My Top 5 Favourite “Veggie Friendly” Cookbooks (At the Moment!)

My Top 5 Current Favourite Cookbooks

I own ALOT of cookbooks, some of them are worn out, covered in splashes from cooking and full of notations then some of them have been tried a couple of times and left on the shelf only to be picked up every so often. It’s amazing how ‘first impressions’ really runs true with cookbooks, the more I try from a book that is successful the more I am tempted to try those recipes that I wasn’t sure about at first glance. You start to trust the author and weird combinations become genius recipes.

I have lots of non vegetarian cookbooks, I actually prefer using them because you can get creative with how to adapt the recipe. Chicken in red wine can easily become a rich mushroom stew etc.

These are my current favourite cookbooks which I go back to over and over! I recommend them if you enjoy cooking rustic, flavoursome food which isn’t fattening or expensive.

Lukas Volger’s Veggie Burger Cookbook

Lukas Volger Veggie Burgers Cookbook

I got the book before I visited Lukas Volger’s delicious blog. Scott bought it for me for our anniversary because I am always trying new veggie burger recipes and this book is jam packed with inspiration. There are bean burgers, tofu burgers, vegetable burgers and more! I love that he also includes lots of great topping ideas to compliment the burgers.

Mouth Watering Photos!

One thing that helps me decide whether to buy a cookbook is the photography and I really love the photos in this book. They definitely make me hungry looking at them. I also found the layout really easy to follow with nice clear sections and easy to read instruction.

Definitely a must for burger fans!

Jamie Oliver – 15 Minute Meals

Good Ole Jamie Oliver

A list of my favourite books was always going to include a Jamie Oliver book! He is, in my eyes, one of the best chefs around at the moment. There are soo many but Jamie puts everything he has into connecting with people, helping people and spreading a much needed message about the importance of cooking from scratch. It’s not about being ‘cheffy’ it’s about knowing what’s in your food, being healthy and saving money.

I surprised myself a bit by choosing his 15 minute meals book, I didn’t want to buy it for ages because I can’t even make a bowl of cereal in 15 minutes I find cooking too relaxing and I’m always faffing around adding things here and there. Every time I make one of his 15 or 30 minute meals I end up sweating with cuts on my fingers and a kitchen which looks like a bomb hit it. But the food always looks and tastes amazing. What I do now is spend some time reading the recipe in advance, take my time preparing all of the ingredients before I turn the oven on, even if he preps them half way through, then I follow the recipe at my own pace setting timers where something only needs a minute cooking.

Recipes which can easily be adapted to being Vegetarian

The other reason I chose it is because most of his meat dishes are actually vegetarian dishes with meat on the side. A firm favourite of ours is Jamie’s chicken and butternut squash laksa which is actually a very flavoursome butternut squash laksa with spicy chicken served separately. This is also great when I want to add meat for Scott!

It is separated into protein sections (veggie, chicken, fish, lamb etc) so it is easy to find what you need and of course the photography is inviting in every way.

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s River Cottage Veg

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall

Hugh promotes a very traditional style of cooking, using a lot of ‘from the garden’ ingredients with rustic flavours and simplistic, healthy cooking techniques. I find myself relaxing and enjoying myself whilst I am cooking a recipe from this book and the end result is always fantastic.

I love all of the illustrations throughout the book, it makes it more exciting to flick through and it enhances the rustic simplicity of his style. I like to think he got a load of friends around and painted veg to print for this book…but I doubt it hehe!

I also really like the way the book is categorised, titles like ‘hefty soups’ and ‘bready things’ speak to my heart..and my stomach!

So many inspiring recipes!

There are some really interesting recipes such as beetroot tarte tatin and kale pizza, just trust me, you want to try these! There are also some lovely classics such as white bean salads and Welsh rarebit. Great for new and experienced home cooks who like to make the most of whole, real ingredients.

Beetroot Tarte Tatin….yes please!

LEON Ingredients and Recipes

LEON Ingredients and recipes

I was bought Leon’s first three books for Christmas and even though they are all brilliant, this one is my favourite (especially because it is by Allegra McEvedy)! LEON is a ‘fast food’ restaurant selling very healthy, freshly cooked food including wraps, salads and hot meals. if you find yourself in there then try their baked chips and home made sharp yet sweet lemonade!

