Not so green as you're cabbage-looking!

Yesterday a door was opened and I stepped in to another world. No, it wasn't the back of the wardrobe and no, I didn't find Narnia. It was The Great Yorkshire Vegan Festival held in the fabulous Leeds Town Hall. I approached to the sound of live music and the aroma of cooking burgers outside but inside did take me by surprise.

In the main hall, as expected, were numerous (150 apparently) stalls selling freshly cooked foods and ingredients from around the world. There were also stands with hot chocolate powder and coffee, chocolate and cakes, cider, beer and coconut milk. What I hadn't expected were the stalls selling cosmetics and candles, pet food, homeopathic remedies, slogan t-shirts and jewellery. Many were asking for us to sign up for this and that; save this animal, save that fish, say no to fur, say no to animal cruelty etc etc. Why exactly I hadn't expected it I can't say. I suppose being vegetarian because I don't like to eat meat (it started as not liking the texture) had not made me sit up and question the bigger picture.

Upstairs at the venue was an exhibition on veganism. It was not particularly impressive; just a few screens starting with the evolution of dinosaurs and ending with celebrity vegan quotes and endorsements. I wanted to find out more so went to listen to one of the lectures. In this I learnt that owning a car, flying on holiday, eating honey and even almonds were all bad things. I shouldn't shop in supermarkets but ought to find good sources of vegan produce on the internet but then again, these would have to be delivered from some far-flung place ... and that's a bad thing too. Honestly, it sounds as if being vegan is truly difficult as much research must be done in to where and what is ethically sound, environmentally friendly and sustainably sourced!

Another "vegetarian" in the audience was trying to do her bit and lean towards being vegan and she was praised for just being there and trying to learn something. I took heart from that and have given myself a little pat on the back too. I can't see me ever becoming vegan but it has opened my eyes and made me think of some tiny steps I can make to become that little bit greener!

Brighton Rock(s)!

Bright and breezy Brighton - I am buzzing from my two night stay there with my teenage daughter and anxious to tell you all about the fab places to dine out.

Brighton is famous for many things and we took in the pier, the beach, the Royal Pavilion, the museum and art gallery. Best of all were The Laines with their quirky shops and array of coffee shops, cafes and restaurants. The overriding theme was of real artisans at work using seasonal, local, best quality ingredients. There is a real boho, anything goes, vibe in Brighton and they certainly cater to vegetarians with veggie cafes and nearly everywhere boasted some veggie and vegan choices. We even spotted a vegetarian shoe shop!

In The Laines we visited:-

Coffee Tree - afternoon tea of delicious cakes washed down with tea and fresh smoothies

Grow 40 - breakfast yogurt and granola with a good coffee

Gelato Gusto - caramel & seasalt and creme brulee flavour

The Flour Pot Bakery - bakewell tart with a pot of tea and an iced coffee

Kooks has great reviews but we were disappointed with our breakfast

Evening Dinner:-

Cote (opposite The Dome and situated in what was once the Music Library). This is part of a chain of modern french brasserie style restaurants. After some nice salty olives and warm sourdough bread the asparagus risotto was full of summer flavours yet still warm and comforting.

Terre a terre (on East Street). Featured in the Michelin-guide, this vegetarian restaurant is a must visit (and a must book). The combination of imaginative ingredients, intense flavours and wonderful textures add up to a unique vegetarian taste sensation and I would defy any meat-eater to miss the meat from their plate. The ambience and friendly waiters helped to make it a truly great experience.

My daughter had the Better Batter and Lemony Yemeni Relish which arrived looking for all the world like fish and chips with mushy peas but was in fact a battered halloumi with the most delicious accompaniments. We both (I tried a bit) loved it.

My dish was the Bonbon Beets and Bigarade Rosti which appeared to be a giant thin crispy rosti piled high with artichoke, beetroot and almonds surrounded by a tasty sauce. 

You need to look at the website and menus - there were roughly ten listed ingredients in each dish (some of which I was unfamiliar with) but boy the chef knows how to amalgamate them into something really special. I can't recommend it highly enough. We ended the meal by sharing Churrosimo - yum!

On my to do list for next time is Choccywoccydoodah, Boho Gelato and the newly opened Breakfast Club.

Easy-peasy-pizza!

