White Bean Salad with Peppers and Herbs, for a bride-to-be (gluten-free, vegan, ACD)
Posted Jun 29 2010 6:51am
This August, my friend B is getting married, and I couldn't be more excited for her. I love it when my friends are in love! To celebrate, my friend L and I hosted a bridal shower for her last weekend. Last year B and I threw L a bridal shower , and this year L gets to return the favor. Some day, they will both need to throw me a party, but from the looks of my current dating record, it won't be any day soon...
L and I were excited to plan it together, and after discussing the details, we decided she would handle the games and prizes, and I would handle the food. I generally tend to be a bit of a control freak when I have a creative vision, so L is a saint for working with me on planning this party, I think. When coming up with a menu, my mind immediately went to Middle Eastern food. Years ago, back when B, L, and I all lived together in Uptown, we used to frequent this awesome place called Felafel King (you can guess their specialty), regularly gorging ourselves on felafel and hummus and tabouli. Middle Eastern cuisine seemed like the perfect choice for all of us, it is ideal for summer, and it is easy to make allergy-friendly. Astute readers may recall that my friend B was recently diagnosed with multiple food allergies, and I've been helping give her ideas on how to transition her diet. She has settled in swimmingly, and is baking gluten-free goodies that would even delight the likes of Martha Stewart.
I built up a delicious menu using seasonal finds like fresh grape leaves and herbs from my garden, produce from the farmers market, and other classic Middle Eastern staples like sheep feta, olives, and fresh pita bread to appease the gluten-eating masses. Add a fresh fruit tart for dessert, along with a tofu chocolate pudding pie made by the future bride herself, and we had a wonderful feast. I only snapped a few photos with my little Powershot, so the photographic evidence of the party is less than breathtaking - these photos don't do the food or the presentation justice!
This August, my friend B is getting married, and I couldn't be more excited for her. I love it when my friends are in love! To celebrate, my friend L and I hosted a bridal shower for her last weekend. Last year B and I threw L a bridal shower , and this year L gets to return the favor. Some day, they will both need to throw me a party, but from the looks of my current dating record, it won't be any day soon...
L and I were excited to plan it together, and after discussing the details, we decided she would handle the games and prizes, and I would handle the food. I generally tend to be a bit of a control freak when I have a creative vision, so L is a saint for working with me on planning this party, I think. When coming up with a menu, my mind immediately went to Middle Eastern food. Years ago, back when B, L, and I all lived together in Uptown, we used to frequent this awesome place called Felafel King (you can guess their specialty), regularly gorging ourselves on felafel and hummus and tabouli. Middle Eastern cuisine seemed like the perfect choice for all of us, it is ideal for summer, and it is easy to make allergy-friendly. Astute readers may recall that my friend B was recently diagnosed with multiple food allergies, and I've been helping give her ideas on how to transition her diet. She has settled in swimmingly, and is baking gluten-free goodies that would even delight the likes of Martha Stewart.
I built up a delicious menu using seasonal finds like fresh grape leaves and herbs from my garden, produce from the farmers market, and other classic Middle Eastern staples like sheep feta, olives, and fresh pita bread to appease the gluten-eating masses. Add a fresh fruit tart for dessert, along with a tofu chocolate pudding pie made by the future bride herself, and we had a wonderful feast. I only snapped a few photos with my little Powershot, so the photographic evidence of the party is less than breathtaking - these photos don't do the food or the presentation justice!