Posted with BlogsyGreetings! I’m Annastasia
I'm bit keen on the colour green and like to ramble on about food, cooking, veganism, refashioning, sewing, clothes, list making, music, reading and anything else that pops up in my overcrowded existence! I'm also one half of Ink drops boxes, stationery by the boxful, dropped through your letterbox.
Category Archives: vegan
Massively distracted by Vegfest London
I had every intention of returning from the opening day of Vegfest London 2013 and proceeding to write a comprehensive blog post documenting the wonders that were to see be seen, heard, and eaten. I started off well.
I shared a photographs of a Yasai dog from The Mighty Fork, some vegan ice cream from Razzle Dazzle, and the samples I was tasting following a cookery demonstration.
Then I got lost in the two floors of stalls, talks, and demonstrations. Just as well I’m not a journalist or my copy would have been a bit lacking.
Searching my memory I came up with the following highlights:
Food
- Cakes from Vegan cakes and treats, a vegan coffee shop in Camden – this requires further investigation.
- Finally tried the desserts from Pudology.
- A tasty new take on Setain involving lentils from Muscolo di grano.
- A cake stall with cream cakes. Yes that’s right a stall with amazing cream cakes on offer from J.P. Turner foods.They tasted wonderful, and were huge. I failed to eat more than half of my cream slice (the other half made an excellent Sunday breakfast).
- Vegusto is still my favourite vegan cheese.
Drink
- Orzo Coffee made from Barley – a great taste with no caffeine.
- Mirabilia tea made from olive leaves – tasted like green tea and is apparently amazingly good for you.
Shoes
- I found the perfect pair of boots at The Third Estate.
- Having viewed Will’s vegan shoes I’m very keen for them to launch.
Contacts
I chatted with Thomas from the London vegan and vegetarian societies about setting up a group in Chelmsford (watch this space!).
Entertainment
And finally after watching Fat Gay Vegan pick up his well- deserved award for best blog, I watched a band.
Goldblade were clearly more used to turning up the volume and crowd surfing. Instead they were faced with delivering an acoustic set to an audience who had been gorging on carbs and sugar. With a cardboard box standing in for a massive drum kit we had possibly the world’s first seated mosh pit, although by the end of the set we’d thrown off out stupor for energetic dancing.
All in all a splendid way to spend a Saturday. Roll on next year where I shall endeavour not to get too distracted by delicious things and shoes.
Wishing you all things green,
Annastasia
Posted in midorigreen, vegan
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What’s in my lunchbox? Chew well
This was a fabulous lunch. A great mix of flavours and texture. I should warn anyone thinking of cooking along similar lines that it’s advisable to chew the polenta fries well before swallowing. Failure to to do could put you in the same situation that I found myself in on Friday lunchtime. I’d decided, as part of my learning new things, to start attending the Friday lunchtime concerts at the Cathedral. I’m not into religion but appreciate the community aspect.
I was surprised by the large audience, but found a seat and began tucking into my lunch as I listened. Alas as I closed my eyes and tipped my head back in appreciation of the piano I began to choke. I tried to suppress it which seemed to make the jalapeños in the polenta burn more fiercely.
So either chew well or don’t consume with live music.
Clockwise from bottom left:
- Plum cake – rather a lot of plums in this one resulting in a very soft texture
- Polenta fries – the recipe from The Vegan Lunchbox with added jalapeños.
- Bob the book by David Pratt
- Home made guacamole
- A fresh fig cut into quarters
- Shredded sweetheart cabbage
Posted in midorigreen, vegan
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What’s in my lunch box this week? Inspired by the season
This was one of those lunches I aspire to where I see what is in season, and then cook accordingly. Clockwise from bottom right:Plums – as they are because you can’t have plum cake every week.Pan bread – made with gram flour and somewhere between a bre… Continue reading
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What’s in my lunch box? Autumn abundance
I had so many lovely things to go in my lunch box this week I had to really stuff them in. The market and my allotment have been an abundance of seasonal produce.Clockwise from bottom right:Potatoes fried up with onions, roast peppers, and smoked tofuP… Continue reading
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What’s in my lunch box? Embrace autumn soup
Who would have guessed that pea pods had so much fibre in them? So much as it turns out that even the mighty Vitamix was able cope. So instead I strained my pea pod and roast pepper soup. I’ve never strained soup before. It feels like I’m throwing away goodness. This, however, was extremely hairy goodness. On tasting, it seemed a little lacking so I threw in cooked new potatoes, oven cooked sweetcorn, allotment peas form the freezer, and some dried chili. The result is like a rather chunky hot and sour soup. I’m calling it embrace autumn soup. It seems more optimistic than end of summer soup.
Clockwise from top left:
- Embrace autumn soup – just the thing for a grey and damp day
- The Orchardist by Amanda Coplin. Beautifully written, with quiet, yet engaging characters. Reading it is like taking deep calming breathes
- Plum clafoutis – I enjoyed last week’s so much I had to make more
Wishing you all things green,
Annastasia
Posted in midorigreen, vegan
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A tale of two restaurants
Dinning out should be pleasure. It’s an opportunity to enjoy food without having to think about what might go into it, labour over preparations, or worry about washing up. I intended to eat out twice last week and the experiences couldn’t have been more different.
