I completely forgot to mention my lovely Christmas meal. We were invited at a friends house and she cooked for the meaty people. The soup would be vegan, but to be on the safe side, I brought my own main course and dessert.
For starter we had a lovely onion soup. For my main course, I'd made a yummy vegan puff pastry filled with veggies and covered with vegan cheese. All the trimmings my friend had cooked, I could eat.
As a dessert I had made an apple-up side down cake with warm custard.
As a vegan you don't have to miss out on the Christmassy stuff. I had a lovely Christmas!
Saturday, 31 December 2011
Tuesday, 27 December 2011
losing weight...
Yep,
A lot of people ask me if I loose weight now I'm vegan. I don't know where the idea comes from, but let me tell you that since I started my vegan lifestyle in October I've gained quite a few kilos :-(
Cooking is much more fun now it's a challenge and all the baking I'm doing to find nice cake and cookie recipes... Ohohohohoh. I don't have to go on the scales, the mirror tells me all I (don't) want to know.
10 kilo has to go.
A lot of people ask me if I loose weight now I'm vegan. I don't know where the idea comes from, but let me tell you that since I started my vegan lifestyle in October I've gained quite a few kilos :-(
Cooking is much more fun now it's a challenge and all the baking I'm doing to find nice cake and cookie recipes... Ohohohohoh. I don't have to go on the scales, the mirror tells me all I (don't) want to know.
10 kilo has to go.
Friday, 23 December 2011
Apple Up-side-down cake
It's been quite a while since I posted. The up side down cake I made last time got mixed reactions. I made another one. This time an Apple up side down, and that got very good marks from my neighbours.
Here's the recipe:
It's for a small 11cm springform, so really for max. two people.
50 gram vegan butter
100 gr plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
2 tbsp soya milk
50 gr caster sugar
300 gr cooking apples, peeled, cored and chopped
50 gr sultanas
1 tbsp sugar
Method:
Pre heat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius.
- Place apples, sultanas and sugar with a little water in a pan and simmer for approx. 5 minutes. Leave to cool.
- Mix flour, butter and baking powder
- Rub the butter in the flour mix
- Add the milk 1 spoon at the time and mix till you have a smooth batter
- Line the springform with bakingsheet
- Put the apples at the bottom of the springform
- Poor over the batter and bake the cake in the oven for approx. 40 minutes
Bon appétit!
Here's the recipe:
It's for a small 11cm springform, so really for max. two people.
50 gram vegan butter
100 gr plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
2 tbsp soya milk
50 gr caster sugar
300 gr cooking apples, peeled, cored and chopped
50 gr sultanas
1 tbsp sugar
Method:
Pre heat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius.
- Place apples, sultanas and sugar with a little water in a pan and simmer for approx. 5 minutes. Leave to cool.
- Mix flour, butter and baking powder
- Rub the butter in the flour mix
- Add the milk 1 spoon at the time and mix till you have a smooth batter
- Line the springform with bakingsheet
- Put the apples at the bottom of the springform
- Poor over the batter and bake the cake in the oven for approx. 40 minutes
Bon appétit!
Wednesday, 30 November 2011
Weather is miserable today and to be honest, for the last week. Rain and heavy storm and cold. Fields are flooding around our little village. At night I get the horses in, out of the wet field and on to the concrete. They don't seem to mind. Around 10PM they are already waiting to get in.
The weather is that bad that not even the dogs want to go outside but curl up on the couch or in their beds in front of the woodburner.
Approaching the festive season, I thought it's time to experiment with some vegan baking. No eggs and no "normal" butter.
Today I have a pear/banana/walnut up side down cake in the oven. Never done one before and it's a bit of trial and error I think. My neighbours will be my guinea pigs. They don't know it yet though :-)
I wrote down all the ingredients I used. If it's a hit I'll post it on here.
With the cake in the oven I can concentrate on my last Christmas commission. You can follow the progress on my FB page or my blog. Just visit my website and follow the links.
The weather is that bad that not even the dogs want to go outside but curl up on the couch or in their beds in front of the woodburner.
Approaching the festive season, I thought it's time to experiment with some vegan baking. No eggs and no "normal" butter.
Today I have a pear/banana/walnut up side down cake in the oven. Never done one before and it's a bit of trial and error I think. My neighbours will be my guinea pigs. They don't know it yet though :-)
I wrote down all the ingredients I used. If it's a hit I'll post it on here.
