If DB confirms that she's just fussy/a crank even then I wouldn't risk putting in any onions - normal people eat so many onions that we're desensitised to the taste, but someone who doesn't eat then would find even a small amount really noticeable so if you snuck any in you'd risk a hideous scene.

Ummm, tomato and cashew nut risotto?