Cheese and Chive English Scones…. Vegan Style!

Apologies for the delay in posting this week’s recipe, but Lil’ L had the last week off school for half-term break. M managed to take four days off work so we really made the most of the family time together. We’ve been on bike rides in the beautiful Cotswold hills, forest and lake walks, a day trip to Cardiff, a couple of trips to the cinema and a visit to Hertfordshire to celebrate a family 50th wedding anniversary. It’s been one amazing, fun-packed week!

I also managed to create a tasty new recipe during the half-term break. The recipe was inspired by these beautiful chives (gifted to me by my friend Vicky ) and some tasty cheese scones that Lil’ L baked during a school cookery class.

Chive Flowers

For me, ‘cheese and chives’ is one of those classic flavour combos, and I could just imagine how well the combo could work in a savoury English scone.

Using my sweet scone recipe as a starting point, I switched the sugar and raisins for vegan cheese and fresh chives.  Since I was planning to use Violife Original (a mild tasting vegan cheese), I decided to add in some nutritional yeast to ramp up the cheesy flavour.

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Chocolate Rose Energy Balls

For this month’s entry to the Suma Blogger’s Network, I’m sharing a recipe for one of my all-time favourite snacks – Chocolate Rose Energy Balls They taste more like a decadent treat than a snack, yet they’re packed with nutrient-rich energy-fuelling ingredients.

Chocolate Rose Energy Bites

Filled with wholegrain oats, nuts, dates and cacao, each ball provides a healthy does of protein, heart-healthy fats, slow release carbs, as well as vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. They are really satiating, so I find that just one is enough to fill me whenever I need an energy boost or afternoon snack.

They’re easily portable, so perfect for stashing in backpacks for day trips and bike rides. They also make a great after school snack. Lil’ L loves them! Continue reading “Chocolate Rose Energy Balls”

Vietnamese Spring Rolls (Vegan Style!) with Peanut Dipping Sauce + Step-by-Step Guide on How to Roll Rice Papers

I absolutely love this time of year, with the trees full of blossom and the wisteria out in flower. Not only does it look stunning, but it smells glorious too! Here in Bath, the weather is finally starting to warm up and we’ve actually managed a few meals in the garden this past week. Our dinners have definitely shifted to lighter dishes, and I’m looking forward to sharing some of our favourites over the coming weeks.

The rolls are a vegan twist on the classic Vietnamese spring roll. Instead of meat or prawns, the rolls are filled with a rainbow of fresh veggies, making them both visually beautiful and delicious.

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Seared Polenta – Vegan Life Issue 12

Have you tried polenta? I absolutely love the stuff! I love its texture and versatility. Plus it’s super cheap, so perfect for budget-friendly meals.

Seared Polenta with Colourful Salad Leaves, Hempseeds and Hummus

Since I’m such a fan of polenta, I  was really excited to see it featured in the January/February Issue of Vegan Life magazine

Vegan Life Issue 12

In my experience, polenta is incredibly easy to make from scratch, providing you use the right kind of cornmeal.

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Chocolate Waffles with Crushed Nuts and Raspberries. Dairy free. Egg free. Vegan.

When it comes to weekend treat breakfasts, waffles are a firm family favourite. They are so easy to make and take very little time to prepare. We love experimenting with different ingredients and flavour combinations. I’ve already posted recipes for our Easy Vegan Waffles and Gingerbread Waffles and today, we’re sharing the recipe for our quick and easy Chocolate Waffles.

Chocolate Waffles with Crushed Nuts and Raspberries

These waffles have a decadent dark chocolate flavour, which works in perfect harmony with the nutty, berry toppings. Continue reading “Chocolate Waffles with Crushed Nuts and Raspberries. Dairy free. Egg free. Vegan.”

Sweet Miso Brussels Sprout Hash with Pecans and Pomegranate

Have you ever tried thinly slicing Brussels sprouts and pan-frying them? They take on this amazing nutty taste and aroma that sets them worlds apart from stinky boiled or steamed sprouts. I’m pretty confident that a pan-fried sprout ‘hash’ could win over the most avid of Brussels sprout haters in your family. It won over mine!

Sweet Miso Brussels Sprout Hash with Pecans and Pomegranate

While I’ve always been a Brussels sprout lover, Lil’ L didn’t share my enthusiasm for this cute little brassica. Every year I’d optimistically add a couple to his Christmas dinner plate. He’d work his round the whole plate, eating every morsel in sight… except those sprouts!

I was determined to find a way to convert our sprout hater and, earlier this year, I hit jackpot when I made a Brussels sprouts ‘hash’ by shredding and pan frying them with balsamic red onions and pecans.

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