Thug Kitchen's Cornmeal coconut cake with additions!

It is almost summer!  you wouldn't really believe it looking at the weather at the minute. Storm, rain and the occasional hail storm really give the illusion that it is actually turning into autumn, while skipping spring and summer.  Don't get me wrong, I really look forward to pumpkins and other autumnal treats, but I really need some sun!  

This coconut cornmeal cake really tastes like summer, especially with the added berry topping, and so could help you pretend that the very much needed sunshine and warmth is on its way. It has kind of been inspired by/ half stolen from the Thug Kitchen cook book,  although it has been slightly tweaked. I have been really enjoying the Thug kitchen cookbook and truly recommend it to anyone looking for a good, fuss free vegan cookbook for inspiration.  I know its a bit controversial because of the language etc,  but some of the recipes in there are ace. They also have a blog, so check them out!   A lot of the recipes in the book are quite simple to make, use simple ingredients, yet still seem quite innovative. 

I had never really used corn meal before, it is not something that is very present in my food culture I think. But I must say I really like the texture. So today I will share with you my version of the cornmeal cake, and tell you what I used for the icing. This all really takes 5 minutes prep and half an hour in the oven, so very simple and easy cake!.  The measurements are in cups and tsp.  If you don't own these types of measurement equipment you can find conversions online.  You can also just invest in some, they are generally cheap, which I recommend as it makes life easier. So without further ado - here we go. 

What do you need for the cake 

1 1/4 cups of corn meal ( you can get it in bigger supermarkets, I got mine from a more international/ pakistani food store that I have locally ) 

3/4 cup all purpose white flower or pastry flower

3/4 cup sugar 

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/2 cups coconut milk 

(the recipe asks for vanilla and lemon zest - I did not have this and I think it tastes pretty fine without it ) 

 What you need for the topping 

The book suggests to just serve it with some whipped coconut milk. If you put full-fat coconut milk in the fridge over night, the solids separate from the liquids. you can then whip up the solids with a hand mixer the create  something that looks and tastes a bit like whipped cream - vegan style. 

I decided however to create something entirely different but it is your choice. 

I used: 

3 cups desiccated coconut 

3 tbsp of icing sugar 

2 tbsp  of coconut oil 

Jam 

blueberries 

What you will need to do:   

1. preheat your oven - I did it to about 200 degrees.  Also- good time to grease a baking tin. 

2.  mix all the dry ingredients in the bowl - flower, corn meal, sugar, and baking powder.  When it is all nicely mixed up,  make a well in the middle and poor in your wet ingredients - coconut milk, and if you did decide to use some the lemon zest and the vanilla.  Mix it all until you have a smooth batter. 

3. put in baking tin, that you already greased ;). Put in the oven for about 30 minutes.  If you can put in a tooth pick ( or any other utensil of choice) and it comes out clean, your cake is done! 

4. While the cake cools down -  put your coconut, coconut oil, and icing sugar in a food processor. let it stir for a while until its a thick buttery consistency.  I think it took me 5-10 minutes. This might be a bit thick, you could add some water if you prefer to have it a thinner consistency. 

5. when the cake is cooled down sufficiently, spread the coconut butter mixture on the top of the cake. Mix some jam with water to make it a nice runny consistency and spread this on top of the coconut mixture.  decorate with some blue berries, or fruit of your choice .. et voila - vegan cake!  

Blog revamp - from cooking to lifestyle

Once again, I have not posted for a while. This time I am genuinely busy though. I have been invited to talk at a bunch of conferences, which I have never done before so I am super excited ( and a little scared )!  The first one is next week in Finland - any tips for vegan food whilst I am there? I figure it might be a bit of a difficult place but when push comes to shove I can always go frugivore for a bit ;)  Next to that I have all my normal PhD stuff going on, and as it is end of  term, and the beginning of my last year, there  is a LOT OF IT...

