Alfredo is traditionally made with lots of butter and parmesan cheese, here we make a healthier creamy vegan version based on cashew nuts and serve it with baked cauliflower and crispy thyme croutons – its a beautiful dish with lots of texture and is super tasty! Enjoy
Takes 25 minutesminutes
Serves 2
Ingredients
Ingredients;
300gLinguine/ fettuccine pasta – or ribbon pasta of choice or whole wheat noodles if you want to use healthier pasta
100gCashews
300mlnon dairy milk of choice
1tbspNutritional yeast
Juice of half a lemon
2tspgarlic powder
½tspfreshly ground black pepper
1head of cauliflower
4slicesof bread
4sprigs of fresh thyme
Instructions
Method;
Preheat the oven to 200 degrees c fan assisted.
Fill and boil the kettle.
Roughly chop the cauliflower discarding any thick outer leaves and ensuring to keep some of the more delicate inner leaves.
Add the cashew nuts to a bowl and cover with just boiled water and leave to sit for 10 mins until nice and soft, drain and rinse well.
Fill a large pot of boiling water and add a tbsp of salt, add the pasta and then the chopped cauliflower to the pot. Cook the pasta according to the pack instructions. When cooked, remove the cauliflower using a slotted spoon onto a baking tray and drain the pasta to a colander as carefully as you can and drain the pasta, ensuring to reserve some of the pasta water. Rinse the pasta in cold water to stop it from sticking together.
Add 1 tbsp of oil to the cauliflower on the baking tray along with a generous pinch of salt and mix well and put in the preheated oven to bake for 10-15 mins until golden.
In a mug add 2 tbsp of oil, 1 tsp of garlic powder, some of the fresh thyme removed from the stalk and a pinch of salt and mix well. Use a spoon or pastry brush and brush both sides of each slice of bread with the oil mixture. Slice the bread into 3cm squares and place on a baking tray and bake for 4 mins and turn the bread and bake for a further 2 mins. Remove and allow to cool.
Blend the cashews, lemon juice, 1 tsp garlic powder, nutritional yeast, 1 tsp of salt and ½ tsp of ground black pepper in a high speed blender until very smooth.
Add the cashew alfredo sauce to a large wide non-stick pan over a low to medium heat and bring to a gentle simmer, stirring so the sauce doesn’t stick. Add the pasta and toss gently until fully coated in the sauce. If the sauce is a little thick simply add some of the pasta water or if it is too thin simmer a little longer to thicken it.
Remove the baked cauliflower from the oven and add ½ to the pasta sauce.
Serve in pasta bowls with the remaining baked cauliflower on top including the leaves and serve with some croutons on the side
When Amy asked her mum at the age of 11, “mum what’s a virgin?”, her mother responded, “it’s someone who is not married”. Fast forward 20 years, Amy is now a trained and highly sought after Doctor in Sexual Health, Anti-Aging, and Regenerative Medicine in aesthetics and sexual optimisation.
Episode 2 – Dr Amy Killen
How did this week’s podcast guest go from a sexually repressive religious background to dedicating much of her life’s work to promoting a long and healthy sex life?
“Sexual health is more like a gateway to other underlying issues. When people come to me about their sexual health, it’s rarely an issue with their genitalia. It’s usually something else like hormonal problem, cardiovascular problem, stress, diet…”
After years of working on the medical ward, Amy soon began to see a rise in patience being more and more interested in their skin and their sex lives. So she took the plunge!
We talk stem cells, nitric oxide, PRP, hormone replacement, nutrition, fitness, how she deals with the topic sex and her own children… we cover it all!
A fascinating conversation! Enjoy!
Lots of Love,
Dave and Steve
To find out more about Amy and her work, check out her site www.dramykillen.com and instagram page @dr.amybkillen
Available now from all good podcast providers:
Empanadas with Sweet Potato and Black Bean
These empanadas are not only delicious but also easy to make, perfect for lunch, dinner, on-the-go meals, picnics, or parties. We use puff pastry for convenience, but traditionally, shortcrust pastry is employed. Feel free to adjust the filling based on what you have on hand, as it is easy to customise to your liking!
Takes 35 minutesminutes
Serves 4
Ingredients
1red onion
2clovesgarlic
1tspsalt
1large sweet potato(approximately 500g)
1x 400g tin of black beans
1tbspground coriander
½tspchilli flakes
Juice of 1 lime
15gfresh coriander(or parsley, if preferred)
30gvegan cream cheese(optional)
2sheets of puff pastry(640g total)
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 180°C (fan).
Peel and chop the red onion into small dice. Peel and finely chop the garlic. Trim any rough pieces from the sweet potato and chop it into bite-sized pieces.
Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large non-stick pan over high heat. When hot, add the diced onions, reduce the heat to medium, and cook for 2-3 minutes until softened. Add the garlic, chilli flakes, and salt, mixing well, and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes.
Add the chopped sweet potato to the pan along with 1-2 tablespoons of water. Cover with a tight lid and cook for 5-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sweet potato is tender.
While the sweet potato is cooking, drain and rinse the black beans, mashing them slightly. Chop the fresh coriander (including the stalks) and set aside.
Line two baking trays with parchment paper. Unroll the sheets of pastry and cut each sheet in half. Trim the corners of each rectangle to create a rough circle. If making larger empanadas, leave the circles about 15 cm in diameter. If making smaller empanadas, use a bowl approximately 15 cm wide to mark and cut out 3 smaller circles from each sheet of pastry (6 in total). Transfer the cut pastry to the lined baking sheets.
Once the sweet potato mixture is cooked, remove it from the heat. Stir in the chopped coriander and squeeze in the juice of 1 lime. If using, add the vegan cream cheese and mix well. Allow the mixture to cool in the fridge for 5 minutes.
Divide the sweet potato and black bean mixture evenly among the pastry circles, heaping it in the centre while leaving enough pastry around the edges to seal the filling. Pull the pastry together in the centre over the filling and crimp to seal, creating a half-moon parcel. Brush the tops with your choice of plant milk.
Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes, or until golden brown. Serve with your favourite salads or sides. Enjoy!
How do we get better at sex if we don’t talk about sex?! This week’s electric guest is the wonderful Jenny Keane.
Jenny is a professionally trained, trauma informed, holistic sex educator and Tantra yoga teacher. A crusader for self love through self exploration and pleasure, Jenny is on a mission to ignite a sexual revolution in Ireland!
Episode 39 – Jenny Keane
“If you want to change the way that you live, change the way that you have sex… Because the way that you show up in bed is more than likely the way you show up in life.”
A fascinating conversation, that has no boundaries; Jenny takes us through the menstruation difficulties that first brought her down this journey of sexual education; how the contraceptive pill changed her libido and even her sense of smell. We explore how in today’s society we are programmed to put unrealistic expectations on ourselves: sex has become a “performance or obligation”. Finally, we dive deep into how “to live erotically is to live in tune with your body”
As Jenny puts it, “there is no recipe for pleasure”. We are all on our own unique discovery and should not shy away from it. Rather, we should educate ourselves and our children so that they grow up with a healthy understanding of their own bodies and its abilities.
So let’s all try and take some advice from Jenny, Ireland’s sexual revolutionary, and slow down, remove the goal, pay attention, learn to connect with our breathe, body and mind; and most importantly have the right mindset! As “all tips are useless if you don’t have the right mindset first”.
We hope you enjoyed this episode as much as we did, we will be continuing this season with more topics all related to sex and relationships, so stay tuned! Please subscribe and share if you like what you hear.
Lots of Love,
Dave and Steve
To find out more about Jenny and her work, check out her site www.jennykeane.com and instagram page @hellojennykeane
Go Wild today and get yourself this natural, refillable deodorant that genuinely works. You can order by going to WE ARE WILD dot com to get 20% off your first order when you use code “HAPPYPEAR” at checkout. That’s WE ARE WILD DOT COM and Code “HAPPYPEAR” at checkout for 20% off. Enjoy!
Easy Balti Curry
We love curries, this Balti Curry is so easy to make, comforting and a total crowd pleaser. Only takes 20 minutes to make and is gluten free. Great for batch cooking too!
This Balti curry recipe is a delicious rich tomato based curry dish. In this recipe we like to use pumpkin when it’s in season but you can easily use sweet potato or butternut squash and make it any time of year. We like to leave the skin on our veg where possible as thats where lots of the fibre is. Balti curry recipes like many Indian dishes uses a lot of spices to give a great depth of flavour but don’t worry if you don’t have all the ground spices to hand you can simply use curry powder and a bit of chilli if you like. We love this recipe as it’s really adaptable to whatever you have in the fridge and cupboard, simply use your favourite veg and cooked beans and any leafy greens you like.
FAQ – frequently asked questions
Can I substitute the pumpkin?
Yes of course, when pumpkins are not in season we love to just replace them with equal portion of similar veg such as sweet potato or butternut squash or even carrots.
What if I don’t have all the spices in the recipe?
No problem, simply use an equal amount of curry powder in place of all the different spices.
Can I freeze this dish?
Yes indeed it freezes really well and heats up great.
How am I best storing this?
Store it in a reusable tub in the fridge. It will last for 2 days in the fridge.
If i don’t have red onions can i use regular ones?
Yes indeed, white onions, green onions, leeks or even scallions can work in place, the onions function as the base flavours
How long does this dish last in the fridge?
It will last for 2 days in the fridge
Can I use low fat coconut milk
Yes
Serving suggestions for this Easy Balti Curry?
Our favourite Curry recipes
Easy Balti Curry
With pumpkin and squash in season here in Ireland, and the cosy autumn weather beginning, this quick and easy Balti curry recipe with chickpeas or your favourite beans is perfect for the season. The name Balti comes from the little metal Balti dish these curries are traditionally served in, but you can use a saucepan or wide-bottomed frying pan.
Takes
Serves 4
Ingredients
400gtin cooked butterbeans
400gtin cooked chickpeas
1large onion
2clovesgarlic
5cmpiece fresh ginger
½tspchilli flakes(optional, omit for a milder curry)
½tspground cinnamon
1tspturmeric
2tspgaram masala
1tspcumin
1tspground coriander
1tspsalt
400gtin chopped tomatoes
400gtin low-fat coconut milk
650gpumpkin or squash
90gbaby spinach
15gfresh coriander/cilantro or herb of choice
200mlwater
Instructions
Drain and rinse the butterbeans and chickpeas (or beans of choice). Roughly chop the fresh coriander (or herb of choice) for garnish.
Blend or finely chop the onion, ginger, and garlic. Add to a pan with the chilli flakes and ½ tsp salt. Cook over medium heat until the onions are soft and lightly browned, about 5 minutes. If the mixture begins to stick to the pan, add a couple of tablespoons of water to deglaze.
Add the chopped pumpkin or squash along with a generous pinch of salt and 4 tbsp water. Cover the pan with a tight-fitting lid and cook for 5-10 minutes until the pumpkin or squash begins to soften. If the mixture sticks, add another 1-2 tbsp water.
Add the chopped tomatoes, coconut milk, spices, and 200ml water. Stir in the remaining ½ tsp salt. Cook for another 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Finally, stir in the butter beans and chickpeas and add the baby spinach, stir through until wilted.
Garnish with fresh coriander and serve with your favourite cooked grain or naan bread. Enjoy!
Notes
Beat the bloat: Replace the garlic and onion with the green part of a leek for a gentler, digestion-friendly alternative.
What if nutritional information was simple and accessible so that people can make informed decisions about the food they feed themselves and their family?
Well, Simon Hill has dedicated a decade to doing just that. Through podcast and website, plant proof, Simon has given a platform to world-renowned doctors and public figures.
Episode 38 – Simon Hill
During this chat, we learned what happens to the health outcomes of identical twins when they change lifestyles, the potential connection between diabetic dog and diabetic dog owners. Simon also bravely shared the role that a traumatic family incident kickstarted his interest in fighting chronic disease.
This episode is for people who like data, academic studies and want to use evidence based science to make decisions about their health. Lots of insightful anecdotes so grab a pen and note pad!
This week’s podcast is all about longevity and who better to speak to other than Mr Young himself: Sergey Young!
Episode 37 – Sergey Young
Sergey’s life’s mission is to live to 200—and to find an affordable way for everyone else to do the same. Founder of the $100M Longevity Vision Fund, Sergey has coached people from his own housekeeping lady to Forbes Billionaires, to rethink and redesign their lives with the aim to live as possible.
According to Sergey, the technology already exists, trials are already happening, so it is now only a matter of time and “the biggest obstacle for us living longer is not going to be science, it’s not going to be technology. It’s going to be human ethics and regulations…”
How does that make you feel? What if I was to tell you that a massive part of the longevity game starts now, and requires no science or technology! Sergey takes us through his 3 main widely available and affordable steps to gaining 3 extra healthy years to your life and so much more…
However, we don’t stop there! We go much deeper and battle through the morality of living so long… “Unless we change this world; our relationship with mother nature and the inequality gap, it’s going to be very difficult for us to enjoy the idea of living longer… that’s why my mission is to bring affordable and accessible health technology to the world…I’m really interested to work on that because it’s an opportunity to democratise healthcare”
A fascinating episode that we feel everyone can relate to.
Go Wild today and get yourself this natural, refillable deodorant that genuinely works. You can order by going to WE ARE WILD dot com to get 20% off your first order when you use code “HAPPYPEAR” at checkout. That’s WE ARE WILD DOT COM and Code “HAPPYPEAR” at checkout for 20% off. Enjoy!
Quick Caponata Spaghetti Bolognese
Caponata is a yummy Sicilian dish made with mediterranean veg, basil, tomatoes and olives, we wanted to challenge ourselves to make a super quick 5 minute making a caponata influenced version of classic spaghetti bolognese that everyone will love! Serve with some nutritional yeast
Takes 10 minutesminutes
Serves 2
Ingredients
Ingredients
200gwholemeal spaghettidry
1medium onion
200groasted red peppers in jar
1tspgarlic powder or 1 large clove garlic
1large carrot – grated
1jar of tomato passata or chopped tomatoes 500g
1x tin of cooked Lentils 400g
Small bunch Basil
40gpitted Olives
25gof raisins or sultanas
Instructions
Method;
Cook pasta according to pack instructions.
Slice the roasted red peppers into thin slices. Grate the carrot. Peel and finely chop the garlic, if using. Peel and chop onion into small dice. Chop olives. Drain and rinse the lentils. Pick the fresh basil from the stalk.
Put a non stick frying pan on high heat, once hot add the chopped onion and grated carrot and cook for 2-3 minute, stirring continuously, add the chopped olives, the raisins and garlic powder/cloves, cook for 1 minute, add the passata and drained lentils. Bring to a boil. Add the chopped basil (put a little aside for garnish), add the cooked pasta and mix well together and heat through. To serve, divide into serving bowls and top with remaining basil.
Welcome podcast listeners to this week’s infamous guest, the impressive powerhouse that is John Joseph!
John is a musician, author and Ironman triathlete from New York City, most famous for his work as the lead singer of the Cro-Mags in the 1980s, ’90s and 2000s. He was raised in foster care and grew up on the streets of New York City, dodging a federal prison sentence in the late ’70s by enrolling into the Navy.
Episode 7 – John Joseph
A character with many layers to say the least! Aside from his colourful background, he is author to a number of books including the slightly controversial, “Meat is for Pussies”, a book on vegan nutrition, training and a healthy lifestyle.
Whether John is your cup of tea or not, there is no question that he has been through life, he has seen and experienced things most of us could never dream of experiencing.
“You know people talk about rock bottom… I was below the fucking rocks! I was with the fucking maggots and the worms… and the fucking dead carcasses. I literally had no less than 5 fucking drug gangs in New York wanting to kill me, I burned every bridge… I had nothing.”
From rock bottom to up top – John has an appetite for life that is beyond none. His motto is tough but warranted, “You have to face your demons head on, you can’t run away from it. Whatever it is you are doing, whatever you went through, you gotta face it… show up, work hard and don’t make excuses!”
His book “The P.M.A Effect” delves deep into the power of a positive mental attitude. He has spent much time dedicated to the learnings of the Hare Krishna’s and Bhagavad Gita, which has massively shaped who he is today.
A fascinating and inspirational character. Enjoy!
Lots of Love,
Dave and Steve
Available now from all good podcast providers:
Sweet & Sour Tempeh Stir Fry in 5 Mins
A quick, delicious stir-fry with a meaty bite from the tempeh. Save any extra sauce for a dressing or to use in future stir-fries.
Takes 5 minutesminutes
Serves 2
Ingredients
Sweet & Sour Sauce
2tbsptamari
1tbspgarlic powder
85mlapple cider vinegar
85gbrown sugarapprox. 10 tbsp
1.5tbspcornstarch
4tbspketchup
For the Stir Fry
1tbspoil
200gtempeh or tofu
1red bell pepperthinly sliced
1medium onionpeeled and diced
200gtenderstem broccoliroughly chopped
Pinchof salt
1x 250g pouch of cooked brown rice
Instructions
Prepare the Vegetables:Thinly slice the red bell pepper and dice the onion. Slice the tempeh into small pieces. Roughly chop the tenderstem broccoli.
Cook the Vegetables:Heat a non-stick pan on high heat. Add 1 tbsp of oil and sauté the red pepper and onion for 2-3 minutes until they start to brown, stirring regularly.
Make the Sweet & Sour Sauce:In a separate saucepan, combine all the sauce ingredients. Cook over high heat, stirring regularly to avoid burning. Bring the sauce to a boil, then reduce to low heat, stirring until it thickens to a smooth texture (2-3 minutes). Remove from heat once done.
Cook the Tempeh:Remove the fried onion and pepper from the pan. Add the tempeh to the hot pan and cook for 2 minutes, moving it around to sear each side until golden. Add the tenderstem broccoli and a pinch of salt, cooking for 1 more minute and stirring regularly.
Combine and Finish:Add half the sauce to the pan with the tempeh and broccoli, ensuring it’s evenly distributed. Return the onions and peppers to the pan and stir everything together. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
Serve:Serve with cooked brown rice and garnish with kimchi or sauerkraut, if desired.
What happens when you mix a life of media expertise with the desire to help us collectively look after our health, planet and ‘precious life’? Well, we think you get Sarah Wilson!
Episode 35 – Sarah Wilson
We used to call her the Sugar Lady, as she wrote, best selling book, I Quit Sugar and founded
IQuitSugar.com, a program that has been completed by 1.5 million people in 133 countries.
But will find no mention of sugar in this episode as Sarah is so much more than that we discovered!
Why? In 2018, Sarah closed the business and gave all money to charity. She now lives minimally, cycling her hand-built bike to red carpet events.
Sarah is also the author or two other books: another best seller, First, We Make the Beast Beautiful, and her latest book, This One Wild and Precious Life which explores the complexities of climate change, coronavirus, racial inequalities and our disconnection from what matters.
Enjoy this delightful exchange!
Lots of Love,
Dave and Steve
Available now from all good podcast providers:
Jackfruit Ragu with Tagliatelle
Braised jackfruit in a rich tomato sauce with tagliatelle and a subtle fennel note for a juicy aniseed bite. This is a delightful vegan twist on wild boar ragu, quick to make and incredibly tasty.
Takes 10 minutesminutes
Serves 2
Ingredients
200gdry tagliatelle
1x 400g tin of jackfruit
1small head of fennel
1medium onion
2clovesgarlic
Pinchof chilli flakes
1x tin of chopped tomatoes
2tbsptamari
2tbsptomato paste
3tbspwater
1tbspmaple syrup
1tbspolive oil
Pinchof salt
Instructions
Cook the pasta: Cook the tagliatelle according to the packet instructions. Drain and set aside.
Prepare the ingredients: Drain, rinse, and chop the jackfruit. Peel and chop the onion and garlic. Slice the fennel into small bite-sized pieces.
Fry the jackfruit: Heat the olive oil in a wide, flat non-stick pan over high heat. Once hot, add the chopped jackfruit and fry, stirring occasionally, for 2-3 minutes.
Cook the vegetables: Add the onion and fennel to the pan along with a generous pinch of salt. Cook for about a minute, stirring constantly.
Make the sauce: While the vegetables are cooking, add the tamari, maple syrup, tomato paste, and water to the pan. Stir well, allowing the jackfruit to absorb the sauce.
Add the garlic: Stir in the chopped garlic, continuing to cook until the jackfruit and vegetables absorb the sticky sauce.
Add the tomatoes: Pour in the chopped tomatoes and mix everything well. Bring the ragu to the boil.
Combine with pasta: Once the ragu is boiling, add the cooked tagliatelle to the pan and toss everything together until well combined.
Garnish and serve: Garnish with a pinch of chilli flakes. Divide the dish between serving plates and enjoy!
Not a pleasant question, but have you ever wondered what the biggest killer of men in the Western world is? This week, meet Rip Esselstyn, a former professional athlete and firefighter who has dedicated decades to helping people improve their health and fight this biggest killer.
Episode 34 – Rip Esselstyn
“The number one cause of death amongst fire fighters is heart attacks, not fires!”
But don’t worry! There’s a happy ending to this fact. Rip Esselstyn has helped thousands of people to regain their health and thrive without surgery or spending loads of money.
Did we say thousands? We meant millions: Rip is the Exec producer of the most viewed health documentary of all time, Game changers, which has been viewed over 100m times.
“We are finding that by exercising, eating plant based, optimum sleep… you can really start pushing the boundaries”
Rip embodies commitment to demonstrating longevity and also helping others achieve it. We learnt a lot about health from Rip so hopefully you will, too.
Korean Barbecue Tofu with Kimchi Fried Rice and Greens
This dish is epic! The flaming umami tofu paired with spiced kimchi rice and wilted bok choy on the side makes for a wonderful, quick, tasty, and healthy dinner. Definitely worth a try!
Takes 15 minutesminutes
Serves 2
Ingredients
Korean BBQ Tofu
200gfirm tofublock
Korean BBQ Sauce
2tbsptamari
1tbspbrown sugar
2clovesgarlicpeeled and finely chopped
2tbspsrirachareduce if you prefer less spice
1tbspgingergrated
2tbsprice wine vinegar
2tbspwater
1tbsptomato paste
Kimchi Rice
250gcooked ricepouch
50gfrozen peasthawed
1small onionpeeled and finely diced
120gkimchidrained and chopped
2tbspkimchi juice
1tbspgrated ginger
1large clove garlicpeeled and finely chopped
2tbsptamari
Greens
1large bok choycore/base removed and roughly chopped
Instructions
Prepare the tofu:Press the tofu to remove as much moisture as possible, then cut into two large rectangles, approximately 1 cm thick.
Prep your ingredients:Peel and finely chop the ginger and garlic for both the rice and the sauce. Dice the onion and set the peas in warm water to thaw.
Make the Korean BBQ sauce:In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together all the BBQ sauce ingredients. Add the tofu to the sauce, ensuring it is well-coated, and set aside while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.
Cook the rice:Heat 1 tbsp of oil in a medium flat pan or wok over high heat. Once hot, add the diced onion and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add the garlic and ginger, stirring for another 1-2 minutes. Then, add the chopped kimchi and cold cooked rice. Cook for 1-2 minutes more and then reduce the heat to low while you cook the tofu and greens.
Cook the tofu and greens:Heat ½ tbsp of oil in a large non-stick wide flat pan or griddle pan over medium-high heat. Remove the tofu from the marinade and add it to the pan. Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side, until nicely seared. Add the chopped bok choy and 1 tbsp of the BBQ sauce to the pan and cook for an additional 2 minutes, until the greens are wilted and cooked through.
Finish the rice:Increase the heat to medium, drain the peas, and add them to the rice along with the kimchi juice and tamari. Mix well and heat through for another 1-2 minutes.
Serve:Divide the kimchi fried rice between serving bowls. Top with the BBQ tofu and wilted bok choy, and drizzle any remaining BBQ sauce over the dish. Enjoy!
Have you ever heard of Dr. Melanie Joy? Well, if you haven’t you should! Is it acceptable to say this could be our favourite episode to date?
Episode 33 – Dr. Melanie Joy
Joy has an incredible capacity to distill information in the most tangible way. She effortlessly cuts to the core of so many major issues that impact us all. From the macros like climate change or racism to the micros of personal relationships.
“When you look at systems of oppression like racism, classism, carnism/animal exploitation. All of these are expressions of the same type of thinking. Each set of victims of these forms of oppression will always have unique experiences, but the systems themselves are structurally similar and the mentality that drives these systems are the same.”
Melanie Joy, Ph.D., is a Harvard-educated psychologist specialising in relationships, communication, and social change. She is the author of six books, including the award-winning Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows, Beyond Beliefs: A Guide to Improving Relationships and Communication Among Vegans, Vegetarians, and Meat Eaters, and Getting Relationships Right. Joy is the eighth recipient of the Institute of Jainology’s Ahimsa Award, which was previously given to Nelson Mandela and the Dalai Lama. Her work has been featured by numerous media outlets, including the BBC, ABC Australia, NPR, and the New York Times. She is also the founding President of the non-profit organisation, Beyond Carnism.
Moving from effective and ineffective forms of communication and relation literacy to veganism and her own perfectly coined term, Carnism – We delve deep into her formula for successful relations, and really how attainable it is.
