Review: Mushroom & Walnut Spicy “Bolognese”

We recently came across a food blog with many different and interesting recipes. We made this delicious mushroom walnut bolognese last night developed by Rita & André of the “Cocoon Cooks” food blog.

It is mega delicious. Luckily, we have a big walnut tree and are floundering in walnuts, so it was just a matter of enjoying a lovely afternoon listening to music while cracking open walnuts. This recipe is really delicious as well as healthy and gives lots of roughage.
Recipe: http://ift.tt/1n8UJW6

Related Posts:

• Mushroom and Walnut Pâté
• Mushroom Stroganoff
• Vegan Mushroom Pirozhki
• Chestnut Mushroom Soup
• Pea Ravioli with Mushroom Sauce

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The top 5 supplements

​The top 5 supplements you should be taking to get into optimum health...

Do you want to look like a sexy, fit diva rather than a couch potato? In order to get a body yo die for you have to supplement right too. 
 
Remember gym time  is only part of the jigsaw for being at your optimum health. To be sexy, fit and glam  you must also take the right supplements; otherwise, all your efforts in the gym will be wasted. See Jamie Lloyds' top five supplement secrets to being in optimum health.
 
1. CALCIUM
This is the most significant supplement for women as its essential for bone development, prevents osteoporosis and may even help alleviate the dreaded symptoms of PMS. Also dairy foods high in calcium have been shown to play a role in energy metabolism. Women should get a dose of 1000 mg of calcium per day. For better absorption and usage of calcium in the body, you also need to get enough vitamin D and magnesium as they work synergistically.
 
2. MATCHA
A daily cup of Matcha tea has been found to significantly increase your metabolism and speed up fat oxidation. A good cup of green Matcha Tea in the morning will definitely give you the energy boost you need to start your day! These chlorophyll-rich leaves are handpicked, steamed, dried and ground into a fine green powder. The history and cultivation of the tea is interesting, but what matters most to health enthusiasts is its antioxidant content. One cup of matcha green tea has as many antioxidants as 10 cups of regular tea!

Try out our vanilla matcha & avocado smoothie 


 

3. FISH OILS
Fish Oils come from the fat of cold-water, deep-sea fish, and is a source of omega-3, which is an essential fatty acid that contains DHA and EPA. Omega-3 fatty acid is an important nutrient for maintaining a healthy ticker, brain and nervous system, as well as helping to reduce inflammation in joints and maintaining flexibility - something all fit diva's need. Take a minimum of 3g daily.
 
4. ANTIOXIDANTS
Antioxidants protect the body from damage caused by harmful molecules called free radicals. We are all exposed to free radicals: through by-products of normal processes that take place in your body, such as the burning of sugars for energy and the release of digestive enzymes to break down food; when the body breaks down certain medicines and through pollutants. Antioxidants include some vitamins (such as vitamins C and E), some minerals (such as selenium), and flavonoids, which are found in plants. The best sources of antioxidants are fruits and vegetables. 
 
Try out our acai bowl




5. SPIRULINA
Spirulina is on the top 5 list for women because there are simply so many health benefits to taking it! Spirulina is an algae and is a completely natural whole-food supplement so all the nutrients it contains are in their natural state and very easy for the body to absorb. Spirulina is packed full of protein and also contains significant amounts of omega fatty acids, iron, vitamin B-12, and powerful carotenoids that are extremely beneficial for eye and skin health. Finally as spirulina has a high chlorophyll content, it helps to alkalize and detoxify the body giving you more energy and vitality. So get a daily dose today! 

Try out our Sesame Spirulina Energy Balls


 

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Go Zero Waste, Our Top Ten Tips

​Last month Unpackaged hosted a workshop at Planet Organic Muswell Hill – everything you ever wanted to know about Zero Waste shopping but were too afraid to ask!
We started with a brief introduction to the philosophy and goals of the Zero Waste movement – thinking about why we should care about packaging, and what small lifestyle changes we can make to have a more positive environmental impact on our world.
 
