Pre-Solstice Eats

Winter Solstice doesn't happen until December 21st, but some friends and I celebrated the solstice a little early with a Yule potluck at Neshoba Unitarian Universalist Church last Saturday. We grubbed on hearty winter foods, and some folks acted out the mythical battle between the Oak King and the Holly King.

It wasn't a vegan potluck. In fact, I was the only vegan there, but there were a couple of vegetarians. To ensure I had plenty to eat, I brought an entree and dessert. On the savory side, I brought this Crock Pot filled with my Chipotle Chickpea Chili:

The recipe is going in my cookbook. It's a smoky, hearty chili with chickpeas, kidney beans, and cubes of tofu. Oh, and mushrooms ... because every batch of chili needs mushrooms. Sorry for the crappy, steamy washed-out photo!

For dessert, I brought this Coconut Icebox Cake:

Another cookbook recipe, this cake features two layers of yellow vegan cake topped with a sweet sour cream/coconut frosting. I'm still working on perfecting the cake recipe, but it's getting better. My Granny makes this cake with a yellow cake mix, but I'm trying to develop a perfect vegan yellow cake that mimics the fluffiness of a boxed cake.

If you haven't already signed up for the Kenzoil giveaway, head over to yesterday's post and do it now. The contest is open until 10 a.m. CST.