Recipe | Vegan Granola

Up until now I had always shop bought granola, simply because I hadn't realised just how quick and easy (not to mention cheap) it is to make at home!

After watching a couple of youtube videos and reading countless recipes I thought I'd amend them to make the perfect granola for me! 

Once I had looked at a huge number of combinations within loads of different recipes, I finally cracked exactly what I want in mine, and now I want to share it with you!

Now there were a few things I learned that I wanted from my granola before attempting the final mixture:

1. Not to add too many nuts, as well as being picky with the nuts I choose. A lot of recipes called for a huge amount of different nuts but I've never been the biggest fan of a strong nut flavour (don't judge me but I can't even handle peanut butter!) so I stuck with a lower proportion of nuts and only chose those with a subtle taste - obviously this can be mixed up to your own personal taste!

2. I need more liquid than other recipes suggested. As important as the proportions of flavours is, it turns out that the texture was equally as tough to get perfect and I like granola that's a tad chewy as well as crunchy.

3. It takes a surprising amount of time to get to the right level of crispiness when cooking. Oh, also raisins don't take as long to cook as the rest of the mix, so I add them in halfway through baking.



So without further ado here's what ya need:

Ingredients:

- 1.5 cups of nuts (I used walnuts, pecans and cashews)
- 2.5 cups oats (the bigger the flakes the better)
- 3 tbsp golden syrup
- 2 tbsp coconut oil
- 0.5 tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- 0.5 cups raisins (or other dried fruit)

Recipe:

1. Preheat oven to 170 oC
2. Mix all ingredients in a bowl except for the raisins. You will need to melt the coconut oil in the microwave first.
2. Cover tray with baking paper or a silicon mat and lay mixture out in a thin layer.
3. Bake in the oven for 20 mins
4. Remove from oven and turn over to ensure even baking. Also, add the raisins at this point.
5. Return to oven and bake for 10 more minutes or until all the mixture looks golden brown.
6. Allow to cool and enjoy!

This granola can be kept for at least a week in an airtight container. Let me know what you like to put in your granola or if you give this one a try!
x

Monthly Favourites | May

I've been neglecting this blog, it's true but if nothing else I want to try to always get a monthly favourites post up!
So here is Mays -

I'll start with a few beauty products because I have found, compared to food, this is a much harder area to navigate as a vegan!

Noughty hair products:

Anyone that has tried to purchase 100% vegan hair products will know it can be tricky and expensive... especially if you are looking for it to be specifically aimed at curly/dry hair! I did A LOT of research and compared many companies with price, reviews on quality and also availability without paying extortionate postage!
That's when I saw an advert on Facebook for Noughty. It was a curl creme that was 97% natural and 100% vegan.... this was certainly worth a little look. When I checked the prices I was pleasantly surprised as they average £6.99 a bottle (that's for the cremes, shampoos, conditioners and rescue remedies) which compared to other companies was much cheaper!

I ordered some as the postage also was also very reasonable - I have tried the shampoo, the curl creme and leave in conditioner .... and have since bought the normal wash out conditioner....

My hair feels soft, nourished and it has allowed me to leave my hair to dry naturally without ending up looking like Einstein! They do have products aimed at other hair types as well so it isn't limited to curly ladies!



Say Yes To Cotton micellar water:

Time for me to confess to you .... up until recently I was a person that used make up wipes...
Yes I know how terrible that is for the environment and it's awful that it has taken me so long to find an alternative BUT I now have!
I bought this from Holland and Barratt and it is 95% natural and again 100% vegan. The best part though is that it can be used with a sponge or washcloth instead of disposable tissues! I also find that it is good for sensitive skin and not harsh at all!




Alpro Caffe:

Possibly my best discovery this month is this delicious iced coffee from Alpro, it's hazelnut and coffee so tastes a little like ferrero rocher!
If you're not keen on hazelnut they also have a salted caramel option which is just as yummy! Pour it over some ice and you'll be sorted for the rest of summer minus the Costa or Starbucks price tag!!






Nakd blueberry muffin bars:

Considering there's only a small number of ingredients in these little bars they taste EXACTLY like blueberry muffins but are a hella lot healthier! Win!

