Elba, My family is vegetarian and I make this appetizer for kids (lot of our friends are vegetarian also). I like it as it is a good protein option. You can also make ahead and warm up in oven before serving. Serve as is or with mini toothpicks. Can also use kabab sticks (like a satay). I usually also add some cherry tomatoes and bell peppers to make it look nice and get some veggies in. Also works well for mini wraps with lavash or tortillas. Size up as you wish. Glazed Tofu/ paneer Ingredients: 2 cups cubed paneer (indian grilling cheese)or super firm tofu. Rinsed and patted dry. Cubed into 1 inch cubes.. You can also make them longer (about 3 inch long by 1 inch thick) if you are planning to serve it like a satay on a kabab stick. 1 bell pepper (cut into large chunks like for a kabab) 1 large onion (large chunks like for a kabab). Red onions or shallots work well here. a cup of cherry tomatoes (optional to make it look pretty) 1 tsp ginger garlic paste (use freshly ground paste if possible) 1 tbsp soy sauce 1 tbsp ketchup 3 tbsp oil 1/2 tsp sugar 1 tbsp cornstarch + 3tbsp water (make a smooth paste) Salt to taste scallions (1 bunch) For the Marinade: 5tbsp corn starch 1 tbsp soy sauce 1 tsp freshly ground pepper 1 tsp minced garlic a pinch of cayenne or paprika for a bit of bite (optional). You can experiment with other flavorings here as well. A pinch of salt Water Make a thick-ish paste with the ingredients for marinade. Add water after soy sauce to make sure the marinade is not too thin. Dunk the paneer/ tofu pieces in and let them soak in the marinade. It will be instant love, I promise. I let it marinate for about and hour with occasional gentle mixing to get the tofu or paneer to be evenly coated. In a wide pan/ griddle,heat the oil and shallow fry the paneer/ tofu pieces turning them over to evenly brown all sides. Remove to a plate with some paper towels to soak up any excess oil. In the same pan on high heat, stir fry the bell peppers and then the onion (separately) till tender crisp. They should not get limp. Season with a pich of salt. Some charring on corners due to high heat is a good thing. Remove to a plate. In the same pan on high heat, add the soy sauce, ginger garlic paste, sugar and tomato paste. If you choose, you can add other seaStir-fry on high for about 30 seconds until well blended and turn the flame to low. Now add paneer/ tofu cubes and give it a good toss. Add the corn flour paste to make a smooth glaze.. stir as you add this to prevent lumping. Cook 3-4 mins to thicken the glaze. Add the bell peppers and onions and give it all a good toss. Turn off heat. Sprinkle scallions slices for garnish. You can either serve it on a plate or use tooth picks or kabab sticks to make individual finger food. Also works as a stuffing in mini pitas or rolled in a lavash or even as a lettuce wrap. Whole cherry tomatoes (do not cook) can be added here to give a visual punch and a fresh taste. This dish is very flexible.. Just the marinated and pan fried tofu/ paneer is yummy as a hors d'ouevre. I always save some for DD and some of the younger kids. You can actually stop right there. The glaze is gorgeous to look at. Feel free to dress up the marinade or the glaze with other spices (cayenne, minced chilli, hot sauce, any jerk seasoning you mightg have etc.) You can also sprinkle toasted sesame seeds on top if you want an added crunch. If you find any fresh small red radishes, they really dress up the dish (either finely mince and sprinkle on top or slice and add it to your kabab arrangement). Other veggie appetizer options I make are cilantro lime hummus with pita triangles, tortilla chips, or toasted bread. Warm garbanzo, channa dal or edamame salad is wonderful as well. Mini veggie sushi, ravioli on toothpicks, mini quesedillas. I will check back to see if you need any more recipes. Now I have to look into this whole bunco party thing.. It sounds like fun.. I like the 3-4 tables thing.

Ways to "thicken up" vegetarian not-gravy include a small amount of well cooked lentils or well cooked yellow split peas, blended really well. When I make mock chicken soup I make a watery blend of yellow split peas and broth and then whirl it well with the stick blender so it has a thick brothy consistency and is a yellowish brown color. Lentils will be browner but their skins are a little more evident. Garbanzos might work too, but I've never tried them. Also, using dried porcini mushrooms, reconstituted, adds a "meaty" taste and so do portabellas, although I don't really like them. I don't LIKE meaty tastes, it's really the taste of decay, which is why mushrooms and other fungus have a meaty taste too! Another thing besides tamari or soy sauce that you can add to veggie gravy to add depth is miso, although the average person probably doesn't have a jar of miso sitting in the fridge, lol. Again, I am not a big fan of miso, but it is used as a healthful, protein filled broth in Asia. You cannot boil miso, it destroys all the vitamins in it. Wine is also good if you like that tang.

I also make my traditional favorites that have passed on over the years but also add some new trials. I've been making a wild rice, wild mushroom with both cornbread, (a homemade basic but left to dry out a day, or a week before and freeze)) and toasted boule 'croutons' and cubed boule. No eggs. The toasted bread adds flavor without the density. So i make two dressings using some of the ingredients from the original but make one with homemade veg stock and one with chicken stock and lamb sausage. (one vegetarian). Most of my bread comes from the freezer using ends and half loafs from earlier baking. Also remember to toss all together just before baking. Even if prepped ahead. We chop and prep ahead but keep the moist elements separate...even in zip-locks like a kit. The day before i'll have all the sauted veg like the celery onion parsley in a bowl, and top that with all the zip-locked bread, etc. Toss together easily just before baking. All our chopping happens the day or even 2 days before and some sautéing. As well as toasted nuts, Salads dressings, all the mixed roots and veg for roasting tossed in a bit of olive oil...separate bags based on cooking time....never roasted ahead but ready to go....

Eld6161, My chicken broth, that I make, could very easily be made vegetarian, just omit the chicken. You want celery, carrot, onion, garlic, and parsley. I save and freeze the scraps from other meals, but you could just use the whole vegetables. Cover with a good amount of water and simmer for an hour or so uncovered until it reduces. Strain through a sieve and freeze in 1/2, 1, and 2 cups containers. This makes a very mild broth. My dressing is a cornbread and stale sandwich bread dressing. If you want it, I will post. I use oysters, but have left out for grandson who is allergic. Use rice milk for moisture. Some vegetarians do eat fish and some don't. Like others said, by the time you use enough poultry seasoning, extra thyme, rosemary, and sage, that is what you taste. I would probably add some of the stronger mushrooms. What is the one everyone grills whole?