Cupcakes and workouts

Here's some cupcakes I made for my cousin's birthdays they both visited this weekend, so any excuse to get baking! They're the basic chocolate recipe from every vegans cupcake bible, vegan cupcakes take over the world, they seemed to go down well I didn't have one cause I didn't really like the frosting, my dad said it was good but I thought it tasted fatty.. Maybe the shortening I used wasn't right, I used Trex any UKer's use trex and have good/bad results? It's the first time I've used it..




Trudy likes the sun!


A Few Workouts I've done since I last posted
Running
Jogged to uni 1 mile
15 50m sprints with 50m jogs in between each sprint
jogged home

Strength Work
I did the nightmare workout again!! This time I kept it closer to the original and it was maybe even more horrible than last time but I felt great when I completed it, I did 5 rounds with 2 6kg dumb-bells.
-Bent Row
-Upright Row
-Military Press
-Split Squat (left/right)
-Thruster
-Straight-Legged Deadlift

I did a few other strength based workouts too but they weren't terribly exciting, I've been really tired lately and I've been finding the strength stuff harder than usual.. I've started a pull-up programme and a push-up programme so I'm hoping my numbers for each exercise will begin to improve soon, I'll keep you all posted!

Veganomicon Caesar Salad

with herb crusted tofu.. no recipe for the tofu yet as it wasn't quite perfect.. this salad is sooo good!

Time for truffles?

Chocolate Almond Truffle Balls (high protein)
This makes quite a lot but my boyfriend LOVES these and is half way through the plateful (see background.. he's already eaten quite a few though hehe) even though I only made them on Monday! He also doesn't like them very chocolatey so if you're a chocolate fiend like me I would up the cocoa to 1/2 a cup

3 cups of chopped dates
2 cups of boiling water
1/3 cup pea protein
1/3 cup cocoa powder
6 and a half cups of ground almonds (1 and a 1/2 is for dusting)

blend the dates and water in a blender, I use a smoothie maker which is not great, that's why I use boiling water it helps the dates along!

When the dates are smooth add in the pea protein and blend until combined

In a bowl mix around 3 cups of ground almonds with the cocoa powder, mix well then pour on the date mix. Mix in thoroughly and slowly add the further almonds (2 cups).. the mixture should now be hard to stir and well combined.

Pour 1 cup of ground almonds into a bowl and drop spoonfuls of the chocolate almond mix into the dry almonds, roll into a ball shape and completely cover with almonds.

I'm back!

Well, uni work took over the past week or so, I had 5000 words and a presentation due in last Friday and it all ended up a bit last minute! But I've been baking lots to make up for not doing so whilst working!

First up, Chai Brownies, inspired by le.petit.haricot on the PPK boards, I didn't follow her recipe as I'd been wanting to make some brownies using silken tofu and prunes as I like the texture these ingredients give in brownies by themselves so why not combine them! I topped one tray with the peanut butter cream cheese topping from Joni's blog, I used almond butter though, I think if I were to make it again I would add a little sugar as it was a bit too savory for my tastes. On with the pics and the recipe!


1 cup of strongly brewed chai tea
1/2 cup of dried prunes
1 Flax egg
1 packet of silken tofu
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 cup WW flour
1 cup Spelt
1 and 1/2 cup sugar
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt

First off mix the prunes and the tea in a blender, when smooth add in the tofu, flax egg and vanilla extract and mix until completely smooth.

In a large bowl sift together all the dry ingredients, stir in the wet ingredients and don't over mix!

Bake in a 9x9 pan at 175c or 350f until a toothpick comes out clean, about 20-30 mins, I used a 9x9 pan and a loaf tin but the brownies were a bit thin so I would up the time a little and use a 9x9.


Well, blogger has decided to stop letting me upload pictures, I'll be back soon with a recipe and pics of high protein almost raw truffle balls and pics of vcon caeser salad with herb crusted tofu (sooo yummy!)

First Post!

After being vegan for around 4 years I've only just discovered a love for vegan baking and I've been inspired by lots of the blogs I've seen. I live with my boyfriend, also vegan, our two guinea pigs, Gracie and Trudy and hamster called Missy, or full title Missy the ginger ninja, they called her that in the pet shop and we decided to keep it when we got her home. Gracie is the long haired piggy and the picture was taken on christmas morning with their presents, carots and a hay cookie! it doesn't take much to make those two happy. Missy is pictured testing a small piece of blueberry muffin cake which was the first thing I ever made and was made using a recipe from Fatfreevegan for berry spice muffins, at this time I did not own a muffin tin so cake it was!


That's a picture of me and Mike at Hebden Bridge a lovely scenic town in England with a very vegan friendly attitude, we stayed in a vegetarian B&B who catered for vegans and ate out with ease, we even saw a fish and chip shop which advertised vegan options in the window! Nowhere else in the UK have I seen anything like that unless the eatery was specifically vegan! I'm also going to blog about my fitness gains as well as post recipes and meal ideas. I'm intending to build strength mainly, I used to be able to do pull-ups and chin-ups and a really busy christmas, uni work and part time work schedule left my training at the bottom of my to-do list but I'm going to get back into it for the new year. I have less work commitments as the christmas rush is over so that just won't cut it as an excuse anymore!

Well I'll leave my little introduction for now next time I'll be back with food pics!