488641 Mon Feb 11 13:50:02 -0800 2008 11 31 Home Cooking 0 3386806 Somehow I became the host of a dinner party this Saturday that must be Vegan, Gluten Free, and Alcohol Free. My husband, also cannot eat anything with curry powder. I'm cool finding apps, soup, and salad, but I want a really great main course. Any ideas? Mon Feb 11 13:50:02 -0800 2008 56203 churchka 1 3386822 You may want to check out the Candle Cafe Cookbook, or Moosewood Low-Fat Favorites. The Candle Cafe Cookbook has a recipe for a wild-rice stuffed butternut squash. I've never tried it, but it looks tasty. Mon Feb 11 13:52:46 -0800 2008 3386806 94635 adventuresinbaking 1 3386884 Why can't your husband eat anything with curry powder? Is it one of the ingredients such as cumin, or is it because they may contain additives? Edit -- I misread your post. I thought you wanted a curry-powder-free vegan curry. I love Tinkyada's brown rice pasta. Can do so many things with that. Mon Feb 11 14:03:15 -0800 2008 3386806 10763 Miss Needle 2 3387539 Curry makes my husband throw up. We think it is actually the curry leaves that make him do it because he is fine with the rest of the ingredients. Mon Feb 11 16:40:48 -0800 2008 3386884 56203 churchka 1 3386937 Risotto is a classic. Grilled polenta with ratatouille. Lots of asian dishes. Lasagna using polenta for the noodles or eggplant. Falafel. There are so many things. I have celiac disease, don't really cook with alcohol and while nto vegan, happen to have vegan meals often - it isn't too hard. What kind of cuisine are you looking for? How fancy? How much time to prepare? How heavy or light? Mon Feb 11 14:11:54 -0800 2008 3386806 15001 jsaimd 2 3387536 I want it to be VERY fancy. I'm willing to spend hours in the kitchen. I love to impress and I don't want my guests to think I'm not trying as hard with them as I do with other people. Mon Feb 11 16:39:44 -0800 2008 3386937 56203 churchka 3 3388278 One thing that has always impressed is to make a polenta torte or stack. Bottom layer, grilled polenta, next layer mushroom duxelle (I don't use wine when I deglaze, but a bit of balsamic in juice works well), Next layer roasted red pepper and roasted tomato "tartar", top with carmelized onions. We often serve with a cream sauce "garnish" but it doesn't need it. Make a reduction of balsamic vinegar to dot the plate. Another course of a really nice fresh salad. Top quality ingredients - say nice spring mix, edible flowers, vinegrette of your choice or a "creamy" dressing - veganomicon has lots to choose from, pepitas for something different from nuts, and a fruit... A final course of a nice lentil salad or even a socca for something different. Top the socca to make it extra special, carmelized onion, figs and mushroom. Desserts - there are lots of options, but what comes to mind is a coconut milk rice pudding, brulee it for something more special - infuse it with cardamom, but veganomicon would also have a lot of suggestions. Mon Feb 11 20:58:44 -0800 2008 3387536 15001 jsaimd 1 3387026 if you have time to hit the library/bookstore there are 2 books that may help: veganomicon-- moskowitz/romero http://www.theppk.com/nomicon.html little vegan monsters-- canas-jovel/acock http://www.amazon.com/Little-Monsters-Cookbook-Lourdes-Canas-Jovel/dp/0978759036 the little vegan monsters book in particular has lots of gluten-free and the veganomicon has many well-marked recipes as well. veganomicon is a great addition to any cook's library or would make a good re-gift, l.v.m. is more specialized & harder to find. wish i could look at my copy of veganomicon to give you a list of recipes, but i loaned my copy to my kid brother & i think he isn't calling me on purpose because he knows i want it back :) Mon Feb 11 14:28:15 -0800 2008 3386806 46030 soupkitten 2 3387499 Stuffed roasted zuchhini, peppers, and/or mushrooms. (I remember one of the Moosewood books has a great one for peppers and zuch with pine nuts.) I just posted on another thread about portobellos so I was already thinking about this. In that I sugested lentils as protein in the stuffing which might be a good idea if this is the entree as well. They are really pretty and look nice individually plated. I find they are always a hit. Also, spaghetti squash done in place of pasta with your choice of other veggies and sauce, like ratatoille. I like the polenta and ratatoille idea as well. Mon Feb 11 16:27:29 -0800 2008 3387026 156660 guate 2 3387532 I'm looking through Veganomicon right now. Mon Feb 11 16:37:54 -0800 2008 3387026 56203 churchka 1 3387427 Something that comes to mind is some sort of moroccan flavored chickpea stew. Mon Feb 11 16:09:00 -0800 2008 3386806 10189 celeste 1 3387637 Do you have the Millenium cookbook? Here are a few main dish titles from it that would work (it's all about fancy vegan): -Roasted Corn and Hedgehog Mushroom Tamales with Mushroom-Chile Cream Sauce -Tamale torte with black bean chile and red chile sauce -Indonesian rice tamales with carrot-lemongrass sauce -Polenta torte with puttanesca sauce (specially says you can use non-alcoholic wine in the sauce) -Millenium vegetable paella -Saffron and butternut squash risotto Mon Feb 11 17:12:28 -0800 2008 3386806 92823 milklady