Thursday 29 September 2016

Vegan Ferrero Rocher

Hello good people!

It has been too long since the last post, and even longer ago since I posted a sweet treat (my sincerest apologies!). I made these a little while ago and they were a hit! My flatmate highly approved of them, and has himself been making heaps of peanut oreo buttercups - which are amazing too! But sadly I cannot take credit for those. These ferrero-like treats here are just as good though, and after having bought hazelnut butter for the first time.... I know it wont be the last - that stuff is addictive!

I also turned a year older last Saturday, cannot believe I am 27! The people in Friends were that age when I started watching it as mere child.... Time flies, but I still feel terrible childish *smiles* I had a lovely time with my boyfriend and some lovely friends... Can't really ask for much more! Except maybe seeing my family, but I know I will get to do that in the not-too-distant future!

Vegan Ferrero Rocher
(Makes 6-8)


1/3 cup hazelnut butter
2 tbsp coconut oil
4 tbsp agave/maple syrup
A good pinch of sea salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
125g + 50g dark chocolate
1/3 cup chopped hazelnuts

- First of all, turn the hob on low and in a small frying pan, have the hazelnut butter, cocoa butter, syrup, salt and oil + 125g of the dark chocolate (break it into pieces). Continously stir until it is all melted and place in the fridge to cool slighty, for about 15-20 minutes.

- Have the chopped hazelnuts strewn across a plate, ready to roll some ferreros in. Melt the remaining chocolate until it is juuuust done.

- Take the hazelnut-chocolate mass and shape into hazelnut sized marbles, dip in the chocolate and roll in the hazelnuts. Repeat until you have a little bunch of these delicious mouthfuls and place in the fridge on a plate until serving.

Et voila!

Apart from Ferreros and birthday, I have been reading my way through predictions of armageddon and the like thanks for Mr Pratchett and Mr Gaiman... And yes, those are cookies from the shop - because sometimes life is too stressful!


I hopeyou have had a fantastic week so far, bring on the weekend!


Original source:
http://ragnhildnordrum.com/?p=8501

Monday 19 September 2016

Goat's Cheese & Spinach Lasagne

Got a date coming over for dinner? Or in my case cooking dinner with a friend?

A few weeks ago I was hanging out with my good friend Anna, and we decided to go all out - Lasagne! Strudel! Wine!

And so it was that this happened - and let me tell you it was the easiest lasagne I have ever made, phew!

Goat's Cheese & Spinach Lasagne
(Serves 4-6)


450g spinach ( I probably used about half- and it turned out fine!), washed
250g goat's cheese
200g Mascarpone or Quark
1 tbsp red pesto sauce
A pinch of nutmeg
Salt and pepper
9 lasagne sheets
350g cherry tomatoes, halved
2 eggs, beaten
125ml milk
50g breadcrumbs
15g (vegetarian) Parmesan

- Pre-heat the oven to 190C.

- Now, have the spinach in a dry casserole and wilt on medium heat, stir often to prevent it from catching the pan. Tip into a colander over a sink, and let the juices run off into a container.

- Mix the goat's cheese and Mascarpone/quark in a bowl. Divide into two separate bowls and add the pesto and reserved spinach water to one half, and to the other - spinach, nutmeg, salt and pepper.

- Layer half of the spinach mix, scatter over half of the cherry tomatoes, place lasagne sheets on top and repeat using the remaining spinach mix and another third of the cherry tomatoes. Once you put the last lasagne sheets on top.

- To the goat's cheese mix - add the milk, beaten eggs, salt and pepper and pour over the lasagne. Sprinkle with the parmesan and cook in the middle of the oven for 25-30 minutes until cooked, hot and bubbly.

Enjoy!


Other than that, I have gotten another throat infection and thus I can sadly not have date nights with lady-friends or my boyfriend tonight. I just want to be able to power through the week without getting to Wednesday and starting to feel my throat burn... Any hints and tips as how to work in offices and prevent being struck by fever every second month? I have gotten up to more cheery things before I got sick thankfully. A rum evening and seeing some good ol' colleagues - sigh, can't wait until I get my energy back!

