#Italianfood theme 23rd october 2014

Ciao a tutti!

It was an all Italian affair at the last #Veganrecipehour. Talk about belly rumbling! Oh my goodness! There was some amazing dishes to drool over.

Let’s get straight to it and have a look at this Italian classic from @Ephemerienne Insalata Caprese is one of my top choices.

Vegans can’t have creamy things right? Nah, wrong! Take a peek at this #zucchini fettuccini with creamy #cashew sauce from @apriltui.

How about a nice #Lasagne? Oh yes! @LeicVeggie shared this yummy dish with us. Here is another recipe from @FettleVegan. This time for a #Spinach and wild #mushroom #lasagne with #basil #almond cream. Yum!I love the sound of this #glutenfree offering from @Sentientchef. This is a lovely #lentil lasagne with #cashew cream sauce. @VeganLass also shared her top Lasagne recipe.

On the Pasta theme, check out this #rawvegan version of a #Tagilatelle marinara with ‘cheese’ Gorgeous! Or a very veggie  Spaghetti #squash pasta? I love this stuff! Thank you @FettleVegan

This #sundriedtomato sauce from @apriltui sounds like a great versatile recipe. This pesto also sounds totally tasty.  Or an #Aioli #rawvegan. That will keep the Vampires away!  this #kale #pesto suggested by @VeganStella sounds so good! She replaced the Parmesan with cashew nuts. Here is another pesto from @FettleVegan. This time it’s a #Hemp seed #basil pesto.

How about some #pasta to go with those Pesto’s? @SlowClubCookery has it covered.

This 30 minute meal from @Vegancoaching looks very tasty! Pasta in a creamy #basil sauce. Why not try this Pasta Primavera from @Yogivegetarian. Tasty! I say Yum to this Spaghetti Aglio e olio Alla Oppo (garlic and olive oil) from @emisgoodeating.

You can’t go wrong with #Pizza! I like the look of this suggestion from @BatsandBaking. This Pinwheel #pizza from @TheFriendlyfig looks amazing! This #Taco night pizza from @Leicveggie looks rather special too. I’m positively drooling over this amazing @Fettlevegan pizza! Take a peek at this stunning Smoky Autumn Pizza from @Yogivegetarian.

You will find #gnocchi on most Italian menu’s. This #Pumpkin option looks lovely. Thanks @TheMoralMunch. Or a #sweetpotato version from @Yogivegetarian.

A lovely warming bowl of #Minestrone sound good? I believe it sounds great! Thank you @emisgoodeating.

How about an #Affogato to round it all off? Yum! Thank you @Ephemerienne! These Vegan baked Zeppole from @emisgoodeating look fab! or a nice  Orzo coffee to finish. Aaand breathe out…and change into elasticated waist trousers ;o)

Summer #salad theme 10th july 2014

How glad was i that the weather behaved itself for our Summer ‘salad theme!?! As I’m writing this, I can hear the Birds singing away, the sun is shining down and the grass is trying to convince me to go and cut it. Alas, i think I would actually melt and that would lead all all sorts of problems ;o) These are some of my #lettuce plants growing in the garden. They are too pretty to eat! well, maybe…

Lets have a look at these #salads then! I can honestly say, the collection is a superb one! Salads don’t have to be boring! These suggestions certainly aren’t!

Lets start with these suggestions from @lilmissmeatfree ‘Warm #squash #salad with #sesame and #orange‘. Very nice! Or a lovely ‘#sweetpotato and roasted #radish salad with a #chive and #lime dressing‘ I love a nice ‘Tabbouleh‘ This one looks yummy! I like to use #millet sometimes instead for a change #glutenfree

This suggestion from @dear-kitchen is super tasty. Check out their ‘Two Summer #salads‘ suggestion.

Have a peek at this salad idea from @rosieapples its a totally fab ‘#Blue Cheese (vegan), #Walnuts, #Pomegranate, Pink #Grapefruit, Seeds, Croutons, #Tamari, #Agave & #Cider Dressing’

Here is another photo of a lovely salad from @SentientChef who also shared this suggestion of ‘#Walnut, #Turmeric and sun dried #Tomato Super #Detox Salad‘

Many thanks to @RawVeganista for sharing this ‘#Favabean salad‘ idea.  Another lovely idea came via @LoraxCommunity in the shape of a tongue tingling ‘spicy #sesame salad with #wasabi #aioli‘

#Potato salad? This one suggested by @suindependent sounds great!

