Renton Vegan

Desk Top Lunch: Bean Burger, Pitta Bread, Olives, Cucumber & Chillies

2011-12-07T04:22:00.001-08:00

Tofu Mince Stir fried with Vegetables & Side Salad

2011-11-15T05:19:00.000-08:00

Tofu Mince

2011-11-14T12:10:00.001-08:00

Spotted this at the weekend and had it stirred fried with vegetables and wholewheat noodles. Texture was ace

Store Cupboard Ingredients

2011-11-14T11:57:00.000-08:00

Cou

A couple of Vegan friendly products to keep in your store cupboard. They are particularly tasty with tofu based dishes however, here is a recipe for a Thai curry using the red curry paste:

Tablespoon of vegetable ghee

Butternut squash, peeled and chopped into cubes

Finely chopped onion

1 tbs red curry paste

Sachet coconut paste

250g green beans

Heat the ghee in a pan. Add the butternut squash and onions and cook gently soft and golden-don't let them brown. Add 1 tbs red curry paste and stir in gently and cook for about 1 minute. Mix the sachet of coconut paste with 300 mls of boiling water. Bring to the boil and simmer for 10 mins. Then add the beans for about 5 mins until everything is tender. Serve with noodles or rice

Bubble & Squeak Cakes with Mushrooms & Cherry Tomatoes

2011-11-14T11:51:00.000-08:00

Dylan at Braehead Arena 8 October 2011

2011-10-13T04:37:00.000-07:00

Dylan was awesome -best I have seen him for many a long year. I managed to get close to the stage, it was hard to believe I was only feet away from his Bobness. Pure magic!

Set List:

Leopard Skin Pill Box hat
Its All Over Now Baby Blue
Things Have Changed
Tangled Up In Blue
Honest With Me
Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll
Summer Days
A Hard Rain's a Gonna Fall
Highway 61 revisited
Tryin to Get to Heaven
Thunder on the Mountain
Like a Rolling Stone
All Along the Watchtower

Remember, Remember the 1st of November

2011-10-13T04:33:00.000-07:00

Pasta With Tomato Sauce and Roast Butternut Squash

2011-10-10T12:53:00.000-07:00

Chop butternut squash into cubes and mix with olive oil, red chillies and garlic and roast until tender. While the squash is cooking fry red onions and garlic until soft and golden then add a tin of tomatoes and simmer for 20 mins. Serve pasta of choice with tomato sauce and top with roast butternut squash.

2011-03-13T08:39:00.000-07:00

Friday Lunch

2011-03-11T05:51:00.001-08:00

Roast Peppers in Olive Oil, Herbs & Garlic

Minestrone Soup

Smoked Tofu, Broccoli, and Black Bean Sauce with Fried Rice

2011-03-01T12:00:00.000-08:00

Allotment Sunday

2011-02-28T04:56:00.001-08:00

Post Allotment Breakfast:

Vegan sausages, hash browns, beans & broon sauce

Visited the allotment for the first time this year. Managed to get a couple of hours in-mainly clearing up after the winter. Dug a couple of beds over before testing the bench It was good to see some signs of life peeping through mainly daffies at the moment.

Post Allotment Dinner: Potato & Aubergine Curry

Cauliflower & Potato Curry

2010-04-13T04:29:00.000-07:00

Ingredients: New potatoes; Cauliflower; Onions; Garlic; Peas; Curry Powder; Tin of chopped tomatoes; Tomato puree; Oil

Fry onions and garlic until soft and translucent. Add curry powder ot taste. Mix in a tablespoon of tomato puree and continue frying for a few minutes. Add chopped tomatoes and new potatoes and cook for 15 minutes before adding cauliflower and peas. Continue to cook for another 10 minutes. Serve with rice, nan bread/chapatis and salad.

Vegan Festive Fayre

2010-01-19T04:29:00.000-08:00

To Busy to Post anything recently. Here are a few pics from the Christmas & New Year Holiday.

Early Morning Moon in the Renton

Christmas Dinner: Brazil Nut Roast En Croute

Boxing Day Dinner In Preparation

Stir Fried Vegetables with Tofu & Noodles

Castlegreen Allotments

2009-06-29T04:25:00.000-07:00

After four years on the waiting list I have finally taken the tenancy of an allotment at Castlegreen Street, Dumbarton. As can see from the photographs it has been a bit negelcted and is in need of some TLC. However, I am really looking forward to getting it in to shape and growing some organic vegetables. With a bit of luck I might get some late summer crops: beetroot, lettuce, sprouts, turnips & leeks this year.

Easter at the Trossachs

2009-04-15T22:07:00.001-07:00

Spent a lovely weekend in the caravan at Callander with Lou and grandaughter Molly. The weather was magic and we managed to get lots of walking in. You cannae whack Scotland when it is like this.

