This year instead of celebrating Christmas why not celebrate the winter solstice (22 Dec). The point of darkest night, but also the point at which the sun begins to return. Anyway, whether you celebrate Christmas or the solstice here are some simple vegetarian recipes for your feast.

Leek and onion soup
Cut up five leeks and two small onions, fry in oil. When brown add to 1 pint boiling water. Add salt and pepper and ginger to taste. Boil for 5 minutes, add another pint of water and some tarragon and sage. Bring back to boil and simmer for at least 2 hours, or longer if possible. ¼ hour before soup is ready, melt a dessertspoon full of Miso, a dessertspoon full of Tahini (sesame cream) and add to soup with a bit of soya sauce. Serves six.

Vegetable pancakes
Dice finely 2 small onions, heart of a cabbage (red or white) or 2 small leeks, or broccoli or some cauliflower. Mix 1 cup wholewheat and 1 cup unbleached white flower, or 2 cups wholewheat flour, ½ pint of milk, 1 teaspoonful of salt, 1 teaspoonful Tamari soy sauce, and enough water to make a creamy batter. Fold in vegetables. Lightly oil a large flat frying pan (if you haven't got a big one a little one will do). When oil is really hot spoon in enough batter to cover bottom of pan and reduce heat. Cook. Eat. Yippee. Makes 4 pancakes?

Solyanka
Shred 1 large white cabbage and saute in oil or butter until tender. Slice 1½lbs mushrooms and saute likewise. Oil a casserole and put in a layer of cabbage in the bottom. Fry 1 large onion. Add layer of onion to cabbage. Lay mushrooms on onions and ¼lb sliced tomatoes on mushrooms. Sprinkle with basil and grated black pepper and salt. Top with the rest of the cabbage and sprinkle with breadcrumbs. Add butter or oil to crumbs and bake in medium oven until golden. Serves about 6.

Boiled brown rice or buckwheat
A few hints on cooking brown rice:
a. Bring to boil then cook slowly.
b. 1 cup rice, 2 cups water; but not 2 cups rice, 4 cups water. Lessen quantity of water relative to rice as you use more rice, i.e. 2 cups rice, 3½ cups water.
c. If your rice is still sticky when you want to eat it, try removing pan lid for 5-10 minutes while still on low heat. All enquiries to address at end of these recipes.

Buckwheat: saute 1 cup buckwheat in 2 teaspoons of oil, stirring all the time. Add 1½ cups boiling water, a little salt or Tamari soy sauce. Lower heat and simmer very gently for half an hour, or until soft but not mushy. Very yang. Mmmm. Serves 2. So more for more people. (80 cups for 160 people if you're entertaining a large community this solstice).

Cheese-nut loaf
Soak 4 cups breadcrumbs (or 2 cups breadcrumbs and 2 cups well-cooked rice) in 2 cups milk. Add 2 cups chopped nuts (any kind you fancy), 1 grated onion, 1 chopped green pepper (and any other veg you fancy), ¾ teaspoonful salt, ½ teaspoonful paprika, teaspoonful of mixed herbs, 1 tablespoonful minced parsley. Blend with fingers into paste (we can assume in this instance that fingers are used to manipulate the mixture and are not intended to form part of the ingredients - Ed). Turn into well greased pan. Top with 2 cups grated cheese and sunflower seeds. Bake in moderate oven for 25 minutes, or until top is brown. Eat. Serves 6-8.

Cheesecake
Blend together to make a crumbly texture 1 cup wholewheat flour, ½ cup brown sugar (or honey), ¾ - 1 cup oil (reserve ½ cup for topping), press remainder into oiled pan and bake at 350F for 12-15 minutes. Soften 8oz cream cheese or 4oz cottage cheese and 4oz cream cheese (or 4oz cottage cheese and 4oz Danish blue). Blend in ¼ cup of honey, grated peel of 1 lemon, ½ teaspoonful nutmeg, 2 tablespoonfuls of milk, juice from 1 lemon or orange, ½ teaspoonful vanilla extract, beat well. Spread over baked crust, sprinkle with reserved uncooked crust. Garnish with sunflower seeds or chopped nuts or sliced fruit. Bake at 350F for 25 minutes. Cool it before cutting. 6 large slices for 6 large people. 8 pieces for 8 smaller people.

Vegetarian mince pies and Christmas pudding
Excellent recipes for both in Mrs Beeton's Cookbook, under vegetarian Christmas pudding and vegetarian mince pies.

Hope you have a good feast. If you use these recipes, they'll taste good, do you good and cost you very little. If anyone does use any of these recipes we'd like to talk to them about it so if you feel like it phone us at Newcastle 811876.

Peace, joy and strength to you all.

Gordon, Judy and Maysie, One Life Co-op