First of all, Happy New Year!! I hope you all had wonderful holidays filled with too much food and a sufficient amount of happiness. I had just that type of Christmas. Starting out with wine night fun with my boyfriend on Christmas Eve and visiting family on Christmas day and all the days beyond. Alas,…
My Vegan Holiday Menu!
So it’s officially one week until Christmas and I love Christmas. In case it isn’t clear by now I love cooking, and Christmas cooking is my favourite. I love being surrounded by great conversation with my family at Christmas with the Christmas music playing softly in the background. I love the smell of all the…
Vegan Holiday Cooking – Sauerkraut and Mushroom Pierogi/Dumplings
A traditional polish dumpling these out all other dumplings to shame. There are tons of fillings that go beautifully in these dumplings (including sweet fillings) but this one is my favourite. For the dough 250g self-raising flour, plus extra for dusting 1 tsp salt 1 tbsp vegetable oil 150ml warm water For the Filling…
Vegan activism: Can it do more harm than good?
In Worcestershire, England a lorry overturned after a group of vegan activists protested against the driver transporting 640 turkeys to slaughter. This is such a sad tale. In this case, the activists likely made the situation worse and I didn’t think that was possible. Imagine being transported in a lorry in a small container unsure…
What I Miss The Most Since Going Vegan – It’s Not The Food.
Although being a vegan is mostly sunshine, rainbows and butterflies there are some things about my life prior to veganism that I do miss… The convenience of eating whatever I want. No, it’s not that I want to eat non-vegan products. When I was young I would eat anything I was not a fussy eater…
Being Vegan – How It Affects my Parents.
When I turned vegan I considered many things including “where would I get my protein?” “Would it be harder to cook?” or “more expensive” and “how would it affect my weight?” One of the biggest hurdles for me with veganism was something I never ever considered – “How would it affect my parents?” When…
Why Do Vegans Eat Fake Meat?
Since going vegan I have met a lot of people who are very interested in the diet whether it be to debunk it or because they simply cannot imagine a life without meat or dairy. One of the most interesting questions I’ve been asked in the past couple of months many times is why do…
How to Cook for a Vegan at Christmas
In the past year’s veganism has been growing and it this is only continuing. So the chance that you will have a vegan at your table is very high. For that reason, I’ve decided to so a blog which is a little bit different in that it is aimed and the omnivores out there because…
Vegan Mince Pies
Method 1 large apple peeled and grated 200g mixed dried fruit 400g black cherries in kirsch/Cherry water 100g skinless hazelnuts roasted and chopped 1 orange zested and juiced 1 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp ginger 1 tsp allspice 150g dark brown sugar Shop bought vegan shortcrust pastry Method Heat the oven to 180°C Add all…
Vegan Holiday Cooking – Vegan Stuffing
Ingredients 1 large loaf whole-grain bread or 2 small baguettes, cubed & set out to dry overnight 100g uncooked green lentils 3 Tbsp olive oil or vegan butter 1 white onion, diced 2stalks celery, diced salt & pepper 800 ml vegetable stock made with 2 cubes ( For stuffing) 350 ml vegetable stock made with…
Remove Cheese From Your Diet in 10 Easy Steps.
It is not said lightly that cheese is addictive. This has been proved a compound in cheese have been found in studies and it is what causes us to come back again and again for more. This addictive compound is the protein – Casein. When it is digested it releases casomorphins which act like morphine…
Vegan Tuna Salad
Ingredients 1 can of chickpeas 2 tablespoons lemon juice 3-4 tablespoons of vegan mayonnaise (You can use a store brand or make your own very cheaply – https://pie-or-2.org/2017/11/10/vegan-mayonaise/) 100g of canned sweetcorn 2 small stalks of celery diced finely ½ red onion diced finely Himalayan salt Cracked black pepper Pinch of cayenne Method Drain…
Vegan Holiday Cooking – Centrepiece – Mushroom Wellington
Ingredients 4 Large Portobello Mushrooms stem removed 3 large onions 3tbsp olive oil 300g baby spinach 4 sprigs of thyme leaves 1 vegan puff pastry 1 tsp Dijon mustard Soya milk Salt and pepper to taste Method Heat a pan over a medium heat with 1tbsp of olive oil. Add the onions chopped and…
Should Vegans Buy Food From Fast Food Companies That Mainly Sell Meat?
