Talkin' Turkey- Benjamin Zephaniah

Be nice to yu turkeys dis christmas

Cos' turkeys just wanna hav fun

Turkeys are cool, turkeys are wicked

An every turkey has a Mum.

Be nice to yu turkeys dis christmas,

Don't eat it, keep it alive,

It could be yu mate, an not on your plate

Say, Yo! Turkey I'm on your side.

I got lots of friends who are turkeys

An all of dem fear christmas time,

Dey wanna enjoy it, dey say humans destroyed it

An humans are out of dere mind,

Yeah, I got lots of friends who are turkeys

Dey all hav a right to a life,

Not to be caged up an genetically made up

By any farmer an his wife.

Turkeys just wanna play reggae

Turkeys just wanna hip-hop

Can yu imagine a nice young turkey saying,

'I cannot wait for de chop',

Turkeys like getting presents,

dey wanna watch christmas TV,

Turkeys hav brains an turkeys feel pain

In many ways like yu an me.

I once knew a turkey called...Turkey

He said "Benji explain to me please,

Who put de turkey in christmas

An what happens to christmas trees?",

I said "I am not too sure turkey

But its nothing to do wid Christ Mass

Humans get greedy an waste more dan need be

An business men mek loadsa cash'.

Invite dem indoors fe sum greens

Let dem eat cake an let dem partake

In a plate of organic grown beans,

Be nice to yu turkey dis christmas

An spare dem de cut of de knife,

Join Turkeys United an dey'll be delighted

An yu will mek new friends 'FOR LIFE'.

Shepherd's Pie, with Swede & Onion Gravy

Vegan version of an old favourite made with lentils and served with swede and onion gravy.



Ingredients:

Potatoes ( Desiree or similar );Puy lentils; Onions
Leek; Garlic; Carrots; Parsnips; Mixed herbs;Vegetable stock; Marmite; Bay leaf.

Boil lentils in water until water is absorbed. Fry onions, garlic, leek, chopped carrots, chopped parsnips and mixed herbs in olive oil until soft. Add a tbs of flour and mix. Add lentils, vegetable stock, bay leaf and a tsp Marmite. Bring to the boil and simmer for about 20 minutes. While lentils etc are cooking boil potatoes until tender. Drain the potatoes when cooked and add soya milk and margarine and mash. Place the lentil mixture into an ovenproof dish and cover with mashed potatoes. Bake in a pre heated oven until golden brown and serve with onion gravy and mashed swede.

Roast Vegetables & Lemon Flavoured Couscous

Roast vegetables are not only delicious but very versatile. Any combination will do: roast vegetables and pasta; roast vegetables and rice on their own or on a sandwich. The options are limitless. I had them the other day with lemon flavoured couscous. I have used the following ingredients however, any selection will do: cherry tomatoes; shallots; garlic; carrots; baby potatoes; carrots; courgettes; parsnips; olive oil; red & green chillies.

Put the olive oil into a large roasting dish/tin and put in a pre-heated oven. Clean the vegetables and chop into large chunks all except the shallots; garlic and cherry tomatoes which should be left whole. When the oil is at a decent temperature place all the vegetables and finally chopped chillies into roasting dish/tin and place in oven until cooked. Serve with lemon flavoured couscous.

Sweet Potato & Coriander Soup With Olives & Pitta Bread

A nice winter warmer. Fry some onions and garlic in olive oil until soft and golden. Add dried coriander to taste then add vegetable stock and sweet potatoes. Season with salt and pepper and then simmer for 20 mins or until sweet potatoes are cooked through.

Liquidise with a hand blender and add dried coriander leaves, and two finely chopped red or green chillies and add to soup.

Serve with mixed olives and warm pitta bread.