Sep
23
2011

Black Bean Sliders with Mango Sundried Tomato Sauce

13 comments

Last weekend I took advantage of meeting some incredible people via meetup.com. Have you used meetup.com before?

I’m in love with it. For those who are not familiar with meetup.com, I like explain it like this: Meetup.com is Match.com for friends.

If you’re new to an area, or just don’t know all that many people where you live, meetup.com can be an amazing tool in finding like-minded people and different activities to do. There are literally thousands of meetup groups to belong to and to join in on. And most are all free! Hiking, biking, walking, boot camps, book clubs, Paleo-eaters, vegan, raw, vegetarian, restaurant-goers, knitting clubs, blogging informants, networking groups, beer drinkers, wine lovers, the list goes on and on.

It’s a cool site, trust me.

Anyway, I joined a few different groups in my area and one just met up for a vegan potluck for some delicious food with great company. And I’m telling you, I have never, ever in my life had the most incredible, rich, chocolate cake, like the one I had at this vegan potluck.

For my potluck contribution, I made the original version of the Enjoy Life Mega Chips recipe for Blondies (found on the back of the package), which were a serious hit. I was going to make my Brunette’s version of Blondies but I decided just to stick with the classic. I think I liked my remake better, although the package recipe was pretty great.

There was a lot of food being shared that day.

Kidney Bean & Corn Salad

Vegan Mac ‘n Cheese made with Cashew Cheese

Sprouted Beans with Braggs Aminos and Apple Cider Vinegar (best dish ever!)

Juicy fresh figs

Vegan Peanut Butter Cookies

Rich, chocolaty, moist, decadent, sugary chocolate cake. Vegan and incredible.

My plate

Yum!

There was way more food but these were the highlights of the sharing table. I brought some black bean burgers for myself and my mom, who accompanied me.

As a taste-test, I had a few people try my mango sundried tomato sauce. They were quite surprised how tasty it was. Honestly, I was surprised. And even more honestly, I’d like to bottle it and sell it in every grocery store. It’s that good. But I can’t take all the credit… just some, because I recreated it. ;)

 

The thing I love most about meetup.com is that it gives you a (hopefully safe) way to interact with other people who may share the same values or energy or likes. You can meet some pretty cool people and increase your circle of friends. Did I mention it’s a great way to network and grow your little blog? Side perk, chocolate cake…

Hi everyone, I'm and this is my blog What Runs Lori.

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{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }

lindsay September 26, 2011 at 10:09 AM

you always make me want to eat my screen! can you please get that cookbook going?! yum.
And love the new header.
lindsay´s last [type] ..Weekends are for Memories

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Lori September 27, 2011 at 5:49 AM

Hopefully cookbook is on it’s way! Hopefully… ug, where do I find time?! lol

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Secret Admirer September 26, 2011 at 10:41 AM

That looks great! I have to wait an hour till I am on my lunch break and now my tummy is rumbling!

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Lori September 27, 2011 at 5:48 AM

YOU would LOVE the mango sauce… seriously.

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Sara Grambusch September 26, 2011 at 1:17 PM

I may need to try those burgers. I got some ready made black bean burgers that just are not doin’ it for me.
Sara Grambusch´s last [type] ..How Do You Put #MeFirst?

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Lori September 26, 2011 at 3:54 PM

I hope you try them! They’re delicious and super, super easy. If nothing else, MAKE the sauce! :)

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Pure2raw twins September 26, 2011 at 3:26 PM

when we first moved to Raleigh, we used meetup to meet people and other business owners. it was a great way to network and hang out with people that had similar interests. looked like a great time, and those sliders look amazing!

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Lori September 27, 2011 at 5:48 AM

I do believe you girls would love the sliders. :)

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tea-bagginit September 26, 2011 at 8:38 PM

that food looks great! i tried meetup but all the people in the groups around me are full of older people so i didn’t really have much in common with them but it did seem like a great idea!
tea-bagginit´s last [type] ..imitation is the sincerest form of flattery …

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Lori September 27, 2011 at 5:47 AM

I have gone to a few meetups where there all older but then there are some great ones where everyone was pretty young. Hit or miss but I love that they’re options!

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Ela September 26, 2011 at 10:14 PM

So funny–I saw the post title and immediately knew that you had to be the author! Glad that you’re meeting cool people and feeling appreciated.
love
Ela

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Lori September 27, 2011 at 5:47 AM

:) Thank you, Ela! I am happy… but SOOOOOOO busy! Yikes!

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