“Every communication, has two parts to it; it has the content, that’s what we are communicating about and then there’s the process, and that’s HOW we are communicating. We tend to all over-focus on the content “I just want to get the words right, I just want to get my answer out there”, but the process matters much more. If you think about a conversation that you had, 6 months to a year ago. It’s possible that you actually forgot the content entirely -somebody you talked to at a party or something- but you probably remembered how you felt in that conversation. The process determines how you feel and when your process is healthy, you can communicate about anything without arguing…when your process is not healthy, you can’t communicate about anything without arguing. You probably know people who have so much in common, and yet always seem to find a reason to butt heads and argue together.”
A truly awakening episode. Please let us know your thoughts on socials and if you like what you hear, please subscribe and share.
Lots of Love,
Dave and Steve
Available now from all good podcast providers:
REFERENCES
You can learn more about Dr. Melanie Joy and her work at carnism.org.
Quick Kung Pao Tofu with Rice and Greens
This is our take on the classic Chinese dish, Kung Pao chicken. In our easy delicious vegan version we use tofu but keep all the spicy, salty, sweet delicious umami flavours of the original dish. The combination of the sauce and tofu and peanuts makes it a winner every time.
Prep time : 5 mins | Cook time 5 mins | Total time 10 mins |
Makes: 2 Servings| Difficulty: Medium
The original “Kung Pao” recipe is from the Sichuan region of China, famous for delicious spicy dishes and Sichuan pepper corns. The dish is now it is found all over China and was made popular also in America. Our vegan Kung Pao tofu version is a quick delicious recipe and will definitely satisfy that temptation to order take out! Ready in 5-10 minutes, it’s salty, sweet and spicy sauce is so addictive, everyone will love it. Traditionally this dish uses peanuts but you can use cashews or even toasted sunflower seeds if you prefer, and can swap out the tofu for tempeh or aubergine or your favourite veg! Enjoy.
FAQ – frequently asked questions
Can I substitute the peanuts?
Yes of course, you can use toasted cashews or even sunflower seeds.
Can I leave out the chilli if I don’t like heat ?
No problem, simply leave out the chillies.
Can I freeze this dish?
Yes indeed it freezes well and heats up great.
How am I best storing this?
Store it in a reusable tub in the fridge. It will last for 2 days in the fridge.
If I don’t have Bok choy can I use different veg?
Yes, simply use broccoli or even savoy cabbage.
How long does this dish last in the fridge?
It will last for 2 days in the fridge
Can I substitute the rice?
Yes, simply use wholemeal cous cous or your favourite grain.
Serving suggestions for this Kung Pao tofu recipe ;
Here is a lovely Singapore noodle recipe that is so easy to make and everyone will love.
Quick Kung Pao Tofu with Rice and Greens
This vegan version of the classic Kung Pao dish, originating from Sichuan, China, is a quick, delicious recipe that satisfies the craving for takeout. Its salty, sweet, and spicy sauce is addictive, and it's sure to be a hit! Traditionally, this dish uses peanuts, but you can substitute cashews or even toasted sunflower seeds, and the tofu can be swapped for tempeh, aubergine, or your favourite vegetables.
Takes 15 minutesminutes
Serves 2
Ingredients
Kung Pao Tofu
200gfirm tofublock
8small dried chillies or 4 large dried red chilliesadjust quantity for less spice
4scallions1 reserved for garnish
2cmpiece of fresh gingerapprox. 8-10g, peeled and finely chopped
2clovesgarlicpeeled and finely chopped
Large pinch of freshly ground black pepper
40gunsalted peanuts or roasted cashews
1large head of bok choy or 90g tenderstem broccoli
1x 250g pouch of cooked wholemeal rice
Marinade/Sauce
5tbsptamari
2tbspred wine vinegar
2tbspbrown sugar
2tbspmirinoptional
2tspcornstarch
2tbspwater
Instructions
Prepare the tofu:Press the tofu to remove as much moisture as possible, then cut into bite-sized cubes.
Make the marinade/sauce:In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together all the sauce ingredients. Add the tofu to the sauce, ensuring it is well-coated, and set aside while you prepare the other ingredients.
Prepare the vegetables:Peel and finely chop the garlic and ginger. Cut 3 scallions into 1 cm pieces and finely slice the remaining scallion for garnish.Cut the dried chillies in half, remove the seeds, and finely chop them. Trim the base of the bok choy and slice thinly (the green leaves can be roughly chopped, as they wilt quickly when cooked).
Heat the rice:Since this is a quick-cooking dish, follow the instructions on the rice pouch so it’s ready to serve by the time the dish is finished.
Cook the tofu and vegetables:Heat a large non-stick wide-bottomed pan or wok over high heat. Once hot, reduce the heat to medium-high. Add the chopped chillies and black pepper, stirring quickly around the pan for about a minute.Reduce the heat to medium, then add the garlic and ginger, stirring constantly.Remove the tofu from the marinade and add it to the pan, cooking for 1-2 minutes until it starts to brown.
Add the vegetables:Add the scallions and bok choy (or tenderstem broccoli), stirring for a few minutes until the vegetables begin to cook through. Add the peanuts or cashews, along with the remaining sauce, and cook for another minute, stirring until everything is well-coated and heated through.
Serve:Serve the Kung Pao tofu with the cooked rice, garnished with the remaining sliced scallion. Enjoy!
Coined “The Death Metal Irish Baron”, this re-wilding, filmmaking, vegan Lord is not only continuing in the lineage of great ancestors before him but also going against the grain. How?
By giving back what he inherited to its true owner: Mother Earth herself… This week’s podcast guest is Lord Randal Plunkett.
Episode 32 – Randal Plunkett
He has been described as an idiot, a moron and crazy but that doesn’t stop him. Randal is aware of the mantle he must withhold;
“When you are born into privilege, you must live in servitude… I have a responsibility… I must make things better..”
With a lineage of philanthropists, saints and scholars behind him, this is not an easy feat! However, despite the seriousness of the tasks Randal has taken on, he has a great sense of humour and is not what you would expect when you hear the word “Lord”:
“The only time I ever go by Lord is when I am wearing a cape, and yes, of course, I have a cape.”
We laughed, we went deep, we spoke about his past, the hate from locals that comes with the title, the various places he grew up in, the relationship with his lineage, his love for horror, death metal, filmmaking, and how he came to re-wild his estate.
“This is now the most important thing I have ever done.”
A fascinating character and a natural-born storyteller, Randal and this episode will keep you entertained, will stimulate your curiosity and potentially even start you on your own re-wilding journey!
We hope you enjoy it and if you like our podcast please subscribe and share.
An epic Asian-inspired sandwich with fried teriyaki tofu, a Chinese spiced nut butter, pak choi, and pickled cabbage. This is easy to make, super flavourful, and makes a wonderful 5-minute healthy, high-protein lunch, dinner, or even savoury breakfast!
Takes
Serves
Ingredients
Main Ingredients:
200gblock tofu
1tbspoil
1large head bok choy
200gsauerkraut
1ripe avocado
1carrot(ribboned)
4slicesbread
Pickled carrot ribbons or pickled onion
Marinade:
2tbsptamari
1tspgarlic powder
Pinchof chilli flakes or powder
1tbspmaple syrup
1tsprice vinegar
2tspsesame seeds
Chinese Infused Nut Butter:
3tbspalmond or peanut butter
1tbsptamari
1tbspmaple syrup
1tbspChinese five-spice
1tbspwater
Instructions
Heat the Pan:Heat a large non-stick pan over high heat.
Prepare the Marinade:In a small bowl, whisk together all the marinade ingredients: tamari, garlic powder, chilli flakes, maple syrup, rice vinegar, and sesame seeds.
Slice the Tofu and Bok Choy:Slice the tofu into two pieces, each 1 cm thick. Cut the base off the bok choy and separate the leaves. Destone and slice the avocado.
Cook the Tofu and Bok Choy:Add 1 tbsp of oil to the pan. Place the tofu in the pan and cook on both sides for 1–2 minutes until it starts to brown. Reduce the heat to medium, add half the marinade, and stir to coat the tofu. Then, add the bok choy, nestling it around the tofu, and cook for a few minutes until the greens wilt slightly.
Make the Chinese Infused Nut Butter:In a bowl, mix the almond or peanut butter, tamari, maple syrup, Chinese five-spice, and water until smooth. Taste and adjust the seasoning to your preference.
Assemble the Sandwich:Spread a generous amount of the spiced almond butter on each slice of bread.Layer the slices of avocado, sauerkraut, tofu, wilted bok choy, and pickled carrot ribbons or pickled onions. Assemble the sandwiches and cut in half.Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Tip: To beat the bloat, as referenced in our Gut Health Course – omit the pickled onion.
This week you get two for the price of one! Well, actually four if you include us 😉
We had the pleasure of hosting both Matt Frazier and Robert Cheeke, and delved deep into their new book: The Plant Based Athlete.
Matt being an ultra runner and Robert being a bodybuilder – they are the perfect pair to write THE book on a plant-based diet for athletes.
Episode 31 – The Plant Based Athletes
We had a super stimulating conversation. Aside from their own fascinating past, the lads have spent a lot of time interviewing some of the best sportspeople in the world, who are (you guessed it) plant-based, these included:
Venus Williams
Rich Roll
Tom Brady
and many more.
“There were numerous athletes that we interviewed, who were Olympic medalists, some of the best in the world. Who weren’t even consuming protein powders – Do you know why?”
A brilliant episode, particularly as we have just been watching the Olympics!
Hope you enjoyed it as much as we did. If you want to hear more and support this podcast, please subscribe and share 🙂
Lots of Love,
Dave and Steve
Available now from all good podcast providers:
Oyster Mushroom “Steak” Sandwich
Anyone for a “steak sandwich”? Here’s an epic recipe for a cheesy oyster mushroom steak sandwich that is not only delicious but also a real treat.
Takes
Serves 2
Ingredients
1.5tbspoildivided
¾baguette
200goyster mushroomsor mushrooms of choice
1tbsptamari
1red bell pepper
1onion
4slicesvegan cheese
Rocketoptional, for garnish
2tbspvegan mayonnaise
1tbspmustard
Instructions
Prepare the Vegetables:Peel the onion and chop it along with the mushrooms and red bell pepper into thin strips. Cut the baguette into 2 equal pieces.
Cook the Mushrooms:Heat a large non-stick pan over high heat and add 1 tbsp of oil. When hot, add the oyster mushrooms and cook for 3-4 minutes without stirring to achieve a lovely meaty char.
Sauté the Onion and Peppers:In another pan over medium heat, add ½ tsp of oil. Once hot, add the chopped onion and bell pepper. Fry for about 5-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they turn nice and brown. Remove from the heat and set aside.
Char the Mushrooms:Place a large, empty pot over the mushrooms to weigh them down. This will help enhance the charring. Cook for 2-3 minutes, then stir the mushrooms. Press down with the pot again and cook for another 2-3 minutes.Remove the pot, add the tamari, and stir to ensure each mushroom is infused with flavour. Remove the mushrooms from the pan and set aside
Melt the Cheese:Remove half of the mushrooms from the pan and add the slices of vegan cheese. Cook on medium heat until the cheese starts to melt and coat the mushrooms.
Assemble the Sandwiches:Spread ½ tbsp of mustard and 1 tbsp of vegan mayonnaise on each half of the baguette. Add a few leaves of rocket or mixed salad leaves.Layer on the cheesy mushrooms, followed by the sautéed onions and bell peppers. Finish with the remaining charred mushrooms.
Serve:Enjoy your delicious oyster mushroom steak sandwiches!
“I was taught Irish as a weapon against the English”
To kick off our new series no better man to have then the wise monk himself – Manchán Magan. And guess what, it was in person! Whoop! Genuinely what a treat, and you can really tell!
His name, Manchán, literally means ‘little monk’ and if you were to meet him, there really is no better fitting name – Even how he holds himself has an air of soft wise intellect.
Episode 30 – Manchán Magan
We began thinking we were going to dive deep into the Irish language and all its nuances but wow did we get so so much more.
Manchán, is the type of person who will keep even the most highly strung business person on edge listening!! We navigate through this conversation from his time on the TG4 travel show taking him to all kinds of weird and wonderful tribes, to mingling with “The Screamists” (a cult who literally spend their time whaling and screaming), to mysterious forgotten histories, and his adventure to beat the mortgage ladder and find 10 acres for 10 grand.
Manchán is a writer, a poet and a deep thinker. His latest book 32 words for a field, has instilled in us a whole new passion for the Irish language. Give him 5 minutes of your time and I swear you’ll be downloading Duolingo beginner Irish!
According to Manchán the Irish language not only holds the secrets to the best places to find fish in the Irish countryside, or how to predict the weather, but also how to really connect. To connect us to this earth, to the people and inevitably to sustainable living.
“During the dark ages Europe lost all of its libraries, all of it was destroyed, all of its central regal systems. A new sort of violent force was taking over, all the philosophy and wisdom was gone, but Ireland still had it in their libraries because they were never part of that. Now that Christianity was male focuses, it was hierarchal, but it had a key. It had a beautiful visionary voice in terms of Jesus Christ at the beginning of it, and particularly Irish Christianity, because when St Patrick came in 430 AD, we took on some of that, just like the Taro Oman mountain runners in Mexico, took on some of the Jesuits stuff (their clothes etc..) but they kept their connection to the landscape. We did the same in Ireland, we took some of the rules of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary, but look at our Holy Wells… Our Holy Wells and our Holy Rivers, we realised that nature was sacred, so we brought some of this knowledge back to Europe. You can find it still in Monasteries in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the teachings of Irish Monastic figures.”
A really wonderful episode from a phenomenal character.
Let us know your thoughts on social media and if you like what you hear, please support this podcast by subscribing and sharing.
Quick, delicious, and easy to adapt with whatever veg you have—this dish is a total crowd-pleaser! If you can’t find tempeh, tofu is a great alternative.
Takes 10 minutesminutes
Serves 2
Ingredients
For the Curry Base
1tbspoil
20gfresh coriander leaves and stalks
1red chilli
2tbspground coriander
2tbspcumin seeds
2tbspgaram masala
½tspground black pepper
1tbspturmeric
2tbsptamari
½thumb-sized piece of ginger
2tbsptomato purée or paste
1can of coconut milk
1x 400g tin of black beans
200gsugar snap peas or mangetout
1head of pak choi
For the Tempeh
1tbspoil
200gfirm fresh tempeh
3tbsptamari or soy sauce
2tbspmaple syrup
1tbspapple cider vinegar
Instructions
Prepare the Curry Base:
Heat a non-stick pan on high heat. Drain and rinse the black beans. Finely slice the chilli, coriander stalks, and ginger.
Once the pan is hot, add 1 tbsp of oil along with the ground coriander, cumin seeds, garam masala, black pepper, and turmeric. Mix well and cook for 30 seconds to release the flavours.
Add 2 tbsp of tomato purée and stir thoroughly.
Pour in half of the can of coconut milk, followed by the chopped coriander stalks, ginger, and half of the sliced chilli. Stir to prevent the spices from overcooking.
Add the black beans and the remaining coconut milk, then mix in the tamari. Chop the sugar snap peas or mangetout in half and finely slice the pak choi. Add both to the pan, along with 200ml of water. Stir and bring to a boil. Taste and adjust seasoning by adding more salt, tamari, lemon juice, or chilli as needed.
Cook the Tempeh:
In a separate frying pan over high heat, add 1 tbsp of oil. Slice the tempeh into rectangular pieces about 1 cm thick and place them in the pan. Cook for 2 minutes on each side until browned.
Mix together the tamari, maple syrup, and apple cider vinegar until combined. Pour over the tempeh and let it sizzle. Cook for an additional minute on each side until a glaze forms on the surface. Reserve any remaining sauce.
Serve:
Divide the curry into bowls. Cut the tempeh into triangular pieces and place on top. Garnish with the remaining sliced red chilli. Enjoy!
Notes
Divide the curry into bowls. Cut the tempeh into triangular pieces and place on top. Garnish with the remaining sliced red chilli. Enjoy!
Has economic growth destroyed us all? Usually, economic growth is seen as a good thing right? Or at least that is what politicians would have us believe.
In this episode prepare yourselves! Put your seat belts on as Richard Heinberg does not hold back! There is no softness or sugar coating here, he has been spreading the word of our impending climate crisis for many many years…
Episode 29 – Richard Heinberg
Richard is Senior Fellow-in-Residence of the Post Carbon Institute, and is regarded as one of the world’s foremost advocates for a shift away from our current reliance on fossil fuels. He is the author of fourteen books, has written essays and articles, delivered hundreds of lectures and interviews for print (including for Reuters, and Time), television (including Good Morning America, National Geographic, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Al-Jazeera, and C-SPAN), and radio (including NPR, WABC, and Air America).
Not to mention, Richard has appeared in many film and television documentaries, including Leonardo DiCaprio’s 11th Hour.
Needless to say, when it comes to the climate crisis, he’s the man! In this episode, we jump straight into the core of it all. Richard talks us through everything from the limitations of renewable energy, the growth of capitalism, human ingenuity, to eco-living, community resilience and the power of ascetic beauty.
“Ascetics have been hijacked by capitalism, in biology it’s called ascetic decadents. That’s where the competition of production and enjoyment of beauty takes off on its own and it actually leads to the evolutionary bottle neck in a species. The classic example is the Irish elk. Which is this type of elk that used to live in Ireland and started to evolve bigger and bigger antlers, until the antlers were so large… and it was doing this for ascetic purposes. The elk just ultimately could not persist and they went extinct. Now we are doing the same thing with our ascetic pleasures, they have been hijacked by capitalism and by consumerism, so that most of the ascetic consumption that we do in the modern world, is all based on just making money and trying to think a certain way. Everything is ascetically designed to make us want to buy more so it’s serving the very process of economic growth that is undermining our future. So we have to take back ascetics from capitalism and consumerism, and once again it needs to serve our long term wellbeing.”
Don’t worry it isn’t all doom and gloom! We left the conversation feeling slightly beat up but overall hopeful and empowered.
We look forward to hearing your thoughts on social media.
If you enjoyed this episode and want to support the podcast please click subscribe or follow!
Big love,
Dave & Steve
References
Available now from all good podcast providers:
Naomi Klein
Helena Norberg-Hodges
Satish Kumar Magazine
Zach Bush MD
This very convenient product packs a wonderful selection of our hummus range all in a handy mini format that is absolutely perfect for when you have guests around, want to include them in the kids lunch box or just to enjoy your favourite flavour and try a new one.
INGREDIENTS
Red Pepper Hummus: Cooked Chickpeas (41%) [Chickpeas, Water], Rapeseed Oil, Chargrilled Red Pepper (17%) [Red Pepper (97%), Sunflower Oil], Tahini (14%) (Sesame Seed), Lemon Juice Concentrate, Onion Powder, Garlic, Date Syrup, Sea Salt, Smoked Paprika, Cumin, Cayenne, Black Pepper
For allergens, see Highlighted ingredients. May contain traces of nuts.
NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION
Typical Values Per 100g
Reduced Fat*
Red Pepper
Sweet Beet
Energy
1130kJ
1416kJ
918kJ
342kcal
342kcal
222kcal
Fat
18.9g
28.5g
18.3g
Of which: Saturates
2.1g
2.78g
1.7g
Carbohydrates
12.8g
12.1g
8.5g
Of which: Sugars
1.1g
4.1g
2.8g
Fibre
4.7g
5.0g
2.9g
Protein
7.5g
6.8g
5.1g
Salt
0.98g
0.95g
1.62g
3 servings per pack | *30% less fat than our Happy Hummus
The Happy Pear Podcast
Do you talk to strangers?
When you think of the word ‘stranger’, does danger come to mind?
This week we talk to the insightful Joe Keohane, a veteran journalist who has held high-level editing positions at Medium, Esquire, Entrepreneur, and Hemispheres. His writing—on everything from politics, to travel, to social science, business, and technology—has appeared in New York magazine, The Boston Globe, The New Yorker, Wired, Boston magazine, The New Republic, and several textbooks. An avid parallel parker and occasional working musician, he also won a prestigious Screenwriters Colony fellowship in 2017 for a comedy television pilot that remains, sadly, unproduced.
As some of you might know we are very vocal advocates for ‘loose social interactions’. We love talking to strangers, and any acquaintances we may come across – we simply find people fascinating! So naturally, this conversation was right up our alley.
Joe is hilarious, he realised he wasn’t the best at striking up conversations with random people so he thought he would challenge himself by finding out why, and furthermore, is this is a common thing with most people nowadays in our screen-watching world? So he found a course on the topic (that’s right, a course on ‘how to talk to strangers’) and set off to London to find out how!
“There is a really good technique I learned when I was doing this which is, don’t ask people what they do, ask them what they would like to do more of or less of, and that will get you a really interesting answer. The person might say “I am a chartered accountant” and you ask; “well what do you want to do more of”, they might say “oh ballet”, and then you exclaim “oh that’s interesting! A ballet dancing accountant, that’s unusual” … and then you are off to the races! That gets you to understanding peoples motivation and individuality. Thats the way you can break the script of boring cocktail party chatter.”
From the psychology, to the history, to the practical. Joe takes us through it all in this episode. We talk social studies, individual experiences and for a pair of extrovert-chatty-twins, we even managed to learn a lot!
“There wasn’t much difference between introverts and extroverts in the actual study. They seem to have the same experience. The extroverts are more comfortable initiating the interaction but the introverts got the same benefits from it once they started doing it. And my theory is (based on my own research), is that the skills you need to be really good at this are introvert skills. It’s listening, it’s noticing, it’s paying attention, it’s not stepping all over somebody, it’s not doing the thing that everyone does in conversations where you are just looking for a way in to talk about yourself. Those skills are invaluable.So I feel that introverts can learn from extroverts in the way that extroverts are good at going up to people. But extroverts need to learn from introverts in the way that you conduct the conversation, in the way that you learn to listen to people, and you don’t make everything about you and you ask them questions about their lives etc…”
Give the episode a listen, then go out and strike a conversation with a stranger! Go and explore! Who knows where it may take you 😉
Big love,
Dave & Steve
References
Available now from all good podcast providers:
Theodore Zeldin
Charred Courgette Reuben Sandwich
Toasted sourdough with vegan mayo, barbecued tempeh, crimson sauerkraut, gherkins, melted cheese, and grilled vegetables. This sandwich packs a robust and flavourful punch. What's not to love?
Takes
Serves 2
Ingredients
4slicesof sourdough bread
200gBBQ sauce
100gtempeh or aubergine
75gvegan mayo
100gred sauerkraut(or sauerkraut of choice)
8sliced gherkins(pickled cucumbers)
2slicesof vegan cheddar cheese
1medium courgette(approx. 200g)
1tbspoil
Pinchof salt
Instructions
Preheat the oven:Set your oven to 200°C (fan).
Prepare the BBQ mayo: In a small bowl, mix 2 tbsp of BBQ sauce with the vegan mayo to make a quick-fire Russian-style mayonnaise. Set aside the remaining BBQ sauce for coating the tempeh.
Slice the tempeh/aubergine and courgette:Slice the tempeh or aubergine into long, thin strips, about ½ cm thick. You should get approximately 8 slices of tempeh or 12 slices of aubergine. Slice the courgette into thin strips (about ½ cm thick), similar to the tempeh.
Prepare the courgette for roasting: Place the courgette strips on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Drizzle with 1 tbsp of oil and sprinkle with a generous pinch of salt. Spread the slices out so they are not overlapping.
Prepare the tempeh/aubergine for roasting:On another lined baking tray, coat the tempeh or aubergine slices in the remaining BBQ sauce. Spread them out in an even layer.
Bake the tempeh/aubergine and courgette:Bake both trays in the preheated oven for 12 minutes. You do not need to turn the tempeh/aubergine, but carefully flip the courgette slices. Continue baking the courgette for an additional 10 minutes until golden and slightly charred. Remove both trays from the oven and let the slices cool.
Assemble the sandwich:Spread a generous dollop of BBQ mayo on each slice of bread.On two slices, layer the grilled courgette (approximately 4 slices per sandwich), followed by the baked tempeh or aubergine (around 4 slices per sandwich), then the sliced gherkins, sauerkraut, and finally the vegan cheddar cheese.Top with the remaining slices of bread.
Grill (optional): If desired, grill the assembled sandwiches in the oven for 10 minutes until the cheese melts and the bread becomes crispy.
Serve: Enjoy your sandwich warm or at room temperature, as preferred.
We love tofu! If you can’t tell 🙂 We’re always experimenting with ways to cook it and enhance its flavour and texture. These recipes will hopefully inspire you to try tofu, whether you’re hesitant or already love it as much as we do. Get ready to add some new favourites to your tofu recipe list!
This recipe mimics BBQ ribs using tofu and a sticky glaze. It's delicious and super satisfying!
Takes
Serves
Ingredients
200gfirm tofu
Marinade
8tbspketchup90g
3tbsptamari
1tspvinegar
¼tspchilli powder or srirachaoptional
8tbspbrown sugar50g
1tsppaprika
Instructions
Press the tofu to remove excess moisture, then cut it into 9 x 3 cm rib-sized strips.
Brush both sides of the tofu with 2 tbsp oil mixed with a pinch of salt.
Heat a griddle or non-stick pan to high heat. Fry the tofu strips for 4-5 minutes, turning halfway, until slightly charred around the edges.