In other news, we recently moved house! so different kitchen, new toys ( food processor yeaaaah ), new location. Also, that took a lot of time away from doing anything but moving and work, especially with an absence of internet at home.  So now that after a few weeks I think I might be getting my life back together it is seriously time to give this blog some well deserved attention.

As you may have noticed  ( the few dedicated people that follow me - hopefully more dedicated people will follow in the future) I do not post a lot on this blog. It's basically because it takes a lot of time. I really enjoy cooking, so this blog was meant to be a recipe and food  blog. But, lately the hassle has taken a toll on me posting recipes. When I cook they are often simple recipes, that are either already shared, or are not worth sharing, or are basically a veganized form of processed junk ;). If I do make something exciting, I often am to caught up in other things to take pictures and then write something about it  -  I just forget to do it every time! Now I will try to get better at this and post more often on this blog, and keep the recipes coming, but I thought why not make it a more general vegan life style blog?  I am not a very experienced vegan yet, make some mistakes here and there, but perhaps, just maybe I could be of some help to someone somewhere who has also recently started the journey to a vegan lifestyle ( Don't I sound like a hippy-dippy now? ).  I could share reviews of my favourite restaurants, youtube channels, and cook books,  share some of my traveling hot-spots and adventures, discuss issues that concern the vegan community, share some of my favourite products, talk about vegan events etc etc. the list is endless. If you have any requests for things you would like me to address or write about, or suggestions for recipes I could try - please leave them in the comments below.

Veganism update - green smoothie goodness !

I have not posted on this blog for a while... which is terrible on my behalf.   I wish I could say I have been busy, but that is just really not true. I think the truth is is that I have been living the easy life of eating take-away falafel and pre-made vegan veggie burgers , pre-made soup, lots of salad and fruits.  You know, every once in a while we all get terribly lazy, but I quite admire myself for still keeping it relatively healthy  ( minus the falafel and the veggie burgers  but I grant myself some naughty indulgence-  I will post a recipe soon for home-made baked falaffel made from scratch and therefore less fed and less processed stuff. I am very in to knowing what exactly is in my food - so stay tuned! )

I am still vegan!  and I still eat quite healthy. I feel super good doing this, I feel like I have quite a lot of energy, and that my body is really positively responding to this.  I can't imagine going back. ever.  The way I have been feeling has also affected those around me - lots of people after seeing me and listening to me are upping their veg intake, and drinking less dairy,  and eating less meat ( this is not my intention - but it is a good side effect). Not everyone of course, there are plenty of people who think I am nuts ;).  I am reading up lots on nutritional info, and spend hours on youtube watching what other people enjoy eating the vegan-way.  If you have anything you recommend me to watch or read - please let me know. I am always up for learning new things and acquiring new information.

I also have an Instagram  ( @frencake ) on which I post more regular updates. Mainly foto's of food and things I am doing, but just in case you are interested in some more of my food porn following me on Instagram is the way forward.  

What I really have been enjoying lately is drinking smoothies, and especially green ones. I never really used to be in to them, but maybe that is because I did not do them right? I think the key is to add some sweet fruits, and make sure it is not too sludgy and nice and smooth.  I drink many variations of smoothies and I am sure that over time more variations of this will find its way onto this blog. but for now I want to leave you with a recipe for a green smoothie that I really enjoy so you can get your green-smoothie on!  ( Its not really a recipe.. lets face it. all you need is a blender :) )

what you need 

- 2 bananas
- 2 cups of Spinach ( or more ;) )
- 2 kiwis
- 500 ml of water

what you need to do 
  Put everything in a blender .. and drink up!