This is a great link for #vegan ‘salad #dressings’ or fancy a #coleslaw/#mayonaise? as shared by @ChubbaNia. @FlavourPhotos shared this idea for a ‘#Summer super salad‘ @MarchpaneMedlar shared this lovely recipe for an ‘Edible #flower salad‘ So pretty!
This is a great idea from @RawStylist:

‘Grilled romaine lettuce with strawberries, walnuts, scramble tofu, dried cranberries and mango n avocado, with balsamic vinegar’

Talking of #Tofu, how about this idea from @VeganChatroom.

Many thanks once again to @TheFlexitarian for sharing this amazing selection of recipes: ‘#carrot salad‘ ”Panzanella‘ ‘#Aubergine salad with Spicy roasted #chickpeas‘ ‘#Mango #Tabbouleh‘ ‘#fennel #radish and #pea #mint salad‘ ‘#Asparagus #kale salas with #tahini dressing‘ and last but not least, ‘#Kale salad with roasted butternut #squash and #peanut #tofu‘ Yummmmm!!

This ‘#Eggplant salad with #Cajun dressing‘ from @myveggieweb sounds superb. Or what about ‘#Kale salad with fried #casher #cheese and #pickled #beets‘ from @GirlEatsGreens!?

Make sure you have alook at this superb video shared by @lethalfizzle!How to make a ‘#Cauliflower power salad‘ Brilliant!

Thank you all! What a brilliant collection! So, the next time you hear someone say ‘Salads are boring’ point them in this direction!!

 

 

#Apple theme thursday 26th June 2014

‘An #Apple a day keeps the doctor away’ You must have heard that saying? Where did this saying come from? Why is this? What’s so special about an apple?

Upon investigating, I discovered a 18th Century saying from ‘Notes and Queries magazine’

“A Pembrokeshire proverb. Eat an apple on going to bed, And you’ll keep the doctor from earning his bread.”

Meaning, eating apples keeps you away from seeing your GP!

Apples contain a helpful dose of #VitaminC (around 15% of your RDA) this helps to boost your immune system. They also help to clean your teeth! In the 18th Century, there wasn’t the level of dental hygiene we have now! Apples are also low in calories, each fresh fruit contains around 50 calories with zero #cholesterol. One apple also on average will contain 22% of your RDA of dietary #fiber, keeping you regular!

Here is my apple tree in my garden. (taken from the window where I’m currently writing this) i believe it is a russet type. They are lovely tasting eaters. Ps i know the lawn needs cutting. We have had loads of baby frogs recently and didn’t want to squish them!An apple is also an amazing portable snack. I really enjoy a nice sweet crunchy apple to stop those in between meal cravings. My Dad is very partial to a stuffed apple. Remove the core, stuff the space with dried fruit, cinnamon and sugar to taste. Maybe a lump of marzipan in there too, then bake in the oven until the apple is soft. Lovely with cream, custard or ice cream. A really inexpensive but super tasty dessert!

Its time to have a look at some of the amazing suggestions from the night itself!

Hello to @MarchpaneMedlar and thank you for suggesting this fabulous recipe for ‘Seasonal #Fruit #Tart’ Very tasty indeed! The lovely @FlavourPhotos shared this beautiful recipe (use #vegan alternatives) for ‘#Apple #rose #tarts’ Also for these gorgeous ‘umbrellas on a sunny day’ ‘Zebra ice lollies‘ (no Zebras were hurt in the making or eating of these lollies hehee!)

Many thanks to @vegan_hausfrau for this yummy ‘#apple and #springonion salad’. @PaulYoud once again shared some lovely ideas, ‘Simple #apple #pie’ ‘#marzipan and #apple #tartlets’  and you can also use #apple #puree in these ‘healthy #Dougnuts’ Yum!!

A big thank you once again to @TheFlexitarian for this selection of amazing #apple recipes. Some their own and some of their favorites by other recipe creators. ‘#apple #walnut and #raisin #bread‘ ‘Jerusalem #artichoke #celeriac #apple #soup’ ‘caramelized #apple #risotto‘ ‘#coconut #tofu #curry‘ (with apple) ‘Braised red #cabbage with apples‘ ‘#Quinoa #salad with #avocado, #apple and #beetroot‘ 

Thank you to @VeganFoodChat for their suggestion of ‘#apple #fennel #seitan dogs‘ from the ever awesome @veganyackattack 100% yum!. @RawVeganista was once again generous and shared some recipes. This one for ‘#raw #apple #cinnamon #porridge’ sounds yummy and how fabulous are these ‘#raw vegan #caramel apples‘!!?! fab!  @OurLizzy shared a lovely recipe for ‘Vegan Malvern #pudding‘ http://www.ourlizzy.com/recipe-vegan-malvern-pudding.htm How tasty does that look! The lovely @lilmissmeatfree  also shared a couple of her recipes. Here are ‘Bramley apple #fritters with #toffee sauce#’ and a tasty ‘#beetroot and apple #soup‘. Last but not least, thank you to @VeganStella for this suggestion of a totally tasty ‘#Polenta and Apple #flan’ 

What a wonderful collection!

