Your cousin Leila is coming all the way from Paris to see you. She just announced that she is engaged, and she and her fiancé are both vegan. In your mind, the last time you may have seen her, she was overweight and you all were gobbling down spare ribs and French fries.
So, how did Leila decides all of a sudden to become a vegan?
Vegan: a person who does not eat any food derived from animals and who typically does not use other animal products.
Experts stated that being a vegan can be a healthy choice if it is implemented correctly. However, they can come up short when the body needs certain essential nutrients.
In my opinion, some people use the word vegan just a tactic to be trendy. I think at some point, a vegan will backslide, especially if they are used to eating meat.
I got a chance to check out some exciting vegan recipes in author Jamie Oliver’s Ultimate Veg: Easy & Delicious Meals for Everyone.
Once Leila and her groom arrive, you should start off with:
Go-To Hummus. In Jamie’s book, his recipe serves 6 and only takes 5 minutes to prepare. Of course, we all know hummus is made with chick peas, so this simple appetizer on page 242 is a good idea.
I am a salad lover, so this wouldn’t hurt me one bit. The Double Corn Salad, Lady Marmalade Salad, and the Roast New Potato & Pickle Salad will definitely be a hit in my house.
For breakfast in the morning, there is a delicious Spiced Carrot Pancakes recipe. If you are like me. the carrots will win you over in this recipe.
For a nice lunch, and if you savor egg noodles, the Quick Mushroom Noodle Broth is winning and should be the ideal afternoon meal.
There is also an Easy Pea & Spinach Samosa, made with yogurt, mango and chili ripple. This dish has 0.4 grams of salt, 8.2 grams of sugar, and has 26.6 grams of carbs.
Also, for lunch, you vegans should enjoy the Spiced Parsnip Soup, Crispy Mushroom Shawarma, and The Bold Black Bean Soup. Yummy!
For a big dinner party, Jamie’s book has a variety of dishes to keep your guests and Leila entertained vegan-style. I liked the Mushroom Stroganoff, with crunchy cornichons, fragrant capers, creamy whisky sauce and parsley.
There is also a mouth-watering Scruffy Eggplant Lasagne, and this might be something I would want to make. It has a sweet tomato sauce with garlic, sage, lemons, cheese, and almond crunch.
For dessert, there is a large array of dishes that will surely please.
The Summer Veg Blanket Pie caught my eye immediately. It has yogurt, tomatoes, chickpeas, and dried sour cherries in it. There is also an inviting Pithivier Pie with Blue Cheese sauce.
So, before you jump and go all vegan on anyone, you might want to try out the expert vegans recipes; that way you won’t be mixing animal products in your recipes.
If you are interested in reading and grabbing some of Jamie Oliver’s delicious recipes, his book is published at Penguin Random House.
Enjoy the vegan life, but make sure you are getting the proper nutrients your body needs.
For an African-American approach, check out this video as these ladies get you prepared!
How To Meal Prep 12 Easy Vegan Recipes in 90 Minutes For A Beginner
Photos by Associated Press
LIfestyle blogger who talks all things personal development, productivity, and travel.