The first half of the book is dedicated to ingredients. How to buy them, how to prepare them and what to match them with. Some health facts are thrown in and there are some great facts on the history of ingredients such as grains and cheese.

This book made it to the top 5 of my list simply because everything I have ever made from it has been a new favourite recipe. Their soups are all full of depth and warm your soul. Their salads are packed full of everything good for you. Plus the book is full of memories and photos of friends enjoying food together.

Really great layout and fun extras

The second half focuses purely on healthy yet bold recipes. I found a lot of their recipes really easy to adapt and the meat dishes have enough vegetable element to easily substitute out the meat, for example I have changed up a couple of their meat based soups to make it suitable for both me and Scott.

The other really cool element of this book is all the bits that you pull out or pages which open to reveal secret pages. They also have an upside down cake in one of their books which is literally upside down. It’s the small things…

I would recommend this book to those of you who love world food and who like to play around with different flavours.

I’m a scribbler!

Weight Watchers Vegetarian

Weight Watchers Vegetarian – easy simple suppers!

I used to do weight watchers and I have mixed feeling of it, I lost weight and have kept it off (finally) but on their point system I found myself eating small amounts of rubbish rather than larger quantities of good fats. It was when I combined the diet with my own research into the health benefits of many vegetables and veggie proteins that I found it really worked for me.

This book is great for really simple dinner ideas, there are lots of alternatives to family favourites like pasta bake, enchiladas and pies. I don’t follow the diet any more but I still use the points as a guidance. If I’m after a light dinner I will choose a low point recipe.

I have found some of the recipes need a bit more seasoning than suggester but they are all easily adapted to what you have in the cupboard and they are really easy to make. I’ve made most recipes and so far there have been no duds!

What are your favourite cook books? Do you stick to Vegetarian cookbooks? Do you own any of these books?

My Day at the Seaside: Whitstable, UK

We walked for miles down the beach

The reason British people complain about the weather so much is because it is just so unpredictable. A beautiful week can quickly turn to a dull, grey and wet weekend but sometimes it can work the other way around! Just when you need it too, the sun can come out with perfect timing!

I had rescheduled seeing my friend Liz a couple of times because of work (we’ve been friends for 22 years!!) and had been feeling fed up with being so busy all the time but when I finally got a day off to drive down to the beautiful seaside town of Whitstable it felt like it had all been delayed for a reason. Life had been saying “Not yet…just wait and you will be rewarded”

The weather was absolutely beautiful and a perfect day to stroll down the beach, paddle in the sea, eat ice creams in the sunshine and scoff fish and chips with a view of the blue sea! Who needs to go abroad when you have a beaches like Whistable in the UK to visit! I haven’t toured the UK coast much in my life, I was born in Torquay (Devon) so I’ve spent days on the beaches along the Devonshire south coast whilst visiting family and I have spent the odd weekend in Folkestone, Brighton or Suffolk but I would love to see more!

One thing I love about UK beaches are the brightly coloured beach huts that are iconic features of the British coast line. Some people had gone for pale pastel colours which matched the golden pebbles and light blue skies but as you can see here some people have dared to be a bit different! I personally LOVE both of these, I think one day when I own my own house the interior will look this bright and happy

A lot of the beach huts stood empty as it is not quite the season yet however some had people enjoying the sunshine, eating a picnic out on the veranda and one guy was even sat strumming a guitar. What a blissful way to spend the day!

This friendly dog came to say hello to me

The sun was warm enough to dip a toe in the sea and then sit and chill while the sun naturally dried them there were lots of people out walking their dogs and this cutie pie came to join us for a swim! I made friends with him!

I even got to see the freshly caught lobsters and oysters which Whitstable are famous for! And I bought a bottle of locally brewed Whitstable lager home for Scott, I like to buy local ale and lager where ever I visit.

Hope you’ve all been enjoying the weather too! I’ve got some fun summery recipe ideas to share over the next few months, I just hope it stays sunny (unlikely!)

What’s your favourite thing about the seaside? What are the beaches like where you live?