Thank you once again to everyone who participated. it was another speedy hour wasn’t it! A real #vegancommunity affair.

There were of course many more tweets on the day. Have a look at our twitter feed @veganrecipehour for more tasty-gorgeousness!

#Kohlrabi theme June 19th 2014

Kohlrabi! Ever heard of it?

I personally really like it and have been growing them for the last couple of years. They are however quite hard to get hold of it seems and some people don’t know what they are. So, if you see them for sale at a farmers market of at the supermarket (I also find they are sold in Oriental supermarkets) buy some and have a go at these recipes!

#Kohlrabi belongs to the #Brassica family and there are white and purple varieties. Did you know that Kohlrabi is also sometimes called ‘knol-khol’ or ‘German Turnip’? #Kohlrabi also has a mega amount of vitamin-C! 62 mg per 100g! that is about 102% of RDA. Wow!

Lets have a look at some recipe ideas.

A nice and simple but really tasty ‘#roasted #kohlrabi‘ is a great way to start. How about giving these ‘Baked #kohlrabi homefrys‘ a shot. Or fancy trying a ‘#kohlrabi #puree‘? Lovely! Another lovely idea is ‘#chilli dusted #kohlrabi #fries’. Tasty! Fancy gping #raw? Im definitely going to be trying some ‘#rawvegan #kohlarbi #fries‘ soon! For a more warming dish, why not try this lovely ‘#kohlrabi #soup‘

This ‘#kohlrabi and #cabbage #salad with #maple #lemon #dressing’ sounds awesome! Or a ‘#kale and #kohlrabi #salad‘  How about giving ‘#curried red #lenil #kohlrabi and #couscous #salad‘ a try? With a gorgeous ‘#kohlrabi #slaw with #dill‘

Check out the really interesting ‘#pickles #kohlrabi’ recipe on this link.

Thank you to @VewganChatRoom for suggesting some tasty recipes.

‘Kohlrabi Fries with Vegan Cheese Sauce‘ That sounds sooo yummy! How about another tasty sounding #soup? this time its ‘Kohlrabi and Carrot Soup‘ Lets round off with this uber yummy ‘Vegan #kohlrabi hashbrown skillet‘ I wouldn’t say no!

How are your #veganising skills?  This recipe for ‘#Kohlrabi #remoulade‘ can easily be made #vegan. Thanks @vegsoup4thesoul. This recipe can also be (It works honest!) #veganised by leaving out the egg and replacing the meat for #soyamince and using your favourite #vegan alternatives. ‘German style stuffed #kohlrabi’ . ‘Veganising’ is usually possible with a few changes and replacements here and there. I personally find most things work just fine! So, don’t throw away those old none #vegan cook books, just use your imagination and be confident! After all, if you like all of the ingredients, chances are, you will like the end result!

This is a lovely article with some great recipes as a bonus!

Thank you so much for this Brilliant #kohlrabi recipe ideas roundup from @vegan_hausfrau! Amazing!

Here are some #kohlrabi growing in my #vegpatch at home. The slugs and snails seem to like them!! These are purple ones. I grew white ones last year.

So, if you didnt know what to do with the strange veggie… you do now!

Happy cooking and ..eating!

#Rawvegan Theme 12th June 2014

Wowee!

The #rawvegan theme was amazing! (even if I do say so myself!) I am personally (or was before this!) a total novice when it comes to this subject and was looking forward to en educational hour. I was not let down! Only problem is… what do I make first!!

A raw vegan diet is defined as on that ‘Excludes all food and products of animal origin, as well as food cooked at a temperature above 48°C (118°F) (link) What can be eaten then? Well, all sorts reallyl! Nuts, grains, veggies, pulses. There more or less always seems to be a #raw way of doing it! There are many methods of preparing food as well Soaking, Sprouting, dehydrating, blending, fermenting, pickling and juicing are all acceptable methods.

We were lucky to have @RawVeganista educating us on the subject. They have consumed a Raw #plantbased diet for over 8 yrs so, its safe to say they know a thing or two! Just take a look at this. The contents of their #rawvegan fridge! YUM!