I have gone fully vegan! Super-power oatmeal

I must confess - I have gone completely vegan in the past few weeks. I think it has been two or three weeks now where I have not sneaked any eggs or dairy into my daily diet. I must admit it feels darn good. I feel leaner, more energetic and it has turned me into a fruit and fiber junky which I can only presume to be a good thing. I must say though that I am starting to feel like I am missing out on salty things. After endless days of you-tube watching, foodblogs and information reading i think it might just be a detox phase ... ( is it? anyone? ). Another thing I seem to be struggling with is bringing stuff to work that actually keeps me full and focused through out the day.  Although I seem to drag along endless supplies of fruit, this does not seem to cut it. Salads just feel like I am punishing myself, and do not fill me up, lots of other things I tried just turned into a crazy mess. So if anyone has any tips on healthy, filling food to bring to work, please let me know!

Breakfast, on the other hand, I have worked out!. I have a variety of things that I go through that keep me satisfied. From simple bowls of cereal with almond or soy milk, to wraps  or toast filled with  fresh fruit and nut butter ( see previous post) to a variety of oatmeal recipes that fill me up and truly satisfy my needs.

One of my favorite oatmeal combos must be my super-power oatmeal bow, chuckfull of plant-based protein, fiber, and antioxidants and different flavours in every bite it is definitely a keeper in the repertoire.  The blueberries ( which you can  buy frozen to save money, or fresh when they are in season) and the goji-berries make it nice and fruity, while the nut butter ( almond butter in this case) makes it nice and hearty and feel like an absolute treat.   The added flax seed and chia seeds make it really good for digestion, add necessary omega 3s, as well as iron, and calcium. As an added bonus, this recipe has more than 20 gr of protein because of the oats, nut butter, and soy ( this is almost half the daily recommended intake for an average woman).  It is ready within minutes!

What you need
50 gr of oatmeal ( old fashioned, not instant)
150 - 200  ml of plant-based milk ( almond, soy, coconut, oat, you name it)
1 tbsp of dried chia seeds
1 tbsp of ground flax seed
a hand full of blueberries
goji berries
almond butter  (or other nut butter)
agave nectar or other sweetener (optional)

What you will need to  do

combine the oatmeal and soy milk into a small pan and put on medium heat and don't forget to stir! after a few minutes add in the blue berries, chia seeds, flax seed and goji berries and bring the oatmeal to a boil whilst making sure it does not stick to the pot! when the oatmeal has been bubbling for a minute or two it is done ( I think you can leave it longer if that is what you prefer but I like my oatmeal quite liquid).

put the mixture in a cereal bowl, sprinkle with almond butter and sweetener to taste and enjoy!

banana & peanut butter quesedillas

Some days you just need a hot, quick and easy breakfast. Although a variety of oatmeal recipes usually pop up in these situations, some times it is good to have something entirely different.  When this feeling strikes me I like to make quesedillas, but for breakfast I prefer a sweet variety!   Peanut butter and banana are my favorite, although I must say these are also quite brilliant with cream cheese, blueberries and some cinnamon.  The outside of the tortillas becomes nice and crunchy, while the banana and the peanut butter on the inside become so nice and gooey. They are quite plant-protein heavy because of the peanut butter, and the banana provides a lot of potassium. I really recommend making these.

I know these are not highly original,  Pinterest is full of them, but I do really like eating these for breakfast ;) hence I thought it wouldn't hurt to share!

You will need (for 1 person):
2 small, or 1 big, tortilla
1 banana
2 tbsp of peanut butter

you will need to do:
spread a generous amount of peanut butter on the tortilla. Slice the banana in thin slices and cover half of the tortilla with the banana slices. Fold the tortilla over, making sure you seal the outsides so that the banana wont fall out during transport.

In a dry frying pan ( no oil! )  on medium heat, heat the tortillas until the outsides are nice and crunchy and the filling hot and gooey.

Bon appetite!!

