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Posts archive for: May, 2009
  • More Vegan Cooking

    Quick Nut Roast - Animal Aid

    1 large onion chopped and cooked in
    75g vegan margarine
    200g ground mixed nuts
    100g fresh breadcrumbs
    1 heaped tspn yeast extract
    1 tspn mixed herbs

    Mix all ingredients together and place in a greased tin or baking dish, bake for 30 mins, gas mark 6 / 400F / 200C.

    Baked Stuffed Mushrooms

    tbsp sunflower oil
    300g vegan mince
    1 onion, chopped
    2 cloves garlic, crushed
    Can chopped tomatoes
    Salt & pepper
    Oregano, tspn
    8 large mushrooms
    50-100g vegan cheese
    50g fresh wholemeal breadcrumbs

    Heat oil & cook mince, onion & garlic; add tomatoes & herbs, place mushrooms in dish face down, fill with cooked mixture, cover with a mixture of cheese & breadcrumbs. Bake until golden brown.

    Pancakes

    2 1/2 cups plain flour
    2 tbsp sugar
    2 tbsp baking powder
    1 tbsp vegetable oil
    1/2 tspn salt
    2 1/2 cups of soya milk or half milk / half water
    Cinnamon to taste

    Mix all ingredients except oil with hand blender, then heat oil in non-stick pan, add a big spoonfull or 2 of mixture & cook until golden brown, then flip and cook other side. Serve with lemon juice & sugar or maple syrup. Drool ;-)

    Pizza base

    225g self raising flour
    Pinch salt
    50g vegan margarine
    Enough soya milk to make dough

    Heat oven to gas 7 / 220C / 425F.
    Mix flour & salt, rub in marg until you have 'breadcrumbs'. Add a little milk at a time until you have a dough. Roll out into a shape that fits your oven tray! Top with tomato puree, herbs, peppers, onions cut into rings, mushrooms, sweetcorn, vegan cheese & olives. Bake for about 20 mins or until base is cooked.

    Vegan carrot cake

    4tbsp golden syrup
    6oz vegan margarine
    8oz self raising flour
    4 tsp baking powder
    1tsp cinnamon
    9oz grated carrots
    Handful raisins

    Melt syrup & margarine together in a saucepan, remove from heat & add other ingredients. Stir well, put into greased, lined with greaseproof paper tin. Cook for 45 mins at gas 4. Check a skewer comes out clean, then its done. Delicous!

    Home-made hummous

    See INEBG http://www.newhousefarm.tv/forum/viewtopic.php?t=17215&highlight=

    I've tried to make hummus before and it turned out horrible, maybe because I was using tinned chick peas and tahini, I think it's the taste of the tahini I don't like. Try this recipe, leave out the tahini and it's great! I also cooked dried chick peas, used some for a curry and the rest in this; half a pack of dried chick peas (250g ish) soak for 24 hours and cook per instructions, boil for 10 mins and simmer for an hour, they were soft after this.

    Ingredients
    200g/7oz canned chickpeas
    2 tbsp lemon juice or more
    2 garlic cloves, crushed
    1 tsp ground cumin
    salt
    100ml/3½fl oz tahini (sesame seed paste) optional
    4 tbsp water
    2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
    1 tsp paprika
    4 rounds of pitta bread

    Method
    1. Drain the chickpeas and rinse. Reserve a few whole chick peas for serving.
    2. Combine the chickpeas, lemon juice, garlic, cumin, salt, tahini, and water in a food processor, and whiz to a creamy purée. (I didn't use a food processor, just put in a pan, for a flat base, and mash with a fork)
    3. Add more lemon juice, garlic, cumin or salt to taste. Turn out into a dinner plate, and make smooth with the back of a spoon. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and scatter with the reserved chickpeas.
    4. Sprinkle with paprika and serve with pita bread, warmed in a moderate oven for three minutes, and cut into quarters.

