Chili Pasta

Another super basic one
Works well for those days when you come home & really can't be bothered to cook! Why is it that on those nights we seem to feel like a more tasty meal than other nights!!!!!!!

It's also a quick & easy one for times when there really isn't that much left in the fridge.

I used:
1 cup Pasta
2 x zucchinis
1 onion
1/2 can four bean mix
2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce

Cook pasta per packet directions.
Slice zucchini into long, thin strips. Lightly fry in a nonstick frying pan with a chopped onion for about 7 mins til soft & lightly browned.
Stir in the mixed beans & continue stirring until warmed through.
Add to the cooked pasta. Mix & add sweet chili sauce.
Enjoy (in front of the tv is recommended)!

Another great smoothie

For a tasty and colourful smoothie try blending:
Paw-paw, raspberries, maple syrup, and soy milk
I like a ratio of bout 3:1 pawpaw to raspberries so it's not too tart. Add as much soy mik as you like  depending on how thick or thin you like your smoothies to be.

Basic Pizza

Ok, so this may seem like a silly thing to do a blog about.
Personally I found it really hard for a while to eat pizza without cheese & found that vegan cheese's just didn't cut it for me! So here's how I regularly have my pizzas now! This way I find they don't dry out & all the pleasure of eating pizza is still there :-)


Of course you can pick and choose your own favourite veggies as topping but my favourites are:
Spring onion, capsicum, mushrooms, pineapple & baked beans.

I make sure i put the mushrooms on the bottom - directly onto the sauce, followed by the spring onions, capsicum then the pineapple on the top and lastly the baked beans.
This system seems to prevent the pizza from becoming dry :-)

Oatmeal-raisin Cookies

This recipe came about when I was flicking through my recipe books wanting to make some cookies & feeling so disappointed that they all had about 1 cup of oil/margarine in them.
I wanted a lower fat version.

Makes 18 cookies

You'll need:

2 cups oats
3/4 wholemeal flour
1/2 brown sugar
2/3 cup raisins
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup pure maple syrup
50ml vanilla soy milk


Preheat oven to 160degreesC. Line a baking tray with baking paper.
In a large bowl mix together oats, flour, brown sugar, baking soda, raisins and cinnamon.
(If you would like a smoother consistency to your cookies just put half the oats into a food processor before adding to the mixture)
Add the milk, & maple syrup. Stir until all ingredients are well combined & mixture holds together slightly.
Wet your hands to roll the mixture. This will help it not to stick to your hands. Use about 2 tablespoons for each cookies - shape into a small ball & then press down onto the baking paper with a fork.
Bake for about 10 mins until lightly golden.

Easy bean dip

This is a tasty & heathy dip. Serve with chopped vegies or pita bread. Also works well as a spread on a sandwich.


You'll need:
1 small tin baked beans (any flavour you like)
2 tablespoons tofutti better than cream cheese (best if left out of fridge for an hour or so to soften)
1 teaspoon cumin
1 shallot


Drain most of the liquid off the baked beans.
Put into a small mixing bowl with the tofutti.
Mash together, til beans no longer resemble their shape.
Add shallots and cumin.
Mix well.
Serve in a nice bowl & sprinkle with parsley (not like i have done for this photo ;-p)

This dip also carries well. I often make it for my daughter to take to school in a small container with baby corn & carrots.

No-cook pudding

This is a tasty treat for when you feel like something chocolatey but don't want to eat chocolate!

You'll need:
1 banana
6-7 fresh dates
100ml chocolate soy milk
cinnamon

Chop banana into thin slices.
Layer half of banana slices in a dish or tray.
Chop dates into 3 pieces longways and remove pip. Flatten as much as possible. Layer on top of the banana.
Repeat the banana then date layer.
Pour chocolate soy milk over the layers. Sprinkle lightly with cinnamon.
Put in fridge for at least 1 hour, up til 2 days.
The dates and banana will absorb some of the milk.

Delicious fuss-free, healthy treat.   :-)

Adzuki bean burgers

This is my all-time favourite veggie burger.
They are easy to make and taste delicious
They can be served as part of a main, or a lunch time meal with salad or on a bread roll.

You'll need:

1 cup adzuki beans
150g firm tofu
1 cup bread crumbs
1/4 cup tomato paste (or tomato sauce if you prefer but the paste has a stronger flavour)
1 tablespoon Italian herbs






Mash the adzuki beans and tofu together in a bowl.

Stir in the breadcrumbs, tomato sauce & herbs.













Mix til well combined.














Shape into patties either with your hands or a hamburger press.

Heat a non-stick fry pan.
Place patties in the fry pan & lightly dry-fry each side til golden brown.

Serve as desired.
Picture shows on a bread roll with lettuce & sweet chili sauce!

Makes 4 patties.

Toasted Sandwich

Ok, so you're probably thinking what's so hard about a toasted sandwich that I need to add one to my blog?!?!?
Well to be honest, I think that being vegan means that it's not so simple as making a cheese and ham toastie for a quick dinner. So I was on a quest to find something that tasted even better without all the cholestrol and fat..... Just for those nights when we simply can't be bothered to prepare a full-on meal, because let's face it - we all have those nights.

So here's my solution:

Toast 1 piece of tofutti sliced cheese, with mushrooms & corn relish between 2 pieces of grain bread!
DELICIOUS!
Serve with a salad and there it is! A quick & easy healthy meal.

Another of my favourite smoothies

FIG SMOOTHIE

You'll need:

3 fresh figs
1 tub vanilla soy yogurt
1 tablespoon hazelnut coffee flavouring
150 ml orange juice
1 tablespoon maple syrup
(ice if desired)

Blend all ingredients together in a blender until smooth