We know that going Zero Waste can seem a bit daunting so below are our Top Ten Tips – go on, why not give it a go?
 
1.     Start by looking at what waste you create in a week – make a list, photograph it, whatever you need to do to get your head around it.
 
2.     Sort into categories – food packaging, household cleaning, toiletries products etc. What do you have the most of – that’s often a good place to start? Start slowly and change one thing a week to keep it manageable and sustainable long term.
 
3.     Make sure your partner, family or flatmates are involved in the process – you all need to be on the same page to achieve success!
 
4.     Do you have a local refill or zero waste shop (such as Unpackaged at Planet Organic Muswell Hill)? Search the internet to find out. If you don’t have a local shop, what can you refill locally at other shops? Milk bottles? Cleaning products etc.
 
5.     Swap your bins around at home – create a small landfill bin and a large recycling bin – label them as such; psychologically it will help.
 
6.     Manage what comes into your home - What can you refuse?  Receipts, business cards, leaflets etc. This is about consuming less, as well as consuming “zero waste”.
 
7.     What can you reuse? Blank side of paper become a shopping list, as your shower is heating up, put a bucket underneath and use it to water your plants – it’s all about being careful with resources.
 
8.     If you can’t avoid it, choose clever packaging – e.g. Planet Organic sells toilet roll in compostable packaging, the packaging can go into your food waste bin.
 
9.     Don’t believe the hype – do you need separate types of cleaner for the bathroom, the kitchen etc.? Most of the time, white vinegar will do, as will a mix of bicarbonate of soda + lemon as an all purpose cleaner.
 
10.  What products can you make at home? Food such as bread, yoghurt & hummous are easy & cheap to make, just start carving out some time to do it regularly and get into a routine.
 
Want to share your #zerowaste tips? Please do using the #planetrefill hashtag on social media
and look out for more blogs in our Zero Waste series from Unpackaged. 

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Rebel Kitchen Organic Breakfast bowl

Rebel Kitchen Dairy Free Organic Coconut Yogurts are made using organic young green coconuts grown in the Philippines and contain live vegan yogurt cultures.

Ingredients:

• 2-3 cups of organic rolled oats
• 2 tbsp chia seeds.
• 100ml Rebel Mylk (we used Choc)
• Handful fresh or frozen blueberries.
• x1 pot Rebel Kitchen Dairy Free Organic Vanilla Yogurt (or your flavour of choice)
• Sprinkle of cinnamon

 
Method:
Layer 1: Mix together 2 cups of porridge, 2 tbsp chia seeds, a sprinkle of cinnamon and Rebel Mylk of choice to form the bottom layer. Add a layer of blueberries on top
Layer 2: Add half of your Rebel Kitchen yogurt to next layer
Layer 3: Add in the last cup of porridge and sprinkle with cinnamon
Layer 4: Add the remainder of the yogurt to the top layer and garnish with blueberries (or any fruit of choice) 


 
About the yogurts and the benefits
 
Rebel Kitchen Dairy Free Organic Coconut Yogurts are made using organic young green coconuts grown in the Philippines and contain live vegan yogurt cultures. This means they're full of the good bacteria that your gut loves and needs.
The yogurts are made using young green coconut meat, not milk (which come from mature coconuts). This is what gives the yogurts their deliciously light and smooth texture. It also means they contain up to half the amount of fat per 100g compared to other coconut yogurts.
The yogurts (like the Mylks) contain no refined sugar, additives or preservatives. They’re also vegan, gluten free and non-GMO.
 

Four flavours: Cacao, Original, Coffee & Vanilla and available HERE

 

 

Sustainability
 
The coconut meat in the yogurts comes from the same coconuts that are used to make Rebel Kitchen Coconut Water. The remaining coconut husks are then used to generate power, which helps fuel the plant in the Philippines. This production method ensures the whole product is used so absolutely nothing goes to waste. 

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Walnut Pea Spread

This delicious spread tastes great on crackers or as a sandwich spread.