As I am sure you all have heard already Pizza Hut is placing vegan cheese on the menu throughout the UK after a successful trial! YAY!! This after news that Mc Donald’s is launching a vegan burger. This to me is a clear sign that the world is beginning to appreciate the pace at which…
Meat free Monday – Roasted Garlic Italian Potatoes
Ingredients 350g baby potatoes parboiled 1tsp garlic granules ½ tsp onion powder ½ tsp oregano Pinch of sugar Pinch of salt Pinch of basil Pinch of ground black pepper 2 tbsp of olive oil Method Preheat the oven to 200°C When the potatoes are cooled chop roughly until they are around the size of…
Plant Milks – The differences explained
Gone are the days when milk came from a cow. Milk is available today in many different varieties meaning that another choice has been added to our ever busier shopping trip. With many making the choice or having allergies or intolerances to animal-based milk there is a wide array of plant-based milk available. The best…
B12 deficieny – Are we at risk?
B12 the buzz word used by many as a reason not to pursue a plant-based diet, But what is it anyway and are vegans getting enough – Is anyone? B12 is also known as cobalamin and it is vital for health. It helps in making DNA and your red blood cells. One of the first…
Vegan Shopping Simplified
After you have decided to become vegan there are a few obstacles which you will face and will overcome for me one of the most difficult obstacles I faced was the shopping list. Suddenly faced with the prospect of new shops with different layouts, some shops with very expensive products and some that seemed too…
Vegans V.S. Omnivores – Cant we all just get along?
I’ve recently been invited to a number of vegan debate groups on Facebook. Always one to enjoy a lively debate especially on my ultimate favourite topic I happily accepted and settled in to enjoy learning from other people’s experiences and tastes. Sadly this is not what I found. Maybe this is old news to many…
Vegan Holiday Cooking 3 – Centrepiece- Nutroast
Ingredients 100g onion 1 medium carrot 35g Mushrooms 50g red lentils 600ml vegetable stock 1 can kidney beans 60g mixed nuts (pecan, walnut and hazelnuts) 1 tbsp soy sauce 1 tbsp lemon juice 2 tsp dried thyme 1tbsp rosemary Pinch of cayenne pepper 2 tsp mixed spice 200g oatmeal 1 tsp ground pepper Salt…
Q&A session with a Vegan
If you want to learn about veganism there’s no one better to learn from than a vegan. Here I interview my vegan friend on how he feels about veganism. How long ago did you go Vegan? 6 months ago. What was the reason that you went vegan? Mostly health, particularly asthma But what about the…
What are you REALLY eating?
With so many people switching to a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle these days, I’m taking this opportunity to “raise the curtain” on meat. Why do we not call a spade a spade? Why do we work so hard to separate ourselves from what we are eating? Are we in denial? Some people would offer thanks…
Sweet Potato With Braised Spinach With Coconut Milk And Beans
Ingredients 2 teaspoons oil of choice 1 small yellow onion, diced 4 large cloves garlic, peeled and minced 1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger 2 tbsp lemon juice Pinch of chilli flakes ½ can chickpeas ½ can of kidney beans 450g baby spinach 1 can coconut milk 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste 1 whole sweet…
Can we completly avoid exploiting animals?
“Veganism is a way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as is possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose.” Although the biggest part of veganism is a dietary change there is also the lifestyle changes for example not using products that…
Veganism Its A Lifestyle Not A Diet
The article Im looking at today is Niki Bezzant: Should we all go vegan? This article was published on Nzherald. In this article Niki Bezzant who claims to be a committed omnivore try’s a vegan diet. Her philosophy for eating is “a little bit of everything and not too much of anything”. She acknowledges that…
Vegan diet approval – acknowledge these expected benefits of ditching meat and dairy!
Another day another article today its express.co.uk and their article – Vegan diet warning: Beware THIS unexpected side-effect of SUDDENLY ditching meat and dairy. Ok so obviously this one is click bait the unexpected side effect they are warning about is – Hair loss. They say correctly that the rise of veganism is “attributed to…
Fruity Friday 1 – Apples
As another addition to my blog, I will be doing a “Fruity Friday”. A lot of people know about 5 a day but the fruit is often overlooked and people opt for vegetables to meet this target. So every Friday I will be uploading a blog which looks at the benefits of fruits and why…
Cow Milk Should Not Be The Main Beverage For Young Humans.
