Help- budget vegan meal also ok for vegetarian/meat eaters and kids needed?!!!

[Neena28]

After a very long time away I've now got internet access again and need mumsnet's help...

I've got some friends coming to my new house tomorrow and I've got no money (pretty much!) but am doing lunch for them all. So I've got 1 vegan, her vegetarian child and then 3 meat eating adults and 3 children. One of the meat eating adults is allergic to eggs though too. I'm really stuck for what to cook and really want to do something nice as they have been amazing friends while I've been seperating from my ex and have had me round for so many meals etc. I'd love to do something warm as it's so horrible out but thought I'd also do a salad and some crusty bread. I've got an aldi, tesco and waitrose locally so will go and shop this afternoon.

The only other thing is that we are predicted possibly lots of snow so it would be great if it was something I could cook tonight and freeze if it looks like they won't come because of the weather.

Lots of things I know but I have so much faith in the power of the mumsnet chefs!

bump please anyone??

How about:

Lentil bolognese:

1 onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
2 carrots, coarsely grated
2 sticks celery, chopped
3 tbsp olive oil
115g red lentils
400g tin chopped tomatoes
2 tbsp tomato puree
450ml stock
1 tsp dried marjoram
salt and pepper

1. Fry the onion, garlic, celery and carrot in oil for 5 minutes, until softened.

1. Add lentils, tomatoes, tomato puree, stock, marjoram and seasoning (I don't add salt because I use that swiss bouillon for the stock and it's salty enough).

1. Bring to a boil, partially cover and simmer for 20 minutes until thick and soft.

Serve with pasta and crusty bread.

Freezes well and if I use big carrots and celery it will do us (2 adults, 2 kids + baby) twice easily.

I have an excellent pasta recipe which without the cheese is vegan and is cheap but very tasty. Make sure you don't get egg pasta xx

Pasta with lentils (suitable for freezing)

225g (8oz) split red lentils
1 large onion
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 garlic cloves
400g (14oz) can tomatoes
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano or basil
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
15 fl oz water
2 tablespoons wine optional
freshly ground black pepper

Heat oil in large saucepan or frying pan and fry onion and garlic for 10 mins until soft about 10 mins. Add tomatoes, herbs cinnamon, lentils, water and wine and bring to boil. Simmer for about 25 mins until lentils are soft. Taste and season.

Serve with spagetti as much as you like to eat I normally do about 3oz each.
Sprinkle with grated cheese.

Oh dear almost the same, sorry I was typing when this reply was added.

xx

They are both fab. Thank you so much. I like to cook but haven't really done anything new since i've been alone so it's fab to have a different audience to cook for and to try something new.

Will be shopping later x

How about a spicy tomato and 'sausage' casserole? I am a vegan and its my fave at the moment. Nice and warming, would go with salad and bread.

I don't measure quantites when I cook, but would guess the following is what I would do for 4 biggish portions:

6 sticks celery
3 biggish onions
3 cloves garilc
4 carrots
pack of vgean sausages (more on this later)
2 tins tomatoes
1 pack of fresh cherry tomatoes or similar
tabasco jalepeno sauce (could use fresh chilli or normal jalepeno)
salt
(you could also add red pepper, mushrooms, tinned beans/lentils if you habve them lying around to bulk it out)

Vegan sausages - harder to come by than you think as most have egg in. Our waitrose sells taifun frankfurters though which would do - they are next to the cauldron type stuff (which is mostly not vegan). If you can't get any just use loads of Kidney beans/other beans instaed.

hth

Do you see a theme here Neena ? Vegan, cheap - it's got to be pasta with a lentil sauce!

Yep wins every time with me, great minds think alike.

Could you do that to put on top of jacket potatoes too do you think? Rather like putting chilli etc on them? I could do that plus lots of cheese then the kids can have it first and the mum's can then have a stress free lunch without the pasta going funny?

Or would it be too heavy with potato?

xx

Should have sad just chop it all up, stick it in casserole dish, put in oven for 2 hours ish on 200 ish. check after a while.

also add some olive oil in the casserole dish, makes it yummy!

I was going to suggest similar bolognese ideas. Alternatives to lentils are TVP or the veggie mince. I often use the RealEat veggie mince (comes frozen) and it makes lovely bolognese and is often coomplimented by meat eaters. My toddler loves it too. Sun dried tomatoes cut into strips make a tasty addition to the sauce. I always add mushrooms and courgettes too for added 'meat'.

Serve grated parmesn or cheddar on the side for the non-vegans

Nice crusty bread and a mixed leaf salad would make it a delicious and filling meal.

Alternatively a yummy bean/lentil soup would be perfect - and would be quick and easy to make

I'm liking the cheap bit best of all!!!!

Thanks all x

BClass

Will definately be trying your casserole sounds yummy! Must go and eat something now this has made me feel hungry.

Neena28 what happens with your pasta, does it stick together. If so a little bit of olive oil in the water should sort that out and you can always add a drop more after draining if you think it stuck together.

I've done fajitas for my vegan friend. Peppers, onions and tofu. We did chicken in a separate pan for the meat eaters. Home-made salsa and guacamole so they are vegan suitable too. Just watch which tortillas you get as some brands aren't suitable.

Kids love them too as they get to pick their own food.

It's not so much that it sticks together just that by the time the mummies have supervised getting lunch on plates for 4 3year olds and kept an eye on 2 babies someone always seems to end up with cold food! It just seems easier to feed the little ones lunch and pud then let them run off and play then the mums can sit and eat in peace. So i was thinking that jacket pots could just br left in the oven until whoever wanted one could just get it out.

x

I personally wouldn't fancy that lentil one with potatoes. But it doesn't spoil by bubbling away on the hob (just add a little water if it's looking too thick) so you could always do a second lot of pasta?