In a small pot, mix the marinade ingredients and heat on low until simmering. Simmer for 2-3 minutes, then remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
Once the tofu is charred, reduce the heat to medium and brush both sides generously with the BBQ glaze. Cook for another 1-2 minutes on each side. Glaze one last time before removing from the pan. Serve with any remaining BBQ sauce on the side, along with your favourite potato dish and slaw!
This tofu schnitzel is a game-changer with its miso and mustard marinade, delivering bold flavours and great texture.
Takes
Serves
Ingredients
200gfirm tofu
Marinade
3tbspmiso paste
2tbspmustard
1tbspoil
2tbspwater
1tbspgarlic powder
1tbspnutritional yeast
Breadcrumb Ingredients
80gpanko breadcrumbs
1tspdried mixed herbs
1tsponion powder
Pinchof salt and pepper
Instructions
Press the tofu to remove excess moisture, then slice it into two 1-2 cm thick pieces.
Whisk together the marinade ingredients in a flat bowl. Coat the tofu slices thoroughly in the marinade.
Mix the breadcrumb ingredients on a large plate. Remove about ⅓ of the breadcrumbs to add to the top of the marinated tofu. Place the tofu slices on top of the breadcrumbs and press gently to coat. Sprinkle the remaining breadcrumbs on top, pressing them onto all sides.
Heat 1-2 tbsp olive oil in a large non-stick pan over medium-high heat. Cook the breaded tofu for 5 minutes on each side until golden brown and crispy. Serve with your favourite sides or in a sandwich.
We double-batter tofu to create a crispy shell, while the air-fryer gives it a slightly "meaty" texture.
Takes
Serves
Ingredients
200gfirm tofu
50gwhite flour
90mlplant milk
3½tspgarlic powder
2½tsppaprika
2tbsptomato purée
2tbspapple cider vinegar
2tbspmaple syrup
1tspchilli powder(or ½ tsp if sensitive to spice)
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 200°C/190°C fan or use an air-fryer.
Press the tofu to remove excess moisture, then cut into approximately 2 cm thick pieces.
In a large bowl, mix the flour, ½ tsp paprika, ½ tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp salt, and ¼ tsp black pepper. Add the plant milk and stir to form a batter. Coat the tofu strips evenly in the batter.
Place the tofu in an even layer in the air-fryer and cook for 15 minutes at high heat, or bake in a preheated oven at 200°C for 25 minutes, until the tofu is nicely roasted.
For the buffalo sauce, mix 4 tbsp oil, 2 tbsp water, 1 tsp salt, 2 tsp paprika, 3 tsp garlic powder, 2 tbsp tomato purée, 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 2 tbsp maple syrup, and 1 tsp chilli powder. Whisk until smooth.
Remove the battered tofu from the air-fryer and coat it well in the buffalo sauce.
Return the tofu to the air-fryer and cook for another 15 minutes, or bake in the oven for an additional 25 minutes. Serve and enjoy!
This week’s guest is one of the founders of Irelands first eco-villages, Cloughjordan Ecovillage.
Davie is a community catalyst and facilitator at Cultivate.ie, the sustainability cooperative based in Cloughjordan Ecovillage, and a network weaver with ECOLISE.eu, the European network for community-led initiatives on climate change and sustainability. He is the coordinator to the Open Food Hub at Cloughjordan Community Farm and the chair of Open Food Network Ireland.
Episode 27 – Davie Philip
Davie brings us through his fascinating narrative from his early eco-warrior, revolutionist days of being arrested, and as he describes “we were more interested in being proactive than reactive”, to the foundations of which he and a few others began the Cloughjordan eco-village.
“Getting involved in an eco-village or a community project at this scale is the longest self-development course you’ve ever taken. Because you are constantly learning about yourself. And I think that shift that you just mentioned, Steve – that ego to eco, I think that’s a world view that we need if we are going to survive on a hospitable planet by the end of the century. We need to move from that individualistic just consumerist culture that reduces everything into its parts, to where we actually start to see relationships and connection, and the value and health and wellbeing of the whole is good for me as a part of that whole.”
Davie is seriously inspirational and does not sugar coat a thing, we dive deep into the successes and difficulties of creating a sustainable community, from our political setbacks to the health and mental benefits of co-living and amenities sharing community.
“Community living and land trust show that there are different approaches to living. It’s mad because in Ireland our only two ways to secure a home is a mortgage (a massive dept) ‘mort-gage’ literally translates to “the grip of death”, or rental with no secure tenure. That’s our options, whereas in Europe there are multiple options, the diversity of ways to secure your home and your home being more than just an asset you speculate on.”
A great conversation and a brilliant addition to our community series. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did – and listen out for the 4 simple steps we as individuals can start right now to build on our own communities for a healthier and happier future.
This is a super-easy and surprisingly delicious chocolate cake, perfect for anyone new to baking! We tested five versions, and this one received a perfect 10/10 from taste testers. Serve it with whipped vegan cream and berries for an extra treat.
Takes
Serves
Ingredients
200gall-purpose white flour
70gcocoa powder
1tbspbaking powder
180gcoconut sugaror caster or muscovado sugar
130gsunflower oil
500mlboiling water
Instructions
Prepare for BakingPreheat the oven to 180°C.Line a springform cake tin with baking parchment.
Combine Dry IngredientsSieve the flour and cocoa powder into a large mixing bowl.Add the baking powder and sugar, and mix well to combine.
Add Wet IngredientsAdd the sunflower oil and boiling water to the dry ingredients.Fold everything together until you have a smooth, consistent batter.
BakePour the batter into the lined springform cake tin.Place in the oven and bake at 180°C for 30 minutes.Test for doneness by inserting a toothpick or knife; if it comes out clean, the cake is done. If not, bake for an additional 5-10 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
Cool and ServeRemove from the oven and leave to cool in the tin.Serve plain or decorate with your choice of frosting, or simply with whipped vegan cream and berries.
This super satisfying roasted red pepper pasta only takes minutes to make, use your favourite wholemeal pasta and for gluten free pasta, our favourite is brown rice pasta.
Takes: 10mins| Makes: 4 Servings| Difficulty: Medium
Here we make a delicious whole-food sauce based around roasted red peppers, cashew nuts, non dairy milk and lemon juice. You will need a blender to make this sauce, if you don’t have one you could easily borrow one from a neighbour. Try to use wholemeal pasta as its higher in fibre and better for your digestion and microbiome, our favourite is wholemeal spaghetti. When draining the pasta, keep a little of the pasta water to thin out the sauce if needed. You want to ensure that the sauce is not too thick nor to thin so it that perfect texture.
FAQ – frequently asked questions
Can I substitute the mushrooms?
Yes of course, many people don’t like the texture and taste of mushrooms, just replace them with tempeh or else with aubergine. Note the aubergine will take longer to cook, ensure to cook till they are soft and melt in your mouth texture.
I’m allergic to soy what can i substitute the Tamari/ soy sauce with?
There are products available now that carry a similar umami note such as coconut aminos which is widely available online.
Can i freeze this dish?
This dish freezes well.
How am I best storing this?
Store in a reusable sealed container in the fridge.
What happens if i don’t like red peppers?
Just leave them out and it will also work fine.
How long does this last in the fridge?
It will last for 2 days in the fridge
What about a gluten free option
Our favourite GF pasta is brown rice pasta which is widely available.
Serving suggestions for this Roasted red pepper pasta dish?
This super satisfying roasted red pepper pasta takes only minutes to make. Use your favourite wholemeal pasta, or for a gluten-free option, we recommend brown rice pasta.
300gwholemeal pasta of choiceuse gluten-free if coeliac
For the Red Pepper Sauce:
100graw cashew nuts
500mloat milk
1tspsalt
¼tspground black pepper
1tspgarlic powder
15mllemon juice
100groasted red peppersfrom a jar
For the Vegetables:
100gfrozen peas
200gmushrooms
1tbsptamari or soy sauce
To Serve:
75groasted red peppersfrom a jar
20gfresh basil
Instructions
Prepare the Vegetables: Place the frozen peas in a large bowl and cover with just-boiled water. Leave to defrost. Finely chop the mushrooms. Pick the basil leaves from their stalks. Slice the 75g of roasted red peppers into thin strips.
Cook the Pasta: Cook the pasta according to the instructions on the packet in well-salted water. While it cooks, prepare the creamy red pepper sauce.
Make the Sauce: Blend all the sauce ingredients (except the basil) until smooth.
Cook the Mushrooms: Heat a non-stick pan over high heat. Once hot, add the chopped mushrooms and fry for 5 minutes, stirring regularly. When the mushrooms start to brown, add the tamari and stir quickly to coat. Remove from the heat.
Combine and Heat: Drain the pasta, reserving some of the pasta water. Drain and rinse the peas, ensuring they are thawed. Add the drained pasta, peas, and blended cashew sauce to the pan with the cooked mushrooms. Mix well over medium heat until everything is warmed through, adding a few tablespoons of reserved pasta water if needed. Simmer until the sauce thickens to your desired consistency.
Serve: Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Serve topped with the chopped basil and sliced roasted red peppers. Enjoy!
These easy pasta crisps are incredibly tasty and simple to make, serving as a great alternative to your usual crisps or chips. We used an air fryer for ours and tossed them afterward in a delicious spice mix to enhance the flavour. Served with a creamy roasted red pepper dip, this dish is perfect for sharing or as party food!
Takes 20 minutesminutes
Serves 2
Ingredients
200gdry rigatoni or tube pasta of choice
30gvegan parmesan or white cheddar cheese gratedvegan
15gbreadcrumbs
1/2tsppaprika
Pinch of salt
Pinchof pepper
1tbspoil or pesto of choice
Spice Mix
1/2tspsea salt or garlic/onion salt
1/4tspcayenne pepper – less if you prefer less heat
3tspToasted sesame seeds – crushed
Red Pepper Dip
175graw cashew nut
2tspgarlic Powder
50groasted red pepper (from a jar)
1lemon
1/2tspsalt
1/2tspback pepper
Pinchchilli flakes
100mlwater
Garnish for Dip
A few basil leaves – optional
Instructions
Cook the Pasta:Cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Drain well and set aside.
Prepare the Cashews:Simmer the raw cashew nuts in water for 10 minutes. Then drain and rinse well.
Season the Pasta:Once the pasta is cooked, toss it in the oil or pesto, salt, black pepper, grated cheese, paprika, and breadcrumbs until evenly coated.
Cook the Pasta Chips:Spread the pasta in an even layer in your air fryer and cook for 15 minutes until nice and crispy. Alternatively, bake in the oven at 160°C for 15 minutes or until they start to turn golden.
Toast the Sesame Seeds:In a large dry non-stick pan, heat the toasted sesame seeds over medium heat for 3-4 minutes, stirring regularly until they start to brown and pop. Be careful not to burn them.Crush the toasted sesame seeds along with the sea salt (or garlic/onion salt) in a pestle and mortar, or place them in a zip-lock bag and bash with a rolling pin or mug until they resemble a fine powder. Mix with the remaining spice mix ingredients.
Make the Red Pepper Dip:In a blender, combine the soaked and softened cashews, garlic powder, roasted red pepper, lemon juice, salt, black pepper, chilli flakes, and 100ml of fresh water. Blend until very smooth.Transfer the dip to a bowl and top with chopped olives, additional roasted red peppers, and basil leaves if desired.
Combine and Serve:Once the pasta chips are cooked and crispy, toss them immediately in the spice mix.Serve the crispy pasta chips alongside the roasted red pepper dip. Enjoy!
This week we are delighted to give you the brilliant John Stewart.
John is a sought-after speaker, author and educator, with over 25 years of international experience. He was the Head of Green School Bali (Voted The World’s Greenest School) and literally wrote the book on ‘Thriving at School‘!
Episode 26 – John Stewart
Having won numerous awards within the educational world, John recently took on the biggest undertaking of all by becoming the conductor of Living School Lismor, where he literally repurposed his own house, ripping and exposing walls in order to create a school that redefines all norms. Here, the main goal is creating a love for learning, where the community school focuses on personal and academic exploration for both student and teacher alike.
John strips back the many layers of our global schooling system, where attention is no longer on the enthusiasm for learning and draws parallels to the western prison system with its high walls, regimented structures, and disciplinary systems.
“A lot of schools build themselves around campuses, so then they have stranger danger issues so the put fences, and then they want to make sure there’s a quality educational offering, so they have these teachers who are credited, they have to be professionally developed – all sitting inside these schools. So when you mirror a school and a jail, people actually can’t see the difference.”
We could have spent hours, days, months, years talking to John! Community being such an integral part of our ethos, John really spoke to our hearts when breaking down how essential a school is for a thriving community – it really is at the epicenter.
“This takes us back to the definition of a school, it isn’t about getting a career, getting the best mark you can to get into university or a pathway so that you can make heaps of money. That’s a bit selfish and it’s a bit naive. Schools are meant to improve community… Communities have kind of dispersed, we get communities in cafes, at sporting events, we used to have them in churches (and some people still do)… but where do you have all these different views streaming in to be connected – at school.”
From John’s vibrant past and international experience to ripping apart his own home in order to create his dream school, we nearly covered it all.
We hope you enjoy it as much as we do and get in touch if you like us, get inspired to build your own community school!
Big love,
Dave & Steve
Available now from all good podcast providers:
The Happy Pear Podcast
Prepare yourself, we are the ULTIMATE fans of our latest guest…
Steve even claims that in his teenage years he dreamt of being married to one of his songs. If you are over the age of 30 you probably “made out” to at least one of his many hits. The song “Everything I do”, still holding the longest consecutive reign for the Number 1 hit single in chart history!
We are thrilled to announce that this week’s podcast is with fellow vegan and animal lover, the wonderful, amazing, and magical – Bryan Adams! Yes THAT Bryan!
Episode 25 – Bryan Adams
Bryan has been a long-term health enthusiastic and vegan for over 30 years. Back when the word vegan was such a rarity that even Bryan didn’t know the term!
We chat in length about food, health and life on the road, and what community really means to Bryan having lived most of his life in the limelight.
“The loyalty I have had with my band members and my manager; I have been with the same manager since I was 18, same road crew since I was 21, so I guess that’s my community, it’s my little circus.”
Aside from his vibrant musical and photography career, Bryan has an amazing outlook on health:
“I have this philosophy, that what you do today, and how you run your life, whether it be with exercise or diet, you are building the building block for what you are going to be in 10 years. So whatever you do now, if you are caning it now, you are going to feel it in 10 years. So just think about that when you are planning your life. Everything that I have done in the past 30 years has lead me to the health I have today.”
We had such a wonderful chat, we really feel like we made a new friend and look forward to hosting Bryan here in Greystones someday soon.
So sit back, grab a piece of fruit or celery stick, relax and enjoy!
For allergens, including Cereals containing Gluten, see highlighted ingredients.
NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION
Typical
(as sold) per 100g
Energy
753kJ
181kcal
Fat
13g
Of which Saturates
6.3g
Carbohydrate
13g
Of which Sugars
6.6g
Fibre
2.1g
Protein
2.0g
Salt
0.50g
This Pack Contains 2 Servings
5 Ingredient Chocolate Biscuit Cake
This is one of our childhood favourites! We have fond memories of sneaking under the table at a cousin’s wedding to indulge in chocolate biscuit cake. This recipe is wonderfully indulgent, simple to make, and guaranteed to satisfy the strongest chocolate cravings. It’s a total crowd-pleaser!
Takes
Serves
Ingredients
200gvegan-rich tea or digestive biscuits
200gdark chocolate
100gcoconut oil
100gmaple syrup
50gwalnuts or goji berries
Instructions
Prepare the Chocolate MixturePlace the dark chocolate and coconut oil in a heatproof bowl set over a bain-marie (a bowl placed over simmering water). Stir until melted, then remove from the heat.Add the maple syrup to the melted chocolate mixture and stir well to combine. Leave the bowl over the bain-marie to keep the chocolate liquid while preparing the rest.
Assemble the CakeLine a 2lb loaf tin with baking parchment.Break the biscuits into pieces and place them in the lined tin.Roughly chop the walnuts or goji berries into bite-sized pieces and add them to the biscuits in the tin.
Combine and ChillPour the melted chocolate mixture over the biscuits and nuts, spreading it evenly to coat all pieces.Allow the cake to cool, then place it in the freezer for faster setting or refrigerate until firm.
Serve and EnjoyOnce set, remove from the tin, slice, and serve. Enjoy this nostalgic treat!
Tomatoes (41%), Grilled Aubergine (12%), Italian Chopped Tomatoes (11%), Red Onion (8%), Chargrilled Red Peppers (6%), White Onion (5%), Tomato Paste (5%), Tomato Purée (2.8%), Agave Syrup, Cornflour, Concentrated Lemon Juice, Garlic Purée, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Basil, Salt, Spices
ALLERGEN INFORMATION
No allergens
NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION
Typical
(as sold) per 100g
Energy
243kJ
58kcal
Fat
1.8g
Of which Saturates
0.2g
Carbohydrate
8.3g
Of which Sugars
4.1g
Fibre
1.7g
Protein
1.3g
Salt
0.59g
This Pack Contains 2 Servings
The Happy Pear Podcast
“I am a storyteller; that’s what I do…” Welcome to this week’s episode with the delightful, insightful and charming, Professor Jonathan Dawson.
Jonathan might describe himself as a storyteller, however, in this episode it is not Jonathan telling the story: we deconstruct “The Story” or many narratives that we have all been told, which play a huge part in the cause of our climate crisis.
Episode 24 – Jonathan Dawson
“The key narrative that we live within, that really needs to be challenged, is that which governs how we experience the other than human world. Because the messaging is, ‘you look at a tree and its timber’, rather than being an intelligent being. This is the critical bit, because as long as we have stories that these are inanimate objects that are out there for our use, as long as we do that we can continue to sh*t on the world, and if we are going to stop, a big part of the story needs to be that we see the world in different eyes and we see ourselves as living within an animate universe as one brand of intelligence among many other forms of intelligence.”
Jonathan is a sustainability educator and a former President of the Global Ecovillage Network. He has 20 years of experience as a researcher, author, consultant, and project manager in the field of small enterprise development in Africa and South Asia and before joining the College he was a long-term resident at the Findhorn Ecovillage.
We spoke in length about the many issues which have lead to our need to redefine how we live, in particular Findhorn, which is an amazing example of how a community can live sustainably.
“People associate having a low foot print with suffering. In Findhorn, nobody needed television as what was happening outside their front door was so interesting. This is what we need to bring, we are not talking about sacrifices, we are talking about retuning into who we are as a species, and what floats our boats and it is not buying whatever gismo it may be, it is reconnecting with people and finding your own place within your community.”
A very insightful episode – we hope you got as much from it as we did.
Enjoy!
Big love,
Dave & Steve
Available now from all good podcast providers:
Vegan BBQ 101, Charred Portobello Burgers
In this Vegan BBQ 101 recipe, we marinate meaty portobello mushrooms, grill corn on the cob for an epic salsa, and serve charred spuds with sriracha mayo! Grilled veg is also a great way to use up any leftover vegetables and make them delicious.
Takes 40 minutesminutes
Serves 3
Ingredients
For the Marinade:
2clovesgarlic
½tbspdried oregano
½tbspdried mixed herbs
2tbspwholegrain mustard or Dijon
50mlbalsamic vinegarapprox. 6 tbsp
3tbsptamari
4tbspoil
Pinchof salt
Pinchof freshly ground black pepper
For the Rest:
2large portobello mushrooms
150gaubergineapprox. half a medium aubergine
4corn on the cob
250gcooked potatoes
150gcooked carrots
1red onion
½tsppaprika
2burger bunsoptional
For the Salsa:
2grilled corn on the cobfrom above
1ripe avocado
10cherry tomatoes
2limes
3stalks fresh coriander
2scallionsor 1 large
Instructions
Marinate the Veg: For the marinade, blend all the marinade ingredients in a food processor or blender, or finely chop the garlic and whisk everything together. Slice the aubergine into circles approximately ½-1 cm thick (about 4-5 slices). Peel and quarter the red onion. Cover the mushrooms, aubergine, and onion with the marinade and leave to marinate for 30 minutes (or overnight) to absorb all the flavours, rubbing the marinade into the mushrooms and aubergine.
Prepare the Vegetables: If using fresh potatoes and carrots, parboil them until cooked through but not falling apart. Allow them to cool. Whole, new, and baby potatoes are ideal for the BBQ. If using frozen corn, defrost it by boiling for a few minutes or popping it in with the potatoes. Allow to cool after cooking.
Prepare for Grilling: Toss the corn in a little olive oil with a small pinch of salt and paprika, rubbing it evenly all over. Toss the remaining vegetables in a little olive oil with a small pinch of salt.
Grill the Vegetables: The mushrooms take the longest to cook, so place them on the BBQ first. At the same time, grill 2 corn on the cob for the salsa. Cook on all 4 sides for 2-3 minutes until nicely charred, then remove from the BBQ. Grill the mushrooms for approximately 5 minutes per side (depending on the size of the portobellos) or until they soften and reduce slightly, allowing you to flatten them.
Add Other Vegetables: Once the mushrooms are halfway cooked, add the aubergine, red onion, remaining 2 corn on the cob, carrots, and potatoes to the BBQ. Cook the mushrooms and aubergine, pressing down with a spatula a few times to get a good char. The aubergine slices will take 2-3 minutes per side. Grill the potatoes, remaining corn on the cob, carrots, and onions for 2-3 minutes per side until nicely charred.
Make the Salsa: While the vegetables are cooking, prepare the salsa. Stand the grilled corn on its base and carefully run a sharp knife down the sides of the core to remove the kernels. Destone and roughly chop the avocado. Chop the tomatoes into quarters. Finely chop the coriander leaves and stalks, and slice the scallions. Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl with the juice of both limes, a pinch of salt, and freshly ground black pepper.
Serve: To serve, you can eat the grilled vegetables as they are or slice the grilled mushrooms and serve them on a bun with aubergine, grilled onion, and your favourite burger toppings. We also recommend mixing some sriracha sauce with vegan mayo for a great dip for the potatoes and corn! Enjoy!
For episode 4 of our Community series, we present to you the very man who changed our own perspective on community living years and years ago. The co-founder of the Transition Network and Transition Town Totnes, Mr Rob Hopkins!
Episode 23 – Rob Hopkins
To give you a bit of background on Rob, he is the author of numerous books including, The Transition Handbook, 21 Stories of Transition and most recently, From What Is to What If: unleashing the power of imagination to create the future we want. He presents the podcast series ‘From What If to What Next‘. In 2012, he was voted one of the Independent’s top 100 environmentalists and was on Nesta and the Observer’s list of Britain’s 50 New Radicals. Hopkins has also appeared on BBC Radio 4’s Four Thought and A Good Read, in the French film phenomenon Demain and its sequel Apres Demain, and has spoken at TEDGlobal and three TEDx events.
This was by far one of our favourite episodes. The expression ‘you should never meet your heroes’ does not apply here. Rob was our hero 15 years when we first came across him, and now all these years later when we finally get to meet him, he is still our hero!
“At the moment we measure the success of an economy by how much bigger it is than last year. Imagine with your kids; there is a while in the evolution of your children where the fact that they are bigger than they were last year is a good thing. They are growing in the right direction. If that was the only measure, and they just kept on growing and growing and growing, till they were about 50 metres tall… after a little while you would think something is going really really wrong here. Actually what you want is for your kids to grow, ideally to slightly shorter than you are! And then to start growing in different ways; become kinder, wiser, more skilled, more connected, and more resourceful. We don’t have that assumption for our economy, we just say – ‘is it bigger than last year? Grand!’ The fact that cancer rates are rising, anxiety is rising, and people are less and less able to walk home alone after dark, all the things that we don’t want to happen in a society, we don’t measure, we don’t factor them in.”
This quote says it all, he is a creative thinker who lets no walls or structures limit his imagination and willingness to strive for a better future. The ultimate doer and who leads by example.
We delve into everything from how Totnes became a self-sufficient transition town to how you as an individual can start thinking outside the box and become the change you want to see happen to your own community.
Enjoy!
Big love,
Dave & Steve
Available now from all good podcast providers:
High Protein Lasagna
This is a delicious, light, and protein-rich take on the classic lasagna. We use gram flour in the béchamel sauce for added protein, though regular flour works as a substitute. Enjoy!
Takes
Serves 6
Ingredients
Tomato Sauce
2red onions
3clovesof garlic
1fresh chilli
400gsweet potatoes
1courgette
2yellow peppers
1x 400 g tin cooked lentilsdrained and rinsed
2x 400 g tins chopped tomatoes
100gtomato purée
5sun-dried tomatoesdried ‘leathery’ type, chopped
100mlred wine
1bay leaf
A few sprigs of thyme
1.5tbspmaple syrup
1tspsalt
50gbaby spinach
High Protein Béchamel Sauce
3tbspolive oil
3tbspgram flourchickpea flour; substitute with plain flour if unavailable
50mllight tahini
300gsilken tofu
200mloat milk
Pinchof salt
Pinchof ground black pepper
¼tspnutmeg
To Serve
100gvegan cheese of choice
Instructions
Preheat the oven:Preheat the oven to 200°C.
Prepare the Vegetables for the Tomato Sauce:Slice the sweet potato lengthwise, the pepper and courgette into long strips, and the red onion into half-moon pieces.Place the chopped vegetables onto two baking trays, keeping each type separate. Drizzle with 2 tbsp of oil and a pinch of salt, then bake for 30 minutes, stirring once or twice to ensure even cooking.
