Hello and happy Friday!
I was in Dubai recently for a relaxing beach holiday with my sister. We had an amazing time soaking up the sun and stunning views, exploring some of Downtown Dubai and eating good food. It’s an incredible place and I’d love to go back again to discover more!
Continue reading “Dubai – Vegan Food Spots”
Hello and happy Friday!
Time is flying, Christmas is nearing, and I still haven’t uploaded a post about my most recent trip to London from earlier this month! So, without further ado, let me share some of the food spots where I had delicious plant-based meals while catching up with friends.
Continue reading “London: Best Vegan Food (Part III)”
I’m back with another recipe – just in time for Christmas, in case you still have some festive baking to do.
Gingerbread cookies are probably my favorite festive bake, as they’re just so much fun to make and decorate (especially while singing along to Christmas songs). Last year I was too busy trying to keep up with the demand for mince pies to make any other bakes. This year, however, I went straight in for my first ever plant-based gingerbread men. I made a batch yesterday and another today – slightly sweeter in taste and thinner and crispier in texture – which I am very happy with (as highlighted by the undisclosed amount I have already eaten).
Continue reading “Gingerbread Cookies”
What on earth is a Grittibänz?! you may rightly be wondering. My fellow Swiss will know these little bread men as a traditional treat we eat on 6 December, Saint Nicholas Day, along with clementines and chocolates.
Baking being something I’ve always loved, I started making them myself a few years ago, each time searching for an ever better recipe and the “right” technique to get soft and fluffy little men (and women).
As I was still in London this time last year, this is the first time since going plant-based that I have made Grittibänz and – I really mean it – these vegan ones are the best I’ve ever made! Of course I want to share this recipe with you. Not only for all the Swiss who make these each year, but for anyone wanting a piece of Swiss culture or just a good recipe for vegan enriched bread dough. You obviously don’t have to form little people out of this dough, but can make rolls, form a plat (we call this a Zopf or Züpfe) or make whatever you want and eat it all year round.
Continue reading “Vegan Grittibänz”
Hello and happy Wednesday!
This past weekend I was in Turin for the first time, pre-celebrating my 4-year anniversary with my boyfriend, while enjoying both the cultural & culinary offerings of this beautiful northern Italian city.
Confession: The culinary aspect definitely heavily played into my vote for this destination. My boyfriend was quite surprised when, a few days after he had suggested Turin and received a noncommittal response from me, I was suddenly incredibly eager to got to Turin. It all made sense, of course, when I told him that Turin is one of Italy’s most veggie-friendly cities.
Continue reading “Weekend in Turin – Vegan Food Spots”
Chilly weather, cloudy days and early darkness all feed the desire for something warm and comforting, like a cup of tea. Or better yet: A cup of tea with a delicious (mini) pie!
These little pies are such a tasty treat, perfect in the afternoon with a cup of tea or coffee or maybe even a hot chocolate. They’re also packed with wholesome ingredients that make them a nourishing indulgence and a steady source of energy.
Continue reading “Pumpkin Pies with Cacao Pecan Crust”
Hello and happy Monday!
Yes, we’re almost half-way through November, and before we know it we’ll be exclaiming how we can’t believe it’s already December and that the Christmas countdown has begun.
I’m definitely not one of those people who has their Christmas shopping completed weeks ahead of time, but this year I’ve already taken care of one important thing: my advent calendar!
Last year, while still living in London, I scoured the shops, sure I’d find an amazing vegan chocolate advent calendar – in vain. I did find a dark chocolate one at Whole Foods, but it contained the exact same chocolate for every day, which – for someone who eats plain dark chocolate on a daily basis, all year round – is not very exciting.
I mentioned this to my wonderful friend Jordan – founder of the vegan treat business Leitchy Creates – and I’m ecstatic to say that she has created the most amazing looking advent calendar, with 24 completely different Christmas-themed, plant-based artisan pralines. They are currently available for pre-order in the UK – till Friday, November 17 – for £16.50 right here. This would definitely also be a wonderful gift for someone.
In the meantime, I’ve also discovered some options here in Switzerland (some of which are also available in other countries, like Germany, Austria and the UK). I definitely would have gotten one if I didn’t already have my Leitchy Creates one to look forward to.
Zotter Adventskalender (Chocolate)
This one has several different chocolate flavors – from white to dark to coconut to a fantastic sounding Superfood chocolate (with acai, chlorella, green tea, reishi and maca)!
Price: CHF 24.90
Found in: Migros Alnatura (Löwenstrasse, Zurich); also available online to order from Switzerland for CHF 24.68 (here). The same brand has other chocolate advent calendars, including this one, with wilder flavors, also available to order online from several countries, including Germany and the UK.
Govinda 24 Adventstage (Energy Balls)
This calendar contains eight different flavors of mainly date-based energy balls.
Price: CHF 26.90
Found in: Egli Bio (ShopVille, Zurich main station); also available online to order from several countries, including Switzerland, Germany, UK, France, Italy, Belgium and Spain, for EUR 18.80).
And, for all the tea-lovers:
Sirocco Tea Advent Calendar
This calendar contains 24 certified organic tea bags, with flavors such as Green Jasmine, Winter Moments, Pina Moringa, Japanese Sencha and White Christmas, and you can use the case long after Christmas has passed.
Price: CHF 45
Found in: Globus (Zurich)
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about these calendars, and please let me know about any other exciting options you come across!
It’s time to share with you another guest recipe – one that I can’t believe I’ve lived this long without: Vegan French Toast! This is something I didn’t think I would be eating after going plant-based, and it completely slipped off my foodie radar. Until, that is, I discovered Bianca Zapatka’s blog full of beautiful, mouthwatering recipes, including an irresistibly simple and incredibly delicious version of French Toast, using ingredients you probably have on hand.
Continue reading “Vegan Banana Coconut French Toast by Bianca Zapatka”
Cookies for breakfast? Sure! I remember when I was on holiday as a child, my sister and I would always make a beeline for the sweet breakfast treats at the hotel buffet: pancakes, pastries, cakes and cookies. It was so exciting to us that we could have these foods for breakfast. (My mom always made sure we ate a bowl of fruit first, though – something I appreciate today more than back then!)
As much as I still love the idea of having cookies for breakfast, my tastes and preferences have changed and I no longer consider cookies with lots of sugar and refined ingredients an appealing way to start the day. That’s why I’ve created this recipe – cookies so wholesome and nourishing that they really can replace breakfast, but also sweet and yummy enough to taste like a little treat.
Continue reading “Breakfast Cookies”
I’ve been seeing tempting bowls of chickpea cookie dough around Instagram and couldn’t resist making my own. After all, who doesn’t want to feel like they’re eating cookie dough for breakfast, while nourishing and fueling themselves for the day ahead? There’s just something so satisfying about eating “dessert” for breakfast.
Continue reading “Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough”
Blueberrysmiles 