Retrospective guest blog!

Nothing like missing ones own guest blogging post. Oops! Back in September would you believe, I guest blogged for the fabulous Veggie Mama! http://www.theveggiemama.com/2012/09/guest-post-veggie-mama-vs-omnivore.html I love Stacey's recipes. They are vego without being tasteless or - god help me - all insanely healthy and raw. Taste, not missing out on yums, that's what I am all about. She has the lot. Love her stuff.

Exciting news!

Have you ever had one of those moments, where something just falls so perfectly into your lap, so perfectly into place at the right time, with the right people, and it just works? I had one such moment this week.

A friend of mine, Viktoriya, was tweeting over the weekend from the Activist Forum in Sydney, and I watched on RTing madly and enjoying what she was reporting back. I sent her a message saying that I wished I could attend and wanted to get more involved. She suggested I contact the people over at World Vegan Day Melbourne. The same people coordinate the Sydney Cruelty Free Festival and this friend had done some writing for them and thought I may be able to do the same.

I was thrilled! Writing and Vegan living! Huzzah!! I made contact and put in a call to talk about what I might like to do to help out, I chose a few sponsors of World Vegan Day to write about and made contact. I really am enjoying learning more about what services and products are out there for vegans. Just really exciting stuff!

I was talking to Vik about the articles and she mentioned in passing, the idea of collaborating on one. I was hit with a clear and bold idea and immediately replied with - what if we collaborated on a blog instead?? She could cover Sydney, I could cover Melbourne, we could talk about our own journey to cruelty free living, our passion, our inspirations... Happily, Vik loved the idea and Two Vegan Girls was born. I hope you will support us as we work out where this wild ride will take us. I have a fantastic vibe about this. Exciting times ahead!

Make your own pledge to Make It Possible by going meat free, reducing meat intake, or eating only ethical meats here.

What are you about?

So, I have no idea what my blog is about. When asked to categorize it, I sort of say 'er.. parenting I guess, although, probably more cooking at the moment. Oh and books, I talk about books a lot...'

In other words, I have NO freaking idea. And just as I start to be concerned about this, and worry that I have no niche and no target, I remember I don't care. I just write about stuff. Stuff I want to talk about. Not many people read it, but that's okay, because it means I can talk about a hodge podge of life in general, and I'm not turning anyone off. Because when I started this blog, blogs were exactly that - a web log. A diary of someones thoughts and experiences. They were not big business, and they were not targeted to specific audiences. That works for me. So, on that note, here is today's hodge podge of everything that smooshes together in my life right now.

Books. I am reading non stop, and was reading a mix of fluff and crime and mystery, but have found myself freaking out too much at the scary books lately, so am on a run of fluffy chick lit at the moment that has escapism firmly planted in its ethos. Bliss. Given I've had this stupid cold/flu thing, it's quite timely.

Writing. Every time I open my... well, I suppose I can call it a story? A book it is not. My writing, anyway, every time I open the file I look at it, feel stupidly overwhelmed, and so promptly close it again. This is Not. Good. Writing. Practice. It's just that it's such a mash at the moment of research, fiction, time sequences are all over the place, and it's quite simply, a big fat mess. My lovely friend, Jess, tells me that the most difficult part of a story happens from 20-30,000 words and if I can get past this hurdle, things will be better. I can see how that is true, I just have no idea how to push through this portion that is the draft from hell.

Food. I'm all about Mexican this week. Because how good is Mexican food?! And it's so freaking easy to vegetarianise (made that word up). Right now in my fridge I have portobello mushrooms, capsicums, and onions marinating in fresh chillies, garlic, lime and lemon juices and paprika and cumin. Helloooo vegie fajitas! And every week I make refried bean burritos and chilli sans carne. So freaking good. So, I was scoping out more ideas for Mexi-Vegi goodness and I have some awesome recipes up my sleeve to try soon. Mexi pot pies, mexi pasta, vego nacho, and this interesting burrito bake that has me intrigued and uncertain, but curious enough to try.