Cook the Tomato Sauce:Finely dice the garlic and chilli. In a medium-sized pan, heat 1 tbsp of oil over high heat. Add the garlic and chilli, frying for 2 minutes until the garlic begins to turn golden.Add the red wine and cook for 2–3 minutes to allow some of the alcohol to evaporate.Add the chopped tomatoes, tomato purée, sun-dried tomatoes, lentils, maple syrup, bay leaf, thyme, and salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Adjust the flavour with ground black pepper, additional salt, balsamic vinegar, or lemon juice if desired. Remove the sauce from heat.
Prepare the Béchamel Sauce:In a blender, combine the silken tofu, tahini, oat milk, salt, black pepper, and nutmeg, blending until smooth.In a saucepan over medium heat, warm 3 tbsp of olive oil. Sift in the gram flour and whisk continuously, cooking for 2 minutes. Slowly pour in the blended sauce, whisking constantly until it reaches a boil. Remove from heat, tasting and adjusting with a dash of lemon juice and extra salt if desired. Optionally, add vegan cheese to the sauce and stir until melted.
Layer the Lasagna:In an ovenproof dish suitable for 6 servings, begin layering:Spread a thin layer of béchamel sauce on the bottom, then cover with lasagna sheets to form a single layer.Add an even layer of tomato sauce, then layer on the roasted sweet potatoes and peppers.Add another layer of lasagna sheets, followed by the baby spinach, then another layer of tomato sauce.Layer on the roasted red onions and courgettes, followed by another layer of lasagna sheets.Top with the remaining béchamel sauce, ensuring it fully covers the pasta sheets to prevent them from drying out.Optionally, grate vegan cheese on top.
Bake:Preheat the oven to 180°C. Bake for 20 minutes or until the pasta is tender. The easiest way to cut the lasagna is with scissors. Enjoy!
Mix the ground flax seeds and water together to make your flax egg. Set aside to thicken.
Melt the dark chocolate over a bain-marie (a heatproof bowl set over simmering water).
In a large bowl, sieve together the flour, Demerara sugar, baking powder, and a pinch of salt. Mix well to combine.
Melt the coconut oil in a saucepan. Add the melted coconut oil to the flour mixture, followed by the soaked flax eggs, vanilla extract, and non-dairy milk. Beat the mixture thoroughly by hand or with an electric hand mixer.
Add the melted chocolate to the batter and beat again for 2-3 minutes until fully incorporated.
Pour the brownie mixture into a 30 x 20cm baking pan lined with parchment paper, smoothing the top evenly.
Bake in the preheated oven for 30-40 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out almost clean.
Remove the brownies from the oven and leave them to cool completely. Allowing the brownies to cool fully is crucial for them to firm up and achieve the desired texture. This can be the hardest part, but it’s essential if you want the perfect brownie consistency.
Bruce Parry, Bruce Parry, Bruce Parry! What a gent!
How often do you get to speak with someone who has fully immersed themselves in 15 different indigenous tribes all across the world?
Episode 22 – Bruce Parry on Indigenous Tribes
He ate what they ate including maggots and insects, he slept where they slept at times on hard dirt floors tangled between legs and arms and mosquitos crawling at his skin, he took part in ceremonial practices and plant medicines awakening his soul to all kinds of other realms, but most importantly he opened his mind to old wisdom, other ways of being and thinking which has shaped his existence and shown him new perspectives on life.
“Just hanging out with people who have a completely different perception of reality, different spirtual beliefs, different relationships with each other, different nature beliefs. All these things that I had to go through massive internal shifts to understand. Because you can just carry on looking at the world through your own scientific material prism but when you start taking on board that actually these people have got something else going on and maybe it’s worth listening too because they are not the ones messing the planet up. I started out kind of thinking I knew it all and ended up realising I didn’t know anything and thats a humbling journey.”
Bruce is an explorer, indigenous rights advocate, author, former Royal Marines officer, but he is possibly most well known for the three BBC documentary series; Tribe, Amazon, and Arctic. All of which documenting Bruce’s exploration of extreme environments, living with remote indigenous peoples, and highlighting many of the important issues being faced on the environmental frontline.
We covered it all with Bruce and to be honest could have spoken for days, maybe even months more, we feel a friendship was been made and look forward to keeping an eye on his progress with his next adventure; an egalitarian community in Wales.
This vegan version of the Italian classic aubergine parmigiana (or eggplant parmigiana in the US) is packed with flavour and great for digestion. Similar to lasagne, but with thin slices of melt-in-your-mouth aubergine in place of pasta, this dish makes for a wonderful centrepiece dinner, perfect for sharing or meal prep.
Takes 50 minutesminutes
Serves 6
Ingredients
For the Aubergine & Sweet Potato Layers:
450gauberginesmax 450 g
450gsweet potatoesapprox. 2 medium sweet potatoes
2tbspolive oil
For the Tomato Sauce:
1tbspolive oil
The green part of 1 leekapprox. 200 g
1large carrot300 g max
1red chilli
150mlred wine
2tbsptamari
200gfresh cherry tomatoes
400gfresh tomatoes
1x 400 g tin chopped tomatoes
Salt and pepperto taste
For the Bechamel:
4tbspolive oil
5tbsprice flouror other gluten-free, low FODMAP white flour
500mlalmond or rice milk
1tspsalt
Pinchof nutmeg
1tspblack pepper
1bay leaf
3tbspnutritional yeast
For the Topping:
40ggluten-free breadcrumbs
½tbspoil
¼tspsalt and pepper
1large bunch of fresh basil
Instructions
Prepare the Aubergine & Sweet Potato:
Preheat the oven to 200°C.
Slice the aubergines and sweet potatoes lengthways into 1 cm thick slices.
In two separate bowls, toss the slices with 1 tbsp of oil each and ¼ tsp salt in each bowl. Coat evenly.
Spread the slices in an even layer on three baking trays and roast for 20-25 minutes, until the aubergines are soft and slightly charred, and the sweet potatoes are cooked through.
Remove from the oven and set aside. Lower the oven temperature to 180°C.
Make the Tomato Sauce:
Finely chop the leek greens, then rinse them well to remove any sediment. Grate the carrot and finely slice the chilli. Chop the fresh tomatoes and halve the cherry tomatoes.
Heat 1 teaspoon of oil in a large, wide-bottomed pan over high heat. Once hot, add the leek, chilli, grated carrot, and 1 tsp of salt. Cook for 3 minutes, stirring regularly.
Add the red wine and cook for 1-2 minutes until it evaporates. Then, add the tamari and cook for a further minute.
Add the fresh tomatoes, stir well, and cook for another 3-4 minutes.
Add the tin of chopped tomatoes, bring the sauce to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Taste and adjust the seasoning with more salt and black pepper as needed. Set aside to cool slightly.
Make the Bechamel:
In a non-stick pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Once hot, add the rice flour and whisk continuously for 2 minutes, until golden.
Slowly add the almond or rice milk to the flour and oil mixture (roux), whisking continuously to avoid lumps.
Add the salt, nutmeg, black pepper, bay leaf, and nutritional yeast. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for 6-8 minutes, whisking often, until the sauce thickens.
Once thickened, remove the bay leaf and adjust seasoning to taste.
Assemble the Parmigiana:
Remove the basil leaves from the stalks.
Spread ⅓ of the bechamel on the bottom of a casserole dish.
Add a full layer of the baked sweet potatoes on top of the bechamel.
Spread all of the tomato sauce over the sweet potatoes, then sprinkle with a generous layer of fresh basil leaves (leaving some aside for garnish).
Add a layer of the roasted aubergine slices, spreading them evenly across the dish.
Spread the remaining bechamel over the aubergines, and finally, sprinkle the gluten-free breadcrumbs on top.
Bake and Serve:
Bake in the oven for 20 minutes, or until the dish is bubbling and the breadcrumbs are golden brown.
Garnish with the remaining basil leaves, slice, and serve!
Note: To “Beat the Bloat,” this recipe is already low in FODMAPs, making it gentle on digestion. FODMAPs are fermentable carbohydrates that can cause discomfort for those with sensitive digestion.
This is a cracking recipe that will fool even the most carnivorous of your friends. It's packed with flavour and a great way to use some summer veg. The combination of tofu, mushrooms, and a rich Teriyaki sauce makes for a delicious plant-based meal!
Takes 30 minutesminutes
Serves 4
Ingredients
200gOyster mushrooms(or portobello mushrooms)
150gfirm tofu
1/2small red onion
1small red pepper
1scallion
Marinade
2clovesgarlic
3tbspsesame seeds
3tbsptamari
3tbspolive oil
Pinchof pepper
Pinchof salt
Teriyaki sauce
4tbspmaple syrup
1cloveof garlic (or ½ tsp garlic powder)
10gfresh ginger(or 1 tsp ginger powder)
2tsptomato paste
2tbsptamari
1tbsprice wine vinegar(or any vinegar)
2tspcornflour
Instructions
Prepare the Skewers: If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for 10 minutes to prevent burning on the barbecue, or use metal skewers if available.
Prepare the Vegetables: Cut the mushrooms into ½ cm thick slices. Peel and quarter the red onion, keeping the base intact to hold the pieces together. Deseed the red pepper and cut into 8 bite-sized pieces. Peel the scallion and cut into 3 cm pieces.
Prepare the Tofu: Cut the tofu block into 2 x 1 cm squares, then cut each into 4, so you have 8 pieces.
Toast the Sesame Seeds: Heat a dry non-stick pan over medium heat. Add the sesame seeds and toast them for 3-4 minutes, stirring regularly until they start to brown and pop. Remove from heat and crush the seeds with a pinch of salt using a pestle and mortar, or by placing them in a plastic bag and lightly bashing with a rolling pin.
Make the Marinade: In a medium bowl, combine the chopped garlic, tamari, olive oil, crushed sesame seeds, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Divide this marinade into two bowls, using slightly more for the mushrooms. Coat the mushrooms in one bowl and the tofu in the other, ensuring everything is well-coated. Let them marinate for 5-10 minutes while you prepare the Teriyaki sauce.
Prepare the Teriyaki Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the maple syrup, minced garlic, grated ginger, tomato paste, tamari, rice wine vinegar, and cornflour until smooth and lump-free.
Cook the Mushrooms and Tofu: Heat a large non-stick pan or barbecue over high heat. Add the marinated mushrooms and tofu slices to the pan, cooking them for 2-3 minutes on each side, until nicely charred. If the pan isn't large enough, cook the mushrooms first, followed by the tofu. Remove from heat and allow them to cool slightly before assembling the skewers.
Assemble the Skewers: Thread the mushrooms and tofu onto the skewers, alternating between two folded mushroom slices, one piece of tofu, and repeating this pattern. Leave enough room at the top to add a piece of red onion, a piece of pepper, and a piece of scallion.
Glaze and Cook the Skewers: Using a pastry brush, generously brush the skewers with the Teriyaki sauce. Return the skewers to the pan or barbecue and cook for another 2-3 minutes on each side, brushing with more Teriyaki sauce halfway through, until everything is well-coated and slightly caramelised.
Serve: Sprinkle the skewers with any remaining crushed sesame seeds and serve alongside your favourite salads or summer sides. Enjoy!
For our second episode in our Community series, we are delighted to present the magical Dan Buettner!
Buettner is an explorer, National Geographic Fellow, award-winning journalist and producer, and a New York Times bestselling author. He discovered the five places in the world—dubbed Blue Zones—where people live the longest, healthiest lives.
Episode 21 – Dan Buettner
Buettner now works in partnership with municipal governments, large employers, and health insurance companies to implement Blue Zones Projects (well-being initiatives applying the lessons from Blue Zones) in communities, workplaces, and universities. The program has dramatically improved the health of more than 5 million Americans to date.
In this podcast, we cover the main correlating factors for longevity in these Blue Zones, and how we can start to implement changes in our own lives to be healthier and happier.
“If you are overweight in America and possibly Ireland it is probably not your fault. If you go back to the 1980s, in this country about a third as many people were obese and about a seventh as many people were suffering from type 2 diabetes. Back in the 80’s they didn’t have better diets or better discipline. What’s changed is there are about 20 times more fast-food chains now, we drive about 60% more instead of being on our feet, a full 40% of all retail outlets, pharmacies and gas stations… all have junk food. We are genetically hardwired to eat fat and sugar and take rests whenever we can, and that’s okay when you live in an environment of hardship and scarcity like we have for 99% of human existence but now you throw that same genetic makeup into a cesspool of burgers, fries, pizzas, and package snacks, your genetics are going to win out all day long!”
A great episode to follow from Helena Norberg-Hodge last week. We really hope you enjoyed it! And stay tuned each Wednesday for our next upload. You are in for a treat!
This cheesecake is super easy to make, incredibly tasty, and uses just 5 ingredients. It’s topped with fresh berries and a blueberry compote for a lovely finish. The details for the optional blueberry coulis are included below.
Takes
Serves
Ingredients
Base Layer:
200gcashew nuts
200gpitted dates
2tbspcoconut oil
Cashew Cheese Layer:
250graw cashew nuts(boil for 10 mins to soften or soak overnight)
250gvegan cream cheese
100gcoconut oil
150gmaple syrup
Optional Blueberry Coulis:
300gfrozen blueberries
50mlboiling water
Instructions
Prepare the base:Line a 20cm (8-inch) springform cake tin with baking parchment. Add the 200g of cashew nuts to a food processor and blend until they form a breadcrumb-like consistency, which should take about a minute. Then, add the pitted dates and coconut oil and blend until the mixture comes together into a uniform texture. This should take approximately 2-4 minutes depending on your food processor. Once blended, press the mixture into the springform tin, using a spoon to compact it and smooth out the surface.
Make the cashew cheese layer:Clean out the food processor. Drain and rinse the soaked cashew nuts thoroughly to remove any acid from soaking. Add the cashews to the food processor along with the vegan cream cheese, coconut oil, and maple syrup. Blend for 7-10 minutes, ensuring the mixture reaches a super smooth, velvety texture. Patience is key! Use a silicone spatula or spoon to spread the cashew cheese evenly over the base layer. Place the tin in the fridge to set for a few hours.
Optional Blueberry Coulis:To make the coulis, add 300g of frozen blueberries and 50 ml of boiling water to a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a blender and blend until smooth. Pass the blended mixture through a sieve to achieve a fine, smooth texture.
Decorate and serve:Once the cheesecake has set, remove it from the fridge. Decorate with fresh berries and drizzle with the blueberry coulis. Slice and enjoy this deliciously rich and creamy cheesecake!
Buffalo Cauliflower Wing Tacos with Quick Pickled Onion
The contrast of spicy, sweet buffalo cauliflower with pickled onion and perfect guacamole in a warm tortilla equals Taco heaven! These are so tasty! We used the air fryer to get our cauliflower wings even crispier, but a normal oven will work fine too!
Takes
Serves
Ingredients
Cauliflower Wings
1small to medium head of cauliflower(600g without leaves)
For the Batter
100gwhite flour
1tbsppaprika
1tspgarlic powder
1tspsalt
½tspblack pepper
180mlplant milk
For the Sauce
4tbspwater
3tspgarlic powder
2tsppaprika
2tbsptomato purée
2tbspapple cider vinegar
2tbspmaple syrup
1tspsalt
1tspchilli powder(or ½ tsp if you are sensitive to spice)
Guacamole
2ripe avocados
Juice of 2 limes
20gcoriander(half for garnish, half for guacamole)
¾tspsalt
Pinchof black pepper
Quick Pickled Red Onion
1medium red onion(thinly sliced, approx. 175g)
100mlvinegar
100mlwater
Pinchof salt
Other
8small tortillas or wraps
8tbspvegan mayo
Instructions
Prepare the cauliflower wings:Chop the cauliflower head into bite-sized florets, removing the tough stalk. Pick the coriander leaves from the stalks (half to use in guacamole, half for garnish).
Make the batter:In a large mixing bowl, add the flour, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix well. Add the plant milk and whisk to form a smooth batter. Add the cauliflower florets and coat them evenly in the batter.
Cook the cauliflower:Place the cauliflower florets in a single layer in the air fryer and cook at a high temperature for 15 minutes, until they start to roast and smell delicious.Alternatively, bake in a preheated oven at 200°C for 25 minutes.
Make the buffalo sauce:In a bowl, mix together 4 tbsp water, garlic powder, paprika, tomato purée, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, 1 tsp salt, and chilli powder (or adjust to your spice preference). Whisk until smooth.
Coat the cauliflower in sauce:Remove the cauliflower from the air fryer and transfer to a large bowl. Pour in the buffalo sauce and mix well, ensuring each piece is evenly coated.Return the cauliflower to the air fryer for another 15 minutes (or back to the oven for 25 minutes at 200°C).
Prepare the guacamole:Cut the avocados in half, remove the stones, and scoop out the flesh. Finely chop the coriander (half for the guacamole, half for garnish). In a bowl, add the avocado, coriander, a pinch of salt, a small pinch of black pepper, and the juice of 2 limes. Mash to your desired texture.
Make the quick pickled red onion:Thinly slice the red onion. In a small pot, combine 100ml vinegar, 100ml water, and a pinch of salt. Add the sliced onion, and set aside to pickle for at least 15 minutes.
Warm the tortillas:Just before serving, pop the tortillas into a preheated oven at 150°C for 2-3 minutes to warm them up.
Assemble the tacos:On each tortilla, spread 1 tbsp of vegan mayo, add 1-2 tbsp of guacamole, approximately 3 pieces of buffalo cauliflower, a little pickled onion, and a sprinkle of fresh coriander.Serve and enjoy!
As the first guest of our new season titled Community, we are delighted to give you “Mother Earth” herself – Helena Norberg-Hodge.
To say we were blown away is an understatement – Dave announced at least three times that he was her new biggest fan!
Episode 20 – Helena Norberg-Hodge
Helena is a pioneer of the new economy movement and recipient of the Alternative Nobel prize, the Arthur Morgan Award and the Goi Peace Prize for contributing to “the revitalization of cultural and biological diversity, and the strengthening of local communities and economies worldwide.” She is author of the inspirational classic Ancient Futures, and Local is Our Future (2019), and producer of the award-winning documentary The Economics of Happiness. The impact of the global market on food and farming has been a focus of Helena’s work for almost 40 years, including two books (From the Ground Up: Rethinking Industrial Agriculture and Bringing the Food Economy Home: Local Alternatives to Global Agribusiness, as well as a Local Food Toolkit, which won a prestigious UK award for investigative journalism.
She is the founder and director of Local Futures and The International Alliance for Localisation, and a founding member of the International Commission on the Future of Food and Agriculture, the International Forum on Globalization and the Global Ecovillage Network.
Helena speaks with such wisdom and compassion. Her response to the destruction globalisation has had by way of media, food production etc.. and the impact it has had on businesses and individuals, is truly inspiring.
“I really wish before I die that we wake up to look at the bigger picture, which is the bigger system that has essentially imprisoned us and kept us running faster and faster, and as we are running faster and faster we are becoming more and more disconnected internally. We are becoming more and more disconnected from others and from nature, from the land…”
There is so much we can learn from Helena, one podcast episode isn’t enough! We need to rethink how we have been programmed in order to recognise the flaws and make the necessary changes to save our own health and the health of our planet.
This episode is the perfect start to kick off our series on Community. It leaves you wanting to learn more, which we aim to help you with, with our line of equally amazing and inspiring guests.
Each speaker has their own unique experience and wisdom to share with us on a variety of topics, from indigenous tribes to the Blue Zones (areas with the most centenarians), building your own community, farming, and local economics. We cover it all!
This is a lovely, easy take on the classic steamed date pudding. The coconut toffee is delicious; it doesn't taste of coconut but adds a wonderful earthy sweetness with a treacle-like flavour that complements the pudding beautifully. Best served warm with your favourite vanilla ice cream and lots of toffee drizzled over the top!
Chop the dates into small pieces, ensuring there are no hidden stones.
In a bowl, pour the boiling water over the chopped dates and leave to sit.
Make the flax eggs by mixing together the ground flax seeds and water in a mug. Stir well and leave to sit for 5 minutes.
In another bowl, add the sunflower oil, vanilla extract, and molasses. Mix until homogeneous.
In a large bowl, mix together the flour, coconut sugar, baking soda, and baking powder.
In a food processor, blend the soaked dates and water until smooth and caramel-like in texture.
Make a well in the dry ingredients, then mix in the flax eggs, date mixture, and sunflower oil/molasses mixture until well combined.
Line a baking tray (approx. 34cm x 34cm) with baking parchment and pour in the cake batter. Level it out evenly.
Bake in the oven at 180°C for 30 minutes.
While the cake is baking, make the coconut toffee. In a large-bottomed pot over high heat, add the water, lemon juice, and coconut sugar. Whisk continuously to prevent the sugar from sticking and burning.
After approximately 3-4 minutes, the sugar should dissolve into a smooth caramel. Carefully add the coconut cream from the top of the coconut milk can (avoid adding the watery part from the bottom).
Continue to heat and stir until the mixture becomes bubbly and smooth. Once smooth, turn off the heat and leave it to cool and thicken.
Once the cake is baked, remove it from the oven and leave to cool.
When cool, spread ½ of the toffee on top of the cake to glaze it and add sweetness.
Cut the cake into brownie-sized pieces.
Serve the pudding with dairy-free vanilla ice cream and drizzle with the remaining hot toffee. Enjoy!
Bakewell tart is one of our favourite summer treats! When we were kids, Mum used to buy almond fingers that were always devoured – these are a fancier take on those! Although we’re calling this a 5-ingredient recipe, we’ve included vegetable oil as an assumed staple.
Takes 35 minutesminutes
Serves 12
Ingredients
1x 320g sheet of pre-rolled vegan shortcrust pastry
200graspberry jam
Frangipane
200gground almonds
175gpowdered sugar
125gself-raising flour
150mlneutral oile.g., vegetable oil
Optional Extras
25gflaked almonds
75gfresh raspberries
Instructions
Prepare the PastryIf using frozen pastry, allow it to defrost.Roll out the pastry and line a 25 x 18 cm tray (3.5cm deep) with parchment paper. Transfer the pastry to the tray, trimming the edges to fit.
Blind Bake the PastryPreheat the oven to 180°C (fan).Line the pastry with another sheet of parchment paper and fill with baking beans or rice to weigh it down. Bake for 10 minutes, then remove the beans and bake for another 5 minutes to cook the base. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool.
Prepare the FrangipaneWhile the pastry is baking, start the frangipane. In a large mixing bowl, sieve the flour and powdered sugar into the ground almonds, adding a pinch of salt. Stir to combine and break up any lumps.In a separate bowl, mix the oil with 120ml of water, then pour it into the dry ingredients. Stir until combined into a smooth batter.
Assemble the TartSpread the raspberry jam evenly over the cooled pastry, leaving a 1-2 cm border around the edges.Carefully pour the almond mixture over the jam, spreading it evenly without mixing the layers. Dot the fresh raspberries over the almond mixture and gently press them into the frangipane. Scatter the flaked almonds over the top if desired.
Bake the TartReturn the tray to the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, rotating halfway through to ensure even browning on top.Remove from the oven and allow the tart to cool completely in the tray.
Slice and ServeOnce cooled, cut into fingers (approx. 3 x 12 cm) to yield 10-12 fingers, or cut into your preferred size. Enjoy!
This week’s podcast is with the brilliant Professor Paul Dolan.
Paul is a Professor of Behavioural Science at the London School of Economics and Political Science. He also is an author and hosts his own popular podcast called Duck-Rabbit
Episode 19 – Prof Paul Dolan
We had a great laugh with Paul, our conversation focused on the many facets of Happiness and how one glove does not fit all.
“This idea that one size fits all approach to living well, would be evolutionarily stupid. We would never evolve to be where we are if everyone was the same. So purely from an efficiency perspective, it makes sense that society has different types of people. So it’s about finding out where you are in that distribution…”
Paul uses data and analytics to question our perceptions of happiness and the myths we have been fed or “narrative traps” around stories of love, marriage, ambition, and success.
He has an amazing way of using everyday examples to convey his points, which makes his work so relatable and brilliant.
“What you want money to be is like a referee in a football game. They always say referees have the best game when no one knows they are there. And that’s kind of how you want money to be, you want it to be there because you need it but not paying attention to it.”
A great episode, we hope you enjoy it as much as we did.
Big love,
Dave & Steve
Available now from all good podcast providers:
Further reading by Prof Paul Dolan:
Books:
Happiness By Design
Happy Ever After
Podcast:
Duck-Rabbit
Chocolate Lava cake with 5 ingredients
This is oozy, epic and a wonderful take on the classic that only takes 15 mins to make and is a super impressive dessert! It works great being done ahead of time and stored in the fridge and baked just before you serve! We served ours with some vegan ice cream for a real treat!
Takes
Serves 4
Ingredients
75gself raising flour
125gicing sugar
40gcocoa powder – 9 tbsp
70mlsunflower oil
20gdark chocolate
Instructions
Preheat oven to 200 C fan
To start, grease 4 x 5oz ramekins ( or any similar size oven proof cup, approx 7- 8 cm wide, 4.5 cm high) . It is important to grease the ramekins/cup very well or the cake will be difficult to unmold,we used softened vegan butter to grease our ramekins. Next flour the greased ramekin, add a couple of tablespoons of flour to each ramekin/cup and roll it on its side so the flour coats all the butter, knocking out any excess flour into a bowl and giving a final knock upside down to remove the flour (this makes sure the cake does not have a chalky appearance when unmolded). Place the ramekins/cups on a baking tray.