I can't believe that National Vegetarian Week has passed me by. It was 18-24th May and, had I known, I might have forced the family to unite and support me in my quest to make just one meal for tea! Ha! I think I have already mentioned a very useful book I was given when I first became vegetarian and needed to cook myself a meal alongside the meat dishes for my family. It's called "No meat for me please!" by Jan Arkless and was, quite literally, my bible!

Actually the family do sometimes eat vegetarian food, particularly pasta dishes. The meal I have made since the children were little is Naan Bread Pizza originally taken from a Nigella recipe and, like all pizzas, can be adapted to suit the recipient's taste. Here is my basic recipe:-

Naan bread (plain or the garlic and coriander ones/small ones are good for parties)

Pasta sauce (I use Seeds of Change organic tomato and basil)

Grated cheese (I like cheddar but mozarella would work too)

That's it really. You spread the sauce on the naan with a sprinkling of cheese on top and bake in a moderate-hot oven for 10-15 mins.

The wow factor will depend on what you put on it before it goes in the oven and the possibilities are endless for vegetarians and meat eaters alike. They can be sophisticated or childish but, most importantly, tasty!

Here are two of my favourites; one with caramelised onion and basil, the other a face of caramelised onion hair and roasted pepper eyes, nose and tongue. Go on and give it a go! 

Well, I may have let National Vegetarian Week pass me by but I have made sure that National Gin Day is highlighted, ringed and starred on my calendar - roll on Saturday June 13th!

Eat what it says on the tin!

Funny how we call meats by certain names and not others. For example, I've never heard anyone say "let's have pig for dinner" or "the cow was delicious" yet we do refer to chickens, ducks, rabbits and lambs. When my animal loving nephew and niece were small they were simply told "it's meat". My own children quite often ate "dinosaurs", courtesy of Bernard Matthews! Before that they had been Milupa babies with the odd exception when I would try and puree fruit and vegetables. On one of these occasions my son refused his pureed brocolli whilst his grandpa mused how it looked like grass cuttings!

As the children grew I began to make more of my own food and give them less processed stuff. They and my husband are not vegetarian so I have always cooked meat for them. (I have tried to put my husband off steak and kidney by calling it "cow and wee" 'though it hasn't deterred him!) This means cooking more than one meal at a time. I like us all to be eating a similar meal, i.e. meat and veggie chillis, curries, lasagnes, pastas etc. but when they eat a roast dinner I often fall back on a quick and convenient bought breadcrumbed camembert. These can get a bit tedious so I have found ways of livening them up by inserting a slither of garlic, a sprig of rosemary or a squeeze of honey.

Home made, 'though not really healthy, flapjack has been the staple sweet treat in our family. It's so quick and easy to make and everyone seems to enjoy it's satisfying oaty sweetness. My son is called Jack and when he was little he used to ask for "flap" having been frequently asked "would you like some flapjack?"

Most of you will probably have a much healthier recipe for flapjack but I'm going to share mine with you anyway. It was given to me by a friend in the 1970s and I have recently tweaked it a little.

Fiona's Flapjack:

9oz Stork Margerine

4oz Demerara Sugar

3tbsp Golden Syrup

12oz Porridge Oats (I use 2oz thick milled oats & 10oz wholegrain rolled oats) 

Melt margerine, sugar and syrup together then stir in the oats. Pour into a greased baking tray and bake for 15-20 mins in a moderate oven. Cut into slices whilst warm then allow to cool before removing from the tin. Enjoy!

Pasta Zucchini!

Exactly four weeks ago I was in Capri with husband and friends having taken the hydrofoil from Sorrento. We were like the Famous Five (without the dog) and, rather than take the funicular up to town, we climbed the endless slopes and steps, pausing to look back at the bay we had left behind. After a quick coffee we charged back down to the harbour to meet our boatman at the allotted time. We then experienced a wonderful two hour boat trip around the island courtesy of our wonderful guide, Salvatore.

Back on dry land and in need of sustenance we went to the nearest restaurant (L'approdo) overlooking the small harbour and sat down to a glass or three of rose. Whilst the guys went for fish and meat dishes, we girls opted for a delicious courgette pasta which was one of their specialities. We were hungry after the boat trip and fresh sea air and were definitely seduced by the island with its colourful boats bobbing in the deep blue sea and the overhead cries of the gulls. The food was heavenly much, I suspect, like the rest of Capri.

Back home I have since tried to recreate that wonderful pasta dish. I had a courgette, some pasta and a block of parmesan. With the aid of a clip from Nigellisima I succeeded in making a delicious courgette pasta (almost) as good as my Capri experience.