Gertie the great dane now lives in a run for most of the day, she has her own leather couch and all. Spoiled rotten. And she has free runs 3 times a day for a couple hours. Given she mostly sleeps, this seems to work well, and keeps her safe. No more toxins and emergency vet bills. So far. Knock wood.

Parenting is as amazing as ever. I really am so lucky to have scored two of the coolest kids. Finn is 9 and the smartest kid I've ever known. His NAPLAN results were off the chart. Literally. Super smart, and sweet as hell, he's uber nerd like his parents, totally into Dr Who and Minecraft. Love it. Miss RJ is 3 and hilarious. Such a cheeky little bugger, thinks shes hilarious (and usually is). I currently have the worlds biggest Barbie Dreamhouse in my car for her birthday. I want to keep it.

Life... well, life is pretty awesome right now. I am on track with stuff, I have happy texts pinging my phone most days of recent... ;) And I am looking forward to uni next year (enrolled already!) The only thing that could add a touch of sweetener is some more freelance, paid, writing work. So... Get in touch all you editors. I'm a good work. Guy. (Thanks, Lenny).

Picture Credit: http://weheartit.com/entry/40126860/via/abillest

Risotto anyone?

I am a risotto fan, very much so. I really hate the stirring though, and I am too poor for a thermomix, so stir I do. It's always worth it.

I wanted to share this recipe from Veggie Mama along with my slight tweaks because it is one of the best risotto's I have had. In the history of ever. It was divine!

So I didn't know what or where to find these Heirloom tomatoes, so I just got the vine ripened tomatoes from Coles and they did the job nicely. Stuck them in a lightly sprayed with olive oil pan in a hot oven for an hour. Just kept an eye on them until they were slightly bursting, on the verge of collapse. Perfecto.

Meanwhile, I chopped an onion and minced 2 cloves of garlic and cooked them to soft in a tablespoon of oil and a tablespoon of nuttelex. Marg or butter is fine, I use nuttelex as standard so it's my usual. Then I added a cup of arborio rice and stirred, and thus began the stirring. 6 cups of veggie stock (you could do some wine some stock of course), and stir, add, stir, add, stir, add. You know the drill. Until all your stock is absorbed.

I was goats cheeseless, but feta isn't far off the salty cheese mark so I whacked about 100g of that in, and stirred through until melted, along with 1/4c of parmesan and some pepper. I didn't add salt, because the stock is already salty, as is the feta. You could mess around with taste here. I also instead of adding another knob of butter, added a generous splash of cream. Super creamy cheesy risotto. Then I topped it with my roasted tomato and some fresh continental parsley leaves.

Then I put it in my face. And oh my goodness. It's one of those eyes closed, savouring the taste moments. The roasted tomato just gives such a perfect compliment to the risotto, and the flavours are amazing. Drrrooool. Eat up!

Guilt free food

So a friend linked me to this video of Mayim Bialik talking about veganism recently. Now, apparently she's all Big Bang Theory or some such, but frankly, she'll always be Blossom to me.

Anyhoo, I watched the video and nodded along but when it got to the end I almost leapt up out of my seat and exclaimed YES!!!!!! Because she hit the nail on the head for me, about why I love being vego so much, and what this bizarre feeling of absolute pleasure, joy and elation is.

It's the lifting of guilt. Just like Mayim, I always had some level of guilt about eating animals as far back as I can remember, though not always consciously. It just never fit with who I believe myself to be. It never felt okay. So, as she says, no longer consuming meat or using animals for my own pleasure lifted that guilt entirely. This results in such a beautiful feeling of lightness and joy that it can be hard to describe. The only people who seem to understand and grasp this feeling for which 'happy' seems understated, are those who are also vegan or vegetarian.

This is the book she refers to by Jonathan Safran Foer, and I agree it's a fantastic book for those interested in veganism and vegetarianism.

Tomorrow, I am giving up my day to trek into the city and attend a rally to ban live export. I am looking forward to hearing what Lyn White has to say, and to meeting others who share my passion for this issue. Nervous, shy, all that but this means too much to me to skip.

