week 4 comes to a close

I'm nearing the end of week 4, 1/3 of the way through the challenge, and I'm a bit up and down.  
Not so much with the food, but maybe my hormones. I don't think that has anything to do with having a plant based diet, or does it?
I've been reading a lot about the effect of hormones in your body and I know for sure that dairy and soy products can play havoc on your system in this regard.
I'm not saying you shouldn't have these things, after all, we're all different and what works for some, doesn't work for others.  I'm not sure where I lie, but I do know that hormones suck and I personally wish I wasn't so susceptible to their effects.
The lability in mood at your lady times, the impact they can have on your skin and even what you crave to eat!!! It's fair to say, they are important little buggers who are not going away.

Although dairy isn't an issue for me at the moment, I am having soy on a nearly daily basis every time I have my coffee.  If there was a coffee shop that used nut milk instead I would be there in a flash, but alas, soy is the only alternative at this stage, and I'm not yet ready to give up my coffee.

I've also been thinking more about the products I'm using on my body.  It makes sense to be on this path I guess, after all, you can't be so aware of what goes into your body to feed your organs and not worry about what you put ON your major organ.
What I found out is this:
-  there are toxic substances in just about everything, and just walking out the front door exposes you to a lot of it....and you haven't even started eating yet!
-  some things found in everyday items, including personal products, mimic the action of natural hormones found in your body, thus altering your body's performance.
-  although you can't avoid everything, there are definitely things you can do to minimise your exposure.

For this reason, I have begun purchasing products which are based on natural ingredients and where possible, organic.

Now I must say, I'm a product junkie.  I love it all, creams, serums, sun care, make up, facials, e.t.c., and after having terrible skin post babies, I really became obsessed with it.  
So, this hasn't been an easy thing for me to do. I'm terrified that my new routine will result in break-out hell and ruin all the time I've spent getting my skin back to normal.
But, for the sake of research, and on the quest of a cleaner, healthier, more aware way of living, I've done it.
So, my new routine is an Australian organic cleanser, hydrogen peroxide 3% at night to keep breakouts at bay and coconut oil to moisturise.  I use a tiny amount of coconut oil on my face and then use it all over my body.

Here's something I found scary but useful and led me to change my routine:

Obviously, it's still early days to know whether this will work for me or not but I'm hoping it will, besides, paying $10 for 500 mls of organic coconut oil really makes my wallet happy :)

Now, let's talk food!

So, I've been dying to try out a cheesecake recipe I found whilst trawling the net during my snack attack phase, and, having friends over for lunch today, proved the perfect time to try it out.

I adapted this recipe from one I found at http://mynewroots.blogspot.com.au, an amazing blog you should check out if you haven't already.  Thanks to my lovely friend Angelica for putting me onto it.

Raw Raspberry 'Cheese' Cake

Ingredients:

Base:

1/2 cup raw almonds 

1/2 cup pecans

1/2 cup walnuts

1/2 cup soft Medjool dates

¼ tsp. sea salt

Filling:

3 cups raw cashews (soaked for at least 5 hours but overnight is best)

juice of 2 lemons

1 tsp. alcohol-free vanilla extract

2/3 cup raw coconut oil, melted

2/3 cup maple syrup

1 cup raspberries (thaw completely if using frozen)

1/2 cup strawberries

Method:

Line a deep pie dish or small round springform pan with glad wrap or baking paper.

Place nuts and dates in a food processor with sea salt and pulse to chop until they are to your desired fineness (process a finer crust longer than a chunky one). 

Scoop out crust mixture in prepared pan and press firmly, making sure that the edges are well packed and that the base is relatively even throughout. Rinse food processor well.

Warm coconut oil and maple syrup in a small saucepan on low heat until liquid. Whisk to combine.

In the food processor/blender, place all filling ingredients (except berries) and blend on high until very smooth.  About 3 minutes.

Pour about 2/3 of the mixture out onto the crust and smooth with a spatula. Add the berries to the remaining filling and blend on high until smooth. Pour onto the first layer of filling. 

Place in freezer until solid.

Remove from freezer and allow to thaw for about 30 minutes prior to eating. Run a smooth, sharp knife under hot water and cut into slices. You can have it on it's own or serve it with whatever accompaniments you desire.