Wonderful Watercress: The Health Benefits of this Seasons Salad

I’ve really been enjoying watercress recently, its fresh but peppery and it’s flavour is versatile enough to be matched with many different dishes including salads, pasta, soups, pies, stir fries, smoothies and even breakfast! (Think watercress omelette or watercress and tomatoes on toast)

Watercress in the uk is in season from April right through to October. On the ‘Eat the seasons’ website they advise that watercress is at its best when the leaves are dark green. I agree! I’ve seen bagged watercress before with a yellowish leaf and it.did.not.taste.good!

Tofu and Garden Pea ‘quiche’ with watercress

This post is to share some of my recent reading about watercress, such a brilliant little salad leaf it deserves some attention this season! (Click on the photos to see the recipes for these dishes!)

Water cress is grown in large “watercress” beds which are constantly watered, hence it’s name ‘watercress’. The website for ‘The Watercress Company’ (growers of watercress in Hampshire and Dorset since 1850!) has loads of really interesting information including how watercress is grown, the history of watercress and some great information on their efforts in wildlife conservation. I always thought watercress was grown in places near huge sunny Asian lakes or something similar so it was very interesting to see it is also successfully grown in England

Baked Artichoke, Quinoa and Watercress Salad

When I visited a Bio Sig dietician back at the end of last year he actively encouraged me to eat lots of watercress as it lowers levels of estrogen. This can help fat loss, mood swings and general well being in men and women. I already eat a lot of dark greens such as spinach, kale and broccoli but I happily found a place for watercress in my diet. It can enhance any dish which suits a kick of sharp flavour.

Watercress also contains vitamin A, C, E and B, it is anti cancerous and it has been shown to increase productivity of white blood cells (information from Livestrong)

As with a lot of vegetables and fruits it is most beneficial to your body when eaten raw and organic, it is so strong in flavour (similar to rocket leaves) it is best mixed simply with some lemon juice and … You guessed it.. Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

Courgette, Watercress and Melon Bruschetta

What’s your favourite watercress recipe? Feel free to share recipe links in the comments!

Cooking for a multi diet family of two

I wasn’t vegetarian when me and my husband met so we sometimes joke that I lured him in under false pretences, I would cook steaks and roasts and now I look lentils and tofu. Scott has taken to the diet changes with loving enthusiasm but he is not a vegetarian and I respect that so I make sure I cook him meat a few times a week.

The more I learn about food, and meat in particular, it makes me want to strive for maximum quality in whatever we eat and I try to keep the food we buy as close to its natural state as possible. The changes I have made for Scott are small but significant. For example I have stopped buying processed ham for sandwiches and I now buy an organic free range chicken every couple of weeks, roast it and separate it into portions to go into his lunch (something my mum has been telling me to do for years!). In fact all the meat I buy is organic and British and it is very much about the quality and not the quantity.

Evening meals can be a challenge when planning for us both. I am lucky because I have lots of time in the evenings to potter around the kitchen but it was not always so plain sailing. I have had to work out different menu combinations to ensure I am not cooking two completely separate meals every day. I have found the following tips have helped make meal times satisfying for us both without breaking my back in the kitchen.

One Pots:
I love one pot dishes because not only do they make cooking for different diets easier but it means you always have a portion of something delicious to pull out of the freezer when you know you will be pushed for time. I often make a big 6 portion stew based on vegetables and beans or lentils then I serve it with a portion of meat on the side for Scott and a portion of broccoli or kale for me.
The main base of the dish is made and all you have to do is oven bake or grill some meat and and boil/ steam your vegetables.

If I have time at the weekend then I sometimes make 2 big one pots, one meat based such as beef and ale stew or coq au vin and one vegetable such as lentil chilli or Irish stew. Then during the week all I have to do is heat up one portion of each and cook some vegetables to accompany it.

Curries, tagines and casseroles can all work for this!

Stir fries:
Kind of like an Asian one pot, you can easily either make one large vegetable stir fry in one wok with your vegetables, sauce and noodles and then in another frying pan first cook your tofu (or favourite veggie stir fry topping), keep it warm to one side under some foil and then cook your meat. Then you can serve up the vegetables and noodles followed by the separate toppings. Make sure you cook the vegetarian option first!

