Community Vegan Vegetarian Potluck March 23

Flower Arrangements by Christy Payton

I haven't posted in a few weeks.  I bought myself some new cooking tools, ceramic knives.  They're very nice, and, at first, pretty affordable.  As my friend said "They came with an expensive training manual." They got a little more expensive as I ended up needing a little medical attention. I got a little careless and tried to slice the top of my left index finger off like a carrot.  A few stitches and some swelling, it hasn't been very comfortable to use the computer.  Healing, now I can catch up posting some of the great dishes I've been making.  I have since broken down and purchased a cutting glove.  I'm using it too.

First thing I should do is share about our great local potluck.  We've been holding it for a year now in Longview and it's becoming a regular local event.

Our local vegan/vegetarian potluck keeps getting better.  Last week we had 45 people and for the first time, ran out of chairs.  Everywhere I looked people were tasting, chatting about the food, and sharing ideas with each other.  It really was an enjoyable potluck. The food is getting more and more adventurous.  We had some awesome dishes like the General Tso's tofu Felicia brought, or Linda's chocolate mousse with cashew creme. Three of our diners were celebrating their birthday's the same night.  Nice that they wanted to spend their birthdays with us.

Here's some of the great dishes we got to sample and learn about.

Stir Fry Carrots
Veggie Pizza
General Tso Tofu
Cheezy Spicy Kale Chips
Vegan Buttermilk Cupcakes with Vegan Chocolate Frosting
Hazelnut Banana Gâteau de Crêpes
Raw Vanilla Bean Cupcakes with Blueberry Coconut Frosting
Homemade Vegan "Sausage" with Sauteed Peppers & Onions
Green Salad with Vegan Ranch Dressing, made with vegan sour cream
Mango Sweet Potato Salad
Vegetarian Fruit Salad ~ Fruit Salad with Greek Yogurt
Tomato Mung Bean Salad
Persian Eggplant Stew
Oven Roasted Root Vegetables
Vegetable Barley Bake
Berry Pie
Vegan Pizza
Vegan Spaghetti with Zucchini Tomato Sauce
Vegan Coleslaw
Quinoa Salad
Chocolate Beet Cupcakes
Baked Apples with caramel sauce

and much more...
 

Another Fun Vegan/Vegetarian Potluck

Last week we had another fun vegan/vegetarian potluck in Longview.  There were mostly vegan choices this time. A couple items were made so they could be served with or without cheese as the cheese was on the side.  That was very nice.  This was our largest potluck yet, 43 diners enjoyed a great meal together.  I've heard a couple times that it was the best food yet.  Most stayed to watch Forks Over Knives.  Quite a few people who had seen the movie already said they got a little more out of it this time.

There were so many great dishes.  As you can tell from my husband's plate above, it was difficult to try everything even if you just took a small portion of each.  The plate filled up quickly.  I know there were a couple things I went back to try again and they were gone like Rachel's portabello wellington and Felicia's tofu quiché.

Here's some of the items on the buffet tables:

Broccoli Salad with dried cranberries and toasted  almonds
Vegan Caesar Salad
Massaged Kale Salad
Dirty Rice
Cole Slaw
Bean Curry & Rice
Rotini, miso, & sun-dried tomato salad
Ginger Carrot Beans & Rice
Portabello Wellington
Vegetable Pasta Stir-Fry
West African Stew
Mushroom & Cashew Hummus
Carrot & Beet Celebration salad
Honey Beer Bread
BBQ Walnut Balls
Cashew Burger Casserole
Tofu Quiché
Vegan Coconut Cakes
Vegan Coconut Lemon Cake
Peanut Butter Pie
Raw Caramel Smoothie
Some cute little coconut ginger balls
Vegan Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Jamaican Gingeraide


As Lester said "They just keep getting better."

Thanks again to all the cooks and for everyone who came out. 

