Vegetarian Breakfast Recipes for Winter

Warm Winter Fruit with Chestnuts
- Mary Cadogan
I would substitute the muscovado sugar for honey / organic fruit juice and instead of mascarpone, I'd dollop the fruits with a cashew cream (or a scoop of 'Keep Smiling Vanilla M'Gorilla' Booja Booja vegan ice cream for dessert).
View recipe at BBC Good Food

Warm Barley Cereal with Dried Cherries
- Body + Soul
If you want to start your day with something nutritious and delicious, this winter wonder is for you. Enjoy spoonfuls of almond milk, barley and flax meal along with seasonal fruit and perhaps honey or a natural sweetener in lieu of the brown sugar.
View recipe at Whole Living

Moby's Vegan Blueberry Pancakes
- Moby (photo by Zoe Singer)
Musician and vegan, Moby shares his recipe on Epicurious for delicious vegan pancakes. Perfect for those lazy weekend brunches when you want a sweet treat!
View recipe at Epicurious

Multigrain Hot Cereal with Cranberries and Oranges
- Martha Stewart Living
This winter warming breakfast contains all the festive ingredients for your taste buds along with toasted hazelnuts, buckwheat kasha and apple juice.
View recipe at Martha Stewart

Polenta "French Toast"
- Martha Stewart Living
It's french toast but not as we know it! There are no eggs or bread here just polenta and lovely, Christmassy ingredients. The only vegan swap needed for this recipe is the milk.
View recipe at Whole Living

Pumpkin Bread
- Sara Quessenberry and Rori Trovato (photo by Sang An)
What bread could be better than this during winter? A warm slice of this in the morning with a cup of organic tea would be heavenly! Again, I would substitute the sugar for honey, agave or Sweet Freedom. I would also use real pumpkin puree to keep the recipe nice and healthy!
View recipe at Real Simple

Honey Bread
- Marcus Samuelsson (photo by Gediyon Kifle)
According to Epicurious, this Ethiopian bread is often served at breakfast time with 'shiro, a chickpea spread.' Very unique but very tasty, I'm sure.
View recipe at Epicurious

Healthy Winter Warming Drinks - Part Two

Vegan Eggnog - Elana's Pantry
For a nog without the egg, try this rather luscious recipe that will be much more aromatic and refreshing to drink.
View recipe at Elana's Pantry

Mayan Hot Chocolate - Natural Health
Okay, this drink contains a sweet potato but it sounds intriguing and exotic, so I'd give it a try.
View recipe at Natural Health

Hot Christmas Punch - Tana Ramsey
This drink will pack a flavour punch but without the alcohol. Several juices and spices are used to create a festive drink that is perfect for everyone.
View recipe at UK TV's Good Food

Spiced Apple Cider Kanten - Natural Health
Everyone will be wanting refills of this fun drink made with a dash and splash of coconut milk and agave nectar.
View recipe at Natural Health

Spiced Hot Chocolate with Orange - Whole Foods Market
Use your vegan milk and chocolate of choice in this recipe that has been spiced up with a sprinkling of cayenne pepper and orange zest.
View recipe at Whole Foods Market

Stamina Tea - Body + Soul
To feel your best during the holiday season, try making this 'homemade herbal chai' drink made with dried ginseng, ginger and licorice root.
View recipe at Whole Living

Healthy Winter Warming Drinks - Part One

Cinnamon, Orange, Honey and Rosebud Tea
- Ching-He Huang
The dried rose buds make this drink sheer prettiness in a cup! Oranges, cinnamon and honey are the only other ingredients you will need to create this gorgeous winter drink.
View recipe at Delicious

Spiced Hot Dark Chocolate - Body + Soul
This delicious and decadent drink has to be good for you with dark chocolate, soy milk, cayenne pepper and spices.
View recipe at Whole Living

Chai Tea with Soy Milk - Martha Stewart Living
During winter, every time is Chai time! The combination of spices such as cinnamon, cloves and fresh ginger really do warm the soul.
View recipe at Martha Stewart

Mulled Cranberry Cocktail - Whole Living
What could be more Christmassy than this? Its fun, festive and delicious. I'd personally switch the sugar for your natural sweetener of choice and then sip away. Merry Days!
View recipe at Whole Living

Hot Cocoa with Almond Milk
- Martha Stewart Living
Few things are more comforting than a cup of hot cocoa. Try making your next one with this recipe using almond milk and cinnamon sticks (and maybe switch the sugar for agave or something similar).
View recipe at Martha Stewart

Mulled Apple Juice - Emma Lewis
So simple yet so sip-tastic! You only need five ingredients for this Christmas time drink.
View recipe at BBC Good Food


Fancy a winter song to accompany your winter drinks? Just press play to be whisked away to a winter wonderland!