    Quoted from http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/database/quickhummousandolive_71473.shtml

    Seaside man's Tarka Dhal with added vegetables
    http://veganpower.blog.co.uk/2009/04/09/feed-five-for-5917595/#c9614046

    Use yellow split peas instead of lentils and add whatever veg you have left over.
    Add mushrooms,
    Courgette,
    Pepper,
    Grated carrot,
    Ground mustard, corriander & cumin seeds.

    Vegan gravy 'Just cubes'

    Home Prepared Gravy – Serves 4
    For meat-free burgers, rissoles and cutlets, dissolve one Kallo Organic Vegetable stock cube in 400ml of boiling water and simmer. Blend 4 tsp (level) of cornflour with 1 tsp of mustard and 50ml of wine in a cup. Add to Kallo Organic Vegetable stock, stir and simmer to thicken. Finish with a knob of butter and a twist of black pepper.

    http://kallofoods.com/kallo/products/stock-cubes/organic-vegetable-stock-cubes/

    Cauliflower and Cheesy sauce
    As per white sauce plus Engevita yeast flakes.
    See 'Vegan Catering for All' http://www.vegansociety.com/images/VeganCateringForAll.pdf
    Steam cauliflower and while your waiting, make up the sauce. Top with vegan grated cheese.

    Vegan chocolate cake (Pure)

    http://www.puredairyfree.co.uk/recipe.php?id=42

    Chocolate cake

    Dairy free
    Suitable for vegetarians and vegans
    Egg free

    Number of servings: 8 (ha ha!)
    Preparation time: 15 minutes
    Cooking time: 40 minutes

    Ingredients

    FOR THE CAKE
    200g/7oz Pure
    175g/6oz caster sugar
    275g/9½oz self raising flour
    3tbsp cocoa powder
    ½tsp salt
    1tsp bicarbonate of soda
    300ml/½pint soya milk
    3tbsp golden syrup
    ½tsp vanilla essence

    FOR THE ICING
    175g/6oz Pure
    300g/10½oz icing sugar
    25g/1oz cocoa powder
    ½tsp vanilla essence
    1 tin cherries, drained and stoned

    Method

    1. Preheat oven to 180°C/350°F/gas mark 4.Grease two 18cm/7 inch cake tins with Pure and line the base with baking parchment.

    2. Mix together the Pure and the sugar. Sift in the flour, salt and cocoa.

    3. Dissolve the bicarbonate of soda in 1tbsp soya milk and pour this into the mixture with the remaining milk and vanilla essence. Beat together to make a smooth batter.

    4. Pour into the tin and bake for 40 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.

    5. To make the icing mix together the icing ingredients until smooth. Once the cake is cooled, fill the middle of the cake with tinned cherries and then spread the icing over the top and sides of the cake.

    Thai spiced broccoli & red pepper soup (8th Day)

    http://www.eighth-day.co.uk/recipes/sthaipep.htm

    Here is one of the new favourite café soup recipes, spicy but not too hot and full of flavour. Nice at any time of the year as a starter or a tasty lunch.

    Ingredients - Serves 4

    1 Large ripe Red Pepper
    1 Large head of Broccoli
    2 Sticks Celery
    1 Large Carrot
    1 Leek
    1 Medium Onion
    1 Piece Lemon Grass
    3 Centimetres Ginger
    1 Hot Chilli Pepper
    3-4 Cloves Garlic
    50g Creamed Coconut
    1 Lime
    1 to 1 ½ Pints Water
    A little Vegetable Oil

    Method

    * Cut the pepper in half, deseed and remove the stalk.
    * Rub with oil and season with a little salt and pepper.
    * Roast in a moderate oven for 10 to 15 minutes until soft but not coloured.
    * Meanwhile, chop the onion, leek, celery and carrot and sauté gently in a little oil.
    * Put the garlic, ginger, chilli and lemongrass in a blender, with the juice and zest of the lime and blend to a paste.
    * Add this paste to the onion mixture and carry on cooking until soft.
    * Add a pint of the water and turn up the heat.
    * Roughly chop the broccoli and add to the pan.
    * Once it is boiling, allow to cook for 5 minutes and then add the creamed coconut and the roast pepper.
    * Blend and season to taste.
    * It should be about the same consistency as double cream. If it is too thick add more water and reheat.

