Spreading the Veggie BBQ love!

I think we can safely say that, in the UK, this summer is turning out to be a bit better than the last one...

I haven't had to wear wellies yet, we haven't needed to light a fire every day and I haven't used the emergency supplies stored for when we get blocked in by the flooding.

Yes, its most definitely better...

So much so, that the local 'Big Village Picnic' where we live was actually able to go ahead this year - on account of the land not being totally submerged.

But of course this meant digging out the picnic gear, which was, as we found out two hours before, actually still in a box in our storage unit.

But Dave got that while I made some scrummy vegan food.

The Big Picnic is held at Clyston Mill, which is on the beautiful National Trust Killerton Estate.

I spoke to the chef - Shaun - beforehand re our potential dietary requirements and he was more than happy for us to take our own vegan food for them to cook on the BBQ (they kept a clean cooking space on the grill especially for us, which was wonderful - thanks guys!).

We've learnt that (especially living in beef farming territory) when going to any function where food is offered, checking beforehand can be useful if you don't want to go hungry. And at the same time it's a chance for people to offer to make you something and to get a conversation started. For the most part people really want to understand what vegan is and to help - which is just lovely. I think, deep down, sometimes they admire a commitment to a compassionate lifestyle.

Anyhooo - to the food!

Got to say, as time was short I cheated and took some ready-made burgers I had in the freezer. They are also handy because homemade ones can be a little delicate to turn on a BBQ and the last thing you want is to lose your fab meal onto the coals. So frozen ready-made are ideal for BBQs.

I bought Redwood from Healthy Pulses Exeter and they were delicious! Served in a wholemeal bap with ketchup (Tesco Organic - which is actually my favourite brand) and French's American mustard.

Knowing that eating alfresco always makes people really hungry (well it does me anyway!) I also took along:

For nibbles while waiting for the BBQ: Tyrells swanky veg crisps.

homemade 5-veg kebabs (courgette, red / yellow / green peppers, red / white onion, white button mushrooms and aubergine) all chopped and marinated in rapeseed oil and fresh herbs (I had oregano, marjoram and lemon thyme in the garden)   

to wrap up in wholemeal tortillas (I like Discovery brand)

along with seeded 5-veg coleslaw (white / red cabbage, white / red onion and carrot with pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds) all in creamy chilli mayo! This Plamil mayo is now officially my favourite egg-free vegan mayo.

Served with some fresh red and yellow baby plum tomatoes on the side.

And of course washed down with none other than Pimms. Yes Pimms is suitable for vegans and flags were hung out the day I discovered this.

For me Pimms has to be served with triangles of fresh orange, cucumber and fresh mint. Perfect.

And to follow...

As we had invited friends as a birthday treat for one of them, I made a cake (always a good excuse) using organic wholemeal flour grown on the estate and ground at Clyston Mill! 

My chocolate coca cola cake is smothered in fudge frosting and topped with crushed pecans (recipe to follow maybe?) and I served it with fresh strawberries from our garden (literally pulled half an hour before) and Alpro single soya cream.

Could there be anything more delicious? I don't think so - and the other people noseying over in our direction longingly at this pud seemed to suggest they were a tad jealous :)

BUT, best of all - it turned out that Dave had to fight off prospective buyers for our veggie burgers and kebabs at the grill and had to run a gauntlet of people saying 'ooh where did you get those from??' on the way back to us with them!

And our meatie, totally non-vegan friends, woofed two portions of everything, declared it delicious and said they wouldn't have even thought twice about the fact that they had just consumed a totally vegan meal. Job done.

This is what I do. This is what I love. The best way to anyone's heart can be through their stomach. Show people what compassion tastes like and it's a win win for life.

HAPPY BBQing EVERYONE!!

Chantal xx

Dave with our friends gorgeous dogs Poppy + Jess - one of our girls Ollie is under the blue dog blanket!

fab entertainment came from the local school choir, a juggler, a local folk band and some Morris dancers!

 

 a great evening out for families - about 250 attended this year - and access to the mill was free

@vegsoup4thesoul thanks for inspiring today's lunch! :-) pic.twitter.com/nI5akIeRZ9
— Dorset Vegan (@Dorset_vegan) July 20, 2013