Experience 1 – the Saracen’s Head Hotel, Dunmow
On Thursday I decided it would be nice to eat dinner out. The weather was warm. The forecast for the next day was rain. I thought it might be the last night of summer.
I choose the Saracen’s Head Hotel on Dunmow High Street. I‘ve eaten there on several occasions in the last year and always found them very accommodating. The chef made me a fantastic five mushroom risotto on Easter Sunday which I still recall with delight.
However on this occasion things did not go so well. Having ordered a drink I began to size up the menu for things that could by alteration or omission be made vegan. The mediterrrian platter with roast vegetables, hummus, olives, bread and halloumi seemed like an option (minus the halloumi). There was also a rather delivious sounding vegetable curry. When the waiter arrived I explained that I was a vegan and asked if he could find out if the curry contained any animal products.
A few minutes later another member of staff appeared . She told me that she had spoken to the chef and that everything contained eggs or dairy. The only thing they could offer me was a bowl of dry leaves. Or nothing.
I considered asking if they could manage an oil and vinegar dressing to go with the dry leaves. Or if the roast vegetables were cooked in oil. Or what animal products the hummus contained.
Instead I decided to take the ‘nothing’ option and eat at home. I began to finish drink. Before I could leave the staff member returned to reiterate that they had nothing I could eat, adding that I should notify them in advance in future.
Experience 2 – Giraffe, Chelmsford
Sunday evening I’d arranged to have dinner with some of my fellow burlesque enthusiasts, and those who taken part in the Change your life in 20 weeks project. We decided to eat at Giraffe simply because someone had some vouchers.
I was a little late arriving but my fellow dinners had already mentioned my vegan lifestyle to the waiter. He was extremely happy to go through the menu with me and suggest which dishes could be altered. He was also very helpful when other in our party wanted alterations to dishes.
I enjoyed a Falafel burger, followed by a sorbet sundae (yes – a vegan desert) and a soy cappuccino.
The staff were excellent. Cheerful, accommodating and good humoured.
The combination of good food, lovely staff, and delightful company made for a really good meal. Our party left Giraffe feeling relaxed, well feed and ready for the week ahead. I feel quite enthusiastic about returning to Giraffe in the near future.
Wishing you all things green,
Annastasia
Posted in midorigreen, vegan
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What’s in my lunch box? Fish and chips
I was so, so organised this week. Knowing I had a busy weekend and wouldn’t be home much I started my lunch preparation on Thursday. Then I had a big coking night on Friday. The result? A calm Monday with a nicely put together lunch. Clockwise from bot… Continue reading
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Something green – vegan mint choc chip ice cream
Summer might be packing its bags and leaving town but that no reason to think that the time for ice cream has gone.I made this delicious mint choc chip ice cream using a recipe from Mind Body Green. It’s vegan. It’s full of lovely things like banana, a… Continue reading
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Things I Love Thursday – embracing autumn
Walking to work along the river – because it looks so lovely. It’s also good to note the seasonal changes day by day, observe the ducks, and reflect on how the river would have been such a central part of the town in the past. Given how well trafficked the footpath is I can only conclude that this is still the case.
Changing up my morning routine – because September is that wonderful month for fresh starts, and making changes. Also because one of my changes is…
Getting out of bed when the alarm goes off – This makes me want to embrace the day while pressing snooze makes me want to avoid life. As a bonus I have more time to…
Dance – I’m doing a bit of burlesque in the morning (post yoga, pre-breakfast). Not only does this free up some evening time but makes me feel energetic. So lively and smug as outcomes! My heads is full of moves at the moment. I’m learning new routines for October Cabaret and choreographing a couple of things for Hogswatch.
Cooking fresh food as I buy it – I’ve been inspired by the Everlasting meal and have started cooking immediately vegetables that would either require cooking before consumption or that I would be likely to cook before eating. As a result I always have a fridge full of food that is ready to go. There’s also added incentive to use the vegetables up. Evening meals suddenly seem to require less planning.
Other stuff – nettle tea – great books – a cosy chair to read in – the positive effects of lots of sleep – sunshine.
Wishing you all things green,
Annastasia
Posted in midorigreen, vegan
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What’s in my lunch box? The time has come at
I came across a recipe for a salad with lentils and stone fruit earlier in the summer, and have been waiting for the moment stone fruits came into season to spring into action. Yes, I’ve made my usual substitutions (particularly in the dressing) but think I stay close enough. I even did the onion pickling, which proved to be quick and easy, and definitely worth it.
From bottom left:
Lentil and stone fruit salad – based on a recipe from PPK. Spinach, rocket, Cos lettuce, red onion, green lentils, and greengages with a dressing made from rice vinegar, mustard powder, olive oil, dried onion, garlic powder, and a little salt and pepper.
Apple and blackberry crumble
To read – More adventures of Ms Stackhouse in Dead as a doornail by Charlaine Harris
Tomatoes – a mix of market bought and home grown.
Wishing you all things green,
Annastasia
Posted in midorigreen, vegan
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