It's the weekend!!

Conscious Chocolate.

I am yet to try this chocolate but it just made it to the top of my list.

Spice roasted chickpeas.

I've seen a few awesome looking spiced chickpea recipes floating around lately and have been stockpiling until the right meal comes along.

Constantly trying to eat healthy (a better version of a diet) I am always looking for tasty snacks with minimal calories (sweets/chips = NOT worth the extra time at the gym).

I've been making lots of salads lately too so spiced chickpeas would be a wonderful crunchy addition (healthy croutons!)

Anyways last night when I was making rice paper rolls I saw a can of chickpeas in the cupboard and thought "it's time, I DO have the million spices on hand..."

SO, behold - this recipe was a winner.

• 1 x 99c tin of chickpeas, drained
• A whole heap of tasty spices
• A dash of olive oil and;
• A trip in the oven

I MAY have eaten a lot of these straight off the baking tray but the rest will be for snacks/croutons :)

Seriously, give these a go - they're STUPIDLY yum. 

Rice paper rolls.

I make rice paper rolls pretty regularly as they're delicious, healthy and light.

Awesome for dinner, awesome for lunch - yes indeed.

I serve with a few dipping sauces;

• Sweet chilli
• Satay
• Chilli, ginger and garlic (from my Indian grocer)
• Soy, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil and chilli flakes

I change up what goes in the rice paper rolls depending on what's in the fridge/what I remember to bring home from the grocery store.

This is the standard filling;

• Lettuce
• Vermicilli noodles
• Cucumber
• Carrot
• Marinated fried tofu/tempeh sticks (this was teriyaki tempeh)
• Fresh red chilli
• Crushed peanuts
• Coriander
• Squeeze of lime juice

They're a little tricky to roll (cause the paper is sticky and hates mistakes) but once you get going they become easier.

Now the countdown 'til lunch begins... 

Cauliflower and caramalised onion tart.

Wow you guys, epic recipe win!!

I've had this tart recipe on my 'to cook' list for about a year.

The tofu and nutritional yeast had put me off - I was a bit less into that stuff then.

I was mostly into fresh produce and legumes in the beginning.

A year into veganism and I'm feeling a bit more love for cooking experiments.

So, last night - it was time.

It may have taken two hours to make (am sure it will be faster next time when I'm not obsessively re-reading the recipe) but, absolutely worth it.

Not only was the tart DELICIOUS but it will make a fine lunch today and also won me many love points from the (incredibly spoilt) resident boy :)

PUT THIS TART IN YOU, seriously.

LOVE

This is a little slow to watch but it is really beautiful.

Priya.

 

Priya ready Indian meals = lazy lunch score!

I keep these in my desk at work with single serve brown rice bowls.

4 minutes in total in the microwave and $2.50 lunch.

I top with fresh squeezed lemon, yes indeed.

Mushroom barley soup.

So I cooked this the other night, it was pretty awesome.

Turns out both barley and shrooms are really low in calories too which is a win.

Although this dish is tasty, I think it needs something more.

Next time might throw in some shredded cabbage or zuchinni for extra goodness.

This will be a winter staple as it's super hearty and filling.

Vegan cider hunt.

So, here are a few vegan ciders (and a ginger beer) we've found.

Keep an eye out in your local bottlos!

Ykillamoocow.

Live in Brisbane?

Ykillamoocow has a stall at the West End markets on weekends.

The 'no bull' pies are the freakiest beef pie-tasting things ever (in the best possible way) and the pumpkin and barley sasage rolls are amazing too.

Tried a dagwood dog on the weekend and it was pretty delicious!

P.S the 'no bull' pies are also stocked at The Forest cafe in West End :)

Syndian.

Syndian burgers = delicious.

Not the cheapest patties available (4 for about $6-7) BUT seriously tasty.

Also

5 Dogs

No not that!!!!

THIS:

5 DOGS in Brunswick St Mall in the Valley is a complete win. They do a vegan hot dog complete with vegan cheese, BACON!, fried onion, all the toppings and condiments you could want on a delicious traditional tasting bun. SOOOOO GOOOOD. It isn't the cheapest at $9.00 but it is the best!

This is a photo of the non vegan ones but the vegan ones are just as jam packed and amazing looking :)

Oh AND the staff are awesome and completely happy to get you anything you like. So go GET A DOG IN YAH!

