No excuses for not blogging, just a lack of motivation.
It seems I still take a lot of photos, so thought I might as well share them here with you all. They are in no particular order just downloaded from the computer as they were.
It would appear I did a lot of cooking in August, all vegan and healthy. Apart from the biscuits, although vegan, they may not be quite as healthy, but they do indeed taste good!
The reason for so much cooking? You may remember hubby has gone mostly plant based/vegan to try and lower his cholesterol. Well the results have come back and his numbers have dropped to a reasonably safe level. From 9 down to 6.9, just like that! In the past the doctors said he must have familial cholesterol, but now according to the doctor, he doesn't have the hereditary type, simply because he was able to lower it through diet. The only down fall for hubby has been weight loss, he has lost ten kilos. Oh to have that problem lol! Anyway he is continuing on for another three months to see if the numbers drop any further. He is having trouble giving up sugar, so this may be something that is keeping it his cholesterol up a little.
I made vegan cheese...yay!
I sliced,
grated,
and made vegetable lasagne, it was so good...
Lovely moist vegan scones...
I knitted a beanie for hubby to keep his ears warm at work...
I posted quite a while ago about these knitted squares I found in an op shop. I had to knit four more so I could make a little blanket. I finally finished sewing it all together and crocheting around the border. I also added a few love hearts and stars. It is a bit wonky in places as the tension on some of the squares were really loose and some were tight. I am happy with how it turned out. Somebody went to all the trouble of knitting the squares and I presume they passed away before finishing and they ended up in the op shop. Along came little old me who couldn't leave those squares there because someone had spent many hours knitting them...
Hubby has replaced all the wooden rails on the back fence...
The rails were rotting so they have been replaced with steel ones, and some of the posts needed to have the cement renewed in the ground.
The garden has had a tidy up. I pulled out the old tomato plants and picked all the greenish tomatoes off for green tomato pickles. I also found the pumpkin among the old vines.
I had a couple of beetroot that were ready for picking, so I made beetroot and black bean burgers and they were delicious!
I am so glad with the warmer weather returning to be enjoying melons...these are so good for you and especially good for your skin.
Soy yoghurt made by moi! I experimented until I came up with this nice thick mixture. It is really creamy and taste wise, I actually like it better than the dairy one I used to make.
I have been baking biscuits regularly, and the occasional cake.
My little grandsons kindy artwork at a recent art display. This sold for $20 to unknown persons. Isn't it grand? I would have loved to buy such a treasure, but it had already sold before I had a chance...
Lucky op shop find to add to my growing collection of Fire King...
I have been taking care of this little fella since he was relocated to our property. He likes to appear for a feed and then I release him back in the wild. I have not seen him for a while, so I hope he is okay...
Plant based pizza...yum! (forgot to take an after photo)
Wild flowers have bloomed where I go for a walk. This is such a pretty daisy bush...
Pink Pig-face in bloom...
New babies in the hen house...
I helped one out of his egg...
Since these photos I have lost a few of these chicks to a pesky crow. We have taken the rest of the babies with their mama to my parents property where they are safe in a big cage until they have grown a lot bigger. I have had plenty of chickens hatch here in the past and never have I lost any in such a horrible way. It was so heart breaking...The safest option was to remove them as the crow kept coming back for more.
My reading list...
Roast sweet potato and spinach quiche. Yes that is right...vegan quiche!
No eggs needed...
It was delish with homemade tomato relish.
One pot spaghetti with vegetables...
With vegan parmesan...
Yes you got it...vegan sausages with vegetables...yum, yum! These are made mostly from walnuts, are super tasty and healthy...
Zucchini relish, a special order from my daughter who will be visiting from Sydney next week...
Hope to see you soon.
Take care,
xTania
If he's not already doing it, taking 400 units a day of Vitamin E helps most folks (not all) with their cholesterol.
ReplyDeleteThank you for that advice Gorges, I will look into it :)
DeleteHope you are well,
xTania
Hello Tania,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your post.
Your food looks good :)
I would especially like to
try the vegan cheese.
Finishing the blanket was a
lovely thing to do.
Best Wishes
Hi Fiona,
DeleteThank you for your kind comment. The cheese has great flavour but the texture is a little different to cheese as we know it. But it worked for what I wanted so I was happy. There are many vegan cheeses out there, just go to you tube :)
xTania
No wonder you were not blogging. You have been very busy. :)
ReplyDeleteThose dishes look delicious.
