Virtual Vegan Potluck Finally Here

What is a vegan? We all know the basics of this right? No eggs, no dairy, don’t wear silk and love raw cookie dough balls. Didn’t know the last one? Well now you do

Veganism is truly defined as: “The practice of abstinence from using animal products” – I used to think every vegan in the world was a saint. I am not even kidding you. After all, how could one manage to live in harmony without chocolate, ice cream and fluffy sponges which need eggs?

Now, after starting blogging, I met many a vegan blogger. And yes, while these guys are still saints, I learnt from them that they enjoy life just as much as us vegetarians and omnivores

Vegans are Masters at manipulation, Kings of creativity and Sultans of substitutions. Don’t believe me? Check this site out – for every egg, milk and buttery product, there is a vegan equal and I just have to bow down to the majesty in that

Does that mean I am turning vegan? Psshaw, no way, are you serious? While I admire vegans insanely, I cannot imagine not have Baskin Robbins on the weekend or having limitations of butter consummation on my toast – yes, I am weak, so what
Though truth be told, I can happily resort to eating no eggs (though still wanted in cakes )

*****************************************************************************

I know many bloggers who are fully fledged vegans and many who just experiment due to the health benefits of eating no butter (go figure )

One such blogger is Annie.
She apparently feels she is an Unrefined Vegan. She feels wrong. Her recipes, are classy, sophisticated and have vegan pizzazz to the max. That’s right I said it and I will say it again. Pizzazz.

If I was to have an ultimate vegan source of recipes, hers would be the blog to turn to, I promise you that

FUDGY!

Anyway, so a couple of weeks back, Annie came up with the most fabulous idea – to spread and nurture the concept of veganism in the foodie community as well as bring everyone closer together by creating

THE VIRTUAL VEGAN POTLUCK

A chain of dishes in a vegan party going from appetisers through to desserts, showing off so many wonderful, delicious, exotic and absolutely 100% vegan friendly dishes

I saw her post and for some reason, automatically asked to be part of it, obviously, as one of the many dessert bringers.

Haha, I guess I should tell you, I have never um, been a vegan for a day and I don’t think I have a single recipe which is actually vegan, unless you count my banana soft serve ice cream

But I did know this. Despite my impulsive offer, I knew this vegan dessert had to

• Not look or taste as if it was made for vegans
• Involve  chocolate
• Have gorgeous presentation
• Make the eater come back for more

It did not take long for me to find my dessert dish to give as part of the potluck

1. Stop at Not Quite Nigella, who is to me, more than Nigella (that’s right, I said it out loud!)
2. Go through all of her blog for the fun of it
3. Be serious and search for a vegan dish
4. Find THIS AMAZING CAKE
5. Adapt said amazing cake to my liking

Et voila! Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the dessert buffet of THE VIRTUAL VEGAN POTLUCK!
You have seen some desserts and with more to come, this is my contribution to this totally awesome Veganised night of eatery!
I toast some cake to you Annie – thank you for organising this potluck and teaching me to appreciate veganism! Check out her post right here

Here I present to you:

Maple Nut Vegan Banana Chocolate Cake
Adapted from: Not Quite Nigella

Ingredients:

Cake:

• 1 1/2 cups plain flour
• 1 cup + 2 tbs brown sugar
• 1/4 cup + 2 tbs maple syrup
• 1 1/2 cups mixed raw nuts
• 6 tbs cocoa powder
  
• 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 3/4 cup water
• 3 tbs mild flavoured vegetable oil
  
• 4 small ripe bananas, mashed
• 1 tbs white vinegar
• 4 tsp vanilla essence
• 100g dairy free dark chocolate, finely chopped

Icing:

• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup icing mixture
• 1-2 tsp cocoa powder
• 110g dark dairy free chocolate, finely chopped
  

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 170 degrees C. Grease and line a 20cm springform tin with baking paper
2. Place maple syrup and nuts in a saucepan over low heat and toast until fragrant. Set aside
   
3. Sift all dry ingredient into a large bowl and combine
   
4. In a separate bowl, combine mashed banana, oil, vinegar, water and essence
5. Make a well in the dry mixture and pour in wet ingredients. Mix until just combined
   
6. Stir in chocolate and maple nuts then pour into prepared tin. Smooth top
   
7. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a skewer inserted comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack
   
8. While baking prepare the syrup: Heat water, icing mixture and cocoa powder together until boiling and syrupy. When thick, immediately add chocolate and stir until melted through
   
9. While cake is cooling, poke holes in it (leaving it in tin) and pour sauce all over OR allow icing to partially set and decorate the cake as if it were a thick ganache (so versatile!)
10. Let cool completely, remove from tin and ENJOY

Notes

• You can serve it with maple roasted bananas but I opted for plain bananas smothered in the sauce

*****************************************************************************

So now let’s keep this potluck moving on!

If you want to start from the beginning of the 60+ (I know!) dishes available, start from the host of this fantastic event, Lidia @ Vegan Bloggers Unite – she starts this chain from the vegan appetisers – Go on, embrace your inner vegan by beginning right here!

If you are already in the chain, then either you can:

1. Go back to Fridge Scrapings and enjoy her delectable dessert again

Click this pic!

2. Go forward to Herbivores to see the other scrumptious dessert additions of this virtual banquet to come

Click this pic!

Thank you again Annie – spread the word everyone and let’s make this potluck a massive success of veganism

Please note: I will be updating the exact posts part of the chain of events as soon as possible when posted by the other bloggers – please be patient – due to time differences it is a little everywhere