A Little Vegan Treat

This is going to be a super quick post but I just thought I would say a few quick words about this scrummy Booja-Booja 'Hunky Punky Chocolate' vegan ice cream I recently tried. I'm sure everyone has heard of this brand but it was a new discovery for me! I picked this little tub up at Holland & Barrett and now I'm wishing I had bought a few more! 

It is the perfect little after dinner treat and, in my opinion, tastes very similar to ordinary chocolate ice cream. The consistency was also very like normal ice cream which was nice because I have found that using vegan ingredients in some baking changes the texture and consistency of the food. I really really enjoyed this ice cream and it was just what I needed to satisfy my sweet tooth. 

I have had a look online and discovered they have a few more ice cream flavours so I am definitely going to try and get my hands on those! 

Here are a couple of pictures of what it looks like, in case you are interested.

If you are in the mood for something sweet and indulgent then I would definitely recommend picking up a tub of this! I will admit it isn't the healthiest thing but everyone deserves a treat once in a while.

Enjoy!

My Top Ten Vegan Essentials!

Having been a vegan now for almost two months, I thought it was time to post my top ten vegan essentials. These are the items that I turn to almost daily and couldn't do without. So, here they are...

From left to right:

Broccoli - loaded with essential nutrients and great as part of a meal or in a smoothie. I prefer long stem broccoli and purple sprouting broccoli is the king of broccoli, but all broccoli is delicious! 

Fruit and nut mix - nuts are full of protein, so a key ingredient in a vegan diet. Dried fruit retains most of the nutritional value of fresh fruit, making it a great source of vitamins, such as Vitamin A and fibre.

Sweet chilli dipping sauce - I don't think there are any particular health benefits to this but it's just really yummy and spices up dishes like soup or works as a snack with a rice cake. 

Porridge oats - the perfect breakfast ingredient! It provides a slow release of energy, is filling and helps to reduce cholesterol. I have recently started putting them in smoothies too and baking with them.

Agave - totally natural and is the perfect sweet addition to tea, porridge, smoothies and baking.

Flaxseed mix - a really essential source of protein and other nutrients such as omega-3. I often have it in my smoothies but it's also great in muffins or other baked goods!

Lentils - lentils form the base of a lot of my meals, especially dinner. They are really versatile and can be eaten hot or cold. They are also packed with protein which makes them really key to any vegan diet.

Mint tea - aids digestion and is a great warm drink throughout the day.

Bananas - they are a great source of vitamins and can be used in so many ways. I eat them as they are, add them to cakes and bread or put them in a smoothie. 

Sweet Potato - contain essential vitamins, such as B6, C and D, as well as iron and magnesium as well as providing a crucial source of carbohydrate.  They can be mashed up to form the base of burger patties, cut up to make chips or baked whole as an alternative to the traditional baked potato.

Maki Yaki - Wimbledon

I've been eating at the Japanese restaurant, Maki Yaki, regularly for about a year now. I think that alone is enough to speak my thoughts on this place, but just in case it isn't... I will say a bit more! 

Although I have never actually eaten in the restaurant itself (I always have it to takeaway), I have never had a bad experience with Maki Yaki. The food is consistently delicious and there is a great variety of dishes from sushi to larger plates. My personal favourite is the Maki roll named 'Crunch' which, as the name would suggest, has a crunch to it, as well as delicious crab, shrimp and cucumber inside. There are lots of other dishes to choose from too, including teriyaki and katsu curry. I would recommend everything I have tried, and having tried almost all the Maki's and a couple of the main dishes, I would say that's a pretty good result. 

The photos below, although not the best, give you an idea of the size of the maki rolls and therefore how much you might like to order. There are six per serving and they are quite filling so I would definitely advise ordering less than you think you'll need!

If you live in and around London then I really urge you to try it out! There are three locations, Wimbledon, Epsom and one in the Excel Centre in London. If you can't get to the restaurant then get some to take away. I would say it is perhaps on the more expensive side for sushi, but maybe that's because I'm a student and everything seems expensive to me!

Obviously now I am a vegan my options are slightly more limited but they have some great vegetable Maki rolls and their Wakame (a seasoned seaweed salad) is absolutely delicious. 

Here is the link to Maki Yaki, if you want to check out the menu or browse their website...

http://makiyakiuk.com

PS, comment on this post if you do end up going!

Bruschetta

So simple. So quick. So delicious...

I'm sure this won't be a stranger to many of you but it is possibly one of my favourite foods! It's so easy to make as well as being really really tasty. Bruschetta is great as a starter, especially if you are hosting a dinner party, as a side dish, or just as a snack! You need so few ingredients too and being a vegan I find this is a great, filling snack to have at any point during the day.

