What's in my lunch box? Seasonally new

 

The thing I really like about trying to eat in a seasonal manner is how the variety in my diet massively increases as the summer gets closer. I was very happy when I got the market last week and was able to pick up new potatoes, asparagus, and radishes. This was a nice easy lunch to throw together with some tofu and a few bits from my allotment.

Salad – boiled new potatoes, boiled asparagus, raw spinach, raw rocket, radishes, fried tofu (Dragonfly brand – and a particularly tasty batch). Dressing made with oil, cider vinegar, mustard, salt, pepper.

Rhubarb crumble – home grown rhubarb topped with flour, brown sugar, oil, cinnamon, and ginger

 

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My year of less and more: month 4

Home made elephant costumes

I've now managed four months without purchasing new clothes, shoes or accessories. Last week was a bit of a struggle as I put together various costumes for Spring Fling. However as I was unable to buy clothes I had to make do with what I had or what I could borrow. As a result I had no purchases that I would wear only once, no panicked searches through the shops, and the chance to get innovative. I learnt how to make a beard from a ball of yarn; a skill I'm sure I'll find further use for.

Targets wise things went better in March then April, mainly because my goals got a bit woolly. So I completed March's tasks of garden clearance, creating a classics reading list, and organising a vegan meet up. While I did things in April the results weren't so clear cut.

My progress was as follows:

• Clear my sewing pile - it's smaller than it was. Three are still a number of items that need work, and a few are going to form monthly goals of their own.
• Learn about Triads - I now know what these are. A good opportunity to temping myself of the basics of the murky world of musical theory. Should a huge help next time I'm reading Bass a guitar magazine.
• Clear junk out at a car boot sale - I've set dates to do boot sales. I've made a huge pile of stuff to sell. I just need to. Ring the two together.

My 'challenges' for May are:

• Make a button collar necklace
• Make a plan for my sites Not The Vegan Police, and The Vegan Sandwich
• Create a list of places to visit in Essex

As the outcomes for these are more clear cut it should easier to know if I've done them.

 

I also need to up my game on 40 for forty.

Things that are the various of my list are:

• Making crumpets - crumpet rings have been purchased
• Read a book on wild swimming
• Find out what the a Shipping Forecast is all about
• Look up vegan food swaps

So another busy month beckons bringing an emptier house, a better used wardrobe, and an engaged brain.

 

Wishing you green ink and good food,

Annastasia

 

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Chelmsford Veg Up

Saturday saw the first meeting of the Chelmsford Veg Up group at the Ideas Hub.

I’d billed the event as a meet up, but quickly discovered the good people of Essex love a pun. So in order to avoid endless meet/meat jokes we’re embracing Veg Up.

I sat there just before noon wondering if I would get any takers so I was delighted when people began arriving, and after a moment of awkwardness the conversation vegan to flow.

Attendees quickly got to know each other as they shared the best vegan places in the area, and vividly described favourite dishes. Ideas for activities flowed, and included a Chelmsford vegan website, meals out, and a pot luck.

The group will be meeting again on 24 May from noon until 2pm at the Chelmsford Ideas hub. We also plan to visit Colchester Vegan Fair on 10^th May.

Why not come and join us? Vegans, and the vegan curious welcome.

 

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What's in my lunch box? Party bag

I went to a baby shower yesterday which turned out to be rather good. It was delightful to catch up with various friends, see what gifts the mother-to-be had received (everyone bought a copy of a favourite childhood book), and I particularly enjoyed partaking of the buffet.

The lovely organisers had gone to the trouble of including vegan food, and labelling it as such. They also gave me several bags of leftovers to bring home so my plans for making lunch box dahl flew out the window. I devoted the time to reading the latest Joe Hill book instead (definitely not suitable for small children).

From top right:

• Rhubarb crumble – to be served with a spoonful of vegan vanilla yoghurt (more leftovers)
  
• Cherry tomatoes
  
• Radishes
• Tofu sausage chunks
  
• Raw carrots, pepper, and baby corn – to eat with hummus

To read:

Gentlemen prefer blondes by Anita Loos

This is an absolutely charming read. I'm liking the way Lorelei and Dorothy don't seem to let anything stand in their way. They have no self doubt, and seem like little rays of sunshine. When something blocks them they just take a break and appear elsewhere.

 

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Berlin in ten bites

I previously visited Berlin 1990. I’d not long been vegetarian, and recall that I seemed to spend a lot of time avoiding seafood. A pizza covered with mini purple octopi/octopuses lingers in my mind…

Food aside, it was an exciting time to visit. The Berlin Wall was coming down. Changes were afoot, but hadn’t yet happened so I could observe the difference between East and West while developing a taste for Rye bread and getting to know my friendly host family.

Returning 24 years later a lot had changed, particularly in East Berlin. Who could have imagined a Starbucks and a McDonalds in Alexanderplatz? Happily this time round I faced no issues with little purple creatures (although I have noted for future trips that gemuse means vegetables). Here’s my trip to Berlin boiled down to ten easy bites (and they’re not just food).