Nakd have a huge number of bars that I'm sure will suit every taste so go to your local supermarket and peruse the options available!




Wagamamas Vegatsu curry:
Anyone that has spent any time with me will know my undying love for Wagamamas, who do already have an amazing number of vegan dishes.
However they have recently out done themselves! Before becoming vegan I adored the chicken katsu curry and have really missed being able to order it ... NO MORE!
There is now a vegan alternative that uses seitan but still has the same stunning, crispy, golden coating and mildly spicy curry sauce.

Even meat eaters could enjoy this one! I  think I have found my new favourite dish.

Monthly Favourites | March.

March was a crazy busy month so it's been hard to dedicate as much time to the blog as I would like, however I can still share some of the things that have been my favourite through the month!
There are, as usual, specifically vegan products - however there are also a couple more personal things on the list that although they don't quite fit into my vegan theme I still feel I want to share them!

In March I managed to finish my normal toothpaste and decided to try something different .... and 100% vegan! I was worried that as it isn't mint flavoured I'd struggle to get on with it but it's a subtle and rather tasty flavour! This is a toothpaste aimed at sensitive teeth which I have suffered with in the past, I can honestly say this is the only toothpaste I have notice actually making a difference! My teeth are noticably less sensitive, I don't find myself preparing before sipping cold water or eating ice cream now! I bought mine from Holland and Barratt.

For the first time I'm including a book in my monthly favourites because I was in quite a reading slump that has finally ended thanks to this fabulous read. Anyone that enjoys YA, magical, fantasy novels will adore Poison Study as much as I did so I urge you to pick it up.
Health warning though that this is the first in a trilogy so you might end up needing to purchase more because the writing is beautiful, the story is incredible and I JUST NEED ALL THE BOOKS NOW PLEASE.

This month also led me to getting my third tattoo, all my tattoos have been done at the same parlour and two by the same artist. When it comes to getting something permanently put on your body it's vital you do research and are comfortable with the shop you get it done in .... and then stick with it if you get more!
Let me introduce you to Alfonso. When I was in my first year of university my housemate, in a fit of boredom, doodled on my feet... yeah that's kind of uni in a nutshell. One of the doodles was a little giraffe and at the time I thought it would make a cute tattoo, fast forward almost 8 years and I got the real thing! It is now a reminder of not only my housemates but all my friends that support me, raise me up and help me to stand tall. He's also pretty cute.
If you're ever looking to get some ink and are in Bath go to Northgate Tattoo (formerly Broadstreet Studios) they are professional, friendly and so talented it makes me a little sick.

I couldn't write a favourites post without including some food! This month I discovered Smooze ice lollies from Sainsburys. They are coconut and mango flavour which means they taste like frozen mango smoothie and are perfect on a hot sunny day .... which we had one of in the UK before it got cold again....
Even if the nice weather doesn't stick around these are a worthwhile staple for the freezer when you fancy something fresh, healthy and sweet.

Restaurant Review | Koh Thai.

I love Thai food. I love Tapas. Thai Tapas just made sense.

The chain Koh Thai serves a huge range of Thai tapas in a few cities including Bath, Southampton, Bournemouth, Romsey and many others! We ventured to Southsea to try some of the delicious food they had to offer.
There were quite a few vegan options and we tried them all accept one.....

For the actual Tapas we had crunchy tofu and vegetable tempura which both came with a sweet chilli dip. I definitely enjoyed both dishes and considering they were battered and deep fried neither were overly greasy so you don't feel quite so bad about eating them! The vegetables were so soft, perfectly cooked and the batter was super light and crispy, once dipped in the sauce both the tofu and the tempura were jammed with a super comforting flavour (the broccoli was my personal favourite).
The only vegan tapas option we didn't have was the vegetable spring rolls, firstly because that is a hell a lot of batter/pastry but also I can get spring rolls from many other restaurants/take aways so wanted to try something different!

The other potential dishes for vegans is the stir fry, of which we opted for the cashew (there was garlic, chilli, ginger or Thai basil) with just veg - you can add tofu as well if you want extra protein!
I have no idea what the sauce was that this came in as it is simply described as "house stir fry sauce" but it was sort of a soy sauce base with a definite kick at the end from chilli. Scrumptious without over powering the vegetables.

