[crayons]

I have again agreed to host the casual christmas dinner that I have with my friends every year. Every time I have them over I have a bit of a stress attack about what to feed everyone so now I need help!

There will be 8 adults and 1 toddler this includes: 1 vegan, 2 vegetarians, 1 diabetic, 1 no egg, dairy or tree nuts, 1 no egg, 2 pizza and hamburger eaters and DH. I usually do bbq and salads or homemade pizza. Can you think of anything else for a menu? One of the vegetarians are pretty anti soy so won't eat any of the fake meat style things.

I can make a few things not everyone has to be able to have everything but I'm still stuck this year.

[anotherid]

OMG better you then me.

I have no idea where to start on that one. Perhaps look up some vegan websites for recipe ideas?

Good luck!

[boatiebabe]

Good luck with that!

I think you will just have to do a whole range of dishes that will suit individuals. Nut and egg free can be done fairly easily.

Will the vegan/vegetarians protest if there is meat served to others?

I would probably do a vegetarian curry for the vegans/vegos and some salads. Pasta salad or pasta dish as well.

For the rest maybe some grilled lamb kebabs that they can have with pita bread, tzaziki etc and the salads.

I wouldn't worry about the toddler too much. They just eat around the edges anyway and can nibble on rice or pasta and some bread.

For dessert make a huge summer fruit platter.

[Dinosaurus]

I would do vegan dishes with meat on the side - so a salad with some cheese, bacon or chicken there to be added by meat eaters, pasta with a couple of sauces, baked vegetable salad goes well with bbq, my sister did a make your own pizza night once which was successful despite having two vego's, one anti-seafood and various other issues (although the other issues were all fussy rather than allergy or principle).

Have fun

[JBH]

I would make Mediterranean inspired share platters. Some examples:

-sliced tomatoes with shredded basil and olive oil

-ratatouille

-roast cauliflower and pomegranate seeds

-roast peppers with braised chickpeas and mint

-lots of bread

Followed by a stone fruit salad.

I'm an omnivore and I'd enjoy it.

[lisles]

Hi OP,

I'm vegan so can probably help a bit. How about make your own pizzas? We do this at home, providing lots of bowls of different toppings (roast eggplant, zucchini, baby spinach, roast pumpkin or sweet potato, rocket, cherry tomatoes, roast capsicum, olives, artichokes, asparagus etc. are all good for vegos/vegans, add whatever meats, chicken or seafood for omnivores). Everybody gets exactly what they like that way. Add a couple of salads on the side, and for desert a fruit platter with melted dark chocolate for dipping (dairy free for vegans - the lindt cooking chocolate is OK, or whittakers make a dark range, which you can buy in Coles or Woolies).

If you want to BBQ, vegos might like kebabs made with mushrooms, capsicum, onion, cherry tomatoes, eggplant etc.
Just wrap them in foil before cooking as many vegos don't like the meat fat getting in their food. Add corn on the cob and a few salads and everyone should be happy.

If you are really stumped ask your guests for suggestions or help. I'm always happy to bring something when invited out,
I don't expect everyone to be able to cater for vegans. A curry night where everyone brings a curry to share, with you providing rice and side dishes might work well.

Good luck with it all!

[noi'mnot]

We have heaps of friends who are vegan/vegetarian/have other food intolerances, so we're used to catering for a variety of dietary requirements. My preference is to always cook similar things for all people, so a vegan lasagne and a meat lasagne, or a variety of vegan/vegetarian/meat curries with rice and sides, etc. This is more enjoyable for all as everybody feels like they're sharing a meal, rather than eating bits and pieces. I also find it easier to have things similarly themed, as ingredients and sides and accompaniments and salads cross over quite easily.

If you're doing a bbq, cube some veggies (zucchini, eggplant, capsicum, mushroom, cherry tomato, onion, etc) and skewer them and cook them before you cook any meat. You can get silicone bbq mats that go over your regular plate to ensure no cross-contamination from previous bbqs. You could add haloumi to some of the veggie skewers for the vegetarians and for the meat eaters with an appreciation of veggies. You can even marinate them before or after in some garlic, balsamic vinegar and olive oil. They're delicious, and should cover most people's dietary requirements.

You can easily get veggie burgers from most supermarkets, or even better make them yourself (this will ensure that they're vegan, and also suitable for an egg-free individual). Cook some veggie burgers at the same time as the veggie skewers, then after these things are done cook some meat skewers and some meat burgers (you can make burgers at home without egg quite easily). This way everybody is kind of eating the same kind of thing, it's simpler to have similar accompaniments and salads and all of it kind of suits.

If this isn't enough food, you could always add steaks/cutlets/more meat or whatever you want. Platters of dips (easy to do vegan and vegetarian ones which will suit all involved) with veggie sticks and crackers are great. Include plenty of bread and bread rolls and lots of salad and you should be set.

One thing that I've found (depending on the crowd, it's definitely true for mine) is that it's important to cook extra of the veggie/vegan options, as often the meat eaters will get stuck into them as well and the non-meat-eaters get left hungry.

This post has been edited by noi'mnot: 22/11/2012, 11:09 AM

[SarahM72]

Okay, here are some ideas for finger food type things for vegan, no dairy, no egg, no nuts, no sugar (for the diabetic).

Vegetable pakoras are nice. You can make the batter with just besan flour, spices, pinch of salt and water. No need to add yoghurt or egg. Serve with tomato chutney (a spicy one and don't put in the sugar). Use eggplant, zuchini, cauliflower, brocoli as the vegies.

Baked stuffed vegies. Stuff with spiced rice, with a few additions. Google recipes for stuffed vegies.

Vine leaves stuffed with rice. Or cabbage leaves. Just google the recipes.

Falafel and vegies with dips.

Bab Ghanoush or hommous, with vegies or bread.

Lots of nice salad recipes. Leave out any cheese or dairy/egg dressings. Just use olive oil and vinegar/lemon juice with some herbs.

Antipasto plates (without meat), such as olives and marinated vegies eg artichoke, eggplant, capsicum.

Vegie spring rolls, served with chilli sauce (not the sweet ones, as they have sugar).

STeamed vegetable dumpling (dim sims) with vegan fillings.

Nori rolls (seaweed rolls) made with just rice and vegetable filling. Leave out the sushi vinegar (which has sugar) and it will still taste good.

This post has been edited by SarahM72: 22/11/2012, 11:19 AM

[laridae]

Ask everyone to bring a plate of food that they can eat to share?

If your hosting (providing the venue) every year, surely the rest could help out by providing some food...

[crayons]

Thanks for all the suggestions! I think I'll go with the platter style foods.

I love these friends but asking them to help never works, I have learnt to not ask it is just too stressful for me.