Archive for the ‘Vegan’ Category

• Vegan/Vegetarian Nachos

  Date: 2011.11.21 | Category: Life, Recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian | Response: 0

  Last night I made vegetarian nachos, but because I’m dairy free I also had to have a vegan option for me. Here is what I did (just made it up) Serves 4 (although I had some mix leftover…lunch!)

  -a couple tbsp canola oil to frypan
  -about a cup or so of frozen chopped onions (I’ve given up chopping them, much rather be able to see to cook!)
  -fry until start to brown, add some water and fry until nearly dry, add next ingredient and some water so it doesn’t burn. Continue to do this for each ingredient if needed.
  -a small red and green capsicum sliced thinly
  -2 large stalks of celery diced
  -about a cup of frozen corn
  -a 420g can of red kidney beans (drained)
  -a large tsp minced garlic (probably about 2-3 cloves)
  -cook until it all looks bright and kinda mushy!
  -420g can Sanitarium Casserole Mince (or chopped mushrooms if you’re avoiding the TVP)
  -a small jar mild “Old El Paso” Taco Salsa (I would prefer hotter but the kids were eating this) after emptying add third jar water to rinse out the rest of the contents and add some water to the mixture.
  -simmer until heated through.
  -grate cheese (about 100-150g?)
  -corn chips on plates (I used about a packet of plain doritos (the green one!)
  -sprinkle with cheese (dribble a bit of tahini over for vegan)
  -spoon over mixture
  -top with cheese (more tahini for vegan option)
  -microwave each plate for 1min high (1100watt)
  -spoon some sour cream on each plate (except vegan)
  -can add spring onion greens if available at this stage
  Enjoy!

• Why I am dairy (and meat) free.

  Date: 2011.04.14 | Category: Family Journal, Health, Life, Vegan, Vegetarian | Response: 0

  I have been on a journey over the past 5 or 6 years to become completely dairy-free.  I’d always had sinus problems really all my life.  Mum used to say we should tie a bag on my nose.  Little did we know, until only 5 years ago, that I had an allergy to dairy.  More specifically the caesin, or the protein in cow’s and goat’s milk.

  It all started when my Mum got a virus when I was a baby, breastfeeding.  She said the doctors at the time told her to feed me on a corn-based syrup formula and that I would grow out of the symptoms.  To an extent I did.  But I always had a blocked  nose.

  Fast forward about thirty years.   I still had a permanent blocked nose plus felt like I always had a cold,  infected throat, achey joints, bloating, acne/bad skin, Endometriosis, poor concentration, foggy brain and extremely fatigued.  I didn’t know this was not normal and couldn’t understand how people did so much.  I decided to go off milk for a week and see if this was the cause.  My throat dried up.  It hurt.  It was weird without the post-nasal drip, but I could breathe!  And smell! (not so good when you have pets).  My endometriosis seemed gone too (symptom free) for a couple of months.  Of course my love of cheese, chocolate and milk made it hard to stay off them and everything went back to the way it was only worse.   Every month was hell.  I would be in so much pain it was excrutiating (just ask my family) I couldn’t walk or do the normal daily things without a lot of effort, I’d just sit on the couch for about a day, sometimes crying.  It made it hard to plan things, or follow things through.

  Now I have been dairy free for nearly a year, I also decided in October 2010 to follow my husband’s lead and give up eating meat.  I still had eggs and fish (I’ve since stopped eating fish as well).  I have substituted some things, like having soy milk or almond milk instead of cows milk for my coffee and tea, but other things I’ve just eliminated, like cheese.  I did try soy cheese, once.  I’ve lost about 8kg since being vegetarian. I have energy, a clear mind, clear sinuses, less painful months, joints less achey, no bloating or water retention, no sore throat and clear skin.  Whether it’s the lack of dairy or meat in my diet, I don’t care, I’m just glad I’m healthy now and I can function!

• Menu Planning Monday

  Date: 2011.04.11 | Category: Family Journal, Health, Life, Menu Plan Monday, Vegan, Vegetarian | Response: 3

  This weeks weather is going to be a little warmer this week compared to last.  Nothing extreme so I don’t need to warm us up with hearty meal.  Maybe Saturday I’ll look at doing something with little cooking to reduce the relative heat in the kitchen.  33c will feel hot after it being so cold.

  Monday: Easy Night

  Tuesday: Pasta, Garlic Bread & Side Salad

  Wednesday: Polenta Stuffed Capsicum & Salad

  Thursday: Potato, Baked Beans, Spinach & Garden Salad

  Friday: Vegie Burgers & Chips

  Saturday: Salads

  Sunday: Vegies

  Of course there is every chance that we’ll eat these in a different order, but that’s the meals for this week!

• Vegan Porridge

  Date: 2011.04.08 | Category: Health, Life, Recipes, Vegan | Response: 0

  Good morning.  I’m pleased to report that it was 6c this morning!  It was 35c a couple of days ago.  Autumn has finally arrived.

  Though I have been eating porridge most mornings summer through I have been missing the creaminess of milk with it.  I tried it with soy milk, once.  I remembered that I made almond milk a while back and thought to give that a try.  So I made up  a batch of almond milk and YUM!  It worked.  So my new morning porridge routine is as follows (all measurements are Australian).

  Vegan Porridge

  1/4 cup dry rolled oats (Black and Gold are only $1.30 per 750g!)

  1/2 cup almond milk (instead of water)

  put into a highish sided microwavable bowl

  heat on high for 1.25 min (1100watt)

  let sit and soak

  drizzle pure maple syrup over to sweeten.

  
  

  Almond Milk

  Soak 1 cup almonds (raw) in 2 – 3 cups water 6-8 hours

  Blanch almonds (pour hot water over) and let sit for about 30 – 60 min

  Peel almonds

  Process almonds with 2-3 cups water in a blender/food processor.  The more water the thinner it will be.  Use less water for an almond paste.

  Strain through cheesecloth into a bowl.

  Store in airtight bottle/jug in fridge for 2-3 days.

  Save almond meal for baking.

  You can sweeten it at the processing stage with some honey, maple syrup (which has calcium) or stevia to taste.  I don’t because sometimes it’s ok by itself, depends on the nuts.

  Porridge in the morning has helped me to feel fuller and stops me from getting hungry fast.  If I get hungry quickly I tend to grab for junk food.  If I find it’s not enough for breakfast I have a couple slices of toast with 100% fruit spread as a second breakfast and a cup of tea.  This good start to the day helps me have the energy to get the housework I want to do done and actually exercise, voluntarily!