Showing posts with label Vegetarian - Vegan Talk. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vegetarian - Vegan Talk. Show all posts

Monday, 14 October 2013

Vegan Chocolate Mousse

Was all hoysewifey and stuff, thought one hour of sleep is no excuse not to bake, is important to keep up ones qualities and so on.

This... this!!!

1 avocado (large)
2 table spoon raw cacao powder
2 table spoon maple syrup
1 tea spoon rapadura sugar
Blend. Omg.


Friday, 16 November 2012

Vegan Icecream

Found recipe on Boels blogg: Vegan Glass.

Vegan Icecream.

Decided had to try it. Kind of doubled the recipe though. Actually kind of quadrupled it... (pregnant = hungry, etcetera)

Used one can of coconut cream, three large bananas, 4-5 tablespoons of cocoa powder and one passionfruit (could have easily used two though!). Mixed together with mixing stick and froze for a few hours - and... delicious...



Monday, 12 November 2012

Vegan Breakfast & Cake

How cool was my second lunch yesterday..? We call this "Vegan Big Breakfast":



Also, at long last, started to experiment with vegan baking...




Recipe:

2 cups plain flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 cup sugar (I used rapadura sugar)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk (I used oat milk, not sure how other types would work)
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla sugar (if you don't have this, use vanilla essence but this gives it a slightly artificial taste)
Chocolate chunks

Mix flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking soda, baking powder,salt and vanilla. In a medium bowl, whisk together milk and oil.

Add the wet ingredients and the chocolate chunks.

Bake for 30-40 minutes depending on oven, on approximately 175 degrees Celsius.

Let cake rest in form until cooled off slightly, otherwise will fall apart like mine did...

Sunday, 26 August 2012

Day 24: a moment

Had moment involving depressed looking dog picked out, but... looking at the headline "a moment" and cannot help recalling last, horrendous, flight to Sweden. In particular this one, well, moment.

Had massive night evening before. Night had, to top things off, been last of several. Arrived at airport SIX hours early. Am not the sort of person who runs late. Anyhow. Endured the six hours with nothing but bottle of water as could not face airport shopping area to search for food. Figured in-flight food would be marvellous, as tend to love in-flight food (cute little tray filled with cute little lovely things to eat).

When ordered ticket had requested vegetarian meal. And now for the moment: Vegetarian meal arrives. Am starving. Turns out, to airline, vegetarian is same thing as vegan. But worse than that - anorectic vegan. In front of me is three gigantic slices of steamed capsicum, resting in capsicum juice. Served with a small green salad. NO bread. No cake. No biscuits with cheese.

Am still surprised made it through this alive.

On return flight, was not only supremely well rested - and had just eaten - I also packed several packets of cookies in my handbag.

(Did, on the other hand, forget my RRV; resident return visa - but that is another moment.)

NOW, of course, I do aspire towards veganism - but it seriously feels like bad idea on a hangover.

Monday, 9 July 2012

Day 11: this upsets me

Oh dear. Big, big headline.

Many things upset me. Should probably divide these into a "main" category and a "secondary" category; as not all of the things which upset me are of equal importance. Personally think it is very good that I can see that. Not everybody can make this distinction.


MAIN

1. Eating Animals; the callous rearing, slaughtering (often in disgusting torture-chambers known as feedlots) and consuming of sentient beings under the false pretence that "we are carnivores."
Newsflash: we are anything but. Physically and biologically we are, in fact, (most like) herbivores. We can be classified as omnivores; based on the fact that humans are opportunistic eaters, and can eat anything (pretty much). But just because we can digest meat, does not suggest that we should.
A dog is a carnivore. I am not advocating feeding your dog steamed broccoli and pine nuts for dinner. It does upset me however, the a lot of people would prefer the same eating habits as the (biologically different) dog; than see common sense.

2. Plastic Pollution (land and ocean).
Have already touched upon this one a few days ago...

3. Religion
Basically all religions, across the board. Some, clearly, more than others. Whilst some religions are relatively harmless; their very existence is slightly upsetting to me because of what they pave the way for and encourage: that is to say, the rest of the evil lot. Religions do and have historically done nothing but lie, deceive, hate, oppress and line its own pockets. Religion has always been, and is still to some extent, a reason to instil fear, encourage war and dis-empower people.
There is an argument that if there were no religion, people would find a way to do these things anyway. That may be true, but by definition does not excuse it. One problem at a time...
(I do not believe religion and spirituality are the same thing)

4. Mainstream media.
Are we really that stupid..?

5. Coal Seam Gas mining (CSG).
This might be one of the greatest threats to our water-supplies and health today. Lock the gate.


SECONDARY

1. Justin Bieber and Justin Bieber's fanbase.
Seeing JB's popularity and viewing pictures of screaming teenage girls ("fans") makes me doubt the entire future of humankind. It also beggars the question - "do we even deserve to survive?" With the unavoidable answers being "probably not."