Sweet:

We were also treated to a LIVE cookery demo by @VeganChatRoom! They made some amazing looking (and sounding) ‘#Raw sesame fudge‘ Follow these Photos for progress! 1 2  3  4  and the finished article!  It looks amazing doesn’t it!?

Thank you to @dear_kitchen for this  totally yummy recipe for ‘Valentines day Mousse‘. i cant wait to go shopping to get he ingredients for that!

How about ‘Raw Mint Brownies‘ from the always amazing @Ephemerienne ‘#Raw #strawberry #pie‘  or a ‘#raw keylime #pie‘ I shall definately be trying those out!

‘#Mango #Chia pudding‘ sounds superb! @TheFlexitarian. How about a decadent treat brought to us by @dear_kitchen ‘#raw #chocolate #cake”oh wow!I dont mind if I do…! Fancy a ‘Mini #RawVegan #Chocolate #Cheesecake‘? I know I do! From @SlowCookeryClub. Or a totally stunning ‘#raspberry #cheesecake‘ brought to us by @monicashaw.

Mmm ‘#chocolate #brownies#’ from @VeganTrinity, yes please! And a Brilliant step by step video guide on how to make ‘#raw vegan #choclolate‘! Oh my! Or, #raw #chocolate and #blueberry lovehearts‘. Yes, yes and erm…yes please!

Why not give these amazing ‘#carrot #cake #donuts‘ a go? Dont they look gorgeous!? Thank you also to @VeganChatRoom for sharing one of their favourites ‘#raw #chocolate mousse‘

Savoury:

This recipe is fascinating! I must try it one day soon. ‘#Raw Vegan ‘#butter‘? @rawveganista

Thank you to @TheFlexitarian for sharing this recipe for ‘Celeriac Remoulade With Carrots‘ or an amazing ‘#cashew #creamcheese’!?  This is a fascinating recipe for ‘#carrot leaf #pesto‘ from @TheFlexitarian. #lovefoodhatewaste! (I would personally swap the cheese for #nutritional yeast or leave it out, unless you want to add a Vegan cheese of course. ‘Brussels #Sprouts #Coleslaw With #Pomegranates‘ and a yummy ‘#Fennel, #Radish and #Pea Mint #Salad’

Why not try a legendary ‘#zoodle’ recipe? This one from @apriltui sounds lush! Or a lovely ‘Moroccan-Style #Carrot and Beet #Salad’ shared by @SlowCookeryClub. Thank you again to @vegantriniry for this suggestion of ‘#walnut, #turmeric sundried #tomato #salad‘ And another gorgeous recipe from @Rawveganista ‘#raw vegan hard shell #tacos‘ Just fabulous!

We even have a drink for you to try thanks to @apriltui ‘#Raw #elderflower cordial and Champagne‘ Whats even more fab is, you can use it for this #cheesecake recipe! How Fab is that!

Thank you to every one who shared these amazing recipes and also to every one who participated on the night!

Please check out @veganrecipehour for more gorgeous vegan foodie tweets!

#fennel theme 15th May 2014

Hello Lovelies!

Welcome to another ’round up’ from #veganrecipehour! Our theme on 15th May was #fennel! This included both the bulb and seeds. One of the issues that arose on the night was that many people felt they should be using this sweet, flavoursome aromatic veg a bit more! Lets hope we can inspire!

I personally didn’t like #fennel for many years. Or at least didn’t think I did! But, I stand by my belief that, one can usually find a cooking (or not=eat raw!) method that agrees with our taste buds! Its just a matter of finding out how YOU like to eat it! I found that I prefer fennel (bulb) wither griddled and cooked quickly so that it caramelizes and goes sweet and yummy! Or, slow cooked in a #Tagine is so yummy!. I Love to throw the seeds into a #cabbage/#kale and #leek stirfry or into Veggie soups. For me, it gives it that tasty ‘lift’. I also really enjoy a #fennel #tea. Here is a DIY guide!

#Fennel Foeniculum vulgare is actually part of the #celery family and is a hardy perennial Herb. It is used in the famous drink #Absinthe. #Fennel is frequently used as a breath freshener, after dinner digestive and to treat flatulence!

#Fennel is very low in calories its pretty high in #fibre and has no #cholesterol! Its also #heart friendly! Providing helpful levels of the electrolyte potassium. Helps combat High blood pressure!

So, lets press on with these wonderful recipe suggestions!

Thank you once again to the wonderful @ephemerienne for these lovely ideas! ‘#Tomato and #fennel #soup‘, ‘ #Fennel and #Pear #Salad‘, and ‘#tofu Babette’, thank you! 

