Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Mug Cake

Ingredients:

3 tbsp plain flour

1-2 tbsp cocoa powder

2 tbsp sugar, or agave syrup (whatever sweeter you prefer)

2 tbsp small dark chocolate chips or vegan chocolate finely chopped

1/4 tsp baking powder

3 tbsp water (you can use almond milk or coconut milk)

1 tbsp oil

1-2 tsp peanut butter or almond butter (almond and chia seed butter is really good)

Method:

1. Combine dry ingredients in the a large mug. 

2. Add water and oil, whisk to combine.

3. Place peanut butter on top.

4. Microwave for 1 minute, check consistency, and depending on how cooked it is microwave for another 30 seconds. You may even have to do another 20 seconds, all microwave are different. For me 1 min 20 secs is best.

It's so delicious and so easy. 

If you want to make it a bit healthier, leave out the sugar and half the chocolate chips. It will still taste very good. Remember it's a treat so don't have this every night but every now and then is good. 

Em xx

Rocket and Tomato Vegan Pasta Salad

Ingredients:

A bowl full of pasta

approx 2-3 tbsp of sundried tomatoes or roasted capsicums, chopped

approx 2 tbsp of kalamata olives, chopped

approx 8 cherry tomatoes, halved

1/2 - 1 cup of snow peas, chopped.

approx 1 1/2 cups of rocket, or spinach

1/2 an avocado, chopped

2 tbsp fresh basil, sliced

1 tbsp fresh parsley, sliced

1/2 lemon juiced

Method:

1. Combine all ingredients and mix well, top with freshly cracked pepper

2. Yum

Perfect for lunch on the go.

You can make this up in advance and then add in the tomatoes, rocket and snow peas. 

Hope you like it.

(sorry there are no pictures, may upload some when i make this again.)

Em xx

Sweet Potato Mash and Tofu

Ingredients:

1 large sweet potato

2 tbsp currants

2 tbsp coconut milk

2 tsp nutritional yeast

2 servings of tofu

1 tbsp soy sauce

2 basil leaves, sliced

Method:

1. Cook the sweet potato in the oven on 180 degrees for an hour, without oil.

2. Peel off the skin and place flesh in a medium bowl.

3. Mash and stir with a fork until slightly fluffy.

4. Add coconut milk, currants and nutritional yeast, and mix.

5. Place in the serving bowl.

6. Heat the tofu, however you prefer. I lightly fry it in some oil. Then place on top of sweet potato.

7. Top with soy sauce and basil.

(sorry there are no pictures of the final food, it was too good.)

Em xx

Vegan Spring Rolls

Ingredients:

1 Onion
2 carrots or 30 grams mushrooms
4 cabbage leaves
30 grams soy sprouts or 30 grams firm tofu
1 capsicum or 4 snow peas
2 tablespoons soy sauce
8 sheets spring roll pastry - you can use wonton wrappers if that is all you have, they're just smaller
Sweet and sour sauce

Method:

1. Julienne vegetables and tofu, use whatever combination of these ingredients you like     depending on what you have (cabbage is a must). 
2. Cook vegetables and tofu (except for the snow peas) with the oil and soy sauce on medium heat for 5 minutes. 
3.Make the spring rolls, following this picture, using water. 
    use a tablespoon of the mixture in each.

4. Heat enough oil in a pan, and deep fry each side for approximately a minute, or until it bubbles. 
5. Dry off on paper towel
6. Eat hot served with sweet and sour sauce. 

Em xx

10 Minute Abb Workout

I normal do this every morning, and  think that it's really helpful, and wakes me up well in the morning as well.

40  Basic crunches
40  Right oblique crunches
40  Left oblique crunches
40  Bicycle crunches
30  Reverse crunches
20  Long arm crunches
30  Crossover crunches
20  Half curls
20  Vertical leg crunches
30  seconds of plank

Alternatively you could do each of these exercises for about 40 seconds with a 5 second break in between exercises, 

Give it a go, and let me know how it goes. 

Em xx

TV Shows To Watch

Here's a list of some tv shows that I watch and have watched a few episodes of, in case you're bored and want to check some out. Really good for teenage girls :)

1. Arrow
2. 2 broke girls
3. New girl
3. Nikita
4. Awkward
5. Faking it
6. Burn notice
7. Young and hungry
8. Modern family
9. The office
10. Orange is the new black
11. Chuck
12. Archer
13. It's always sunny in Philadelphia
14. Don't trust the b in apartment 23
15. Finding Carter
16. Friends
17. How I met your mother
18. Game of thrones
19. Happyland
20. Parks and recreation
21. Revenge
22. Suburgatory
23. The Carrie diaries
24. Shameless
25. Love
26. Freaks and geeks
27. Weeds
28. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
29. Daredevil
30. Prison break
31. Jessica jones

Yes, that was a lot. I do watch a lot of tv and often get bored after watching them for a while watch another show. Hope this helps a few people and if you have any suggestions for me please let me know. 

Em xx

Parents Against Veganism.

Hi Everyone,

A lot of parents don't want their children to go vegan mostly because they don't understand that there many benefits and no negatives. They're probably think that they're just looking out for your best interests.