Much love x


- Jules


Original recipe:
http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/3547/goat-s-cheese--spinach-and-pesto-lasagne.aspx

Sunday 11 September 2016

Vegan Chickpea Burgers

Hey and happy Sunday!

It has been a busy one, and we got to start making things in college on Friday! I might feature a few pictures at the bottom of the post. I am loving it and being creative again makes a world of a difference!

But! One cannot go on and try and be a champ running on no fuel, so let's make some burgers. These are super simple, and really delicious - I can only thank Sue for this recipe. Follow the link below for more of her fantastic recipes!

Vegan Chickpea Burgers
(Makes 5-6 patties)


400g tin chickpeas, drained and rinsed
2 bay leaves
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp salt
1 tsp dried rosemary or thyme
1/2 onion, finely chopped + dash of oil
3 tbsp tomato sauce (ketchup, passata, pasta sauce etc)
1/2 cup wholemeal flour

To serve:
Lettuce
Cheese (optional, make sure you pick a vegan one for vegan)
Relish or burger sauce

- Start by having the herbs and spices along in a pestle and mortar and crush until fine.

- Lightly fry the onion in some oil for about 5 minutes until soft.

- Mix the spices, chickpeas and onion and blitz with a stick blender until you have a rough sticky dough. Fold in the flour, and shape into patties.

- Fry or grill on either side for a good few minutes until cooked through, and serve with your favourite burger accompaniments!


PS Don't eat the googly eyes!

I just made these farls tonight as well, and I am beat! After a quiet but productive weekend, and not getting much sleep last night - I am going to watch some Community and have an early night.
Today we went on a trip to Ikea and got a few little bits and bobs for the flat, and we enjoyed some food there! Yes, I am Scandinavian and thus I cannot help but feel the magnetic force of the odd canteen in a furniture shop.... Plus, the vegetarian dishes there are actually quite tasty!

Some of my makings from last Friday in college:



Have you been up to much this weekend?

Original source:
http://theviewfromgreatisland.com/chickpea-veggie-burgers-recipe/

- Jules

Thursday 1 September 2016

Crazy About Nutella Cookies

Tidings humans!

Right, so tomorrow is going to be a BIG day for me... Because I will start college! It is part time, and it is going to be ace! The only way I can describe it is - first day of school, but all over again, and this time - I am focusing on one particular subject... Floristry!

OK, so I might have bought a new pencil case... Yes... Because I remember every year roundabout the time we had one or two weeks left of the Summer holidays, we'd get new pencil cases and prepare for our return! I am really looking forward to getting the chance to be more creative again, meeting new people - doing something that I waaaaant to do!

BUT, that is not to say I haven't been cooking...

Last weekend, I made these for my boyfriend and I, because I had been working on the Saturday and the Sunday was the only part of the weekend we really got to enjoy! So up I got in the morning, and baked the cookies I did.

These are divine, and was gone by sunset!

Soft Nutella Cookies
(Makes about 10)


1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup nutella
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 3/4 cup flour
1 tbsp cornflour
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1 cup chocolate chips (milk chocolate for this recipe)

- Start by pre-heating the oven to 200C.

- Now, cream the butter and sugar until soft, and then add the vanilla, egg and nutella.

- In a separate bowl, mix all the dry ingredients, and then stir evenly out into the nutella batter until you have a sticky dough. Swirl through the chocolate chips, and stir until combined.

- Place baking paper on a tray, and use two tablespoons to shape rounds of cookie dough. The cookies will melt out a little bit, so don't put more than six cookies on each tray.

- Place in the middle of the oven and bake for about 10 minutes until cooked through, but still soft. Serve will a glass of (almond) milk, and tuck in!

What is your absolute favourite cookie recipe?

This evening after work (I finished late, bleurgh) I made soup, then some breakfast cookies, and enjoyed a little glass of red. Perfect end to a work week before getting my back pack on tomorrow! Have you been up to much this week?

PS there is my new pencil case, the one with the tiger! Remember those ones with a zip that was pre-filled? Well this is like that one, except I got to fill it with my own stationary, and my floristry scissors fit in it as well!

Original recipe
http://www.atasteofmadness.com/2016/08/soft-nutella-chocolate-chip-cookies.html

- Julies