Cook casarecce pasta according to instructions (used by Nigella, L'approdo and myself but any pasta shape would do) 

A large courgette peeled in stripes then diced

A couple of spring onions sliced (or finely chopped onion/leek)

Cook in garlic oil until soft and squidgy

Splash of vermouth (I used dry white wine)

Chopped parsley (I didn't have this)

Put the lid on the pan and cook gently.

Add a little grated parmesan (enough to add a bit of goo and a lot of flavouring)

Melt in a knob of butter

Add the drained pasta, stir and serve

The Nigella recipe states chilli flakes but I didn't see her add them nor did I detect any in Capri.

And there you have it (although Nigella eats hers out of the pan); a little bit of Capri in a bowl.

Hello Petal!

Now is the time when much of our food is grown; vegetables, fruit, salad, herbs and flowers. Yes that's right, flowers!

Amazingly many of the pretty flowers we grow in our gardens can be eaten; nasturtiums, violas, marigolds, roses, primroses, geraniums, cornflowers, fuschias, phlox, tulips, sunflowers ... an endless list.

From the vegetable garden the flowers of peas, pumpkin, squash, marrow, onion and courgette. From the herb garden the flowers of chives, borage, lemon balm, basil, fennel, oregano, bergamot, dill, mint and coriander. Also blossom from citrus and apple trees and strawberry flowers.

Whilst fancy restaurants and TV cookery programmes have made this fashionable, flowers have been used in cookery as far back as 3,000BC and was a particular favourite in Roman Times and by the Chinese.

Mandy, a girl I worked with in the 1980s, would eat the carnations off the table in any bar or restaurant! My own sister has sprinkled a handful of nasturtiums and pansies in her salads for the last ten years or so. I thought she was a bit of a crank but it turns out she was way ahead of the game with her edible flowers, homemade chutneys and jellies and herb infused oils and she was certainly the first person I knew who recycled on a regular basis 30 years ago!

Whilst flowers can be sugar frosted to go on cakes they can easily be used in salads and sauces, desserts and biscuits as well as being used as a garnish in a cocktail.

If you decide to eat flowers you should ensure that no chemicals or pesticides have been sprayed on them. If you haven't a garden to grow them in you can buy online, visit a farmers market or bob to your nearest Waitrose where they are sold in 5g bags to add to your salad leaves. 

Or, "if you're going to San Francisco, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair" - you never know when you're going to need a quick snack!

The Merry Month of May!

Bread and cheese; no not a sandwich, nor a ploughmans, a pizza or a fancy foccacia. I'm talking about the young leaves and leaf buds of the native hawthorn. My father grew up in the then rural village of Robin Hood, near Wakefield in Yorkshire and he and his family and friends would refer to this hedgerow delicacy as a little bit of bread and cheese. 

I have done some research and it turns out that this was quite a common practice amongst country folk who would enjoy this slice of greenery, especially in times of poverty and famine throughout history. It is said to have a nutty taste although, as part of my research, I have tried a few pieces and, to be honest, they taste like leaves to me.

May celebrations go back a long way and the hawthorn has been quite central, symbolising fertility, new life and the start of the growing season. It is meant to be good for the heart when the dried berries and dried blossom are used in herbal remedies and good for affairs of the heart when the wood is turned into a talisman, wand or charm ball.

The rhyme "Here we go gathering nuts in May" probably refers to the "knots" of hawthorn blossom which were used to decorate the May-time celebrations. Maypole dancing was a favourite and I remember my sister doing it in the 1960s at a local park on quite a grand scale whilst my grandma made the dresses for the May Queen and her attendants. From the hawthorn being a sign of good luck and fertility it changed through time to become a tree of misfortune, abstinence and chastity. There would be no weddings held in May and the May Queen was a symbol of purity and innocence.

The hawthorn tree has many other names, the most common being the May Tree. Folklore has always held the tree in high regard and it is still to be respected today. There are stories of sewers and traffic having to be diverted around old hawthorn trees rather than them being cut down. The saying "Ne'er cast a clout til May be out" is probably a reference to the hawthorn blossom being out rather than the month of May ending.

So May has arrived but, as yet, the blossom here in Yorkshire has not. Whilst we wait we can always enjoy a little bit of bread and butter; for poor country folk and vegetarians everywhere.