    Avocado salad

    What it says really, Shred some lettuce, chop tomato and cucumber into small peices (not huge slices), cut a red onion into rings, add some olives. Halve and destone a ripe avocado, scoop out the avacado and slice into smallish peices. Add to the salad. Dress with oil, vinegar and mustard salad dressing. For salad dressing, see http://www.eighth-day.co.uk/recipes/cfrendrs.htm

    French Dressing

    6 Tablespoons Olive Oil or Sesmae Oil
    2 Tablespoon White Wine or Cider Vinegar
    ½ Teaspoon of French or Dijon mustard
    Pinch of mixed herbs
    Pinch of salt

    Mix all the ingredients together and blend or put in a clean jam jar, screw on the lid and shake vigorously.

    Vegeatable chilli - chop onion, fry in a little olive oil, add chopped peppers and mushrooms, courgette, fry until soft, add a tin of chopped tomatoes or fresh chopped if in season, add a tin of red kidney beans, washed. Carefully add half a teaspoon of chilli powder or more to taste. Loads of ground pepper and a pinch of salt. Easy huh? If it needs thickening add some tomato puree.

    Chana Aloo (curried chickpeas and potatoes)- chop onion and fry in olive oil, peel and cube a couple of large potatoes, steam for 5 minutes. Drain a can of chickpeas and add. Add a teaspoon of turmeric and garam masala, half a teaspoon of chilli powder. Add a couple of gloves of crushed garlic and mix well so it doesn't stick. Stir in the potatoes and add a couple of chopped tomatoes. Throw in some fresh corriander if you have some or ground will do. Loverly :-) Serve with brown rice.

    Vegetable soup - chop one onion, fry in olive oil, peel and chop small 2 carrots and a large potato. Throw in some brocoli if you have it or frozen peas and sweetcorn are good. Add 2 heaped teaspoons of vegan stock powder and enough water to cover veg. About 20 minutes with a lid on should be enough, then blend. Add black pepper to taste and serve with toasted crutons or crusty bread. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it :)

    Risoto

    Risoto rice, about 1 cup to serve 4
    Onion, chopped
    Carrot, sliced
    Mushrooms, sliced
    Peas, frozen or fresh
    2 Vegan stock cubes
    Method: Chop onion and fry in a little olive oil, add mushrooms, carrots and peas. Stir in rice and then add about a 1 ½ pints water and stock cubes. Bring to the boil and then simmer until all water absorbed. Keep stirring or it will stick.

    Thai green curry

    Serves 2.
    Ingredients:
    2 cloves garlic
    1 onion finely chopped
    Fresh coriander
    1 small green chilli, de-seeded
    1 tbsp vegetable oil
    2 potatoes, diced
    400g can chick peas, rinsed and drained
    2 tomatoes cut into wedges
    300 ml coconut milk
    1 tbsp soya sauce
    pinch sugar
    salt & pepper to taste
    Method: Use a heavy knife to chop together garlic, chilli and coriander, until blended into a paste. Fry the onion in the vegetable oil and add the paste. Add potato, chickpeas, tomatoes and coconut milk. Cover with a lid and simmer for 15 mins or until potatoes are done and sauce begins to thicken. Season and serve with rice or noodles.

    Spaghetti bolognese

    ½ cup dried soya mince or frozen
    boiling water
    1 tbsp oil
    onion, chopped
    1 tbsp tomato puree
    2 cloves garlic, crushed
    can chopped tomatoes
    ½ tsp dried mixed herbs or fresh basil
    salt and pepper
    225g spaghetti
    Method: put the dried soya mince in a bowl and just cover with boiling water. Stir and leave to stand. Heat the oil in a saucepan and fry onion until soft. Add the soaked soya mince or frozen mince now. Add other ingredients except spaghetti. Simmer gently.
    Cook spaghetti as per instructions. Drain and serve with topping vegan parmazan.

