Just an ordinary dinner...

This is what I would consider an ordinary dinner for my kids. 

The asparagus is fried in some nuttelex, as is the tofu, after I coat it in cornflour. 

The sauce for dipping is Japanese Teriyaki. 

Most nights they are happy with what they are presented with! 

I always give the kids a dessert after dinner, but a kind of healthy dessert. 

Tonight I have made a yogurt mix:

 Banana, muesli, goji berries and a seed mix, mixed with vanilla yogurt.

It's simple, easy to prepare, delicious, and good for them. Ticks all my boxes! 

20 Minute Cheat's Risotto

This risotto has pumpkin and peas, but you could also use sweet potato, spinach, or anything else similar. I usually ask my kids to choose a vegetable each, and then they feel that they have contributed!

The cheat to this recipe pre-cooking the rice in your rice cooker, you can use any rice, and really, any amount. A huge shout out to my sister in law, Jilda who first gave me the idea. 

Whilst the rice is cooking, boil, in a large saucepan, chopped pumpkin, peas, and an onion. As these are cooking, add vegetable stock, mustard and curry powder, and a little pepper if you wish. 

Just as the veges are almost cooked, add the rice. You will probably need to add more water as you allow the mixture to simmer for about 5 minutes. 

Done! 

It is so quick, and a lovely, and healthy meal that the kids love!

Milks... Which one and why?

At my house we have no less than 5 varieties of milk. Well, 6 if you include my husband's organic cows milk, but I try not to think about that...

Rice Milk: I buy my rice milk from Aldi, and I am really the only one who drinks this. I don't tend to give it to the kids, simply because it is so low in fat, and I don't think that growing children, aged, 1, 3 and 4 are in need of a low fat milk! I love the taste of rice milk, and it is the milk that I drink the most.

Organic Soy Milk: I also buy this milk from Aldi. I find that it is soooo think and creamy, that it is perfect for cooking. We don't drink soy milk, simply because I believe that soy may not be the best for us (I'm still researching this...), but it is honestly the best for cooking with. 

Unsweetened Almond Milk: I have recently introduced this, especially for my youngest son, Henry, simply because I am always trying to find ways for the kids to have less sugar. Henry will often drink more than a litre of milk per day, and so, I try to give him this milk, or mix it with the below two. I will also use this in smoothies, and in porridge. 

Organic Almond Milk: My kids drink either this or...

Organic Oat Milk: We sometimes will use this in smoothies.

Friends (interestingly, they have all been meat eaters) have suggested for me to make my own Almond Milk, and I have considered it, but it just seems a little too expensive, and a lot too time consuming. Between my 3 (soon to be 4) children and myself) we consume about 2 or three litres of milk per day, and as the kids get older, this will only increase. 

What kind of milk do you use? What do you use it for, and why? Can you suggest any other ways to use my current milks? I am always trying to find ways to evolve our diets, and any suggestions will be helpful! 

Tofu Scrambled 'Eggs'

Having been vegan now for over 2 years, I don't have much of an issue craving non-vegan foods, that is, until I am pregnant! 

I am currently halfway through my second vegan pregnancy (my fourth pregnancy overall), and I have been craving eggs! 

Luckily, my tofu scrambled eggs hits the spot every time. It's texture and flavour is similar to scrambled eggs, and then I add mustard powder to give it an extra kick. 

The secret is adding your sides: mushrooms, spinach, hash browns, even baked beans, and of course, toast, to make it seem even more authentic, especially for any omnivores you happen to be dining with.

Please excuse the sloppiness of the photo- I couldn't waste time on perfecting a photo- I had to eat! 

Also, please note, I am in no way taking credit for this recipe, as there are hundreds of variations on the web, it is simply my twist on a great dish. I wish I could remember where I originally found the recipe, but it was too long ago. 

