I GOT MY TATTOO!

Okay, I know I said I was waiting a year before having it done - but erm, I couldn't wait. haha.
Well my friend went for a tattoo, so I said I'd go with him to see what it's like etc.... anyway, one the way it really started me thinking, and I decided that if he asked me to get mine too I would... and he did, so I'm now formally branded Vegan!


My wrist looks really thin/my hand looks massive.. but yeah, that's my tat. WOOO! Still a little tender ha, I'll upload another one in a couple of days when it's fixed. =)

I think it's the only thing that I feel strongly enough about to actually have tattooed on me, I never intend on being un-vegan, and the tattoo generally 'means' something to me, rather than just walking into the tattoo place and picking something you think looks cool and then 'making up' a reason why it means something to you, like other people I know.

I've actually had really mixed reactions, my mum really likes it, my cousin hates it and doesn't understand why I've had that (although she has Sister in Chinese on her lower back, classy!) a mate found it 'comical', another one said it was AWESOME, another said it looked hot. haha.

But I'm really pleased with it, so that's all the counts really - never thought I'd get a tat, but I have and I like it, so woohoo!

A title which sums up this blog; erm. Dinner parties, more Kelly Clarkson, lack of Vegan months, Texican.

Okay, why have I only been Vegan for 6 months? It seems like way longer than that to be honest. It seems like ALOT longer than that, and to think I was eating cow puss and chicken period a mere 6 months ago actually makes me feel sick.

It also saddens me that I have to wait a further 6 months before I can get tattooed 'Vegan'. Oh well.

Anyway, I went to an Indian vegan night at my cousin, Kate's the other night. It was pretty good, I made .. er... Mark Masala, it was supposed to be Tikka Masla, but I forgot how to make it to be honest, so I just made it up - to be fair, I hadn't made it since I used to eat death things - but, it wasn't bad at all!

I also attempted to make Bombay Potatoes - although this turned into Bombay mash - I told you, I 'can't' follow recipes! Needless to say, it didn't go down too well. Kate mate a chickpea curry, with spinach and things - and although I'm not a big fan of chickpeas it was really nice. She also made Bhajis and attempted to do Samosas, but they said no.

It was a pretty good night though, apart from me being hungover - but meh.

The next vegan night is going to be Mexican (which this one was supposed to be, but Kate got a new fryer and wanted to make Bhajis,). I'm hosting this time, and I'm actually pathetically excited. I'm going to invite more people though, because at Kate's there was just four of us, and we wanted lots of food, and there was too much for just us.. ha.. so yes, more people, wider variety of food.

I actually want to go all out and have Mexican decorations and all, although I probably shouldn't, my bank might shout. =(. BUT, I do have the menu sorted, and I think i'm going to do it buffet style where you just help yourself to bits and bobs rather than a set menu.

We're be having: (clears throat, sounds excited and slightly proud): Chili SIN Carne, Tex-Mex beans, Gaucamole (home made ofc), plenty of different salsas, Wedges (not traditional, but hey), chili sin (yet kinnnd of con) Questo, Baked Potatoes (again, not Mexican, but will go well anyway), Pico De Gallo, Nachos, Borracho and Cinnamon Torilla Crisps for dessert. =P I'll probably end up adding other random things too...

AND, drink-wise - Sangria (vegan, ofc) Aguas Frescas (amazing drink which I trailed earlier), Magarita, Corona and a bit of Coke for the less adventurous sort.
Of course, the Corona comes with lime, and the Magarita glass comes salted. =P

So food is Tex-mex, or as I've taken to calling it, Texican or as a place Texico.... by mistake, and because I'm a bit of a spaz who gets confused, but let's ignore that, it works. Also gives me a great excuse to have a bit of Kelly Clarkson, the wonderful vegetarian, Texan singer as backing music. =P As well as, of course, the old Mexican HHAAA YAA CHA CHA YA YA HAAAAAA music, or whatever Mexican music is like? Yeah. Google.

