Going vegan......old style?!

starbee

Whilst not in the least bit natural, I've found three products in home bargains (cheap store) suitable for vegans. They're noodle 'pot' meals, where you get a pouch of noodles, packets of sauce, dried veg & topping, either sesame seeds or peanut. You put them all together in the bowl provided with two spoons of water, then microwave for two minutes.
For days when you've not made sandwiches for work, or really can't be bothered to 'make' something , these are ok.
There is a kung pao and a teryaki flavour, and another which I haven't tried. They're 69p each in my local store - has anyone else tried these?? Sometimes a ready meal is just what's needed!

VeganClaire

I like the redwoods products for days when I just have a real craving for something (usually fish - which is odd as I havn't eaten it in over 10 years and didn't like it before!). For cheap fake meat I like asda meat free packet mix that makes burgers (about 50p makes 8 burgers) although I know I could make homemade bean burgers that are healthier for less!

suep

I like the redwood products that I've tried, but I dont buy them often becuase of the price and like you Im not so keen on processed foods.

Has anyone else got the book 'Vegan Cupcakes take over the world ' ? I brought it last week because of all the rave reviews but its an American book, which I sort of guessed anyway. I've seen a set of cup measures online, would they be the same as the American cup measurements ?
I've looked at online conversion charts, but they are a bit confusing.
Also if anyones got the book and tried making a few of the recipes, did you get all the ingredients ? and where can I buy a really good natural bottle of Vanilla extract ?
Sorry about all the questions

VeganClaire

I have "vegan cupcakes take over the world". I have used the cup measure bought here and the cakes have turned out fine. I find vegan cakes cook better in a regular oven not on the fan setting.

I think lakeland sell posh vanilla, but have a feeling some larger supermarkets have it too. Only really used the basic recepies so far. I found apple cider vinegar in Tesco, so expect its in most supermarkets (it was next to the balsamic vinegar.)

Edit: http://www.lakeland.co.uk/F/keyword/vanilla quite expensive but very nice and you get a big bottle so it lasts a long time.

suep

Thanks, I cant wait to get baking Just realised I need an icing set too, again Lakeland have one but it's quite expensive imo so Im going to have a look on ebay.

BilberryCharlotte

Doom_and_Gloom wrote: »

By the way what do other people think of the redwood products? If you aren't sure what I'm on about http://www.redwoodfoods.co.uk/index.html will help you. What do people think of what they have tried from this company?

I ordered several products from Redwood to try. So far we have tried the Cheezly with garlic and herbs, which we found very nice. My daughter likes it on a cracker and I like it in a sandwich.

We have cheatin` ham style slices, cheatin` rashers, Cheezly with bacon style pieces, Cheezly with cranberries and Cheezly that melts.

As we will only be trying them once a week perhaps, it will be a little while before they are used, but we look forward to trying them.

I also ordered some of their coconut ice to try, we thought it was delicious.

I hope D & G will let us know what she thinks about her Redwood `gifts`

frogga

I've got Vegan Cupcakes Takes Over The World and it's a smashing book. Also got some nice cakes in the Skinny !!!!! books

Dreading Thursday this week as I'm visiting family who are meat eaters and think my Veganism is 'childish and unhealthy'. I will be lectured on the benifits of eating oily fish and how none of the Veggie alternatives are as good. I've already said "please don't go to any trouble for lunch, a sarnie will do" and that was greated with much moaning. They always make cakes with eggs and marg in and then get offended when we don't eat them. Or they make quiches, or cheese and onion 'sausage' rolls. It really puts me off wanting to go as even though I know I'm right in what I'm doing, they always make me feel I'm wrong

DO any of the rest of you suffer with this problem? I'd love to know what you say when this happens. When I talk about being Vegan they take it as a personal insult against what they eat Advise on how to cope with rellies like these would be nice

VeganClaire

My Dad used to make comments about what I was eating when we had family meals - I used to say its better than eating dead flesh! Now if he says anything I only have to look at him. Not sure that would work with most people though. I don't mention veganism with family unless asked, although my mum loves to seek out or create vegan alternatives (with mixed sucess, she made an alternative to salmon hollendase with plain tofu and soya milk not at all nice!but makes lovely coconut cakes)

Maybe offer to bring a dish with you?

suep

Most of my family are like yours Frogga, I have an aunt who is vegan , but she's not really interested in food (her words) and is very skinny and pale, when my brother heard I was vegan he said 'I expect she'll get all skinny and ill looking like aunt ****' :eek: I think she has an eating disorder, she wouldnt eat half the things I do and especially not vegan cupcakes

It's my dh's aunts 80th birthday in a couple of weeks, apparently shes having a family meal at a local restaurant, dh said I couldnt go becuase I eat weird food !
Even he wont support me in my choice :mad:

By the way Vegan claire I found a set of measuring cups on ebay for £1.99 and an icing set for 99p. I looked at Lakeland and the vanilla extract is around £5 and the almond extract which is also used a lot is around £8, its a lot of money isnt it ? So Ive searched the net and found this site
www.supercookonline.co.uk they sell the little bottles for £1.45 which are fine for me, Im not going to be baking cupcakes that often. Now I cant wait for it all to arrive so I can get baking :j

frogga

VeganClaire wrote: »

Maybe offer to bring a dish with you?

HI Claire,

I did say I'd make some bread, as I always do, and suggested that we just have a sarnie and a pkt of crisps. I always say "we only have a light lunch and have our dinner in the evening" but they never listen!!! :mad: They just talk over me and do their own thing anyway!

My auntie said " we've bought you those revolting Linda Mccartney sausages" which luckily my tadpoles do like but I'm now wondering what are they going to have them with If she cooks them and then lets them go cold to have with a sarnie they'll be auful! I sound like a fussy fart but I don't eat pretend meat so I don't want them, but I feel I'll have to eat them if she thinks she's made an effort. I wish she wouldn't make an effort and just let me have a damm sarnie!!!!

:rolleyes: