Wednesday, May 14, 2014

"Vegan Finger Foods" Review & Giveaway!

Tami & Celine's latest book "Vegan Finger Foods" is finally here! What a fun book!
I love to throw parties, so I love the idea of a book full of bite-sized delights. But, as you'll see, I was able to repurpose many of the recipes into dinners for Mr VE&T... so you don't need to limit your finger food fun to parties alone. 

Tami & Celine asked if I would take part in their blogger Book Tour, and I was happy to participate. I am such a fan of each of them: as bloggers, as recipe creators, and as cookbook writers. They sent me a copy to review, and I also get to offer a giveaway for one lucky winner (details below).


The first thing I made were the Nacho Potato Skins, and they were great! I couldn't find cute little mini potatoes like the recipe called for - but since we were just going to eat these for dinner, it didn't really matter. This way, I ended up with 6 medium potato halves instead of 12 minis. 

The recipe took a little time, but wasn't complicated. The potatoes had to be baked, hollowed, and re-baked. There was the filling to make, and queso to make. My only "complaint" was that the queso recipe made way more than I needed for the recipe itself. But then I just ate queso for the next few days, and I was happy. We both really loved these potatoes - the skins were perfectly cooked with a good bite, the filling was fresh and light, and the queso added a good creaminess. We also added on a big blog of salsa, because we like our mexi-food spicy! They were really messy to eat!


finger-lickin' yummy!



Next up were the Portabello BLTs - which were a total hit. OmmNomNom. I'm not a big portabello fan (ugh, that texture!!!) - but I already know I like shiitake bacon. So, I used their shiitake bacon recipe in the book, and followed everything else just so. I love the open-face BLT idea, and the addition of creamy avocado. These were just absolutely delicious, easy to make, and would definitely be a party hit - as well as a nice summertime dinner.




As luck would have it, one of my besties was having a BIG party for a BIG birthday, and so I actually had the chance to bring along some finger foods! I made a double batch of the Black Lentil Endive Cups. This may have been my first time ever actually buying endives? These were super good and quite easy - and quickly disappeared at the party! The lentils were easy and delicious, and I loved the sauce: it's a cashew-citrus-Sriracha combo that was spicy and creamy and a great compliment to the other flavors. Again, the sauce made way more than I needed... I ended up using the leftover sauce as dressing on some raw kale salads though - and was most pleased with that turn of events. In fact, I might make the sauce again, just for those purposes.




You know how it is. If you're invited to a big potluck, and you want dessert, you best bring it yourself. The desserts section in Vegan Finger Foods is mighty fine, chock full of temptations. This particular party was going with a mexi-food theme, so I made the Chocolate Chunk Cookies. The recipe calls for either garam masala or cinnamon... and I went with cinnamon (and added a pinch of cayenne) to make them more Mexi. I also added a little cocoa powder for more choco-flavor. I really loved these cookies and can't wait to try them out with the garam masala: that sounds so intriguing!!

Don't mind if I do!
(notice my imaginary Jeanette Zeis cake stand? - a girl can dream!)



Last but not least, I made a big ol' batch of the Baked Buffalo Tofu Bites. Que Yum! Theses were sooo good. The little tofu cubes took a bit of time to bread individually, but it was a pleasant and easy task that I enjoyed. Aside from that, the recipe is essentially effortless - and the result was a really fun and special dinner. The spicy sauce was super spicy! Wowzers! I happened to have some ranch dressing (from Isa Does It) left in my fridge, so we had that too. It was a great combo. Plus, a big raw kale sale with tomatoes and red onions for a powerful veggie blast.

As you can see, I really enjoyed the recipes I've made from this book so far, and there are lots more that I've taken note of to try again in the future. I'd definitely recommend this book if you like hosting parties or having fun things to to bring to parties, but there are also plenty of fun dinner-worthy ideas in here too.

Giveaway time!
Now, you too can amaze your party friends with flashy vegan offerings! Just leave a comment here with your email address and I will pick a winner by Monday May 19th. Open to U.S. & Canada. Tell me about a fun party you went to. Or about a fun party idea. Or whatever!