Create a playlist at MixPod.com

Tomorrow: More Healthy Winter Warming Drinks (including vegan eggnog).

Beauty Review - Inika Mineral Foundation

With the party and gift giving season well and truly upon us, it may help to learn about a great mineral foundation I've found. Inika's award-winning Mineral Foundation provides your skin with everything you could want from a foundation - excellent coverage of flaws, natural looking and light enough so that your skin can still breath! This foundation can also be used as a concealer.

Many mineral foundations contain nasty talc and bismuth oxychloride, but Inika avoid these along with preservatives such as parabens, preferring to keep it simple with only the following ingredients:

Mica (CI 77019) May contain (+/-) Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891); Zinc Oxide (CI 77947); Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499); Ultramarines (CI 77007).



To ensure the foundation stays put throughout the day and night with a fantastic consistency, I'd suggest using Inika's primer. This lovely cream is applied after your moisturiser (or can be used without a moisturiser) and is a vital step in getting the most from your mineral foundation. I love the botanical scent and the fact the ingredients are certified organic. To view ingredients in the primer, click here.



Vegan girls will love Inika's award-winning, Vegan Kabuki Brush which is perfect for applying the mineral foundation. This brush is big, fluffy and enables you to distribute the foundation evenly around your face with large and gentle brush strokes (that are super soft). Even the wood from the brush handle is 'sourced from sustainable forestry.'

You'll find the Inika range of cosmetics looks ultra luxurious. The sleek, Cleopatra shades of black and gold packaging make each product look equal to any pot or jar of Chanel or Dior. Inika also have a broad selection of foundation shades to choose from, so finding the right shade for your skin should be a breeze. I tend to like choosing a shade a smidge darker than I usually would as it provides a nice, sun-kissed glow.

All three products can be purchased at Content - Mineral Foundation (£21.46), Vegan Kabuki Brush (£19.57) and soon, also the Primer.



Content are also selling a gorgeous Christmas pack at the moment filled with Inika goodies. You will find a medium pot of foundation, mini Kabuki Brush and organic Berry Lip Whip in a classy gold purse.
Purchase at Content - (£29.95)

The Inika line of cosmetics and brushes are certified vegan (by the Vegan Society), are 100% certified cruelty free (Choose Cruelty Free) and are made in Australia. To learn more about Inika, you can visit their website.

Grey Weather = Grey Eco Fashion

Sublet Deborah Dress in Slate (AUS $330)
Made in USA / Rescued Silk
I adore the delicacy of this dress which has been made to order from 'rescued silk from the garment district.'
Purchase at Sublet or Eco Fashionista (discounts available)



Charcoal Heaven Tee - Mociun ($78)
Made in Brooklyn / Organic Cotton
Go the quirky way for your next organic tee purchase with this new piece from Mociun, available in a crew or scoop neck.
Purchase at Mociun



Vintage Gloria Gray Mini Dress - Ramona West ($52)
This cute, gray dress is super stylish and versatile. It can easily be dressed up or dressed down and it will transition very well from day to evening. What more could you want in a dress?
Purchase at Ramona West



Long Sleeve Merrow Tee - Stewart + Brown (On Sale $32)
Made in Portugal / Organic Pima Cotton
This top is ideal for winter with its extra long sleeves and dress-like length. The lovely print also adds to the snug yet stylish vibe of this tee (available in other colours).
Purchase at Stewart + Brown



Vintage Beret - Lady Moon Vintage ($16)
Now that I no longer buy new wool products (you're welcome all my sheep and goat homies), I've had to turn to vintage wool ware. I'm currently scouring vintage stores for gloves, scarves and oversized beanies such as this grey one to help keep me warm during winter in London.
Purchase at Etsy



Vintage Gray Pearl Ring - Small and Mousey ($14)
I know this ring's gold banding is slightly tarnished but I think it adds to its vintage charm and prettiness. It's a little cluster of loveliness!
Purchase at Etsy



Vintage Sarah Coventry Ring - Small and Mousey ($14)
Swirls and pearls on a ring! Its pleasing to look at and even more pleasing to buy for $14!
Purchase at Etsy

KeepCup - Reusable Coffee Cup Option

This is exactly what I needed on my recent holiday. Every time there was an opportunity for tea the green girl without and within was really wishing I could hand over some reusable cup to be filled with my beverage of choice instead of sheepishly accepting a disposable paper cup. Of course, many would argue that to be truly green you should sit down and sip your tea or coffee from a ceramic cup but alas, this isn't always an option for all of us as we dart about day to day.