The first thing to do is to make sure you're really informed about the vegan lifestyle. Have a read of my why vegan page, and make especially about how to get all the nutrients you need from plant based sources. Click Here

The next best thing to do is start cooking your own meals. Make sure these are healthy things that your parents will be happy with you eating. They will probably be quit happy if you're eating a lot a fruits and vegetables. It will also help as they won't have to worry so much about coming up with vegan meals to cook for you. Make enough for you whole family and your parents will feel a lot less stress. It can be hard to find vegan recipes especially for non-vegans who aren't used to cooking vegan foods. You can look things up on Google, and diffidently try out some of my delicious vegan recipes. Click Here

Lastly, discuss the reasons why you want to go vegan with them and try to find a reason that they can relate to. If they understand that it's something you're really passionate about, I'm sure they'll help you have a healthy vegan lifestyle.

If you have any questions, let me know.

Em xx

Chocolate Oates

Ingredients:

1 cup of oats

2 cups of almond milk (or another plant based milk)

1 tbsp sultanas

1-2 tbsp cocoa powder

1-2 bananas mashed (depending how sweet you want it)

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp vanilla essence

Fruit or coconut for on top

Method:

1. Place oats and milk in a saucepan on low-medium heat.

2. Continuously stir, and add banana, cook for 2-3 minutes (or until it thickens).

3. Add cocoa powder, sultanas, cinnamon and vanilla essence. 

4. Continue cooking until desired consistency is reached (approx 2-3 minutes).

5. Decorate with fruit, coconut or chia seeds. 

Em xx

Need help with veganism?

Do you need advice on being a vegan or just have a simple question? Someone asked me how I could help so I decided to create a space for questions. Go have a look at my advice and ask me anything here.

Em xx

Hidden Veggie Pasta

Ingredients:

Approx 500 grams of your favorite Pasta

Approx 400 grams your favorite pasta sauce

2 carrots, grated

1 onion, cut into pieces

1 zucchini, grated

3 cloves garlic, crushed

3 handfuls of spinach

1 tbsp of olive oil (or coconut oil)

1 tbsp fresh basil.

Method:

1. Cook Pasta according to packet instructions.

2.Heat fry pan to medium heat and heat up oil.

3. Cook onion until translucent then add garlic, zucchini and carrot, cook for 1-2 minutes or until softened.

4. Add spinach and cook for 1 min.

5. Add in pasta sauce and combine.Then add in the drained, cooked pasta. 

6. Cook for another 1-2 minutes or until it has reached desired temperate.

7. Serve seasoned with basil and black pepper. 
8. Enjoy!

Em xx

Why Vegan?

Check out my Why Vegan page. There you can read about why I'm vegan and why it is a good thing to try and be vegan. You will also find how to get all the right nutrients and about the high carbohydrate low fat plant based diet.

Em xx

Chocolate Banana Ice-cream

Ingredients:

Approx 2 large frozen bananas

2 teaspoons cocoa powder

1 teaspoon vanilla essence

1-2 teaspoons chia seed

Optional - 2 tbsp almond milk (to blend more easily)

Method:

1. Place ingredients in blender (I use the vitamix)

2. Blend

3. Taste and add more cocoa powder if desired.

4. Stir in chia seeds

Em xx

Creamy Garlic Pasta with Roasted Tomatoes

Ingredients:

2 cups small tomatoes halved

approx 150 grams pasta (whatever sort you prefer, penne is very good with this recipe)

Olive oil

1 small onion

5 cloves of garlic

Sea salt

Black pepper

1 1/2 - 2 tbsp all purpose flour

1 1/4 cups unsweetened plain Almond Milk (or 1/2 cup of vegetable stock)

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees and cook tomatoes cut side up, for about 20 minutes, then set aside.

2. Cook pasta and set aside.

3. In a large saucepan on low-medium heat place 1 tbsp of olive oil. Add the onion and garlic and cook for 3-4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

4. Stir in the flour with a whisk. Gradually add the almond milk and whisk while addling. Continue cooking for 4-5 minutes to thicken. 

5. You can transfer to a blender for an extra creamy sauce. 

6. Once sauce has reached desired thickness, you can add a pinch of chili flakes if desired.Then add the pasta mix and then the roast tomatoes and mix again. 

7. Serve garnished with pepper and basil. 

Watermelon Juice Recipe

1/4 Watermelon 

2 limes or lemons
1 tbsp Mint leaves
300mL Coconut water (or regular water)

1. Cut the watermelon flesh off the rind and place in blender.

2. Squeeze the juice from the limes (or lemons) into the blender.

3. Add the mint and coconut water.

4. Blend and drink

YUM!!

Introduction.

Hello and welcome to my brand new blog.

A bit about me:
My name is Emily and I am 17 years old. I have been vegan for one year today and want to share my message with the world. I really want to help people understand the vegan lifestyle and the reasons behind it.
I enjoy running, walking with family (especially my sister), hiking, meeting new people, travelling to exotic places and adventuring with friends.

I am very excited about this blog and to get to know like-minded people. I am planning to post twice a week to talk about what has been happening in my life, anything i that i feel i need to talk about and attach some recipes and workout plans.

I live in Victoria, Australia but i often travel around. It's summer here at the moment and I'm loving the heat and spending days at the beach

Will be posting soon,
Lots of love,
Em xoxxoxox