The best thing about this recipe, apart from the taste obviously, is that you can keep whatever is left over in the freezer.  WIN!

But, it was not just cake that we fed our lovely guests, we also made a seafood paella and of course, being on a vegan journey, I just had to make a vegan version.

Here's one I adapted from this recipe: http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=738168

Quinoa Paella

Ingredients

1 onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 cups quinoa

1/4 teaspoon saffron, crushed

2 teaspoons Spanish smoked paprika

1/2 tsp ground cumin

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

400g can organic diced tomatoes

1/3 cup red capsicum chopped

400g can red kidney beans, rinsed and drained

750ml vegetable stock

2 medium zucchini, halved lengthwise and sliced

1 cup fresh or frozen peas

1 cup artichoke hearts, rinsed and cut into quarters

1/4 cup chopped parsley

1/2 lemon

Directions

Rinse quinoa thoroughly and set aside to drain in a colander.

Sauté onion and garlic in a heavy based saucepan with a little water until soft. 

Add quinoa and saffron and cook, stirring, for about 2 minutes. Add paprika, cumin, cayenne, tomatoes, capsicum and 500 mls vegetable stock. Bring to the boil, reduce heat to very low, and cook covered for 15 minutes.

After 15 minutes, check to see if more stock is needed (If it looks dry, add the remaining vegetable stock, if it looks too wet, take off cover until some of the fluid evaporates). 

Place the zucchini on top of the quinoa and re-cover. Cook for about 5 more minutes, until quinoa is done. 

Stir in peas and beans and cook uncovered until peas and beans are warm and all liquid is absorbed. 

Pour into a serving plate and arrange the artichoke hearts on the top.

Sprinkle with parsley and squeeze lemon juice over the top.

Serves 6

I was really impressed with this recipe, and even though there was no chorizo to give it that extra hit of flavour, it was still super tasty.

I served this with a kale, watercress and orange salad that I dressed with orange juice, olive oil, maple syrup, cumin and red wine vinegar.  It was a good accompaniment as the citrus and astringent quality of the salad really set off the richness of the paella.

This is another recipe that keeps on giving and I'm planning on using the left overs to put into wraps with some wedges of avocado and some red cabbage slaw. Mmmmm, makes me hungry just thinking about it.......

Oh, and not to forget, I found some vegan friendly wine at my local wine shop.  Happy days :)

peas, love and mungbeans

xxb

end of week 3 and start of week 4

Wow, it's nearly a month into my challenge. I don't know about you but to me, the older I get, the faster time seems to pass.  Must have something to do with wanting to try more things, having more responsibility and never, ever, enough time!

This last week I've really been thinking about nutrients.  Am I getting enough? Am I eating the right balance of foods, am I not eating enough of the right stuff, should I combine some foods and leave out others?

It can feel a little overwhelming at times, and the plethora of information out there, although great, can also compound this.

I have found some amazing blogs in the process of my research though, and HOLY KALE and THE WELLNESS WARRIOR are among my favourites.  They are packed with good, practical information and some super duper delicious recipes.  

But back to me :) I guess the only way I'm going to be able to know if I'm on the right track, nutrients wise, is in how my body feels.

At the end of week 3, this is what I've noticed:

1. I'm really hungry after lunch and this leads to snacking non-stop until dinner.  At which time I'm bloated but eat anyway.

2. I've developed some dry patches on my face and have some minor breakouts on my forehead. NOT good.  This could also be due to my lady time approaching.

3.  My hair is falling out and it reminds me of the hair loss I had just after babies, except a little less intense.  But hair loss is hair loss and it points to something not being right.

All is not bad news though.  I still have the same energy levels and am still able to exercise as normal.

I'm sleeping better and I feel more calm in general.  

So, I'm thinking I'm maybe developing some kind of deficiency.  I'm going to make an appointment with a naturopath to sort out what's going on and to get some guidance around what I can do to rectify the situation.  After all, it would be completely silly that in the pursue of health I end up unhealthy!!

There are so many vegans out there who are healthy and great so there must be something I can do to fix this I'm sure.

