Vegetarian Living

[dragonflie]

It is very kind of you no matter what though. I will say this, vegan or no- I always appreciate the effort a person puts in- and any "errors"... well, they happen. It's the thought that counts. If I knew someone went out of their way to try something like making me a cake I would appreciate it- even if it was - say- made with a margarine that contained dairy... even if I couldn't eat it- I would be grateful at the effort. Utensils. .. That's a toughy- because in my mind anyone who is vegan has to accept that at some point a utensil used to make their food may have been in contact with meat- eggs- dairy... Unless they only eat at home with utensils they purchased themselves from a vegan store or something. I would say that is a HARD line vegan- but yeah... They're washed... so.

[granolamom]

Thatt's a tough one. I have several food-restricting acquaintances that I try really, really, hard to accommodate, and it almost always turns out that (a) there's some ingredient in the carefully-vetted dish that I thought was OK that actually isn't, (b) I should have sterilized the food processor before using it, because it might have traces of a different forbidden ingredient in it, or (c) they just don't like some other choice that I made. I usually just ask if there is a bakery or shop that they approve of, where I can buy the finished product instead of jumping through hoops to make it myself.

[chonies]

Thanks again, everyone--the variables for the intended recipient are too numerous and unwieldy to untangle, and while I know the person through work, I don't know them socially at all even though we have at least 20 mutual Facebook friends, and the idea of asking others very pointed questions about ingredients and kitchen maintenance makes me cringe. Games of telephone always end up weirdly.

So, all that aside, that doesn't mean I can't experiment with more vegan recipes and just give them to the friend who asked. Maybe she can park them in their break room to see what happens.

[batmom]

Can you send along the ingredient list with the cake? We do that for bakesales so that people with allergies are alerted and it's a non-invasive way of showing that yes, this is truly a vegan cake. The utensil thing is second-level and I don't think that there's much you can do there.

[chonies]

I definitely have the ingredient and brand list available when I'm baking for parties or other opt-in events like yours, but since this is for a specific individual who may or may not know the cake was requested, it's a lingering question. I'm reluctant to bake a cake for a person I don't know in this case, but if I baked a box of rando vegan cupcakes for anyone who wants them, I'd have the list.

When I was baking to sell at a farmer's market, I would have gluten free cupcakes, but a lot of celiac people said they couldn't eat anything that had possibly touched wheat; I know vegan stuff is a different framework, but it occurred to me that some people might take a 'kosher kitchen' approach.

Anyway, I'll text the order-er back and tell her I can't do it right now. The cake itself is the least of the problem--it's the interpersonal.

[famvir]

It is reminiscent of our friends that kept a kosher kitchen. We would invite them over, and attempt to be good hosts and provide for their food restrictions, but when they asked that we line the oven with aluminum foil before baking, and use bowls, blenders, mixers, knives, utensils, etc that had never been used for non kosher purposes, it was so awkward that we all agreed that they would bring their own food and serving materials if they came to our home. There was no rancor in this, I really enjoyed their company and was thrilled if they graced one of our parties, but I was unable to host them in a way they could actually eat anything. There is a difference between having food requirements and demanding others accommodate you, or realizing that people really try, but are unable to meet your needs.

If my vegan cake misses the mark because I once make cookies with margarine (or butter) in my now scrubbed mixing bowl, yeah, it's time to go to plan B. Is this the not so friend of a friend cake making request from another thread, chonies?

And what's the issue with sugar? I know the honey controversy. And is yeast consider non-vegan?

[scarlet]

Jun 9, 2017 11:51:35 GMT -4 famvir said:

If my vegan cake misses the mark because I once make cookies with margarine (or butter) in my now scrubbed mixing bowl, yeah, it's time to go to plan B.

Yeah, tbh, I never would have thought vegans are that restrictive that they won't eat something if a bowl was once used for non-vegan ingredients. I understand religious restrictions (like keeping a kosher kitchen), but what is the reasoning behind this? It seems so over the top to me.

(Please don't attack me, any vegan greecies)

[chonies]

Jun 9, 2017 11:51:35 GMT -4 famvir said:

And what's the issue with sugar? I know the honey controversy. And is yeast consider non-vegan?

The sugar issue I know of and will explain badly is that some brands of sugar might have been processed with a charcoal made with animal bones from the butchering process, so it's a by-product issue. Related, some beers and wines are filtered through a fish-based gelatin for clarity.

Yeast is vegan and even touted as a good supplement to the diet. "Nooch" or nutritional yeast has a vaguely cheesy taste that people often enjoy on popcorn.

And yes, it's the same person, famvir. In all honesty, it probably is beyond the realms of what the person would ask, but on the other hand, they are very vocal and active about the topic, and whenever someone expresses even the vaguest iota of curiosity about veganism, the person hands them the PeTA starter kit. I am not exaggerating.

[famvir]

Yikes, chonies. "No cake for you!"

I see yeast as happy little animal-plants reproducing and sending up CO2 bubbles of reproductive joy! They seem more animals like than charcoal. They are not byproducts, they are living things that we toss alive into a hot oven. Kind of like a lobster. The tiny yeasty screams keep me awake at night.

[Gigiree]

Jun 9, 2017 15:18:46 GMT -4 famvir said:

Yikes, chonies. "No cake for you!"

I see yeast as happy little animal-plants reproducing and sending up CO2 bubbles of reproductive joy! They seem more animals like than charcoal. They are not byproducts, they are living things that we toss alive into a hot oven. Kind of like a lobster. The tiny yeasty screams keep me awake at night.

Your mind must be a fascinating place in which to wander. . . ;D