Of course you could always cook two stir fries in two pans but I personally only have one wok and then a few frying pans.

Roasted Vegetables:
I cook a big tray of assorted mixed vegetables pretty much every week. They make such a superb base to any meal and you can add bulky root vegetables along with lighter options such as courgettes, peppers and aubergines. Keep it light by using a spray oil and play with the flavours by mixing up spices and herbs or even adding garlic cloves and shallots.

I will often serve beef burgers/ beany burgers on the side or Scott will have a piece of meat and I will have a slice of lentil bake with a vegetarian gravy. The fact you can include the root veg and light veg means you don’t really need any extra sides except your protein.

Leftovers are also great chopped up and stirred into pasta.

Tacos/ Enchilladas:
We got into a routine of eating my butternut squash enchiladas once a week a while ago. The beauty is that the fillings are individually wrapped so do not mix. Fill 4 wraps (2 per person) with the butternut squash filling and then add some grilled bacon and even some cheese to two of them. Wrap them up, put into a baking tray and top with tomato sauce. Just make sure you remember which side is which

Tacos are also great for multi meal easy options as you can do a “fillings buffet” so everyone just helps themselves to what they fancy. Leftovers can be used to make a taco salad the next day!

This also applies to fajitas and quesadillas!

Soups:
Soup is a weekly occurrence in our house, whether it be at lunch or dinner time and it works perfectly at satisfying us both. I make a big batch of vegetarian soup to share and then serve crispbreads/ crackers or toast on the side. My bread will be topped with cheese or salad and Scott’s will be topped with lean meat.

Soup toppings can also vary, add lean chicken breast to bulk the soup up for your partner and add some cooked beans to yours.

I hope some of these tips have been helpful and showed how you can incorporate some easy meal options so that you don’t have to do too much juggling in the kitchen. Let me know what your “multi diet” tips are that you have developed!

Brighton: A city close to my heart!

Colourful doorways built under the walkway along the sea front.

Brighton has become like a second home to us. We came here for the first time together on our mini honeymoon and the memories of that wonderful weekend are made even better by the fact that we have continued to create new special memories every time we go back. From the moment we step off the train and head down to the sea front to make our way to the fantastic Pelirocco hotel I can feel myself relaxing, all worries drift out to sea.

It’s not just the fact were on holiday that makes me feel so happy and its not just the sound of the sea that makes me feel relaxed, it’s the friendly people and interesting architecture. It’s the quirky shops, free spirited fashion and huge variety of restaurants and bars.

It brings out my creative side and I can’t help finding beauty in every detail of the city! Needless to say, it is obvious I am in love with Brighton!

Every pebble is beautifully unique.

For our birthdays this year we took the train down to Brighton on a Thursday and came home on the Monday after. Some of the things we got up to included an afternoon playing in the arcade on the pier – the machines where you drop 2p in to a slot and try to use it to nudge more 2ps off a ledge is so addictive! It makes you feel like a kid again

We had a few walks along the beach, we were lucky to have bright weather when it had been predicted to rain. We also had tickets to the Brighton tattoo convention which was so much fun. We sat with a couple of beers and ‘people watched’ for hours, admiring the quirky fashion, big hair and endless ink proudly on display. The event was held in the Hilton hotel which is very classy and it was good fun to see the shiny hallways filled with leather jackets and doc martens!

Brighton is full of artwork, graffiti and sculptures. It brings character to the city!

Another thing I love about Brighton is the artwork on display at every corner, there is official artwork being show cased but also more free style pieces such as amazing graffiti and murals painted on the sides of shops. Unlike messy tags and profanities which graffiti can become, they have a great balance of unique personal style and crowd drawing points of interest.

The sculpture pictured above was first placed there in 1998 and was renovated due to damage in 2007. The artist is called Charles Hadcock and the piece was funded by The National Lottery. It had mixed reviews when it was put up but I personally love it, it’s strong, rustic and full of possible meanings and interpretations… Just how art should be in my mind.

I could spend every day sat on this beach lost in thoughts, happiness!

It wouldn’t be the British seaside without a seafood hut!

