Brotherly birthday 2009

My brother had a birthday. It was in June. I know, it has taken me a long time to get this up! Bad Susan! Anyway, my brother turned 26 this year (how do baby brothers grow up so fast?) and he of course got to choose the menu. Unfortunately he chose three very involved and fiddly things, which would have been fine if I had not come down with a case of the ookeys the day before. So I had to modify and change, but it was all still OK!

The first course, and the only remaining aspect of his original menu request, was Potato-Edamame Samosas with Coconut-Mint Chutney from Vegan With A Vengeance. I was sososososo happy with how these turned out, they were so cute!


First, take your adorable samosas! I like these because they are baked and not fried. I don't like fried things, too much oil makes me feel ill. So baking is fabulous!


Then make your chutney.


Then put them on a serving plate together.


Then NOM!

They were fantastic! I found that I had some filling left over that didn't fit in the dough, but it is so tasty that it really isn't too much of a hardship to finish it up as left overs. I think I had some on toast for lunch the next day. The chutney is lovely, though is quite runny and I think next time I would add some more mint.


The main course was African Sweet Potato and Peanut Stew from Vegan Planet. It is a really fantastic flavour combination, all yummy and thich and creamy!


And is even better served with a side of sauteed broccolini!


The final part of the meal was Pear Upside Down Pudding from Now Vegan. This is an amazing pudding with a fabulous taste. It has a lot of ginger in it, and the topping turns into a glorious sticky and toffee like substance. I highly recommend!