Roughly chop the chocolate into small pieces or you can use dark chocolate drops.
Sieve the dry ingredients with a pinch of salt into a large mixing bowl, and mix so everything is combined. In a separate jug mix the 70ml of sunflower oil with 100ml of water and mix well. Make a well in the dry ingredients, add the wet and mix using a spatula or spoon until well combined and you have a nice shiny loose batter. Divide the batter between the ramekins evenly.
Add roughly a ¼ of the chocolate or 5g to the centre of the batter in each cup. And press down with a small spoon so it is just submerged in the batter, taking care not to press it all the way down to the bottom.
Bake in the preheated oven for 12 mins at 200 C fan. It is important not to over cook the cakes or the liquid centre will cook through.
Remove from the oven. Leave to sit for 1 minute, using a butter knife, run it gently around the rim to loosen from the ramekin, then serve as is in the ramekin. Or invert onto a plate or bowl, leave for a few seconds, then carefully remove the hot ramekin using a teatowel. Serve immediately with vegan ice cream or cream.
Traditionally, falafel is made with soaked chickpeas, but we’ve simplified the process for one of our favourite snacks. These falafels are quick and delicious, taking only 5 minutes to prepare and 5 minutes to fry. For a healthier option, bake them instead.
Takes 10 minutesminutes
Serves 2
Ingredients
Falafel:
800gtwo tins cooked chickpeas
1/4red onion
2clovesgarlic
20gfresh parsley or coriander
2tbspchickpea flour
2tspground cumin
1tspground coriander
1/4tspblack pepper
1/4tspground chilli
1/2tspbaking powderto make the falafel a little fluffier
1tbsplemon juice
1tspsalt
3tbspoil for cooking the falafels
Herby Salad:
25gfresh coriander or flat-leaf parsley
1/4cucumber
1/4red onion
Pinchof salt
1tbspoil
1tbsppomegranate seeds
To Serve:
2flatbreads
150ghummus
Your favourite chilli sauceoptional
Instructions
Drain and rinse the chickpeas. Peel and finely dice the onion and garlic.
Add the chickpeas, onion, and garlic to a food processor with the remaining falafel ingredients. Pulse until combined but maintain some texture.
Transfer the mixture to a large bowl. Taste and adjust seasoning, adding more spices for a spicier falafel if desired.
Shape the mixture into small balls with clean hands, ensuring they are well-compressed.
Heat a non-stick pan on high heat and add 3 tbsp oil. Once hot, carefully add the falafels and fry until golden brown on all sides.
Alternatively, bake on a lined baking tray in a preheated oven at 180°C for 20–25 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
For the herby salad, finely dice the onion, cucumber, and herbs. Mix with the pomegranate seeds, oil, and a pinch of salt. Season to taste.
Serve the falafels on flatbread with hummus, the herby salad, and optional chilli sauce. Enjoy!
A delicious and satisfying dish combining a spicy chickpea masala served with a gluten-free, quick, and easy chickpea flour dosa. This is a healthier take on the classic street food from Northern India.
Takes
Serves 2
Ingredients
800gtinned chickpeas
800gtinned chopped tomatoes
1large or 2 small red onions
2large or 3 medium cloves garlic
12g½ thumb-sized piece ginger
1.5tbspoilfor cooking
1tbspgaram masala
1tspchilli powder
1tbspground cumin
1tbspground coriander
1tspturmeric
½tspcinnamon
½tspblack pepper
1tspsalt
50gfresh spinach
15gsmall bunch fresh corianderfor garnish
100gchickpea flour
200mloat milkor water
1tbspsunflower oil
½tspground cumin
½tspground coriander
½tspgarlic powder
½tspsalt
Instructions
Prepare the Channa Masala:Peel and roughly chop the onion. Peel and finely chop the garlic and ginger. Drain and rinse the chickpeas.Pick the coriander leaves from the bunch and finely chop the stalks.Measure out the spices.
Cook the Masala:In a large, flat non-stick pan, heat 1.5 tbsp of oil over high heat. Once hot, add the onions and cook for 3 minutes until they start to brown, stirring occasionally.Reduce the heat to medium, then add the garlic, ginger, and coriander stalks. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring to prevent the garlic from burning.Add all the spices (garam masala, chilli powder, ground cumin, ground coriander, turmeric, cinnamon, black pepper, and salt) and cook for 1 minute to release their flavours.Add the chopped tomatoes, stir, and cook for 3-4 minutes.Transfer the mixture to a food processor and blend until smooth.
Finish the Channa Masala:Return the blended mixture to the pan and add the drained chickpeas. Heat for 1-2 minutes until warmed through.Add the fresh spinach and stir until wilted. Taste and adjust the seasoning to your liking with more salt, pepper, lime, or chilli.Stir in the fresh coriander leaves and set aside while you prepare the dosa.
Prepare the Chickpea Dosa:Sift the chickpea flour into a large mixing bowl. Add the ground cumin, ground coriander, garlic powder, and salt. Mix well.Make a well in the centre and gradually add the oat milk (or water), whisking until there are no lumps and the batter is smooth.
Cook the Dosa:Heat a medium to large (30 cm) non-stick pan over high heat. Once hot, reduce the heat to medium. Lightly grease the pan with ½ tsp neutral oil, using kitchen paper to remove any excess oil.Pour roughly 60 ml (about a quarter) of the batter onto the pan. Use the back of the ladle to spread the batter quickly and evenly across the pan, creating a thin pancake.Cook for 2 minutes per side, flipping carefully with a spatula. Repeat the process until you have 4 larger or 6 smaller pancakes. Keep them warm in a preheated 100°C oven if necessary.
Serve:Reheat the channa masala and serve it with the freshly made dosa.
For any of you who haven’t had the pleasure of listening to Doctor Alan Desmond, this is a real treat.
In many ways, we feel he is our ‘Father of Gut Health’! A great friend of ours that we have had the pleasure to work with on a number of occasions, including on our own Healthy Gut Course.
Episode 17 – Dr. Alan Desmond
For over 17 years Dr Al has been studying the gut. Not the easiest undertaking as you’ll hear from this episode. He voices the connection between your gut, your immune system, your mental health and how the food you eat is the backbone behind your overall health.
“What should I eat could be one of the most important questions of the 21st Century… When you look at any gut health issue the evidence all points to the same thing, the emulsifiers, the junk food, the food-like substances that make up 60% of the food consumed in the western world, these have massive effects on our gut health and gut microbiome…”
He has an amazing way of distilling information in a tangible and relatable way. We talk at length about the importance of gut health, nature, food, and questioning our western approach to health and our current state of affairs in this pandemic.
“The UN report published last August says the number one thing we can each do to reduce the risk of a future pandemic is by removing or reducing the animal protein that we eat every day. Our current western diets with high consumption of animal protein mean that we keep hundreds of millions of animals in badly sanitized closed confined spaces, which is a breeding ground for future pandemic virus”
In 2019 we had the pleasure of going over to Devon where we assisted in the South By South West Plant-Based Challenge, a phenomenal challenge where Dr Al invited more than 70 medical professionals from the NHS to adopt a healthy plant-based diet to prove to them it would improve their energy levels, reduce their cholesterol, and overall make them feel good. It really was an amazingly rewarding experience that has done a lot of good for spreading awareness about our broken western health system. However, we have still so much work to do.
This is an episode that packs a punch! We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did.
Big love,
Dave & Steve
Available now from all good podcast providers:
Further Information:
For those interested in learning more about Doctor Alan Desmond, he has a brilliant book called The Plant-Based Diet Revolution
Creamy Mushroom Pasta
This creamy mushroom pasta recipe was so popular we made a product which we sell in over 1000 stores around ireland, its easy to make and is a total crowd pleaser. Use wholemeal pasta if you can as its higher in fibre.
When we first went plant-based the idea of making a cream sauce or béchamel sauce without cream or milk was a wild idea but nowadays its so easy and common, however this Creamy mushroom pasta recipe will have you wanting more. Here we make and easy béchamel sauce using oat milk, simply replace with rice, coconut or almond for a gluten free version. Pasta can often get a bad wrap as its high in carbs and carbs can be often mis construed to be “bad” however carbs are one of our main bodies fuel sources. The problem with carbs is that most of the carbs we consumer in modern day societies are refined carbs stripped of their fibre, and nutrition making their sugars more available. Try to use wholemeal pasta instead of white pasta, its a simple swap and just means your microbiome and digestion will benefit from the extra roughage.
How to make this creamy mushroom pasta dish – step by step photograph guide
Gather your ingredients
Heat a non stick pan on medium heat, add the cashew nuts and keep them moving till they start to brown. This should take between 5-6 mins, be careful not to burn the nuts.
Peel and finely chop the onions and garlic, chop the mushrooms and broccoli into small pieces.
Fill and boil the kettle, Cook the pasta as per the instructions on the back of the pack adding the broccoli to the pasta so it cooks at the same time, the broccoli should only take 3-4 mins to cook, drain and rinse the pasta and broccoli in cold water to stop them both cooking.
Put a non stick frying pan on high heat and allow the pan to get super hot. Once super hot add the onions and garlic and fry until they start to brown.
Once they start to brown and stick a little add some veg stock (approx 1 tsp) or water to clean the pan and incorporate the browned flavour to the dish. This should take about 3-5 mins.
5. Add the mushrooms and fry for 3-4 mins again adding a little water or veg stock if they start to stick. You want to ensure you are frying rather than boiling (frying there is little or no liquid or water in the pan vrs boiling the veg is submerged under water.) Add 3 tbsp of tamari/ soy sauce and fry for a further 2 mins. Turn off the heat and remove the mushroom mixture and set aside.
8. Time to make the sauce, in a blender add the cashew nuts, soy milk or milk of choice, lemon, salt and garlic powder and blend till super smooth, if your blender is not that good just sieve out any pieces and follow the next step just leave it to reduce or thicken for a little longer.
Put the frying pan back on high heat, add the sauce and heat up and allow the sauce to reduce & thicken for 2-3 mins. Add the cooked pasta and broccoli straight into the sauce. If the sauce gets too thick add a little pasta water to reach the desired thickness of sauce. Taste and season to your liking.
Chop the chilli (removing seeds if you want it less hot) and pluck the thyme off the stalk and serve to add flavour and garnish
enjoy.
FAQ – frequently asked questions
Can I substitute the mushrooms?
Yes of course, many people dont like the texture and taste of mushrooms, just replace them with equal portion of similar fast cooking veg such as courgettes, fine beans, peppers, sugar snaps or even some cooked beans or cooked lentils.
I’m allergic to soy what can i substitute the Tamari/ soy sauce with?
There are products available now that carry a similar umami note such as coconut aminos which is widely available online.
Can i freeze this dish?
Yes indeed it freezes really well and heats up great.
How am I best storing this?
Store it in a reusable tub in the fridge. It will last for 2 days in the fridge.
If i dont have red onions can i use regular ones?
Yes indeed, white onions, green onions, leeks or even scallions can work in place, the onions function as the base flavours
How long does the pasta dish last in the fridge?
It will last for 2 days in the fridge
What about a gluten free option
Our favourite GF pasta is brown rice pasta and then use gluten free flour and ensure the tamari you use is also gf.
Serving suggestions for this Creamy Broccoli and Mushroom Penne?
An easy, comforting dish that feels like a belly hug at the end of a busy day.
Takes
Serves 4
Ingredients
1red onion
2clovesof garlic
120gmushroomsideally a mix of oyster, shiitake, chestnut, and button mushrooms
2-3tbsptamari or soy sauce
100mlvegetable stockor water
200gwholemeal penne pasta
Creamy Sauce
60gtoasted cashew nuts
300mloat milkor another non-dairy milk of choice
Juice of half a lemon
1tspsalt
1tspgarlic powder
To Serve
Oreganoor another herb of choice
1chillichopped (remove seeds for less heat)
Instructions
Toast the Cashew NutsHeat a non-stick pan over medium heat. Add the cashew nuts and toast, stirring continuously, until golden brown (5-8 minutes). Be careful not to burn them.Peel and finely chop the onion and garlic. Chop the mushrooms into small pieces.Fill and boil the kettle. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions.
Prepare the Vegetables and PastaPeel and finely chop the onion and garlic. Chop the mushrooms into small pieces.Fill and boil the kettle. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions.
Cook the VegetablesHeat a non-stick frying pan on high heat until hot. Add the onion and garlic and fry for about 3 minutes, stirring regularly. If they begin to stick, add 1-2 tbsp vegetable stock or water to deglaze the pan and incorporate the browned flavours.Add the mushrooms and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally. If needed, add a little more stock or water to prevent sticking.Stir in the tamari or soy sauce and cook for another 1-2 minutes. Turn off the heat and set aside.
Make the Creamy SauceIn a blender, combine the toasted cashew nuts, oat milk, lemon juice, salt, and garlic powder. Blend until smooth and creamy.
Combine the Sauce and VegetablesReturn the frying pan to high heat. Pour the creamy sauce over the mushrooms and heat for 2-3 minutes, allowing it to thicken and reduce slightly.
Combine with the PastaOnce the pasta is cooked, use a slotted spoon to transfer it directly into the sauce. Stir well to coat the pasta evenly. If the sauce becomes too thick, add a little reserved pasta water to reach the desired consistency. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
ServeGarnish with chopped chilli and oregano leaves. Serve hot and enjoy!
2tspcornflouror flour + 1 tsp water, mixed into a slurry
To serve:
250gbroccolicut into florets
2spring onionssliced
Toasted sesame seedsto sprinkle
100gsauerkraut
1avocadosliced
2small portions of cooked brown rice or your grain of choice
Instructions
Prepare the tofu:Press the tofu to remove excess water, then chop into 1.5 cm cubes.In a bowl, mix the tofu with cornstarch, garlic powder, and black pepper until evenly coated.
Cook the tofu:Heat 1 tbsp oil in a wide-bottomed non-stick pan over high heat.Add the tofu and fry, turning occasionally, until all sides are charred and crispy (approx. 5–6 minutes).Add 2 tbsp tamari and 1 tbsp water to the pan, mixing well to coat the tofu.
Make the spicy sticky sauce:In a small bowl, mix all the sauce ingredients until smooth and lump-free.Pour the sauce over the tofu, stirring to coat evenly. Cook for 1–2 minutes until the sauce becomes sticky. Remove from heat.
Prepare the broccoli:Parboil the broccoli florets in salted water for 2–3 minutes. Drain well.Cook the broccoli on a griddle or hot frying pan until slightly charred. Remove and set aside.
Assemble the Buddha bowl:Divide the cooked rice or grain of choice between two bowls.Add the sticky tofu, charred broccoli, sauerkraut, avocado slices, and spring onions.Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and serve immediately.
This is an oozy, epic, and wonderful take on the classic lemon drizzle cake! It only takes 15 minutes to prepare and is a super impressive dessert. It works great when made ahead of time and stored in the fridge, then baked just before serving. We served ours with vegan ice cream for an extra treat!
In a small glass or mug, mix 1 tbsp of ground flax seeds with 3 tbsp of water. Stir well and set aside for 3–5 minutes to thicken.
Using a sieve, sift the flour, baking powder, and baking soda into a large bowl. Mix well.
In a separate bowl, combine the rice milk, sunflower oil, maple syrup, flax egg, and the zest and juice of 2 lemons. Mix well.
Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients, pour in the wet mixture, and stir until a smooth, thick batter forms.
Line a 2lb loaf tin with baking parchment. Pour the cake batter into the tin, spreading it evenly.
Bake the cake in the preheated oven for 40 minutes. If needed, bake for an additional 5–10 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out almost dry. Avoid opening the oven door during baking, as this can cause the loaf to deflate.
While the cake is baking, sift the icing sugar into a bowl. Add the juice of 1 lemon and whisk until the sugar dissolves. For a thicker glaze, add more icing sugar. For a thinner glaze, add more lemon juice or water (1 tbsp at a time).
Once the cake is baked and out of the oven, drizzle the glaze over the cake while it is still warm. Allow the cake to cool fully.
Leave the cake to cool completely before slicing (if you can resist!).
This week we are delighted to bring you, YouTubers and VanLifers, Eamon & Bec!
As their title suggests, Eamon and Bec are a couple who spend their time traveling around in their customised van. Earning their money from their popular youtube channel which follows all their adventures.
Episode 16 – Eamon & Bec
However, it seems things are changing for our favourite Vegan nomads. As for most of us, covid has meant we have had to take a pause, reflect and rethink elements of our lives. For some these have been small reflections and for others, like Eamon and Bec, it has meant standing still for the first time in years and investing in a solid foundation (one without wheels!).
“The overnight success that took 10 years to build – that couldn’t be more true for us! You could look at our channel now and think wow that looks like a great living… for us it has been a very very slow burn. However, it has shown us that we love it enough to keep going.”
Eamon and Bec have a wonderful appetite for life, they are a fascinating couple with an abundance of insights on creativity, life of a YouTuber, living as a nomad, working and traveling as a couple, and now building their own cabin in the woods.
We highly recommend giving this episode a listen, we had a great laugh and look forward to hosting the pair in Ireland again soon.
Big love,
Dave & Steve
Available now from all good podcast providers:
Chocolate Salted Caramel Bars
A healthier, delicious treat that will leave you wanting more! These chocolate salted caramel bars feature a tasty biscuit base, a smooth date caramel, and are topped off by covering them in rich dark chocolate.
Takes 40 minutesminutes
Serves 14
Ingredients
Base layer
150galmond butter
150graw almonds
100gpitted dates
1tbspvanilla essence
2tbspcoconut oil
Pinchsalt
Caramel filing
300gpitted dates
100galmond or cashew or peanut butter
10-14tbspwater
4tbspcoconut oil
1large pinch of salt(add more if you like it)
1tspvanilla extract
Top layer
300gdark chocolate
Instructions
Base layer:
In a food processor, blend the almonds into a flour-like consistency. Then, add the almond butter, dates, vanilla essence, coconut oil, and a pinch of salt.
Blend until you achieve a breadcrumb-like texture.
Remove the mixture, place it in a bowl, and leave it in the fridge to cool.
Caramel layer:
In the same food processor, add all the ingredients for the caramel layer and blend until super smooth and caramel-like. This may take up to 5 minutes, depending on your food processor. You may need to add more water if the mixture is clumpy and not blending smoothly.
Once the caramel is ready, transfer it to a bowl and leave it to cool in the fridge.
Lay out the base layer on a board, spreading it evenly to a thickness of approximately 3 cm. Compact the mixture tightly to ensure it holds together.
Spread the caramel layer on top of the base layer evenly.
Cut the base and caramel filling into even-sized bars, approximately 6 x 3 cm, and place them in the fridge to cool.
Chocolate
Melt the dark chocolate using a water bath or microwave.
Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
Once the chocolate has melted, place one of the bars on a knife and hold it over the bowl of melted chocolate.
Ladle the melted chocolate over the bar to cover all sides, then place it on the lined baking tray to cool.
Repeat with the remaining bars until all are covered.
Leave the bars to cool at room temperature, or if you're in a hurry, place them in the fridge to speed up the cooling process.
Easy to make, really simple and super tasty, this creamy, fried mushrooms pasta is well worth making! This recipe is oil free and from our Happy Shape Club which is our 12 week no calorie counting, no portion control course to help you to become happy with your shape. The method below is slightly different to the video, both methods work fab.
Takes
Serves 4
Ingredients
300gwholemeal pasta
250gmushrooms of choice – we like oyster/shitake/chestnut
1large red onion
2clovesof garlic
200mlveg stock
3tbsptamari/soy sauce
Creamy cashew sauce
100groasted cashews
500mlalternative milk of choice
juice of ½ lemon
½tspsalt
¼tspground black pepper
1tspgarlic powder
Garnish
1fresh chilli – seeds removed
3sprigs of fresh oregano or thyme
Instructions
Put your pasta on to boil in salted water and cook according to pack instructions.
Finely chop the garlic, chop the mushrooms and onion and slice chilli removing the seeds. Pick the herb leaves from their stalks and chop.
To cook your mushrooms (oil free) Heat a large non stick pan over a high heat, add the onions and garlic, reduce the heat to medium and cook for 2 minutes stirring occasionally, to brown slightly, when they begin to stick to the pan add a couple of tablespoons of veg the stock and continue to cook for another minute or two.
Add the chopped mushrooms and cook until they start to brown which will prob take 4-5 minutes, add a couple of tablespoons of veg stock if they start to stick. Once they have started to brown and have reduced add the tamari/soy sauce and stir mixing it around until it is all absorbed which will take about a minute.
For the cashew sauce, add all the ingredients to a blender and blend all the sauce ingredients on high speed until very smooth.
Drain and rinse the pasta, (keeping a mug of pasta water to help dilute the dish if needed) and put back in the pot. Add the sauce to cooked and drained pasta and cook for a couple of minutes until it thickens. Taste and season if need.
Serve the pasta and sauce and top each dish with the cooked mushrooms, a few slices of the sliced chilli and some thyme/oregano leaves. Enjoy!
A lovely easy take on the classic that is so easy to make – this is comfort food at its best! To make it a little healthier use wholemeal pasta rather than white pasta as it will up the fibre content.
Takes 30 minutesminutes
Serves 4
Ingredients
400gdried macaroni pasta(or wholemeal penne for a healthier option)
For the Bechamel:
600mlnon-dairy milk
¼tspnutmeg
4clovesgarlic
4tbspwhite flour
4tbspoil
150gvegan cheddar-style cheese(ideally orange in colour)
200gpumpkin purée
¾tspsalt
¼tspground black pepper
Pinchof paprika
Topping:
50gbreadcrumbs
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 200°C.
Prepare the ingredients:Peel and finely dice the garlic.Grate the vegan cheddar-style cheese.
Cook the pasta:Fill a large saucepan with water and bring to the boil.Add 1 tbsp of salt, then reduce to a simmer.Add the pasta and cook it for 2 minutes less than the package instructions, as it will cook further in the oven.Drain and rinse the pasta, setting it aside, and reserve a cup of the pasta water.
Make the bechamel sauce:Heat a medium saucepan over medium heat and add the oil.Once hot, add the diced garlic and cook for 1 minute until golden.Sieve in the flour, and add the nutmeg, paprika, ¾ tsp salt, and ¼ tsp black pepper.Cook for 2 minutes, then slowly whisk in the non-dairy milk, stirring continuously.Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. It should start to reach a creamy consistency.Once simmering, reduce the heat to medium and stir in half the grated vegan cheddar cheese and the pumpkin purée.Mix until the cheese melts into the sauce.Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning, adding more salt or pepper if needed.
Assemble the dish:In a 22 x 22 cm casserole dish, add the pasta.Pour in the bechamel sauce and half of the remaining grated cheese, mixing everything well.Level out the pasta mixture and sprinkle the remaining grated cheese and breadcrumbs on top.
Bake:Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the cheese is bubbly.
This weeks podcast is with the delightful Dr Gemma Newman.
Gemma is a friend of ours, a GP with a special interest in the environment, women’s health, and nature. We have had the pleasure of working with her on a number of health courses, including our recent The Happy Skin Challenge.
Episode 15 – Dr Gemma Newman
This was a very informative chat to say the least. We covered so many topics: from antibiotic resistance, agriculture and soil regeneration; to the importance of nature.
“The UN warns us that by 2050 we could have 10 million excess deaths due to antibiotic resistant infections in humans, because the antibiotics that we are now using will become ineffective and one of the main ways that we are exposed to antibiotics is through the meat that we eat.”
Dr Gemma is so knowledgeable and was such a joy to talk with. We really really enjoyed this episode and hope you got as much from it as we did.
Big love,
Dave & Steve
Available now from all good podcast providers:
Our Favourite Chocolate Cake Ever!!
This is one of the best chocolate cakes we’ve ever made – it has a light yet chocolatey caramel base with a rich and airy chocolate mousse, dusted with cocoa powder. We’ve made this on Christmas Day many times, and it’s always a hit!
Takes
Serves 12
Ingredients
Cake Base
130gwhite all-purpose flour
150gcoconut sugar
1tspbaking powder
40gcocoa powder
150mlplant-based milk
180mlneutral-tasting oil
1/2tsppure vanilla extract
1flax egg1 tbsp ground flaxseed mixed with 3 tbsp water
Chocolate Mousse
160mlaquafabawater from one 400g can of cooked chickpeas
250g54% dark chocolate chips
75mlneutral-tasting oil
20gcaster sugarapprox. 2 heaped tbsp
1tspvinegar or lemon juice
Instructions
Cake Base
Preheat the oven to 180°C (fan).
Prepare the flax egg by mixing 1 tbsp ground flaxseed with 3 tbsp water in a small bowl. Stir thoroughly and leave to sit for 5 minutes until it thickens.
In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients: flour, coconut sugar, baking powder, and cocoa powder.
In another large bowl, mix the wet ingredients: oil, plant-based milk, vanilla extract, and the prepared flax egg. Stir well until the mixture is smooth and homogenous.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until fully combined.
