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‘Supper’ Category

  1. Vegan Pizza Options

    February 27, 2011 by Chrissie



    Tell someone you’re vegan and the thought ‘what the hell do they live on’ will usually be what’s crossing their minds. Unless you are the vegan, it’s hard to know what this non animal product diet can entail and most will assume that when it comes to fast food you’re missing out – though let’s face it with some fast food you might prefer that option! But then of course, there’s pizza. Pizza can be enjoyed by everyone, vegans, vegetarians, pescatarians, vegaquarians!!!! And though it’s termed ‘fast food’ it can definitely be the healthiest option when it comes to ordering in. So if you are vegan, what can you order from the pizza place?

    Well firstly if you’re into healthy eating, always opt for the thin crust whole wheat pizza base where you can. Whole wheat pizza has more fibre than other pizza dough options and that can help with weight control and reduces the risk of heart problems and strokes. Also, a tomato based pizza sauce will eliminate the risk of any dairy, so don’t order cream based sauces or cream and tomato blends.

    Remember to stay away from pesto in pizza sauce! Pesto contains parmesan cheese, most people know that, some don’t. Obviously all cheese is a no go. Most pizzas, even vegetarian options, are smothered in cheese, so make sure you are very clear that you want no cheese when you place your pizza order.
    Veggies veggies veggies! Look at the vegetarian pizza options and take away the cheese (and eggs if applicable) Look at the add ons too, you’ll be in veggie heaven! A lot of fast food pizza restaurants have a build your own pizza option and for vegans, this can be the key to ensuring an animal product free pizza.

    fresh veg for pizza

    Here are some of our favourite vegan pizza options, all available from fast food restaurants:

    *Tomato & basil pizza sauce, olives, spinach, yellow peppers, mushrooms, olive oil
    *Tomato and roasted garlic pizza sauce, mushrooms, onions, roasted fennel, red and yellow peppers
    *Tomato, basil and garlic pizza sauce, red chillis, red onion, mushrooms, Italian seasoning, minced garlic, black pepper, red, green, yellow and orange pepper, spinach, capers!


    Category Supper, Veggie food | Tags: | No Comments

  2. History of the Pizza

    August 13, 2010 by Chrissie



    Pizza is now sold in virtually every country of the world, and is arguably the most popular food in the world. Even in countries with no history of consuming Western food, pizza is instantly popular. In 2009, the first North Korean pizzeria was opened in Pyongyang. It was an immediate success.

    The world’s first pizzeria opened in 1830 in Naples, Italy. It was called the Pizzeria Brandi and is still in business today. Raffaele Esposito invented the Margherita there in 1889, in honour of Margarita of Savoy the queen of Italy. It was made of mozzarella, basil and tomato sauce to reflect the colours of the Italian flag.

    In the US, the first record of a pizzeria being opened was by Gennaro Lombardi in Little Italy, Manhattan in 1905. The premises were originally opened as an Italian grocer in 1897. Lombardi’s closed in 1984, but was re-opened by his Grandson just down the street in 1994.

    In the UK pizza was not sold to the public until 1934 when Olivelli’s Restaurant, Store St, London, WC1 added pizza to their menu. None of the Italian restaurants that were already open in the UK had pizza on their menu at that time. Olivelli’s remained a restaurant, but changed hands several times over the years. In 1993, Giovanni Salamone renovated the premises and opened it as the first in the Pizza Paradiso Olivelli chain of restaurants.

    The biggest chain of pizza restaurants in the world, Pizza Hut, did not begin trading until 1958. Frank and Dan Carney opened their first pizzeria in Wichita, Kansas; by 1972, they had 1,000 outlets. In 1973, they went international, opening restaurants in Canada, Japan & the UK. The first Pizza Hut in the UK opened in Islington, London.


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  3. Creamy Cauliflower Soup

    January 13, 2010 by Chrissie



    It’s been so bitter cold lately I haven’t really wanted to spend an awful lot of time in the kitchen with it’s single glazed back door and always-in-use catflap letting in the cold. However, I’ve wanted to make sure we had at least one good hot meal a day to keep the chill away. I’m not a huge fan of soup and I have to really be in the mood to make one but I made one yesterday using a caluiflower and some bits of stilton left over from Christmas and it was really gorgeous. I didn’t follow a recipe as such but  I used the following in roughly these measurements:

    A medium sized cauliflower
    About 2 ozs of Stilton
    A tsp of butter
    2 onions – chopped
    2 medium sized potatoes – chopped
    A pinch of nutmeg
    About a pint and a 1/4 of veggie stock
    Salt & Pepper

    I fried off the onions in the butter, added in the potato, cauliflower, nutmeg and seasonings, covered with the stock and brought to the boil. Then I let the whole lot simmer for about half and hour (until the potatoes) were soft. Left it to cool, then whizzed it up with a hand held stick thing (leaving it a bit lumpy). I served it with a blob of creme fresh, a bit of dill and some crusty brown rolls. It’s gone straight onto my ‘will make this at least once a month’ list as it was so yummy :-)


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  4. Caramelized Onion Cauliflower Cheese

    November 20, 2009 by Chrissie



    It’s been horrible weather here and as it’s my last day at home for a few days I thought I’d make a cauliflower cheese using up bits and pieces I had, so we had something filling and hot for tea. It’s not a great favourite of mine but my husband really loves it and the cats look forward to any leftover cheese sauce they can get their paws on…

    I managed to pick up some cauliflower and broccoli going cheap at Tesco on Saturday so I bought two lots to freeze – I dug those out along with some different portions of cheese I’d frozen when they’d also been going cheap a few weeks before. The cheese was caramelized onion Cheddar and I mixed it through a home made white sauce to which I’d added black pepper and a pinch of mixed spice.The sauce and veg went into an ovenproof dish and then into a hot-ish oven for about 40 minutes. It came out looking all brown and bubbly like this:

    cauliflower-cheese

    Like I said, I’m not a fan but this was so lovely I ended up ending two huge portions…I’ll definitely be making it again.


    Category Supper, Veggie food | Tags: | 1 Comment

  5. Stew and dumplings

    November 15, 2009 by Chrissie



    I’m a big fan of veggie sausages as they are so versatile and this recipe is one of my favourites as it’s easy, filling and tastes really fantastic.

    Take 6 – 8 veggie sausages (I really like the Cauldron ones) and brown in a little oil. Meanwhile, slice up 2 leeks, about 12 mushrooms and about 8 new potatoes. Add the sausages and veg to the slow cooker along with a pint and a half of veggie stock, a glug of red wine and some seasoning. Cook on a low setting for 6-7 hours.

    After cooking for a few hours it’ll start to look like the above. Now for the dumplings, my favourite part :-) Using the recipe from the back of the Atora Veggie Suet pack I made up the dumplings and then raided my spice box for lots of lovely extras……

    spice_box

    To the flour, veg suet & salt mix I added a pinch of paprika, mixed spice, black pepper, dried sage & dried rosemary and give it a good old stir before adding the water.

    This doughy mixture made about 7 medium dumplings and I popped them on top of the casserole for the last 40 minutes. Apart from about 20 minutes prep, the whole thing took no time at all and the house was filled with lovely wintery smells all day :-) We sat down an hour ago to two huge bowlfuls with plenty left for lunch tomorrow.


    Category Supper, Veggie food | Tags: | 1 Comment

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