74 comments:

  1. Everything looks so good, especially those buffalo tofu bites!! And I love it that you're manifesting one of Jeanette Zeis' cake stands via doodles. :) David got me a miniature cake stand of hers a few years ago for Christmas and had her write "Cadry's Kitchen" on the side. It is so super cute! I really love all of her work.

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  2. Sophie9:31 AM

    I have a go to recipe when I go to a party from Quick and Easy Vegan Recipes (I think that's the title) it's a salsa orzo salad. I even have non-vegan friends ask for the recipe! But now I suspect everyone thinks that's the only thing I can make :P I don't know if I have a fun party idea. but last September, my 8 months pregnant friend pulled off a surprise party for her husband. I helped a bit, but was still so impressed he had no idea (for reals, I was there in the morning when he left to do something for the day). She also has three other children by the way. So that may not be funny, but damn right impressive!

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  3. Sophie9:33 AM

    Wow I am terrible at this, here is my email sophie _ 680 AT hotmail DOT com

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  4. Ohhhh those potato skins!!!
    I think the most interesting party we go to every year is the corn party. It's a potluck and everything must have corn in it and everybody must be dressed with either green or yellow on. It's on the second Saturday of August and starts at 2:44...

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  5. Anonymous10:48 AM

    I always make baked sweet potato skins for the Super Bowl. They're so yummy, but it never occurs to me to make them at any other time of year. I should make them tonight.....good thought.

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  6. Party food is my absolute favourite! I could happily eat mini versions of everything for every meal for the rest of my life. I don't know why but when it's mini it just seems to taste better, or is that just me? Yep? Ok then. Anyway, your food looks delicious! kell.p27@gmail.com
    www.thevegantaff.blogspot.com

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  7. Late last year, we went to a potluck called the Last Dinner, I believe. Everyone had to bring a dish that started with the first letter of your last name. I brought the Orange-Chocolate Bundt cake from Isa Does It! for my last name, and pizza, for Jay's last name. It was a great hit. Thanks for hosting another wonderful giveaway! My email address is lmo5a@virginia.edu :)

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  8. I plan on hosting a dinner party sometime soon when friends visit from out of town. I'm definitely going to be serving lots of vegan finger foods! :) cayemanda@gmail.com

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  9. i am not much of a party person...but here is a party fact about me: if there is a cat in the place the party is held, i will be there petting it! :)

    missmuffcake{a}aol.com

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  10. We're planning a taco bar party in the next few weeks. One of my all time favorite parties, what's better than tacos?! Those endive cups look delicious. tessbrianna {at} gmail

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  11. Anonymous12:24 PM

    I haven't been to too many "fun" parties, but I do like to bring vegan food to my get-togethers with my non-vegan friends and have them super surprised on how tasty vegan food can be. These recipes look amazing!

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  12. This book sounds great! I'm terrible at thinking of vegan party food ideas beyond hummus and crudités which is pretty darn dull. Those Baked Buffalo Tofu Bites have me drooling!
    (I'm UK so don't enter me)

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  13. I'd love to host a vegan sushi party sometime soon (the best summer finger food!).

    Those tofu cubes look amaaaaazing!

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  14. Wow -- baked buffalo tofu bites! I'd likely need to have some ranch around for those as well. I love spicy food, but also the combo of something to cool it down.

    I had a party a few months back with many friends and did a double batch of the queso blanco from Isa Does It and served it in a fondue pot. I did lots of other snacks, but that was the highlight. It was actually licked clean by a few before most of the party had even arrived! thelaughingvegan@gmail.com

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  15. Everything looks sooooo good! I have most (if not all) of Celine and Joni's books, but I have yet to add one of Celine and Tami's to my bookshelf, and it's high time I remedy that...
    Last summer, my sister-in-law threw a really fun surprise party for my brother's 40th birthday, and the "surprise" part of it was massively successful: he never saw it coming! I'd brought a few things to eat - a roasted red pepper hummus, my yummy ranch dip, and the first raw cheesecake I ever made - and they were a huge hit with everyone, including people who tend to be suspicious of food that could be labeled "vegan". Luckily for them, they managed to taste it before applying any label, and then, the only label that fit was "just plain delicious"! :)

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  16. I think if I win this book I'll have to throw a party! I'm impressed by how many of the recipes you tried. All of the things you made look great. conniemm@pacbell.net

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  17. Anonymous4:28 PM

    I usually eat before I go to a party, or else make sure that I bring something extra good so that I can have something to eat...I would love to have this book. I am so, so tired of hummus...