Yield: 2 cups

Ingredients:

• 1 jar 24 ounce peas, drained
• 1½ cups walnut pieces
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 tablespoons cooking oil
• 2 teaspoons vegetable bouillon powder
• 2 tablespoons tamari or light soy sauce
• ½ teaspoon smoky paprika powder
• 2-3 tablespoon tahini
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• few drops liquid smoke
• dash black pepper
• pinch salt

Directions:

1. Place the drained peas in a food processor and puree.
2. Heat the cooking oil in a frying pan. Add the chopped onion and sauce until glassy.
3. Add the walnut pieces to the cooking onion.
4. When the onion is glassy and the walnut pieces aromatic, add them to the pureed peas in the food processor.
5. Pulse to create a smooth puree.
6. Add the vegetable bouillon powder, tamarin, tahini and liquid smoke. and once again pulse to combine.
7. Add the thyme, smoky paprika powder, salt and pepper and pulse once again.
8. Season to taste if needed. Remove from the food processor and store in the refrigerator.
9. Serve on crackers as a dip or on bread as a spread.

Related Posts:

• Vegan Green Pea and Walnut Spread
• Carrot, Pear and Almond Spread
• Review: Cheesy Parsnip Spread
• Vegan White Bean Spread
• Vegan Veggie Spread for Bagels and Other Breads

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Love Your Blender Cherry Rose Mousse

Do you love the idea of making nutritious smoothies and treats with lots of different superfoods…
but are daunted by the variety available, or have a cupboard stuffed full of part-used bags you never find time to use? Love Your Blender has come to the rescue with its range of ready-mixed sachets of superfoods, nuts and seeds, perfectly measured out for nutrition and flavour, and featuring star ingredients including acerola cherry, matcha, acai, vanilla pod, lucuma, moringa and rose petals.

Originally designed for smoothies (just pop the sachet contents into your blender with liquid and a piece of fruit or veg – there are suggestions inside the labels), there’s so much more you can do with these handy mixes. Here we show how to turn a block of plain tofu into a luxurious dessert with Love Your Blender’s Cherry Rose mix.
 
Cherry Rose White Chocolate Mousse
Dive into this creamy, chocolatey, decadent delight, the perfect dessert for a special occasion. Or, we think, anytime. Vegan, raw and refined sugar free, with beautifying oils from the almonds, hemp seeds and sea buckthorn, this dessert both satisfies and delights the senses and keep you looking and feeling your best.

Serves 2.
 
Ingredients

• One Love Your Blender Cherry Rose sachet
• One 300g block of silken tofu
• 80g frozen cherries
• 40g cacao butter, chopped

 
Method
This couldn’t be easier – simply put all the ingredients in your blender and blend really well, until the seeds are totally pulverised and the jug/cup feels warm. The cacao butter will melt with the warmth generated with the blending.

We don’t feel this needs any extra sweetening, but taste to check you agree – if you want it sweeter add a little light agave nectar or other mild-tasting natural sweetener.
Then pour into two serving glasses – or one, if you want to be romantic and share – then pop in the fridge for at least an hour. Garnish with a few extra frozen cherries and serve.



Discover Love Your Blender’s range of five mixes here

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?Glowing Morning Smoothie

A super healthy breakfast using Alchemy superfood powders.
This recipe helps to support the digestive system, boost our micronutrients (the 'spark plugs' of the body) and help keep snacking at bay due to the gentle plant fibre and plant protein in our Morning Elixir.   We have a great quote from Lisa Oxenham from Marie Claire who states that the Morning Elixir “This makes me pin-sharp pre-office”.