Dreaming repressed emotion

Lately I have found myself in dreams where I am screaming at people in absolute fury. Any number of reasons, which are usually irrelevant but I am not just angry in these dreams, I am absolutely livid and screaming in anger. I know that dreams are a safe way of venting pent up or repressed emotion, but what on earth am I so angry about that it is so intense and concentrated?! It is somewhat disconcerting, for sure.

Last night, I had a dream that there were loads of people on a beach, and out at sea, there was a cow stuck, drowning and it was bellowing in a horrible moan. People were distraught and upset, yet no one was brave enough to save it. Then my boyfriend - played by Johnny Depp (I'm not even kidding!) - went out on his surfboard with his mates and managed to rescue it. People were relieved and went back to the nearby restaurant. When I walked in, they were all back to their steaks. I lost it. I screamed at them asking how many of them had been affected and upset by that moaning, drowning cow? They all raised their hands. I said "then how the hell can you come back here and eat steak like it's not remotely related???" They looked at me as though I were insane. One friend rolled her eyes and said "take it easy, it's totally different." I got in her face and screamed at her: "you don't think that the cows in the yard at the slaughterhouse, waiting their turn in the run, hearing those before them executed, don't feel the same fear as that cow in the ocean??? You don't think they feel fear and terror in the same way?" Then I threw her plate across the room and stormed out.

Yikes.

Then I dreamed I went to a New Kids On The Block concert so I don't know. That's REAL anger :)

Changing Kelly

My life is such an unplanned mystery right now. I have friends who are happily married, raising kids, planning families, buying homes... But I am heading in a completely different direction. My children are growing. One is at school, one starts kindergarten next year. I have no partner to move forward with. I don't say this in a sad way at all. I'm happy where I am, it's just such a different place from everyone else, and I can't predict it. I have no idea. In some ways, it's actually quite exciting.

When you combine that with how much I have changed in the past few years, it really does feel exciting and new. I feel more certain now, of who I am, and more comfortable with that person. Friendships have changed, some have been lost, some have been strengthened; they're solid and they accept me for me. Brash, honest, passionate and loyal. I'm more confident in my own self, and maybe that's an age thing. Hmm. Wisdom sounds better than age... :)

I'm vegetarian, all but vegan, and I am so confident in that choice. Passionate about it, and it brings a deep seated joy that was unexpected, because I am being true to my values and beliefs.

I've lost 39 kilograms (86 pounds) in the past year, and whilst I have a way to go, I feel so much more alive, have so much more energy, confidence and such better health. I look at the photos of me below and I get emotional. My face is back, chiselled out of the fat that threatened to swallow it. For the first time, I feel beautiful. Feminine. Sexy!

I have no idea what the future brings, but my gut instincts tell me it's going to be worth waiting for. Worth the crap I've waded through to get to. Worth the dodgy men, the surgery, the confronting of who I am and being honest and truthful and authentic in myself. All worth it.

Deliciousness

Before I move on, in reference to my last post - obviously we lost hope and the worst outcome became reality. Everyone has been affected by the story, and it's certainly left me feeling less safe on a night out. I hope her killer is brought to justice, swiftly.

Moving on, I'm back to another food post.

My wonton soup was ahhhhmayyyzing. I'll be making that again for sure. So delicious. And vegan! Less successful was my made from scratch Rogan Josh curry, which was just slightly bitter, and I can't pinpoint which ingredient was the culprit for it. The satay was quite good though, I also made the curry paste for that from scratch too. My Chickpea, feta and marinated vegetable salad - looked divine, tasted too vinegary. The marinade (bought) was too strong for my liking. Asparagus, broccoli and cheese pasta and Italian Suppli were winners (vego not vegan, had cheese). The most surprising win was the tofu kebabs. I don't really do tofu, but in the homemade BBQ sauce, caramelised up... so tasty! Would absolutely eat again and a great protein source to boot.

My rogan josh curry paste. home made! Toasted my own spices and all!

The rogan josh curry

chickpea, feta and marinated vegetable salad. looks better than it tasted.

Wonton Soup 

Italian suppli

BBQ Tofu and fried rice 

I also had great success with my vegan cheese experiment. It was s tasty and so cheeselike, I may be able to give it up and go full vegan yet. I have hope, finally!