The KeepCup has been designed to meet the needs of you and your barista, from the silicone band that allows you to permanently label your coffee preferences to the nifty plug and handle-less design that makes sipping on the go less dangerous and more do-able. It has all the advantageous of your previously loved paper cup but without the high landfill quota!



The design certainly makes it ideal for travelling. I can't help but imagine how cool it would have been if everyone on the last flight I took had each whipped out one of these KeepCups to receive their beverages (I know, ideally we shouldn't be flying, reusable cup in tow or not but 'baby steps' huh?)

According to the online store, Biome Australia all of the 'materials used in the KeepCup are BPA free' and made from the following:

• Cup and lid - #5 polypropylene
• Plug - polyethylene polymer (TPU)
• Thermal band - silicone

I'm still not sure how I feel about the use of plastic for drink containers but I thought this cup was worthy of a showing for anyone that may not have seen it yet. I'm impressed by the fact the product is made in Australia (which is quite amazing when you realise that pretty much every other drink container in the world is made in China). The KeepCup is also a welcome solution towards reducing the staggering amount of disposable cups currently being used around the globe in countless coffee chains and cafes.



The KeepCup is available in three sizes and in various colours. Resellers and corporates can also customise the KeepCup with their preferred colour choices. You can purchase the cups through KeepCup (small sizes start at $10.20, medium $12.20 and large $14.20).

To learn more about KeepCup, you can visit their website.

Polli - Australian Made Jewellery

As soon as I spotted this quirky, cute necklace, I knew I had to learn more about the design team behind this jewellery. I mean, have you ever seen a necklace with a tandem bicycle, basket packed with a bottle of wine and a baguette with a dog named Duffy on the back? Probably not, which is why I love it! It's truly unique (and affordable).



Tandem Necklace
Made in Australia / Stainless Steel + Sterling Silver Chain
Purchase at Polli for AU $74.95



Maja Rose and Tess Lloyd are the creative duo behind Polli, which is also an environmentally conscious company that produces everything in Sydney, Australia. Here are some other equally charming and pretty pieces from Polli.



Dash Necklace - $69.95
I don't know which is cuter, the daschund or its little jacket?



Terrace Earrings ($59.95)



Terrace Pendant ($79.95)
Polli explain on their site how their 'studio started in a terrace just like these in Sydney.' The Pendant also comes in a smaller size for $49.95.


Visit Polli to view more of their Australian made jewellery and homeware products.

Vegetarian Dinner Party Idea: Italian

APPETIZER / L'ANTIPASTO

Broad Bean and Rocket Bruschetta
- Lucas Hollweg
Fava beans and arugula on crusty ciabatta bread is the perfect way to begin an Italian feast. The ingredients are simple but the taste is fresh, healthy and scrumptious.
View recipe at Times Online

MAIN MEAL / IL SECONDO

Linguine with Tomatoes and Capers
- Andy Harris (image by Sam Stowell)
I made this a few weeks ago without the parmesan and it was lovely. So easy to make and even easier to devour! I loved the use of capers and lemon zest.
View recipe at Jamie Oliver

DESSERT / IL DOLCE

Panna Cotta with Apricot Compote
- BBC Good Food
A vegan version of panna cotta? Si! Just use some agar agar and soya milk and proceed happily into the heavenly world of Italian desserts.
View recipe at BBC Good Food

Orange and Basil Sorbet
- BBC Good Food
Dessert Option Two delivers the famed Italian flavours of basil. Your dinner guests will surely appreciate trying this unique sorbet (which only needs three ingredients). It will be a real treat for the taste buds!
View recipe at BBC Good Food

DRINKS / BEVANDE

Sparkling Honey Lemonade in Citrus Salt Rimmed Glasses
- Whole Foods Market
All the fun and flavour of a cocktail but without the alcohol! This zingy drink is a refreshing option for dinner guests and the lemons will surely taste like a little bit of Sicily!
View recipe at Whole Foods Market

Chardonnay del Veneto Cantine Volpi
Vinceremos have a variety of organic Italian wines on offer such as this chardonnay which is also vegan.
Purchase at Vinceremos for £5.99

BUON APPETITO

images (opening and above): Skona Hem

On the Road: Fashion, Food and Beauty

It's A Wrap, LA - Vegan shoes from the Warner Bros. set that were only $35!