In the meantime, I have purchased some liquid iron and I'm trying to squeeze in as much protein as I can at each meal.

It's been a super busy last couple of weeks for me so not enough time to play around with recipes, but here's one that I made for dinner tonight.

Mexican Quinoa Wraps

1 Tbs coconut oil

1 clove of garlic

1/4 cup brown onion chopped

1 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp ground coriander

1 tsp smokey paprika

1 tsp chilli flakes

1 vegan stock cube

1 Tbs tomato paste

1/2 cup quinoa

1/2 cup red kidney beans

1 cup of water

Method

Fry the garlic until soft and translucent.

Add spices and chilli and fry until fragrant.

Dissolve stock cube in water and add to onion mixture.

Add tomato paste and stir until all combined.

Add quinoa and cook with lid on for about 20 minutes or until quinoa grains are cooked (will look translucent).

Turn the heat off and stir in the beans.

Put lid on to keep warm whilst you make your salsa.

Avocado Salsa

1 cup avocado cubed

1/2 cup tomato deseeded and chopped

1/4 cup red onion thinly sliced

1/4 cup coriander chopped

1 Tbs evoo (I used chilli infused)

Freshly squeezed lemon juice

salt and pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients together, being careful not to mash avocado.

You will also need some wraps and what ever other topping you will like to add.

I added some purple sweet potato that I had previously baked.

Assemble and enjoy.

Serves 2

I also have a couple of dressing recipes for you to try.  

As you know, I eat a lot of salads and to be honest, the same ol' dressing gets a little bit boring.  So here are a few that have been on high rotation over my veges of late.

Try them out and you'll have fun adding them to yours based on flavour combinations.

Green Machine Dressing

1 avocado

1/2 clove of garlic

Lemon juice

sea salt

pinch of cayenne pepper

1/4 cup chopped parsley

water

Place all ingredients in a bowl and whizz it up with your hand blender until smooth.

Adjust the seasoning to taste and either add more lemon or water depending on how zingy you like it.

I love this dressing on my kale salads and I get my hands into it so that every little bit of leaf is covered.

Today I had this with some crispy wholegrain flat bread which i spread with unhulled tahini and warmed in the oven.

Tahini Dressing

2 Tbs unhulled tahini

2 Tbs apple cider vinegar

1 tsp horseradish

sea salt and pepper to taste

Place ingredients in a screw jar lid and shake til combined.

Good on basic garden salads.

Balsamic & Curry Dressing 

Sounds weird I know but you will love it!

3 Tbs balsamic vinegar

3 Tbs evoo

1 tsp curry powder

Method as above

I use this dressing when I make a baked vegetable salad.  I will make some soon and post a picture because it really is delish.

Peas, love and mung beans

xxb

Beetroot and Silverbeet Risotto Recipe

I'm very excited to be sharing this recipe with everyone. 

It wasn't my first attempt at making risotto but it's not something I make all the time as I'm not a big fan of white rice but I bought some lovely beetroots and the weather being so cold, I just felt like something warm and inviting.

This dish is quiet rich and earthy and I just love the bright colour - so good.

So here's my recipe, I hope you like it.

Beetroot and Silverbeet Risotto

Ingredients

1 Tbs coconut oil

1/2 cup arborio rice

1 clove of garlic crushed

1/8 cup brown onion diced

500 mls of vegetable stock (i break up a vegan stock cube in boiling water)

35 mls white wine

1/4 cup beetroot (i bake mine in foil first but you could use canned i suppose)

1 cup silverbeet finely sliced into ribbons

2 Tbs continental parsley, finely chopped

1 tbs finely grated lemon rind

2 Tbs lemon juice

Method

Heat vegetable stock if you are using liquid or if like me, boil some water, add stock and mix well and keep next to you so you can add as you go.

Heat oil is saucepan and add garlic, onion and rice.

Make sure rice is well coated and cook until onion is soft, garlic is fragrant and rice starts to make little popping sounds.  Be careful not to burn the garlic or else you'll get a bitter taste.

Add wine and stir to combine.

Once the wine has been absorbed, add a ladle of stock and stir.  Leave to be absorbed and don't add anymore until most of it has been absorbed.

Repeat the process but reserve the last ladle of stock.

