Healthy Halloween Treat

I know it's a bit late but this creepy, edible treat may be fun to make for children this evening or tomorrow when they least expect it. We made this mouse with one halved, peeled and cored pear, almond ears, dried cranberry eyes, licorice whiskers and tail. Eek!

Coriander Cashew Nut Spread Recipe

After discovering the wonderment that is cashew yogurt, it was only logical to progress from a breakfast staple to a lunchtime staple and find a blog post-worthy, savoury recipe for this talented nut.

Enter cashew nut spread. This can be used in lieu of cheese as it is creamy and strong in flavour. It's easy to toss all the ingredients into the blender and it keeps well in the fridge for several days so you can have a rather gorgeous sandwich anytime. I love it coated liberally on a freshly baked roll with tomatoes, marinated artichokes and lettuce. It's all we've been eating in my house for weeks!

Coriander (Cilantro) Cashew Nut Spread
The coriander/cilantro is optional. Play around with your favourite ingredients because this is a versatile, 'make-it-how-you-like-it' kinda dish.

• handful of fresh coriander (adjust to taste)
• one cup of cashews
• juice of 1/2 or one whole lemon
• tablespoon of olive oil
• one garlic clove, crushed
  
• splash of water
• 1/2 teaspoon dried chilli flakes
• pinch of sea salt

Combine all the ingredients in a blender until you get the consistency you like. That's all there is to it! Enjoy and let me know if you come up with any other variations.

Vintage Design Ideas - Bed Headboards

Don't you think vintage and handmade items are the only way to decorate your home? You just can't find the same level of beauty and character in generic chain stores. When it comes to decorating the bedroom, you don't have to settle for boring beds and headboards. Here's a little design inspiration (for now or for your future, dream home) from Country Living.

Gold Headboard and Canopy (above)
Very French and very much a bedroom I would like to call my own. The canopy is from an old store display and softened with billowy fabric while the hanging collection of 'vintage pearls, beads, hats and bags' gives a stylish touch.

Gate Headboard

There's so many things to love in this bedroom. From the old garden gate headboard to the star speckled walls and suitcase that is a bedside table. They all add a magical, whimsical touch.

Birdhouse Headboard

Adorable! What a clever and cute idea for a kid's bedroom (that I'm afraid I would be a little envious of). I will be on the lookout for vintage birdhouses now when out shopping or at least someone who could replicate this design using reclaimed wood.

first and second image: Keith Scott Morton
third image: Janis Nicolay (all Country Living).

Stay Warm - Organic Cotton Cowl

It's officially getting chilly. Time to reach for the winter woolies but if you're vegan and not into wool, what do you do? I'd say try vintage wool scarves and cardigans or organic cotton. The cowl above is made from organic cotton yarn and looks super soft and snug. I love the toggles on it and also the delicious spice colour (very appropriate for October). Other colours are also available. Handmade in Maryland, USA.

Purchase - Anaid Designs (Etsy) $60

Sugar Wax - Natural Hair Remover

If you want to ditch the disposable plastic razors and inconvenience and expense of visiting the beauty salon, you may want to try my Sugar Wax. I've been using this for a year now and think it's a great green product that needs to be shared.

The Sugar Wax contains only three ingredients - fair trade sugar, lemons and water. Most home wax kits are packaged in plastic containers that are microwaveable. I wanted to keep my Sugar Wax as pure and as pretty as can be, so it is packaged in a glass jar. This jar is heated in a sink of hot water and is not microwaveable. When you purchase the Sugar Wax, you will also receive wooden spatulas and reusable cotton strips.

If you want to find out more about this product or wish to purchase it, please visit my Etsy shop - Perri Piper (update - opened in March 2013).
 
I hope you'll love it as much as I do!

Tara

image: Hannah Banting

Vegan Yogurt Recipe

I haven't had traditional yogurt in such a long time and I never really took to the vegan varieties out there. They are packaged in plastic and always laden with sugar. I also didn't want other iffy ingredients in my yogurt such as modified maize starch, stabilisers, colourings and flavourings. I think this cashew yogurt is a good and natural way to get that creamy, yogurt-like fix and you can control what goes into it, from the flavour to the sweetness.

Here's the recipe for the lemon yogurt I featured in yesterday's post. You can tweak it to suit your taste buds. Add more water for a thinner yogurt and play around with the amount and type of natural sweeteners.

Lemon Cashew Yogurt

• 1 cup of organic cashews (soaked in water for approximately 3-6 hours)
• 1/4 cup of filtered water
• Juice of one small lemon

To sweeten (add either of the following)

• 2 finely chopped organic dates + 1 t agave (or honey)
  
• 1 T agave

Optional extras

• Lemon zest
• Seeds from vanilla bean

Instructions
Drain the soaked cashews and tip into a blender. Blend them without any water first so they are ground as much as possible. Add 1/4 cup of filtered water, juice of one small lemon and natural sweeteners (either 2 chopped dates with agave or just agave). Blend until the mixture is smooth and a consistency you like. I use a normal blender and occasionally need to stir the mixture from the sides with a spoon in between blending.

Store the yogurt in a sealed container in the fridge. My yogurt keeps well for 3-5 days. I think it would be fine to store in the freezer also.

This yogurt is creamy and really complements granola and stewed fruits for breakfast. As it is mainly cashews, you don't need too much. A little goes a long way. I've only tried this lemon flavour so far but I'm looking forward to trying some others. Perhaps rhubarb, apricot or berries.

