Google will be your friend, Julie. Use it.

In brief, vegans will not eat nor use any animal products. That means no dairy of any kind (milk, cheese, butter, meat), or products with animal proteins hidden in the processing.

Be vigilant in reading the label and/or ingredient list of anything you may serve. It's not that hard....don't be nervous about it. Just don't think you need to serve lettuce and carrot sticks, lol.

Vegan recipes galore!

Maybe the cooking forum has some recipes/advice?

Did you ask the vegan? We have one who attends our gatherings and she refuses to burden anyone to prepare special foods for her. She brings her own. Ask first.

I second the ask first... but I also agree, cooking something vegan isn't THAT hard! My daughter is soooo vegan, she won't eat honey! won't sit in my car (leather seats) and won't wear shoes or belts made from leather.

It was very overwhelming at first, but I found, cooking without animal isn't that hard.

Ask, if they can give you an idea. This could open the conversation to: I'll bring something we can/will eat. ;)

Moni

I have friends who are vegan. One uses meat alternative products (Quorn is a favorite), the other does not. They each invite us over for dinner a few times a year, and we never go hungry. Pastas, stews, chili, vegetable wraps.

My new favorite is baked or grilled cauliflower.

Here are some ideas. Check labels for everything like breads. Look for meat, eggs, dairy, honey and sometimes sugar depending on strictness.

I listed a few with cheese. You could easily just omit the cheese, or do cheese for half and plate them separately and label the vegan ones. That's what I would do.

Bruschetta

7 layer dip with vegetarian beans, salsa, guacamole, olives, scallions. You can serve sour cream and cheese on the side for non-vegans.

https://smittenkitchen.com/2009/04/artichoke-olive-crostini/

https://smittenkitchen.com/2014/04/avocado-cup-salads-two-ways/

https://smittenkitchen.com/2014/08/smoky-eggplant-dip/

https://everydayannie.com/2015/12/21/garlic-rosemary-white-bean-dip/

https://everydayannie.com/2015/04/15/lemony-artichoke-white-bean-crostini-with-shaved-parmesan/ (omit parmesan)

https://everydayannie.com/2014/11/10/roasted-pumpkin-crostini/ (omit cheese)

https://everydayannie.com/2013/01/29/kale-pesto-white-bean-dip/ (omit parmesan)

https://everydayannie.com/2012/03/12/layered-mediterranean-dip/ (omit parmesan and feta)

Since General Mills took over Kite Hill, a fair number of their vegan cheeses (like cream-cheese-equivalent) are showing up in major grocery chains. They aren't the same as the milk versions, but they're pretty good if you stop expecting the taste you're used to.

Also remember that much seriously junk food, like potato chips, qualifies as vegan.

Chi, how is sugar not vegan? I understand that it's the fave demon food of the moment for many people, but that's not the same thing as being un-vegan. Just curious. Either beet or cane, it comes from plants, no?

Sugar has to do with the processing procedure whether it is vegan. Beet sugar is okay but cane uses bones in the filter. This is according to my friend's vegan daughter.

Yes, what Irma said! Most vegans I've known aren't at that level, but some are.

I've seen those Kite Hill cheeses at Whole Foods but I haven't tried them. I used Daiya when I was vegan. Earth Balance (butter alternative) and Veganaise (mayo alternative) are also good substitutes that non-vegans seem to like as well.

Both my DD's are vegetarian, but one was once a vegan. Add to that, she wanted to maintain her gluten-free diet. That was a nightmare!

Nothing wrong with asking the vegans what they prefer. I used to be able to buy many of the alternatives at my regular supermarket, but now I go to Whole Foods. They charge more, but.......

As stated above, there are vegan cheeses. You can do a roast veggie platter, vegan crackers, cheese, and grapes.

Hummus is a safe bet though. We like it with sundried tomatoes

.

Thanks everyone. I have googled it, my main question was about the wheat. I was curious if I could make veggie wraps with a whole wheat tortilla. I think I'll stick with the lettuce wraps. I'm also feeding a gluten-free person, that is a piece of cake though. I do not want to ask the people, i'd rather have them pleasantly surprised at what I've made for them. It's just an appetizer table, no sit down dinner. I'm making blt wraps and chicken salad wraps for the main dish, but need something for them. I made a delicious chick pea pizza crust with hummus and roasted vegetables the other night, perhaps I will try that out on them as well.

Wheat is fine, and tortillas are usually okay if they don't have lard. Just check the ingredient label.

Can you share your chickpea pizza crust recipe? I've never heard of that!

In another thread, someone had a problem with a DGD's vegan boyfriend at Thanksgiving - wouldn't eat on her bone china or even other pottery - it might have been in a kiln with the bone china. I think she found him an old plastic plate. I'd get some paper plates to have on hand if this issues comes up.

Geeze, it used to just be that someone didn't care for sweet potatoes or Brussels sprouts - now all this other stuff. I'm glad we don't have of of these so far, but DGS1 goes to college next year so who knows...