Ingredients:
- Ciabbatta bread 
- 2 x beef tomatoes
- Handful of cherry tomatoes
- Olive oil (I used basil infused olive oil but regular oil will work just as well)
- Fresh basil leaves
- Salt and pepper to taste

Extras
- Large mixing bowl
- Chopping board

Now, here's what to do...

• Cut the ciabatta bread into even slices and put in the toaster.
• Once the slices are lightly toasted, remove them and leave to cool.
• Dice/cube all the tomatoes and place in a large mixing bowl.
• Drizzle some oil into the mixing bowl and, using your hands, mix it with the tomatoes.
• Rip up the basil leaves and add them to the bowl, mixing it together again.
• Season with salt and pepper and give it all a final mix together.
• When your bread is cooled and has hardened, drizzle each slice with a bit of olive oil.
• Spoon a little heap of the tomato mixture onto each slice of bread.
• Add a couple of fresh basil leaves to serve.

I know it might seem like there is a lot involved with this recipe but it honestly takes about 5 minutes! This is also the perfect recipe to get inventive with for example by trying different toppings like pesto or mix in olives with the tomatoes or, if you have time, making your own bread for the base. 

Enjoy!

 

Sunday Brunch

It's Sunday and to me, that means one thing, brunch! 

My flatmates and I decided to have a homemade brunch today before we all go back home for the Easter Break. We did the classic cooked breakfast with bacon, beans and sausages as well as toast with spreads and some yummy fruit! Being vegan I didn't have any of the meat but I had toast with peanut butter and banana followed by some fruit. I am writing this post having just eaten and I am very full so for any vegans out there, don't worry, brunch is still the best. Of course we also had juice, coffee and tea. We even had fresh coffee! 

I am sure you all know how to cook brunch and have your own preferences regarding what you make with it, so, this is going to be it for this post except for some photos of our delicious brunch!

Happy Sunday and enjoy!

Banana and Oat Granola

I have been on a vegan diet for about three weeks now and so far I am really loving it! I have been eating a lot of fresh food and getting a bit experimental with meals and snacks. One of my experiments, as you may have guessed from the title, was making some banana and oaty granola. The result was pretty yummy and it was really easy to make. This is a great idea for breakfast on the go or to make in bulk and put in a biscuit tin for snacks!


Ingredients:
- 1x ripe banana
- 1 porridge oats
-  Agave nectar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 30-40g raisins and cranberries (optional)

Extras:
- Medium mixing bowl
- Wooden spoon
- Baking tray


Now, here's what to do...

• Pre heat the oven to 200 degrees celsius.
• Put the banana in the mixing bowl and mash thoroughly using a fork.
• Add a generous helping of oats to the mixing bowl and mix with the banana.
• Squeeze in the agave nectar, add the cinnamon and mix it all together.
• Add the raisins and cranberries if you are using them and give it all a final mix together.
• Using the wooden spoon put the mixture on the tray in small 'blobs'.
• Bake for between 10 and 15 minutes or until the outside is browning.
• Serve with a bit of jam if you like them extra sweet!

If, unlike me, you leave yourself enough time in the mornings then this is definitely something you could make fresh on the morning before leaving. Just mix everything up and leave it to bake while you get dressed. If not, it keeps very well and so can be made in advance! I think it's also a great snack between meals if you are feeling peckish. For a slightly more indulgent version try adding some chocolate chips or fudge pieces. 

Enjoy!

Cous Cous Stuffed Pepper

I'm sure this won't be a new meal idea for anyone but it's so simple and delicious I couldn't resist making my own version. This is also great option for vegans as you get a good balance of nutrients as well as a filling meal! It doesn't require a lot of ingredients and is a great lunch and dinner option.

Ingredients:
- 1 x pepper (colour is down to your preference, I used red)
- About 100g cous cous 
- Mixed herbs
- Lemon juice
- Olive oil
- Salad (optional) 

Extras:
- Roasting tray


Now, here's what to do...

• Pre heat the oven to 180 degrees celsius.
• Cut the top off the pepper, remove the centre and the seeds but do not throw the top away!
• Put the pepper in the oven, leaving the top out, and cook for about 20 minutes or until the pepper is soft.
• While the pepper is cooking, boil a half full kettle and pour the water into a heat proof bowl.
• Add the cous cous to the boil, cover the top and leave to stand for about 10 minutes.
• When the cous cous has softened up and all the water has been absorbed add the herbs, a drizzle of lemon juice and mix together.
• After about 16 minutes take the pepper out of the oven and stuff with the cous cous. Put the top of the pepper on the tray too, drizzle it all with a bit of olive oil and cook for a further 4-5 minutes. 
• Serve with a side salad and some dressing if desired.

So far this is one of my favourite meals, both to make and to eat! It is very simple and take a lot of time. You can change it up a bit by using rice instead of cous cous, or adding further ingredients like sun dried tomatoes or even some cheese. It's also a great idea for dinner parties or catering for larger numbers as you just make one pepper per person.

Enjoy!