Sunday, July 18, 2010

Fourth Festivities, Friends, and Food

What do vegans eat at all the summer cookouts?  Especially, for vegans in the US, on July 4th.  In the VeganLinda house, we don't have any one particular dish we make every Fourth of July.  I always like to try out new things since we usually have busy schedule of cookouts and parties to attend.  This year, I felt like our weekends have been jammed packed and we needed to try for a "relaxing" long weekend.  We worked in our yard, the garden, took care of neighbor's plants, attended a neighborhood parade, Rob went to the Market at the Square, I did my radio show, we spent a lot of time at the pool, etc.  We did not make it to a couple cookouts we were invited to because life is just too busy, but we did have a mini impromptu cookout at our house with my sister and Stuart and Loretta and family.  Hosting a meal with Loretta as a guest is always the best because she brings so much wonderful vegan food.  Really all we did was clean off our long neglected grill (it hasn't bee used for almost four years) and make a quick dish or two.  Loretta's omni sister, Katie, visiting from Virginia even made and brought some delish vegan cupcakes.  We might just have to invite them over every night.

Here is some of the spread:  Grilled portobello mushrooms (bread, fixings, and mushrooms all provided by Loretta and Co.), Propect Park Potato Salad (Loretta again, from Veganomicon), Spicy Sesame Noodles with Green Beans (Rob made this from 1,000 Vegan Recipes), grilled bbq seitan (Loretta and Co.).  David did the grilling, which we all appreciate, since I never grill and it is not Rob's favorite thing to do.  Rob also made a huge batch roasted red pepper hummus (not shown).  I was so incredibly stuffed by the end of the meal!  We watched the fireworks from our roof (we have a Captain's Walk), but all the kids were a little nervous about being on top of the house (even though our boys ask to go up there all the time).  All in all, a very nice holiday!

The leftovers the next day were just as good; grilled portobellos on whole wheat buns with the roasted red pepper hummus, avocado, and tomatoes.   A peach and nectarine from the Market at the Square, round out this lovely lunch.

Some years we participate in our "big" parade in town.  Either on a Homebirth is Healthy float or with the Anti-war Anti-Racism folks, but since Josie was born we've opted for the cute little "parade" around one of our neighborhood parks.  No long waiting in the heat.  We walked down with the kids on their bikes, chat a bit with neighbors, the kids bike a few blocks, and we make it home before 10am.  Some years that is the extent of the excitement I need.  We don't decorate the kids' bikes, but this year Parker's red/white bike worked well with Dema's blue bike.

It was already very hot and humid at nine in the morning, but that didn't stop the boys from having fun.  All the brotherly love definitely put me in a celebrating mood.

Josie was a little less festive since she woke up early on the wrong side of the bed, but it was nothing a little nap couldn't fix.  She was ready to party that evening when her buddy, Teagan, showed up.

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