Blend this with 1/2 the beetroot and add to your risotto.  

Chop up the other 1/2 of beetroot into tiny cubes whilst the liquid is absorbing and add with the silverbeet.

The rice should be cooked by now and most of the liquid absorbed.

Turn heat off and add parsley, lemon rind and lemon juice.

Stir to combine, add some cracked pepper and you're ready to serve.

Serves 2

I served this with a simple kale and orange salad, and I think it was a good match.  The richness of the risotto paired with the astringent salad really was a nice balance if I do say so myself.

For the salad, just toss chunks of kale with orange segments, some sliced spanish onion and chopped parsley and dress it with a simple lemon and evoo dressing.  A bit of sea salt and cracked pepper to taste and you are done.

Quick, easy and best of all, super delicious.

Enjoy!

End of Week Two

2 weeks down, 10 to go.

Something that was on my mind a lot since commencing this challenge was how I was going to go about eating out.
Most of my social interactions revolve around food, and most often than not, include going out for a lovely meal.
I don't ever want to be seen as the annoying friend who can't eat anything, and who everyone has to accommodate for.  I would hate me if that was me!
To my relief, the 3 times that I have eaten out since the start of the challenge, have been very good experiences.
And not only that, but i've also made a little gem of a discovery!

But let's start with the first place.  
Spencer Guthrie is the name of the restaurant and it's located in Newtown, Sydney.  I couldn't find their website for you but you can google the name and have a look at some pics of their food.
It's a cosy space, with friendly and helpful staff who didn't seem perturbed when I questioned them about the menu and the possibility of veganising something.  I've worked in hospitality in the far away past, and I know that chefs hate to change their menus and I can understand that, they want people to eat their food as they have interpreted it, it's part of their art. I get it, and I can definitely appreciate it.  That's why it's hard for me to have to ask but what else can one do?
Luckily, the restaurant has made allowances for plant food enthusiasts and provide a vegan special!
I guess being in Newtown, I shouldn't be that surprised :)
So, thank you to my bestie for taking me here and for having such great taste.

And here it is.  So pretty, I didn't feel like I should eat it!  

It was quiet delicious, and the little turnips that you can see were pickled and so yummy.  

The next place i went to, was my choice as I have been there before and I knew that they made vegan meals.

It's called The Nepalese Kitchen and it's located in Surry Hills, Sydney.

It's a consistently good place to eat, and they have a large cushion room upstairs if you have a big group.

I don't have any photos of the food because our party was rather large and ravenous and the dishes got attacked before I could get my camera out!

I did tell the staff I was vegan and they were able to adjust the banquet menu to contain a few vegan options.  

Third place is Nourishing Quarter.  It is also located in Surry Hills and it really is a little gem of a place.  It's cutely decorated with old and nostalgic items, and you somehow feel like you're going to dinner at your eccentric and nurturing grandmother's house, who used to be a wild and carefree young woman that once ran away with a gipsy and lived a life of adventure all over the world.

The food was AMAZINGLY good, and our little group, who were all non-vegan, loved it as much as I.

All dishes are based on whole grains and are so flavoursome and textural, it really was a pleasure to eat, as all meals should be.  I will most definitely be going back there, the sooner the better.  We had 'cheese' cake for dessert and no one could believe that it didn't have any animal products in it.  But, don't take my word for it, go there and try it out for yourself. 

And now I'll share a little gem I've found, it happens to be in Newtown, Sydney.  I'm having visions of sunny days, pushing my girls there in the pram, whilst we work up an appetite for one of their delicious desserts like the one I got to take away on Saturday - Neopolitan Ice Cream Cake.  Enough said.

 

It's called Sadhana Kitchen and you can check them out here: http://www.sadhanakitchen.com.

It's the first cafe of it's kind in Sydney and everything they make is raw and vegan!!! I'm so totally excited about this place I can hardly contain my excitement. yay!

The ice cream cake was so delicious and although I know I should have shared it, it was really too good to spare even a teenie tiny little spoon full.

So to the owner, I salute you!

Really am grateful that you are sharing an obvious love for good, healthy and nourishing food.  

Before I go, I want to share a couple of recipes with you.