    Amy

    amy.sukhov@yahoo.com

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  18. Wow! Bring on the summer parties... what a great book! m.bayville.nelson (at) gmail.com

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  19. I would really like to have this book so I'd have lots of options for bringing tasty finger foods to vegan potlucks. owsla at facebook dot com

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  20. Thanks for doing the review and giveaway -- the Nacho Potato Skins and Buffalo Tofu Bites sound amazing! Recently, my friends and I had a vegan sushi-making party, which was really fun and the first time I'd ever made sushi rolls. The avocado-peanut rolls (aka elephant rolls : )) were my favorite, but now I really want to make the teriyaki mushroom-avocado rolls from Chloe's Vegan Kitchen. :)

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    1. Oops, forgot to leave my email address -- it's bethvrabel@gmail.com

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  21. Anonymous9:25 PM

    I give a bonfire every spring (or, this year due to wetness, a nonfire) and I would LOVE to have some fresh ideas for food with a wow factor!

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    1. Anonymous9:27 PM

      (email is butterbobbin at yahoo dot com)

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  22. Anonymous3:13 AM

    Way back in middle school, I hosted a tea party in my backyard garden for all of my closest friends. We all dressed up in our best dresses, gloves, and jewelry, and sipped tea and munched on finger food. Super fun! I'd love to host another with tons of vegan finger food.

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    1. Anonymous3:13 AM

      Oh! And my email is ali.seiter@gmail.com. :)

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  23. Ooh, fun! I had a potluck for my birthday party a couple years ago. I asked my friends (most of whom are not vegan) to bring vegan food over to my place, and most of them got really creative and tried all sorts of cool things...everything from dumplings to noodle salad to raw cocoa chewy candy thingies! It was a pretty sweet party!

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  24. You have convinced me: I need this book! Finger foods=the ultimate party foods. One of the best dinner parties we hosted every year during the 7 years we lived and worked in Cambodia --not so long ago--was an international Thanksgiving potluck with our very international group of friends, everyone bringing a representative vegetarian/vegan dish. My contribution was a savory pumpkin casserole with corn and beans and colorful peppers (adapted from a Moosewood cookbook). Countries represented included India, Pakistan, Great Britain, Ireland, Belgium, France, Italy, Peru, Nepal, Australia, New Zealand, Netherlands, Cambodia, Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, Canada. It was always a fun, interesting and delicious occasion with great eats, and guests appreciated the spirit of the get-together. Thanks..

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  25. I love finger food and would love to have friends over for a vegan finger food party!

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  26. I love going to parties, but always nervous about throwing my own! I've only had a few at my house but really wish to do more. I just always second guess myself (the menu, will everyone like everything, etc). Maybe I will do something for the 4th of July this year - you can see my town's fireworks from my back yard.

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  27. Anonymous7:37 AM

    Cookies with garam masala?!?! Sounds amazing to me!! I always have a theme with parties but it is usually an ethnic theme. I think for my next one I will do all finger foods!!

    Johanna Naama

    johanna.naama@gmail.com

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  28. Anonymous8:26 AM

    The buffalo bites and the cookies look awesome! I'm drooling!

    kellydawnreckas at gmail.com

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  29. Anonymous8:43 AM

    traceystar16@hotmail.com. And we love hosting parties! We moved into a bigger place last fall and it makes hosting really easy. And we love showing off our vegan cooking skillz to our carnivore friends. I'd love to add this cookbook to my shelf!

