Posts

Parsnip And Almond Soup

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Written by McDonald, T.   |  Date 26th of February 2024 Great for a winter's day because of its spicy warmth.  This soup has a sweet taste with the warmth from the cumin coming through with a hint of parsnip at the end.  

Tropical Overnight Oats

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Written by McDonald, T.   |  Date 19th of February 2024 I love overnight oats because they are so easy to make, yet so tasty!  You just put most of it in a jar with vegan milk and leave it overnight.  I guess that is why it's called overnight oats.  There are lots of versions and this is the tropical fruit one. Enjoy! Notes I tried adding the banana chips earlier and leaving it overnight, but they lost a lot of flavour.  It was the same for the papaya and pineapple pieces. You can use any vegan milk, but the coconut milk alternative works best.  This is not the coconut milk you get in a can.  Providing you are not intolerant to wheat or have a wheat allergy, you can add a tbsp of wheat bran. Although oats are gluten free, they can be easily contaminated when packaged on factories. Ingredients Rolled oats x 40 g Coconut milk alternative x 200 ml Chia seeds x 1 tsp Flaxseed x 1 tsp A few banana chips  Sultanas x 1 tbsp Papaya and pineapple pieces x 1 tbsp Desiccated coconut x 1.5 tb

Vegan Tuna Mayo: Jackfruit Version

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By McDonald, T.   |  Date 12th of February 2024 I used to like tuna mayonnaise, so when it came time to try out so vegan alternatives, I was mighty pleased.  I have tried this recipe before with chickpeas ( chickpea tuna mayo ) and it turned out much better than I expected.  This time I plan to use jackfruit and make it a lot more friendly for IBS or anyone trying a FODMAP diet for a sensitive gut.  Although I was a little disappointed with the colour of the dish, the chives made an excellent swap for the onion and it tasted great.  It did look more like crab than tuna though. This could have been down to the brand of jackfruit I was using. Finished product lack colour. Notes The original recipe used spring onions, which are high FODMAP unless I just used the green bits, but that just seemed like a waste.  With this in mind, I searched for an alternative to onion and found chives. White wine vinegar is low FODMAP, but other types like cider vinegar are not. Serves – 4 Time, 10 minutes

Stuffed Peppers

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Written by McDonald, T.   |  Date 5th of February 2024 I found this dish in an old vegetarian cookbook and saw it would be easy to veganise.  I also added the vegan sausage, quinoa, and white pepper to liven it up a bit.  I was keen to try this one out after sprucing it up and discovered that it was much better than I could have ever imagined.

Banana Bread With Rum Soaked Raisins

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Written by McDonald, T.   |  Date 24th of January 2024 I love this loaf because it needs no proofing since it contains no yeast.  Once you have mixed all the ingredients together, you can put it straight in the oven.  This banana bread has a warm spiced flavour due to the mixed spice and rum soaked raisins.  Notes I used stevia to reduce the calories. Make sure you use really rib bananas.  Most recipes will tell you to mash with a folk; however, I use a masher, it's much quicker. I used dark rum to soak the raisins.  Check the rum is vegan.    Ingredients 3–4 very ripe bananas, mashed (about 400 g – 500 g peeled) 1 tbsp of caster sugar or stevia 200g of self-raising flour 100g of strong wholemeal flour 100g raisins soaked in rum or other flavouring 2 tsp ground mixed spice 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda 1 tsp of vegetable oil  120 ml of water Apparatus H 6 cm x W 11 cm x D 21 cm loaf tin Large mixing bowl Wooden spoon Balloon whisk Measuring spoons  Spatula  Method  Pee

Tofu Parcel

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Written by McDonald, T.   |  Date 22nd of January 2024 This is a very simple and tasty idea.  It has very little preparation if you use premade short crust pastry.  It makes a wonderful treat if you want a change to the usual Sunday dinner or livens up the mid-week dinner.

Skinny Pan Lasagna

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Written by McDonald, T.   |  Date 15th of January 2024  Fancy a lasagna, but think it is too much hassle?  Well, this might just be what you are looking for!  This is so easy and tasty that you will never think lasagna is too much trouble again.  In fact, you will likely be having lasagna a lot more.  All you need is a large frying pan.

Vegan Brownies: Low Calorie

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Written by McDonald, T.   |  Date 8th of January 2024 These little tasty treats are just 43 calories per square.  I have wanted to try these for a long time and I'm glad to say that they were worth the wait.  They have a great texture and a lovely chocolaty flavour.  Ready in 30 minutes.

Spicy Jackfruit Pizza

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Written by McDonald, T.   |  Date 2nd of January 2024 I like pizza, so I learned how to make a simple base with no oil.  Making the sauce is easy and then all you need to do is add a few toppings and sprinkle with vegan cheddar alternative.

Vegan Brandy Cake

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Written by McDonald, T.   |  Date 18th of December 2023 I discovered this by accident and I am so glad that I did! Although it is not a traditional seasonal cake, it can and does make a great addition to any festive season. For a vegan cake, it is surprisingly firm.  Although firm, this cake has a light texture and is moist with a good flavour that more than hints at the brandy.   Notes I used a kebab skewer or even a metal thermometer as a cake tester.   Works just as well.  I used almond milk because it goes well with the brandy. I'm using metric cups.   The vinegar is to react with the bicarbonate of soda.  It helps the cake to rise as does the baking powder, which also help to keep it soft and light.  Wait t'ill you see how to make the brandy frosting!    Makes a cake with dimensions of 22 cm x 11 Time, about an hour. Ingredients  Some vegan butter to grease the tin Wet ingredients 2/3 cup plain vegan yogurt 1/2 cup of vegan milk 1/3 cup rapeseed oil (any vegetable oil wil