Exploits of a Vegan Wannabe

Last night we  co-hosted the most exciting event.  Our friend Jo wanted to offer a screening of the movie Forks Over Knives at our local library. We conferred over vegan pizza and decided to call it Dessert & A Movie. Our dream was to fill the room with veg curious friends, neighbors and strangers, feed them undeniably delicious vegan desserts and wow them with  an incredible movie. Of course, turning them instantly vegan. What?

We collected $5 entry at the door to donate to our local animal shelter of which Jo is the most tireless volunteer. She is also the  mastermind behind the all vegan fundraiser we recently attended called No Beast Feast. So, Jo asked if I would be willing to provide all the desserts for the evening in an effort to not only seduce our guests with vegan edibles, but to introduce myself as a vegan for hire, compassionate catering at your service. Hi my name is Sherry, I would love to cook vegan food for you and 100 of your friends. Need a few trays of cookies and truffles for your next event? What time would you like to pick those up? Need dinner for six and your just out of time and inspiration?? I’d love to.

We shared the event with the veg Meetups in the area, posted it on Facebook, talked about it last weekend at the Farm Sanctuary walk and made flyers for additional outreach. The day before the event the baking began. Our friend Lisa came over for the bake-a-thon and together we drank red wine and baked seven dozen Dark Chocolate Hazelnut cookies. The morning of the event we had reached the room capacity with RSVP’s and had to start turning people away for fear of having too many people and not enough room. It was so exhilarating.

I continued to make desserts throughout the day, creating 150 Choco-Nut Truffles and a fruit salad with a creamy coconut and cinnamon dressing that everyone went wild for. I will post the recipe on Friday.

Two hours later the viewing room at the library was full of hesitantly veg curious people, enjoying vegan sweets and fruit salad. People could not say enough kind things about the food. It was my Field of Dreams moment…if you bake for them, they will come.

We played the movie and they gasped and grumbled in all the right places. As the movie ended and the lights went up I was desperate for a sign…did they love it? Did they hate it and are now going to knock each other down running for the door? Are they mad that I ensnared them with baked goods only to assail them with a vegan propaganda film??? The silence was maddening until they erupted into applause.

They simultaneously lept up and swarmed the dessert table for another vegan cookie and some fruit salad.  The room was alive with enthusiasm and exuberant commentary. They loved it…they absolutely loved it. They loved the food, the movie and the tea Jo served. The love was no longer a feeling in the room, but had morphed into an animate object. It was such a special evening to be a part of. It made me feel proud that I continuously try to affect small change. I see it working every time I make the effort. One movie, one meal, one day at a time.

My one regret from the evening  is that I forgot my camera. The photos I do have are from my cell phone so you can get a feel for the food stuffs. Putting all of the food together was really fantastic. At the close of the evening, a woman asked me if I did catering and how I would feel about vegan catering for 500. I would feel pretty darn great about it.

Have a delicious day.

Tags: choco-nut truffles, compassionate eating, dairy free, dark chocolate date truffles, Engine 2 Diet, Forks over Knives, going veg, Meatless Monday recipe, plant based diet, trying vegan, trying vegetarian, vegan, vegan dessert, vegan experience, vegan wannabe, vegetarian transition