Even though I've been back in London for a week now, at least I have some fabulous clothes from LA and many gourmet memories to inspire and remind me of my wonderful holiday!


FASHION

I've mentioned before my love of It's A Wrap in LA, and my visit to the store this last time only increased the love! It's A Wrap have two locations in LA and all their stock comes straight from the sets of the TV and film studios. A few years ago I picked up a jacket from the Gilmore Girls and a skirt from Legally Blonde. This time I picked up jackets, coats, cardigans, a bag and shoes (that weren't made with leather).



Eileen Fisher Swing Coat - I was worried the colour would wash me out but it was so cute I couldn't say no.



Majorly discounted black Michael Kors coat from the set of Law and Order (but no fashion crimes will be committed while wearing this).



Green Banana Republic Coat - this helps me build a wardrobe of quality winter coats, plus its in my favourite shade of green.



I had to fill this $6 brown beaded bag with some of the cardigans I bought. I was determined not to accept a plastic bag even though all my reusable cotton bags were bursting from holding the winter coats.

It's A Wrap
1164 S. Robertson Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA (also located in Burbank)


FOOD

Urth Caffe - Beverly Hills
I won't lie, I initially went to Urth Caffe to do some celeb spotting but it was the healthy food and organic tea that made me come back a second time. I loved popping into the Beverly Hills caffe and starting the day with their granola with fresh fruit and soya milk. So good!



Evelyn's Favourite Pasta - The Cheesecake Factory
Because I was the only vegan travelling we did stop by the Cheesecake Factory in Beverly Hills. I really enjoyed this pasta and would like to try and make it at home some time. Here is how it read on the menu: 'penne tossed with broccoli, oven-dried tomato, roasted eggplant, peppers, artichoke, kalamata olives, garlic and pine nuts'.



Vegan Pizza - Auckland
My pizza creation from the 'Make Your Own Pizza' night we had at my family's place in Auckland, along with a yummy rice salad made by my aunt.



Vegetable Terrine - The Boat Shed, Bucklands Beach, Auckland
This dish was divine! One of the best meals I've had. It had a pepper coulis drizzled over the artistically wrapped courgettes and eggplants and the balsamic vinegar was heavenly. I've never noticed the flavours in a balsamic vinegar before but this was sharp, zingy and fruity. I should have asked where it was from.


BEAUTY

Here are some of the organic and natural beauty products I travelled with. From left to right:

• Intelligent Nutrients Aromatics Spray: Nice, natural alternative to perfume
• Eucalyptus Spray: I filled an old glass bottle with purified water and a few drops of eucalyptus essential oil to spray in hotel rooms and on the plane. It's meant to keep the germs away and keep you healthy.
• Face Spritz: I filled this blue bottle with water to spritz my face during flights but I recently read that this actually dries your skin out. You need a spray with an ingredient such as aloe vera or something.
• Weleda Everon Lip Balm: Lovely vanilla, rose lip balm
• Erbaviva Jasmine and Grapefruit Deodorant: A natural deodorant that works!
• Sweet Almond Oil + Lavender Essential Oil: I made this blend to use as a hand sanitizer. I figured this is as natural as you can get. Lavender disinfects and the almond oil moisturises. It worked well for me.
• Weleda Skin Food: This ultra thick, gorgeous smelling moisturiser was perfect for my face and hands that were majorly dry from flying.

• Green People Intensive Repair Shampoo: Such an impressive organic shampoo that leaves hair super soft and shiny.
• Weleda Plant Gel Toothpaste: One of my favourite natural toothpastes
• Dr Bronner's Organic Castille Soap: I didn't open any toxic hotel toiletries and relied on Dr Bronner instead, using it as a hand soap and shower gel. You can also use it as a shampoo and toothpaste but I've yet to try that!
  

Sorry to waffle on but hopefully some of this info has been helpful! I'll leave you with this final photo and thought before signing off.


GO TO YOUR...


Bondi to Coogee Beach Walk, Australia