With the cake in the oven I can concentrate on my last Christmas commission. You can follow the progress on my FB page or my blog. Just visit my website and follow the links.
Wednesday, 16 November 2011
Just a quick note.
I'm very busy at the moment with my paintings. I have commissions to finish before Christmas and they have to be framed and sent to the client. This Saturday I will be going to my parents again. Hubby will look after the animals :-)
When I'm back I will up date my blog. I have some nice new websites and apps too for you.
Talk to you next week.
I'm very busy at the moment with my paintings. I have commissions to finish before Christmas and they have to be framed and sent to the client. This Saturday I will be going to my parents again. Hubby will look after the animals :-)
When I'm back I will up date my blog. I have some nice new websites and apps too for you.
Talk to you next week.
Saturday, 5 November 2011
Donna's soup (the recipe)
I think my husbands American Mam Donna won't mind that I share her Orzo Corn Soup recipe with you. I made some slight changes as I can't get any Orzo here where I live. You can easily replace it with brown rice.
Here we go:
1.5tbsp olive or rapeseed oil
vegetable stock. I use veggie stock cubes and 1.5ltr water
2 chopped onions
4 garlic cloves chopped (I love garlic, but of course you can use less)
150 gr brown rice
1 tbsp oregano
2 tins chopped tomatoes
250 gram corn kernels
salt
1 tbsp basil
pepper
Sauté the onions in the oil till tender and than ad all the rest of the ingredients. Bring to the boil and simmer for 15minutes (or more depending on the rice)
I easily forget the soup and it might simmer for half an hour :-)
This really is a very filling soup. Make it in big quantities and put it in the freezer. Enjoy.
Here we go:
1.5tbsp olive or rapeseed oil
vegetable stock. I use veggie stock cubes and 1.5ltr water
2 chopped onions
4 garlic cloves chopped (I love garlic, but of course you can use less)
150 gr brown rice
1 tbsp oregano
2 tins chopped tomatoes
250 gram corn kernels
salt
1 tbsp basil
pepper
Sauté the onions in the oil till tender and than ad all the rest of the ingredients. Bring to the boil and simmer for 15minutes (or more depending on the rice)
I easily forget the soup and it might simmer for half an hour :-)
This really is a very filling soup. Make it in big quantities and put it in the freezer. Enjoy.
Tuesday, 1 November 2011
The Asian Vegan Kitchen (a gem of a cookbook)
It was my birthday last week and I got a vegan cookbook from a dear friend.
I have already a few vegan cookbooks, but this one is a gem. It's written by Hema Parekh and covers more than 200 recepies from Asian countries.
Countries covered are: India, Japan, China, Thailand, Vietnam, Burma, Indonesia, Malaysia and Korea. I have seen already quite some lovely recepies I'm going to try. I'm familiar with the Indian, Chinese, Indonesian, Thai and Malaysian kitchen ,but the other ones are new to me, and let be honest... You can never have too many cookbooks.
Hema keeps it very simple. She gives a clear list of ingredients, and simple step by step how to do it. The pictures are very well presented and makes you want to create that dish. At the back there is a very helpful Glossary of ingredients in case you don't know what some ingredients are.
Almost all of the ingredients can be bought in a good stocked supermarket. I had already a look in my cupboard and fridge to see if I have enough to make a few nice dished. I'm going Burmese tonight: Curry with split pea fritters and rice.
I have already a few vegan cookbooks, but this one is a gem. It's written by Hema Parekh and covers more than 200 recepies from Asian countries.
Countries covered are: India, Japan, China, Thailand, Vietnam, Burma, Indonesia, Malaysia and Korea. I have seen already quite some lovely recepies I'm going to try. I'm familiar with the Indian, Chinese, Indonesian, Thai and Malaysian kitchen ,but the other ones are new to me, and let be honest... You can never have too many cookbooks.
Hema keeps it very simple. She gives a clear list of ingredients, and simple step by step how to do it. The pictures are very well presented and makes you want to create that dish. At the back there is a very helpful Glossary of ingredients in case you don't know what some ingredients are.
Almost all of the ingredients can be bought in a good stocked supermarket. I had already a look in my cupboard and fridge to see if I have enough to make a few nice dished. I'm going Burmese tonight: Curry with split pea fritters and rice.
Friday, 28 October 2011
Be honest....
Next time when you buy a product and think or know the producer tests on animals STOP, THINK about your beloved pet (it could have been him/her...) and BUY an alternative. There is almost for everything an alternative. You only have to look that bit further.