Some amazing recipes were suggested by @SasonalShaheen. This one sound so tasty! ‘Fennel and #blackolive #risotto‘ Another Risotto recipe suggestion came in from @Theflexitarian. This one is a bit different as it uses #Quinoa. It has none Vegan ingredients but these can very easily be substituted. It seemed a shame not to share such an interesting idea!

How about this recipe idea? ‘Bulgur wheat salad with fennel, sweetcorn and apple’ as suggested by @Vegsoup4thesoul. What an amazing blend of flavours!

An absolultely fabulous suggestion was shared by @elenabedford ‘fennel & brown rice sushi’ That looks and sounds sooo nice!

Check out this #blog entry from @VeganChatRoom. Its all about their trip to the @WildebeestCafe in #Falmouth Featuring a ‘#Chestnut, #fennel #Tarragon #Ravioli’ Wow!

How about an amazingly hearty sounding suggestion of ‘Chard and Fennel with Blackeyed beans‘ from @SeasonalShaheen?!

Fancy a bit of #couscous? This ‘Garlicky #sausage and #potato with #fennel#’ recipe will hit the spot! Or a lovely ‘#fennel and #chickpea #tagine‘ From @fullbelliesOAB.

These are simply superb! ‘#fennel and #seitan Dogs‘ From @veganYackAttack via @veganfoodchat.

You can catch up with more amazing suggestions and chat on twitter if you search #veganrecipehour or follow us @veganrecipehour.

Lets round it off this week with some fab quotes from the night…Happy #fennel eating all!

‘@VeganDiaries #Fennel :my favorite is to sauté it with black greek olives, simple!’

‘@SeasonalShaheen I tend to enjoy #Fennel fresh, thinly sliced in salads, but I do cook with it sometimes.’

‘@TheFlexitarian love #fennel raw just sliced in salad. Also lovely roasted with olives & tomatoes (a la Provencale)..’

‘@LeicVeggie Not a recipe per say but I love pizza topped w/roasted fennel & onion, kalamata olives, tomato sauce & portobello shrooms’

‘@vegsoup4thesoul Top tip for preparing fennel to roast. Hollow out with an apple corer, trim base flat so it stands up, add white wine!’

‘@vegsoup4thesoul Flavour-wise #fennel goes beautifully roast alongside carrots & parsnips :)’

‘@vegsoup4thesoul Fresh #fennel is lovely in coleslaws & in a simple salad w watercress & thinly sliced oranges (little hemp oil to dress)’

‘@M0nsterG1rl Thinly sliced fennel&apple, covered in fresh lemon juice & a sprinkling of salt.Can’t get enough of it-super fresh&juicy!’

#chickpea #gramflour theme 17th april 2014

Hello again all!

I hope that you are all well? How was the Bank Holiday? Are you now like me, not knowing what day it is? Heheee!

So, our last theme 17th April 2014 was a very popular one. Its a topic I had ‘on the list’ but, following a request by @lukeberman, I decided, ah, why not have it next! So, we had a #chickpea #gramflour theme.

I am a huge fan of both ingredients. Both are hugely versatile and even better, cheap!You can buy a 400g tin of chickpeas for around 40p and a big bag of gram flour for just over a pound.

Chickpeas are a brilliant addition to your diet #vegan or not. They are loaded with #fibre, low Gi, low fat, hight #protein and can help lower LDL Cholesterol! What’s not to love!? It also means many recipes are also #glutenfree and #soyafree.

Lets get started with the recipes!

@veganDisco was kind enough to share a favourite recipe for ‘#Sundal’ How gorgeous does that recipe sound? How about a #Pakora to go with it? Or another recipe idea from @seasonalshaheen for ‘Portobello Mushroom Haggis Pakoras with Curried Neep Chips’ Soundsrather tasty doesnt it!

@lilmissmeatfree likes is ‘fast and Spicy’, or so she says.. ‘15 minute chickpea and spinach curry’ Another curry option was suggested by @Potatostrong. This one is ‘Super Quick and Easy No Fry Chick Pea Curry on Basmati Rice’ Gorgeous!

This ‘chickpea, maple and Apricot Tagine‘ from @lilmissmeatfree is a tasty option. Another #tagine recipe from @FullbelliesOAB is a rateher tasty ‘fennel and chickpea‘ combination. How about a yummy ‘Slow cooker North African Squash and Chickpea stew‘? Or a ‘chickpea and #Seitan tagine‘ from @paulYoud. This ‘Tangy Couscous‘ would go with them fantastically!  Thank you @theflexitarian!