1. Travel by train is cheap and convenient. You also get to see plenty of interesting sights without having to walk. I wanted to get off and explore at so many stations because the views looked interesting. I bought the Berlin Welcome card online, and it was easy to change my voucher for a travel ticket at the airport, then you just validate your ticket (stick it in the red machine on the platform to be date stamped), and you're good to go.

The East Side Gallery

Wire wool and pom-poms

2. You’ll still do plenty of walking so pack suitable footwear, and plan for a late afternoon nap. I’d definitely recommend The East Side Gallery. It’s is a 1.8 km length of Berlin wall that acts as an outdoor art gallery. The wire wool and pompoms filled huge metal cages as part of an installation on peace!

3. If you’re seeking vegan food you’ll want to spend a chunk of time in Friedrichshain where you’ll find Veganz, Goodies, Yoyo, Oh la la, Zeus and Voner. you'll get very familiar with Warschauer Strasse station. 

A vegan kebab!

4. Voner is quite a walk but totally worth it. I thoroughly enjoyed a vegan kebab served in a kind of crusty pitta. If only I’d had room for the chip with cheese and fried onions. And this interesting chap in the fetching blue suit is nearby.

5. Leave plenty of room in your bag for filling up at Veganz before you go home. I was sad that I couldn't fit the whole vegan turkey in my bag (and failed to photograph it), but made up for it with Daiya cheese, various sausages, chocolate and biscuits.

Outside Zeus

Inside Zeus - note the 'decor'

6. Take a notebook and a pen so you can contribute to the walls of eateries like the amazing Zeus. After all you need something to distract your salivating taste buds while you wait for your pizza to arrive.

Sit on the stage and admire the exhibits

7. The Ramones museum is in the back of a bar and for 5 Euros you get entry, a drink, and a badge! A museum in a bar – how cool is that!

The ceiling at Yellow Sunshine

8. Don’t miss Yellow Sunshine. Wouldn't the ceiling decoration make a great tattoo? And where else can you enjoy a vegan Lapland burger?

Vegan crepe with potato and sweet onion

9. I wish I lived near Oh la la so I could take my non vegan friends there. The crepes taste moreish, and the tea comes with shaped sugar cubes. Sweet and savoury crepes are on offer so you have an excuse to have more than one.

10. And no trip is complete without ice cream! I stumbled across Caramello’s after leaving Yoyo. Despite being full of burgers, wurst, and chips I felt that it would be rude not to sample their wares. There’s always room for vegan ice cream in a vegan waffle cone!

If you’re looking for further non food recommendations may I suggest :

Marienkirche - the oldest church in Berlin. It's worth sticking your head in the door to peek at the dance of death fresco.

Rotes Rathaus - Berlin's town hall. Entry is free and there's lots of lovely art tucked away inside

DDR museum - terrific is you like your museums full of buttons to push and flaps to lift

I could definitely have done with  a few more days (although not sure my aching feet and stuffed belly would have agreed) so I'm thinking about my next trip.

Wishing you all  things green, 

Annastasia

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Vegan meet up in Chelmsford

Meeting other people is always fun. You never know what fascinating things you'll discover. Meeting others who share an interest with you can be be even more fun.

So if you'd like to meet other vegans in the Chelmsford area get yourself down to The Ideas Hub on Saturday 26 April between midday and 2.30 pm.

If you haven't visited The Ideas Hub before drop by in a virtual manner and look at their website or Facebook page. Then come and hang out the cafe in April. Let's start building a vegan community in Chelmsford.

The Hub is part of the High Chelmer shopping centre, and is located opposite the market at 1-4 Market Square.

See you there!

 

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My year of less and more: month 2

I’ve now completed my second month with no purchases of clothes, shoes, or accessories. It’s not been difficult. However I have noted the following:

• It seems odd when I do walk through a shop selling clothes – as if I’d forgotten such things existed.
• Sales still catch my eye – I had to remind myself that I had no need of more shoes when I spotted a shop with a closing down sale.
• I’m finding more satisfaction in wearing the stuff I do have.

I’ve been setting myself 3 goals each month using the New Year Revolution planner. My goals for March are:

• Organise a vegan meet up in Chelmsford - all welcome
• Create a classics reading list for myself - suggestions welcome
• Sort out the garden - good weather welcome

 

I’m rather nervous about the vegan meet up, and know that I need to take action on this sooner rather than later. Hence I’ve made my other goals easy to ensure that I have no excuse for not doing it.

Last month I got organised with forty for 40, and assigned a few tasks for each month. So during March I’ll be looking at:

• Making crumpets – need to buy cook’s rings
• Planning a visit to Veganz in Berlin
• Making a green cape
• Organising a boudoir photo shoot with Carla and my bass

 

Wishing you all things green,

Annastasia

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