Vegan week 4

The end of Veganuary week 4 is here and I’ve just had a nice little stroll around town and a little stop off in Costa.  I tried their hot chocolate with soya milk for the first time which was just delightful. Oh how much I’ve missed hot chocolate!

I still have 3 days to go and am unsure how I really feel about finishing being a vegan, what started off as a challenge has now become the norm! I’m finding it a lot easier as the weeks are going by and never could have imagined how much I would enjoy and love this plant based diet. My shopping trips have got easier and quicker, even though my boyfriend would probably disagree!  I do feel more confident going in a supermarket knowing what I can and cannot have, without dissecting the back of a packet!

So my food highlight this week was cooking a new curry dish. The idea come from my favourite cook book Deliciously Ella Coconut Thai curry with chickpeas  I loved the look of this creamy yet spicy curry.  Plus all her recipes are easy to follow and quick. I added some extras to the ingredients as I had some left over vegetables in the cupboard. ‘The best thing with curries is that you can make it your own by adding or removing what you want to your taste. I’m always hungry by the time it comes to cooking dinner so the next best thing is tasting as you’re going along and adding more spices/herbs to your liking. My last curry wasn’t spicy enough and I try to get my non veggie boyfriend to try all my dishes so I added more chilli flakes to give it more of a kick for him. Surly if it’s spicy he would like it and forget about the lack of meat!  When serving I then finished it off using Alpro natural yoghurt to cool it down a bit for me and also to make it even creamier. So delicious!

Overall this curry was filling, creamy yet flavoursome.  I really enjoyed the coconut milk mixed with the spices, it was just delightful. Even the boyfriend agreed and said “this is the best curry you have made”. Clearly practice makes perfect!

I need to research a new veggie curry to try this week, if anyone has any recommendations I would love to hear them please.

Apart from Deliciously Ella’s book her app is another great source where I get my ideas from, its quick and accessible. There is a favourite page so you can store all your favourite recipes and keep should you wish to refer back to. This week I tried the Creamy Mushroom and Garlic Pasta. I love mushrooms, pasta and anything creamy so altogether this was going to be an amazing dish. It did not disappoint. If you are feeling lazy or do not have much time yet want a fulfilling meal this is a simple yet satisfying dish.

My other treat this week was ice cream. When I think of ice cream I just associate it with diary so have stayed away. That was until I see an advert on Twitter for Ben & Jerry’s dairy free ice cream. They do 3 flavours that all look so good; chocolate fudge brownie, chunky monkey and peanut butter & cookies. Here comes my indecisiveness again…. the hard choice to decide what one!  I was also recommended by a friend Alpro Hazelnut chocolate flavour which is really nice.  As I knew about this I had to try as part of my vegan journey, so after a trip back to my second home Sainsbury’s I now have this.  Thankfully they only had the Alpro flavour my friend recommended so I didn’t have to spend ages deciding what one…..lucky! It really is so tasty, chocolatey and creamy.  I love and have missed chocolate this month so this is getting me my chocolate fix at the same time, win win!

My other highlight this week was having my twin, bro in law and kiddies coming to visit us. Hosting a family gathering is fun at the best of times and being this was my first time as a veggie having to cook nibbles for all non-vegetarians and vegans was another test. I passed with flying colours! Now don’t get me wrong the Italian meats, selection of cheese, pizzas, party sausages, pork pies, and chocolate cake did look nice but…I wasn’t even tempted! How far have I come! Forward thinking I had other foods that I could have and had Sainsbury’s free from chocolate chip cookies so when everyone was tucking into the chocolate cake I wasn’t missing out.  I offered these out with a few people taking and eating them all, so they couldn’t have been that bad!

It’s amazing the substitutes you can have, which makes being a vegan less of a challenge especially now veganism is becoming more popular. Supermarkets are growing to the demand and getting up to speed but I do think there is still a long way to go, especially for restaurants and pubs. They need to start providing more choices on their menus.

SoyA hot chocolate

Mmmm ice cream

For anyone else doing veganuary good luck on your last 3 days.

Eating out as a Vegan – The Fox Harpenden

Being a vegetarian there are times at restaurants I struggle what to have, looking at the menu wanting to see that V sign to no avail! Some restaurants/pubs do have a good selection of choice,  others not so much. Doing Veganuary I haven’t come across many places that cater for Vegans as well as vegetarians. Until now….

I was saying to my boyfriend one morning last week we should go for lunch or dinner and find a vegan friendly place so we can both have a good selection. I come into work that morning and one of my favourite local establishment The Fox in Harpenden emailed me a Vegan menu! Fate or what! The gastropub is such a lovely place, where I have always had great food, received excellent service and with a great atmosphere. That was that decided, table booked for Saturday night!

Come Saturday I was excited to try the menu out and I love date nights.  I had a look at the menu and knew what I wanted. Time to get glammed up, new dress and red lipstick on I was ready for my Saturday date.

I failed at the first hurdle and couldn’t even decide on a starter, the poor waitress had to come back twice as I was not ready, whoops! An important decision when it comes to food cannot be rushed, unless you’re dining with me and hungry! The soup of the day was carrot and coriander which I really love so threw a spanner in the works. After much deliberation I went for Roasted Lentil Falafel which is new to me but very enjoyable. The Lebanese style dip really complimented the falafel and gave it a great taste. I’m glad I went out of my comfort zone and tried this. My boyfriend isn’t veggie or vegan, yet he see the Wholefood Salad so chose that. It was probably the best salad we have ever tried. This was made up of Kale& cauliflower couscous, asparagus, tenderstem broccoli, avocado, butternut squash, sweet potato, pomegranate and roasted pumpkin seeds with a pineapple, lemongrass & ginger dressing. I cannot begin to describe how amazing it was, words wouldn’t do it justice. This is a must try all the flavours and ingredients really did come together well.

The main was easy I went for the spiced coconut curry. As mentioned previously I am loving my curries at the moment so I knew right away that was what I was going to have. The curry really was nice and delicious.  I’ve never had Jasmin rice before, I know where have I been right?! “It was yummy!”

When it comes to dessert I’m always a sticky toffee pudding and ice cream kind of girl, so looking at the menu I knew the treacle and pecan tart with coconut sorbet was the one. All I can say is “WOW” it was so delicious and sweet. Perfection in a bowl. Definitely my favourite course of the evening. I know many would have gone for the chocolate but don’t let the word sway you, this was amazing.

Well done to The Fox for recognising we are now in 2018, with vegan becoming more popular and a demand is needed more than ever to cater for all lifestyle choices.

I cannot wait to go again!

I raise my vegan glass of wine going into week 4 of Veganuary; loving life, feeling happy, positive and healthy.

The Fox Vegan menu

Sri Lankan Vegetable Curry

Lately I’ve got into making curries and cannot believe how easy to follow and make they are. Our cupboard is now full of spices waiting to be used.

So when I flicked through my Fearne Cotton book and see this dish jumping out at me with all the beautiful colours, I stopped and took a closer look. I read the ingredients and see many delicious spices and wondered how they would all come together. I just knew it was to be the next dish on my vegan journey.  Oh how it did not disappoint. It was so flavoursome I could eat it again today!

The vibrant colours of this curry, just like the Sri Lankan flag really were beautiful. The aromas whilst cooking were truly wonderful and lastly the taste well that was just delightful. Well done Fearne I’m a massive fan!

I’m now researching more Sri Lankan dishes and my love to go to Sri Lanka has grown even more…..I need more of those wonderful flavours and tasty dishes.