Vegan MoFo Day#17: BREAD!!!!!

Made by my wonderful mum. Doesn't it look fab. And it tastes fab too. I cut off big chunks and dunked in my Stew.

Perfect for a chilly October in deepest darkest Yorkshire.

This Stew had dumplings in. I believe Americans call dumplings biscuits (am I right?). This makes me laugh because biscuits are what you have with a cuppa tea (cookies)

I love the little differences in the languages. What do Ozzies and Canadians call these - biscuits or dumplings?

GO VEGAN! Go MoFo!

Vegan MoFo Day 12: Stew and Dumplings

You know when you leave comments on some blogs and you get a load of letters you have to type in to ensure you're not some spammer, well...have you ever noticed how some of them actually make words? Cool huh!

Anyhoo...I've had a real lazy day today, mainly spent reading blogs and leaving comments and generally just enjoying living my life through blog land, really sad to hear about Pumpkin I know how hard it is to lose such a beloved family member. Lots of love to Veggie Sue. Lazy days call for lazy food and for me that either involves leftovers or a one pot wonder. Well - I ate all the leftovers last night so out came the cauldron sized saucepan and Stew and Dumplings were born. This is a great winter warmer and once all the veggies are peeled and cubed - it's all pretty simple from there. Use what ever veg you have and the quantities are basically up to you – you can make as little or as much as you want.

This is what us Europeans use to make Dumplings. I have it on good authority that this is the same as Hydrogenated Vegetable Shortening

Veggie Stew serves 4 Ingredients Potatoes Olive Oil Turnip Carrots Onions Leeks Swede (Rutabaga) Parsnips Garlic Bay Leaf Parsley Bisto Gravy Granules (Beef style Bouillion) Marmite ( even if you don’t like it, I have served this to people who say they hate the stuff yet they love this recipe ) Water or Stock Dumplings 5oz Flour 2 oz Veggie Suet 1/2 tsp Salt 1/2 tsp Mixed Herbs Water to bind so as the Dumplings form elasticy shaped balls

Method Boil the Potatoes, drain and set aside. Peel and chop all the veggies to whatever size you want. Put some Olive Oil in a big pan and add the Onions, fry gently for 5 mins then add the garlic and all the other veggies except the leeks and Potatoes. Cook for 15 mins stirring to make sure nothing sticks to the pan. Add the Leeks and cook for a few more minutes. Add water or stock, as much as you want, pop in the Bay Leaf, cover and simmer for half an hour on a low heat. Stir in the Gravy Granules to get the consistency you want, add a teaspoon of Marmite and the Potatoes and cook for another 10 mins stirring often. Season with Salt and Pepper and add the Parsley. Now to make the Dumplings. Place the Flour and Suet in a bowl, add the Salt and Herbs and mix up with a fork. Gradually add water stirring inbetween each addition, I used about a cup. You want a sticky dough like consistency that forms an elasticy shape (Wow! My Literature teacher would be impressed with that description!!). If it's too dry add more water and likewise, if it's too wet add more Flour.

There are five Dumplings but one sank before I got my camera, so inconsiderate!

Place the Dumplings on top, pop the lid on the pan and cook for 15 – 20 mins on a low heat. Serve! Don't move for the next two hours and fall asleep halfway through the boring film you were watching! Today's song shall be Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here

This is stuck in my head quite a lot - it is my rescue song. You know when you try to get an annoying song out of your head so as you stop bursting forth with it whilst walking round the supermarket? Try this one - it works every time. Oh the power of The Floyd!

Spanish Stew

I veganised this recipe a few years ago before I was vegan and it has been a firm favourite in my household ever since. I made a HUGE pot of this tonight so I will have leftovers for my lunch for the next few days as well but THAT'S GREAT - it is impossible to get fed up with this rich tomato-ey protein packed stew.

Serve with warm crusty bread and a glass of Rioja and try not to notice it's raining outside your window in Grimsby!

Spanish Stew serves 8 Ingredients Olive Oil for frying ( I have some homemade Chili oil that I use ) 3 jars/tins of drained Beans ( I used Butterbeans, Pinto and Red Kidney ) Half a large Onion, diced 3 cloves Garlic, chopped 2 tins Red Peppers 10 pitted Black Olives, chopped in half 2 tins Tomatoes 1 teaspoon Tomato Puree Half a teaspoon salt Dash of Soy sauce 10 Slices of Pepperami Style Sausage Black Pepper Fresh Basil 1 Bay Leaf All the weights and measurements are guessed so don’t be afraid to add more or less as you see fit. And of course, if you have the time, you can soak and pre-cook the Beans instead and use fresh Red Pepper that you peel yourself using the flame trick. Method In a large saucepan add the Olive Oil and fry the Onion and Peppers for 5-8 mins stirring regularly. Add the Garlic and Olives and continue cooking for a few more mins. Then add all of the Beans. Cook for a further 10 mins stirring now and again to make sure the Beans don’t stick to the bottom of the pan. Add both tins of Tomatoes, the Tomato Puree, Salt, Soy Sauce and Bay Leaf and place a lid over the saucepan. Simmer on a low heat for an hour to an hour and a half, stirring every 10 mins or so. 10 mins before cooking time is finished add some sliced Pepperami Style Sausage and chopped fresh Basil. YUM!