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| Green tea and lemon cake |
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| My presents! Check out my amazing handmade apron that my mum made me! |
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| Ate toooo much! |
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| It was really rainy on or journey home and then suddenly a rainbow appeared! |
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| And I do love to see wind turbines! |
Order our cakes and bakes at www.deerlybelovedbakery.com
Saturday 31 December 2011
Christmas and exciting treats for the coming new year!
Hi everyone! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas! Kyle and I went to Manchester to visit his family and had a wonderful time! And we ate far too much! Here are some pics from christmas and some cakes that I made on the run up to christmas that I didnt have time to post!
Next year brings wedding cakes, more stalls including one at the forum, perfected macaroons, and maybe I will make a cake for your beloved! So here's to 2012 and lots more exciting recipes, pictures and veganess!
Tuesday 13 December 2011
Tomato, basil and balsamic vinegar glaze tarts and a very busy week!
This past week has been so manic so I apologise for not posting the recipe for the Tomato, basil and balsamic vinegar glaze tarts sooner! This blog post will be a bit of a longer one full of pics from the 'busiest Deerly Beloved Bakery week on record' with the recipe at the end. Enjoy!
First up Mr Green tea cake turtle! Rest assured he went to a very kind home!
Norwich Art Centre's Clutter City was on Saturday, and as I always am extremely busy at my little stall, so lots of truffles and cakes had to be made!
It was so busy and we sold out! Thankyou once again to everyone who came! It was especially great to be in the cafe area as I could see people sit down with their families and enjoy my cakes. There was such a great Christmas atmosphere and lots of great arts and craft stalls including my friend Laura Manfre who makes amazing illustrated prints and made these gorgeous necklaces and brooches! I had to treat myself and purchased a necklace (well it is Christmas!) You can get yours at http://www.etsy.com/shop/lauramanfre?ref=seller_info
And now to the recipe for Tomato, basil and balsamic vinegar glaze tarts!
Makes 4 tarts
Ingredients:
Home made puff pastry or ready roll vegan puff pastry.
8 Cherry tomatoes cut in half and a glug of olive oil to fry them in.
Cup of fresh basil
Half a cup of hazelnuts
1 garlic clove
2 tbsp of nutritional yeast
4 tbsp of olive oil
Pinch of salt
1/3 cup of good quality Balsamic vinegar
1 tsp of agave
2 saucers one about an inch smaller than the other.
Roll out the pastry and cut round a the saucer to create the bases of your tarts. Then with the smaller saucer, place in the middle of your cut circles, and gently score round the saucer not cutting all the way through. This will create an edge to your tart once cooked.
In a frying pan pop in a glug of oil and then your tomatoes facing cut side down, this will make for a really nice caramelised tomato and stop them from losing their shape. Fry for around 8 mins on a high heat, turning one over occasionally with a pallet knife to make sure they are not burning, but placing back cut side down once you have checked.. They will cook through and look like this....
Then in a processor add the basil, hazelnuts, garlic, yeast oil oil and salt to taste. Whizz it up into a wonderful pesto consistency (any that is left over will be great on potatoes or pasta!) Then spread this paste evenly on each pastry case, making sure to keep it inside the middle 'ring'.
Then place the tomatoes on top. In a pan add the balsamic and agave and boil rapidly till it goes into a thick syrup. Around 4 mins. Do not leave this unattended as it will boil dry quickly and will be extremely hot! The vinegar can make your nose sting while it evaporates, so I found it best to open a window and not stand directly over the pan! Once it has turned into a syrup carefully drizzle it over the tarts. *Washing up tip*The pan can be placed in hot water and left to soak to remove any syrup residue from it.
Then place them in a hot oven at 190c for 20 minutes until golden brown! Serve with salad with a nice lemon dressing.
