Suggestion: Carmen's Easter dinner

[Guest guest]

Those were excellent suggestions, Sherry! I agree that " something " as a main

course is probably the least shocking course of action, and a large casserole

would certainly do the trick.

Another idea might be to create a brunch atmosphere, where there are several

fancy side dishes, plus breads and/or rolls and fresh fruit and vegetables,

perhaps with dips. If you do eat eggs, an egg casserole or scramble would fit

in well with this menu, too. This is easiest if the meal is in the early part

of the afternoon, but you could probably pull it off anyway.

I've been doing this on Christmas Eve for many years. There were a couple of

raised eyebrows the first year, but I had some fancy pastries, and a huge bowl

of fruit, veggie trays, homemade bread, a salad or two and a few fancy

appetizers, along with some pretty punch served in my best dollar store

champagne flutes and by the next year everyone was looking forward to it and

thinking of fancy finger foods they could contribute. Although we ate around a

big table, I put the foods on the kitchen counter, like a buffet, which was

another way to draw attention to the pretty arrangements and away from the fact

that there was no main course. The table was set in the traditional manner,

except that the plates dinner plates were at the beginning of the " buffet " line

instead of on the table , and I didn't have to remove my holiday centerpiece to

make way for the main course.

Just another suggestion, but it worked for me.

-

Sherry Rose

Tuesday, April 11, 2006 9:55 PM

Intro and Suggestion (was: Carmen's Easter dinner)

 

 

Hi all,

 

I'm a newby to Vegetarian Group, but I've been on other veg lists

with many of you. I live in western Oregon, near Eugene, and have

been vegetarian since 1982. I was vegan for 9 years before I went

back to being vegetarian. My DH is a " captive vegetarian " who is

very supportive and understanding. Imagine when, 10 years into our

marriage, I informed him that not only would I not be cooking meat

any more but it wouldn't be entering the house! He's stuck by me all

these years, eating nonveg only at restaurants. Our daughter, who

currently lives in Maryland, is vegan.

 

I'm a homemaker, but I used to run an (unsheltered) humane society

and wrote articles for the local newspaper in another locale, and

organized a vegetarian group. I love to cook and garden. Lately

I've become very interested in all sorts of ethnic cooking and

especially authentic wok cooking. I know I'll be learning much from

all of you!

 

Carmen, here's a thought: You don't have to serve a main protein

course if you don't want to for Easter dinner. Some folks really

despise meat analogs. For Hallowe'en and Thanksgiving, I always

serve the mashed potatoes, a stew, or the stuffing in a hollowed out

partially cooked pumpkin. Perhaps you could serve the stuffing or a

bisque in a pretty tureen or create a lovely casserole with the

mashed potatoes, green beans, and perhaps some nuts. If you do

cheese, you can top your casserole with that, then broil it. I think

maybe it's all in the presentation. If it's in a fancy or at least

big container, if it's decorated on top, and it's placed in the

center of the table, people will view that as the centerpiece main

food. Or, if you eat eggs (and are going to be stuck with a lot of

dyed hard boiled ones), perhaps you could do a fancy egg dish to

place in the center of the table -- lots of protein, no " strange "

food, and a main course to have with all of the sides.

 

Just a thought --

 

Sherry

 

At 05:47 PM 4/11/2006, you wrote:

>In digest #713, Carmen asked: " What would one serve in

>place of the turkey? I can do all the other stuff like the

>stuffing, potatoes, veggies and even the gravy.

>But what does one do in place of the turkey?

>Anyone here face this dilemna as a new veggie?

>My kids are hard to please so any good ideas

>would be great. "