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  30. I love hosting dinner parties and introducing my friends to vegan foods. I never tell them it's vegan until they have tried it;-) I love squashing the misconceptions that some people have of vegan foods! I have converted a few as well;-) I would love to add this book to my collection and as a holistic health coach, I love to share my book lists with my clients! jackiemichele2010@gmail.com

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  31. The baked tofu looks great! bitterbetty77@gmail.com

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  32. Love the Portabello BLTs. I have never been to a party that's vegan sadly...everyone i know are super meat eaters (im an Italian lol) jdeleo4@yahoo.com. Thank you

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  33. Ooooh I would eat all those buffalo tofu bites! I have such a time translating my favorite foods into finger sized editions so my go to always ends up being cocktail meatballs. I'd love some new inspiration!

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  34. So- I've been vegan for only 3 weeks now and I am absolutely loving it. I was a vegetarian for almost 7 years, and I had been thinking of going vegan for at least a year. I finally did it. I feel amazing and I've been turning to Pinterest to find blogs such as yours to help me through this new journey! It has been incredibly easy for me so far and I really owe this to people such as yourself for enlightening me with so many beautiful food ideas. I don't have any close vegan friends, so I plan on spending lots of time in the kitchen one of these weekends and hosting a small get-together to show my friends that it isn't such a foreign thing (most of my friends didn't understand my vegetarian way of life, and now they are even more unsure about my switch to vegan). I already know that I will make your Nacho Potato Skins- looks so simple and appetizing! And those chocolate chunk cookies..oh my gosh. So anyway, I really appreciate your blog and I will continue to check it on a regular basis! Thank you for doing what you do.

    Hannah
    hannah.kohler@hilton.com

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  35. Anonymous11:16 AM

    I recently made a sugar and oil free vegan Game of Thrones feast for a viewing party of mainly meat eaters. I would love those recipes! melindaamato@gmail.com

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  36. Recently some friends and I have created a once a month documentary/vegan potluck get together. The first one went over really well! We ended up having two very different yummy ohsheglows salads, a kimberly snyder grain burger made to order by our hostess, an insanely delicious vegan chocolate cake and some assorted chips and vegan dips. It was nice to come together and watch a documentary that had heart and passion versus just another action movie. Don't get me wrong I love my action movies but because I love my action movies, I miss out on a lot of great documentaries. My friends felt the same. This is how our docu/potluck afternoons were created =)
    Elana Lavine
    elanalavine@klean-slate.com

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  37. I have to say - lol when you are a hermit, party ideas don't pop in your head right away, but i bet this would be great for sporting events! my email address is rainytuesdays @ hotmail . com :) i've always heard amazing things about potato skins!

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  38. I would so love to win this! I don't do many finger food parties except for the Super Bowl but I do love to snack on them randomly.

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  39. Wow! I love the idea of the buffalo tofu bites. I recently tried to make buffalo cauliflower pizza with tofu blue cheese sauce for some friends(who aren't vegan). I made a mistake in the way I prepared it and was expecting it to turn out horrible and have my friends think that vegan food is gross. But luckily, it still turned out great and they loved it! I love small success like that :)

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  40. These recipes sound amazing! A great themed party I attended required everyone to dress up as what they wanted to be when they grew up (from their earlier perspective as a little kid). :) my email address is Maggie.diebolt@gmail.com

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  41. For the last year I've been attending potlucks regularly and it really is a blast! Especially as a vegan, it's so rare that we truly CAN have "one of these" and "one of these"!!

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  42. GAH! I do not go to enough parties. But a fun party I had was a pho party and all my guests delivered vegan yumminess. It was amazing.

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  43. This looks amazing! How about a grazing party, come as you favorite farm animal. With fun "farm" games and face painting for the kids. Decorate the table with pots of grass, and we can all graze on vegan treats!
    My email is: californiadreaming8@yahoo.com

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  44. This sounds amazing!! Totally want this book! h-e-a-l@hotmail.com

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  45. Those tofu bites...oh my...!! :)

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  46. Awesome! I have a potluck group and love to blow everyone away with great vegan food! Email is gabsodon@aol.com

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  47. I have always loved going to a general potluck and bring a vegan dish that wows the omnivores. Makes my day!