Time for Chili! (vegan / vegetarian)

Busy busy week. Or it is supposed to be busy week. Presentations and deadlines around the corner, lectures to attend and tons of academic writing to be completed; but I have a massive writers block and so just stare at screens hoping inspiration will strike. I even went to a lecture about writers blocks, but I think it might have made it worse.  The main advice I got from it was 'just write, start small, but write. no excuses and no distractions'.  Easier said than done.... but I am sure I will get there somewhere this week...  Motivation will hit eventually... ( or is that sheer fear? ) 

In the mean time I will do some writing that is not absolutely necessary...  so much easier! So I thought I should tell you about a dinner we like to have on a regular basis. So easy, and ideal for when there is no fresh vegetables around the house anymore, but you really can't be asked to do groceries.  Chili is ideal because all ingredients come either from the pantry or the freezer, and despite a lack of fresh vegetables it is full of healthy protein and vitamins. Of course, if you do have the fresh produce, these would be good ingredients too!  You can combine it with so many things; you can eat it in wraps or with pita bread, with rice or bulgar wheat, or like we did last night with home-made oven fries. 

I think this chili tastes really great, and I feel healthy eating it because of the many colours in this dish. The spices in this dish make it very warming, and the beans make it really filling and satisfying.  The version here is vegetarian because of the fake mince ( I used Quorn), which often contains some animal products like eggs, but there must be vegan varieties of fake mince out there.  The dish is also really nice without the meat replacer, so it is entirely up to you! 

What you will need: 

1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 onion
corn (canned, fresh, or frozen)
peppers ( fresh or frozen)
mushrooms (fresh or frozen)
tomatoes ( fresh or tinned)
chili or kidney beans (tinned)
baked beans (tinned)
1 tsp of chili powder
1 tsp of paprika powder

optional: vegetarian fake mince meat ( or any other vegetarian or vegan meat replacer that looks like mince)

What you will need to do: 

If you are using it, cut your fresh veg, and the onion, then heat up some oil in a pan.   Add the Onion to the oil, followed by the fake mince. After about 5 minutes add in the corn, peppers and mushrooms. Wait a little then add in the beans and the tomatoes.  Although both kidney beans and chili beans work fine, I prefer the chili beans. They come in a sort of chili sauce that helps add moisture and taste to the chili ( I know this is sort of cheating ... ).

Let the chili simmer for a little bit until it is properly heated through and through, then add in the chili powder and paprika powder to taste.   Serve with anything you fancy, and happy eating!

Vegan Banana Peanut butter Pancakes

I LOVE pancakes, it is one of the few things you are allowed to wake me up for in the middle of the night.  One of the things I don't like about pancakes is that they often contain lots of animal-based fats from the milk, eggs, and butter with which they are prepared. After watching many, many documentaries about plant-based diets and the increased risks that come with a diet that is filled with saturated fats and cholesterol from animal based products, I figured it is better to make this healthier, vegan, option.

I was not so excited about the banana at first - I am not a great banana fan. I don't like eating bananas as a snack .. it is something about the texture - but I discovered I do like them when they are heated up or incorporated into something. From banana-muffins, to banana bread, banana fritters, banana oatmeal .. but I especially like these banana-peanut butter pancakes which you can eat guilt free as no animals were harmed in the process.

What you need:
2 bananas
150 grams of flower ( whole meal if you can .. )
150 ml of plant-based milk ( Soy, oat, rice .. all work fine).
1 tsp of baking powder
2 tbsp of peanut butter
vegetable oil for baking

What you will need to do

put the plant-based milk and 1 of the bananas in a blender, and blend until you have a smooth milkshake type mix. If you don't have a blender, just puree the banana with a fork and add to the milk. This will work just fine.

Add the banana mixture to the flower, and add the teaspoon of baking powder, and stir until fully combined. add in the two tablespoons of  peanut butter. slice the second banana into thin slices, and add to the mixture. stir until the banana and peanut butter filling is equally spread through the batter.

in a frying pan, heat a little bit of vegetable oil. when the oil is hot, add in two serving spoons of batter, a pancake each ( this should make a sshhh sound... I do love that sound). Bake until golden brown on both sides. continue this process until you run out of batter.

This should provide you with a nice stack of pancakes for 2 - 3 people .. ( more likely 2 ....). Serve with some maple syrup .. or some kind of chocolate spread works pretty damn good too.