The first one is a breakfast recipe that I came up with when I craved a savoury breakfast.  I could eat porridge until the cows come home but sometimes you just need something savoury.

This was my first attempt at making it but really, how hard can blending be?  I think it turned out pretty good :)

Scrambled Tofu

1 tsp coconut oil

1 cup firm tofu

1/3 cup non-dairy milk (I used unsweetened almond)

1/4 tsp curry powder

1/4 tsp tumeric

2 Tbs nutritional yeast flakes

Pinch of sea salt

Cracked pepper to taste

Process tofu, milk,spices, salt and yeast until blended but not completely smooth.

Heat up coconut oil in frying pan and add tofu mixture, cook on medium heat until slightly more golden in colour and warmed through.

Easy Peasy.

I served it with some lightly sautéed silverbeet and wholegrain spelt toast with avocado and chilli flakes.

I would have added some sautéed mushrooms but I didn't have any on hand and I think next time I'll add some parsley to the scramble for an iron boost.

The next recipe is what I had for dinner tonight.  It's more of a dressing recipe as it is what makes the dish really delicious.

Quinoa and Kale salad with Dukkha Dressing

For the salad

2 cups kale

1/4 cup red capsicum

1/2 small tomato chopped in large chunks

!/4 small red onion sliced thinly

1/4 cup cooked lentils

1/4 cup cooked quinoa

1/4 cup avocado cubes

For the dressing

2 Tbs dukkha

1/2 tsp dried oregano

2 Tbs raw unfiltered acv

1 Tbs chilli infused evoo 

1 tsp sea salt or to taste

Mix dressing ingredients together (i use an old mustard jar to shake it to death)

In a large bowl, place all salad ingredients together and pour on the dressing.  Using a large flat spoon, gently fold the ingredients together to incorporate the dressing until it's all covered in it's yummy goodness.

I served it with a baked sweet potato. YUM.

For those who are wondering what the hell dukkha is, you can find a really simple recipe here: http://pinterest.com/pin/10414642859093563/

I feel like I've been trying to do and eat as much plant based foods as possible to prove to myself that it's just as normal as a diet incorporating animal products.

I realise now I really don't have to do that.  Normal is very subjective.  It is what it is and what makes you feel the best is what should be normal to you.

My concerns re: eating out, amazing treats, delcious 'creamy' things, getting enough protein/iron are being eased the more I read and the more I see and experience.

So now I will take a deep breath, wind down the momentum, and start fresh.

I will try to get back to the normal routine of eating, which doesn't always include cake and ice cream! 

My goal for this coming week, is to try and cut down on the sweet little treats by finding alternatives.

I've got some pesto recipes that I want to try out and make some dips and 'cheese' too.

Wish me luck lovers!

Peas, love and mung beans

xxb

S N A C K A T T A C K IDEAS

We all find ourselves reaching for comfort food at times, everyone has something that they prefer.  For me it's always baked goods or crispy chips.

Here's two recipes that should help when the munchies attack.

But remember, just because it's vegan doesn't mean it's not calorific, so portion control is something to keep in mind with the more indulgent treats.

Kale chips

bunch of kale (washed and thoroughly dried)

olive oil (approx. 2 Tbs or more if you have more kale)

2 Tbs nutritional yeast flakes 

sea salt

Preheat an oven to 125 degrees

Tear your kale leaves into bite chunks

mix olive oil, salt and nutritional yeast together.

mix thoroughly through the kale.

I use my hands to make sure each leaf is covered.

Bake for 20 minutes on a tray lined with baking paper.

They are ready when they are crunchy!

I have had some suggestions from other kale chip lovers which include coating them in apple cider vinegar - instant salt and vinegar chips!

Also, for a more oriental flavour, try mixing some tahini with tamari and some grated ginger.

Mmmmm, can't wait to try out these variations.

The best thing about these? Portion control not required :)

Now for some baked goodies!

I adapted the following recipe from one I found here://www.food.com/recipe/vegan-pumpkin-cake-452855
I've reduced the amount of sugar and oil as I also added some sultanas and almond milk.
I suppose it's probably more moist if you added the suggested amount of oil but I found my version was moist enough.