This is really interesting: Did you know it is possible to use #gramflour as a handy #egg replacer? Via @vegan_hausfrau and @veganbaking

You cant go far wrong with #hummus! We regularly eat it in our house. It’s great to play around with different flavours. A great suggestion came in from @veganchatroom who told us that they ‘Made hummus using caramelised garlic and onion, we were out of lemon so used balsamic vinegar instead’. Interesting idea hey!?

Here are some examples or recipe ideas: @ephemerienne suggested this recipe.  How about ‘#kale hummus’ or ‘Avocado hummus‘ As suggested by @theflexitarian. On a similar note, how about this #sandwich idea suggested by @jagrazi ‘Smashed #Chickpea & #Avocado Salad’ Yum! Ever thought of making a #chocolate Hummus? Check this out from @Ephemeriene

Another very popular option (and favourite of mine!) is #socca. Actually, we have having a socca flatbread with our dinner tonight! We are roasting some garlic and then mushing it up and mixing it in the batter. Yum!

How about making a #socca ‘omelette‘? yum! Thank you @PaulYoud. Here is another serving version suggested by @segmentedsarah1. Or how about this idea suggested by @VeganUpNorth ! How amazing do these ‘Wild garlic chickpea pancakes‘ from @seasonalshaheen look and sound?! Thank you to @veganStella for sharing this recipe for ‘Besan omelette‘ Yummy!

We haven’t even touched on #falafel yet! I personally take an easy approach! I mush up #chickpeas and mix with some cumin, coriander, fresh breadcrumbs, lemon, garlic. Form into patties and fry lightly until browned. I also like to add #sweetpotato or #butternutsquash sometimes. You can find loads of recipe suggestions on line. Many are made differently to the cheating way I do them some have baking powder, some deep fry, some have onion…..the options are endless!

Another top choice is to roast your #chickpeas. This is great for a sweet or savoury snack. Yet another thing I love to eat! (there isnt much I dont like to be honest..parsnips though..not a fan) here is a sweet idea from @greedyvegangirl ‘Cinnamon sugar roasted chickpeas’. I like to drain them, dry them and add salt and pepper or smoked paprika, herbs, anything I fancy on the day to be honest! Then bake on a tray until browned.

How about something completely different? Biscuits made with #gramflour! thank you @veganupnorth! ‘Double choc chip chickpea and almond’ Tasty! If you really want to max out with the sweetness, how about this recipe for ‘Kesar burfi‘ Sweet!

Hungry?! I bet!

Can you imagine how I feel after every #veganrecipehour? Hehe!

Thank you once again everyone. It was a great hour. Please check out the #twitter account for more recipes from the night. There were so many amazing ideas!

xVRHx

#orientalvegan theme 27th March 2014

We had a brilliantly busy and fun #veganrecipehour on 27th March thank you all who turned up! The theme was #orientalvegan following a brilliant suggestion from @pandoarnitemare
@vegandisco was ready to go with this impressive pile of on topic books!

Have you ever wondered about the different types of #tofu? Just what is the difference!?

Thank you very much to @lilmissmeatfree for this gorgeous recipe for ‘Chinese Sweet and Sour with Cashew nuts.
@jasminetrinity suggested thus totally yummy recipe for an ‘ Asian Fusion Salad’ Beautiful Sesame and chilli flavours with one of my favourites, smoked tofu! She also suggested this ‘Bean & Noodle Salad’ Yum!

How about trying ‘Grilled Tofu‘ with sweet Chilli sauce and noodles? Totally tummy @potatostrong

Have you tried Seaweed in your recipes? How about giving this fabulous ‘Hijiki-Carrot Salad, Avocado-Cucumber Sushi‘ Thank you @coconut_berries!
Take a peek at this photograph from @vegsoup4thesoul Its a gorgeous serving suggestion for ‘Easy oriental inspired lunch: rice noodles, mixed raw veg, toasted peanuts, sweet chilli sauce’ Yumo! Yet another brilliant recipe suggestion from @RawVeganista ‘spicy green coconut-based soup’
Another gorgeous meal idea came in from @pandoranitemare ‘Stirfry with peanut, chilli & tahini dressing & sesame tofu ‘
Be sure to have a look at this idea for ‘#Rawvegan sushi! This ‘Asian-fusion maki featured avocado, kimchi, & parsnip “rice”’?

