Spice Box of Earth

Last night I hosted a Come Dine With Me stylée dinner party for 4 of my vegan friends (without the secret sniping or prying in my drawers, I’m glad to say). I’d originally planned a minor pizza sesh to use up the last of the Daiya that I’d procured from a kind soul on the PPK forum who volunteered to engage in an international vegan cheese exchange. But, being me, I got rathered carried away and my menu ended up thus:

• Olive oil crostinis with houmous & guacamole
• Freshly baked ciabatta bruschetta with onion, tomato & garlic
• Pesto & panfried aubergine rolled lasagne baked in a tomato herb sauce, topped with Daiya shreds
• Pepperjack pesto pizza topped with Daiya shreds
• Chocolate cherry torte with a creamy whipped topping

The wonderful Vicki was, pretty much, my photographer for the evening, leaving me to get on with chopping, serving, quaffing, etc. Thanks to Vicki, Ali, Richard and Sarah for giving me the opportunity to host my first ever vegan dinner party! Picture post time…..

As you can say we had a local feline visitor with ADORABLE little mittened feet. Delightful opposable thumbed pussycat!

I can give special thanks to VeganYumYum for the rolled lasagne inspiration and to Chloe Coscarelli for the pesto inspiration. The guacamole and pepperjack pesto pizza I have made before. The salad was garnished with beautiful edible flowers from my chive plant. For the torte, I used the same base as for my chocolate/peanut butter mousse torte and topped with black cherries and Soyatoo whipped cream.

I rose early this morning for a bit of cupcake frosting, and then delivered my wares to the tremendous V Revolution……

I stopped by Superdrug on the way home and picked up this delightful item…

And ahhhh, how lovely it is when the cleanup is complete and it’s time to make some pie! But more on that later…….