If you say you love animals this is something you have to do otherwise you contradict yourself, or to put it more clearly: It's hypocrytical. On the one hand you say you love animals, but on the otherhand, you happily buy stuff make from animals, or tested on animals.
Maybe you should turn of the automatic pilot, the easy option. It's worth giving it a try.
If you say you love animals this is something you have to do otherwise you contradict yourself, or to put it more clearly: It's hypocrytical. On the one hand you say you love animals, but on the otherhand, you happily buy stuff make from animals, or tested on animals.
Maybe you should turn of the automatic pilot, the easy option. It's worth giving it a try.
Know what's in your Cosmetics
I just added a new link. It's for a website called "Skindeep" and they research the ingredients put in cosmetics. They have labeled them from 0 to 10, with 0-2 being of less hazard, 3-6 moderate and 7-10 high hazard for your health.
It's a very interesting website......... You'll find for instant very well known names in the frangrance sector labelled 8 and over and unsure if animal tested. Really, it makes an interesting read.
It's a very interesting website......... You'll find for instant very well known names in the frangrance sector labelled 8 and over and unsure if animal tested. Really, it makes an interesting read.
Viva
I wanted to recommend a health shop in Tubbercurry, co. Sligo. The shop is called Viva natural health and Therapy Centre.
I found it last week, when I was in Tubbercurry. Although it's in the main shopping street, I never new it was there because it's just out of my route. I found it by accident.
The Lady is really very helpful and when I told her I just started being vegan, she checked all my purchases to make sure they were all suitable for vegans. They have a wide range of products on offer. From food to beauty products and environmentally friendly household products. They also offer a wide range of homeopathic therapies like Aromatherapy, Biodynamic Massage, reflexology and Kinesiology.
The address: Teeling street, Tubbercurry
I found it last week, when I was in Tubbercurry. Although it's in the main shopping street, I never new it was there because it's just out of my route. I found it by accident.
The Lady is really very helpful and when I told her I just started being vegan, she checked all my purchases to make sure they were all suitable for vegans. They have a wide range of products on offer. From food to beauty products and environmentally friendly household products. They also offer a wide range of homeopathic therapies like Aromatherapy, Biodynamic Massage, reflexology and Kinesiology.
The address: Teeling street, Tubbercurry
Tuesday, 25 October 2011
Calcium
Isn't it strange, that the first thing people ask me when they hear I'm vegan is 'How do you get your calcium" They never ask a person who is lacto intolerance that question ;-)
From now on I'll say "Just as the cow gets is". I wonder how many will make the link between eating greens and getting calcium. A lot of people forget that calicium is a mineral and that it is in the ground. Cows, horses, sheep etc. get calcium in their bodies because they eat greens
I also wonder if people realise that humans are the only animals that drink breastmilk as adults, because that is what milk and products derived from milk is. Mamals only produce milk after giving birth, so what non vegans drink is another animals breastmilk :-D
From now on I'll say "Just as the cow gets is". I wonder how many will make the link between eating greens and getting calcium. A lot of people forget that calicium is a mineral and that it is in the ground. Cows, horses, sheep etc. get calcium in their bodies because they eat greens
I also wonder if people realise that humans are the only animals that drink breastmilk as adults, because that is what milk and products derived from milk is. Mamals only produce milk after giving birth, so what non vegans drink is another animals breastmilk :-D
Thursday, 20 October 2011
A lovely Pâté
Just back from the Netherlands. I would have loved to visit a few shops to see what's on offer for vegans, but I didn't get round to it. I'll be back again in November and who knows, it might work then.
In the meantime, I found a lovely vegan Pâté. It's from a UK based Company called Granovita. I tried the vegetable pâté with onions and herbs. I thought it was very yammy. It smells nice, which, to me is very important. If it smells nice one is more likely to like the product, and it spreads easily.
Definitely something to put on my favourites list.
In the meantime, I found a lovely vegan Pâté. It's from a UK based Company called Granovita. I tried the vegetable pâté with onions and herbs. I thought it was very yammy. It smells nice, which, to me is very important. If it smells nice one is more likely to like the product, and it spreads easily.
Definitely something to put on my favourites list.
Thursday, 13 October 2011
Yoghurt
I found a lovely yogurt in a health shop not far from were we live. Made from soya, but not the nutty taste you get from some other brands. It's called "Sojade" and 100% vegetal. I'll put a link up to the manufactures website. It's in French, but at least you know what to look for.
