Regional News of Tuesday, 21 October 2014

Source: myjoyonline.com

The Vegetarian Association of Ghana (VegGhana) is gearing up to host its 9th Annual Vegfest in Accra on Saturday October 25 at the Efua Sutherland Childrens Park.

Originally the VegGhana was expected to host the 42nd IVU World Vegfest of the International Vegetarian Union at the Accra International Conference Center from October 1 6 2014 however due to the unfortunate situation regarding Ebola in the West African sub region and the subsequent directive by the Government of Ghana to ban all international conferences for three months, the event has been postponed to October next year.

This is the first time this international event of repute will be hosted on African soil since its inception in the early nineteenth century.

VegGhana therefore extends an invitation to all members of the general public who would like to learn more about healthy diets to join them at Efua Sutherland Park from 9am to 6pm for a family day of education, entertainment, great vegetarian food and fun under the theme which is Miraculously preserved - Celebrating Life at the center of the Earth.

There will also be an organic vegetable market fresh from different farms as well as food preparation workshops by vegetarian chefs.

This will be a great opportunity for Ghanaians as well as visitors alike to taste traditional vegetarian dishes that have almost been forgotten in Ghana as well as to listen to enlightened speakers on varied topics that will add value to your lifestyle said Edwin Baffour of the Vegetarian Association.

On Friday October 24 there will be a health walk at 9am from Obra Spot at Kwame Nkrumah Circle to the Ministries ending up at Asase Pa Restaurant on High Street.

Read more:
Vegetarian Association to hold 9th annual Vegfest

If you love Mexican food but find it hard at times to locate good vegetarian options, Lorenza Muoz has some ideas, as she explored in her article on Mexican vegetarian dishes for Food not too long ago.

"Meatless dishes actually have a long history in Mexican cuisine," she wrote. "The diet of the Aztecs and other Indians was heavy on grains, fruits and vegetables, and it wasn't until the Spaniards colonized Mexico that the carnivorous culture of pork and beef really became the backbone of what we now consider Mexican food."

Mexican lasagna: Take her version of this comfort food. Smoky poblano chiles are a perfect substitute for meat in this dish, a mixture of the slightly sweet, mild chiles and fresh cornlending rich depth of flavor. Layer lasagna noodles with the chile-corn mixture and a smooth, slightly tangy sour cream and fresh cotija cheese blend, topping with quesadillaand cotija cheeses and tomato sauce. Assemble the dish aheadof time if you like,so all you have to do is throw it in the oven when you get home.

Zetas with garlic and pasilla chiles: Finally, Muoz's zetas -- or, mushrooms -- with garlic and pasilla chiles make a hearty dish that works wonders as a side or main course, and the whole thing comes together in less than 30 minutes.

Huitlacoche quesadillas: Huitlacoche, also known as corn fungus or corn "smut," may not sound like your first choice for quesadilla filling -- and you can fill your quesadillas with whatever you like --buthuitlacoche lends a definiteearthy richness to the quesadillas, and a robustness similar to truffles to the finished dish. You can find the recipe below.

HUITLACOCHE QUESADILLAS

Total time: 25 minutes

Servings: 4

Note: Huitlacoche can be found at select Latin markets; call ahead to make sure. It is also available online.

1 tablespoon oil

Read more:
Easy dinner recipes: Vegetarian Mexican dishes for Meatless Monday