What meet-free foods could I serve at my luau themed graduation party?!
Answers: My heart is set on a luau themed graduation party, but I'm vegetarian. What can I make that will be meet free? Also, if anyone has any suggestions regarding decorations... I'm all ears!
Oriental Trading Co. has a website, and sends free catalogs, with tons of decorations, favors, etc. for any type of party you want (and it's REALLY inexpensive)......I think they have grass skirts to put around a table, and big 3-D palm trees for a center piece. And, of course, lots of leis to put around as decor, and for the guests to wear.
Food:
Cut pineapples in half. Cut the insides into cubes and put back in the pineapple halves to serve with toothpicks (scatter a few fake orchids around too).... Or a fruit salad with cutup pineapple, mango, papaya, banana...
Salads will be good:
SPINACH MANDARIN SALAD
2-3 oz. sliced almonds
1 TB. sugar
8 c. fresh spinach leves (about 2 lbs)
2 c. diagonally sliced celery
2 green onions, chopped
1 11-oz. can mandarin oranges, drained
Combine almonds & sugar in a small frying pan. Cook & stir over med. heat until sugar is carmelized and almonds are coated. Set aside. Put spinach, celery and green onions in salad bowl. Sprinkle orange and almonds on top. Refrigerate. When ready to serve, toss with dressing:
Sweet & Sour Dressing:
1/4 c. vegetable oil
2 TB. red wine vinegar
2 TB. sugar
3 drops tabasco sauce
1 TB. chopped fresh parsley
1 tsp. salt
dash pepper
Combine all ingredients in a jar and shake until well-blended.
YUMMY!
If you add nuts or beans (like kidney, garbanzo) to some salads, that will give you the protein .....
Try make a coleslaw, and adding crunched up noodles from a package of Top Ramen (use the flavor packet in the dressing). You could add some slivered almonds or peanuts to it too....
Quick Fried Rice
INGREDIENTS:
2 to 3 tbsp vegetable oil
1 cup diced char siu, ham or shrimp
6 cups steamed rice
1 to 1-1/2 cups diced cooked vegetables (peas, carrots, etc.)
2 to 3 tsp soy sauce
1-1/2 tsp sesame oil
1/2 to 1 tsp salt, to taste
3 eggs, beaten
4 tbsp thinly sliced green onion
PREPARATION:
Heat oil in large skillet or wok.
Sauté meat for 30 seconds on high heat.
Remove from pan.
Add beaten eggs and keep moving while cooking so that eggs scramble into small pieces.
Remove from pan.
Return meat to pan and add rice.
Reduce heat to medium and cook approximately 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
Stir in vegetables, soy sauce, sesame oil, salt and cooked eggs.
Cook 2 additional minutes.
Serve in a large bowl or platter.
Sprinkle with green onions as a garnish
also fruit salads and breads and veggies with different kinds of dips
Oriental Trading Company has a website online. Cute and cheap decorations and even a hula CD. Luau food could include fresh pineapple, banana chips, fresh fruits, cheeses, and nuts. Hawaiian King bread can be found in pastry aisle. Fish - if that doesn't go against your convictions. Fruit punch.
Congrats!
Veggie Kabobs (mmm...don't forget the pineapple),
Avocado Egg Rolls like a popular cheesecake restaurant's. Chunks of fresh avocado, sun-dried tomato, red onion, and cilantro deep-fried in a crisp Chinese wrapper. Served with a Tamarind-Cashew Dipping Sauce, and an 8 Layer Harvest Salad (iceberg lettuce - torn,1/2 cup chopped celery, 1/2 cup diced green bell pepper, 1/2 cup sliced red onion, 2 cups slightly cooked peas, 1/2 cup mayonnaise mixed with 1 Tbls. granulated sugar, 1/4 cup grated Romano cheese, 1/2 cup diced tomatoes)
Grilled fruit is always great. You could put some fruit kebabs on the barbeque. Pineapple, melon, some citrus sections like oranges & grapefruit. ...along with all the other great ideas you're getting, of course.
The Muse