If you’re feeling a craving for chocolate cake but baking a whole cake would be a curse in the making, then try this 1-minute microwave mug cake. Yes, it’s indulgent. But at least it just makes one portion, so you definitely won’t end up devouring a whole cake and suffering the predictable guilt afterwards.
Coffee Naps
Spoiler alert: I’m about to share a brilliant secret to napping. The key? Coffee. Better than either coffee or naps, are coffee naps! Napping fails For a long time, particularly in my first year of undergrad, I got trapped in a really unhealthy sleep cycle. I’d get home after a long day of lectures and tutorials, too done in to …
Smoothies, Salads, Soups & Stews
I’m an avid habit-tracking (and bullet journaling) enthusiast, and one of the things that I try to check off daily is “Smoothie, Salad, Soup or Smoothie”. Even if my other meals are monotonous and dull, just having that one “S-meal” (as I call it) per day helps ensure that I ingest a wider variety of foods. A diversity of whole, plant-based …
Red Cabbage Salad
Red cabbage is possibly one of the most beautiful vegetables out there – at least, I think so. And it’s really healthy, with its cruciferous powers and phytonutrients. But one small head of cabbage is actually a LOT of food, so it’s a good idea to know what you’re going to do with it. Otherwise it’ll be staring at you sadly every time you open the fridge.
Palmier
This is the perfect recipe for last-minute pop-ins from friends. Just make sure you have puff pastry defrosted (or defrost on low in the microwave). It’s a bit naughty (puff pastry has saturated fats, and there’s quite a bit of sugar in the recipe) – but that’s ok from time to time!
Coffee lovers, this one’s for you
I’ve gotta say, I love my strong morning coffee. It’s a daily ritual that gets me buzzing, and I’m quite ok to be labelled a coffeeholic. Although if I’m honest, I probably don’t need it. On the odd occasion when I’ve run out of coffee, I’ve managed without a problem. But I figured it’s probably a good idea to learn …
Ending the mass culling of male chicks
I read in the news this week that Germany is drafting a new law that will ban the culling of male chicks in the poultry industry. The article reminded me of a little “investigation” I undertook a few years ago, to find out about what actually goes on in our local egg industry. I first learnt about this practice of …
Aquafaba Meringues
I remember when a meringue was still the holy grail of vegan kitchen experiments, before aquafaba was discovered (almost simultaneously, in different kitchens) 🧁 Since then, it’s become a must-have in vegan kitchens everywhere—and thank goodness it’s so accessible! Just a can of chickpeas (or other beans) will give you the gift of this magical bean water.
How to get enough omega-3 fatty acids on a vegan diet
Hold on tight! We’re uncovering some of the mysteries of essential fatty acids, why they’re important, where we can find them in foods, and whether we should supplement them. I’m rarely satisfied with a cursory overview and find myself digging into the details to understand as much as possible. This is a fascinating topic with still-evolving research, and I hope …
Spiced Molasses Muffins with Flax and Oats
I wanted to experiment with using a generous amount of flaxseed in a muffin, and I also wanted to use up some blackstrap molasses that I found in the cupboard. I added some spices to complement the strong molasses flavour, some oats for fibre and dates as an extra treat, and ta-da! We have a breakfast muffin that packs a punch.
Mushroom super-powers
I love mushrooms, and I get a bunch pretty much every time I do a grocery haul. Their texture can be astonishingly meaty (have you tried my Meaty Marinated Mushrooms?) and they bring wonderful umami to a dish. I have, however, come across fringe questions about whether they’re even vegan – it never occurred to me to asked myself that question! I knew that …
Gnocchi with Oyster Mushrooms
I got an oyster mushroom growing kit as a gift (thanks mom!) and it was quite exciting to wake up each morning to see how much it had grown. It even attracted a little spider-friend to live in the village of gill-caps, so cute!
5 ways that we can do better in 2021
I’m not one to set New Year’s Resolutions, but this year is different. The shit-storm that was 2020 has taught me a lot, especially this: we need to do better. Yes, do Veganuary. Yes, call your family more. But these things alone are not enough, while the world is reeling from the impacts of COVID-19 and the ongoing climate crisis. As …
Vegan Greek Salad
A Greek salad is just not the same without the feta. You could make your own from scratch (there are recipes based on tofu, or almonds) but that’s a mission. And why bother when you can buy it ready made?
‘Plant-based’ vs ‘Vegan’, explained
With the start of Veganuary next month, hundreds of thousands of people around the world will be trying out a vegan diet. Thanks to initiatives like this and others, there’s been a huge shift in the global food industry with more and more innovative plant-based alternatives to meat, dairy and eggs.But what’s the difference between a vegan diet and a plant-based …
Whole-Roasted Cauliflower
This is my favourite way to have cauliflower: so full of flavour yet still light and fresh enough to include on an indulgent festive menu.
Vegan Malva Pudding
You know that feeling you get when you tuck into a familiar childhood favourite? Mmmm that is what malva pudding gives me, every time!
Festive gathering survival guide for vegans
It’s the holiday season, and some of us are fortunate enough to safely share a meal with our nearest and dearest, despite corona-times. However, family gatherings around the dinner table can be stressful if you’ve recently changed your diet away from the dominant food culture. My first Christmas gathering after I shifted to a vegan diet was pretty tough: watching …
