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Last night, Ange and Karly came over for dinner and we enjoyed a Mexican themed dinner party! I was looking for a dinner that could be prepared ahead of time and was laid back & fuss-free…Mexican food fit the bill. This week has been insanely busy with bakery orders, so I needed something that would be delicious, but not take up too much time.
I made a DIY burrito station…
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I know it looks like a lot of work, but it wasn’t that bad! I cooked the lentils and beans the night before and the speltberry salad was also already made.
The great thing about this dinner is that I prepared everything ahead of time except for the guacamole which I prepared just before serving. The rest was completely finished and wrapped up in the fridge by 9am yesterday! You can’t have a lower stress dinner than that. :)
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Mmm, it’s making me hungry just thinking about it! Good thing there are leftovers for my lunch today. ;)
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Mexican Dinner Party Vegan Burritos
Serves 4-6 people
What You’ll Need: (I will link to the recipes I used)
- Pico De Gallo & Guacamole
- Back on Track II Spelt Berry Salad
- Homemade taco seasoning
- Lentil-Walnut Taco Meat (below)
- Spiced Black Beans (2 cups cooked black beans + 1-2 tsp taco seasoning)
- Daiya Cheese or other vegan cheese
- Salsa
- Shredded lettuce
- My favourite hummus
- Tortilla wraps (I used Food for Life GF) & corn chips
Preparation: I prepared everything the morning of and placed them in air-tight containers in the fridge. Just before serving, I made the Guacamole.
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Lentil-Walnut Taco Meat II
Adapted from my first version.
Yield: ~ 2.5-3 cups
Ingredients:
- 1 cup dry lentils
- 3 cups veggie broth or water
- 1 & 1/3 cup walnut halves, toasted
- 1 cup bean medley (chickpeas, kidney beans, etc)
- Homemade Taco seasoning, to taste
Directions: Cook the lentils in about 3 cups or so of vegetable broth or water until tender, about 30-40 minutes. Meanwhile, toast your walnuts on baking sheet in a preheated oven at 300F for 10 minutes. Drain lentils and place lentils, beans, and walnuts in food processor. Add homemade taco seasoning to processor, starting with a teaspoon at a time. Process for just a few seconds, until chunky. You don’t want to over-process it. Taste and add more taco seasoning, repeat until desired taste is achieved. Just before serving dinner, heat a skillet with 1 tbsp olive oil in it, and add lentil taco meat. Heat and serve.
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We had a grand ‘ol time and the burrito station was a big hit! The burrito fillings were also great to make a big salad with. I think I will be doing that for lunch today. :)
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For dessert, I made vegan chocolate cupcakes with almond ‘buttercream’ and toasted coconut. They were awesome! I loved the toasted coconut on top…it really took the cupcake to a new level.
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The girls each brought me some gorgeous flowers!!! I got spoiled. :) Aren’t they gorgeous?
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I was told that I have to keep them alive until at least my birthday weekend May 14th. ;)
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After Ange and Karly left, Eric and I watched American Idol that we taped (Go Haley!!) and I did some Vegetable Gardening reading while Eric did deck planning…
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My mom gave me this book a couple years ago…how did she know that I would one day build my own vegetable garden? :) Moms are the best!
I am extremely amazed by all the gardening info that I am coming across! There is soooo much to learn and read up on. While it feels a bit overwhelming, I am extremely excited to start a garden. I could really see this becoming a huge hobby and passion of mine.
I loved this quote from Shannon the other day, “Gardening is a learning experience. Trial and error. Even the most experiences gardeners have failures and successes.” and like Karly said last night, it is better to try than to never try at all!
Many of you have also recommended the Square Foot Gardening book, so I might check that out this weekend.
Have a great Friday!
all that food looks amazing! you are a star in the kitchen.
i love gardening. last year was our first year of veggie gardening, we got a ton of tomatoes! seriously so many i literally didn’t know what to do with them all! but it’s really fun and so rewarding to know that you grew it all yourself.
Errr can I have some cupcakes pleaseee???! I love seeing pictures of you since you’re the genius behind this blog! I love seeing people’s photos–it makes it so much warmer and more personal :D hope you have a beautiful day~
I love the idea of lentil and walnuts in place of taco meat! Yum!!
Love all the different things you can put in your tortilla…very appealing. Is there anything really spicy here? I love heat!
You can make the taco meat and black beans as spicy as you want them according to how much taco seasoning you add in. :)
I’m coming to your next mexican feast– that looks like a veggies dream! Every dish I love and WANT :)
Mexican buffets are amazing! I would have never though of using a lentil mixture as the filling…what an awesome idea!
I love Mexican food!
Nice when you can have most things made ahead of time for a dinner party. You can enjoy your company without stressing.
I highly recommend From Seed to Table by Janet Haase (she is from Ontario!). The book is fantastic for learning about gardening! She used to produce for places like the National Arts Orchestra, Chateau Laurier..she wrote this book so down-to earth and easy to understand, with lots of pictures and seasonal recipes included. I had the chance to meet her at a conference and was so glad I picked this up!
http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Seed-Table-Practical-Guide-Eating-Janette-Haase/9781897178751-item.html?ikwid=from+seed+to+table&ikwsec=Home
thanks I will check it out!
Your Lentil-Walnut Taco Meat looks awesome! I just relinked my recipe for lentil & bean “sloppy joes” today. I love lentils + beans to make really hearty and stand on their own fillings. These tacos look amazing, Angela.
Wait tho…the buttercream frosting. I remember those. And now, I want buttercream frosting, big time!
Gardening is like photography I think…you have no idea how much info is out there til you start reading, you will never learn it all, everyone has a different take on it, and no two cameras/shots/gardens/dirt/goals are the same!
The Square Foot Gardening book is great and helpful, too!
yes gardening is a lot like photography!!!
All of that food looks so delicious! I just had some vegan mexican for lunch. Daiya cheese makes me so happy.
And those cupcakes? Don’t even get me started, I’m having a major sweets craving right now :)
I love Mexican food! Favorite cuisine everrrrr! <3
Mexican food is awesome. Thanks for the link for the taco seasoning recipe, i normally buy it premade but with those added nasties, i think i will have a go making my own.
Mmmmm….I love Mexican night!! I am so glad that there are some many vegetarian/vegan options!! Thanks for all the fab recipes.
Wow! What a feast! Love the taco “meat.”
I love veggie tacos! Better than meat filled ones any day! I made a batch of your vegan meat this week for lunches…..so its really funny that you posted this recipe! Now I have another way to use it! Good thing I have all the taco fixin’s i need on hand! Thanks for this idea :)
great minds think alike! heh
I’ve never been the biggest fan of Mexican, but you’re making me reconsider. You make it look so fresh and delicious!
Your gorgeous photos inspired me to make a burrito bowl bar for dinner tonight! I love your recipes, and am constantly bookmarking them :)
Having a garden is so much fun! I have been growing veggies for the last three summers and before we bought our house, I had zero experience! Each year my garden gets a little better and I learn more. My recommendations are to stay small, grow just a few things at first, and make sure you pick veggies (and specific varieties of that veggie) that do well in your zone!
Good luck! :)
Hi Angella,
The wraps are looking awesome, loved the different types of stuffing you added to enhance its nutrion quotient. A perfect vibrant wrap…. !!!
thanks! :)
oh what a great idea, i havent had mexican in ages!