On route to the Bracklin Falls

Found this grave by the roadside. I presume

Apache was a horse or pony.

Bracklin Falls Callander

Bracklin Falls

Sir Walter Scott on Loch Katrine

Loch Katrine through the trees

Loch Katrine

Back home in the garden

Pasta & Tomato Sauce

2009-04-15T21:52:00.000-07:00

This simple but tasty tomato sauce is cheap to make and can be used as a basis for many meals but on this occasion is served with penne pasta. To intensify the flavours cook slowly for about an hour.

Ingredients: Tin of tomatoes; 2 red onions; garlic; fresh basil; salt & black pepper & olive oil.

Chop onions and garlic and fry gently in olive oil for about 20mins. Stir regularly so that the onions & garlic remain translucent. Add tomatoes, salt and black pepper and simmer for another 30 mins. Add chopped basil just before serving.

I have used basil here but any selection of herbs is ok. Chillies also work well.

Chickpeas, Tomatoes, with Fresh Chillies

2009-04-14T22:09:00.000-07:00

Ingredients: Tin chickpeas; large red onion; cherry tomatoes; two cloves of garlic; red and green chillies; olive oil.

Fry onions, garlic and chopped chillies in olive oil until soft. Add cherry tomatoes and chickpeas and continue to simmer over a slow heat until cooked. Serve with rice or pitta bread.

Roast Potato & Tofu Salad

2009-03-12T05:02:00.000-07:00

Funny how leftovers can actually turn out tastier than the original meal. This salad was made up from potatoes & tofu left over from a previous meal. They had been roasted in olive oil with some dried chillies. Stuck for something to take to work for lunch I just tossed them in a bowl with some salad leaves and hey presto a tasty lunch.

No More War

2009-03-11T23:15:00.001-07:00

When the first reports of the shootings in Ireland came through at the week-end my first reaction was one of dismay and horror at the futility of it all. However, I was heartened to see the people in the North turning out in their thousands, united against violence and was reminded about this poem by Adrian Mitchell.

No More War: Adrian Mitchell

As War eats more and more of its victims
Growing huge and strong on foreign flesh
Quiet ladies and gentlemen in grey suits
Will ask you to learn the killing trade.

Maybe you’ve got no hope of work
And the Army sounds like a steady job
And you’ve seen Ross Kemp in Ultimate Force
Wasting the terrorists. Tell them: No.

As War multiplies and War and its children
Start to devour our own parents and children,
Your friendly postman will hand you an order
To leave your home and go learn to kill.

Its simpler to go when you’re told to go.
Maybe you’re worried what you’re family will say.
Maybe you’re frightened by their prisons
Designed for crushing men and women. Tell them: No.

Prepare you’re defence. Explain to them peacefully
Why you refuse to kill or die for them.
Call you’re witnesses - Martin Luther King
Or Ghandi or Jesus or Buddha
Or your own loving heart.

Leek & Potato Soup

2009-02-18T21:57:00.000-08:00

Leek & potato soup is cheap, nourishing full of flavour and only takes 30 minutes to cook

Ingredients: 3 leeks; 1.5lbs of potatoes; large onion; clove of garlic; tsp mixed herbs; chopped parsley; bay leaf; vegetable stock; salt & pepper to taste.

Chop leeks, onions, garlic & potatoes. Gently fry leeks, onions, garlic and mixed herbs in a little olive oil for a couple of minutes until soft. Add vegetable stock, potatoes, parsley & bay leaf and bring to the boil. Season with salt & pepper and simmer for about 20mins. Remove bay leaf and liquidise using a hand blender before serving with crusty bread. Enjoy.

Early Morning Meditation

2009-02-15T14:14:00.001-08:00

Decided on an early sit this morning. Read these words from the Buddha before settling down on the cushions:

"This intent concentration on in-and-out breathing, if cultivated and developed, is something peaceful and excellent, something pleasant in itself and a pleasant way of living also. Not only that, it dispels evil unskilled thoughts that have arisen and makes them vanish in a moment.

It is just as when in the last month of the hot season the dust and dirt fly up and suddenly a great rain lays it and makes it settle in a moment."

Followed the session with a hearty breakfast of vegan sausages, mushrooms and fried tomatoes with lashings of hot toast and peppermint tea.

Later on in the day, I went for a long walk along the River Leven with my dog Lennon to work off the effect of the fry-up and to make room for vegan Sheperd's Pie. This version is made with soya mince instead of lentils and served with brussel sprouts:

Baked Potato, Coleslaw & Beetroot

2009-01-25T14:26:00.001-08:00

Baked potato is a simple meal that I always enjoy -I should have it more often. It is served here with a dollop of vegan margarine, home made coleslaw and fresh beetroot. The coleslaw is made with shredded white cabbage, spring onions, grated carrot, chopped garlic and vegan mayonnaise.

