Menu suggestion for vegetarian guests - including kids?

Question

Having friends round for dinner. They are vegetarian (not vegan, so dairy ok). Food needs to be suitable for kids too. From 1 year to 6 years old...
Would like 2 courses, ideally that I can make the night before - as kids only "slightly" helpful with the cooking...

Answer 1

This is perhaps more simple thanyou would like but it is incredibly tasty.

Portobello Mushroom Burgers with roasted red pepper
- grill the mushrooms (marinate them first) like a hamburger
- roast red peppers
- make a garlic mayonaise
- use a nice italian bread as a bun
- garnish with lettuce

Chickpea salad
- 2 cans of chickpeas
- 4 table spoons of olive oil
3 table spoons of lemon juice
3 table spoons of balsamic vinegar
- red onions - minced
- 2 table spoons of ginger
- 2 cloves of garlic

Ideally make it the day before as it gets better with age.I got that from the moosewood cookbook - see link

Simple and yummy

Answer 2

Butternut Squash Bisque (below)
Big Caesar Salad
Penne w/ 5 Cheeses (below)
French Bread
German Chocolate Cake


Butternut Suash and Bacon Bisque

(leave out bacon, use vegetable broth)
--Mak2 quarts

1 3-pound butternut squash
1 tsp. oil
1 cup chopped onion
3 strips bacon
1 cup apple cider
2 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
1 cup cream
Salt and pepper to taste

1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Cut the stem off of the squash, and cut lengthwise. Scoop out the seeds and discard.

2. Place the squash, skin side up, on a small sheet pan. Add 1-1/2 cups of water to the bottom of the pan, and bake at 350 degrees for 2 hours, or until soft. Don't let the pan dry out; add more water, if necessary.

3. When cooked, cool, then scoop the flesh into a small bowl. You should have about 3 cups. Set aside.

4. Heat the oil in a 6-quart pot on medium heat, then add the onions, bacon and 1 tablespoon water. Cook for 7 minutes, then pour in the cider and bring to a simmer.

5. Mix in the squash and chicken broth, and return to mixture to a simmer.

6. Remove from the heat, and purée with an immersion blender.

7. Pour in the cream, then mix, taste and adjust flavor with salt and pepper

--Hartford Courant
______________________

Penne with 5 Cheeses

Kosher salt
2 C. heavy cream
1 C. crushed tomatoes in thick tomato puree
1/2 c freshly grated Pecorino Romano (1 1/2 oz.)
1/2 c. shredded imported Italian fontina (1 1/2 oz.)
1/4 c. crumbled Italian Gorgonzola (1 1/2 oz.)
2 tablespoons ricotta cheese
1/4 pound fresh mozzarella, sliced
6 fresh basil leaves, chopped
1 pound imported penne rigate pasta
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter

Preheat oven to 500ºF. Bring 5 quarts of salted water to a boil in a stockpot.

Combine all the ingredients except the penne and butter in a large mixing bowl. Mix well.

Drop the penne into the boiling water and parboil for 4 minutes. Drain well in a colander and add to the ingredients in the mixing bowl, tossing to combine. Divide the pasta mixture among 6 shallow ceramic gratin dishes (1 1/2 to 2 c. capacity) Dot with the butter and bake until bubbly brown on top, 7 to 10 minutes.

--Ina Garten, FoodTV

Answer 3

Pumpkin soup for starters, with lots of cheese and garlic croutons.

Then red peppers stuffed with some pre-made onion and mushroom risotto (add a little white wine too if they don't mind their kids having it). Also add to the stuffed peppers mixed herbs and feta cheese, then brown it under the grill (i like cheese so now would be a good time to put some cheddar on the top and let it melt). Serve with a salad. Delicious and full of nutrients. All you'll need to do it heat the soup and grill the peppers just before dinner.

Answer 4

How about
Tomatoes and mozzeralla with basil to start - v quick just slice em on to a plate and dress with a bit of oregano & olive oil. Maybe cut to interesting shapes for kids smiley faces or something.
Veggie lasagne with garlic bread for mains. Make lasagne before it always tastes better second day. Garlic bread 10 mins in oven on the night.
Ice cream for pudding - make own before or cheat. The Carte D'or one with amaretti buscuits is fabulush. Or trifle.
Dadaaaa - plenty of time for doing all other stuff.

Answer 5

make vegetarian fajitas. Very easy. Just stir fry some thinly slices veggies. pop in a tortilla with all the toppings and salsa. Or try spaghettie with vegetarian mince. You can pick one up at the store and just through it in with the sauce. It's easy and good. Serve with salad, garlic bread as usual.

Answer 6

For an appetizer make fried cheese w/ marinara(kids will love this) for first course make Bruschetta - Roma tomatoes (squeeze out pulp) chop mix with fresh chopped basil, olive oil, shredded Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper and garlic powder mix refrigerate until ready to serve on toasted french bread.For main course Spinach manicotti-cook manicotti pasta set aside, in a bowl mix baby spinach ricotta, shredded Parmesan (2 eggs if they eat them but okay without)salt pepper and garlic stuff in pasta shells.In a casserole dish pour a little spaghetti sauce place stuffed pasta on top pour remainder of sauce over it and top with shredded mozzarella bake 350 until lightly browned and bubbly.(should take about 30min)For desert mix some fresh berries with some Grand Mariner and put in fridge until ready (mix some berries with sugar for kids) them put a scoop of Vanilla bean ice cream in a martini glass top with berries.

Answer 7

a baked pasta dish is always easy for one course. the night before you can boil the pasta, make the sauce (tomato sause mixed with ricotta cheese), mix it together, put it in the dish, and then in the fridge. then you just have to put it in the oven before dinner.

then all you need to do is make a big salad, and maybe have some baby carrots and ranch dressing for the kids to snack on before dinner.

Answer 8

i agree with most of the people but if you like you can grill some veggies. zucchinis, sliced in half, lengthwise & scored with a knife you can brush with olive oil, & then add garlic, salt , pepper & other spices & grill until tender. you can grillother veggies on skewers also if you like with different maranaides

Answer 9

Vegetable Lasagna and salad

Answer 10

vegetable lasagna is yummy. Recipe below