Although I really admire vegans more than I can say but I can never be one. Vegetarianism is all I can embrace. It's difficult enough planning meals around that but to be a vegan is so difficult. If I were one, I'd bring my own food at family dinners. Luckily most of my family are vegetarian, none vegans although we have a gluten-free person.

I agree. To be able to use eggs in anything is a huge help! I make a vegetarian "chopped liver" from peas, eggs, sauteed onions and ground walnuts which even my DH really likes.

It's nice to find recipes than transcend dietary requirements. If it's a really good recipe, people won't miss their "missing" ingredients.

Eld, can you share your "chopped liver" recipe? That sounds good!

Thanks, Irma. Is that for beet sugar? Because I've never seen it for cane sugar, which is processed around here in immense quantities. For cane it's mostly just boil and boil and boil again. It's quite true that a certain amount of critter matter gets into it at various points, but that is true for all bulk foods. (If you ever read the FDA allowances, you'd never eat anything again, vegan or not.)

When my nephew was married last year, there was quite a problem with the reception because the bride's father would not eat from any plate which had ever had meat on it, nor stay in the room with one, which certainly makes catering difficult.

Chi here goes:

I usually double this recipe, so I get the larger can of Le Sueur peas. (This is one of the few canned things that I make. I am wondering if it would be just as good with fresh or frozen peas? If you do this let me know.)

It's also all a matter of taste for how much onion you want to use as the recipe just say the number onions rather than a cup of.

Vegetarian Chopped Liver

2 onions, diced

2 hard cooked eggs

2 TBs oil or butter

1/2 cup ground walnuts

1 small can of peas salt and pepper to taste

Saute onions in the oil or butter. Mash the peas and the eggs. Add onion and walnuts to the pea/egg mixture.

Put in fridge.

I made this the night before Thanksgiving. Definitely tastes better the next day.

There are also recipes out there using green beans as well. But this is my tried and true.

Serve with crackers, radishes, etc.

Writesrblock. Maybe I am the only one who finds it sad that the father of the bride couldn't manage to keep his restrictions socially manageable for his daughter's wedding.

What did they do, buy all new dishes for the event? I suppose anything is possible if one has unlimited income, but what about those on a budget?

I cook for a friend who is a GF Vegan. Check out recipes for cashew vegan cheese. Everyone who's ever tried it loved it and it's easy to make in the food processor. It does need to be made ahead, though.

TJ's has a carrot dip that is GF Vegan.

My best find was GF Vegan worchestershire sauce. That really allowed me to increase the flavor of dressings for vegetables that I use in rice paper wrapped spring rolls.

Writersblock, I'm sorry but I think the father of the bride is a jerk. Seriously, if you are that committed to your beliefs, bring your own d&mned plate!

We are not Vegan, but grandson is allergic to milk, fish, and nuts. This is good.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/552042866805180270/

It is a vegan fruit dip.

OMG...that father of the bride. Imagine putting on a scene on your daughter's day? Bring your own plate and sleep in a tent.

Maybe he was an Orthodox Jew. My late wife worked occasionally for an orthodox family, and being Adventist, foods weren't an issue, or Sabbath, but the separation of meat and dairy utensils and prep, and certain days of the week was a learning experience for her. It actually worked out well with the knowledge of dietary laws, holy days, and Sabbath keeping my wife had.

What did they do, buy all new dishes for the event?

Yes, my SIL did just that, from a restaurant supply store. (I believe she got some kind of deal with the vegetarian restaurant that did the catering, since they got to keep the dishes.)

It was a rather delicate situation since my nephew's fiancee is Indian and her parents were very unhappy that she was not having an arranged Indian marriage. The whole Hindu wedding was just to placate them, since the kids would just as soon have gone to the courthouse. (The parents are not mainstream Hindu, but belong to a variant of the Hare Krishnas.)

I have to say I thought the reception was pretty funny because they had a very lavish vegetarian buffet, but all the American meat eaters felt compelled to go out for wings after it. No matter how much lovely food, it doesn't count if there isn't meat, I guess. I can't remember if it was vegan or not, but a lot of it was, certainly.

My nephew and his wife have worked things out well. If he wants meat, he cooks it and she just goes out till he's done. But that happens less and less.

Oh wow, I'd love an entire vegetarian buffet. I am rolling my eyes hard at the wing people who can't skip meat for a single meal.

Their marriage arrangement sounds similar to mine. We don't cook meat in the house, with a few exceptions for already-cooked products. He eats meat when we go out. It's a good compromise.

I didn't read the part that he was of the Indian culture. I too would be drolling over an entire vegetarian buffet and I imagine I'd love some Indian food I have never tasted before. I did find it odd that people needed meat in just one meal they had eaten and went out for wings. I haven't had meat in 35 years and I'm a highly functioning athletic person with no health problem and take no meds but vitamins.