LV Vegetarian/Vegan Potluck January 27

Vegetarian & Vegan Potluck

Friday, January 27, 2012 at 7:00 pm @ Payton's Produce

1132 Washington Way, Longview, WA 98632

Everyone is welcome to come and learn more about enjoying a plant-based diet. After dinner we’ll be showing the movie Forks Over Knives.

FORKS OVER KNIVES examines the profound claim that most, if not all, of the degenerative diseases that afflict us can be controlled, or even reversed, by rejecting animal-based and processed foods. The major storyline in the film traces the personal journeys of a pair of pioneering researchers, Dr. T. Colin Campbell and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn.

 

For the potluck, please bring a vegetarian (plant-based with dairy or egg) or vegan (plant-based with no animal products, including honey) main dish, salad, or dessert; a card listing its ingredients; and plates and utensils for your use. Need plant-based ideas? Email kaydebbie25@yahoo.com. There are great things you can do to improve your health, your budget and your environment! For those who bring a dish, if you come alone, figure the amount to serve 4–6 generously; increase the amount 4 servings for each additional person in your party/family. This is an alcohol-free event.

 

A donation of $2 per person is suggested, but not required, to help cover the expenses.

LV Community Vegan/Vegetarian Potluck October

Last night was the sixth Community Vegan/Vegetarian potluck in Longview and I think it was one of the nicest.  We had about the same amount of people, thirty or so, made some new friends and ate some great vegan and vegetarian food.  We didn't have very many vegetarian dishes this time or the last. It seems the potluck is going in a vegan direction all by itself.  There were lots of gluten free dishes including cookies, pumpkin scones, and brownies.  I made two batches of the popular vegan mac & cheese one with brown rice noodles and the other with quinoa noodles. I omitted the bread crumbs for gluten free mac & cheese.

All the cooks put on an impressive buffet.  Among the wonderful dishes we had were:  Black eyed pea salad with a homemade dressing, steamed cauliflower with onions, fresh frozen peas, and a sauce made with veganaise and mustard, French green lentil stew, Turkish garbanzo bean salad, a harvest grain salad, a fresh fruit bowl, spinach salad, tofu adobo, a cactus and black bean salad, a pitcher of fresh berry smoothie, and lots more.  The desserts were plentiful, all vegan, and most were gluten free:  Pumpkin spice carrot cake with cream "cheese" frosting, raw cashew chocolate, coconut fudge, Gluten free pumpkin scones, gluten free chocolate brownies, and Gluten free vegan pumpkin chocolate chip cookies.  What fun it was trying all the different dishes.  I was thinking that it was such a joy that everyone made something wonderful themselves and it was obvious that they put care into it.  I remember hosting potlucks for another organization years ago and I was usually disappointed when the store deli fried chicken and pre-made macaroni and potato salads showed up. 
Many of our guests are new to plant based eating and it's such a treat to see the joy on someone's face when they discover the many things they "can" eat that they didn't think they could before.  The gluten free folks, for example.  I know many women who are gluten intolerant or avoid it for pain issues and didn't think they'd ever get to eat baked goods again.


Our guest speaker didn't appear, but that didn't hamper our fun at all.  It was a rainy night and there may have been bad traffic.  I was told by Jill from NW Veg when I was thinking about this potluck that sometimes that happens there is no speaker, so they've often just gone around the room and introduced themselves and talked about why they are there.  So, after a lively dinner filled with the conversations about the new and interesting foods we were eating, I talked a little bit about why I suggested we start this potluck and opened up the room for questions, comments, or success and/or failure stories. We had a great discussion.  There was some sharing from a couple people about how eating a plant based diet has changed their health for the better.  There were questions about diabetes and other diseases from people who's doctors have suggested they try a plant based diet to improve their health.  It was a warm, interesting, conversation between us all.  We all got to know each other a little bit better too.   As it turned out, no one missed our speaker at all.  I've had a couple emails and phone calls today from attendees who wanted to tell me what a good time it was and that the discussion was very good.  Each one of them told me they learned something last night.  YES!  That's why I started this potluck.  Smiles and JOY!  I am hoping we can all learn more together.

