Yogi Potluck + Vegan Enchiladas

Hello and happy Monday!  It does not feel like a Monday - this weekend was chock full of yoga happenings: lectures from a well known Swami, a Kirtan concert, and a series of challenging workshops with a master teacher.  Definitely not your typical laid back weekend!

I haven't mentioned this on the blog, but I'm currently going through training to be a yoga teacher.  The past two weeks and this past weekend specifically have been very intense, so I thought it would be fun to have the other teachers-in-training over for a potluck dinner so we could relax and decompress after all this activity.

Right away I knew the recipe I wanted to make - Jackfruit Enchiladas from Keepin' it Kind.  Jackfruit is a starchy and fibrous fruit from South/Southeast Asia, and depending on the variety the flesh can range from soft to hard.  Because young, unripe jackfruit has a texture very similar to meat, it has been used as a natural meat substitute in savory dishes for years.   I've had two cans of jackfruit in my pantry for weeks (what, you don't?), so I knew this was the perfect opportunity to test out this recipe.  I also knew this would be a good recipe because I could do most of the prep beforehand, and simply assemble and bake the enchiladas the night of the potluck.  While this dish took some time and planning (roasting peppers for the enchilada sauce, soaking cashews for the "crema,"  cooking jackfruit filling, etc), the recipe itself was not difficult.  

Jackfruit

My fellow yogis and I chatted over chips and fresh salsa and fresh guacamole as the enchiladas baked, and  I crossed my fingers that this dish would be as delicious as the recipe promised.  When I cook vegan/vegetarian dishes for my non-veg friends, I always want to make something that is over-the-top delicious.  I feel as though I need to prove that a) I do not just eat carrots and tofu, and b) food can be just as amazing as, if not better than, dishes with meat and animal products.  These enchiladas did just that - everyone went back for seconds and I even got some requests for the recipe.  Score!

As this was a potluck, we had other items to complement the enchiladas.  Fresh made salsa and guacamole (with mango!), a quinoa dish with veggies, and sesame cucumber salad.  AND JUICE!  Lately, a few of my fellow teachers-in-training have been interested in juicing and juice cleanses, so I told them to bring produce and they could test out my juicer.  We had a short 'Juicing 101' lesson and made a very green blend of kale, spinach, celery, carrot, and apple.    

Giving a juicing demo

We were all stuffed after dinner, but no one could resist dessert - Chocolate Fudge Pie.  This pie is one of my go-to desserts - I have made it countless times and it never fails to impress.   I figured since I was taking a risk trying a new recipe for dinner, I should stick with something solid for dessert.  Once again, it was a hit - we all had seconds of dessert too (remember that we have been doing a lot of exercise lately) and no one could believe that this decadent pie was healthy!  Head over to Chocolate Covered Katie for the super-easy recipe and to find out the secret ingredient that makes this pie good for you!
 

Chocolate Fudge Pie - YUM!

While it wasn't a particularly relaxing weekend, it was still fun and a good break from the hum drum of the work week.  I was happy that the new recipe was a hit, and that we all got to spend some time together outside of the yoga studio.  Everyone agreed that the potluck was a grand success and that we would need to plan another again in the near future.  I'm already thinking about what my contribution will be next time...

Do you like to cook for others?  Do you have a signature dish or recipe you can always count on?