What We Ate This Veganuary // Week 4

 

Veganuary - try vegan in January. It's that simple. Obviously, we are already vegan but I enjoy sharing vegan food ideas on this blog and it gives me an excuse to shout about veganism to everyone even more.

I don't know how long I've been vegan. Many people seem to know the exact date they made the change, however for me, it was quite gradual. I grew up eating chicken, bacon, cheddar cheese and chocolate. I went vegetarian around 2014 and in the following few years phased out milk and butter to vegan alternatives and then eventually the same happened with cheese (which was mainly only eaten on pizza anyway). Finally, after moving in with Mr H we both made the decision to finally bite the bullet and I cut out chocolate. Of course, there have been odd moments where chocolate or ice cream or a normal cheese pizza was consumed - no one is perfect - but I guess you could say I've been vegan for around 4 years. 

I'm also neurodivergent and grew up an extremely picky eater. Though I have gotten much better in the past 4 years (half due to veganism, the other half due to being married to a chef), I still find meal ideas and vegan recipes to be overly complicated or just downright gross. You don't have to live on tofu, chickpeas, mushrooms and cauliflower FYI!!

Anyway, just as we did in 2021 we're going to share what we eat during Veganuary this year. 

I'll only be sharing our joint evening meal as it is the main food of the day. It's nothing special and a good representation of our actual daily diets - hopefully, it will inspire you to try vegan when you see how easy and yummy it is!

Click here to see what we ate last week!

Day 23 - Lentil Soup
My go-to homemade soup.

Day 24 - Paella
Basic vegetable paella

Day 25 - Sausage Rolls and Siracha Mash
Homemade sausage rolls made with vegan sausages and ready-to-roll pastry. 
Served with siracha and spring onion mashed potato. 

Day 26 - Spaghetti and Garlic Bread
Gluten Free spaghetti, tomato sauce, sheese and garlic bread.

Day 27 - Broccoli Delight
Broccoli 'steaks' pan-fried topped with bacon and cheese. With garlic smashed potato.

Day 28 - Nuggets and Potato Pops
and marrowfat peas too!

Day 29 - Dump Bowl
Couscous, peppers, spring onion, bacon, potato and goodness knows what else.

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Again, these may look very beige, however, this is a realistic look at what we actually eat in our house. I am a fussy eater and eventually stick to the same foods over and over. If it wasn't for that we'd eat a lot differently, especially with Mr H being a chef!
Come the summer, we will have a little different variety with salads and the like but right now this is what we're eating. I'm also going through some health issues at the moment and some days I just want to eat nuggets and chips!

Click here to see what we ate last week!

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Check out my Veganuary posts from 2021 here and you can find all Vegan Food Idea posts here.

Until next time...

[Click the image above to enlarge the whole of Veganuary 2023!]

What We Ate This Veganuary // Week 3

 

Veganuary - try vegan in January. It's that simple. Obviously, we are already vegan but I enjoy sharing vegan food ideas on this blog and it gives me an excuse to shout about veganism to everyone even more.

I don't know how long I've been vegan. Many people seem to know the exact date they made the change, however for me, it was quite gradual. I grew up eating chicken, bacon, cheddar cheese and chocolate. I went vegetarian around 2014 and in the following few years phased out milk and butter to vegan alternatives and then eventually the same happened with cheese (which was mainly only eaten on pizza anyway). Finally, after moving in with Mr H we both made the decision to finally bite the bullet and I cut out chocolate. Of course, there have been odd moments where chocolate or ice cream or a normal cheese pizza was consumed - no one is perfect - but I guess you could say I've been vegan for around 4 years. 

I'm also neurodivergent and grew up an extremely picky eater. Though I have gotten much better in the past 4 years (half due to veganism, the other half due to being married to a chef), I still find meal ideas and vegan recipes to be overly complicated or just downright gross. You don't have to live on tofu, chickpeas, mushrooms and cauliflower FYI!!

Anyway, just as we did in 2021 we're going to share what we eat during Veganuary this year. 

I'll only be sharing our joint evening meal as it is the main food of the day. It's nothing special and a good representation of our actual daily diets - hopefully, it will inspire you to try vegan when you see how easy and yummy it is!

Click here to see what we ate last week!

Day 15 - Nuggets and Chips
A proper lazy tea to kick off the week! Nuggets, chips and beans. 

Day 16 - Homemade Pizza
As you'll probably be able to tell, pizza is a favorite in our house and without sounding big-headed, my own homemade broccoli pizza is my favorite! 

Day 17 - Burger and Pops
It's turning out to be a particularly unhealthy week it would seem...
Quorn hot and spicy burger, potato pops and broccoli!

Day 18 - Kiev, Potatoes and Veg
Found a new vegan 'chicken' kiev in Asda while looking at new Veganuary lines!
Had it with nice 'tatoes, broccoli and peas.

Day 19 - Mash and Veg
Can't really get more basic than mashed potatoes, broccoli, sprouts, peas and gravy!

Day 20 - Quesadillas 
Quesadillas made with soy pieces with mushy peas and pan-fried potato strips.

