For one . . . A nice fresh vegetable salad with nuts and seeds.

If you have people coming that would really miss a traditional ham or turkey dinner (we usually have turkey more often than ham in my family)- some ideas (that are making me hungry too early in the morning). What about making all the trimmings- stuffing in a casserole dish, mashed potatoes, miso gravy, Brussel sprouts, etc? Mashed carrots and turnips with butter (or margarine) and a bit of ground pepper is really good. Everyone can eat all that, and then you could, if you wanted, buy individual turkey rolls for the meat eaters and some type of veggie rolls/ patties (like fallafel?) for the vegetarians- that would be the only thing different. But it's still a lot of preparation. Actually, I might take shortcuts (I'd peruse the deli counter at Whole Foods probably) - lol, buy some kind of veggie roll from Whole Foods (if you have those) for the vegetarians, if it were me, and make the rest as usual, but buy turkey rolls or turkey breasts instead of a whole turkey.


Miso gravy:

http://vegetarian.about.com/od/saucesdipsspreads/r/misogracy.htm

Of course, these are all just daydreams because I don't do a big formal dinner like that very often. Lol. I'd do a potluck, probably.

We have the same problem in our family. Vegetarion, wheat free and avid meat eaters. Believe it or not the best holiday meal that everyone enjoyed was a gluten free vegetable lasagne with salads that was made by a local Italian store that makes their own pasta and everything from scratch. This Easter, this is what everyone requested because they enjoyed it so much. Usually get one with meat too. Non traditional, but it works for us.

We will be having 20 or so at Easter dinner.  The vegetarians will outnumber the carnivores.  Some simple things you can make the day before - vegetable quiche, spinach pie, spanakopita (M&M's make good heat and serve ones) or google a recipe for black bean and quinoa (complete protein) stuffed red peppers...yum...

Waterfall - we are also lovers of lasagne - from a place that makes everything from scratch - delicious!  That is often my 'fall back' favourite for such dinners. 

Kimmio - great ideas - thanks for that!

Spanakopita - hadn't thought of that Inukshuk - might give that a try! 

I'm thinking I might start with some yummy carrot ginger soup that we all love - colourful and delicious too.  Then some salads as Beloved suggests.  I saw a nice recipe for a red cabbage slaw with lemon poppyseed dressing that sounded remarkable!   Maybe a few hot dishes of some sort - yet to be decided - but getting there!  I have a good rice dish with lots of nuts & veg in it - might be a possibility ... 

Any more suggestions??

Might be more of a 'tapas' meal - lots of bits to sample :-) 

I would be interested in that cabbage salad recipe carolla.

Here you go waterfall - I also love the little bunny basket it's served in!

http://www.theveganchickpea.com/2012/04/spring-slaw.html 

Unless you vegetarians cannot have meat on the table, or see anyone eating meat, I would still have my Easter ham.  I would also have several salads, with nuts  (can they eat cheese?  if so I might add cheese to a salad.)   I would have oven baked potatoes and pass the chives, butter and/or sour cream.  And I would have another main dish from a vegetatian recipe.  For dessert I would have a bowl of fruit. 

My special Easter dessert that my family has come to expect has marshmellows.  I think that is a no-no for strict vegetarians. 

I wouldn't put a restriction on marshmellows in the strict vegetarian category.  I would think those would be ruled out before something like eggs.

We're just doing a small dinner, for 2 a huge thing doesn't really make sense.  I'm thinking of what my Mom would make when all 4 of us and sometimes neighbours would be together.  Most of the dishes would be vegetarian, although there would be turkey and sometimes ham.

Mash sweet potatoes, salad, pees, carrots, broccoli & cheese sauce, mashed potatoes, stuffing, buns, cabbage rolls (well we wouldn't have vegetarian ones, but easy to make the switch), and perogies.  lol Not all of that at once, but those dishes I consider traditional.  I think if you throw in one extra dish to traditional dishes you'll be good if they eat dairy products.  I like the quiche idea, lasanga or other pasta.  I hate mushrooms, but I think there are some things you can do with portabella mushrooms.  They can be done on the grill if your stove & oven are already occupied :)

Thanks, I am going to try it, it looks delicious! Love the bunny bowl too!

I'm not a fan of coleslaw because I can't stand mayonnaise, but that looks fantastic!  I never thought of using asparagus in a salad.

I have no thoughts or advice about vegetarian meals, but all these ideas sound great!

I'm definitely going to try that coleslaw and poppyseed dressing sometime.

I made the dressing today - the ratio of ingredients seems a little low on oil - so I added more.   

Hilary - me neither re the raw asparagus - so I nibbled a bit today & it's quite tasty! 

Table is set, most of the prep is done; sunshine in the forecast for tomorrow ... a wonderful day awaits! 

I made the salad and it looks and tastes wonderful! So colourful and I doubled the ingrediants for the dressing.

I often nibble on the raw stems while preparing aspargus for the steamer.

Dinner turned out really well ... if I do say so myself    The vegetarians were asking for recipes, and the carnivores equally enjoyed the fare! 

First course - Carrot & Ginger Soup

Second course - Red Cabbage Slaw with Lemon Poppyseed Dressing

                    Roasted Winter Pear, Feta & Toasted Walnut salad, on mixed greens tossed with Lemon Dijon Vinagrette dressing 

Main Course - Nutted Wild Rice Pilaf

                  Roasted Mixed Vegetable (with a hint of cassis vinagrette dressing)

                  Quinoa Vegetable Cakes with Dilly Yogurt Lemon sauce

                  Steamed Green Beans 

Dessert - Cranberry Coconut Macaroons

               Lemony Ginger Loaf

               Icecream for anybody who had room! 

Glad it went over well!

That actually sounds pretty good, carolla. I'm no vegetarian but I could handle that menu.

Mendalla