Vegan Effect

Written by McDonald, T.   |  Date 31st of December 2021 This is a very simple curry that needs no great skill.  Very straight forward and packeted with flavour.  Lentils provide Carbohydrate, protein and fibre as well as B1 and B6.  As for flavour, they add a real delightful creaminess to the curry and are often used as a mince meat substitute. 

Written by McDonald, T.   |  Date 27th of December/ 27º Decémber MMXXI This is a lot simply than you might think.  You can use it for a dipping sauce or as the sauce in sweet and sour tofu. 

Written by McDonald, T.   |  Date 20 of December 2021 Now and then I like some cake or something cakey.  Muffins are sometimes the only thing that is going to cheer me up.  These make a great treat or even breakfast! 

By McDonald, T.   |  Date 17th of December 2021 Christmas as a child was the most exciting time of the year. The build up to Christmas and the anticipation of being with family and getting wonderful and exciting presents was indescribable. One of the best things about Christmas, for me, was visiting family. I would go to my uncle's and see my cousins. I would get to see my Mum, brother, Sister and Aunties. Visiting family meant dressing up and getting ready for the occasion, which only added to the fun. As a Child, Christmas was a guaranteed joyous occasion, a time of fun and celebration for all. The build up to Christmas would start early in the year. Unlike today, children would receive gifts, main gifts; big expensive gifts, at birthdays and Christmas although we would get some smaller gifts throughout the year. Since modern children have gifts all the time, perhaps the children of today have lost the sense of excitement and lost the lesson of patients. Throughout th...

By McDonald, T.   |  Date 11th of November 2021 It's coming up to Christmas, yay, but you don't know what to buy for your vegan loved one.  Don't panic!  Most vegans like our little luxuries; however, please remember most of us try to be plastic free as well, so packaging counts. Nonetheless, it is not that difficult to find something super cool as a gift.  Toiletries     Every vegan I know is on the lookout for vegan toiletries.  These can be a bit expensive and so we consider them a treat.   Although we find the best deals and know where to get the cheapest stuff, any of the more up market soaps are appreciated.   Shampoo bars Body Soaps   Deodorant Women's stuff Shaving soap Body cream Many shops do gift sets and will even wrap them up for you.   Try looking for presents that are not in plastic.  Gift sets Pamper gift set    Other gift ideas  Candles  Interesting Shops  Enviroli ...

Written by McDonald, T.   |  Date 13th of December 2021    Boxing day is a much loved dinner in the UK.   When going vegan for the first time, festivals can be a difficult one to negotiate.  Looking on the bright side, the modern vegan alternative industry has provided us with many options.  vBites Gammon Style Roast is one of those great options.  Although it is better hot than cold in my opinion, you could have it cold with double mash.   I had mine hot with mash and pickles and it was truly magnificent!  Double mash sweet potato and white potato mashed together.  For that extra nutrition, add some nutritional yeast with B12 to the mash.  Server with whatever veg and pickles you have left over and this is an English traditional Boxing Day dinner you will love.  It is worth noting that vBites do a Turkey Style Roast too, so you can have one or the other or even a bit of both.  Since cold meats are the usual for Engl...

By McDonald, T.   |  Date 10th of December 2021 Christmas is on the horizon and it is your first vegan Christmas.  What do you have for Christmas dinner?  Most people are going to want something traditional and mega exciting.  So, what do you prepare that is not going to disappoint yourself or your family?  You could leave it to the last minute or just take a chance on the day. However, everyone else will be doing a  rehearsal  of the big day in order to be sure of success.  Families never mind doing this.  You don't ave to pull out all the stops; nonetheless, its perfectly fine to test out the centrepieces for your Christmas dinner, such as the meat alternatives.  By this, I mean you can just test it out one Sunday for dinner or have it in the week with some low-key boiled veg.  Whatever you decide to do, I strongly advise that you start testing out ideas now if you are not certain what your diners will like. No Beef Wellingt...

By McDonald, T.   |  Date 2nd of December 2021 It has long since been a tradition in England to have cold meat, mash and pickles for Boxing Day dinner.  With the advent of vegan cold meats on the deli counter this must have dinner for the Christmas period is no longer something a vegan has to miss out on.  Severs 1.  (Multiply by number of diners) Ingredients  280g of White Potato. Vegan cold meats of your choice x as many slices as you like! Pickles of your choice x a few tbsp. Tomato x 1. 1/4 of Bell pepper Since we are vegan, I suggest adding a heaped teaspoon of nutritional yeast with B12 to the mash and leaving the skins on to give it that extra flavour and nutrition.  I use olive oil instead of vegan butter for the mash. All you have to think about is what mock meat and what pickles you want.  For the mock meat, I chose Squeaky Bean Pastrami and their Deli Style Ham for last year's Boxing Day, which was a great idea since their mock deli me...

Written by McDonald, T.   |  Date 4th of December 2021 Are you feeling lost in Catholic Mass?  Are you wondering what is being said?  You don't have to stand there feeling left out; just read this blog as part of a series and all will become clear.  This is a series of blogs aimed at giving you a better understanding of what is said in Mass.   The Order of Mass: Introductory Rite   The Order of Mass: Liturgy of the Word The Order of Mass: Liturgy of the Eucharist The Order of Mass: Concluding Rites   The Order Of Holy Mass Holy Mass First Part Second Part Introductory Rite Liturgy of the Word Liturgy of the Eucharist Concluding Rites Opening Prayer The Act of Penance   Confiteor The Gloria Readings Gospels Homily Nicene Creed Prayer of the Faithful  The Offertory Eucharist Prayer Our Father Holy Communion Co...

Written by McDonald, T.   |  Date 3rd of December 2021     Looking for a tasty vegan festival dinner for Christmas or New year?  This Turkey Style Roast from Vbites could be the answer.  It cooks in about 45 minutes and you can carve it up like a joint.  Although it did seem a little strange at first when I took it out of the oven, it did taste really good.  I had it with some cranberry sauce, roast potatoes and vegetables.  Although it was not too much like turkey, I thought it was still all right and I would have it again. 

By McDonald, T.   |  Date 1st of December 2021 Do you like cauliflower cheese?  Well, this takes that idea to a whole new level!  You can make your own vegan cheese souse or just use a packet sauce that is suitable for vegans.  If you live in the UK, Free From has a vegan friendly cheese sauce.  Ingredients  Vegan Gran Chorizo Cauliflower  x 5 or 6 florets Broccoli x 5 or 6 florets Red sweet pepper x 1/2 Chilli pepper x 1/2 to 1 Cayenne pepper powder  x 1/2 tsp Balsamic vinegar x tsp Vegan cheese sauce x 1 packet Method  Add the balsamic vinegar to the cauliflower and broccoli in a suitable backing dish and let it marinade with some oil for 20 -30 minutes.   Bake in the oven at 200 degrees for 20 minutes.   Make the cheese sauce and add the cayenne chilli pepper powder, chopped sweet pepper and chopped chilli pepper to it.  Slice some vegan Gran Chorizo and place on top.  Put back in the oven for 20...