Day 21 - Curry
It's technically curry, but also not really.
A smooth curry sauce with rice and homemade garlic naan bread.

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I'm just going to repeat exactly what I said last week - These may not be the healthiest nor the most diverse nor what you may deem appealing meals, however, these are realistic, easy meals that we actually eat in our house. It's January, therefore cold and comforting, warming meals is what we want. In the warmer weather, we do eat salads and the like but right now this is what we're eating.

Click here to see what we ate last week!

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Check out my Veganuary posts from 2021 here and you can find all Vegan Food Idea posts here.

Until next time...

What We Ate This Veganuary // Week 2

 

Veganuary - try vegan in January. It's that simple. Obviously, we are already vegan but I enjoy sharing vegan food ideas on this blog and it gives me an excuse to shout about veganism to everyone even more.

I don't know how long I've been vegan. Many people seem to know the exact date they made the change, however for me, it was quite gradual. I grew up eating chicken, bacon, cheddar cheese and chocolate. I went vegetarian around 2014 and in the following few years phased out milk and butter to vegan alternatives and then eventually the same happened with cheese (which was mainly only eaten on pizza anyway). Finally, after moving in with Mr H we both made the decision to finally bite the bullet and I cut out chocolate. Of course, there have been odd moments where chocolate or ice cream or a normal cheese pizza was consumed - no one is perfect - but I guess you could say I've been vegan for around 4 years. 

I'm also neurodivergent and grew up an extremely picky eater. Though I have gotten much better in the past 4 years (half due to veganism, the other half due to being married to a chef), I still find meal ideas and vegan recipes to be overly complicated or just downright gross. You don't have to live on tofu, chickpeas, mushrooms and cauliflower FYI!!

Anyway, just as we did in 2021 we're going to share what we eat during Veganuary this year. 

I'll only be sharing our joint evening meal as it is the main food of the day. It's nothing special and a good representation of our actual daily diets - hopefully, it will inspire you to try vegan when you see how easy and yummy it is!

Click here to see what we ate last week!

Day 8 - Dump Bowl
In our house, a dump bowl is usually a mix of veg and something like rice or cous cous to use up things that may be nearing the end of their usability...though sometimes it's just what we fancy to eat.
This dump bowl consited of cous cous, broccoli, peas, boiled potatoes, spring onion and nuggets.

Day 9 - Homemade Chicken and Bacon cheesy bakes.
Made with quorn vegan soy pieces, vegan bacon and sheese.
Served with broccoli, peas and green beans. 

Day 10 - Pizza and Wedges
I usually make homemade pizza but we thought we'd try this new frozen pizza from Asda's new OMV! range with some potato wedges. 

Day 11 - Fried Rice
Mr H's yummy fried rice with (my obvious favorites) broccoli, peas and spring onion.

Day 12 - Creamy Broccoli Soup
Homemade creamy broccoli soup with baguette.

Day 13 - Wraps and Potatoes
Using up some of the left over fried rice, we had wraps with a little added sheese and boiled garlic potatoes.

Day 14 - Pasta
Gluten free fusilli with peas, breadcrumbed 'chicken' pieces and sheese.

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These may not be the healthiest nor the most diverse nor what you may deem appealing meals, however these are realistic, easy meals that we actually eat in our house. 
It's January, therefore cold and comforting, warming meals is what we want. In the warmer weather we do eat salads and the like but right now this is what we're eating. 

Click here to see what we ate last week!

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Check out my Veganuary posts from 2021 here and you can find all Vegan Food Idea posts here.

Until next time...

What We Ate This Veganuary // Week 1

 

Veganuary - try vegan in January. It's that simple. Obviously, we are already vegan but I enjoy sharing vegan food ideas on this blog and it gives me an excuse to shout about veganism to everyone even more.

I don't know how long I've been vegan. Many people seem to know the exact date they made the change, however for me, it was quite gradual. I grew up eating chicken, bacon, cheddar cheese and chocolate. I went vegetarian around 2014 and in the following few years phased out milk and butter to vegan alternatives and then eventually the same happened with cheese (which was mainly only eaten on pizza anyway). Finally, after moving in with Mr H we both made the decision to finally bite the bullet and I cut out chocolate. Of course, there have been odd moments where chocolate or ice cream or a normal cheese pizza was consumed - no one is perfect - but I guess you could say I've been vegan for around 4 years. 

I'm also neurodivergent and grew up an extremely picky eater. Though I have gotten much better in the past 4 years (half due to veganism, the other half due to being married to a chef), I still find meal ideas and vegan recipes to be overly complicated or just downright gross. You don't have to live on tofu, chickpeas, mushrooms and cauliflower FYI!!

Anyway, just as we did in 2021 we're going to share what we eat during Veganuary this year. 

I'll only be sharing our joint evening meal as it is the main food of the day. It's nothing special and a good representation of our actual daily diets - hopefully, it will inspire you to try vegan when you see how easy and yummy it is!

Day 1 - Pumpkin Soup
Made from the Pumpkin I carved for New Year! 

Day 2 - Wraps and Potatoes
The cupboards were bare and dying for a food shop so this was a scavenged meal.
Cous Cous and black-eyed beans, seasoned, in wraps with some our staple 'nice tatoes' which are boiled potatoes with garlic and parsley.

