Daily Granny Gram:Classic Adventist Potluck Recipes

You need to understand that potlucks (or "fellowship meals") are to Adventist Christians what a catwalk is to the fashionista. This is the place where we gather to catch up on our lives, to mingle with visitors (Adventist Christians from elsewhere) and guests (former- or non-Adventists who either dropped in on their own or were brought as a guest of a member), and to nosh down on great vegetarian and/or vegan chow. After the meal people depart to a nature walk, an afternoon service in a nursing home, a video about witnessing or a personal ministries committee meeting, etc.

About 35% of Adventists worldwide are reported to be vegetarian, some eating eggs and/or dairy products (ovo-lacto vegetarian) and some a more strict vegan (no animal flesh or by-products). I don't have figures, but today there are also a number of "raw vegan" Adventists. The Adventist Church perceives health and wellness as a positive support for spiritual growth and along with not eating "unclean" foods as described in the Bible (i.e., pork, other mammals who don't chew their cuds or have split hooves, birds and animals of prey, fish without scales) a vegetarian/vegan diet is promoted as optimally healthy. While 35% of Adventists DO practice vegetarianism in some form, it is clear that the vast majority of Adventist Christians (65%) do not. However, a Sabbath community meal is generally at least ovo-lacto vegetarian in most of the churches we have visited.

The potluck (or fellowship meal) itself is an important part of Adventist "culture." We have eaten at Adventist potlucks Coast to Coast in Canada, in continental United States, Philippines and Hong Kong. While there were slight cultural or traditional differences (in Philippines they had fish on their potluck table) every one of the potlucks was similar in that there was at least one baked bean dish, one vegetarian casserole, lots of salads and an abundance of dazzling desserts.

The one common and delicious North American potluck item that we have come across is something called "Haystacks" that is basically a combination of baked beans, corn chips, salsa, various salad veggies, and cheese (dairy or non-dairy).

I hope you enjoy the following traditional recipes:

• 1/4 C. shredded coconut
• 1 1/2 C. corn meal
• 1/4 C. whole wheat or gluten-free flour mix
• 1 1/8 C. Water
• 1/2 tsp. Celtic Sea Salt (or less)

• 4 C. cooked Millet or Quinoa
• 1/4 C. Nutbutter (not peanut)
• 2 t. Onion Powder
• 1 t. Celery Salt