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| Me truffle making! |
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| Cranberry and chocolate biscotti. |
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| Lavender and lemon whoopie pies |
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| Chocolate, raspberry and balsamic vinegar syrup cake |
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| Chocolate, raspberry and balsamic vinegar syrup cake |
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| Chocolate, olive oi and sea salt whoopie pies |
Makes 4 tarts
Ingredients:
Home made puff pastry or ready roll vegan puff pastry.
8 Cherry tomatoes cut in half and a glug of olive oil to fry them in.
Cup of fresh basil
Half a cup of hazelnuts
1 garlic clove
2 tbsp of nutritional yeast
4 tbsp of olive oil
Pinch of salt
1/3 cup of good quality Balsamic vinegar
1 tsp of agave
2 saucers one about an inch smaller than the other.
Roll out the pastry and cut round a the saucer to create the bases of your tarts. Then with the smaller saucer, place in the middle of your cut circles, and gently score round the saucer not cutting all the way through. This will create an edge to your tart once cooked.
In a frying pan pop in a glug of oil and then your tomatoes facing cut side down, this will make for a really nice caramelised tomato and stop them from losing their shape. Fry for around 8 mins on a high heat, turning one over occasionally with a pallet knife to make sure they are not burning, but placing back cut side down once you have checked.. They will cook through and look like this....
Then in a processor add the basil, hazelnuts, garlic, yeast oil oil and salt to taste. Whizz it up into a wonderful pesto consistency (any that is left over will be great on potatoes or pasta!) Then spread this paste evenly on each pastry case, making sure to keep it inside the middle 'ring'.
Monday 5 December 2011
Friday 2 December 2011
Best Christmas gravy and cauliflower & broccoli mash!
Today I made what I think is the best roast dinner I have made. I made a couple of changes like making this gorgeous red onion and mushroom gravy and this cauliflower and broccoli mash (recipes below). I teamed these new creations with agave glazed carrots and parsnips, roast potatoes, and I also tried out Redwood's new cranberry stuffing balls which are pretty good, they are quite sweet but make a great treat for Christmas or Sunday roast. However Kyle said that the 'cranberry stuffing was over shadowed by the deliciousness of my mash and gravy' and he also said the word 'genius'. Because of this I thought I better share it with you!
Best ever Christmas gravy!
Ingredients:
3 large brown cup mushrooms sliced
1 Bulb (yes bulb not clove) of garlic
2 large red onions sliced
4 tbs of olive oil
Good pinch of salt
1 tbsp of nutritional yeast flakes
2 tbsp of bouillon stock powder
1 sprig of rosemary
1/2 tsp of agave
1 tbsp of balsamic vinegar
4-5 cups of the cooking water from the cauliflower and broccoli. If not just use plain water.
Place the sliced onions and mushrooms in a baking tin with the whole bulb of garlic. Do not break the garlic bulb up as the garlic skins will help the garlic sweat and turn gorgeous and mellow. Sprinkle over the olive oil and salt and place in a hot oven, around 180-190c check after 20 minutes and they should be looking caramelised and nice and roasty! Take the tray out the oven and remove the garlic bulb and on a plate squash the cloves to release the creamy garlic. Add all the crushed cloves to the gravy, this may seem like a lot but trust me that it won't even taste garlicky as the cooking has mellowed the garlic and taken away it's harshness.Then add the rosemary, yeast flakes, stock powder, agave, balsamic and the water and return to the oven to finish cooking around 10 minutes enough time for the rest of your yummy roast to cook. If your other roast things won't be cooked in this time, decant it from the tray into a lidded saucepan for reheating when needed!
Cauliflower and Broccoli mash.
Half a Cauliflower
A head of Broccoli
Pinch of salt
2 tbsp of Nutritional yeast flakes
3 tbsp of olive oil
1 tbsp of fresh lemon juice
2 tbsp of soya milk
Boil the cauliflower and broccoli in a pan of water until tender, about 15-20 mins. Once cooked use a slotted spoon to remove the vegetables, saving that important cooking water for the gravy! And pop them in a food processor add the salt, yeast flakes, oil, lemon juice and 1 tbsp of soya. Whizz until smooth and then check for seasoning and consistency. If it's a bit too dry add the other tbsp of soya milk. And there you go, an alternative to roast potatoes or an extra special addition to your vegan roast! Enjoy!