Pumpkin cake squares

Ingredients
1/2 cup brown sugar 
1/3 cup sunflower oil 
1/4 cup rice malt syrup 
1/4 cup almond milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract 
2 1/2 cups flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 
1 teaspoon baking soda 
1 teaspoon cinnamon 
1 teaspoon ground cloves 
1/2 teaspoon ginger 
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg 
1/2 teaspoon salt 
2 cups fresh pumpkin cooked and mashed

Method

Preheat oven to 180 degrees celcius. 
Grease a square pan. 
Line the bottom with baking paper. 
Place sugar, oil, syrup and vanilla in a large mixing bowl. 
Whisk until sugar is dissolved.  Add sultanas.
In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, spices and salt.
In small alternating portions, add the flour mixture and pumpkin to the liquid ingredients. Begin and end with the flour mixture. Spread the batter into the prepared pan.
Bake 55 minutes to an hour. 

This went perfectly with a large mug of green tea when I needed a little afternoon pick-me-up.

Another favourite snack of mine is corn thins.  You can literally spread anything on them. I love to smear as much avocado as I can and then sprinkle with some dukkah and/or chilli flakes.  Quick, simple, nutritious and delicious.
If I feel like something sweet, I can't go past some unhulled tahini or nut butter and some chopped banana on top.
If hunger strikes and I happen to be out and about, there's always a sushi store around where I pop in for some delicious edamame.
And let's not forget our good friend mr. dark chocolate, although, it's probably best to leave him for very special occasions :)

Would love to hear more snack ideas as I'm always looking to stock up on my munchies arsenal.


Peas, love and mung beans

xxb

vegan pantry essentials

Just a quick one for those who are interested in experimenting with a plant based diet.  There are some essentials that you need to keep in your fridge/cupboard to make preparing your meals a lot quicker and easier.


Here's a list of all the food products i seem to use a lot of:


wholegrain oats
quinoa
quinoa flakes
brown rice flakes
nuts and seeds (mainly almonds, walnuts, pecans, pepitas, sesame, sunflower)
unhulled tahini
organic corn thins with sesame
dried fruit
chia seeds
maca powder
spirulina
raw cacao powder
maple syrup
rice malt syrup
spices (mainly cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg & cloves)
curry powder
chilli flakes
chickpeas
lentils
red kidney beans
black beans
brown rice
coconut oil
extra virgin olive oil
brazil nut and flaxseed butter
almond butter
stevia




In my fridge


almond milk (unsweetened)
soy milk
coconut water
dark chocolate
kale
spinach
tuscan cabbage
red cabbage
zucchini
capsicum
avocado
sweet potato
pumpkin
cauliflower
broccoli
flax seed oil
nuttelex
apples
oranges
bananas
strawberries
kiwi fruits
mint
parsley
corriander
frozen berries
frozen peas & carrots
savoury yeast flakes




And then you have your basic pantry items that most kitchens have.  I find that the above are enough to make a meal in minutes.
I mainly eat raw for lunch and dinner but I also like to prepare some quinoa or brown rice to last a few days. 
I also bake pumpkin/sweet potato so that it's ready for me to use in salads, curries, soups or even to stir through some porridge like I did this morning.  it was totally delicious, and I added some of the above spices and it actually tasted like a pumpkin pie, no sugar added and best of all, a serving of vegetables with minimal fuss (picture below).


If I'm time poor, the quickest, and one of my favourite all time meals is some brown rice and quinoa mixed together with lentils, avocado, herbs and tomato.  drizzle with some tahini & lemon juice, add some sea salt and a sprinkle of chilli flakes and you're ready for some seriously nutritious tucker.


what's your favourite go to meal?


peas, love and mung beans


xxb

end of week one

Week one down, eleven to go.

Ok, so i've learned a few things from week 1.  

First of all, as I've said before, preparation is key.  If you happen to get caught out without any pre-prepared food, know where there are vegan friendly stores.  Luckily, working in the inner city, there's plenty of choice.

Second thing I've found works for me is to have an eating routine.  So the first thing I do when I wake up in the morning is to have a litre of water followed by a dandelion root tea.  I figure if I can knock out 1 litre first thing, I can get away with missing a litre throughout  the day if I get busy and forget to drink water.  Which is something I do all the time.