Another day and another pseudo-science article has come to my attention online. This one from the ever-reliable CBC News entitled “Plant-based milk shouldn’t be the main beverage for young children, health experts say”. According to this article, Canada’s dieticians and paediatricians are unfavourable of the trend of parents feeding their children plant-based milk. One doctor…
Vegan Holiday Cooking – Week 1 – Starters.
In the lead up to the holidays, I have decided to upload a vegan holiday recipe every Tuesday. These will be based on my own childhood Christmas dinners but I hope there will be something there everyone will enjoy. Recipes will be simple to prepare and cook. So whether you’re struggling to cook for a…
Being vegan on a budget – Yes you can!
A lot of times when I speak to someone who is considering going vegan a big concern is the price. Vegan is considered expensive but it doesn’t have to be there are many ways you can take the leap and be vegan on a budget. Fresh or Frozen? For example, a lot of the cost…
To soy or not to soy
The soya bean is a species of legume which is native to East Asia. This bean has a multitude of uses. Containing only 2.9g of saturated fat this bean is commonly used in vegetarian foods and meat substitutes. Soybeans contain a large proportion of unsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. This fat is known to increase…
Vegan Diet For Diabetics
Type 2 diabetes is spreading fast. Over 21 million people have been diagnosed with the disease in the United States, triple the number from 1990. Type 2 diabetes has devastating health consequences. It may lead to blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, and stroke. When you are diagnosed with diabetes the treatment is a diet change….
Roasted Stuffed Cauliflower
Ingredients 1 large or 2 small cauliflowers (about 850g) 5 tbsp olive oil 4 tbsp breadcrumbs 250g kale chopped 1 tbsp milled linseed 1 onion chopped 2 garlic cloves, chopped ½ small pack sage leaves chopped ½ small pack rosemary leaves chopped 150g cooked chestnuts finely chopped, plus 30g for the topping 2 lemons zested…
Sorry Omnivores – Vegetables Made Us Humans
I’ve recently been linked to a very insulting article by times magazine writer Jeffrey Kluger. Now Time magazine is not known for its sound nutritional advice see: their advice to eat more butter and debunking the “myth” that butter is bad for the heart (even though it’s high in everything that causes CVD) http://time.com/4386248/fat-butter-nutrition-health/ The…
Garlic VS Dracula
With Halloween coming up I thought it would be the perfect time to talk about an ancient tale of mortal enemies and to try and understand why these two could just never get along. So join me for the tale of the vampire and the garlic clove. Why do we believe this tale where did…
10 places to eat as a Vegetarian/Vegan in Donegal
When you think of food and Co. Donegal there’s really only one thing that springs to mind – Fish. Donegal Catch*. Now you would imagine it is not the most ideal place to be a vegetarian. With the selection of vegetarian options in supermarkets on the rise, I’m taking this opportunity to look at the…
Fizzy drink tax in Ireland
A charge of 20c per litre will be placed on drinks with 5-8g of sugar per 100ml and the tax will commence in April 2018 in a similar move the UK took last year, pending State aid approval. There will also be 30c a litre on drinks with more than 8g of sugar per litre will kick in in Ireland from April.
Living better dairy free
I have returned after a long break away from my blog. I am back with some exciting news, I have cured Asthma. Let’s begin at the beginning! As I’m sure I have mentioned before I am a vegetarian. Reasons for this are highlighted in another blog but to summarise I am a veggie simply because…
Superfoods Part 1 – Acai V.S. Blueberry
There is no scientific definition of a superfood. Foods that have slipped into this category are acai, cacao powder and goji berries and they have done so because it is believed that they contain higher than usual levels of much-needed vitamins and minerals and also anti-oxidants. Five years ago foods that made up this list…
Introduction
Welcome to pie-R-2. This blog is about all things food. I am a food scientist based in Ireland. I have had a lifelong (somewhat unhealthy) love of food, and I know I am not alone. My BSc (Hons) in food science and nutrition does mean that I am conscious of the nutritional value (or lack…
pieor2.wordpress.com 