My 9 year old wanted to cook dinner one night this week, so I let him choose what he wanted to make. He chose pizzas so we got some passes, some pizza sauce, and various toppings. He made ham and cheese for himself and his sister, and he made me a delish onion and mushroom one. So tasty, he did such a good job of doing all the cutting and using the hot oven and so on. I reckon we'll keep this up...

A good friend (Megan over at Living a Truly Blessed Life) sent me a recipe for vego sausage rolls. I was curious, because they really looked the part, so I gave them a go. They had a slight hint of oatiness to them (rolled oats was a big ingredient) but omg they were yummy and the texture was absolutely sausage rolly. But not scary meat! Even the 9yo gave them the thumbs up and declared them better than the ones from the shop (ie meat ones) he didnt even realise they were vego. WINNING.

I went to my sisters for lunch this week. She put on the BEST vegetarian lunch spread. I wanted to eat ALL THE THINGS. She had lentil burgers, chickpea and spinach sausages, falafel, salads, wraps, cheeses, antipasto... it was amazing. She sent me home with leftovers which went down a freakin treat. I really loved how much of an effort she made to make me something so delicious and so vegetarian. It was really special.

I seem to be getting a few repeat meals in rotation now which is good, means I've found meals I am seriously enjoying. Added in as new experiments this week are a tomato and cheese risotto, vego fajitas and for Grand Final day BBQ I did the most delicious mushroom and halloumi kebabs, corn on the cob with herb butter, and fried ravioli with fresh hommus. Far out it was good. I love food!

I am judging you. Probably.

I recently realised something about myself. I'm kind of judgemental sometimes. This is upsetting because I always thought that I wasn't. I'd see, for example, debates raging on parenting choices and I'd shrug and say "I don't know you and your child, only you know what works for you" and I'd feel almost smug about not judging people.

But recently two things have happened where I have found myself getting upset and judgey mcjudgepants at people. And I don't like it.

Firstly, I get annoyed when people don't display the same levels of friendship or loyalty that I do. Just because I would react in a fiercely loyal way, doesn't mean others have to. I get hurt when they don't, yet it's unreasonable of me to expect they do. It's kinda tough to be honest. I don't know how to handle that at all.

And secondly, if you eat meat, I am judging you for it. Big time. I am trying to accept that people have their reasons for consuming meat and that I can't and shouldn't think less of them for it, but you know what? I do. I can't see any reason that outweighs the suffering and murder of innocent animals. I just can't. There is no reason good enough for me.

I don't know what to make of this new side to me. I don't like it, it's not a pleasant way to be. But it's also difficult to stop myself doing. I guess being aware of it is a start, but from here out, I am not sure where to go with it. Maybe this is a stupid post to hit send on. Now you can all judge me for being judgey?!!

Omnomnom

This seems to be becoming a food blog lately. Non foodies never fear, my relentless analysis of life in general will continue in time of this I am certain! This stuff is too good NOT to share, though.

So the next week of meals to disseminate. What did we have? I actually juggled a few things on the spur of the moment as I often do. I skipped the pasta, and instead had a salad sandwich for dinner one night when I was stuffed. I also skipped the marinated vegetable salad one night and instead made meatless burgers (for me, literally, just the salad part) because I wanted to try my new liquid smoke and I made a killer BBQ sauce with it. It was goooood on the salad and on fries. I'll be whipping that up again.

I did however, still make Gratin dauphinoise with wild mushrooms. This is basically a vegan potato bake that uses vegetable stock in place of cream and the like. It also puts some wild mushrooms through it, and it crisps up beautifully on top. Here I served it with a roasted pear, spinach and feta (optional) salad.

My favorite meal at the moment is Chilli sans Carne. It's so simple, and so tasty. I fry onion and freshly pressed garlic in some oil, add some chilli flakes and chilli powders, some chopped celery sticks, kidney beans and a tin of tomatoes and cook it down. Then a sprinkling of cheese and a dollop of sour cream and it's done. And my god it is GOOD.

