Friday, July 15th, 2011
Veggie Summer Barbecue
Adapted from the Vegetarian Society Networking Newsletter (mainly by adding the ‘s’ to Veggies!)
This article recently featured in the Young Veggie pages of The Vegetarian.
We thought it was worth reprinting in time for summer in Youth Matters, too.
Lots of parties and get-togethers during the summer months centre around the garden and the barbecue. Even though barbecues are traditionally associated with cooking meat, vegetarians can enjoy a good barbecue as much as anyone else. Give these two menus a try for super-tasty summer barbecues.
Simple summer barbecue:
Veggies burgers, or make your own with Veggies Burger Mixes
Bread rolls
Simple salad garnish (sliced tomatoes, greens such as lettuce or spinach, grated carrot, sliced onions)
Condiments (tomato sauce, salad cream, brown sauce, mayonnaise, chilli sauce)
Crisps
Corn chips with salsa
Hummus with raw vegetables (peppers, carrots, mushrooms, cauliflower, celery)
Fresh summer fruit (strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries)
Deluxe Veggies barbecue:
For the grill-
Marinated firm tofu skewers with Mediterranean vegetables
Peppers stuffed with tomato and vegan feta cheese
Spiced sweet potato slices
Veggies burgers, or make your own with Veggies Burger Mixes
On the side-
Hummus with vegetables
Lemony bean salad
Potato salad with chopped mint and lemon
Platter of sundried tomatoes, olives, vegan cheeses and savoury biscuits
Breads (pitta, rolls, etc)
Condiments
Toasted vegan marshmallows (from Veggies) and s’mores
Tip: Make sure that any food items that usually need refrigeration, like Plamil mayonnaise or hummus, are kept cool by either being served on a bowl of ice or kept indoors.
Saturday, July 10th, 2010
Sadly we have hit a hitch with the potential 7th East Midlands Vegan Festival (EMVF).
Due to its success in bringing in some 2000 people each year, the Council will no longer allow the use of the Council House, due to the ‘wear and tear’ that the event is causing to the building.
We have been searching for other options, but are stuggling to find another venue immediately where the public pass by. We have always targetted the EMVF at the non-vegan general public by holding the event right where they are, rather than at a less prominent venue that would likely attract only those already committed to dietary change.
It may be possible to take it out onto Nottingham’s central Old Market Square (in front of the Council House), but this would take the budget over £2000 rather than the previously affordable £1000 – the event is self-funded, with the support of the Vegan Society and many small independent vegan traders, and organised by volunteers from Nottingham’s vegan community.
Taking the event outside would also necessitate a move from its prime pre-christmas Saturday date, and none of our shortlisted dates have found favour with the Council.
Other options include taking the event on the road, for example to Derby, Leicester or Lincoln, or taking it out of the city centre, for example to the Arboretum, the successful venue for Nottingham’s Green Festival.
So it is unlikely that there will be an EMVF this year.
However, never to be deterred, campaigning continues with the vegan outreach offered by the EMVF being replaced by monthly Vegan Free Food Give-Aways at various city centre locations, including on the doorstep of the Council House! Each of these events gives the opportunity to engage directly with a hundred members of the public, reaching a thousand during the year.
The EMVF team also hosted the world’s first Vegan Beer Festival at the Sumac Centre, Nottingham’s vegan social centre.
EMVF reports via http://www.eastmidlandsveganfestival.co.uk/
Call on the City of Nottingham to support a weekly VeggieDay (Meat Free Monday): http://veggieday.org.uk/
Follow Veggies Catering Campaign News at http://twitter.com/veggiesnottm