You can walk around for hours and the scene changes, you go from generic shopping centre and high street chain restaurants through trendy wine bars and boutiques to the boho vintage vegan friendly lanes. One day we walked into a park and stumbled across the council building…in amongst the modern shop fronts is the most extravagant building ever! The photo below is the entrance to the council gardens. Isn’t it fab!!

Extravagant architecture

The Aladdin’s cave of spices

I had loads of fun in this shop, the woman working that day was more than happy to describe spices I hadn’t heard of before and chat about different uses of ones I was more familiar with. I decided to buy these Annatto seeds because I had no idea what they were and thought it would be interesting to have a go at using them. Annatto seeds are used mainly as a colouring in foods such as cheese (specifically Red Leicester) and it can be used by boiling the seeds or infusing oil with them.

I’m not sure what I will use them in yet but I’m tempted to try things like risotto and maybe using it to colour tofu! You can find more information on these seeds here.

Traditionally used as a natural food colouring in items such as Red Leicester cheese

I also picked up these spinach and beetroot powder which could also be used as colourings, the lady suggested using the beetroot in cakes as colouring such as red velvet so I’m very excited to try that! It sounds a lot less messy that using fresh beetroot which just gets everywhere!

I’m not sure about the spinach powder, I can imagine using it to make coloured flat breads, spinach muffins or to create green sauces! I can’t wait to start experimenting!

Brighton, we’ll be back! Thank you for being an amazing city and if anyone has any suggestions of cool things to do when we’re back that’d be fab!!

Do you have a regular city you go to on holiday? What’s your favourite city in your home country, in the world?

A thought on eating out as a Dairy-free Vegetarian – Some ideas and observations!

When I was younger I would eat pretty much anything, in fact I think one of the most told stories from my childhood was when I was 3 and I went to China Town with my family for Chinese New Year. We sat in a restaurant watching the parade of dancing dragons and by the end of our lunch I had the staff at the restaurant gathered around me laughing and enthusiastic to see what I would eat next. I ate everything they put infront of me including Chickens’ feet, all washed down with 12 cups of jasmine tea. My mum thought it was really funny and has delighted in telling the story ever since.

When I hit my teenage years my adventurous side to food had not dwindled, although chickens’ feet never repeated themselves, and I was lucky to be a part of a family that enjoyed dining out, whether for a special occasion or just to have a get together. The main thing I loved about going out for dinner, apart from getting dressed up and having a good time, was the anticipation of what the night would bring. As a true foodie I loved the whole process of discussing what everyone was going to order. Indecisively selecting intricately described courses from a big menu, only to change my mind when someone orders another option that I know I will regret not ordering for myself once the meal is served! When the food arrived it was almost unheard of for us to not then pass forkfuls of our dish around so everyone could sample each other’s choice. As you can see I feel a night out at a restaurant should very much focus around the food, and the sense of togetherness that it brings.

My love for going out to restaurants is still with me but these days I have a slightly different experience, one which I think flags up a big gap in the restaurant market…I am now a vegetarian who cannot eat dairy (and is trying to not eat wheat)! Before I was always the sort of person to go online and check out the restaurant menu before actually going for dinner, it whet the appetite to see the options and it set the mood for the night ahead. Now I find it essential to check the menu just to see if I will be able to eat anything; I like to see if there is a backup plan which can be made in advance, such as a starter with a side order of chips that I could have as an alternative to a main course. This also means I can avoid looking awkward or fussy and asking too many questions on the day.

Now don’t get me wrong, I think the restaurant industry is very clued up on the vegetarian world and I have had some fantastic offerings (beetroot scotch egg, potato and truffle soup and endless Asian inspired vegan dishes to name a few). However more often than not I am finding that the one or two vegetarian options that are available have been dominated by the dairy factor! Pasta is laden with cream, veggie starters are pastry based and filled with cheese, risottos have the full whammy and there isn’t a soup in sight that escapes the dairy obsession that has found its way into the “vegetarian option”. I probably find it strange because I am so used to making meals for myself without the need for dairy products that it surprises me how often it is relied upon as a meat substitute.