2. Obesity.
Western society spends billions of dollars researching and attempting to "fix" something which is a non-issue. All this glorious cash should be spent feeding the hungry; now there's a real issue.
The solution to the obesity crisis is very simple. It is this: Stop bloody eating and get off your ass. McDonalds, KFC and the honourable Dr Atkins have done us no favours.
So if we could atleast agree to stop squandering money on fat people, once and for all realise that a plant-based wholefoods diet does not make you fat (even if you have chocolate sometimes!) and start concetrating on what's really important.

3. Commercial breaks on TV.
It is just ridiculous. Trying to watch a show or a movie on telly these days; you end up watching more ads than anything else. Suppose is good things though, as has reduced television watching to a minimum (do still watch shows and movies, just not on TV).

4. Traffic.
In particular all other drivers.

5. Cold weather!
Hate layer upon layer of clothing and two thick doonas on bed - summer, come back!


Phew!

I never push my opinions on other people.

This is my blog so I can say what I want.

Sunday, 8 July 2012

Birthday Picnic

Hubby's birthday picnic at Wategos Beach yesterday:




All made by your truly (mostly): eggplant and mushroom vindaloo, hummus, pancakes.


Not, luckily for everyone involved, made by me: Chocolate orange cake, passionfruit cake, coconut bounty - ALL raw vegan! Delicious!

Will get back to list soon. Still resting post tooth-extraction. Unfortunately for me - next appointment on Wednesday. Hurray.

Saturday, 30 June 2012

Day 9: my favourite time of year (and Tallow winter morning pics)

Summer. Summer, summer, summer.
Preferably a real stinker, rendering everyone else uselessly sprawling across lounges underneath AC-units, panting and begging for mercy.

At the moment we are in winter! Remember my NYE-resolution of walking on beach every day at sunrise? Well. Finally done it! Not exactly sunrise, as such though. But at least was early!




Nice, right?

Until we picked up a piece of plastic.

And another one.

And another.

You can't stop.



This is only about ten minutes worth... on one of the most pristine beaches around. Truly.

Noticed as part of the list that I will write about things that upset me... Well, here is a taste.

Plastic, and other assorted garbage ending up in the ocean! Because people are ignorant, lazy and wasteful. Buying CRAP we do not need, replacing things that are not broken. Littering.

Plastic in oceans kill wildlife and end up inside fish; thus polluting the food-supply of those who still believe it is a good idea to eat fish (sure, there are some health-benefits, though nothing we cannot get from other sources - which are far less detrimental to the earth, and far less toxic).

When was last time you heard about this on the news? Right, me neither. On news this morning (admittedly, channel 7, but still): Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes split. Whaaat..? Let me get notebook.

More to come...


Thursday, 3 May 2012

Milk-Run

A final pic from Bangalow "Young Dog Napping" I call it.



Following are some snaps from the place I buy milk, which reluctantly drink based on advise provided by professional health-care-individual (who may or may not know what they are talking about) but plan on going back to being vegan just as soon as possible (mean, of course - "eating a vegan diet" as could never BE vegan, much in same way could never BE feminist - just do not have the passion).

Anyway. The milk.

The wee ones...





And... on the way to the veal farm..?


How could you eat these..?


Thursday, 9 February 2012

Brunswick & Vegan Cooking

Brunswick Heads yesterday, for those of us who prefer to swim without waves...


Also tried new yummy vegan recipes:

Chickpea Cutlets (served with vegan gravy)

Sweet Potato Fries


Tuesday, 17 January 2012

Bird Dramas & Thinking of Food (as usual)

Our little pet-bird is sick: entire life revolving around looking after him, cannot put him down at all to attend to things like bathroom cleaning etcetera.

Poor little birdie - going to try another type of antibiotic than the one he is on now, and hope he pulls through. He is already at an advanced age for this kind of bird, and has been ill since Christmas. Still, you have never seen anything so sad as a bird which cannot fly, perch or eat...

Have got visitors coming this week! Hope weather cooperates and stops being crappy, like right now. Am bit nervous as to what food to prepare. Mother is expert at cooking for millions of people at once - but honestly I do not know how she does it. At a stretch I can manage four people, beyond that am like "let's order pizzas!"

Said to mother I might make a large batch of pasta and tomato-sauce with delicious garlic-bread. Mother was horrified. Apparently is unacceptable hostess-behaviour to serve spaghetti and sauce. Do not see why!? Everyone loves pasta - although they like to deny it.

Was going to buy a BBQ, alas all BBQ's in town sold out until end of month. Typical.

Though, atleast, this will spare me the task of explaining to a bunch of aussies why we do not permit meat on our barbie...








Tuesday, 6 December 2011

Menu

Have arrived at solution (to non-meatball-issue).

