Finality.

So here we are on the 30th and final day of VeganMofo 2013 and as I write this I am sipping a cup of tea whilst having dinner cooked for me, bliss.

Today I was on the lucky end of a RAK (random act of kindness), a friend at work had been visiting London at the weekend and called in at Inspiral. I've yet to visit as every time I'm in Camden I'm drawn in by the sights and smells of Camden Lock! Anyway he randomly handed me a pack of their 'Raw Cacao & Cinnamon Kale Chips' this morning which definitely perked me up.

Unfortunately I've got to say I wasn't bowled over once I actually opened the packet. There was too much kale taste to call them sweet and too much cinnamon cacao taste to call them savoury! So although they definitely beat your average banana/carrot sticks/other healthy snack, I can't see myself heading all the way to Camden to get them again any time soon!

I hope you've enjoyed my contributions to VeganMoFo and I haven't rambled too much. It's been so great hearing your thoughts in the comments and sharing my own on other blogs too, some I'm addicted to now! In the future I'm hoping to spend more time improving my photography and photo editing whilst trying out some of the many, many incredible ideas I've seen throughout the month from all over the world. Come back and visit!

Monday Lunch

This is (don't quote me on this) the easiest of all the packed lunches - a salad comprising solely of chunks of red pepper, carrot and cucumber. With a little pepper and olive oil to boot.
I ate mine in the sunny park this lunchtime with some bread and butter and a library book that I'm whizzing through. Here's a rubbish photo taken with my phone!

Colourful non?

Sorry about the short post today, It's dissertation deadline day meaning there's some celebrating to be doing!

Tofu - Sweet&Savoury

I haven't experimented with tofu as much as I'd have liked to - mainly because I always run out of patience trying to find it in Sainsbury's and they don't stock it in my beloved ALDI. Luckily Mum bought me some tofu last week whilst I was home which I ended up using in a mid week lunchtime stir fry. At some point I'll write a blog highlighting how to make it yummy and not just solidified yoghurt (when i've done a little more research) but for now feast your eyes on this awesome pie by chocolate covered Katie. I made this for a certain person's birthday a few years a go and it disappeared in the blink of an eye, luckily I still got to lick the bowl so I can vouch for it being super rich and delicious.

Chocolate Fudge Pie

Stir fry is a great transition dish to showcase how similar dishes can taste/smell/feel once veganised, my basic process for stir fry is below but really it can be however any other recipe advises sans the meat and ensuring egg free noodles are used. Another plus, not much washing up!
I always start with roughly 1 tbsp each of sunflower oil, white wine vinegar, sesame oil and 2 tbsp soy sauce. After I've drained and pressed the tofu to make it firmer, I cut thin slices and fry until well browned (got to be patient here, takes longer than you want it to!) I remove the tofu from the pan for the rest of the stir fry preparation as it's kind of a wimp if you go near it with a spatula too many times.
The rest of the ingredients include some of the following depending on my mood/whats in the fridge:
thinly sliced carrot
thinly sliced celery
mushrooms
mange tout
baby corn
Once everything is nearly cooked to my desired level I add noodles, these ones from ALDI are cheap and easy and they've started doing wholegrain which are even tastier.

Then once the noodles have warmed through I add the tofu carefully and usually add a little more soy sauce. Et voila!

P.S. For my loyal readers, I'm working on making the comment box work - I'd love to hear your thoughts!

5-a-day Chili

Just a quickie this week, been flat hunting and French learning (and ipad playing) this weekend but still found time to make this, a great easy healthy meal which freezes really well.

Ingredients to make 4 portions:
1 Onion
1 Clove of garlic
1 Pepper (I used half a green and half a yellow)
1/2 Chili pepper -  I'm quite a wimp but mine was super mild, use more or less depending on your spice threshold.
5ish Mushrooms - any variety
1 Tin kidney beans
1 Tin baked beans
1 Tin chopped tomatoes
Chili powder
Olive oil

1. Chop onion and mince garlic, fry in 1tbsp olive oil with the lid on until translucent.
2.Chop pepper into small slices, chop mushroom into 8ths, chop chili finely - add all to pan.
3. Fry for approx 5 mins until mushroom is cooked. Add kidney beans and baked beans and simmer for 5 more mins.
4. Add chopped tomatoes and after 5 mins add 2 tsp chili powder.

 5. Leave for another 5 mins and taste for spiciness, add more chili powder if required. Leave to simmer for another ten minutes and you're done, pretty quick ey?

Served with sweet potato chips

 If you fancy making these sweet potato chips, (they're nutritious chips, who wouldn't!) Just peel sweet potatoes, cut into desired shape, boil till just soft, toss in olive oil and roast in oven until they reach your desired crispiness (12 mins pour moi).

And here's a little something cute:

A beautiful spring posy
from my mummy