Wanna come? DO! It'd be super - you have to pledge to wear funny hats and mustaches though... and bring maracas and cacti.... or just some salsa or something.

Anyway, I'm going to go and research Texan/Mexican/Texican music now.

Goodhike.

Kelly Clarkson is VEGETARIAN!

Ok, first of all I need to explain how much I LOVE Kelly Clarkson, she's probably my all time favorite singer, to be fair, she's just plain awesome.

HOWEVER.

I was listening to an interview with her on Trent FM, when she announced that she's vegetarian. Yeah, she 'could' be Vegan, but hey, it's a bloody good start and it's just sent her even higher in my estimations of her.

The dick head interviewer even gave her some grief about it, but she stuck to her guns. Go Kelly <3

If you want to check it out - it's on youtube, here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7mNfiYvJ5k

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.

New vegan recruit!

Woo! I have recruited a new vegan! How excellent am I. I didn't really intend to, I just referred to puss, death and chicken period as.... puss, death and chikcen piroid and I think it kind of put her off a little bit. Hmmm. But wooo, she's trying it. I need to offer me help and support and wonderful wisdom of my ..... however many months of veganism I now have. haha. Well yeah, I've written an essential shoping list for her..... and I'm also going to write a few meal plans because prior to this she ate every couple of days and that'd probably be some greasy animal nastiness from some Kebab house or something..... although she doesn't like beans.. or tomatoes, so it's quite a challenge, considering most of my diet is based around beans.....and tomatoes. haha.

But happiness for recruiting a new vegan! =D

Oh, and .....

Yeah, I forgot to mention - Turkish Delight is vegan... ROCK ON! Well, the stuff I have is, I was pretty impressed - it even says that it is! Yay.

Chao.

Naughty Vegan Blogger!

Okay, I'm back!! No, the Christmas dinner 'didn't' kill me, I've just been abit lazy, and when not being lazy - just trying to keep up with my new years resolutions! Infact, I could add actually keep this blog up to date as another resolution!!

I actually don't really have anything to report, believe it or not - apart from the fact I've kind of 'forgot' i'm vegan - I just don't eat death, puss or chicken period.... I'm not constantly aware that I 'can't' eat this, or that and just 'do' it, so weyhey.

I 'was' un-vegan the other night though, I had a tablet which was in a capsuel thing and the SECCOND I took it I was like "OH CRAP!!" Oh well, I'll just pretend it didn't happen, and make sure I actually pay attention to what tablets I'm taking in the future!!!

I have my first Vegan Food Night coming up in Feb, which should be pretty cool. With my vegan cousin Kate. Woo. She's making some of her favorite things, and I'm making the mains - my chilli con(out) carne! It's the best Chilli you'll ever eat, even approved by death-eaters! I may post the recipe at some point. =D

Speaking of cooking, yes, Christmas dinner was AWESOME! The 'turkey' was good, slightly dry and generic texture like most of Redwoods food, but along side mash, veg and gravy there really wasn't much of a difference from real Turkey, if anything it was alot nicer. Pigs in blankets were also really good and the gravy was one of the best I've ever had, well, for instant gravy anyway. Just didn't make enough for my liking, I love LOADS of gravy - I suppose for the normal human being it was more than enough!

I've also decided that I'm not really a big fan of the bean/lentil based curries and such like - I think I over-dosed slightly when I first became vegan and now i'm pretty bored of it all. I am, however LOVING the Realeat mince, it's amazing - and my favorite dishes are mince based onces so pretty perfect - Chilli con(out) Carne, Spag Bol, Lasagne etc ..... actually, I havn't made vegan lasagne yet, I think I should try it out sometime pretty soon, I imagine it wouldn't be the easiest of things to cook, but I'm always up for a challenge. Woohoo.

Anyway, that's all for now.

Goodbike.