Granola Side Note
I mentioned that this yogurt was great served with homemade granola. Since posting yesterday, I've read a little bit about the need to soak your oats before using them. In order to lock in their goodness and digest oats better (and any whole grains) it is apparently best to soak them in water and an acidic ingredient such as lemons or apple cider vinegar.

I wanted to test this out and have a cup of oats soaking in two cups of water and 2 T lemon juice as I type. I believe it needs to soak 24 hours. I'm going to try and strain them and proceed with the usual granola recipe I make but hope they will not be too mushy or wet. Has anyone else ever tried making a soaked granola recipe? Quite frankly my oats and I are a little nervous! I'll let you know if it works out.

My New Favourite Breakfast

I've been like Goldilocks these past few weeks, searching for the perfect breakfast. I used to start the day with a bowl of organic weet-bix and organic oat milk thinking I was all healthy and you know, organic but I wasn't really. My cereal was processed and wrapped in plastic. I knew there had to be something better.

The breakfast search was on. I tried some sweet things such as quinoa with banana, walnuts and maple syrup (not for me). I tried some savoury things such as basic, homemade vegetable soup (a little odd first thing in the morning but not so bad. Still not right for me). Then I returned to the homemade granola recipe I used to make but had neglected to use because I could never find a decent vegan yogurt to go with it. Until now!

Now I've discovered how to make my own vegan yogurt using cashews and it's sublime. I've been making a lemon version and combining it with some seasonal stewed fruits and granola. The 'yogurt' is tart yet creamy, the stewed plums are only cooked with a splash of water and no sugar and still come out delightfully sweet and the granola is completely moreish. It's the perfect little breakfast trinity of flavours and nutrients. I'm such a fan of it. Even my non-vegetarian mum loves it and has been eating it for the past two weeks. It's a keeper!

I will post the 'yogurt' recipe tomorrow in case anyone would like to try it too. Hopefully, it will give you a new and healthy idea for breakfast in case you are also craving a different and delicious way to start your day.

Vegetarian Seasonal Soups for Autumn

Pinto Bean, Tomato and Butternut Squash Soup

Recipe - Moosewood Restaurant (photo by Beth Segal)

Rustic, hearty and warming. Everything you want in a soup. This recipe calls for canned pinto beans and tomatoes but if you're not a fan of the can, you could always opt for dried beans and passata.
View recipe at Epicurious


Chilli Pumpkin and Wild Mushroom Soup
- Allegra McEvedy

You've got to have a pumpkin soup during October and this is a good one to try. It's from the Leon Cookbook. I'd leave out the Parmesan but if you are vegetarian, remember to use a vegetarian-style Parmesan cheese as regular Parmesan is not vegetarian.
View recipe at Delicious


Creamy Mashed Potato and Leek Soup
- Real Simple (photo by Miha Matei)

For a little comfort food, try this nurturing soup made with potatoes, leeks and fennel. You just need to switch the stock to make this vegetarian-friendly.
View recipe at Real Simple


Mixed Mushroom Soup
- Whole Living

I've featured this recipe from Whole Living before but had to include it again. With its abundance of mushrooms, it's the perfect fall food.
View recipe at Whole Living

Carrot, Apple and Ginger Soup
- Whole Foods Market

This comes with a side of cheese crisps but as a vegan, I'd switch those for a hunk of country-style bread. For another carrot soup idea, you might like Gourmet's Curried Carrot Almond Soup.
View Carrot, Apple and Ginger Soup recipe at Whole Foods Market

Celeriac and Pear Soup
- Olive Magazine

Here's another autumnal vegetable and fruit combo that looks luscious (plus it's cream-free and butter-free so you can ladle up!).
View recipe at BBC Good Food

If you have...Watercress
Waitrose have a simple recipe that uses watercress with celeriac.

Dressing The Grey Way

Popomomo Bess Tunic - BTC Elements $72

Vintage 1950s Dress - Celia Vintage Stars (Etsy) $63

Vintage Grey and Purple Peplum Dress - Rokit £60

Grey appears to be the shade for winter. I love it no matter what the season or trend and I think these three dresses are utterly lovely. For a bit of edge, opt for the Bess Tunic with its unusual neckline and slouchy shape (made in LA / 55% hemp + 45% organic cotton). For something pretty, try the vintage Michele Granger Paris dress with its shimmering silver and grey. Lastly, Rokit have an eye-catching, structured dress that takes grey to a whole new level.

At Home Style - The Perfect Organic Tops

Arbus Tee - She-bible

Made in San Francisco / Organic Cotton Tissue Jersey

I'm always on the lookout for casual and comfortable clothing to wear at home that still has a high dose of style. This is the top that will do it. It's slouchy yet flattering with its bias cut and dress-like length. I'm loving the blue Lake shade but you can also buy it in Grape, Crimson, Sand, Olive and Black. This is an essential piece for your green wardrobe.

Purchase at She-bible - $60


For a tighter tee, She-bible also do this July Top. It has cute little pockets and slightly peaked sleeves. Another essential! Available in Olive, Lake and Black (made in San Francisco with organic cotton).

Purchase at She-bible - $72

What's In Season - October

Okay, October is here already! That means it's time to find out what's in season in the UK this month.

Fruit highlights:

• Apples
• Elderberries
• Figs
• Pears

Vegetables highlights:

• Artichokes
• Broccoli
• Butternut Squash
• Carrots
• Fennel
• Kale
• Leeks
• Mushroom
• Pumpkins
• Watercress

To view the full list of seasonal fruit and vegetables in the UK, you can visit Recipes 4 Us

I hope this makes eating seasonably a little easier this month. Have a wonderful October!


Apple image: via Green Planet