Third is this: VEGAN FOOD IS YUM!

I've been experimenting with different textures and even got to do some baking.  It turned out amazing, and even my chocolate cake loving but vegan disliking partner loved it.  That's pretty strong proof that it's a good cake.

So here is the recipe which I have changed a little bit but you can find the original at http://www.instructables.com/id/The-BEST-chococlate-cake-ever...that-happens-to-be/

Vegan Chocolate Cake

Cake Ingredients

1 1/4 cups flour

1 cup sugar

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup warm water

1 1/2 Tbs granulated coffee

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 tsp distilled white or apple cider vinegar

Chocolate Glaze

1/2 cup sugar

4 tbsp margarine (i used nuttelex)

2 tbsp soy milk

2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder

2 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees celcius. Mix together flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, and salt with a fork, making sure it is really blended together. Add the water, vanilla, oil, and vinegar, and again, mix together so that it's really blended together. Use a spatula to scrape down the sides if necessary.

Pour into prepared pan (i used a square one) and bake in oven for approx. 40 minutes or until skewer comes out clean.  Wait for it to cool on rack prior to cutting.

For the glaze: in a small saucepan, bring sugar, margarine, milk, and cocoa to a boil. Stir frequently; then reduce heat to a simmer for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir for another 5 minutes.

Add vanilla, stir, and immediately pour onto cake. Glaze dries really quickly, so spread it immediately and add any sprinkles now. Let this cool for an 1 hour, if you can wait that long!

I dressed it with some fresh strawberries and it was delicious.

This would also be a good cake for people with dairy and egg allergies and perfect for kids parties when you don't want to leave anyone out who has allergies (except gluten).

It was good to know that I can still bake some delicious things without having to worry about compromising taste, so I feel some relief about that.  

However, I think in a few weeks I might start trying to cut back on the sugar and probably wheat but I'm mindful that I've just implemented a big change in my life so I don't want to send my body into shock!!!

But before I do that, here's another recipe for dessert that I developed.  

I don't know about you, but I love love love custard and I love to pair it with stewed fruit mostly.  So here's a recipe for a winter warmer that includes fruit, custard and some granola for added crunch :)

I make the granola bars ahead for me and the kids to have as snacks on the go and keep them in an airtight container in the fridge, it last for ages, but never more than 2 weeks in my house.

I just crushed them up and used it on the dessert. yum!

Baked apples and pear with brown sugar custard and granola crunch

2 apples, peeled, cored and cut into thin wedges

2 pears, peeled, cored and cut into thin wedges

1 tsp cinnamon

2 Tbs water

Place all ingredients in saucepan, cover and put on low heat for 2 minutes. The apples and pears will drop some fluid.  Remove lid and cook until soft or to your liking.  You can remove the fruit and continue to simmer the liquid for a few more minutes or until it thickens slightly.  It will be plenty sweet.

Brown Sugar Custard

1/3 cup brown sugar

1 tbsp flour

3 tbsp cornstarch

1/4 cup water

1 1/3 cups soy milk

2 tsp vanilla

1. In a medium bowl, beat together sugar, flour, cornstarch and water quickly for about 2 minutes, or until it’s creamy.

2. Bring the milk to a simmer in a medium saucepan. Pour 1/3 cup of the milk into the sugar mixture and combine. Add the sugar and milk back to the saucepan and heat over medium-low heat, whisking constantly. It starts to thicken right away.

3. Cook until it begins to bubble, whisk super hard for 30 seconds then remove from the heat. Add in vanilla.

4. Transfer to a bowl.

Vegan Granola Bars

wet

2/4 cup brown rice syrup

1/4 cup maple syrup

1 tsp nut butter (i use brazil nut and flaxseed)

1 tsp of vanilla extract

1 tsp of ground cinnamon 

1/2 tsp of ground nutmeg

pinch of ginger

pinch of cloves

dry

1 1/2 cup wholegrain rolled oats

1 cup brown rice puffs

1 cup raisins

1/2 cup flaked almonds

1/2 cup pecans

1/2 cup walnuts

1 cup mixture of shredded coconut, sesame seeds and salted peanuts.