I have a few ideas on what I would suggest as a solution to my dietary requirement conundrum. There is a huge variety of food related allergies suffered by people worldwide and I think one great idea would be to make menus more transparent, with symbols showing what the dish contains and small print with alternative options (some places do this already but I haven’t found it to be many!). I’ve often ordered something, such as a simple vegetable soup, and it is only once it has been put in front of me that I realise it has cream in it. You then have the embarrassing moment when you have to send it back and start from square one with your meal selection.

Small icons or logos would alert the individual straight away if they are unable to eat it and it will make the whole experience more relaxing, just as it should be. By putting them on the online menu as well it means people can plan ahead and make informed choices so as to enjoy their night fully. Many restaurants may think they are offering a wide variety of choices for different dietary requirements, however by including small symbols for vegetarian/ gluten free/ dairy free dishes the restaurants will instantly be able to see which symbol they are missing on their menu. They can then adjust the selection so that they are catering for everyone.

Another idea is to have a weekly “allergy free” special to celebrate local produce cooked simply without the need for additional ingredients. This could include vegan/ gluten free/ plant based or dairy free specials which focus on being exciting and interesting but aware of different health aspects. There is a Fish and Chips shop in the midlands that would time their monthly  oil change with a gluten free day. The new oil would have no traces of the normal batter so they saw a business opportunity to start each fresh batch  of oil with gluten free batter etc. Before long word of mouth got around and the restaurant was always packed full on that day with people finally being able to enjoy the classic British fish and chips which they normally couldn’t have.

I’m not saying let’s make every restaurant a vegan health zone because, let’s face it, for a lot of people going out for dinner is a time to let our hair down, loosen the belt and indulge without guilt! But I would encourage restaurants to at least consider the growing number of us who can’t just turn up and eat anything without consequences. By making the decision for allergy sufferers easier and more informed it will mean everyone can eat well and, most importantly, just focus on enjoying themselves.

Magic Mushrooms – The health benefits of mushrooms you may not know about!

Mushrooms for sale at my local farmers market

Did I get your attention, or did you see that title and run away in case I had embraced a slightly more bohemian lifestyle than I’d let on don’t worry, I haven’t! I’ve just done a lot of reading about mushrooms recently and I never realised how good for you they are.

I kind of always categorised them in with things such as iceberg lettuce, cucumber, cauliflower and pears…..things I thought tasted ok but had little nutritional value (maybe because of their pale complexion), I am now informed that they all actually have qualities which are good for us! Well, does cucumber?? (Wow apparently it does!)

In this post I have gathered together the research I’ve done so you can see some of the benefits, and some great ways to enjoy mushrooms (not the magic kind!!)

Did you know that mushrooms are the only known plant based food source that contains vitamin D, other sources include eggs, oily fish and then the non edible source – sunshine! You’d have to eat ALOT of mushrooms to take in enough vitamin D so make sure you get outside (put your sunblock on) and soak up that goodness! Vitamin D helps you grow strong and healthy bones.

They are also a great source of vitamin B2 (needed to boost energy metabolism and metabolism in proteins) and B3 (can help reduce cholesterol)

That’s not all, mushrooms have been found to contain anti oxidants which can help decrease your risk of cancer and they contain iron and calcium.

The thing I love about mushrooms is that there are so many types available and they are so versatile so it would be hard to grow tired of them. I have been adding sliced chestnut mushrooms to stir fried kale in the mornings and it helps bulk up the meal without many added calories. You can get all different kinds of mushrooms but make sure you know what you are eating, don’t just pick mushrooms you find growing outside and eat them if you’re not sure as they can be extremely poisonous. I like to just buy a mix of mushrooms from the supermarket although one day I would love to go out foraging (with someone who knows about mushrooms).

In fact mushrooms are low carb, very low fat and they have zero cholesterol.

Ok so on to cooking them – well you can literally do anything with them! Why not start off by grilling field mushrooms and then add some garlic and herb butter and enjoy as a light brunch.

I like adding them to Omelettes, Quiche, pies, kebabs, stirfries, soups, burgers, on top of pizzas etc and they can even be the main star of the recipe such as in this Rich mushroom ragu. or this Mushroom Lasagna

Open Mushroom Lasagna topped with Chanterelle mushrooms and Parsley!

