Summertime…and the living is easy — except that, down here in the blazing heat of south Texas, going outdoors can be rough. Sounds like the perfect time for a virtual vegan picnic!
 
We asked our friends in our closed Facebook group, The Peas and Carrots Society, to let us know what they’d be bringing. In this episode of the podcast, we’re going to share some of their responses and recommendations.
 
 
No time to listen? No problem. Read on for a quick summary and links to everything we mention on the show!
We’re Going on a Vegan Picnic!
 

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Mediterranean Polenta Snacks from Cooking with Plants

One Peas and Carrots Society member said, “Press these into an 8 x 8 pan. This is sooo delicious and refreshingly summery! Toppings can be changed round to suit your tastes.”
 

 

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The Best Vegan Macaroni Salad by Nora Cooks

No picnic (vegan or otherwise) would be complete without a good ol’ pasta salad! This one from Nora Cooks is vegan and oil-free.
This particular recipe doesn’t call for bacon bits, but I grew up with my mom’s bacon bit-studded macaroni salad, which my family LOVED! But wait! Bacon bits? How are those vegan?
Believe it or not, MANY store bought bacon bits brands don’t contain bacon at all. You’ll still want to check the package to ensure there aren’t any whey products (dairy). You can also consider these:
 

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Herbed Fingerling Potatoes by  Forks Over Knives

While this recipe called for fresh herbs, you can substitute easily substitute dried herbs. Tasty and oil-free!

 

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One-Pot Creamy Garlic Orzo by Six Vegan Sisters

The Peas and Carrots member who recommended this recipe from Six Vegan Sisters said, “This is SUPER easy and delicious warm or cold.”
 
What I really like about this one is it calls for nutritional yeast (aka Nooch) which adds a cheesy flavor without the cheese. It also has added nutritional benefits. We talk about Nooch in episode 142, Just What Is Nooch Anyway?.
 

* Roasted Carrot Dogs by Brand New Vegan

The Peas and Carrots member who recommended roasted carrot dogs didn’t include a recipe but we found this one from Brand New Vegan that looks amazing! It calls for liquid smoke to give the “dogs” that grilled-out smokey flavor.

 
What I like about this recipe is the “smoky” part.