Ingredients

• 2 tsp Alecheny Super Blends Morning Elixir
• A thumb size piece of Fresh ginger
• Dash of apple cider vinegar
• Juice and rind of 1/2 lemon
• 1 cup frozen spinach
• 1 cup frozen kale
• 1 cup coconut water
• 1/2 cup coconut mylk or nut mylk (add more or less liquid depending on the liquidity you like!)
• 1tsp vanilla powder or good quality vanilla extract
• 1 tsp nut butter (almond goes well)
• 2 coins of frozen banana or a few frozen grapes

Method 
Blend together and pop into your favourite glass or bowl (depending on your preferred consistency) and decorate with smashed pistachios and pumpkin seeds.
 

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Mediterranean Eggplant Salad

This is a remake of a favorite salad we have enjoyed over the years. We have recently discovered freekeh, also known as farik. It’s broken, roasted green wheat berries, and very delicious. We’ve substituted freekeh for the original pearl couscous and mixed the salad together with a lovely lemon Italian vinaigrette.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup freekeh
• 1 eggplant
• 1 large handful arugula , remove stems and chop
• 3-4 spring onions, white and green parts chopped
• 1 yellow bell pepper, de-seeded and chopped
• 2 large red tomatoes, de-seded and chopped
• Italian herbs
• salt and pepper to taste

for the dressing:

• 3-4 tablespoon olive oil
• 3-4 tablespoon vinegar
• 1 lemon lemon juice
• Italian herbs
• salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Cook the freekeh until soft in 2 cups water. Set aside and allow to cool.
2. Wash the arugula and cut off the stems.
3. Wash the eggplant and cut it into bite sized pieces.
4. Sauté the eggplant in a bit of olive oil, set aside or in the refrigerator to cool.
5. Make a dressing using olive oil, fruit or wine vinegar, salt, pepper and Italian herbs.
6. Place the cooled freekeh in a large bowl.
7. Add the chopped yellow bell pepper and chopped spring onions.
8. Add the cut arugula and tomato pieces.
9. Add the cooled eggplant pieces.
10. Mix the dressing and pour over the salad and mix gently.

Related Posts:

• Eggplant & Walnut Dip
• Creamy Pasta with Eggplant
• Grilled Eggplant with Tabbouleh Salsa
• Udon Noodles with Eggplant, Red Bell Pepper and Mango
• Mixed Bean Bowl with Eggplant and Green Olives

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26 Vegan Recipes For Comfort Food

1. Butternut Squash Mac ‘n Cheeze: Two Ways

Butternut squash pureed into macaroni and cheese just sounds like a match made in heaven, doesn’t it? It is also a fun way to sneak in another veggie. Get the recipe here.

 

2. Nirvana Enchilada Casserole 

Layers of corn tortilla sopping up spicy, fragrant, red sauce then overstuffed with mushroom, pinto beans and roasted potatoes. On top is a voluptuous cashew creme that will have you rolling your eyes to the back of your head like a zombie. An enchilada zombie.

3. Matzo Ball Soup
These matzo balls are firm and hold together awesomely well. They’re soft on the outside, but delightfully dense and toothsome in the middle. Try it out for yourself.

4. Tofu Popcorn Chick’n (+ it's gluten free)
This tofu chick’n recipe is so versatile. You can eat them on their own as popcorn chick’n or nuggets. You can put it in a wrap or a sandwich, on a pizza – so many possibilities! Try it!

5. Broccoli & Cheeze Soup
Why should dairy eaters have all the creamed soup fun? Create this delicious vegan option, instead.

6. Almost Famous Fried Pickles
It’s hard to believe the pickle can be improved upon, until you fry it up and taste it for yourself. Get the recipe here.

7. Peanut Butter Banana Chip Cookies
In this amazing recipe the sugar content is fairly low. They aren’t cakey, but not too crisp either. Somewhere in the middle with a pleasant crunch and a complex sweetness. And of course, they have a lovely peanut buttery undertone.

8. Mushroom Stout Pie With Potato Biscuits
A fluffy potato biscuit soaking up a deeply savory gravy that is at once mysterious and familiar. The stout really gives this dish an allure, and two kinds of mushrooms make it meaty and earthy and just umami like nobody’s business. And ya know, for a special occasion, it’s not too fussy.

