I need help with party food

[LeftyMom]

I'm throwing a birthday party on Saturday, and I need help. It'll be at lunch time, so I need to feed people. I'd like to stick with something I can serve cold or room temperature after preparing in advance, that doesn't have a lot of wierd ingredients (most of the partygoers are omnivores,) doesn't cost a great deal of money and that kids will eat. (Can you see why I'm clueless here?)

I'm thinking maybe some kind of pasta salad, but I'm open to any ideas you've got. Please share ideas, recipies, hurl insults at me for daring to throw a party for four year olds...

Oh, and if anybody has a vegan birthday cake or frosting recipie that comes out tasty, I'll kiss the ground beneath your feet with gratitude. Otherwise I'm making "birthday cookies," a concept I just made up.

[RebelOne]

1. Here are some vegan cakes.

http://vegweb.com/cgi/search/search.pl

Just put birthday cakes into the search window.

[livetohike]

2. How about a tostado bar?

I don't know how many you need to prepare for but you can do all the preparation ahead of time. Maybe put the refried beans in a crock pot to keep them warm. Serve the tostados with choices of fresh fruit -grapes, oranges, watermelon if you can get it.

[CrispyQ]

3. Start kissing!

This cake & frosting rock! And the cake is so easy to make you will use this recipe over & over. I have it memorized.

Vegan Choco Wowie Cake

2 cups sugar
3 cups white flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp salt
2 tsp baking soda

2 tsp apple cider vinegar
2/3 cup oil – something neutral like safflower or canola
2 tsp vanilla
2 cups cold water

Mix dry ingredients together in large bowl. Add wet ingredients to bowl & stir well. Pour into an ungreased 9x12 pan & bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes.

Peanut Butter Frosting

1/2 stick margarine – room temp
3-4 tblsp creamy peanut butter
3 tsp cocoa powder
5-6 tsp milk
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups confectioners sugar

Combine the margarine, peanut butter, vanilla & 1 tblsp milk & whisk until smooth. Add the cocoa & mix well. Add sugar about ½ cup at a time, alternating between sugar and 1 tblsp milk. Keep adding the sugar/milk till all the sugar is gone. Frosting should be smooth & creamy.

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I think the tostada bar is a great idea. We do that all the time. People can go veg or not. Also, here's a little appetizer that would be great with the tostada bar:

Cream Cheese Pinwheels

8 ounces cream cheese (I use Tofutti vegan cream cheese)
1 package taco seasoning mix (read the label -- not all are veg)
1 small can diced olives
1 package flour tortillas


Bring cream cheese to room temp, add taco seasoning & olives & mix well. Spread on tortillas & then roll the tortilla up. Use a toothpic to hold in place if you have to. Put the tortillas in fridge long enough to chill the cream cheese - an hour or two. Slice tortillas into little pinwheels. Serve with salsa for dipping.

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And here's a really good vegan meaty type spread for tostadas:

1 cup TVP (textured vegetable protien)
7/8 cup of water -- heated to boiling
1 package taco seasoning mix
1/2 onion diced

Place the TVP in a bowl. Pour the hot water over the TVP & stir will with a spoon. Let sit for about 5 minutes. Fry the onion in a small amount of oil. When translucent, add the TVP & taco seasoning & mix well. Continue to fry till TVP is dry or if you want it more crispy, fry longer. Cool & spread on tostada shells or stuff in taco shells.

Good luck with your party. Have fun!!

[kayleybeth]

4. I've found that 7-layer dip is always a favorite.

Here's a basic recipe, easily adjusted. Just use veggie refried beans and substitute soy sour cream and soy cheese. You can make it ahead of time and it's great served cold or room temperature.

http://www.boutell.com/vegetarian/layer-dip.html

Pasta salad is a great idea too. Good luck!