T is for Tasty and for Tempeh :)

Hey friends

Tempeh is the less popular but way more attractive brother of Tofu. It’s less processed, has more protein and fiber and actually has a delicious taste. You can buy is from health food stores and also now at Coles, at least the one in Toowong has it. I’ve used it for a while, as a meat substitute for Spag Bowl but last night I tried searing it instead and it is INSANELY good and crazy simply. I got this recipe here.

Ingredients:

1 pkg Tempeh

2/3 cups water

1/3 cup soy sauce

1-2 cloves of garlic

1” grated fresh ginger

Method:

Mix all the ingredients aside from the tempeh in a bowl. This is the marinade.

Cut tempeh into triangles, or any shape you like really. Then in a med/hot pan, brown the pieces on both sides, so that they’re nice and crispy. At this stage it’s up to you how much oil you want to use, I’m a believer in more is always tastier.

Add the marinade to the pan and let boil for 3-5 mins, then reduce and let simmer uncovered for about 25 mins. By this time all the marinade should be soaked into the tempeh but I did find my marinade absorbed quickly so just add extra water as needed.

It’s done!

I cut this up into stripes and we had it the next day on wraps for lunch. It was soooo tasty and filling. The flavour does remind me of my favourite meal as a kid, honey and soy chicken. My mum used to serve it with fried rice so next time I’m going to try adding a little rice syrup and serving it the same way as a main meal!

Smile, it's Sunday :)

Melbourne - vegan heaven.

So I just got back from my bi-monthly Melbourne trip and it was amazing, as always.

The most vegan-friendly city in this country always ensures that we eat about six meals a day to cram as much goodness in as possible.

This visit was too short to explore and try some new eateries off my list (getting longer all the time) so we just stuck to the ol faithfuls;

Bimbos

Cnr Brunswick Street and Rose Street, Fitzroy

1 x vegan pizza - pumpkin, pine nut, soy cheese, rosemary and olive oil

1 x mushroom pizza minus the cheese and plus garlic

Soulfood Cafe

273 Smith Street, Collingwood

1 x pot of AMAZING soy chai

1 x monster vegan breakfast - delicious sourdough grain toast, spinach, grilled spiced tomato, homemade hash brown balls, marinated mushrooms, tasty relish and THE MOST AMAZING SCRAMBLED TOFU I HAVE EVER HAD! It's filled with spices and caramelised onion. Not all shown as Jeff stole a lot of it on his plate as we shared this epic meal.

The Veggie Bar

380 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy

1 x Crispy baked brown rice balls with satay sauce (holy CRAP these were amazing)

1 x Moroccan pizza with pumpkin, eggplant, olives, mushroom, onion, sesame seeds etc.

1 x portabello mushroom with a rich onion stew, melted soy cheese and quinoa topped with fresh salad

Lord of the Fries

Corner of Flinders Street and Elizabeth Street (also one in Flinders Street Station and one coming soon to Fitzroy!)

Over multiple visits we had;

1,000,000,000 x chips

1 x mini parma burger with napoli, vegan chicken, bacon and cheese

many x original burger - lettuce, mustard, pickles, vegan beef, cheese, mayo and onion

1 x hot dog with mustard, ketchup, pickles, onion and vegan sausage

Camy Shanghai Dumpling

25 Tattersalls Lane, Melbourne CBD

1 x serve of 20 steamed veggie dumplings

1 x serve of 20 pan fried veggie dumplings (both serves only $6.80ea - BARGAIN!)

Kitchen of Mai

Mai is my friend (and an amazing vegan baker) and does not have an address, sorry!

1 x orange and poppy seed cupcake

About half a cake of apple tea cake - SO. GOOD.

Melbourne - get in it.

vegie head.

stuck for meal ideas, or just feel like drooling over some veg-friendly photos of food?
i know we all use vegan yum yum as our culinary bible, but have you heard of vegie head?
i've been following vegie head on facebook for about 4 months, so it's probably time for me to share her with you...

adele (a.k.a. vegie head) creates recipes (and evolves old favourites) which are vegan (vegetarians welcome, too!), often raw, and all very healthy (desserts included!)
there are a wealth of recipes available on the website, and she's releasing a cook book very soon!
she's from melbourne, australia which makes sourcing the required ingredients (and for the extra-enthusiastic; attending her cooking classes) very easy for like-minded aussies.

here's an example of vegie head's deliciousness:

'chard, leek and cannellini bean soup'

have fun getting inspired and playing :)

<3 ginny