It's a very full, creamy tasting yogurt. I haven't tasted anything like before. I have to be careful not to empty the whole tub in one go :-)
It's a very full, creamy tasting yogurt. I haven't tasted anything like before. I have to be careful not to empty the whole tub in one go :-)
Sunday, 9 October 2011
Some Thoughts...
It's interesting,
When I was a vegetarian I tried to use as less as possible brands that either test on animals, or use animal ingredients in their product, but you would be surprised how many very well known Brands still test on animals.
Now being vegan I'm even more aware of it and it's really fun to search the Internet and find replacements, so now I use vegan make-up, from eye shadow to cleanser. From bath foam to hair colouring and it all is great and does the job even better than all those famous brands. Where I live there are not a lot of shops that sell vegan stuf except for the usual soya butter and yogurt, but with Internet it's so easy and no excuse not to go that extra mile and do my share to make live better for our fellow animals. Price wise it's not more expensive either.
You're wondering what Brands still test on animals? Here are a few, but the list is endless:
L'Oreal
Max Factor
Helene Rubenstein
Ponds
Panthene
Maybelline
Giorgio Armani
Garnier
Lancome
Dove
Lux
Listerine
Ralph Lauren
These are just some cosmetic Brands but of course a lot more industries still test on animals. You just have to Google.
When I was a vegetarian I tried to use as less as possible brands that either test on animals, or use animal ingredients in their product, but you would be surprised how many very well known Brands still test on animals.
Now being vegan I'm even more aware of it and it's really fun to search the Internet and find replacements, so now I use vegan make-up, from eye shadow to cleanser. From bath foam to hair colouring and it all is great and does the job even better than all those famous brands. Where I live there are not a lot of shops that sell vegan stuf except for the usual soya butter and yogurt, but with Internet it's so easy and no excuse not to go that extra mile and do my share to make live better for our fellow animals. Price wise it's not more expensive either.
You're wondering what Brands still test on animals? Here are a few, but the list is endless:
L'Oreal
Max Factor
Helene Rubenstein
Ponds
Panthene
Maybelline
Giorgio Armani
Garnier
Lancome
Dove
Lux
Listerine
Ralph Lauren
These are just some cosmetic Brands but of course a lot more industries still test on animals. You just have to Google.
The beginning
This blog will be all about me being a vegan. Because I'm also a painter, I thought I call my blog "The vegan painter".
I have been a vegetarian for a long time now, and thought about taking it one step further, so since last week I try to be as vegan as I feel comfortable with.
Being a vegetarian meant that I would still eat dairy products, but then, for dairy products like butter, cheese and milk, an animal needs to have calved. Most of those calves will end up being killed sooner or later. As I can't kill an animal (No, not even a spider although I'm scared of them) I should try to avoid as much as possible products that involves the killing of animals. Of course there will be things that contain animal products without knowing, or you just can't get around it, but being vegan is not about being perfect. In my opinion it's about trying to do as much as possible to avoid useless killing of fellow animals. What does that mean "feel comfortable with" you might ask.
Well, for instant; Vegans don't eat eggs. If it would be battery eggs, I can understand that, and even free range does not always mean really free. I know that a lot of the time free range means that the chickens live in big sheds. They don't really run free in a garden or so, they just have a bigger enclosed area. We have been thinking of getting some ex battery hens from a rescue centre to give them a nice free live. Chickens lay eggs, if you want it or not and no vegan has yet been able to tell me what to do with those not fertile eggs if I'm not allowed to eat them.
There will definitely be more things that I think 'mmmm, why is that" but I will deal with that when the occasion arises.There is already one positive thing that I encountered. I'm a chocoholic and doing my shopping would surely mean ending up with something chocolaty in my trolley, and because I try to shed a few kilos, that's not a good thing. Now, when I do my shopping and I feel a chocolate craving coming I just think about the milk in it, and I don't want it anymore. Of course there is lots of chocolate that I am allowed to eat as a vegan because chocolate is from origin vegan, but the things I like are not.
I know there are dairy free chocolate products, but I have to travel quite a distance to get those. I could buy them over the internet of course, but I'm not that desperate:-) In this blog I will also try and review vegan stuff and let you know the outcome. Because I live in Ireland it will be most of the time products available in Europe, but if you want to put up a review from vegan products available outside Europe, please feel free to do so.
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