I had a go at leek, potato and feta puff pastry pizzas, which surprised me. At first I thought they sounded average and uninspired in taste but I was happy to be proven wrong. These were tasty little things, would make a good lunch too in smaller quantity. Delish!

A fresh and packed vegetable and peanut salad (vegan). This was tasty and raw too, which gave it loads of crunch and vitamins and nutrients and all those other wonderful things. Plus, I got to use my mortar and pestle which is my favorite kitchen thingy. In there is garlic, ginger, chilli and freshly roasted peanuts. Added to this some tamarind paste and water and that was my salad dressing.

My salad consisted of cabbage, cucumber, bean sprouts, baby corn, beans, and basil. Crunch-o-rama!

Finally, spiced onion naan with lentil salad. I was supposed to use baby spinach for the salad, but my baby spinach had gone to god so I had to think on the fly and use good 'ol iceberg lettuce. I love iceberg so it worked for me. The salad element of this is vegan, and tasted so good I wanted to cry with my happy. For real! The naan had cheese on it, and I wasn't as taken with it. It was okay, but you know how some bread almost tastes sweet? I hate that, and this was like that. Like American bread - it freaked me out how sugary the bread I had over there was. I don't like that taste. On a pita or a naan without a sweet hint would be much nicer. The salad of weep inducing yumminess though, was amazing. Lentils, lettuce, onion that had been fried and softened in oil and mixed with curry powder, and a dressing of garlic, lemon juice, curry powder and olive oil. Taste sensation. Cheap, easy, it will be back in my mouth again.

Leaving out meals I have already posted about recently, next week the following are on the plan -

Asparagus, broccoli and cheese pasta
Italian Suppli
Mushroom and bean stroganoff
Parsley pesto pasta
Chickpea, feta and marinated vegetable salad
Smoky barbecue kebabs (vegan)
Wonton Soup (vegan)
Rogan josh (vegan)
Satay Curry (vegan)

And the last one which I am uber excited about, because to me it's like the vego version of steak and veg. It's a roasted mushroom with mustard cream sauce that I'll serve with mashed potato, and sauteed spinach, broccoli and garlic.

All of these are from Veggie Mama's blog, a new discovery that has me absolutely leaping with excitement. Given I took almost all of the above meals from her site, it's clear she's going to be my new BFF.

I am also going to try my hand at this vegan goats cheese. A bit afeared, but how good does it look! See more here too! Cheese is the most difficult thing for me about going vegan, so am so hoping it is a success!

Week 1 meals

Just thought I would talk about the meals I have made this week and how they're turning out.

First up, bean tacos. So easy, insanely so. Refried beans mixed with a bit of water and heated. Taco shells, and salad. I had some tortillas that I heated as well so we could have both hard and soft. As it turned out, the tacos were barely touched. Apparently we like the burrito style here. They were so good. I needed cheese on mine though, so not a vegan meal. Kid approved!

Cauliflower potato and chickpea curry. This one was just okay, nothing special, but very vegan. Just a simple curry that I served with rice. I wouldn't bother again, I've made other better vegan curries in the past.

Fattoush salad. This was ahhhmayyyzing. Vegan? Check! Easy? Check! Delicious? Check! Fattoush salad has such a zing to it because you sit it in a lemony sumac dressing for 30 minutes before serving which gives it a real zest. The crunchy toasted pita croutons add a nice contrast. I served this with more toasted pitas and homemade hommus on the side. The homemade hommus was just the best thing I have ever tasted. I'll never buy it again. So simple to whip up, too.

Thai green vegetable curry. Pre vegetarian days I had always loved a chicken thai green curry with capsicum and snow peas. I cheat with one of those supermarket packet sauces, so I did the same, just leaving out the meat and adding a few more green veggies. I also use coconut cream rather than coconut milk for extra creaminess. Sadly, this was average. Again served with rice and vegan, but it just lacked oomph. I think it had too much cream, not enough curry kick and was a little bland. It could easily be improved with some fiddling about though.