A wonderful classic has to be a Blackbean dish! So, how about this ‘3 bean Blackbean stirfry’ Thank you again @jasminetrinity
Or do you fancy a noodle dish recipe? ‘Peanut butter, lime and sesame noodles’ from @lilmissmeatfree
This looks and sounds superb! ‘Tofu Pecan Balls with Sweet and Sour Sauce’ recipe.
How yummy is this fabulous recipe ‘Hijiki Tofu Burgers and carrot dressing’ from @vegangela
Broccoli fried rice? Superb!

This is just a small sample of all the amazing suggestions and discussions we had on the night! Please be sure to check out twitter using the hashtag #veganrecipehour to search for more!

As always, here are a few quotes from the night! Happy eating!

‘@veganNeil I also add dried seaweed to noodles. Makes a cheap wholesome easy lunch in a bowl for work’

‘@Dorset_Vegan I marinade my tofu in ginger, garlic, soy sauce and Mirin b4 frying – love it!’

‘Top tofu tip freeze tofu then defrost and squeeze out water – makes it chewier and less mushy’

‘@TheVeggieGreen If looking for Eastern sauce for noodles,veg or tofu,mix crunchy peanut butter,soy sauce,maple syrup,cayenne,water,whisk’

‘@vegsoup4thesoul Teriyaki sauce: 3tbsp darksoysauce,3tbsp ricewine,2tbsp agave,1tbs cornfl, 1tbsp gratd gingr, ½tbsp garlic puree, 250ml H2O’

‘@pandoranitemare Simple Satay sauce 1tblsp peanut butter,1tsp each chilli sauce, soy sauce & rice syrup – great on parsnips before roasting’

 

 

#aubergine #eggplant theme 20th March 2014

Thursday 20th March #veganrecipehour theme was all about the #aubergine.
It seems that people have mixed feelings about this beautiful shiny purple veggie.
I personally have mixed feelings! I do like and enjoy eating them though. It is true that the texture can be a little but challenging. Undercooked, it can ‘squeek’ on the teeth and overcooked, it can be a little on the slimy side. I believe with all veg, even the things we don’t like, if we try them enough and in different recipes then eventually we will find a way to enjoy them! I enjoy roasting them in herbs and spices, chopped into cubes with slices of onion and either potato/sweet potato cubes or chickpeas.
I’ve got my #aubergine ready and i am raring to go!

So, Do you call it Aubergine or Eggplant? This is an really interesting article which is worth a read!
What’s even more interesting is this list of 208 eggplant varieties! Who knew!
I love this little picture for information about Aubergines.

Thank you to @rawVeganista for pointing us in the direction of this information about #aubergines
so, now we know why we should be eating it, lets discover more about how to eat it!

Two fabulous recipes came in from @lilmissmeatfree @ElenaManighetti who suggested two classic aubergine recipes  ‘Quick and healthy fake parmigiana‘ Suggested by @ElenaManighetti ‘Greek lentil mousakka‘ fabulous!

Some wonderful suggestions from @Ephemerienne (requires translation) Such as ‘Eggplant and cauliflower balti‘  ‘Aubergine slices‘  ‘Asian Tofu and Eggplant’  ‘Aubergine soup‘ thank you!

Thank you to @segmentedsarah1 for a tasty recipe suggestion. ‘aubergine no meat balls‘ that’s something I have never tried and will definitely be giving it a go!
@lilmissmeatfree suggested a stuffed aubergine recipe. ‘Spicy stuffed Aubergine with lemon tahini Couscous’ Gorgeous!

Thank you so much to @VeganDisco for suggesting this very yummy sounding ‘curry’! This is ‘Baingan Bhurta‘ (Roasted Eggplant) You cant really go far wrong with a big plate of that! Another curry idea came in from @KerryMacuska  ‘Raw Eggplant curry over parsnip rice’ Amazing! How about a nice Aubergine chutney to go with them?
@Jasminetrinity suggested a really attractive and yummy looking ‘Aubergine and Bean rolls’ recipe yum!
‘Eggplant bacon?’ yes, you heard it right! Thank you to @KerryMacuska for this intriguing recipe! (swap honey if you wish)
‘Chinese Aubergine‘ Seems like a great idea!  thank you @B-boheme!

‘Eggplant chips‘ Anyone tried them? No, me neither! I will be doing soon though!
Thank you @jagrazi!
Ever tried a #raw Aubergine?  check out thie blog post from @RawVeganista telling us all about it! I never thought raw Aubergine could look so appealing! Thank you!
Another tasty #raw recipe was suggested by @KerryMacuska ‘Eggplant “Tortilla” w/Guac and Mixed Veggies’ Very nice!

I hope you have found something you fancy trying! Remember you can find more suggestions and recipes by searching #veganrecipehour on #twitter!

