Party Vegan: Fabulous, Fun Food for Every Occasion

Party Vegan: Fabulous, Fun Food for Every Occasion by Robin Robertson (Book Review)

I believe this is my fourth Robin Robertson cookbook, and thus far, none have let me down. Though we opted to take a break from our annual Christmas party this year, I couldn't resist trialing out a few recipes … because who doesn't enjoy party-worthy fare every day?

First up was the Mini Falafel recipe (pictured at right and in a big picture at the end of this review). Wow, what a delicious, fabulous, easy make-ahead recipe … for entertaining or for lunch! I opted for lunch. Robin's version uses a homemade Harissa Mayo, but since I didn't have any harissa on hand, I topped each little falafel with a chunk of avocado and a dollop of Sriracha. Equally pretty, don't you think?

Next up was the Fingerling Potato Salad with Pan-Fried Arugula Pesto. Tasty? Yes! Attractive? Not my version. I think this would be a lovely vibrant dish if the cherry tomatoes and olives were included (offering a nice contrast to the bright green hue), but I had neither on hand and no one around to impress, so I omitted. The result was savory and flavorful, but not picture-worthy. Moving onto a more attractive dish …

I can't resist making at least one baked goodie, and I chose the Chai-Spiced Muffins from Party Vegan.

The spice blend was absolutely perfect, flavorful but not overpowering, and as Robin notes, great with tea. This recipe was in the Mother's Day Brunch section, and I couldn't imagine a more perfect fit. For my family, I might even go a touch more indulgent by topping these muffins with a vanilla frosting. But, since the only thing I was celebrating was tasty muffins, I kept the sugar light by finishing these off with a pat of Earth Balance …