Okay, I can't follow recipes!

....even my own!

Yeah, as I'm cooking for this Vegan night, I thought I'd 'perfect' my recipe, so I started by writing down what I normally do (of course, missing out most ingredients because I'm stupid, and having to add them in as i remember) and then basically following it, then as I taste and change add it to it, thus having the perfect recipe on paper. But it's not that easy is it? Oh no!

I followed it to a T, and I seem to have red wine mince in a choking sauce. However, I've added a couple of cups of water and it's starting to reduce down a little bit. But I've come to the conclusion that I really can't follow (or write) recipes. I just hope no-one asks me for the recipe for something I cook.

However, I think I know where I went wrong, so i'll tweak it a little bit and then post it on here so feel free to have a go of following my instructions and see how yours comes out. *shifty eyes*.

In other news, I went shopping with my new vegan recruit yesterday, in Chester of all places. She got Bacon, several cheeses, a pasty thing and rice milk. I got rice milk too, and it was actually 'really' nice - I hadn't tried it since like, the first week I became vegan, and thought it tasted of Play-Doh so haven't bothered since, but they had it in little cartons with straws, like the milk you get in school, and they were only 65p so I got one. I couldn't believe how nice it is, so I think I shall be buying it more often!

I also got a cheese sauce mix, which is... 'okay'. I havn't made it properly yet, as I kind of ignored the instructions the first time, and it came out like... plastic. I'll try again when I make Lasagna. I hear Sheese (or whatever it's called) cream cheese is good for making cheese sauce though. Will have to try that also.

That is all.
Goodbike.

Indian Takeaway

Ok, so I've been a bad blogger and it's actually been exactly a month since I've updated - but that's not out of character for me at all. I did, however, find an Indian Takeaway whose Vegetarian dishes are all vegan as they don't use any animal fats since the owners mother apparently had a stroke and he has now learned to cook of of his dishes 'healthily'. I probably wouldn't trust anywhere else, but these guys seem pretty decent.

They even have a live webcam stream from their kitchen - which is pretty awesome and if you order online, it gives you a count-down to how long your order and you'll soon be able to track your delivery! He's also developing the worlds hottest curry, and a fully automated Indian restaurant - if you're in the Stoke area you should definitely give them a go!

On another note, I've been trying some of these wierd and wonderful vegan products, the meat and dairy 'style' ones, none of which I've been all that impressed with Redwoods's 'bacon' was pretty pointless really, didn't taste/look/feel anything like bacon and didn't add anything to the meal. The Turkey 'style' slices wernt too bad though, they were pretty good on a sandwitch.

The 'Sheese' mature chedder was one of the worst things I've tasted in my life. It was just awful and smelled of feet.

I've heard nothing but good about Redwoods ‘Super Melting Cheezly’ though, so I'll have to give that a try!

Another thing I've noticed, Soya milk - there's SO much difference in the taste in this it's unbelievable. I've been trying loads of different brands, and mixing between the stuff you get in the fridges and the stuff you get on the normal shelves (what IS the difference between those?!) because all I've noticed the is the ones on the selves are alot cheeper and very disgusting! Best value I've found so far is Morrison's own brand (from the frdige) - I think it was around 88p /ltr and it was really nice!

One thing which has caught my attention in recent weeks is PETA, I'm growing pretty fond of these guys and the work that they do - especially after reading their blog. There's some pretty good reading on there. I think I may become a member when I get some spare cash, actually!

In the world of weight loss it's now starting to go pretty well, I've cut out 80-90% of the (bad) carbs I was having before - potatoes, white bread, white pasta, white rice etc and replaced them with wholegrain/meal/wheat/whatever and I think it's working pretty well! Woohoo!

I also rejoice in the fact that Bryan Adams has been vegan for 20 years. It almost makes me want to like his music! Try Youtubing him though, it's really strange!