Line the base and sides of an 8-inch springform tin with baking parchment.
Pour the batter into the tin and bake for 20 minutes, rotating halfway through.
Remove from the oven and allow the cake to cool completely in the tin.
Chocolate Mousse
Melt the dark chocolate over a bain-marie. Once melted, add the oil and stir to combine. Allow the chocolate mixture to cool slightly (ensuring it does not start to harden).
In a stand mixer or with an electric mixer, whip the aquafaba and vinegar or lemon juice until stiff peaks form (about 6-8 minutes on high speed). Gradually add the sugar on a low speed, then return to high speed for an additional 5 minutes, until you reach stiff peaks (the whipped aquafaba should hold firm when you lift the whisk).
With the mixer running, slowly pour in the melted chocolate mixture. Pause as needed to scrape down the sides of the bowl with a silicone spatula. Mix for 1 minute until fully combined; the mousse should be slightly runny.
Pour the chocolate mousse over the cooled cake base (still in the springform tin). Refrigerate for at least 60 minutes until set.
Optional: Dust the top with cocoa powder before serving. For clean slices, use a hot knife to prevent the mousse from squashing.
Creamy umami noodles, with the crispy bite of tofu and the soft, nourishing juiciness of bok choi, make for a delicious and easy dinner or cold lunch. Bok choi is a small pak choi, so you can substitute baby spinach or pak choi if bok choi isn’t available.
Takes
Serves 2
Ingredients
200gwholewheat noodles(4 nests)
1can coconut milk
1tbspsesame oil
1thumb-sized piece of ginger
2clovesgarlic
1block firm tofu(approx. 200g)
250gmushrooms(we used oyster mushrooms)
2tbspmiso paste
1tbsptahini
2small heads of bok choi
1small bunch of scallions/spring onions
1tbspsesame seeds
Pinchof chilli flakes or chilli powder
Instructions
Prepare the ingredients:Boil the kettle.Finely chop the mushrooms into thin slices.Slice the tofu block into 4 large triangles (approx. 8 x 4 cm and 1 cm thick).
Cook the noodles:Fill a medium saucepan with boiling water, add a pinch of salt, and cook the noodles according to the package instructions.Cut the bok choi (or pak choi) into quarters and place them on top of the noodles to steam as they cook.Once the noodles are cooked, drain and set aside.
Cook the tofu and mushrooms:Heat 1 tbsp of sesame oil in a large flat pan over high heat.Once hot, add the tofu to one side of the pan and the mushrooms to the other.Cook the tofu until nicely browned on each side (approx. 2-3 minutes per side).Once cooked, remove the tofu from the pan and set aside.
Prepare the sauce:Peel and finely chop the garlic and ginger.In a bowl, mix the ginger, garlic, coconut milk, tahini, and miso paste until well combined.
Combine the tofu, mushrooms, and sauce:Add 4 tbsp of the sauce to the tofu and mushrooms in the pan.Allow it to cook down for about 2 minutes.Remove the tofu and set aside.
Finish the noodles:Add the cooked noodles to the pan with the mushrooms.Pour in the remaining sauce and mix it thoroughly.
Serve:Finely slice the scallions/spring onions.Divide the noodles between serving bowls and garnish with the tofu, steamed bok choi, scallions, sesame seeds, and a pinch of chilli flakes (optional).
Notes
Beat the Bloat:
As referenced in our Gut Health Course – use only the green part of the spring onions and omit the garlic if you’re looking to reduce FODMAPs.
Philippa Perry, what an amazing person. The type of person you always want on your side in an argument!
Psychotherapist and author of many books, including the most recent no. 1 best selling “The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read (and Your Children Will be Glad That You Did)”
I believe the title says it all!
Episode 14 – Philippa Perry
In our chat Philippa really put us in our box and made us rethink our basic approach to parenting which we hope we will implement and it’s not too late 🙂
“Teenagers biologically know they need to find a new tribe, because they know you are going to die first. In order for them to find their new tribe they are going to have to make you horrible, as they can’t leave their first tribe if they think their parent(s) are gorgeous and amazing. So they start picking fights with you… don’t take them hating you personally, they have to hate you to find their new tribe”
We discussed teenagers to toddlers, boys vs girls to restrictions on social media and mobile phone usage.
Again we cannot recommend listening to this episode and more of Philippa in general. A wonderful person and to top it all off she’s a great laugh!
Big love,
Dave & Steve
Available now from all good podcast providers:
Mexican Tacos
This is a super tasty recipe that is absolutely banging with flavour. It makes a great interactive family meal where everyone can make their tacos as they like them.
Takes
Serves 4
Ingredients
Tempeh Shawarma
300gblock of tempeh
3tbsptamari
2tbspmaple syrup
½tspsmoked paprika
1tspground cumin
1tspoil
Salsa
10cherry tomatoesideally multicoloured
1/3cucumber100g
1small red onion
Generous pinch of salt
Pinchof black pepper
1tbspolive oil
Guacamole
2avocados
2clovesof garlic
1small red onionoptional
1tomato
1lime
Pinchof salt
Refried Beans
1tbspoil
2clovesgarlic
1small red onion
1x 400g tin of black beans
1tspground cumin
1tspground coriander
½tspchilli/cayenne pepper
½tspground black pepper
½tspsmoked paprika
½tspsalt
Small bunch fresh coriander
Juice of 1 lime
Chilli Mayo
3tbspvegan mayo
½tspchilli powder
1level tsp chilli flakes
Homemade Tacos
1x 12 oz mug of corn masa
0.75x 12 oz mug of water
Instructions
Preheat oven to 200°C (fan).
Prepare tempeh: Chop the tempeh into large chunks (we chopped it into 12 pieces). By slicing it into thin pieces, the marinade will infuse deeper into the tempeh. Mix all the remaining ingredients for the shawarma sauce in a bowl: tamari, maple syrup, smoked paprika, ground cumin, and oil. Pour over the tempeh and mix well so that each piece is well covered. Transfer the marinated tempeh to a baking tray, spreading it out evenly. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes, turning it once during baking to ensure both sides cook evenly.
Prepare salsa: Chop the cucumber and cherry tomatoes into small, similarly sized pieces and add to a bowl. Peel and finely slice the red onion, then add the salt, black pepper, and oil, mixing well.
Prepare guacamole: Remove the flesh from the skin and stone of the avocado and chop it into small pieces. Add to a bowl, discarding the skin and stone. Slice the avocado in half, remove the stone, use a spoon to scoop out the flesh, then chop on a board. Peel and finely chop the garlic cloves. Chop the tomatoes into small pieces and squeeze in the juice of the lime. Mix well with a fork, mashing to your desired consistency.
Prepare refried beans: Peel and finely chop the onion and garlic. Heat a non-stick pan on high and add 1 tbsp oil. Once hot, add the onion and fry until it starts to brown, stirring regularly (approx. 5 minutes). Add the garlic and cook for a further minute, then add the beans and mix well. Add the spices: ground cumin, ground coriander, cayenne/chilli pepper, black pepper, and salt. Mix thoroughly. Finely chop the fresh coriander and add with the juice of 1 lime, mixing through. If it looks dry, add 1 tbsp of water and incorporate. Use the back of a wooden spoon to mash the beans until it forms a paste-like consistency. Remove from the heat and set aside.
Prepare chilli mayo: In a bowl, combine the vegan mayo, chilli powder, and chilli flakes. Mix well.
Finish tempeh: Remove the tempeh from the oven once it’s starting to brown. Slice into thin long strips, like a Shawarma. These strips add a lovely texture to the tacos.
Prepare tacos: In a bowl, add the corn masa and make a well in the centre. Pour the water into the well and mix until it all incorporates into a large dough ball. Divide the dough into 6 small balls. Place a sheet of baking parchment in your taco press, add one of the corn masa balls, and close the press to flatten it into a perfectly shaped taco. Cook on a hot pan on low to medium heat, cooking on both sides until it starts to brown. Repeat with the remaining balls.
Assembletacos: For each taco, start with a dollop of chilli mayo, then add any combination of the prepared toppings to your liking. You can’t go wrong—everything is super tasty!
When we filmed this, we all ended up devouring it for breakfast as it was just so good and hard to stop eating! This is a wonderful brothy noodle deliciousness!
Takes
Serves 4
Ingredients
200gwholewheat noodles – 4 nests
1tbspsesame oil
200gshitakeoyster, or mushrooms of choice
200gtenderstem broccoli
1medium red pepper – 175g
1small bunch of scallions – 60g
15gfresh gingerthumb size
1large clove of garlic
1tbsptamari
Broth
60g/ 4 large tbsp HP spicy red pepper pesto or harissa or Thai red curry paste
1can coconut milk
1tbspsrirachaoptional – if you prefer more heat
1litre vegetable stock
1tbspalmond butter
2tbsptamari
1lime
Corianderoptional
Instructions
Prepare the vegetables: Chop the mushrooms into thin slices lengthways, chop the red pepper into small bite-size pieces, and chop the scallions at an angle into thin slices. Grate or finely chop the ginger and garlic. Chop the broccoli into florets and finely chop the stems, discarding any woody stalk pieces. Finely slice the red chili pepper.
Cook the mushrooms: Heat sesame oil in a large flat pan over high heat. Once hot, add the mushrooms and cook for 5 minutes until they start to reduce and brown slightly. Add 1 tablespoon of tamari and stir to incorporate until it is all absorbed or evaporated (about 30 seconds). Add the ginger, garlic, half the scallions, half the chili, and red pepper, and reduce the heat to medium. Continue to cook for 5-8 minutes, stirring occasionally until the peppers are cooked. Remove from the heat.
Prepare the broth: While the mushrooms are cooking, make your litre of stock and bring it to a boil in a large pot. Reduce to a simmer and whisk in 2 tbsp tamari, almond butter, the curry paste/HP spicy pesto or harissa, and the tin of coconut milk. Bring to a simmer.
Cook the noodles and broccoli: Add the noodles and tenderstem broccoli to the broth and simmer for approx. 4 minutes until the broccoli and noodles are just cooked.
Assemble: Using tongs, transfer the noodles and broccoli to serving bowls and pour over the coconut broth. Top with the ginger mushrooms and peppers. Garnish with the scallions, the remaining red chili, a few coriander leaves, and a squeeze of lime juice.
Optional garnish: We also like to sprinkle sesame seeds over the dish to garnish.
This weeks episode is with our good friend Tony Riddle.
Tony is a natural lifestyle coach, author and record-breaking barefoot endurance athlete.
Regarded as a trailblazer within the field of natural movement and lifestyle, Riddle is the creator of the Natural Lifestyle Philosophy, that encourages modern urbanites to reconnect with certain innate, ‘wild’ behaviours in order to increase physical, emotional, social and spiritual wellness.
Episode 13 – Tony Riddle
Having overcome clubfoot as a child, which involved years of traumatic treatment, Riddle has devoted his life to physical training in various forms – whether it was serving in the army and later establishing himself as a respected personal trainer, pilates teacher and rewilding movement coach, or becoming an endurance athlete in his mid-40s, breaking records for running the length of the UK and completing the Three Peaks Challenge barefoot.
While running his own successful pilates studio in West London, Riddle began to study the principles of natural human movement and wellness, including the works of Joseph Pilates, Erwan Le Corre, Lee Saxby and Dr Nicholas Romanov, as well as research into indigenous tribes.
The resulting journey of discovery, which included extensive self-experimentation over 18 years, led to the development of Riddle’s Natural Lifestyle Philosophy, which combines his physical training expertise with learnings across science, social anthropology and eastern spirituality.
A gifted coach and communicator, Riddle has taught the Philosophy to thousands of people worldwide, through talks, workshops, retreats, social media and the NatLife Tribe, an international subscriber-based community launched in 2020 as a result of the COVID pandemic.
Riddle has been featured extensively in the press from The Times, Guardian, The Daily Telegraph, Telegraph Magazine, New York Times, Men’s Health, Evening Standard, and on BBC Breakfast, Sky News, The Rich Roll Podcast and many others. His debut book How To Be More Human will be released in 2022.
A proud husband to Katarina and a father of four, Riddle considers his family to be his greatest teachers.
We had an amazing conversation with Tony, dare we say it may be our favourite yet! We talk about his past, from his childhood with club feet to his alcohol addiction, time in the army to eventually running the length of the UK barefoot.
“You have just as many senses in your feet as you do in your hands. Up to 200,000 extra receptors reside in your feet. The more information you put between you and your foot, as in the more rubber, the more desensitised that information becomes”
He speaks with such knowledge and wisdom that half way through, when Tony speaks of the benefits of deep squatting, we jump off our seats and squat for the rest of the conversation!!
We should all take advice from Tony and remember to use our bodies, we are made to move. We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did, there is a lot to be learnt here.
Big love,
Dave & Steve
References:
Book: Breath by Matthew Walker
Book: Born to Run by Christopher McDougall
Find out more on Tony Riddle and what he is currently working on:
Here’s a super tasty kebab recipe with three main components: spiced jackfruit, garlic mayo, and an easy-to-make chilli sauce. Our friend Marty, AKA the king of kebabs, always says a good kebab should drip all over you because it's so full of sauces and flavour! This is a wonderful kebab where we use jackfruit to give a real bite, along with an easy-to-make chilli sauce and garlic mayo. It makes a wonderful lunch or delicious dinner.
Takes
Serves
Ingredients
Chilli Sauce:
6mild red chillies
1can of chopped tomatoes
1onion
100mlapple juice
3tbspapple cider vinegar
2tbspmaple syrup
2tspchilli powder
1tspsalt
Garlic Mayo Sauce:
8clovesof roasted garlicor 4 tsp garlic powder
300mlsoy milk
1tbspDijon mustard
Pinchof salt and black pepper
Juice of ½ lime
Spiced Jackfruit / Mushrooms:
2tbspsunflower oiloriginally 300ml, which seemed excessive; corrected based on common usage
1tin of jackfruit400g or mushrooms of choice
2tbsptamari
2tspmaple syrup
5tbspchilli saucefrom above
To Serve:
1pack of 4 wholemeal pitta breads or 1 pack of tortillas
100gchopped lettuce or leaves of choice
1red onion
50gcherry tomatoes
Pickled chillies to serve
Instructions
For the Chilli Sauce:
In a blender, add all the ingredients and blend until smooth.
Pour into a saucepan, bring to the boil, then reduce to a simmer and leave to cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Taste and adjust the seasoning to your palate. Remove from the heat and allow to cool.
For the Garlic Mayo:
In a blender, add all the ingredients (except the oil) and blend until smooth.
Slowly add the oil while keeping the blender running at a slow speed, allowing the mixture to emulsify and come together.
Spiced Jackfruit / Mushrooms:
Drain and rinse the jackfruit.
Slice the jackfruit or mushrooms finely.
Add 2 tbsp of oil to a non-stick pan and fry for 4-8 minutes until they begin to dry out and brown slightly.
Add the tamari, maple syrup, and chilli sauce, cooking for 3-4 minutes while stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat and set aside.
To Serve:
Toast the wholemeal pitta bread or lightly heat your tortillas on a dry frying pan for 1 minute on each side.
Use scissors to open up the pitta bread.
Stuff the with a generous serving of garlic mayo, 2 tbsp of chilli sauce, a good serving of leaves, some cherry tomatoes and onions, pickled chillies and some spiced jackfruit or mushrooms on top.
Serve with extra chilli sauce on the side.
Notes
Beat the Bloat:To beat the bloat as referenced by our Gut Health Course – this might be one to avoid if you’re prone to bloating.
Hot pockets are a classic American fast food, similar to a Cornish pasty, where roasted veg is encased in a rich tomato sauce, feta, and pastry. This is our take on a slightly healthier vegan version with spring veg, creamy feta, and basil.
Prepare the vegetables for roasting:Chop the courgette into small bite-sized cubes.Slice the red onion.Chop the asparagus into thirds.Place all the veg on a lined baking tray, drizzle with 1 tbsp of oil, sprinkle ½ tsp of salt, and add 1 tbsp of balsamic vinegar. Mix well to coat.Roast in the oven for 15-20 minutes until the vegetables are nicely roasted.
Prepare the vegan feta and puff pastry:While the veg is roasting, chop the vegan feta into cubes.Cut the puff pastry sheet into four rectangles.Cover the frozen peas with boiling water and leave for 10 minutes, then drain and set aside.Using a rolling pin or a clean glass jar, gently roll each pastry rectangle to increase its size by approximately 2 cm on each side.
Cool the vegetables:Once the veg is roasted, reduce the oven temperature to 180°C (fan).Remove the tray from the oven, mix the vegetables well, and allow them to cool slightly before adding them to the pastry.
Mix the spring veg filling:Chop the basil and mix it with the drained peas and the roasted vegetables.
Prepare the pastry pockets:In a small bowl, combine the pesto and tomato paste. Spread approximately 1 tbsp of the mixture onto each pastry rectangle, leaving a 1 cm border free from sauce around the edges.Spoon about ¼ of the spring veg mixture into the centre of each pastry piece.Add a quarter of the vegan feta cubes on top of each.
Fold and seal the pockets:Fold each pastry piece over the filling to form a pocket or parcel shape, sealing the edges carefully. Turn the parcels seam-side down, ensuring not to tear the pastry.Transfer the parcels onto a parchment-lined baking tray.
Brush and bake:Brush each pastry parcel with oat milk for shortcrust pastry or oil for puff pastry to help with browning.Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes until the pockets are golden brown.
This weeks episode is with the incredible John McAvoy!
What a story! Where to start? A 22 year old armed robber who ended up in highest security prison with two life sentences. Whilst in prison he broke two world records, eventually leading him to becoming an ultra athlete. Now Nike sponsored and to top it all off he’s gone vegan!
Episode 12 – John McAvoy
John has an amazing outlook on life, and is a true example of how the positive impact of sport and movement can have on your well being and even the choices you make.
“If there is hope for me there is hope for everyone, I was in the deepest darkest hole you can be in and I managed to turn my life around.”
In total John served 10 years, one of these years in solitary confinement.
He has been approached by multiple directors and producers for the rights to tell his story, however John is reluctant to let it fall into the wrong hands.
“When I got out of prison I promised myself money would never be my god ever again, I would never make decisions again based around money… film can glamorise crime, so I understand if you glorify criminality to people, some people can get sucked in.”
So many takeaways from this episode. Really hope you enjoy it as much as we did.
Big love,
Dave & Steve
Available now from all good podcast providers:
Peanut Caramel Squares
These caramel squares are epic and will be an instant hit with everyone who’s lucky enough to taste them. They’re refined sugar free, vegan, gluten free and seriously delicious.
Takes
Serves 16
Ingredients
BASE LAYER
100gdates
150galmonds
150gwalnuts
1.50tspvanilla
2tbspcoconut oil
1tspcocoa powder
CARAMEL LAYER
450gdates
225gpeanut butter
165gcoconut oil
18tbspwater
small pinch salt
CHOCOLATE TOP LAYER
195gcocoa butter
180gmaple syrup
30gcocoa powder
Instructions
Base Layer
In a food processor, blend the walnuts and almonds until they have a breadcrumb-like texture.
Add the dates, coconut oil, vanilla extract, cocoa powder, and a small pinch of salt. Blend again until the mixture starts to come together.
Line a standard baking tray with parchment paper, then press the base mixture into the tray, using the back of a spoon to compress it evenly.
Caramel Layer
In the food processor, combine the peanut butter, dates, coconut oil, vanilla extract, and salt. Add approximately 10 tablespoons of water, then blend. Add more water gradually as needed until a soft, caramel-like consistency is achieved.
Spread the caramel over the base layer using the back of a wet spoon for easy spreading.
Chocolate Top Layer
Melt the cocoa butter in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Once melted, transfer to a large mixing bowl, then add the cocoa powder and maple syrup. Gently whisk until smooth.
Pour the chocolate mixture over the caramel layer and spread evenly.
Refrigerate for 25-30 minutes or until the squares are fully set.
This tapenade has a rich, savoury olive taste mixed with a lovely sweetness of sundried tomato. It’s rockin’ smeared on bread or equally yummy stirred through pasta. Let your imagination take over!
INGREDIENTS
Black Olives (33%) [Black Olives, Salt, Vinegar, Extra Virgin Olive Oil], Olive Oil, Rapeseed Oil, Almonds (Nuts), Water, Sundried Tomatoes (6%) [Sundried Tomatoes, Salt], Lemon Juice, Capers (4%) [Capers, Vinegar, Salt], Garlic, Date Syrup, Balsamic Vinegar, Parsley, Oregano, Black Pepper.
ALLERGEN INFORMATION
For allergens, see ingredients highlighted. May contain traces of Peanuts and Sesame Although every care has been taken to remove olive pits, some fragments may remain
NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION
Typical
per 100g
Energy
1396kJ
339kcal
Fat
33g
Of which:
Saturates
4.3g
Carbohydrates
3.2g
Of which:
Sugars
3.2g
Fibre
5.3g
Protein
4.6g
Salt
2.0g
This pesto is a real flavour explosion – it’s bright, spicy and a little creamy. You’re going to love it!
For allergens, see ingredients highlighted. May contain traces of Peanuts and Sesame
NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION
Typical
per 100g
Energy
1632kJ
395kcal
Fat
37g
Of which:
Saturates
5.2g
Carbohydrates
7.2g
Of which:
Sugars
4.6g
Fibre
4.8g
Protein
6g
Salt
1.2g
Creamy Buffalo Quesadillas
Creamy, cheesy, crispy, and packed full of flavour—these quesadillas are epic! The creamed leek with coconut and jackfruit creates a deliciously meaty filling.
Takes
Serves 3
Ingredients
1tbspoil
4large wholewheat tortillas(or corn tortillas)
150gleek
1tin jackfruit(400 g, drained weight 250 g)
2tbsptamari
150groasted red pepper(from a jar)
Juice of ½ lemon
½tspsalt
¼tspblack pepper
1tspsweet paprika
1tspgarlic powder
½tspsmoked paprika
1red chilli
1avocado
1x 400 g can full-fat coconut milk
100gvegan cheddar-style cheese
Instructions
Prep the coconut milk: Place the can of coconut milk in the fridge or freezer to solidify the cream.
Prepare the jackfruit: Drain and rinse the jackfruit, then chop or shred it into thin slices.
Cook the leek and jackfruit: Finely slice the leek (including the green part), and wash thoroughly to remove any sediment. Heat a non-stick frying pan over high heat, add 1 tbsp of oil, then sauté the sliced leek with a pinch of salt and the jackfruit. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add 2 tbsp of tamari and mix through for flavour.
Season the filling: Add the salt, black pepper, sweet paprika, smoked paprika, and garlic powder to the pan. Stir well to combine.
Add the coconut cream: Remove the coconut milk from the fridge/freezer, scoop out the cream from the top, and discard the water. Add the coconut cream to the leek and jackfruit mixture along with the lemon juice. Cook for a further 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Prepare the toppings: Remove the roasted peppers from the jar, drain, and slice into strips. Cut the avocado in half, remove the stone, and slice the flesh into long strips. Grate the vegan cheddar-style cheese and finely slice the red chilli.
Assemble the quesadillas: Taste the creamed leek and jackfruit mixture and adjust seasoning if necessary. Clean and wipe the pan dry.Heat the pan over medium heat, then warm a tortilla for 30 seconds.On one half of the tortilla, add a handful of grated vegan cheddar. On the same half, spoon about ¼ of the creamed leek and jackfruit mixture, followed by a few slices of roasted pepper, avocado, and red chilli. Sprinkle with a bit more cheese, then fold the tortilla in half.
Cook the quesadillas: Cook the folded tortilla for 1 minute, then carefully flip it over and cook the other side until the tortilla is crispy and the cheese melts (about 1 more minute).
Serve: Remove from the pan, slice into quarters, and repeat with the remaining tortillas and filling. Enjoy!
Notes
Beat the Bloat: As referenced in our Gut Health Course – use only the green part of the leek and omit the garlic.
This weeks podcast is with the man who has lived many lives, the infamous, Glen Hansard!
I mean where do we start? For those who aren’t familiar, Glen is an Irish songwriter, actor, vocalist and guitarist for The Frames, and one half of duo The Swell Season. Having played roles in the BAFTA-winning film The Commitments, as well as starring in the film Once, which earned him an Academy Award for Best Original Song.
Episode 11 – Glen Hansard
You could say he began his singing career at the age of 13, when he left school to become a busker. He was taken in and his talents were nurtured by an artist and and incredible woman, Philippa Bayliss. From then on Glen seems to have been on track to stardom, breaking bread with the likes of Seamus Heaney, meeting his hero Bob Dylan and eventually touring with him at a very early age.
Glen is a perfect example of someone who says “yes to life”.
“What I have realised in my life, in the 50 years that I have been here is that, when you follow your gut or when you follow your heart, thereis an incredible wave that comes up behind that supports it and when you are not following your heart then there is a wave that goesagainst you. So it’s really just about catching that wave.”
We thoroughly enjoyed this conversation, so much so it is our longest podcast episode to date!
We cover everything from his somewhat adventurous route to success, his time on the “Celtic Odyssey” rowing across the Atlantic, to his perception of today and the climate crisis.
It really is pure gold from beginning to end, we highly recommend giving it a proper listen.