Preheat oven on 180 degrees celcius.

Heat wet ingredients until gently boiling and stir for about 3 minutes or until thickened.

In a large mixing bowl, mix all the dry ingredients and then stir in the warm liquid.  Mix thoroughly and pour into a tray lined with greaseproof paper.  Flatten down (I put more paper on top and flatten it by rolling a glass over it).

Bake, uncovered, in a moderate oven for 10 minutes.  Allow to cool completely before cutting into squares or desired shape and size.

Note: this granola recipe is awesome because it's so adaptable.  I use whatever dried fruit and nuts I have and sometimes, I add macca powder or raw cacao powder if I want it to have a boost of antioxidants with a chocolate hit.

Okay, the finished product is basically just layering the whole thing together, you could do it totally pretty and layer it in a glass where you can see all the layers, or, you can do what i do and just throw it all on the plate and call it rustic :)

But just so you know, I haven't just been living off desserts, as yum as that would be.

I've found that I've been eating mainly the same things at each meal.  So just about always porridge for breakfast, I just change the fruit that I put into it, or add spices.

For lunch I normally have a kale/spinach salad with either lentils, chickpeas, red kidney beans or quinoa.  I always add capsicum as I know that adding vitamin C rich foods increases iron absorption from the legumes, spinach and quinoa.

I normally add avocado also, as I think it's important to eat good fats, specially since my regular fish oil tablets are off limits.  I have also been adding chia seeds to my water for a boost of omega 3's.

Dinner is mainly baked vegetables with a side of kale/spinach, legumes and some type of carb, mainly sweet potato, brown rice or quinoa.  I do love tofu but I haven't yet had any.  I'm going to try some tofu recipes this coming week.  A cauliflower and tofu curry with herbed quinoa is on my mind, specially in this cold weather.

Salads are my favourite though, they're just so quick to make and I love that you don't really have to cook anything!  It's not laziness, well, not entirely anyway :)

Here's one that I had tonight.

Green monster salad with lentils and pomegranate

1 cup kale

1 cup tuscan cabbage

1/4 cup red capsicum

1/4 cup baked pumpkin

1/4 cup avocado cubes

1/4 cup cooked lentils

2 Tbs pepitas

2 Tbs raisins

1/2 small pomegranate, seeds removed

1 Tbs extra virgin olive oil

2 Tbs raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar

1/2 tsp chilli flakes

sea salt

cracked pepper

Mix the dressing ingredients and toss through the salad until all  the greens and vegetables are coated with it.

Enjoy.

Food aside, I have noticed a few things happening with my body.  

The main one that is at the forefront is how regular I've become.  I thought I was always regular but I'm more so now.  In one short week, I feel like my insides have been cleansed and so everything that I eat, soon finds it's way out.  

I don't particularly love talking about my bowel habits but alas, I think it's an important change.  Certainly those with a sluggish system might benefit from eating a plant based diet, even for the short term.

The other thing I've noticed is that I've lost some weight.  Not that it was my intention but I guess it makes sense.  Eliminating animal products also eliminates a lot of hidden fats/sugars that you find in ready made foods.

You are mainly making your meals, so you can control what goes in and how much and also the quality of the ingredients that you use.

I've also noticed that I'm actually full after my meals.  I normally need to snack about an hour after but I'm not doing that so much now.  I can't really explain why this is.

I do however, make sure that I have a good snack with me for the afternoon snack attack and I've also discovered the most amazing tea EVER.  Seriously.  

As you know, I'm a massive sweet tooth and so what I do now is make myself a large mug of Celestial Seasonings Bengal Spice Tea with some soy milk.  The cinnamon and liquorice root make it sweet and it has absolutely NO sugar.  

I have a feeling it will become my best friend when I attempt at reducing my sugar intake.

Ok, just before I finish I have to tell you that my one big disappointment was having to give up Lindt dark chocolate, specially the one with a touch of salt which i'd just been getting into.  But, I have found a vegan friendly replacement at half the price.  Yes, it just happened to be at Aldi and it just happens to be dark and it just happens to be organic.  major win.

Til next time lovers.

Peas, love and mung beans

xxb

p.s you can also find me on instagram (brendad)for more food pics :)