Hi Nil,
DeleteI have been keeping busy, and that is not a bad thing. I have been experimenting a lot with different meals that we are happy to eat. Mostly I just change regular recipes to vegan.
xTania
Lovely to see you back Tania. You certainly have been busy and I seriously can't believe the variety of vegan food. It looks pretty delicious so I may have to research and try one on my family every now and then. I won't tell them what it is of course! I'm glad the chicks are in a safe place now and away from the nasty crow. xx Susan
ReplyDeleteIt is a great idea to add the occasional meat free meal to your menu plan. This is how I started and it has taken a few years to get to where I am now. Eating vegan is good for you, good for the planet and good for the animals, a win for all :)
DeleteHave a great day,
xTania
Fantastic that you are finding that changes in diet are helping your hubby to be healthier. I would love to know how you made that vegan cheese! I love the way you have made a blanket from the knitted squares you found, what a beautiful way to use them and honour someone else's effort in knitting them all. Love the hearts and stars too. Meg:)
ReplyDeleteThere are many vegan cheese recipes on you tube Meg. I think this is the one I used;
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqjYl90EUys&t=58s
Veggie Rose has more cheese recipes on her channel, but there are also others around that I am going to try.
Enjoy your day,
xTania
Wow Tania, you have been making some yummy food. Glad your hubby is bringing down his cholesterol. You certainly cook him up some healthy meals.
ReplyDeleteDear Nanna Chel,
DeleteIts been a huge turn around from our old diet, but we do feel so much healthier. The cholesterol result is the main thing I was aiming for. Mostly we eat similar to what we have always done, just change the animal products to healthier alternatives. Its not as hard as you would think, just got to think outside the square. It does take a bit of extra thought, simply because of being taught to cook differently. It is so much cheaper to live this way, so another win.
xTania
I'm so glad you've posted again Tania, I really missed your beautiful photos. You've made me smile this morning and for that I am very grateful. Your vegan cooking looks amazing, and I bet no one would know those dishes were animal product free if you didn't tell them. You need to start a recipe page, they all look so good. And great news on the cholesterol dropping, and I wish I could drop 10kg (even 1kg would be good!). Have a lovely day, Cath xxx
ReplyDeleteHi there Cath, thank you so much for the lovely comment.
DeleteLiving vegan is cheaper than eating animal products, so a win for the budget.
I am starting a recipe folder filled with recipes I have tried and enjoyed. Otherwise I tend to forget where I found them. The internet is great for finding recipes, I simply type vegan at the front of any recipes I am looking for and usually it brings up options.
Wish I could drop weight like hubby has, but I have lost 2kg so that is good. I have increased my exercise routine because of all the extra energy this lifestyle brings. I have never felt healthier than I do now.
Enjoy your day,
xTania
Hi Tania, Wow! You have been so busy and productive. That pumpkin is gorgeous. I am always so impressed with your harvests. what a lovely job you did on the blanket. All of your meals look delicious, too.
ReplyDeleteHi Stephenie,
DeleteI am not sure what happened with that pumpkin, I think it must have cross pollinated. It is the colour of a butternut, but the shape of another variety. I have yet to taste it :)
Wishing you a lovely day,
xTania
How lovely to visit you today Tania & see your beautiful photos & listen to that music. So soothing. Lucky hubby to have lost 10 kilos ... I have plenty to spare if he should like some more!!! Love all your pics today Xxx
ReplyDeleteHi Julie,
DeleteI know right? If I followed hubby around all day I would be skinny too. He is hyperactive and doesn't stop! I like to rest.a.lot. lol!
Thank you for dropping by today,
xTania
It is amazing how food is the best medicine isn't it? My husband and I stopped taking all prescription meds five years ago (I was on five, he had 1) and turned to our diets, working to fix all the wrong in them. Today we feel better than ever. And I'm jealous of that Fire King collection!
ReplyDeleteHi Donna,
DeleteFood is definitely thy medicine. I am amazed what a difference it makes. I have energy for exercise again, I had lost motivation for a long time. I was suffering through menopause symptoms, but not no more. Also my skin and hair are a lot healthier too :)
Have a great day,
xTania
It's funny only this week I saw someone with the orange old fashioned cups and now you have them on your blog. I have never heard of the name of them Fire King. The quiche looks good too. Always the way with men easily able to lose weight vs us women. You have been cooking up a storm. Have a good week.
ReplyDeleteHi Kathy,
DeleteFire King was all the rage in the seventies. There is not a lot of it around these days, so I grab whatever I can find. I love it! It came in a pearl white, other designs also and a light green colour too, but the orange is the most popular.
I am finding it hard to lose weight now that I am older. I like my food too much lol!
xTania