Vegan Storecupboard Challenge Winter 25 - Winter 26

LotsOfTea

DS has requested that I make some mince pie truffles again this year so I have searched out the recipe again and can confirm they are delicious and rich enough that you don't need more than one at a time. 

https://www.ocado.com/recipes/mince-pie-truffles/1goiko9KBlCAvsb6pbEsbp

leftatthetrafficlights

@LotsOfTea - thank you for the link! 😁 I'll show my dh and see if he fancies them, we're visiting family over the holidays so I might make some for them 😉 

The past week or so has been chaotic and my diet horrendous as a result (I've basically survived on white bread and scrambled tofu!! 😳) plus I've got no idea of what's happened with the grocery budget so I won't be listing any shopping in December as it wouldn't be a true reflection of purchases 🙄 

Anyway, I'm going to sort myself out today and get my head back in the game - it will be something very quick and simple for dinner tonight (I'm thinking either dark speckled lentils and grains or a chickpea and potato curry) as I have a lot of stuff to do in the house! 

I'll post piccies later 😁

leftatthetrafficlights

Didn't get round to eating last night! 🤦‍♀️

Tonight I had mixed grains (rye berries, barley groats, oat groats, short grain brown rice) with barberries, sunflower seeds and hemp seeds; butter beans; spaghetti squash; rocket; blueberries and black grapes. Blood orange balsamic on top - delicious! 😋😁 

Brie

leftatthetrafficlights said:

Didn't get round to eating last night! 🤦‍♀️

Tonight I had mixed grains (rye berries, barley groats, oat groats, short grain brown rice) with barberries, sunflower seeds and hemp seeds; butter beans; spaghetti squash; rocket; blueberries and black grapes. Blood orange balsamic on top - delicious! 😋😁 

do you mix your own balsamic or buy it in?  either way how and/or where?

leftatthetrafficlights

I buy it and make it @Brie!

To make it: crush flavouring of choice and add it to a bowl - pour over hot balsamic vinegar, stir and cover. After about a week, blitz it all along with a few dates in the blender then bring it to a boil in a pan, reduce the heat and simmer until it reduces. Once it's at the desired consistency, take it off the heat, allow to cool for a while then strain through muslin and into bottles/jars. You can keep in the fridge or in a cupboard- I don't know what type of shelf life it has as mine never last very long!! I do it with raspberries, strawberries, blueberries etc - I have balsamic vinegar pretty much every day on my salads so I like to have different flavours

There are lots of different ways to make it - you can pour hot balsamic over the leaves/fruit and leave to macerate for a few weeks; you can use sugar instead of dates; you can put all the ingredients into a pan without blending, bring to the boil and then simmer for 20 mins then strain ... whatever suits you really!!

My purchased balsamics are by Drury & Alldis - pricey but spectacular - worth every penny!! 😋 

Not sure about dinner tonight - it's a bit hit and miss at the moment so will post later if a decision is made! 😂