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  48. Where I live we have monthly vegan potlucks. I might decide to make something form this book for the potluck, but more likely I would make it for home consumption! I think finger foods might be great lunch box items.

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  49. I have to have these recipes. When entertaining there's always going to b that certain population of people looking for something they can eat and these recipes sound great for not only those people but everyone. I love a recipe that fools the meat eaters!!!! Bring it on:)

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  50. Those nacho potato skins look so good! Email is kfink13@gmail.com

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  51. so neat! thanks for the chance to win!

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  52. I like movie-themed "parties" (I put parties in quotes because it's not as raucous as most parties) where we watch a movie and eat dinner related to that movie. There used to be a show on TBS or TNT or one of those channels called "Dinner and a Movie" where they showed a movie and made dinner in the breaks. My favorite was Ferris Bueller's Day Off paired with "I can't come to school today because I falafel" .. Falafels make for the best food puns.

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  53. How fun! I'd love to do some of these treats for a July 4th BBQ!! Adorable doodles as always :)

    lburnett at alumnae dot mills dot edu

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  54. Being in rural Texas, parties are either BBQ or Tex-Mex (or a combination). Being the only plant based person I usually have something before I go. This book might give me a chance to get others to try vegan food without pre-judgement. My email is pappasjacqui@yahoo.com

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  55. I have fun parties at my home where we all make food and play board games. I love impressing people with my vegan foods! My email is info@janafisher.com

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  56. I love any party with lots of amazing vegan food, especially if I can get some non-vegans to try a few of the plant-based options. Party + activism = an awesome time! My email is lottie_pierce@yahoo.com
    Thank you!

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  57. Anonymous9:24 AM

    My daughter attends a Waldorf school and we always have a potluck, auction or festival to cook for. I so need to get out of my quinoa salad and muffins rut. dreamerpa2@yahoo.com

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  58. I usually have a very casual get-together for friends right after Christmas, featuring the 90,000 vegan cookies I've made for my very small family Xmas celebration (I grew up in a huge family and only know how to cook in gigantic quantities!). It's a great way to decompress after the stresses of the holiday. elizabethbrion@gmail.com

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  59. I just attended my sister's wedding and we had deliciously seasonal asparagus. Then for my own birthday, we had sushi and cupcakes. Yum all around.

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  60. Anonymous7:32 PM

    I'm throwing a large food themed party in two months for friends when I can finally eat solid food again. I've just had all my upper teeth pulled and can't eat solid food for the next sixty days until I get my implants in. That day will be about everything I've missed eating. A cookbook on finger foods would be awesome because it would mean get to try twice as many things than I'd they were bigger portioned. Either way, I look forward to the day where canned tomato soup isn't my only option.

    Rie-chan harrypotter_rox(at)msn.com

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  61. I'd really like to try the Baked Buffalo Tofu Bites! corrine.greenfield at facebook.com

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  62. Hi I am sriraw95@gmail.com. Thank you so much for the chance to win this book! I need to shake it up for my parties.

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  63. Chelsea Ortiz3:02 PM

    Definitely a fan of finger foods! chels2ocean@yahoo.com

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  64. Room without a roof happy about Celine and Tami's latest collaboration since everything they do delivers tasty vegan food via easy recipes, and inspiring ideas. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  65. All of the dishes look so delicious! I just attended a wedding and they had awesome mushroom-based dishes with loads of creamy mashed potato, miam!

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  66. Does Booze-Infused Vegan Cupcakes count? I thought that was amazing. Can I have some of that Baked Buffalo Tofu Bites....Email is on my Blogger account.

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  67. bsrs@rocketmail5:41 PM

    I'd love to throw a party with these finger foods!

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  68. OMG - Baked Buffalo Tofu Bites!

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    1. Whoops I didn't answer the question! Well I'm biased but the best party was my all-vegan 5 course dinner wedding.

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  69. rhonda (rhonva@comcast.net)6:25 PM

    Oh, I have a potluck coming up with lots of non-veggie folks - this book would help immensely. :)

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  70. Idea: A summertime rooftop garden party with vegan finger foods

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