Ingredients:

Classic tofu 

Turmeric

Mustard powder

Olive oil

Vegan butter

Salt and pepper

Nutritional yeast (optional) 

Method:

Pat the tofu dry with paper towel, and gently mash with a fork in a bowl. Add about 1tsp each of turmeric,mustard powder and nutritional yeast, and a dash of olive oil. 

Heat the butter in a pan and add the mixture. Try not to stir too much, as it will only turn it to mush. It should take less than 5 minutes for it to cook. 

Season with freshly ground salt and pepper, and any sides that take your fancy. 

Enjoy!

Creamy potato and broccoli soup

I may not be the best cook in the world, or even in my street, but there is one thing that I know I'm really good at - soup! 

There is nothing better than a hot creamy vegetable soup on a chilly day, and this one is really going to hit the spot!

My kids love this, because it is so thick, and when I give them home made bread and butter to dip into the soup, they eat every bite! 

Ingredients:

Olive oil

2 large organic onions, sliced

1 clove of crushed garlic

Water

10 medium organic potatoes, peeled, and cut into large pieces

1 can of coconut cream

Turmeric

Mild curry powder

Massell brand chicken stock (it's vegan)

Vegetable stock

1 head and stalk of organic broccoli, cut into pieces

Method:

 Sauté the onion and garlic in the olive oil, until it is soft, and almost brown, then, add the potatoes and enough water to cover them. 

Boil them for about 20-25 minutes, and then add the coconut cream, stocks and spices. The amount of stock and spices you add will depend on your taste - I added about 1 tsp of turmeric, 1/2 tsp of curry powder, and 1tbsp of each stock.

Simmer for about 5 minutes, then add the broccoli and boil for another 10 minutes.

When you blend the soup, you will have to add extra water, as it will be quite thick. 

Enjoy!

 

Vegan ice magic

There is always one (or more!) thing that you truly miss, as a vegan, and mine was Ice Magic... That was until I discovered I can make it myself! Just add some cooking chocolate with a spoonful of coconut butter and a dash of peppermint essence, and melt in the microwave. When you drizzle it onto your ice cream, give it a minute to set.

Avocado for the child that hates avocado

My two eldest children love avocado, the will (and have) eaten spoonfuls of avo between spoonfuls of ice cream! Baby number three is a different story though, which is a shame because it is so good for him! So I tried mashing it with banana, stewed apple, and a spoonful of coconut cream ( that I had whipped in the fridge for our pancakes) and he loves it! Talk about a power food!

Dahl for my Darls

I love Indian food, but unfortunately my kids don't like the spice! So I have found a middle ground with this Dahl.
The kids love it, because it is mild and tasty, and I love it because I can add more curry powder to my bowl, before I eat it!

Ingredients:
I onion, diced
I clove garlic, crushed
5 or so carrots, peeled and grated
I cup of whole red lentils, washed
1 tbsp or so of mild curry powder
1/2 tsp turmeric
1 tsp garam masala
2 tbsp or so of soy sauce (trust me)
2 level tsp vegetable stock
1 or 2 pinches of dulse flakes (optional)

Method:
In a large pot or Dutch oven (my favourite to cook with) sauté the onion and garlic in some olive oil until onion is soft. Add the carrots, and lentils and cover with about a litre of water ( you may need to add more later). Bring to the boil.
Lower the heat, and add the spices etc, and simmer uncovered for about 45 minutes, or until the lentils are soft and cooked. Feel free to adjust the amount of spices depending on how hot you like your Dahl.
Add a dollop of Tofutti's Sour Supreme to garnish, and serve. Enjoy!
Lx

Welcome to my first blog

It has been almost two years since I first became vegan, and so I have decided to do what any good vegan does, and that is, start a blog!
How can a vegan create all these fantastic meals, and not share them with the world?
So on that note... that is what I plan on doing.
And a little bit about my kids too. Because all good mothers love to talk about their children!
This is my first blog, so please be gentle, and please send me feedback, but most of all enjoy!