Vegie burgers. Oh man these were the best thing! I finally found a recipe that firstly held together well - so many other vego burger recipes crumble and fall apart before cooking. These held fast and strong. They'd stand up to the BBQ even. Secondly, they cooked up well. They crisped, they held color and they looked like real burgers. Impressive!!! And taste? oh man. These were sooo good. Not vegan, they had both cheddar and feta cheese through them, but that really made them. Divine. Will make again I'm sure. Kid semi-approved (not a feta fan)!

Vegetarian lasagna. I was so skeptical of this before making it. I thought firstly, no way is this amount of vegetables going to be enough to make a decent lasagna. Then i thought hmm, marscapone cheese, I dunno about that... But, once I assembled it, it looked pretty bloody good! And it tasted divine. Garlicky, cream cheesey, pasta and veg. It'd be good with any pasta, wouldn't have to be lasagne I reckon.

Green pea and chickpea salad. This one is a regular at our place. Vegan and tasty as hell it's very simple. Green beans cooked and blanched, mixed with chickpeas and a sesame/sake sauce. I use sherry in place of sake which works fine. I love the taste of sesame and the sauce is lick your plate good. For realz. Kid approved!

So a mixed week, but lots of new successes which is always a good thing. Next week stay tuned to hear about these babies -

Chickpea, marinated vegetable and feta salad
Leek, potato and feta puff pastry pizzas
Gratin dauphinoise w wild mushys and salad (vegan)
Chilli sans carne   (vegan)
Asparagus, broccoli and cheese pasta
Vegetable and peanut salad   (vegan)
Spiced onion naan with lentil salad   (vegan)

Omnomnom!

Food, glorious food.

Transitioning to vegan eating is an ongoing challenge for me. I don't miss meat or eggs, or even milk, but some dairy based products and cheese are my downfall at this point. Substitutions are often costly, and hard to source rurally. So for now, I plan a fortnights meals and try to make them predominantly vegan, with a smattering of vegetarian amongst them (ie with cheese) and it's good progress. 

This fortnights meals are: 

Chickpea, marinated vegetable and feta salad

Vegetarian lasagne (I wanted one without eggplant, not an aubergine fan so it's zucchini based)

Fattoush salad

Refried bean tacos

Thai green vegetable curry

Vegetarian burgers (still trying various recipes to find the best)

Leek, potato and feta puff pastry pizzas

Green bean and chickpea sesame salad

Gratin dauphinoise w wild mushys and salad (a permanent fixture these days - vegan win)

Chilli sans carne

Asparagus, broccoli and cheese pasta

Vegetable and peanut salad

Spiced onion naan with lentil salad

Cauliflower and chickpea curry

I get these recipes from cookbooks, from the web, all over the place. Rarely are they my own creations.  I've been thinking that my diet needs some work. Given I can eat so little these days, I need to be really far more aware at what I am eating. Lunch ideas came down to half sandwiches with varied toppings - 

grain bread

sprouts avocado hummus cucumber

lettuce tomato cheese corn relish

pineapple cheese lettuce

capsicum tomato cucumber olives feta

cream cheese, carrot, raisins

And better breakfasts wouldn't hurt either. Enough junk. More water. The obvious... Anything catch your eye for a meat free meal? :) 

Food to make the heart sing!

Vegan food makes me SO happy! I love creating, I love using new ingredients, I love using new cooking methods, I love new tastes, and i LOVE LOVE LOVE being anti violence, anti cruelty, and compassionate! It truly makes me so happy. Here are my latest successes in the kitchen!

This is a vegan caramel slice. The base is made with flour, nuttelex and sugar. The filling is nuttelex and soy condensed milk, and the top is sweet william chocolate. This was SO freaking good. drooool.

This is my vegie pie. Mushrooms, peas, carrots, in gravy and wrapped in vegan puff pastry.

Mock chicken nuggets (redwoods vegideli brand) with a greek salad and cheezly cheese.

Cashew and vegetable curry. Potato was an odd addition, loved fresh tomato in it.

Soy milk, banana, maple syrup and tahini shake. TO DIE FOR.

I love having vegan alternatives on hand to make awesome Mexican. Using cheezly and tofutti sour cream, these bean burritos were mad good.

Curry before...

And after! Kids loved this too. 