Ingredients which compliment mushrooms include garlic, hard herbs such as rosemary and thyme, other herbs such as parsley and sage. They go great with strong cheeses and my favourite is grilled or sauteed mushrooms served with a drizzle of rich truffle oil…Delicious!!

So there you go, make sure to include mushrooms in your diet on a regular basis to stay healthy and slim! What are your favourite types of mushrooms? I like chestnut and Enoki mushrooms and then for visual effect of course you can’t beat the beautiful chanterelle!

New year, New resolutions, New projects!

New Years resolutions…. Last year I set myself ongoing goals to be productive, enhance my cookery skills and look after myself both physically and mentally and I’ll definitely continue this on for the next year.

I set myself a goal to become qualified in my job which I didn’t complete but I did get a few exams closer which is a good start! The second goal I set was to start the painting I’ve been meaning to do and I’m gutted to say that I still haven’t achieved this either! Unfortunately life seems so busy that when I think I’ll put aside an afternoon to paint something happens or the phone rings or the pile of washing up screams at me! This year I want to at least start the painting!!

One goal I did achieve was to finally bake Scott a cake, fine I incorporated it into a blog project but still in fact I didn’t just bake one cake, I baked 8 cakes!!

In January 2012 I started my Friday challenge project to help me try new ingredients and branch out with my cooking and it’s been great! Next year I’m going to do something similar but instead of using new ingredients I am going to try new techniques. I no longer find myself always saying “ooh I’ve never tried that before” but I do find myself saying “ooh I’ve never tried cooking like that before”. If you get my gist!

I may call it something silly like “technique of the week” or “the technique geek” I will decide and surprise you all

I am starting with poaching…apparently that’s different from boiling! So I’m excited to see what on earth poached vegetables taste like! Only a true foodie could get excited by poached carrots!

I’m looking forward to 2013 and I hope it is as good if not better than 2012! Thank you everyone who reads and follows me. It’s been so exciting to meet new people, be inspired by new friends and to learn from all you amazing bloggers! once more (last time I promise) happy new year x

My favourite recipes from 2012!

2012 has been a great year, I’ve enjoyed it so much, travelled, learnt loads, experienced lots and generally just had fun. Today is New Year’s Eve and for most this means reflecting on the year just gone by and planning for the year ahead!

Reflecting on the year gone by for foodies like me means looking at my favourite recipes and posts! Here is my top 10 recipe posts from veghotpot 2012:

1. Vegan Four Seasons Pizza. This is one of my favourite recipes because I really experimented with flavours and was happy with the results. Also it was part of the vegan month of food which I really enjoyed. I met loads of new bloggers and learnt so much about vegan food!

2. Braised Cabbage with Butter beans. I just love this recipe, it started off as a fuzzy idea in my mind but as i started cooking my instincts kicked in and it turned into this yummy unique way to serve cabbage. Even of you don’t like cabbage I promise this recipe is a million miles away from the bland boiled cabbage often served up!

3. Tomato soup with basil gnocchi. This was part of my Friday challenges own recipes and is a great way to serve up gnocchi. I love a good tomato soup and this one is very simple and quick to make.

4. Lentil and spinach meatballs. I used to love spaghetti and meatballs when I did eat meat so I decided it was time to make a healthy vegetarian version, I love the colour and the texture and flavour is filling and meaty enough to be a satisfying meal.

5. Beetroot and Feta Burger. I loved this recipe so much I turned it into my new logo! I’ve made it quite a few times now and each time it has been yummy! The bright pink colour makes it really interesting and is a real crowd pleaser!

6. Baked Beans on toast. They look like Heinz baked beans but the sauce is made from sweet potatoes, red peppers and seasoning. They are much more filling and nutritious than the canned variety and you can make a big batch to put in the freezer so they’re just as convenient.

7. Butterbean Nicoise Salad with a caper dressing. This is one of the first times I’ve experimented with salad dressings and I really like this one, its tangy and rich but the salad balances it out brilliantly.

8. Vegan Pumpkin and Spinach Lasagna. This recipe uses a white sauce made from beans and dairy free milk to make it vegan friendly. A really nice evening dinner which feels like a treat but is actually quite healthy!