Day 3 - Spaghetti
We'd been away for most of the day and was able to pop into a shop and grab a packet of gluten-free spaghetti, broccoli and a loaf of tiger bread so that made for a filling tea with some vegan cheese.

Day 4 - Roast Veg
Some fried potatoes rounds along with garlic roasted sprouts, broccoli and peas!

Day 6 - Burger and Chips
My favorite burgers are the Quorn hot and spicy burgers and are pretty much the only ones I will eat. Texture is a huge thing for me and many of the vegan alternatives are too like real meat which I don't like at all. 
Mr H made some homemade chips too and we had a side of mushy peas. Mine in a separate pot because I can't have them touching anything else haha!

Day 7 - Breakfast for Dinner
I had planned for a more veg-focused meal tonight but it was a rubbish day with some bad news so a comfort meal was called for in the form of breakfast for dinner.
Vegan bacon, even though it may not look appealing, is SO good and I love it crispy. 

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You may have noticed that Day 5 is missing. We actually had a Dominos as they had buy one get one free on pizzas and it actually included vegan pizzas. It was alright. I feel like the person working must have been new and had no idea how to make pizza but it filled a hole!

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Check out my Veganuary posts from 2021 here and you can find all Vegan Food Idea posts here.

Until next time...

Vegan Meal Ideas - Potato Edition!

 

I love potatoes. I'm sure many people love potatoes. In all their different forms! I'm not into all this no-carb life and cutting out entire food groups (minus animal products obviously haha) and although this post may make it seem otherwise, I do like to try and live by 'everything in moderation!
As the weather is cooling down and yet again it's been far too long between my vegan food posts, I thought it was the right time for some comforting, potato-filled, vegan inspiration.
Here are five different ways we've eaten potatoes recently... 

Potato Latkes
My take on the traditionally Jewish fried potato pancake or fritter that is often eaten over Hanukkah.
Obviously, it contains no egg and so is vegan. 

Cheesy Broccoli Mashed Potatoes
Another variation of mashed potatoes including cheese and broccoli mashed in - so good!

Cheesy Potato Bake
I wasn't sure what you'd call this but I guess it is kind of like a pasta bake but with potato rounds instead.
Thin round slices of potato layered with a homemade cheesy sauce, oven-baked, and topped with garlic & parsley.

Fried Garlic and Chive Potato Pancakes
Rather than grated potatoes like the latkes, these are essentially mashed potato versions.
Mashed potato with spring onions fried in a frying pan and topped with parsley.

Green Lentil Shepards Pie
A shocking entry on this list for anyone who knows me and probably the first 'pie' I've ever eaten.
I wanted to try this to add a quick, easy, filling meal option to our list of recipes.
Made with green lentils, peas, and onion and topped with mashed potato!

I now have a whole host of different vegan food posts here on Underland to Wonderland and countless options for many different people and their needs including fussy eaters, easy-to-cook, gluten-free, healthier options and comfort foods.
Click this link here for a lot more posts - Vegan Food Ideas!

You don't have to be vegan to try any of the foods in my posts and you don't have to go fully vegan to add more plant-based meals into your diet. It's common knowledge that a vegan diet literally helps to save our planet so without getting on my soapbox and ranting, I do implore you to try and increase your vegan intake and decrease animal-derived ingredients from your life.

Hopefully, my posts help to show that we don't just eat seeds and leaves. So many things that non-vegans eat either are also vegan or can be made vegan very easily. There are more options now than ever so try something vegan!

Until next time...

A Year of Bath Bombs // October - December

In 2021 I accidentally ended up having a bath bomb every single Sunday. I'd had some bath bombs to use at the start of the year and after having had a weekly bath become part of my routine I couldn't stop! As I take daily photos, the bath bombs gave me something regular to photograph each week and so with having all those photos, I thought I'd show them here in quarterly posts. Find what I used between October and the end of the year below...

Click these links to check out the first three posts:
A Year of Bath Bombs // January - March
A Year of Bath Bombs // April - June
A Year of Bath Bombs // July - September

October

Zero
Simply Meant To Be
Hocus Pocus
Lord of Misrule
Poison Apple
Ghostie


November

Three Of a Kind
Little Monster [?]
Orange Pop
You Shall Go To The Ball
Sleepy Bear


December

Llama Potion
Toby's Magic Cow
Santa’s Magic Sleigh
Practically Perfect
Butterbear Bath Bomb

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And that rounds out a full year of bath bombs! If I have counted correctly I used 51 different bath bombs over 53 baths and 52 Sundays. There was one Sunday in May that I did not use a bath bomb and I had extra baths on Halloween and New Year's Eve haha.
As I mentioned in a previous of one of these posts this was the year we discovered Tales of Toria and started using more of their bath bombs in the second half of the year so all those featured over the year are either Tales of Toria or Lush. 

I could probably count on one hand how many bath bombs I've used this year because not only was it expensive, but getting stuck in a routine of telling myself I have to do something every week is a little exhausting...funny considering baths are meant to be relaxing!

Until next time...