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Butter Bean Dips (two ways): Artichoke & Red Pepper

October 16, 2022January 3, 2025Posted in Recipes, Savory, UncategorizedTagged dips, snackLeave a comment

These two dips are an absolute staple of mine – for adding flavor to a nutritious bowl during the week and especially for serving with chips and veggies. In terms of party nibbles, you’re half-way there with a good dip (or two). And while there are so many great dips you can buy, these combos bring something extra to the table and are incredibly quick to whip up – faster than going to the store. They require little to no prep and consist of pantry ingredients that you can always have at the ready for when you’re in the mood or friends stop by. Alternatively you can make the dip(s) the day before an event.

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Delicious Vegan Food in Hamburg

October 8, 2022October 8, 2022Posted in Germany, Hamburg, Travel2 Comments

In early August I spent an extended weekend in Hamburg for a relaxed city break (and a little foodie adventure) with a friend. We did not expect to be as spoiled in the food department as in Berlin, but had read that there are quite a few vegan restaurants in Hamburg. The fact that we didn’t get to try everything on our list is surely a good sign and we certainly did our best to enjoy as much delicious plant-based food as we could.

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Easy Vegan Pancakes: Banana and Classic

September 25, 2022January 3, 2025Posted in Pancakes & Crepes, Recipes, UncategorizedTagged Breakfast, brunchLeave a comment

I’ve made a number of plant-based pancakes in the past few years and have enjoyed experimenting with different ingredients, ratios and combinations. At the end of the day, these delightfully simple recipes (with banana and “classic”) have established themselves as my ultimate my go-tos that I love to come back to. They don’t have a lot of ingredients and are incredibly quick to make – perfect for both a lazy weekend and a regular weekday breakfast, if you’re working from home.

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Vegan Waffles (oven-baked)

August 14, 2022January 3, 2025Posted in Recipes, Uncategorized, Waffles & French ToastTagged Breakfast, Sweet treat, WafflesLeave a comment

If you’ve been following my insta stories, you may have already seen my latest craze: right now, I’m all about the waffles. There’s something about the honeycomb-like structure that adds a special touch to this delicious breakfast treat. Maybe it’s the glorious little pools of maple syrup and perfect pockets of blueberries and other goodies that it creates? Whatever it is, I am fully here for it and happy to spread more waffle love with this quick recipe.

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Vegan Peanut Protein Bites

March 20, 2022December 31, 2024Posted in No-Bake Treats & Snacks, RecipesTagged peanut butter, protein, Sweet treatLeave a comment

I’m a total sucker for a vegan protein bar. I don’t buy into the myth that a vegan diet leaves you lacking protein (my protein sources are definitely more varied than before) and I know there’s nothing magical about this particular macronutrient, especially not in a highly-processed form and shiny wrapper (ok, maybe there’s something about the shiny wrapper). Yet I still find myself reaching for any new product that comes my way – probably subliminally programmed by years of pro-protein messaging and the allure of the tasty flavors touted on the packaging.

However, when I tried some peanut protein bites the other day, I was struck by how easily I could make my own version – just as delicious (or more!) and without any stabilizers or other dodgy ingredients. The end result are these super easy Peanut Protein bites – the only “fussy” ingredient being peanut powder (for more information on it and a possible substitution see the notes below). This is a recipe that’s already becoming a staple.

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Carob Crepes

March 6, 2022April 23, 2022Posted in Pancakes & Crepes, RecipesTagged Breakfast, CrepesLeave a comment

Since no longer working from home I tend to start my mornings with my usual matcha mylk and have my actual breakfast in the office. This means it’s something easy to transport like energy balls (these Cinnamon Raisin Energy Balls are a firm favorite). While I could happily eat dates in any shape or form all day every day, I do enjoy a proper “weekend breakfast”. Besides the satisfaction of actually eating something more special, the process of whipping up the batter and cooking in my pjs has its own sense of comfort to it.

The inspiration behind these crepes was, unsurprisingly, carob powder, which is a delicious alternative to cacao powder. It’s made from large bean-shaped pods that grow on trees (in Croatia I was able to pick and munch on them directly from the tree – doesn’t get much better!) and the powder itself has an almost caramel-like aroma.

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Best No-Bake Brownies

February 20, 2022January 3, 2025Posted in No-Bake Treats & Snacks, RecipesTagged chocolate, dessert, Sweet treatLeave a comment

If you liked last week’s blondies you’ll love their chocolatey counterparts! I honestly can’t decide which version is my favorite.

They’re rich, fudgy, chocolatey and just as nutritious as their chickpea-based cousins thanks in part to the black beans. Before the word black beans sends you running: I’ve made my fair share of “healthy” brownies, including ones with black beans and applesauce, and the fully raw brownies so packed with dates that they appear more like a cacao energy ball masquerading as a brownie. Neither had me fully convinced. These no bake brownies are not like those. They don’t taste healthy or “too raw”. They’re soft, moreish, taste nothing like beans, and I’m convinced the luxurious cacao butter, which provides that melt in the mouth feel, takes them to another level. Give them a go and let me know what you think!

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No-Bake Blondies

February 13, 2022January 3, 2025Posted in No-Bake Treats & Snacks, RecipesTagged dessert, Sweet treatLeave a comment

These beauties are pure blondie bliss. Not only do they taste delightfully sweet with notes of white chocolate, toffee and vanilla, but they’re full of plant-based goodness – from dates, oats and nut butter to the clandestine chickpeas. Maple syrup provides some extra sweetness while the melted cacao butter adds to the overall richness. Roasted peanuts round these off with a salty crunch.

Even better? No need to turn on the oven and, if you’ve got a blender, there’s also no need to clean multiple bowls. They’re as simple as they are sweet.

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Vegan Guide to Dubrovnik

August 30, 2021January 3, 2025Posted in Dubrovnik, Travel, UncategorizedTagged Food Spots, Travel3 Comments

It’s been almost two years since my last travel post – my trip to London in October 2019 was the last time I was abroad before COVID hit. And while Switzerland is a great place for living and holidaying, you just don’t get any seaside vibes in this landlocked country – most definitely not during this summer of epic rain. Craving sunshine and the sea, my boyfriend and I ended up visiting and instantly falling in love with Croatia.

We were there for 8 nights and decided to focus on the Dalmatian coast in the area close to Dubrovnik. We spent 3 nights in Dubrovnik, very close to the Old Town, before taking a short drive up north to peaceful Brsečine for rest and relaxation. We spent the final night in charming Cavtat, walking through the old town and making the most of the sea before an early flight home. Short but very sweet, we had a good mix of activity and exploring (highlights: the old city walls of Dubrovnik – best in the early evening; kayaking around the island of Lokrum) coupled with downtime, basking in the Croatian sun. While Dubrovnik is not (yet?) a vegan hot spot, there were some foodie highlights I can share with you:

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Dark Chocolate Sandwich Cake

July 18, 2021January 3, 2025Posted in Cookies, Cakes & Bakes, Recipes, UncategorizedTagged Cake, chocolate, dessert, Sweet treat5 Comments

This recipe is the love child of the Spongy Chocolate Cake and the cream filling of the Double Chocolate Cream Tarts. The pairing is glorious enough to deserve its own post and provide inspiration for a fabulously fudgy chocolate celebration cake.

The dark chocolate and the natural sweeteners (date paste and some maple syrup) result in a “mature” semisweet richness, while providing more fiber and nutrition than a standard chocolate cake. The fact that it got the stamp of approval from my Dad (who is sceptical of vegan desserts, after experiencing some fails from my early plant-based days) was a reason for celebration on its own!

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