Dhanakosa Retreat

2009-01-25T14:01:00.000-08:00

Dhanakosa In The Snow

I have just spent a magical weekend meditating, walking, eating good food and discussing the Dharma with friends at Dhanakosa http://www.dhanakosa.com/ on the shore of Loch Voil, near Balquidder, home of Rob Roy McGregor.

Shrine Room At Dhanakosa

Shrine At Dhanakosa

Dhal With Rice, Garlic Nan & Salsa

2009-01-14T04:39:00.000-08:00

Ingredients:
1 Tin of Green Lentils
1 Tin Chopped Tomatoes
1 Large Onion
2 Cloves of Garlic
Tbs Coriander
Tsp Turmeric
Tsp Cumin
1/4 tsp Ground Ginger
1/2 tsp Chilli Powder (adjust to taste)
Coriander Leaves

Fry onions and garlic until soft and golden. Blend with a hand blender and then add spices and fry for a few minutes. Add lentils and chopped tomatoes and coriander leaves and simmer for at least 30 mins. Serve with rice, garlic nan and salsa made from finely chopped onions, cucumber red and green chillies.

Chase Away Those Winter Blues

2009-01-06T05:21:00.001-08:00

The Maid of the Loch basking in the winter sun

Loch Lomond from Balloch Park

Nothing like a daily dose of Mother Nature to chase away the winter blues followed by a heart warming bowl of Tuscan bean soup and dumplings:

Ingredients: barlotti beans; canneloni beans; tin of chopped tomatoes; onions; garlic; leek; carrots; turnip(swede); lemon juice; mixed herbs & a bay leaf.

Fry the onions; leek and garlic in olive oil until soft. Add chopped carrots; chopped turnip and mixed herbs and sweat down for a further five minutes. Add chopped tomatoes, beans, bay leaf and about a pint of vegetable stock. Season with salt and black pepper add lemon juice and bring to the boil. Turn down the heat and add dumplings and simmer until light and fluffy.

Talkin' Turkey- Benjamin Zephaniah

2008-11-28T06:50:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-24T07:10:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-24T04:57:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-11T13:15:00.000-08:00

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.

White Poppies Are For Peace Without Violence

2008-10-15T11:51:00.000-07:00

White Poppies For Peace made their first appearance 73 Years ago on Armistice day 1933, members of the Women's Co-operative Guild - many of them mothers, sisters, widows and sweethearts of men killed in the First World War - anxiously noted the growing domestic and international tensions. They saw that the war to end all wars, in which their men had fought and died, could be followed by an even worse war.

The white popy was born out of their concern. While the red poppy raises funds for the British Legion, the white poppy's aim was to spark debate and rally resistance to war.

Its supporters urged those in power to take action and prevent a drift to war before it was to late. Conflicts, they insisted, should be resolved without violence and with justice. The need to do this is even more urgent.

Over 300 wars later, and after the slaughter of over 200,000,000 people, the white poppy is still a painful reminder of the worlds failure to prevent war. It is a symbol of grief for everyone harmed by war - but, more importantly, it is a symbol of our determination to work together to abolish war for good.

NOW IS THE TIME TO START BUILDING A CULTURE OF PEACE

Scotch Broth

2008-09-17T04:23:00.000-07:00

One consolation as the temperature drops here on the west coast of Scotland is the excuse to make huge pots of heart warming soup. I think making soup is one of my favourite things to do. It's dead therapeutic. Here is a vegan version of an old favourite:

Ingredients:

2 leeks

1 large onion

2 large carrots

Equivalent amount of chopped swede

1lb potatoes

1 generous handful of mixed cereal (broth mix)

2 cloves garlic

2 tsp mixed herbs

2 tbs freshly chopped parsley

1 bay leaf

1 tbs Marigold Vegan Bouillon Powder (maroon tin)

Olive oil

Salt & Pepper

Chop onions, leeks and garlic and fry in olive oil and mixed herbs until soft and golden. Add chopped carrots, potatoes and swede, sweat gently for a couple of minutes then add about 2 pints of water. (more water can be added during the cooking process if the soup is to thick). Bring to the boil and add broth mix, chopped parsley, bay leaf, bouillon powder, salt and pepper to taste. Simmer slowly for an hour. Serve with crusty bread and fresh salad.

