An Old-Fashioned Vegan Christmas Banquet

  I am working a menu out for Christmas and am after a vegan meal, but not having much luck. Is there anything you can suggest to help me?

  Ah, an old-fashioned vegan Christmas banquet. Hmmm, not too surprising you're having trouble. We have been pawing through vegetarian cookbooks since you wrote, and — much to our surprise — found a menu suggestion for a vegan Christmas. 

Simon Hope, author of Vegetarian Entertaining with Friends (Canada, UK) suggests the following:

• Fassoulatha (Greek variation of a Middle Eastern bean soup) with Olive Bread
• Chestnut Roast (a mixture of chestnuts, peanuts, onion, mushroom, red wine, herbs, breadcrumbs and soy sauce) with Black Cherry & Red Wine Sauce
• Candied Yams (very traditional — hold the butter, please)
• Sloshed Leeks & Carrots (sloshed with a little Riesling)
• Garlic Potatoes (sliced think, layered & baked)
• Hot Zucchini and Tomato Salad
• Christmas Pudding (suggests starting this in October to let the flavors develop, so time to get cracking)
• Mince Pies (dates, currents, sultanas, raisins, apples, fruit juices, spices, brown sugar & brandy)
• Vegan Ice Cream (tofu, vanilla, vegetable oil, white sugar & soy milk)

Let us know how it turns out!