    Sweet and Sour

    Ingredients:
    1 can pineapple pieces in juice
    1 tbsp olive oil
    ½ level tsp ground ginger
    1 onion finely chopped
    1 green pepper
    1 tbsp cornflour
    1 tbsp sugar
    1 tbsp vinegar
    1 tbsp soya sauce
    1 tbsp tomato puree
    Method: Drain juice from pineapple into measuring jug and add water up to 250 ml. Chop onion and pepper into thin strips. Fry onion in oil and ginger. Add pepper and pineapple pieces.
    To juice add cornflour, sugar, vinegar, soya sauce and tomato puree and mix until smooth. Carefully pour this into pan with other ingredients, bring to boil, stirring all the time, then simmer for 5 mins or until thickened. Serve with rice or noodles.

    Perfect walker's flapjack

    Ingredients: 180g porridge oats
    1 tbsp sesame seeds
    1 tbsp sunflower seeds
    1 tbsp desiccated coconut
    1 tbsp linseeds
    1 tbsp pumpkin seeds
    1 tbsp walnut pieces
    25g raisins or about a handful
    3 tbsp malt syrup or golden syrup
    5 tbsp sunflower or olive oil
    Method: Set the oven to gas mark 4, 150C or 300F. Melt the oil and syrup in a pan on low heat until warm. Mix in the oats, seeds and nuts and stir well. Press into a small 20cm square (about) tin, about 5cm deep; so you get a flapjack that you can chew. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes. Cut into bars and leave to cool in tin. Store in an airtight container. (If they last that long!)

    Ginger bread

    Ingredients:
    200g vegan margarine
    400g plain flour
    2 tsp baking powder
    3 tsp ground ginger
    1 tsp cinnamon
    1 tsp mixed spice
    100g golden syrup
    100g brown sugar
    2 tbsp soya milk
    Method: Place margarine, syrup and sugar in a saucepan, heat gently until all melted together. Remove from heat and leave to cool. Mix flour, baking powder, spices into a bowl, add the melted margarine etc. slowly and mix together until you have a dough. Roll out the dough on a floured surface, until it is about ½ to 1 cm thick. Cut out shapes and place on a greased baking tray (use some of the margarine). Cook for 8 to 10 minutes at 180C until golden brown. Allow to cool, then decorate with icing sugar or leave plain.

    Can somebody please tell me how to cook 'raw' tofu as I have tried and failed many times, I buy it pre-cooked when I have it, which isn't very green ;-(

  • Vegan cooking

    I will try and share some of my favourite recipes in this post, but most of them aren't written down as they have evolved since about 1992 when I first went vegetarian.

    http://www.cookingforvegans.co.uk/shopping/nonveganproducts.html This is a good site for new Vegan's or those new to cooking for vegans.

    A list of Linda McCartney ready meals that are suitable for vegans: http://www.lindamccartneyfoods.co.uk/contact.php

    Hmmm vegan chocolate http://www.divinechocolate.com/products/product_dark.aspx BTW Green & Black's is no longer vegan - tragic if you ask me :(

    This huge link shows you what Vegan's can eat that Cadbury make: http://nutrition.cadbury.co.uk/epages/Store.storefront/?ObjectID=3730&ViewAction=DietarySearch&ViewObjectID=3730&ErrorAction=DietarySearch&ErrorObjectID=3730&dietary=3844&dietary=3850&x=7&y=7

    I think I have posted this before, but it is a really useful site for new veggies and not so new; http://www.animalfreeshopper.com/html/

    Vegan store is a bit pricey, but good if you get stuck http://www.veganstore.co.uk/ Also good for shoes.

    I could have a rant about shoes, as my Dad comments on my shoes every time I see him. My shoes match my ethics - Vegan and hand made in England, not by a child in a sweat shop.