Big love,
Dave & Steve
Available now from all good podcast providers:
Easy Malaysian Laksa Curry
This rich, sweet, savoury, and delicious dish takes just 10 minutes to make. We developed this recipe when our friend, Dr. Rupy, came around to shoot a recipe video. His mum is from Malaysia, and he didn’t believe we could cook a laksa curry in 5 minutes that would taste as good as his mum’s! We proved him wrong, and here’s the delicious recipe. We’ve adjusted the original to be low FODMAP and allowed an extra 5 minutes so you can take your time and enjoy it even more.
Takes
Serves 4
Ingredients
For the Paste:
2clovesgarlic
Thumb-sized piece of fresh ginger
1tbspturmeric powder
1red chilli
Juice of ½ lime
1tbspmaple syrup
1tbspcoriander seeds
1tbspcumin seeds
400mlfull-fat coconut milk
160mlwater
3tbsptamari
For the Rest:
2tbspoil
2nests of rice noodlesor buckwheat noodles, 100g
120gtofu or tempeh
2tbsptamari
1carrot
½courgette
Limefor serving
Coriander or basilfor serving
Red chillifor garnish
Instructions
Boil the kettle. Pour the boiling water into a saucepan and cook the noodles according to the package instructions.
Place all the paste ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Grate the carrot and half of the courgette.
Finely chop the tofu or tempeh into small bite-sized pieces.
Heat 2 tbsp of oil in a non-stick frying pan over high heat. Once hot, add the tofu or tempeh and fry until browned on all sides. Add the 2 tbsp tamari and stir quickly, spreading the tamari around to coat the tofu or tempeh.
Add the grated carrot and courgette to the pan along with a generous pinch of salt. Cook for 1-2 minutes. Then, add the paste and cook for another minute.
Using a slotted spoon, remove the noodles from the stock and add them to the frying pan. Finally, add the coriander or basil and heat for a few seconds.
Serve with a garnish of finely sliced red chilli and a wedge of lime. Enjoy!
This is magnificent and so easy to adapt to any flavour you like. When we first made this, we couldn’t believe how smooth and elegant the mousse turned out. Just ensure you use chocolate with more than 50% cocoa solids and remember the ratio of 0.75 – for every 1 part chocolate, use 0.75 part infused milk.
Takes
Serves
Ingredients
200gchocolate(above 50% cocoa solids)
150mloat milk
1orange(or your favourite tea bag to infuse flavour)
Ice
Instructions
Ensure you have 2 metal bowls.
Pour the oat milk into a saucepan on high heat.
Add the zest and juice of the orange, bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for 2–3 minutes.
If you don't like oranges, simply leave out the zest and juice and replace them with your favourite tea bag, such as mint or berry.
Chop the chocolate into small pieces.
Sieve the infused milk into a measuring jug, ensuring you have exactly 150 ml.
Add the boiling hot infused milk to the chocolate and whisk until it is all dissolved, creating a chocolate milk.
Place ice into the second metal bowl and set the bowl with the chocolate mixture on top of the ice bath.
Whisk for 3–5 minutes until it starts to thicken and become a wonderful chocolate mousse.
Serve with vegan cream and some sliced chocolate on top!
This stunning vegan baked cheesecake features a traditional digestive biscuit base, creamy filling, and a fruity strawberry topping. With a hint of lemon zest for added bite, it's a delightful treat that’s perfect for any occasion!
Takes
Serves 12
Ingredients
For the Crust:
160gvegan digestive biscuitsapprox. 11 biscuits
90gvegan buttermelted
1tbspsugar
For the Filling:
500gsilken tofu
120gvegan cream cheese
200gcreamy top layer of full-fat coconut milk
120gvegan butter or margarinemelted
135gsugar
45gcornstarch
1tspvanilla extract
Zest and juice of 1 lemon
For the Fruit Topping:
450gfrozen strawberriesor berries of choice
50gcaster sugar or maple syrup
5mllemon juice
6gcornstarch
Instructions
Preheat and Prepare the Pan:Preheat the oven to 170°C (fan).Line the base and sides of an 8-inch springform tin with parchment paper.
Make the Crust:Melt the vegan butter over low heat.Crush the digestive biscuits to a fine crumb in a food processor or by hand.In a bowl, combine the crushed biscuits, melted butter, and sugar until well mixed.Press the mixture evenly into the lined tin, pressing up the sides by 1-2 inches to form a crust.Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes, then set aside to cool.
Prepare the Filling:Zest and juice the lemon.In a food processor, combine the silken tofu, coconut cream layer, melted butter, sugar, cornstarch, vanilla extract, and lemon zest and juice. Blend on medium speed for 2-3 minutes until smooth.Add the vegan cream cheese and blend for an additional 1-2 minutes, until fully incorporated.Pour the filling into the prepared crust, smoothing the top with a spatula.
Bake the Cheesecake:Place the cheesecake on the middle oven rack and bake for 1 hour, rotating halfway through to ensure even browning.The cheesecake is ready when the top is firm but still slightly wobbly in the centre.Remove from the oven and cool in the tin for at least 1 hour at room temperature.
Chill the Cheesecake:Once the cheesecake reaches room temperature, refrigerate for at least 2 hours or, ideally, overnight to fully set.
Prepare the Berry Topping:In a saucepan, combine the frozen strawberries, sugar, lemon juice, and cornstarch.Bring the mixture to a boil, then simmer for 2-3 minutes, mashing some of the strawberries to release additional juice.Remove from heat and transfer to a wide bowl to cool completely before adding it to the cheesecake.
Serve:Once the cheesecake is fully chilled, spread the cooled berry topping evenly over the top.Slice and serve. Enjoy this delightful and elegant vegan cheesecake!
Quinoa, Veg & Caramelised Pecans – low FODMAP and gut friendly
This recipe is super tasty, high in protein, gut friendly dinner that is low FODMAP so great for anyone with bloating or indigestion. It takes 30 minutes to make and will serve 4 people. It is one of our most popular recipes on our online Gut health revolution course which we run with Consultant gastroenterologist Dr. Alan Desmond and dietician Rosie Martin.
Here we cook the quinoa in water and then cook the veg by adding them in on top of the cooking quinoa. Its an easy all in one dish excluding another pan for caramelising the nuts. Quinoa is a total super food, a pseudo grain that is in fact a seed that is packed with protein, fibre as well as lots of other nutrition. We use peas here to give a lovely contrast of colours and we cook the quinoa with some turmeric in it to give it a vibrant yellow colour while also adding loads of mighty antioxidants too.
We use the green part of a leek here instead of an onion as the green part of a leek is low FODMAP which means low in fermentable carbohydrates which means it is gut friendly when compared to onions and garlic. Try to choose a leek with plenty of green stalk on it.
FAQ – frequently asked questions
Where do I get quinoa?
You can get quinoa in most supermarkets or health food stores. It stores for a long time like most grains and comes in multiple colours such as black, red and white. You can cook quinoa in veg stock to give it more flavour.
Can i use other veg instead?
Absolutely! You could use whatever other veg you have in the fridge, the veg are very much interchangeable. It would go great with squash or pumpkin, peppers, courgettes, mushrooms..whatever veg you have!!
Can i freeze this dish?
Yes indeed it freezes really well and heats up great. We suggest freezing it in portions so you only have to reheat what you need so it avoids wastage.
How am i best storing this?
Allow it to cook and store it in a reusable tub in the fridge. It will last for at least 2 days in the fridge.
Why do you only use the green part of the leek?
We only use the green part as it is lower in Fermentable carbohydrates (FODMAPS) so easier to digest while also delivering a lot of flavour.
How long does this dish last in the fridge?
It will last for at least 2 days in the fridge
How to cook quinoa
Cooking quinoa is quite similar to cooking a lot of other grains. We usually add 2 part water to 1 part grain (by volume) into a suitable sized pot and put it on a high heat. Once it starts to boil, reduce the heat, put a lid on, ensuring to leave it slightly ajar so that the steam can evaporate and continue to boil until nearly all the water has evaporated (till there is approx 2cm of water left at the bottom). Put the lid on to cover the cooking quinoa and turn the heat off. Leave the quinoa to cook in its own steam for 5 minutes. This will make the quinoa to puff up and become lighter and fluffier.
Caramelising nuts
Here we caramelise pecan nuts. We use pecans as they are lower in FODMAPs than other nuts.
A delicious tasty recipe using quinoa. It is low FODMAP so really friendly for your gut. It is easy to make and is one of the most popular recipes on our gut health revolution course. It works great with whatever veg you have in!
Takes 30 minutesminutes
Serves 4
Ingredients
2 tomatoes360g / 360g tinned
200ggreens of leeks (green part of 2 leeks)
40gfresh ginger
250gsweet potato
1red pepper
3carrots300g max
2tbspoil
2.5tspof salt
1tspturmeric
2tspcurry powder
275gquinoa1 ½ cups
800mlveg stockgarlic and onion free/water (3 cups)
2bay leafs
juice of half a lemon
Topping
80gpecan nutsA small handful
2tbsptamari
3tspmaple syrup
Instructions
Finely chop the leek greens and the tomatoes. Peel and finely slice the ginger. Finely chop the sweet potato and carrots and slice the red pepper into long thin strips.
On a high heat, put 2 tbsp of oil into a pan. Once oil is hot add the prepared leek, tomatoes, and ginger, and the salt and cook for 5 minutes, stirring regularly to stop the veg sticking to the bottom.
Then add the turmeric and curry powder, and mix through the veg. Add the quinoa, veg stock/water (add a second tbsp of salt if using plain water), sweet potato, carrots and the bay leaves. Bring to the boil.
Once it boils, reduce heat to a simmer, put the lid on, leaving slightly ajar to let the steam out. When the water level drops below the top of cooking quinoa (about 10 minutes in), add the red pepper. Simmer until just about all the water has evaporated (approximately 15-20 minutes total).
Turn the heat off, put the lid on and leave to sit for about 5 minutes, this will puff up the quinoa and make it nice and fluffy.
In the meantime, roughly chop the pecans. Heat another pan for the topping and put the pecans into it along with the tamari and the maple syrup. Stir continuously for 4 minutes or until pecans start to get golden colour and the liquid starts to dry up. Watch this very carefully as it will overcook and burn easily.
Mix the veg well through the dish, squeeze the lemon juice through it, and serve each portion with some of the caramelised pecans on top. Taste and season with more salt and black pepper if you think it needs it. Chilli flakes will also go great sprinkled on top if you like a bit of heat!
A tasty and satisfying dinner that will brighten up your evening and fill your kitchen with a sweet Mexican-style aroma! These stuffed sweet potato skins are highly nutritious, low in calories, and super tasty. We’ve added a cashew cream to the written recipe, which adds a more indulgent quality that wasn’t included in the video, but either way, they’re delicious!
Takes
Serves 5
Ingredients
5medium sweet potatoes(1.8 kg)
1x 400 g tin of black beans(drained and rinsed)
1x 100 g tin of sweetcorn(or use thawed frozen corn)
1red chilli
3scallions(spring onions)
2clovesof garlic
Small bunch of fresh coriander
2teaspoonscumin
1teaspoonpaprika
Juice of 1 lime
1–2 teaspoons salt
½teaspoonblack pepper
1large ripe avocado
For the Cashew Cheese Sauce:
150gcashews(soaked)
100mloat milk
½teaspoongarlic powder
½teaspoonlemon juice
½teaspoonsalt
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F), gas mark 4.
In a bowl, add the cashews and pour over just-boiled water. Leave them to soak for 5 minutes.
Scrub the sweet potatoes, leaving the skins on, and trim the ends. Cut them in half lengthwise. Once the oven is heated, place the sweet potatoes on a baking tray and roast for approximately 1 hour (they are ready when a fork easily pierces the flesh). Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 5–10 minutes.
Once the sweet potatoes have cooled, scoop out the flesh into a large mixing bowl, leaving a thin layer of flesh around the skins to help them hold their shape. Place the skins back on the tray and return to the oven for another 10 minutes to crisp up.
While the skins are baking, mash the scooped-out sweet potato flesh in the bowl. Drain and rinse the black beans and sweetcorn (if using tinned), then add them to the bowl.
Deseed and finely chop the red chilli, then chop the scallions and garlic. Finely chop the coriander. Add all of these to the bowl with the black beans, sweetcorn, cumin, paprika, lime juice, salt, and black pepper. Mix everything thoroughly.
Drain and rinse the cashews, then add them to a blender along with the oat milk, garlic powder, lemon juice, and salt. Blend until smooth. If your blender struggles to achieve a smooth texture, strain the mixture through a sieve to get a creamy sauce. The thicker remains can be used as an additional topping.
This creamy spiced black bean quesadilla is so easy to make and really punches with flavour, it also has no added oil so is great for cardiovascular health and packed full of fibre
Prep time : 5 mins | Cook time : 1 0mins | Total time : 15mins| Makes: 3 Servings| Difficulty: Easy
These Black bean Quesadilla are so good!!! A quesadilla traditionally is help together by cheese which in spanish is queso so hence the name quesadilla. Here we make a cashew cheese by soaking cashew nuts overnight and then blending them to make a beautiful rich and fibre rich cheese sauce which helps hold this together and add more whole food sources of fat. There are 3 components in these quesadillas, the cashew cheese, sliced avocado and a beautiful spiced black bean salsa. These make a wonderful lunch or quick easy dinner.
Other delicious healthy recipes like these Black bean Quesadillas
Creamy spicy, crispy and oh so delicious! These are low in fat, oil free and only take 10-15 mins to make – they make a wonderful dinner or healthy snack. Although tamari is not technically a mexican condiment Dave jokingly said when he was last in mexico he found a bottle in an asian store! It does give more flavour and saves time so worth using if you can.
Takes 15 minutesminutes
Serves 2
Ingredients
4wholewheat tortillas or corn tortillas
1x 400g can of black beans
2spring onions
1/2red onion
10cherry tomatoes
1red chilli
1avocado
1tspcumin seeds
1tspground cumin
1/4tspsmoked paprika
1/4tspcinnamon
¼tspground black pepper
1tspground coriander
1tbsptamari
Pinchsalt
½lemon/ juice 1 lime
Small bunch fresh coriander
Cashew cheese sauce
200gcashew soaked
150mloat milk
1/2tspgarlic powder
1tsplemon juice
½tspsalt
Instructions
In a bowl add the cashew nuts and pour on just boiled water and leave to soak for 5 mins.
Peel and slice the red onion in thin stips. Slice the spring onions at an angle thinly.
Drain and rinse the black beans. Quarter the cherry tomatoes and finely chop the coriander and red chilli (remove the seeds if you like it less spicy). Peel and slice the avocado into thin slices.
Heat a non stick pan on high heat, once hot add the sliced onions, spring onion and chilli and fry for 2 mins stirring continuously. Add the spices, tamari, lime juice, salt and fry for 30 seconds. Next add the drained beans and quartered cherry tomatoes and cook for 2 mins mashing and stirring.
Drain and rinse the cashew nuts and add to a blender along with the rest of the ingredients for the cashew cheese and blend till nice and super smooth.
Clean the pan and dry it, once hot add a tortilla and leave to heat up for 10 seconds. Spoon on a generous serving of the cashew cheese across the full tortilla, a good dollop of the fried blackbean salsa on ½ the tortilla, top with sliced avocado some diced coriander, and a sprinkle of chilli. Fold over the tortilla, and once starting to brown and crisp up around the corners remove from the pan and slice on a chopping board.
Repeat with the remaining tortillas and fillings. Keep any remaining cashew cheese to use for other sandwiches it will last 5 days in the fridge.
Berry and Apple Crumble – low FODMAP and gluten free
This dessert is honestly one of our favourites. It is hard to beat and it also happens to be low fodmap & gluten free and also gut friendly. It’s easy to make, Dave’s 8 year old daughter Issy can make this by herself! It takes 40 minutes to make and will serve at least 8 portions. It is one of our most popular recipes on our online Gut health revolution course which we run with Consultant gastroenterologist Dr. Alan Desmond and dietician Rosie Martin.
Here we use apples and mixed berries but you can use whatever fruit you have, it really is interchangeable, pears work well, plums, peaches – genuinely whatever you have in your fruit bowl that needs using. This dish is a great way to use up lots of ripe fruit. This was our mothers go to dessert she used to make after Sunday dinner when we were growing up so we grew up eating plenty of apple crumble! The crumble topping is really easy to make and like the fruit, the topping ingredients can be amended to what you have.
We do always have some oat flakes in our topping, some seeds, sometimes some nuts, sometimes some almond meal and then some liquid sweetener and some vegetable oil so that it golden’s up once in the oven. We love to serve with some vegan vanilla ice cream as you get the lovely contrast of hot crispy fruit crumble with the cold and smooth ice cream!!
FAQ – frequently asked questions
Can I replace the apples and berries if I don’t like them?
Absolutely!! The fruit is interchangeable to what you have and what is ripe and ready to use!! We have often made this with pears and blackberries, plums, nectarines and even some citrus!
Can I use golden syrup or agave syrup instead of maple syrup?
Absolutely! You could use whatever liquid sweetener you have and the same goes for the topping ingredients, they really are interchangeable with what you have.
Can i freeze this dish?
Yes indeed it freezes really well and heats up great. We suggest freezing it in portions so you only have to reheat what you need so it avoids wastage. Alternatively freeze it as a whole crumble then simply thaw it before you want to use it and heat through before serving.
Can I make the crumble ahead of time?
You can make the crumble ahead of time, just don’t bake it in the oven. Stew the fruit and put in the baking dish and top with the crumble and then once you are ready to eat it finish it off in the oven and possibly serve with some cold vegan vanilla ice cream!
Can I leave out the crannberries if I want?
Absolutely!! Simply replace them with any berry of choice!
How long does this dish last in the fridge?
It will last for at least 3 days in the fridge
Do I need to make this crumble low fodmap and gluten free? NO! You absolutely do not!! We have so to make it easy for anyone with a sensitive gut.
Tips for making this crumble – low fodmap & gluten free
Clear a decent amount of counter space or clear your kitchen table and use this as your prep area.
Get all your ingredients ready to go first and do a double check that you are not missing anything
Prepare your fruit first ensuring to cut out the cores of the apples and any blemishes.
Ensure you have a lid for the pan/pot that you stew your fruit in.
Have your pie/crumble dish ready to go before you finish stewing your fruit.
You will need a decent mixing bowl to mix all your crumble toppings so best to have this ready before you start.
Tidy up as you go and clean up
Take your time and enjoy it, you are making a truly delightful dish!!
If you want to serve this crumble as part of a dessert spread, here are some fab desserts that go really well alongside it:
Berry and Apple Crumble – Low FODMAP & Gluten Free
Delicious and easy to make fruit crumble
Takes 40 minutesminutes
Serves 8
Ingredients
Stewed Fruit:
500gStrawberriesif using frozen strawberries just let them thaw first
300gblueberries or cranberries
160gapples
5tbspmaple syrup
2tspground cinnamon
1tspground ginger
4tbspwater
Crumble:
150ggluten-free oatsuse regular oats if you need to.
50gground almond
3tbsppumpkin seed
3tbspsunflower seeds
75mlsunflower oil(5 tbsp) can use coconut oil instead
90mlmaple syrup
Instructions
Cut the apple into bite-sized pieces and put it into a pot, together with the berries and the other stewed fruit ingredients.
Bring the fruit mixture to the boil and then reduce to a simmer. Stirring occasionally, stew the fruit for about 20 mins or until all the fruit has properly broken down.
In the meantime, preheat the oven at 170℃.
If using coconut oil for the crumble, melt it first by heating up in a pan. Thoroughly mix all the ingredients for the crumble together in a bowl including the oil.
Once the fruit is stewed down, add it to your crumble dish and spread it out evenly (we used a 30cm ceramic dish).
Spread the crumble top evenly over the fruit and put in the preheated oven for about 25 mins at 170℃ or until the top of the crumble starts to go golden.
This is a super rich curry with a well-rounded flavour profile. We love it, and we hope you enjoy it too!
Takes
Serves 4
Ingredients
½bunch of spring onions
½red chilli
2clovesof garlic
3cmcubed piece fresh ginger
1head of broccoliapprox. 250g
1medium sweet potatoapprox. 300g
1red pepper
1aubergine
1tspsalt
1tbsptamari or soy sauce
1x 400g tin low-fat coconut milk
200gsplit red lentils
2litres veg stock or water
1tbspcumin seeds or ground cumin
1tbspcoriander seeds or ground coriander
1tspmustard seedsoptional
1tbspcurry powder
½tspfreshly ground black pepper
100gbaby spinach or similar green
1tbsptamarind pulp or ½ tbsp lime juice and ½ tbsp coconut or brown sugar
10gfresh coriander or flat-leaf parsley
20gdesiccated coconut
Pickled gingerfor garnish (optional)
Instructions
Heat a large pot on high heat. Add the cumin seeds, coriander seeds, mustard seeds (if using), and desiccated coconut. Toast for 3-4 minutes, until the cumin seeds start to pop and the mixture is fragrant. Remove from the pot, transfer to a pestle and mortar, and grind until smooth. If you don’t have a pestle and mortar, let the mixture cool, then place it in a zip-lock bag and gently bash with a mug or rolling pin until ground to a powder.
Peel and roughly chop the spring onions, garlic, and ginger. Dice the chilli, including the seeds if you prefer more heat, or remove the seeds for less spice. Chop the sweet potato, red pepper, broccoli, and aubergine into bite-sized pieces for quicker cooking.
Put the large pot back on high heat. Once hot, add the chopped spring onions and fry for 4 minutes, stirring continuously. If the mixture starts to stick, add ½ tsp of water and stir to deglaze the pot. Add the garlic, ginger, and chilli, and fry for another 2 minutes, stirring regularly. Add 1 tsp of water if necessary to prevent sticking. The spring onions should be browning, and the garlic should turn golden.
Add the chopped broccoli, sweet potato, aubergine, and red pepper, along with the salt, curry powder, toasted spices, ground black pepper, tamari, and 50ml of the vegetable stock. Stir well, cover the pot, reduce the heat to medium, and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add the coconut milk, red lentils, remaining vegetable stock or water, and tamarind pulp (or lime juice and sugar). Stir well, increase the heat to high, and bring the mixture to a boil with the lid on.
Once it reaches a boil, reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 25 minutes, stirring regularly to prevent the lentils from sticking. Add the baby spinach during the last 5 minutes of cooking, if using.
Check the seasoning and adjust with more salt, pepper, or lime juice if needed.
Roughly chop the fresh coriander or parsley. Remove the pot from heat and stir in the fresh herbs just before serving.
Garnish each bowl with a generous dusting of pickled ginger, if desired.
Dave and Steve are on a mission to make fruit and veg sexy and this podcast is about inspiring you to be a happier, healthier version of yourself.
Each week, there will be great conversations which will give you practical takeaways to enable you to be at your best.
Episode 10 – Venetia La Manna on Sustainable Fashion
Venetia is a podcaster, slow fashion campaigner and co-founder of Remember Who Made Them, which is helping to energise a new solidarity economy in fashion. Venetia tries to bring mindfulness and compassion to all that she does. In her new podcast, “All The Small Things” she chats to inspiring people and thought leaders about finding joy in the small moments, and learns more about their routines, habits and rituals.
Throughout her social platforms Venetia challenges fashion brands who are costing the earth and calls out retailers on their unethical practices in the fashion supply chain. Venetia’s campaigning has been recognised globally, and she’s been featured on BBC Radio 1, Now This News and BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour. She has written for The Independent and Eco Age and earlier this year, was featured as one of ID Magazine’s young activists fighting to save the planet.
In this episode Venetia talks us through the fast fashion industry, it’s unethical practices and how to identify them, and its effects on the enviroment.
She talks us through effective and simple ways we can make changes to be more conscious in our own purchasing.
“Guilt tripping ourselves is a waste of time we should absolutely do the best we can, but I think it’s of more importance to think about collective action and collectively being active citizens than being conscious consumers”
We learnt a lot on this episode, Venetia is delightful to talk to and her social platforms are a great resource for anyone looking for credible fact checked information on the fashion industry.
Big love,
Dave & Steve
Available now from all good podcast providers:
Vegan spaghetti bolognese
This vegan spaghetti bolognese is next level, it really is. We have made this at least 30 times and it never ceases to wow guests we have. It is a family favourite in our house with garlic bread and served with some nutritional yeast. We use whole meal spaghetti to up the fibre content of the dish.
This vegan spaghetti bolognese is low FODMAP and gut friendly as well as being gluten free and vegan! It ticks a lot of boxes. Here we just use the green part of the leek which is low in fermentable carbohydrate and don’t use the white part. We also only use 160g of cooked lentils which is not a lot considering the size of this, this also makes it easy to digest. In terms of what type of spaghetti to buy, this is a questions you will have to answer yourself. Most supermarkets and health foods stores will now stock gluten free spaghetti’s such as ones made from brown rice which we tend to use.
What makes this dish gut friendly?
This dish is low in FODMAP’s which stands for fermentable, oligosaccharide disaccharide, monosaccharide and polyols (we know it is a total mouthful!!) Basically it means fermentable carbohydrates. This mushroom curry is a low fodmap curry so it is low in fermentable carbohydrates so really good for anyone with a sensitive gut or tummy. Some of the main high fodmap foods that can cause bloating or irritation are garlic, onion and beans/lentils. Fodmap’s are super important and great for your health but for some people with sensitive guts reducing high fodmap foods for a period of time can help them to not feel bloated or irritated.