9. Crispy Baked Onion Rings
Crispy, flavorful, and good-for-you, these onion rings make a great snack or addition to any meal. I could also see a big batch of these being made for a party served with a homemade dip. Can also be made gluten-free.

10. Vegetable Lasagna With Kale, Beluga Lentils & Carrots
This delicious lasagna recipe will make you forget about meat and cheese with kale and lentils!! Get the recipe here.

11. Creamed Kale
Nondairy milk and cashews combine to create a creamy sauce for kale or your favorite leafy greens. Try it for yourself!

12. Homemade Vegan Caesar Cocktail
Is this a vegan version of a Caesar cocktail or is it an adapted version of the Bloody Mary? I can’t decide. Whatever you call it, this is one fantastic drink with a whopping 4 servings of vegetables per 500 ml glass. Be sure to add the seasonings to taste and you can’t go wrong. Bottom's up!

13. Chocolate Cupcakes With Avocado Chocolate Icing

They say avocados and chocolate are brain foods right? (I don’t know who says, but it seems like something I might have read somewhere). I know it sounds weird and maybe a little gross to put them together but it actually works to make really thick and rich chocolatey frosting. Try out this recipe.

14. Creamy Polenta And Mushrooms

Creamy polenta, chickpeas and a mix of sautéed mushrooms & tarragon. This recipe is sure to be a main stay.

15. Mushroom “Alfredo”

Almonds blended with almond milk make a rich sauce for this vegan pasta dish. We like the flavor and smooth texture of spelt pasta and the way rotini traps the sauce, but feel free to substitute your favorite pasta. Get the recipe here.

16. Mozzarella Sticks

For the full diner experience, crack open a jar of pickles, whip up some vegan milkshakes, and make sure you have marinara sauce on hand. And remember, all food tastes better around 2AM. Dig into the recipe here.

 17. Double Cinnamon Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

A double dose of cinnamon gives these cookies a wonderful spicy aroma and even bigger cinnamon flavor.  Try them out now!

18. Vegan Chili

Hearty, healthy, and always ready to make you happy, this chili makes for a dependable partner. Whip up a batch with this popular recipe.

 

19. The Philly Reuben Sandwich 

A hefty sandwich, filled with sauerkraut and tangy Russian dressing that oozed out of the edges of the sandwich with each bite. Filled with marinated seitan and wrapped in warm rye bread. Try the recipe yourself! 

20. Spinach “Chicotta” Stuffed Pasta Shells

“Chicotta” is a new creation that will change the way you look at plant-based cheeses. It’s a ricotta-like cheese made from… chickpeas! With just some chickpeas and a few other simple ingredients, you can whip up the creamiest and most delicious non-dairy cheese you’ve ever tasted. Try this recipe tonight.
 

 

21. Miso Shitake Soba Soup
This soup is full of warming healing ingredients (shiitakes, ginger, miso, etc)… and would be the perfect thing if you’re under the weather… figuratively or quite literally. Get the recipe here.

22. Brownie Ice Cream Sandwich
Being a sandwich, this is totally a legit lunch. Grab a pink of Trader Joe's "Soy Creamy" vegan vanilla ice cream! Get the recipe here.

23. Creamy Broccoli And Mushroom Pasta
The vegan parmesan goes so well with the creamy mushrooms, the salty broccoli and the toasted pine nuts with the touch of heat from the red chili flakes. Yum yum yum! Try this recipe tonight!



24. Butterfinger Candy
This recipe is very simple, but you need to know two things before we begin: you must have a candy thermometer for this recipe, and you must read through the entire recipe before you start. Everything comes together quickly, and I certainly don’t wish a candy disaster on anyone.

25. Vegan Big Mac
Not only is this burger healthier and yummier than the original, it is also extremely easy and crazily filling! What a great way to impress your dinner guests with a vegan Big Mac! Try this recipe now!

26. Easy Cheezy Pizza
Nothing beats a yummy cheezy pizza…. Mmmmmm.  Get the recipe here.

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