Making vegan biscuits. Oats, dried fruits, agave syrup, coconut, chia seeds, banana, apple puree, wholemeal flour... 

Mixed up.

omnomnom... 

Lunch! Cucumber and tomato slices with vegan mayo, garlic slices and dill weed on toasted soy and linseed helga thins... Yummeh!

More vego noms!

Just sharing my latest meal plan with you all, to see if you may be inspired by my vego ways! I am moving more away from fake meat replacements now, to whole food stuffs. Tastier!!! I still have some schnitzels and sausages in the freezer to eat, and the kids love the vegan meatballs so I will keep them around!

Party pies http://likeavegan.com.au/2011/05/party-pies/ Will be using mushrooms in place of beef style chunks in this one.

Fake schnitzels and veg

Fake hotdogs

Curry - creamy veg and cashew p 139 Easy Vegan cookbook

Apple tahini salad https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8hbp59CBOqhcTgazMAxRbRqVNGA2vHcbFWQNdgHhyphenhyphenfkHc5m3IdH4LBTEEAXoWROnGM00e9PN8pQIYZyAXE_Me8gaJe-Wugr32NV4mPMDw9QpRMzq4dZBNQepDHZNRdMKR6SuQQTBciRM/s1600/TheVeganStoner-AppleTahini.jpg 

Lentil loaf https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpU2VOrXd-OIrCVwVAHcidXLqCqPDlSe9nsIs9oYFHAiPNk39GkB-Hx086J2v8VCGYxQsBRAN77Vo1UmyvJb824JI4b5mosauct9k024p5PJVY_xd05xHxbcO5KiJUIx4TbyuHHL5_2lM/s1600/VeganStoner-LentilLoaf.jpg 

Chickpea curry https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6OAc7XQ5e6PNxWjZOwgKwFJthXnY47NuH8CxMt_oiN9IO8s5IVVwQEDwJZx79V6bvPGJNqtUjG1PtlUDoSnlYY4Qrw3W0umOn2H_3fEa9bDxDlVk54wN9UpU78ItlFhY_C0viK7f8MhI/s1600/Vegan%252520Stoner%252520Chickpea%252520Curry.jpg

Peanut stew https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidG_xRcNgaANbUsIs9cEk7uWlmZp2Djj4XTW8on6nRM-KSNgX9vBvskNXKD3bMokCP-uiFslqB5Q8gibSCql5pP9LBUZDG5EXlUXlfGIDQCBCVI-K1vQYuDaO4pXC9fU_9iAHgfQFezaY/s1600/peanut-stew.jpg 

Fake sausages and spinach spud salad https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3M32_Cwv8_1NnUpRSiqrRZc45hTbH14P-rjfgRW9X9lwvxdLzqivSweza9yDGoWgD_5tqo2FPDzUpHO9gLCtWvXXw6wh9NjyRqZtXKNNvN1ojqXcmzx3Vvk4t0RGDQmWzxLMiMOYIHQU/s1600/vs-spinachpotatosalad.jpg

Vegie burgers made with mashed veg and legumes of some kind - still pondering this!

Fettucine Alfredo http://www.cookingchanneltv.com/recipes/fettuccine-alfredo-with-shiitake-mushrooms-kale-and-sun-dried-tomatoes-recipe/index.html 

Spicy bean burritos p 58 Easy Vegan cookbook

Vegie potstickers w orange sauce p66 Easy Vegan cookbook 

Faux Meatballs, pasta and garlic bread.

Some lunch ideas include the butternut squash and pine nut soup from the easy vegan cookbook, and dill weed sambos and onion rings from the vegan stoner - my current two fave inspirations! I am drooling at the thought of all these tasty goodies. 

Recent vegan successes of mine include risoni pasta salad (a 12wbt recipe), vegan cupcakes (rum and raisin and peanut butter varieties), fried risotto balls, mock chicken burritos, tofu scramble and facon bacon, and chilli cheese fries using vegan cheezly. Pics below!

Risoni Salad

Rum and raisin cupcakes with rum glaze

Tofu scramble with facon bacon

Mock chicken burritos

Peanut butter cupcakes

Fried risotto balls

Chilli 'cheese' fries