Calling all vegans!?

Question

Please help me, vegans!
I am not a vegetarian or vegan but I have a friend who was veggie and her New Year's resolution was to go vegan. I want to support her.
A few of us are going over to her house to scrapbook and in the past we've normally done potluck for snacks. Her being veggie was not a problem, it was easy to make stuff. But now that she's vegan I know that I can't use any ingredients that came from anything that used to have a face.
I wanted to bring over something other than plain fruit or veggies. I'm not opposed to a hard recipe, and I live in a city so I can go get ingredients easily. Please give me some cool ideas or recipes for snacks (ideally something that does not need utensils to eat). Ethnic foods like samosas would work, we all like to try new stuff.
Also, what is a good resource for seeing if prepared foods (e.g., Fritos) are vegan?
Thank you so much!!

Answer 1

You could make spring rolls. I like to make them sometimes as a light lunch. All you need are spring rolls wrappers (make sure you get the rice paper ones and not the egg roll ones), and vegetables.

I like chop up (finely) cabbage (or bok choy), carrots, mushrooms, tofu, and onions. Just saute the onions and mushrooms until they're tender, then add the carrots and tofu with a some soy sauce and a little bit of ground ginger. Add the cabbage last since this does not need to be cooked as long as the other vegetables. After about 5-8 minutes, it should be done. You can add other spices, such as some wasabi or any other asian spice (I particularly like the penzey's spices such as the singapore curry or the bangkok blend).

Assemble your spring rolls by placing around 1 1/2 - 2 tablespoons of filling diagonally on the rice paper. Wet each corner and fold.

I prefer my spring rolls steamed (by boiling a pot of water and steaming the spring rolls in a steamer on top of the pot of water), but you can also fry them in some olive or vegetable oil.

Answer 2

Not all vegetarians are vegan. Vegans do not eat meat of any kind and also do not eat eggs, dairy products, or processed foods containing these or other animal-derived ingredients such as gelatin. Many vegans also refrain from eating foods that are made using animal products that may not contain animal products in the finished process, such as sugar and some wines. There is some debate as to whether certain foods, such as honey, fit into a vegan diet.

Answer 3

Look to Sarah Kramer's cook books. You might find them at the library. Garden of Vegan. How it all Vegan. La Dolce Vegan.

Here's a super recipe for peanut butter cookies from Sinfully Vegan:

1 c maple syrup
1/2 c oil
1 c peanut butter
2 t vanilla
2 c flour

Preheat oven to 350.

Bend wet ingredients until smooth. Add flour 1/2 a cup at a time. Spoon out onto lightly oiled cookie sheet. Press with fork (your standard peanut butter criss-cross) Bake for 15 to 20 minutes.

My oven runs hot so these only take 12 minutes for me. It's ok to eat the dough because it's all good stuff in it. And it's ok to half bake them if you like chewy cookies. There's no dairy to give you samonella poisoning.

Answer 4

Roasted Red Pepper Hummus and Pita chips are really good. I don't know if this is a traditional recipe for hummus but this is the way I made it:
a can of Chick Peas aka Garbonzo beans
2 -3 slices of Roasted red peppers
Sesame seed paste
A medium sized Onion, cut into quarters
2 cloves Garlic, cracked from skin (you could use less, I like garlic)
1-2 tsp Olive Oil, just enough to make it smooth
Cumin, salt, and pepper, to your taste
a little bit of lemon juice, to your taste
Lots of Pita... I like whole wheat, but it dosnt matter.

To make sesame seed paste:
toast some sesame seeds in a pan, maybe just a bit of olive oil (just enough to very lighly coat the pan)
They are done when they are golden brown.
smash then up with a mortar and pestal till they make a paste.
(You could always to fin it in a store too)

basically just add all the ingreidients in a food processor. and there you go,

Pita chips:
- cut up the pitas into little triangles. like chip size.
- Just barely coat a pan with a little bit of olive oil.
- Lay the pitas in, they don't take that long sooo watch them. you dont want nasty burnt pita chips.
- When the pitas are crispy they are done
- Then maybe a little salt, pepper (anything you want to season them with, onion powder, garlic powder, whatever.)

This is kinda a pain in the butt, I get my little sisters to help me if I make something like this, but its awesome, and it pays off.
I recently went to a party and made this to bring, I am the only vegan out of my friends, Everyone was hesitant to try it, but they tried it and it was gone in like 10 minutes. If I ever make it again I'll probably double the recipe.
Hope this helps.

Answer 5

I HIGHLY recommend any of Sarah Kramer's cookbooks (She has two from a collaboration and one on her own) You could buy one (I found it at Borders) and make something out of the appetizers section, and then give it to your friend as a gift to support her resolution! Her website:

http://www.govegan.net

Big hits I had with omnivores and veggies alike were the roasted red pepper hummus, stuffed mushrooms, and fried tofu bites!

Answer 6

vegetarians do not eat flesh meat -- but eat eggs, butter,cheese & drink milk--

vegans -- take the next step- eliminating ALL animal products-- so basically anything with whole grains & veggies and or fruits-

one of my favorites-- refried beans (fat free- others have lard in them) mix with chopped onions & picante sauce- put mixture in tortillas- roll & pour more salsa or Picante on top... simple and very good!!

Answer 7

There are almost 7,000 vegan recipes here:

http://www.recipezaar.com/recipes/vegan

Everything from appetizers through entrees and even desserts.

Answer 8

check the peta 2 website, they have great recipes.

Answer 9

fatfreevegan.com!! I love that site!

wish I had a website for the snacks for you...

Answer 10

There are loads of ideas on this website : http://www.recipesforvegans.co.uk