Sunday 27 November 2011
Vegan store cupboard essentials!
After getting asked lots of questions at the Veggie fair about what I use, how did I transition from being vegetarian to vegan, and how to stay on a healthy and vitamin rich vegan diet,I thought I would show you some of the things I always have in my cupboard for making delicious and easy vegan meals!
Okay so first of I will start with the spices, I am a bit addicted to mustard seeds! They are of course great in curry but I pop them in cous cous and on potatoes, I also use paprika for its sweet heat in goulashes and stews, cumin in curries and my all time favourite in anything, turmeric for it's anti inflammatory properties!
Next are tins of pulses and beans! My cupboard is always full of these guys! They are great for hummus and try butterbeans as an alternative to mashed potato! They are great to add to stews and soups and add protein and fibre!
Sundried tomatoes are my favourite thing! I use their oil in my cashew nut cheese recipe which is on the blog here http://deerlybelovedbakery.blogspot.com/2011/10/wonderful-and-quick-cashew-nut-cheese.html I also roast veggies in the oil and I use the tomatoes on pizza and to make sauces richer!
Olive oil is a must, try and buy a nice quality olive oil, it doesn't have to be an extra virgin Olive oil as most of this favour will be lost in the cooking, but a good quality one that can be used in hummus, dips and dressings is I think,a great investment.
Soya sauce or tamari is great for adding colour to gravies, marinating mushrooms, in stir frys and in noodle soups.
Nutritional yeast is my wonder ingredient! I call them magic flakes! They are cheesy and packed full of B vitamins which are often missing in a vegan diet! I pop these in the cashew cheese, make white sauce, sprinkle on wraps, make 'cheese' on toast , add to soups and stews and on jacket potatoes. I would advice to add them at the end of cooking so not to lose any of the nutritional value by over cooking.
Limes, garlic and chilli's are my staple, garlic in soup, dips, sauces. Lime in dressings, desserts, guacamole and to add zing to stir frys. Chili in curries, shepherds pies mix, stews and batters.
Good quality sea salt is so much better than chemically made table salt. Buy the best you can and you will need to use less as it will have a better salty flavour.
Marigold Bouillon is the best stock. It can be bought in gluten free and reduced salt too.
TVP mince, okay so I don't like using to much processed stuff but this is great for a quick chili. Add it to a bowl with hot water and add your flavourings to it first before adding it to the pan. It will soak up so much more favour that way.
Olives in a jar are great and are ready for salads, tomato sauces and wraps. I am addicted and can be found eating them from the jar with a folk.
Hazelnuts, great for cakes, but I love to whizz them up, make 'cheeses' and stuffing's for pies and vegetables.
Vegan pesto, okay so you can make your own but I think this stuff is rather great. It's not fresh like just picked basil but has great flavour for pasta, potatoes or mixed into a tomato sauce. It's a great quick meal maker too!
And finally Tahini. This bitter nutty paste is what makes a good hummus, it's great on rice cakes with sultanas for a quick halva moment and is packed with iron and calcium!
I hope this has given you a few ideas of how to make basic, healthy and quick vegan food for yourself and your family! If you have any questions about vegan diet and recipes, as always just ask!
Next are tins of pulses and beans! My cupboard is always full of these guys! They are great for hummus and try butterbeans as an alternative to mashed potato! They are great to add to stews and soups and add protein and fibre!
Sundried tomatoes are my favourite thing! I use their oil in my cashew nut cheese recipe which is on the blog here http://deerlybelovedbakery.blogspot.com/2011/10/wonderful-and-quick-cashew-nut-cheese.html I also roast veggies in the oil and I use the tomatoes on pizza and to make sauces richer!