FAQ – frequently asked questions
Does the alcohol boil off in the cooking process?
Yes the alcohol boils off as this dish is cooking so there is no alcohol in the finished dish making it very suitable for a family dinner.
What is nutritional yeast?
Nutritional yeast is a deactivated yeast that you can buy in most health food stores. It has a cheese like taste without any fat so works great as a condiment on pasta dishes.
Can I use regular spaghetti if I can’t source gluten free spaghetti?
Of course you can, it will not be as easy on your gut but will taste just as good.
Can I make this dinner ahead of time and heat it up just before serving?
For sure! Just make sure to reheat the pasta and the dish together so that it is all up to suitable temperature.
If I can’t get oyster mushrooms can I just use normal button mushrooms?
Absolutely!! Simply replace them with any other type of mushroom you can source. However in terms of fodmaps oyster mushrooms are the only mushroom that is definetly low in formaps.
How long does this dish last in the fridge?
It will last for at least 3 days in the fridge and will last 6 months in the freezer.
Tips for making this vegan spaghetti bolognese:
Get all your ingredients ready to go first and do a double check that you are not missing anything before you start. There is nothing worse than finding you are missing an ingredient mid way through the cooking process!
Prep your veg first and drain and rinse the lentils.
By getting all the main parts of the dish ready before hand, the cooking process is a lot easier.
Put your pasta on to cook first. We usually boil the kettle first and then add the boiled water to a pan and then add the pasta and salt.
Try use a wide bottom non stick pan as there is more surface area to caramelise the veg.
Tidy up as you go and clean up while the dish is cooking.
Take your time and enjoy it, you are making a truly awesome dish!!
Serving suggestions for this dish?
There is a lovely hummus in this recipe that would work well with this
A lovely quick take on the traditional Italian pasta dish. It's quick to make and tastes amazing too! Nutritional yeast is a 'cheesy' flavoured condiment that is available in all good health food stores. It brings a 'cheesy' taste to this dish, without any of the saturated fat. It's worth having in your press.
Takes 30 minutesminutes
Serves 5
Ingredients
400ggluten-free spaghetti
2tbspolive oil
2tspsalt
200gleekgreen part only
1large carrot300g max
1red chillileave out or reduce if you don’t like spice
300goyster mushrooms –
2tbsptamari
200gfresh cherry tomatoes
400gfresh tomatoes
160gcooked lentilstinned
180mlred wine
2tbspmaple syrup
400gchopped tomatoes 370g max
Salt and pepper to taste
To Serve
Nutritional yeast
Decent bunch fresh basil
Salt & Pepper
Instructions
Cook the gluten-free spaghetti as per the instructions on the back of the pack. Once cooked, drain and rinse it.
Finely chop the greens from the leek. Grate the carrot, and finely slice the chilli into small pieces. Finely chop the tomatoes and chop the cherry tomatoes in half. Drain and rinse the can of lentils. Finely chop the oyster mushrooms.
Put 1 teaspoon of oil in a large pot over high heat, once the pan heats up, add the leek, chilli and grated carrot and 1 tsp of the salt. Cook for 3 mins stirring regularly.
Add the oyster mushrooms and cook for 3 minutes stirring regularly. Add the tamari and cook for a further minute.
Next, add all the fresh tomatoes, the other tsp of salt, stir well, add the drained and rinsed lentils, maple syrup and the red wine and cook for a further 3-4 minutes.
Add the tin of chopped tomatoes and bring to the boil. Once it boils, reduce to a simmer and add the drained and rinsed pasta. Stir it well, mixing everything thoroughly.
Pluck the basil leaves from their stalks and set aside, chop the basil stalk finely and add into the pot. Garnish with the basil leaves and serve with nutritional yeast. Enjoy!
This is a easy and super-comforting dish that is like a belly hug at the end of a busy day.
Takes
Serves 4
Ingredients
2red onions
2clovesgarlic
250gmushrooms ideally a mixture including oystershiitake, chestnut, button
3tbsptamari/ soy sauce
100mlveg stock or water
250gwholemeal penne pasta
Creamy Sauce
80gtoasted cashew nutsworks out about 10 nuts per person- so still within guidelines*
450mlsoy milk or non dairy milk of choice
juice of half lemon
1tspsalt
1tspgarlic powder
To Serve
oregano or herb of choice to serve
1chillioptional
Instructions
To toast raw cashew nuts just heat a non stick pan on medium heat, add the cashew nuts and keep them moving till they start to brown. This should take between 5-8 mins, be careful not to burn the nuts.
Peel and finely chop the onions and garlic, chop the mushrooms into small pieces. Fill and boil the kettle. Cook the pasta as per the instructions on the back of the pack.
Put a non-stick frying pan on high heat and allow the pan to get super hot. Once super hot add the onions and garlic and fry until they start to brown. Once they start to brown and stick a little add some veg stock (approx 1 tsp) or water to clean the pan and incorporate the browned flavour to the dish. This should take about 3-5 mins.
Add the mushrooms and fry for 2-3 mins again adding a little water or veg stock if they start to stick. You want to ensure you are frying rather than boiling (frying there is little or no liquid or water in the pan vrs boiling the veg is submerged under water.) Add 3 tbsp of tamari/ soy sauce and fry for a further 2 mins. Turn off the heat.
Time to make the sauce, in a blender add the toasted cashew nuts, soy milk or milk of choice, lemon, salt and garlic powder and blend till super smooth.
Put the frying pan back on high heat, add the sauce in on top of mushrooms and heat up and allow the sauce to reduce & thicken for 2-3 mins.
Once the pasta is cooked use a slotted spoon to add pasta straight into the sauce.
If the sauce gets too thick add a little pasta water to reach the desired thickness of sauce. Taste and season to your liking.
Chop the chilli (removing seeds if you want it less hot) and pluck the oregano off the stalk and serve to add flavour and garnish.
Below is a wonderful framework for a high-protein rainbow salad. To make it a burrito, simply take a tortilla, add a generous dollop of your favourite hummus, and a generous amount of salad. Roll it up and enjoy this healthy, delicious lunch or dinner! The framework below is from our book, and you just use what you have, so it's super adaptable—the video will explain it better. Hope you enjoy!
Takes
Serves 2
Ingredients
Framework
25% cooked grains
25% beans/tofu/tempeh
15% cooked veginclude
15% raw veg
5-10% leafy greens
5% herbs and fruit & nuts
5-10% dressing and toppings
Instructions
Framework method for the grain, bean cooked veg salads.
Cook your grain—when cooking the grain, make sure to add salt as you cook. That way, the salt cooks into the grain, as opposed to when you season later and it simply sits on the surface. Typically, a grain doubles in weight from dried to cooked. Quinoa tends to triple.
To roast your veg: Preheat your oven to 200°C, chop your veg into the size you like. Coat in a little oil and salt, spread out well on a baking tray, and bake until soft and delicious—peppers typically take 15-20 minutes, pumpkins and aubergines about 25 minutes until soft. With aubergines, you want to make sure you cook them until they reach a melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Drain and rinse your cooked beans/lentils—a can of cooked beans is 400g, and the drained weight normally is 230g, so it's best to use a can and drain and rinse them.
Cutyourrawveg, wash your leaves and herbs, and chop. With the herbs, ensure to include the stalks—just chop them nice and finely as they contain lots of flavour, with the exception of mint and harder-stalked herbs such as rosemary, thyme, and sage.
Tasteandseason with salt and ground black pepper to taste.
Now think about presentation: In a large bowl, start with the grain, add the beans and raw veg, add the dressing, and lastly, add the herbs, greens, cooked veg, and raw veg. Gently mix through. Add any toasted nuts/dukkah to serve.
Alternatively, add the salad to a wrap or toasted bread with some hummus or vegan mayo and avocado for a delicious treat! Enjoy!
Dave and Steve are on a mission to make fruit and veg sexy and this podcast is about inspiring you to be a happier, healthier version of yourself.
Each week, there will be great conversations which will give you practical takeaways to enable you to be at your best.
Brought to you by
Episode 9 – Niall Breslin (Bressie) on Mental Health and The Importance Of Perspective
This week’s episode is with the incredible Niall Breslin A.K.A Bressie.
What can we say about this man? We admire him so much.
You would be incredibly hard pressed to find something Niall hasn’t done in his lifetime. He is a bestselling author, podcaster, musician, philanthropist, and a former professional athlete. However, right now he is on a mission with regards to mental health.
Over the past decade, Niall has become one of Ireland’s most formidable and inspiring mental health advocates. He has undoubtedly been one of the spearheads of the mental health conversation in Ireland and bravely stepped up to speak on the issue years before it became a mainstream discussion.
Niall is also the founder and creative director of the mental health advocacy charity ‘A Lust for Life’, a multi-award winning movement that uses content, campaigns and events to facilitate young people to be effective guardians of their own mind. For more information on this, visit: www.alustforlife.com
“Most people really struggle with just slowing their thoughts down. So, I always say ‘What’s your favourite song?”. If you close your eyes, and you can hear the creeks in the piano of the song and hear feet moving on the ground, all of the sudden, you are in that space. That’s meditation and that mindfulness.”
In this episode, Bressie talks us through his incredible journey through life thus far and how it has shaped his perspective on mental health and mindfulness today.
In his early years, Bressie was a massive sport enthusiast and ultimately worked tirelessly to get the opportunity to play rugby at an Elite level. After sport, he ‘naturally’ moved into music and again, while he loved the industry, he knew he wasn’t coping with the stress and the pressure it put on him. Following a panic attack after a live TV appearance, he knew he needed to finally seek professional help for his issues.
Niall spoke so openly about his realisation of needing help. Unfortunately, given what is often the nature of seeking support with mental health issues, Niall struggled with reaching out, mostly out of fear of disappointing those closest to him. One of the most interesting insights from Niall was that he felt he couldn’t tell those closest to him about his struggles ‘out of fear they would have felt lied to for years’. Obviously, once he did open up, this wasn’t the case. In fact, the opposite was true.
Niall discussed how we all need to work through our emotions, no matter how hard they might be to deal with. Niall spoke about his 10-year journey with therapy, which is still ongoing today and spoke to us about the importance of attitude, choosing our perspective and understanding when suffering is inevitable and allowed.
We also shared a really frank conversation with Niall around emotional connection in our personal relationships and how we have failed and succeeded in this aspect of our lives. We talk about the importance of these close relationships and the further importance of true connection within them. We also spoke openly about the dangers of social media obsession and the challenges we have faced from our time in the spotlight.
Niall also brought us through the exciting emerging area of music therapy and how it is being used in mental health services in Ireland today. There are some amazing practical tips with this conversation around anchoring your attention that you can implement right away, so we highly recommend listening through.
Niall shared his 6 fundamental principles which he encourages people to follow when they begin their mindfulness and meditation journey:
Making it work for you.
Non-judgement and understand you are only beginning your journey.
Letting go of the idea you need to be ‘good at mindfulness’
Moving on from thoughts and focusing on the breath.
Being curious about the process.
Being compassionate to yourself.
Acceptance and meditation on the good, the bad and the ugly.
Niall is so honest in everything he talks about and we really found so much practical value in speaking with him. This episode is a fantastic listen and should have some great takeaways. We learnt so much and it was an honour to shed more light on this important topic.
Big love,
Dave & Steve
Available now from all good podcast providers:
Easy Cheesy Enchiladas
The root of the word enchiladas comes from the word enchilar, meaning "to add chilli." These tortillas are filled with a delicious tomato and bean sauce, baked in the oven, and served with a creamy cashew sauce—this dish is a family favourite.
Takes
Serves 4
Ingredients
½tspchilli powder
1tspgarlic powder
1tspground cumin
½tsponion powder
200mltomato puréeor tomato paste
200mlvegetable stock
Juice of ½ lime
½tspsalt
1tbspmaple syrup
400gblack beanscanned
200groasted red peppersfrom a jar, in brine
200gsweetcorncanned
100gcashew nuts
Juice of ½ lime
12tbspnon-dairy milk
½tspsalt
Pinchof black pepper
6medium wholemeal or corn tortillas
1avocado
1red chilli
15gfresh coriandercilantro
Instructions
Prepare the Oven:Preheat the oven to 250°C (fan-assisted) or equivalent.
Soak the Cashew Nuts:Cover the cashew nuts with boiling water and leave to soak for 10 minutes.
Make the Sauce:In a mixing bowl, whisk together the chilli powder, garlic powder, ground cumin, onion powder, tomato purée, vegetable stock, lime juice, salt, and maple syrup until smooth.
Prepare the Filling:Drain and rinse the black beans, sweetcorn, and roasted red peppers.Slice the red peppers into thin strips.Mix the beans, sweetcorn, and red peppers with half the enchilada sauce in a large bowl. Reserve the remaining sauce for topping.
Assemble the Enchiladas:Fill each tortilla with the prepared filling, roll tightly, and arrange in an ovenproof dish or baking tray (approximately 30 x 20 cm).Pour the remaining sauce evenly over the enchiladas.
Bake:Place the dish in the oven and bake for 5 minutes at 250°C.
Prepare the Cashew Cream:Drain and rinse the soaked cashews.Add the cashews, lime juice, non-dairy milk, salt, and black pepper to a blender. Blend until smooth and creamy. If the mixture is not completely smooth, strain it through a sieve for a silky texture.
Prepare the Garnish:Roughly chop the coriander leaves.Peel and slice the avocado.Finely slice the red chilli, removing the seeds if you prefer a milder heat.
Serve:Remove the enchiladas from the oven.Drizzle the cashew cream over the top and garnish with the sliced avocado, red chilli, and coriander.Serve hot and enjoy!
Porridge can seem like gruel for many people but we like to think of it as a blank canvas which can be decorated and made to be a delicious work of art that will leave you looking for more!
Takes
Serves
Instructions
To make wonderful porridge you want to think texture, colour and flavour. For example berry compete will bring a brilliant bright purple colour, caramelised banana will bring a slight chew, a caramel note and a lovely banana sweetness.
Here are 5 principles to making beautiful porridge/ oatmeal
Know your oats – Oats come in many forms from:
Oat groats – these are the wholegrain before being steamed and rolled – these take longer to cook and are a little like short grain brown rice
Steel cut oats where the oat groats have been cut into smaller pieces – like oat groats but in smaller bit size
Rolled oats – they normally come in 2 forms – jumbo meaning the flake size is larger and the porridge ends up coarser porridge with a little texture OR oat flakes or smaller oat flakes which normally cook quicker and result in a thicker more smoother, baby food like porridge
Creamy porridge is always better
Part of the reason why many people see porridge as gruel is that its cooked on water and served with completely plain so it really does taste one dimensional. If you try cooking your porridge with half of your milk of choice and half water it results in a creamier porridge that tastes much more satisfying!
One of our favourite milks to cook our porridge in is rice milk. Rice milk is naturally quite sweet and mean your porridge end up creamier and sweeter.
Other ones to try are half hazelnut milk half water as its gives a slight ‘nutella’ like note
For a more indulgent porridge try cooking your porridge on half coconut milk from a tin and half water.
Go with what you like – If you’re like our mom and dad they just prefer their oats cooked with water so make sure to go with what you like.
Think texture and colour when topping and decorating your porridge – porridge itself is quite one dimensional so its important to add variety of texture. Think crunchy, creamy, fruity, nutty and any other texture you like. More below on toppings on point 5.
Sweet or savoury? Our good friend Mark always likes avocado and seaweed in his porridge or in Japan they have a savoury rice porridge with miso and mushrooms for breakfast. Porridge or oatmeal is a wholegrain that can be seasoned to your liking.
Toppings are key and a real game changer:
Crunch – granola – its pretty easy to make – we have lots of recipes here or else we make lots available nationwide
Nutty – peanut or almond butter or toasted seeds
creamy – we love coconut yogurt or yogurt of choice
fruity – try making some fruit compote or stewed fruit of choice
caramelise bananas – this is so easy to do and is worth while – ensure your bananas are ripe, heat a non stick pan on medium heat, peel and slice the banana lengthwise and place flat side down on the pan, fry till it starts to caramelise, turn and repeat. Serve warm on your porridge for a wonderful treat!
The infamous British dessert when toffee, banana, & cream are brought together on a buttery biscuit base. Here we recreate a healthier breakfast version that makes a fabulous snack or healthier dessert. Steve’s wife Justyna eats them for breakfast lunch and sometimes even dinner!
Serves 4
Takes 10 mins
Takes 10 minutesminutes
Serves 4
Ingredients
Date caramel
150gPitted Dates
350mlof boiling water
1/2tspof Vanilla extract
2tbspof almond butter
Pinchsalt
Bircher muesli
250gOats
40gRaisins
20gof chia seeds
600mlOat milk
pinchground cinnamon
Caramelised almond sprinkle
50gflaked Almonds
2tbspMaple syrup
200mlof Coconut yogurtfat content approx 10%
2Bananas
Instructions
Full and boil the kettle. Cover the pitted dates with boiling water and leave to soak for 5 mins.
Mix all the ingredients together for bircher muesli and leave to soak for either 30 mins of else overnight.
To make the caramelized almonds simply heat a non stick pan on medium heat, once hot add the almonds and cook for 4-6 mins until they start to golden ensuring to stir regularly to avoid burning. Once they are golden, remove the pan from the heat and add the maple syrup and stir quickly to ensure that you coat each nut. Continue to do so for a minute until the maple syrup has started to harden.
Drain the dates and add to a food processor along with the almond butter, vanilla, water and pinch of salt and blend until it reaches a smooth caramel-like texture.
Slice the bananas
To serve
We like to serve these in clear glasses where we can see the layers.
At the bottom of each glass add the caramel (divide the amount between 4 glasses)
Next divide up the bircher muesli, followed by a serving of banana, if you can it look great if you put the bananas facing out around the glass on the inside so you can really see its a banoffee. Add a generous dollop of coconut yogurt and top with some caramelised almonds.
A great way to get a serving of veg for breakfast – carrot cake was always one of steves favourite cakes so he decided to extend his love for carrot cake and see if he could come up with some way to enjoy a healthier version for brekkie – this was borne out this idea and its really works. For any carrot cake lover this one’s for you!
Our favourite way to serve is like a double layered carrot cake with a dollop of chia pudding, some coconut yogurt, another dollop of carrot cake chia pudding and then a generous serving of coconut yogurt on top, with a sprinkle of chopped walnuts.
Takes 10 minutesminutes
Serves 4
Ingredients
Chia pudding
40gchia seeds
300mlalmond milkor rice milk
30graisins
30gof walnuts
Pinchof cinnamon
Pinchof allspice
2tbspof cacao powder
30gof carrots
30mlof maple syrup
To serve
300mlof coconut yogurtfind one with under 15% fat content
Instructions
Method
Roughly chop the walnuts into small pieces. Finely grate the carrot, then roughly chop.
In a large bowl mix together all the ingredients for the chia pudding including the grated carrot and the chopped walnuts (leaving 1 tbsp walnuts aside to garnish). Leave to soak for 30 minutes or overnight in the fridge. Give it a good stir before serving.
To serve:
In a jar or clear glass fill it ¼ full of chia pudding, ¼ full of coconut yogurt, ¼ full with another layer of chia, ¼ full with coconut yogurt to top off, sprinkle with chopped walnuts and Enjoy!
This works perfect as a light snack just eaten on the go, served with almond milk as a breakfast, with coconut yogurt or fruit as a cooling summer brekkie or else served on top of piping hot porridge to add a crunchy and sweetness. Easy to make and really delicious! If you can get some freeze dried raspberries they really add to the colour, subtle undertone and vibrancy of this granola.
Takes 40 minutesminutes
Serves
Ingredients
400gof Gluten free jumbo oatsUse Gluten Free for HG
40gof sunflower oil
60gof date syrup or maple syrup
50gof dessicated coconut
Pinchof salt
Pinchof cinnamonleave out if you dislike
Dried fruit to serve once granola is cool
30gof goji berries
10gof freeze dried strawberries
30gof raisins
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 160 degrees
In a large bowl mix together the oats, oil, syrup, dessicated coconut, salt and cinnamon until well mixed. Pour onto a baking tray approx (insert dimensions 36 x 27cm ).
Bake for 30 mins at 160 degrees C in fan oven, open once or twice and stir the granola around the tray so that it bakes evenly.
Remove from the oven and leave to cool for 15 mins.
Add the dried fruit and and mix well.
Store in an airtight container. It will keep fresh for 6 weeks. Enjoy!
A delightful twist on traditional carrot cake! These cupcakes are gluten-free, vegan, and packed with flavour. This recipe was filmed in London in collaboration with Waitrose & Partners in a charming, converted church home.
Takes 50 minutesminutes
Serves 12
Ingredients
Cupcakes
160mlsunflower oil
3tbspground flaxseeds
170gmaple syrup
200gfinely grated carrots
75gwalnutsroughly chopped
200ggluten-free flouror white flour if not gluten intolerant
1tspvanilla extract
2tspbaking powder
½tspbaking soda
1tspground cinnamon
½tspsalt
½tspground allspice
Icing
200gvegan cream cheeseor homemade using 400ml soy yoghurt – see instructions below
90gcoconut oil
75mlagave syrup
25gwalnutsfor garnish
Instructions
PreheatOven: Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan).
Prepare the Flax Eggs: In a small bowl or cup, mix the ground flaxseeds with 9 tbsp of water. Stir well and let sit for 5 minutes until thick and gloopy.
Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the gluten-free flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, and allspice. Stir in the chopped walnuts.
Combine Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, mix together the sunflower oil, grated carrots, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and the prepared flax egg mixture.
Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures: Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients, mixing thoroughly until a smooth batter forms.
Prepare the Baking Tray: Line a standard 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners. Evenly distribute the batter among the liners. If there is any extra batter, you can bake additional cupcakes or a small cake separately.
Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the centre of a cupcake comes out clean.
Make the Icing: While the cupcakes are baking, prepare the icing. In a small saucepan, combine the vegan cream cheese, coconut oil, and agave syrup. Gently heat, whisking regularly, until the coconut oil melts. Remove from heat and transfer to a blender or use a hand mixer to blend until emulsified and thick, similar to a mayonnaise-like consistency. Place in the fridge to cool and thicken.
Cool and Ice the Cupcakes: Once the cupcakes are fully cooled, use a piping bag or a spoon to ice each cupcake. Garnish with a walnut on top.
To Make Your Own Soy Cream Cheese
Prepare the Soy Yoghurt: Take a 400ml tub of plain, unsweetened soy yoghurt. Line a colander with cheesecloth or muslin, placing a bowl underneath.
Strain the Yoghurt: Pour the yoghurt onto the cheesecloth and let it drain overnight, covered with a tea towel to prevent anything from falling in.
Season: By morning, the yoghurt will have thickened into a cream cheese texture. Season with a pinch of salt to taste. Optionally, add herbs or seasonings for extra flavour, making it a versatile spread.
Dave and Steve are on a mission to make fruit and veg sexy and this podcast is about inspiring you to be a happier, healthier version of yourself.
Each week, there will be great conversations which will give you practical takeaways to enable you to be at your best.
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Episode 8 – Sustainability & Climate Action with Dr Tara Shine & Madeleine Murray
This week’s episode is with the amazing duo of Dr Tara Shine & Madeleine Murray, of Change by Degrees.
Tara and Madeleine are wonderful humans. Tara has spent 20 years as an international climate change negotiator and advisor to governments and world leaders on environmental policy, most notably as a Special Advisor to the Mary Robinson Foundation-Climate Justice. Madeleine brings a multifaceted background and is expert in employee sustainability engagement and helping businesses create and tell their sustainability stories.
Together, they runChange by Degrees, an organisation dedicated to delivering strategic sustainable advice, employee engagement and specialised sustainability comms.
Tara and Madeleine are powerful women, helping create the future we aspire towards. Climate change as we all know is the major topic of our time which isn’t going away and learning practical digestible steps from experts can really help us continue to take the necessary action needed to bring our world more into balance.
We loved the simplicity of these 3 steps we need to take collectively:
Reduce our emissions (no power and fuel to come from fossil fuels and all to come from renewables)
Store more carbon in our natural environment (through looking after nature; planting more trees; restoring our biodiversity and moving towards better agricultural practices that build our soils)
Adapt to living with more storminess – climate change is real and will change things; we need to prepare for these events (the reality of more flooding, higher sea level rise and to create a more equitable and inclusive society for all as we move forward).
In this episode, we hear about the importance of societal action on the “Climate Emergency’; the importance of effective communication in climate action; the incredible value beneath our feet in our soils.
The girls bring to life the opportunity for incredible innovation within climate action. They give us some very practical daily sustainable and environmentally friendly actions that each of us can take and the powerful ripple effect this can play. They weave not only personal action we can take but also how critical it is for businesses to bake sustainability into the very core of what they are about so all business units know and own goals in relation to it.
Being mothers themselves, they explain how they navigate parenthood. We loved how they asked us all to have conversations with our kids on this topic – ask them to describe what a sustainable world looks like to them and by so doing we encourage them to use their voice and spread their vision.
Be sure to check out changebydegrees.com and Tara’s book – “How to Save Your Planet One Object at a time” which is available at all good bookstores.
This episode is a fantastic listen – we learnt so much. This podcast was an honour to bring remembrance and more light to this topic and we really hope you enjoy it and take practical nuggets from it.