9. Virtual Vegan Potluck Canapés. This was the second vvp of the year and once again it was a huge success! I enjoyed taking part and being introduced to so many great bloggers. I did two canapé recipes consisting of a mushroom polenta bake and also a beany bruschetta.

10. Coconut, chocolate and cherry cake. I made this cake again but with strawberries for Christmas Day and it was a big success everyone really enjoyed it. It’s a delicious, moist, sweet cake full of gooey fruits…what’s not to like! Plus it’s my first ever own recipe for a cake – big achievement in becky world!

I also went on honeymoon to Canada and America in June which was amazing and we can’t wait to return to Toronto! I visited my mum in France and practised my photography at a French Market we also went to Download Festival and got very rained on but had a rockin time!

I really hope you all had a fabulous Christmas and I want to wish everyone a very happy new year!! Xxxx

Winter Wonderland – Hyde Park, London, UK

I hope you all had a lovely christmas day! We spent it with my dad, his wife and my 3 sisters and 2 brothers! lots of cuteness and hyperness What a fun day!!! I don’t have photos from yesterday unfortunately however I do have some photos to share from our trip to London’s Winter Wonderland a few week ago. I personally love German style Christmas markets, we go to the ones in Birmingham every year, but this year we also went to the rather large Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park and it was just fantastic. It has the markets within a village style layout but there are also food stalls, pubs, fair ground rides, ice skating, live music and so much mo

I wanted to share some photos from the day, to be honest this isn’t really very food related! Me and Scott went together on a date so the main priority was to have fun and not so much to document the food but I think you will see that fun related outings can be just as entertaining as food related outings!

First beer of the day should always be documented! To be compared to the photo from the last beer of the day of course!

Me and Scott have a tradition of documenting our first beer of the day it makes u laugh the next morning to see how the night unveils! In this case I was freezing so a beer was needed!

Sickly sweet but worthy of a photo opportunity!

I personally can’t stand marzipan! I always pick it off the Christmas cake along with the icing. But Barbie marzipan, I don’t know that just seems genius! It looks so cute and very imaginative. I will have to try do a Barbie themed post next year haha!

Yes you are reading right- mulled Viking blood! Mwahaha

We found this great stall selling honey, wax candles and sculptured and mead! We tried some samples of the mulled mead and mulled Viking blood, it was nice! It was sweeter than ale and a rich red colour. I wish we’d bought some to take home!

Sausages!!

I couldn’t eat these sausages this year but the sight of the big swinging grills over the real fire bring back fond memories of Christmas! This sums up the German theme of the markets really! Sausages and ale! I actually ended up eating stir fried veg which wasn’t very substantial but it filled a hole for a little while.

Beautiful way to see across London!

I love going on big wheels! Nothing beats the London eye which I promise gives you an amazing view across London, from Hyde park though this big wheel still gives you an amazing view. I always think going on a big wheel, at night so you can look across all the lights of the city is so romantic!

Yes…this is one long swirly crisp on a stick! You can sell anything to tourists!

I more took a photo of this because it annoyed me. £4 for a big crisp on a stick!! £4 whaaaat. It’s a fun idea and a bit of a novelty (like Barbie marzipan) but I felt this was a complete rip off.

I do love photos of fire

I had to include a photo of the fire, we wondered into this big open bar and in the middle wa a big round fireplace surrounded by families and couples all feeling festive and having cuddles…and smooches! I love fire, it’s mesmerising and so beautiful to watch. I love trying to capture the movement of the flames in a photo, it’s difficult but I’m getting there!

1 litre stein of German beer!

I thought I’d round this post up with an end of night photo…I know, it’s a monster stein! I promise we don’t usually drink SO much hehe but we couldn’t resist buying these litre steins of German beer! The night ended in a wooden Bavarian bar with karaoke, dancing and lots of beer splashing stein clashing cheers across the table.

Just want to quickly add that I’m sorry the blog has been a bit slow over Christmas, those who follow me on Facebook will know I’ve been feeling really sorry for myself as I spent last weekend in bed with a really bad cold! I’m feeling better now and I’ve got plenty to come in the new year! We’re with Scott’s family now so I will be back at the weekend x