Eileen o Cheo

2008-09-16T12:35:00.000-07:00

Had the pleasure of visiting the Isle of Skye at the tail end of August. Stayed in a croft house that catered for vegans and was well looked after. Breakfasts were excellent and really set us up for the day. Menus, and other details such as tariff and location can be found at http://www.vegetarianskye.co.uk/Joomla/

Visited Neist Point light house. If you ever go across the sea to Skye it is well worth a visit, on a good day you may be lucky enough to catch sight of dolphins, seals and killer whales. Vegans are reasonably well catered for on Skye particularly the Cafe Arriba in Portree. Some vegan choices and most of the veggie dishes can be adapted. A world of a difference from the first time I visited Skye with Lou and the kids as a veggie many years ago. The weather was horrendous and the tent was blown away in a gale. We were all soaked to the skin, hungry and feeling sorry for ourselves and decided to go the Anchor Inn in Uig for a bar meal. Nothing veggie on the menu in those days. However, as the menu had jumbo sausage, chips and beans I thought I was in luck as this could be made veggie by omitting the sausages. When the waiter came to take the order Lou and the kids-who were not veggie at the time ordered various meals of a carnivorous kind. I ordered chips and beans and couldn't believe my ears when I was told I couldn't have chips and beans as it was not on the menu. After a heated discussion I eventually told the waiter he could charge me for the sausages as long as he left them off the plate. He wasn’t for bending and my chips & beans duly arrived complete with jumbo sausages which ended up in the ash tray. Glad to say that things have improved greatly since then and vegans/vegetarians need have no qualms about visiting the Misty Isle. Its an amazing place at any time of the year.

2008-09-10T04:32:00.000-07:00

Potato & Spinach Curry

Just finished having left over potato and spinach curry for lunch and thought it might be good to share the moment with you. Its dead easy to make and tastes delicious.

Ingredients:

New Potatoes; spinach; 2 large onions; 2 cloves garlic; 1 tin chopped tomatoes; 1tbs ground coriander; 1tsp ground cumin; 1tsp turmeric; 1/4tsp ground ginger; 1 tsp chilli powder ; chopped coriander leaves.

Grate onions and cook in oil with crushed garlic for about 5 minutes. Add curry spices and cook for a few minutes. Add tomatoes, potatoes, chopped spinach and coriander leaves. Season with salt and cook slowly until potatoes are cooked through. Serve with basmati rice.

Enjoy.

2008-08-19T13:06:00.000-07:00

I was introduced to vegetarianism when I lived at Faslane Peace Camp in 1982. Although I wasnt veggie myself many of the people who came to live at the camp were and as we ate communally it was easier and cheaper to cook vegetarian food for everyone. As my committment to living a non-violent lifestyle developed I realised that I didnt need to eat meat to survive and that the only justification for killing animals was to please my palate. So I stopped.

Tried several times over the years to be vegan. My heart and consience told me I should be vegan. I just found it so hard. I didnt have a sweet tooth, and giving up dairy products was not a big issue with me. It was all the stuff that wasnt so obvious that was the problem. Every thing on the supermarket shelves seemed to have some milk/eggs in it somewhere and it seemed to take me twice as long to get round as I checked every label minutely. Even then things used to slip through the net and left me feeling depressed and I thought that I would never be able to be a real vegan.

However, two things over the past year have made me recommit myself to veganism. An article in the Vegan Magazine and my committment to following the Buddhist path. The magazine article was headlined So You Think You Are A Vegan and gave several definitions as to what veganism meant to different people. It also went on to say that it was almost impossible to totally avoid animal products and that we shouldnt beat ourselves up or consider ourselves no longer vegan if we fell by the wayside either deliberately or by accident. For in the final reckoning, the root of veganism lies not in avoiding animal products: that is simply a result of veganism. The essence of veganism is the attempt to reduce the exploitation of, and cruelty to animals. That is what is important. A person is still a vegan if, on occasion, circumstances force them to consume an animal product. I know many vegans will not agree with some of the above but for a new vegan like me it gave me a lot of encouragement to move forward.

Over a year ago I attended a series of courses on Buddhism and meditation at the Glasgow Buddhist Centre. I am now a Mitra which means I am a friend of the FWBO and agree to live in accordance with the five ethical precepts one of which is not killing or causing harm to other living beings. This is the fundamental ethical principle for Buddhism, and all the other precepts are elaborations of this. The precept implies acting non-violently wherever possible, and many Buddhists are vegetarian or vegan for this reason. This particular precept sits easy with me and was the second factor in my trying again to be vegan.

2008-08-19T04:47:00.000-07:00

Soya Balls, Marmite Gravy, Mash & Peas

Got hungry trying to get to grips with this blogging lark, so made a start on the mash before I managed to get a decent photo. Easy peasy to make and good comfort food.