    The only reason I need to stay in Manchester; http://www.eighth-day.co.uk/ or if I feel like a walk; http://www.earthcafe.co.uk/

    Another really tastey looking site http://www.redwoodfoods.co.uk/recipes/general/index.html

    OK this has gone totally off topic, so I will go away and look up some recipes...

  • Carbooting for greeness

    The bank holiday weekend was a busy one, hence I'm on here and not working much, I'm so tired! On Saturday BF and I did the shopping and then went to the allotment to weed. Why is it the things you want to grow don't and the stuff that is inedible grow like mad? LOL
    Then on Sunday we did 27 miles on the bikes, got home, got showered and then went out for a meal at the country pub up the road. It was nice don't get me wrong, but why do people assume vegetarians don't eat much? All the meat-eaters got huge portions, whereas my chinese-style stir fry was tiny and didn't come with rice or anything, grrr!
    Then on Monday, I loaded 3 storgage boxes, plus a huge bag of stuff into my car, complete with pasting table. Drove the 40-ish miles to my Dad's, unloaded my car into his, added some more of his stuff and he drove us to the carboot. We managed to make £40 after paying for the stall which wasn't bad. I'd have stayed longer, but it was threatening to rain and there was heavy rain forecast for later. I got rid of some things that take up loads of space, but didn't manage to sell my motorcycling gear. The trouble was, that my Dad wanted me to take my leftover stuff and his back to my tiny flat, which part of 'I have no room' doesn't he understand? Even worse, BF was then in a sulk, because I came back with more than I went with! I did manage to gain some mesh to cover the strawberries that my Dad didn't have a use for. I have 5 boxes of stuff to do another carboot and then the leftovers are going to the charity shop, I can't stand the clutter any longer!

  • Annual haircut

    Yes, I did say 'annual' haircut ;-D I hate having my haircut and really don't see the point in getting it cut more than once a year. It cost me the grand sum of five pounds ;-)

    I'm still not buying anything new, and I am selling more than I am buying - ebay is going well. A friend suggested I try selling my old books to a second hand book shop instead of lugging them to the carboot, where they end up wet and ruined, so later this week I will go and see the book shop - I have 40 books in my 'to go' pile!

    I have terrible chocolate cravings, but lucky for me the vegetarian shop is just across the road, so I can pick up a treat on my way home, oh now I'm hungry!

  • Downsizer

    2nd May
    Well its been a good day today; ive sold 4/5 ebay listings that finished tonight. 3 items of cycling gear that are surplus to my needs - i have a set of summer gear and a winter set. The other listing was a cream suit that is now too big for me (!) I have been meaning to list it for ages, but haven't been able to find suitable free packaging until now! I have some more stuff on ebay, mostly books, hope they sell. I must be getting rid of stuff slowly, as my "to go" pile is just over 3 storage boxes here. There's more stuff at my Dad's though. The loft here is free of my stuff, but full of bf's 'junk'. Hopefully 'stuff' is leaving my life and its not just that I am getting better at packing it! It would be great to have about 2 car loads of stuff, excluding furniture; or about 24 storage boxes, but with my book collection that's going to be hard!

  • Ramblings of a green woman

    April 29th
    My spending this week has been some ebay postage, 3 train tickets, 5
    packets of sour sweets - strawberry & cola flavours (vegan!) cue Homer
    drool noise, hmmmmm! I have been brushing my teeth alot! Oh and some
    oj and crisps on the way home ;(

    Ahhhh, Aldi do strawberry sour laces & now I find Tesco do cola sour
    laces. Both marked vegetarian, but vegan as far as I can see. I'm in
    heaven!! ;) I can't remember the last time I had fizzy cola sweets -
    these are brilliant ;-D

    We did 25 miles on the bikes on Sunday, it was really hard going, not
    because it was a hard ride, but because I felt a bit run down, lacking
    in energy. I put it down to it being that time of the month. On a
    brighter note, its month 3 for the mooncup, I'm pleased to say I have
    mastered the technique of using it and only used 3 tampons in 3
    months! It takes a while to get into a new routine, but its really
    worth it.

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