Olive oil is a must, try and buy a nice quality olive oil, it doesn't have to be an extra virgin Olive oil as most of this favour will be lost in the cooking, but a good quality one that can be used in hummus, dips and dressings is I think,a great investment.
Soya sauce or tamari is great for adding colour to gravies, marinating mushrooms, in stir frys and in noodle soups.
Nutritional yeast is my wonder ingredient! I call them magic flakes! They are cheesy and packed full of B vitamins which are often missing in a vegan diet! I pop these in the cashew cheese, make white sauce, sprinkle on wraps, make 'cheese' on toast , add to soups and stews and on jacket potatoes. I would advice to add them at the end of cooking so not to lose any of the nutritional value by over cooking.
Limes, garlic and chilli's are my staple, garlic in soup, dips, sauces. Lime in dressings, desserts, guacamole and to add zing to stir frys. Chili in curries, shepherds pies mix, stews and batters.
Good quality sea salt is so much better than chemically made table salt. Buy the best you can and you will need to use less as it will have a better salty flavour.
Marigold Bouillon is the best stock. It can be bought in gluten free and reduced salt too.
TVP mince, okay so I don't like using to much processed stuff but this is great for a quick chili. Add it to a bowl with hot water and add your flavourings to it first before adding it to the pan. It will soak up so much more favour that way.
Olives in a jar are great and are ready for salads, tomato sauces and wraps. I am addicted and can be found eating them from the jar with a folk.
Hazelnuts, great for cakes, but I love to whizz them up, make 'cheeses' and stuffing's for pies and vegetables.
Vegan pesto, okay so you can make your own but I think this stuff is rather great. It's not fresh like just picked basil but has great flavour for pasta, potatoes or mixed into a tomato sauce. It's a great quick meal maker too!
And finally Tahini. This bitter nutty paste is what makes a good hummus, it's great on rice cakes with sultanas for a quick halva moment and is packed with iron and calcium!
I hope this has given you a few ideas of how to make basic, healthy and quick vegan food for yourself and your family! If you have any questions about vegan diet and recipes, as always just ask!
1st Norwich Veggie Fair!
What a wonderful day we a had at the 1st Norwich Veggie Fair yesterday! I made so many new contacts, friends and bumped into some old ones too! It was so nice when people came up to me and said 'Are you Kayleigh'? And I would say, 'Yes'? For them to reply with, 'I love your Whoopie Pies, they are amazing'! Or 'Your Bakewell tart is the best vegan cake ever'! It is so nice to get feedback from customers, so thankyou! I chatted so much to people that I had nearly lost my voice by the end of the day!
There was so much going on, Lush had an amazing smelling stall, vegan cheeses from Vegusto, Plamil chocolate, Viva, The Vegetarian Society, Veggie Mums, home made babyfood from Harry's Choice, a fresh vegetable stall, lots of yummy vegetarian and vegan cakes, amazing african cakes by Tendai, a Green Party stall, and the most amazing 14 year old Miranda who had her very own animal right stall all by herself with info and petitions to sign! Go Miranda!
Here are some pics from the day!
And just a little reminder that I will be at the Norwich Arts Centre Clutter Market in the bar area on the 10th of December with hand made chocolates and truffles, 10 different cakes including whoopie pies, biscottis and maybe even a chocolate crossant or two, and of course Certosinos and recipe jars! See you there!
There was so much going on, Lush had an amazing smelling stall, vegan cheeses from Vegusto, Plamil chocolate, Viva, The Vegetarian Society, Veggie Mums, home made babyfood from Harry's Choice, a fresh vegetable stall, lots of yummy vegetarian and vegan cakes, amazing african cakes by Tendai, a Green Party stall, and the most amazing 14 year old Miranda who had her very own animal right stall all by herself with info and petitions to sign! Go Miranda!
Here are some pics from the day!
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