To round up, here are a few quotes from the night,

‘@Veganbandb Berenjena frita is in all tapas bars, breaded fried aubergine, it’s vegan friendly and yummy with a drizzle of agave!‘

‘@myfridgie I don’t really cook with aubergine. I find the texture a bit odd :s But I have to admit Baba Ganoush is pretty great 🙂

‘@eating_veggie Anyone use aubergine as a thickener? Roast them up, remove the flesh, blend and add to your sauce, works a treat!

‘@ZoeAnderson Roast aubergine and chickpea stew fromand my homemade ratatouille in the slow cooker’ Yum!

#veganrecipehour 30th january #Dumpdairy theme

Inspired by  a great suggestion by @lukeberman, we decided to go ahead with the theme of #dumpdairy.
It was a great chance to get that hashtag out there a bit more and support viva!
It was a rather busy hour and once again great fun.
Many fabulous recipes were suggested, fabulously illustrating the fact that you simply do not need Dairy products to have great food. It is possible to make what are traditionally dairy rich foods, out of Plant based ingredients! It shows the amazing creativity that vegans have.it really is impressive and something to be proud of. So…what’s your excuse not to #dumpdairy!?! Make the ethical choice today!

I am only including the recipes on the blog but please, catch up with the chat on twitter. Search through the tweets until you get to 30th January 2014. there you can follow conversations and pick up some great tips and advice.

Lets start with this  superbly hearty and warning looking dish from @grnknittinggal in the shape of a White bean pesto millet risotto. Yum!
How about taking a look at this gratain recipe from @veganVoxBlog
Creamy gorgeousness!
What about a quiche!? Is that possible still with a vegan diet? It sure is! Why not give this recipe from @GourmetVegan thats milk, cheese and eggs dumped!
Fancy a nice bowl of soup? This Creamy roasted root vegetable soup from @naturalfuelblog fits the   brief!  A fabulous choice for a cold winters day! @naturalfuelblog. Or a ‘creamy roast cauliflower and garlic’ soup from @fullbelliesOAB how about a ‘Chowder style bake‘!? No cream in sight!
This white sauce recipe was sugested by @VeganStella
This is really handy as well. Its all about how to make creamy rich sauces without the use of any dairy products. Thanks to @VeganChatRoom for the suggestion. Who also suggested this gorgous looking Baked nut cheese! 
Fussy Belly Green Beans with Cream Sauce recipe was suggested by @RebelWheelsNYC  It sounds really interesting!
Isa Chandra’s Mac and Shews (macaroni cheese) recipe is a great suggestion by @foodtoinclude Who also suggested this cheesecake recipe#. More ‘Cheese‘ information can be found courtesy of the Vegan Society.

That reminds me! Lets not forget the sweet stuff!!

Check out this totally amazing ‘lavender Mocha dream ice cream’ recipe from @lizzdelicious also a fabulous sounding Lavender earl grey iced late!
How scrumptious does this ‘kiwi and lime tarte‘ with crème Patisserie look! Phwoar! from @lilmissmeatfree
This Cookie Pie recipe from @vegsoc National Vegetarian Week was suggested by @flavourphotos who said: ‘It’s amazing!’ It most certainally looks it!
25 amazing vegan ice creams? Dont mind if I do!

To round things up, here are a few quotes from #veganrecipehour that you might find useful. Many many more can be found if you look through the tweets from the night. Thank you once again to every one who participated!

‘TheVeggieGreen ‏@TheVeggieGreen Jan 30
Fav with vegans everywhere is cheeze sauce made w/almond milk,nutritional yeast,flour,salt/pepper, try add miso = gorgeous #veganrecipehour
Favourited by TheVeggieGreen
SarahE ‏@segmentedsarah1 Jan 30 #veganrecipehour Isa Chandra’s “Tofu Mushroom Stroganoff, p130 Isa Does It, uses cashew cream and is so light & delicious. Top recipe!
Potato Strong ‏@PotatoStrong Jan 30
@veganrecipehour I make banana milk every morning with my cereal. Blend 1 banana and 1-2 cups of cold water – so creamy!
rhonda ‏@tikibgood Jan 30
@veganrecipehour strict vegan-the cruelty of the dairy industry is sad.make green smoothie -bananas- soy yoghurt- kale-almond milk-yum!!!
Raz & Daz ‏@RazzleDazzleIce Jan 30
@veganrecipehour Oh yes! Been a steep learning curve, but actually it’s quite easy when you understand. Koko milk is amazing #dumpdairy’