Good old-fashioned canned lentils, mixed with some ginger and spices - fried in some cinnamon - and we have the perfect looking and decent tasting Swedish Vege-Balls! Phew!

However, going to have to shelve idea of vegan potato-bake. In Sweden one can find vast arrays of vegan cream-substitutes - the only thing could find in White Shop here in Byron was a tiny old dusty carton from Germany containing soycream and loads of additives. Oatcream, unheard of. Even in White Shop.

So this Christmas we may look forward to indulging in some cow-creamy potato and some cow-creamy beetroot salad.

Next year - am thinking of taking the path of least resistance and cancel whole Christmas Food tradition.
Swedish Christmas Food is not vegan. It is not vegetarian. It is not appropriate in 30 degree heat.
Have adamantly prepared it for the past 10 years - is it time to let go..?

How important is it that we maintain our traditions? How does something become a tradition? If I make, say, quinoa-salad with peanut sauce every Christmas for 20 years, is that then tradition?

In any case, this Christmas am making the following:

Lentil Balls with Gravy and Cranberry Sauce (vegan)
Potato Bake (Janssons)(vegetarian)
Beetroot Salad (vegetarian)
Eggplant Mustard Sill (vegetarian)
Gingered carrots (vegan)
Chocolate and Coconut Balls
(vegan)



In Swedish:

Jag inser att chokladbollar inte traditionellt sätt är att betrakta som julmat. Men jag ställer mig för sjutton inte och kokar knäck - nån måtta får det vara!



Sunday, 4 December 2011

Form Slump

Oh dear.

The soy-balls that I have told EVERYONE that I am making for Christmas (and for next weekend) - are... are... a DISASTER!!!

Really. Bad.

Going through form slump.

Soy-balls terrible. Gravy terrible - unless you love salt. Can probably be rectified - use less salt.

The soy-balls, however, are beyond salvation.

They taste like revolting mess fed as child - tinned fish-balls, or fiskbullar. They look like fiskbullar!!!

Childhood Trauma relived yesterday at dinner. Today tried to disguise horrible colour, consistency and flavour by adding tomato-paste and BBQ-sauce.

Result = fiskbullar with BBQ flavour!

WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY????

Saturday, 3 December 2011

Lennox Head and a Trial Run

Took a little drive to Lennox Head this morning, just south of Byron Bay:




Am in this very moment attempting to make Soy-balls in the image of "Swedish Meatballs" - which am going to prepare for Christmas Eve. Pressure is on. Often congratulate self on being most accomplished at cooking, but something happens when trying to cook for other people... it just does not come together. Does not taste as amazing as had imagined.

Something, incidentally, happened today whilst preparing the recipe. Realised soy-beans need to boil for THREE hours. THREE! No yoga for Anna today then. Kitchen duty. Wish the White Shop in town would stock tinned soy-beans.

So, anyway, this Christmas am not taking any chances. Today is trial run. Doing second trial-run WITH OTHER PEOPLE next weekend. Other People being Swedish Neighbour and her hubby plus kids - as well as Louise plus kid. These guys are all "gluten intolerant."

Well.
Sorry guys, hard enough being practically vegan and all organic - I am not even sure what "gluten" is. Hopefully it will not kill you.

Have provided everyone with warnings that food may or may not be edible. We shall see.





Friday, 25 November 2011

Recipe Book

Been very busy, working alongside hubby to create the much anticipated... Wedding Photo Album!!!

Indeed.

As a devoted reader of this blog, you may know that this has been an ongoing project for sometime. We, in fact, got married on New Years Eve 2009.

Right now do not have much time for blogging, am in middle of making Chick Pea and Kale Curry - a recipe from this book...


... which arrived yesterday - was super super excited.

Tuesday, 1 November 2011

World Vegan Day

Not sure which is more tragic: fact that totally forgot last night was Halloween and not one single lollie in house - or fact that no kids came knocking..?

Possibly Swedish Neighbour's offspring has spread the word amongst neighbourhood kids regarding our garden being dubbed "The Spider Jungle" and as one has to make ones way through garden to get to house, nobody was game.
This really was the best outcome, as I said - had no lollies. Also hubby and I slightly afraid of children, so spent entire afternoon and evening telling the other one "if someone comes YOU answer, ok?"

Anyway. Halloween is meaningless commercial holiday.


Today is World Vegan Day.

Allow me to recommend* the following literature (first two responsible for my Vegetarian Ways - third one on list sending me tumbling towards Veganism... Frightening word, realise, but is really not that hard - and is definitely right thing to do):

Eating Animals - Jonathan Safran Foer
www.eatinganimals.com

Fast Food Nation - Eric Schlosser

The China Study - Colin Campbell




*When I say "recommend" - we NEED to know this stuff... happy reading!