Thanks everyone for your culinary efforts and for showing up!  Our next potluck will be in January, probably around the third week on a Friday night again.  I'll let you know the date.  I think I am going to round up some equipment and show Forks Over Knives after dinner.

The Bottle Flu & Near ~ Two songs by John S. Crocker

Thanks John for the lively entertainment at our fifth community vegan/vegetarian potluck. I uploaded my first YouTube upload. **giggling** We managed to get about five or six videos on our little Sony point and shoot camera. I am surprised how good they are. When I sent John's wife Mary a Facebook message telling her I was posting it on, the phone rang immediately. It was John and I was afraid he disapproved. He just wanted me to include his middle initial because there are so many John Crockers. :-)

LV Community Vegan/Vegetarian Potluck, August 21, 2011

 We had another successful potluck last weekend.  The sun came out and so did our friends.  We had thirty-five friends, new and old, enjoy dinner outside in the parking lot of Payton's Produce. It's been in the high 70's and 80's the last couple of weeks. It was a perfect summer afternoon.  My friend John came and played his original folk/blues music. Nothing I like better than Sunday afternoon in the sunshine with some live music, good food, and friends.  We put up a few canopies, some tables and chairs, and set up the food.  It's getting much easier now.  It's our fifth one and a core group has formed.  There are about ten friends who try to make every potluck so we all know what it looks like and the set up just takes place.  I am so grateful to friends and coworkers, the tables and chairs and canopies were the would be a big expense. Everybody pitches in to help.  Jimi brought some nice door prizes such as: fresh flowers, fruit, lavender products, and other items from local farms and businesses.  We were able to give a  few copies of Forks Over Knives away.  If we don't have a speaker for our December or February potlucks, maybe we'll just show the movie.  That would be fun.

When I first began this potluck I talked to the people I know at Northwest Veg who've been sponsoring a potluck in Portland for over twenty years and another in Vancouver for the last five years.  I asked them some questions about what works and what doesn't, what to provide, or not, how to get speakers, etc.  One of the things Jill told me was that they weren't always culinary wonders.  She said sometimes it's only six people and sometimes one hundred or more. That's usually the January or February potluck, health and fitness are pretty popular those months. But, ours have turned out to be culinary adventure.  Some of the friends who come to the potluck think about what they might make a month before and even practice some recipes.  We've had some absolutely wonderful food.  It's changing with the seasons too.  This time zucchini was the star of the show.  Our next potluck is in October.  I'm looking forward to the pumpkin and winter squash meals that show up. We're all learning from each other too.  Most of the food this time was vegan, raw, and quite a bit was even gluten free.

Some people took their ingredient cards home so I don't remember them all, but of the wonderful food we had was:

Raw Sweet Potato Salad
Vegan Potato Salad
Organic Fruit Salad
Wheat Berry Salad
Raw Vegan Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies
Trail Mix Cookies
Vegan Potatoes, peppers, onions, and green beans salad
Little apricot tarts
Zucchini Hummus
My Cheesy Chili Flax Crackers with fresh carrots & zucchini
Eggplant walnut paté
Flowerless Chocolate Torte ~ This one was very popular
Vegan Peach Banana Cream Pie
Carrots, snow peas, and honey, with lemon juice
Raw Zucchini Ravioli
Two versions of raw zucchini spaghetti, one with bean sausages



The next potluck is October 21, 7:00 p.m. Dr. Richard Heitsch from the Integrated Medicine Group in Portland is going to give a talk about reversing heart disease. I'll be sure to post the details as it gets closer.

May Veggie Potluck

We had another very successful vegan/vegetarian potluck in Longview.  I am pleased how well it's turned out.  There were about 25 people and we're seeing new faces each time.  I am impressed at the wonderful dishes we're all getting to try.  This time there were a lot more gluten free choices as well as many raw choices.  Desirée did a great job demonstrating raw cinnamon rolls.  They were very tasty.  I had enough walnuts at home to whip up a batch the next day.  Had to have some more of that.