And finally we also ordered the only vegan curry which was the yellow - this is the most mild you can have so if you like your spice you might be a little disappointed about not being able to have the hotter versions. However this was still full of flavour and I think it was my favourite dish of the night so if you try only one dish I would go for this one.

Oh and we had a portion of coconut rice because clearly we hadn't ordered enough already!

The one and only negative I would say about the restaurant is not about the food at all but the lighting! Now I understand having a chilled and cool ambience but it was so dark I had to hold the candle next to the menu to actually read it!! This is the reason for the rather poor quality photos (Also completely forgot to take pictures before we started digging in..... oops).

We finished the meal off with a cocktail because they have a whole tasty looking menu so would highly recommend you try at least one if you go!

x

Simple Recipes | The Magic of the Chickpea.

Aaaah the chickpea - though you be but small, you still be mighty.

If like me you have spent far too many years unaware of how marvellous these peas are then I'm here to show you the way, with 3 super quick, simple, cheap and healthy....ish recipes.

Important side note: when draining the chickpeas make sure to hold onto and store the water... just trust me on this one, you'll need it later.

If you have done any research into vegan alternatives you may have come across the idea of using chickpeas to replace tuna in sandwiches or salads - Yes you heard that correctly. I was extremely sceptical of this at first and didn't think it would taste nice at all, let alone remind me of tuna.

I was wrong! I bit the bullet and tried it. You're welcome.... I mean that many vegans couldn't be wrong!

 1. Chickpea Tuna: 

 1. Drain and mash a tin of chickpeas with a fork.

2. Add some vegan mayo or salad cream (Tesco “free from” mayonnaise is fab!).

3. Add any extra garnishes you want!

I tend to stay simple and add a pinch of pepper, spring onions and sweetcorn if I have some in the cupboard - It does need a little something something to make sure it's not too bland.

Honestly this is an amazing alternative that actually works and tastes great (It was even confirmed by my omnivore sister who thought it was delicious too!!). Perfect if you're low on time or need a lunch to pack and take on the go - Plus no actual fish so you won't stink out the whole office!

This next one is a really fab and easy snack - it's a tad better for you than the crisps and biscuits that are arguably tasty, but not the healthiest choice.

2. Crispy Chickpeas:

1.Preheat oven to 170oC

2. Drain your chickpeas and place on baking tray.

3. Add some spices (I used curry powder, garlic, salt, pepper, paprika, thyme and cumin).

4. Bake for an hour or until golden brown and crispy.

Voila!! Jobs a good'un.

And now something sweet to finish!
Desserts for vegans are always a bit of a pain considering we don't eat eggs, butter or milk. All of which are rather important constituents to most puds!

But don't fear there are always options. Oh by the way this is the point you'll want that chickpea water I told you to hang onto.

3. Chocolate Mousse:

1. Melt 50g of dark chocolate.

2. Use an electric hand whisk to whisk the chickpea water until soft peaks form.

3. Once the chocolate has cooled gently fold it into the fluffed chickpea water.

4. Freeze for 20 minutes to speed up cooling.

5. Keep chilled in fridge.

And again that's all there is to it! Simple right?

So there's no reason to have boring food or think being vegan requires a lot of time and effort. Once you know the tricks it's easy as pie.... vegan pie of course!

x

Token Introductory Post!

Hello!

Welcome to my new blog - The Veganarium.

I've been a vegan on and off for a while but am finally settling into it properly and thought I might share my journey towards a healthier and happier lifestyle with others.

But why "The Veganarium"?

This blog is meant to be all about growth ..... just like the cute little succulents you'd grow in a vivarium... but instead, here we grow vegans!

I'm still learning and discovering so this might be a good place for other newbies to learn with me or more experienced vegans to reminisce, make suggestions or (dare I say) even find new tips/ideas themselves!

You should expect to find "what I eat in a day" posts, trialling vegan recipes, recipes of my own, reviews of vegan food/restaurants and general life/opinion posts.... if it's vegan it'll be here!

The vegan community has always been a strong and ridiculously supportive one and this is my small, but hopefully positive contribution.

Come on in, take a look around and lets enjoy some vegan goodness.

x