Just some of the items at the buffet tables:

Arugula-Orange Fennel Salad
Lentil Apple Potato Salad
Black Rice, Mango, & Sugar Snap Pea Salad
Vegetarian Pie Crust Pizza
Sugar Cookie Fruit Bites
Potato Salad with tofu and herbs with a little cumin
Penne Pasta Primavera Salad
Collard Green Roll-Ups
Gluten Free Brownies
Three Bean Salad
Vegan Mac & Cheese with Broccoli
Live Lasagna
Israeli Cous Cous
Raw Berry Cheezecake
Vegan Five Grain Cookies
And Lester grabbed a few pounds of fresh asparagus, steamed and tossed them with herbs and olive oil.

The next one will be on June 26 and this time we have some folk musicians coming to entertain with their songs about plant based living and animal rights.  I was contacted by a couple out of Eugene Oregon who travel around singing, sharing poetry, and telling stories.  They are on a year long tour spreading the message about plant based eating and the benefits.  They will be bringing some vegan soaps, lotions, and fun. If you are interested in adding plant based meals to your life, come on down.  Maybe the sun will show itself and we can have an old fashioned Sunday afternoon party outside. I know, all you PNW residents are giggling at me right now.  But, we do call it liquid sunshine.

The Potluck Adventures Continue In Longview

The potluck adventures continue. Our next vegan/vegetarian potluck in Longview, WA is Friday, May 20th at Payton's Produce.

This time we're having a raw foods demonstration by Desirée Livingston Ouellette. Desirée is a Live Food Certified/Raw Food Enthusiast & RYT, Registered Yoga Teacher. She teaches Raw Foods preparation with the Parks and Recreation Department of Longview and the reviews have been awesome.

This is for anyone who is interested in plant based eating. No matter
where you are on your journey, if you are interested in adding more
plant based meals to your life or are vegetarian or vegan already. We
can share some food, ideas, maybe a recipe or two and learn together.

The potluck is at Paytons Produce, 1132 Washington Way, Longview, WA.

If you are participating in the potluck, please bring a vegetarian or
vegan (vegan contains no animal products, including honey) main dish,
salad, or dessert; a card listing its ingredients; and plates and
utensils for your use.

Need plant-based ideas? Send me a message, I can direct you to a good
location. If you come alone, figure the amount to serve 4–6 generously;
increase the amount 4 servings for each additional person in your
party/family. This is an alcohol free event. For more information,
email kaydebbie25@yahoo.com. A donation of $2–5 per person is suggested.

A Good Time Was Had by All ~ LV Potluck #2

Our second vegan/vegetarian potluck in Longview was again a success.  There were about 25 people and a great variety of wonderful food.  Mike McKee from Willow Grove Farms talked about organic farming and I learned quite a bit about how to improve my own garden this year.  I always learn something new talking to Mike.  I also found out that I shouldn't have my lettuce bowl under the lights downstairs.  Even before unpacking all the supplies from my car, I ran down and moved the lettuce to a cooler spot on the deck.  They're doing great, by the way.  I should be starting up some gardening blogging soon.  Peter Spendelow from NWVeg also came and spoke to us about the WA initiative 1130 to ban confinement cages for chickens.




Among the wonderful food we had:

A couple fresh fruit salads
Vegan Oatmeal Raisin Cookies with vegan chocolate chips and shredded coconut
Roasted Yams and sweet potatoes with molasses
Veggie Ragout with mozzarella cheese
Garden Vegetable Soup
Curried Quinoa Salad
Polenta Casserole
Vegan Deli Cole Slaw
Sengalese peanut, spinach, yam stew
Spanish Rice
Zucchini Pie
Green Salads, herb salads, hummus, and much more.

Thanks to all the cooks, Mike McKee, Peter Spendelow, Jon for arranging the chairs, everyone who helped set up and clean up, and Christy and Lester for allowing us to transform your produce store into a dining room for the evening.  A good time was had by all.

The next one will be in May and I'm hoping to have a raw foods or vegan cooking demonstration.

Vive Bene