Food And Drink | A Mummy Too

Vegans can have great breakfasts too! (including a scrambled tofu recipe)

21 May, 2013 By Emily Leary 1 Comment

I am so, so full! – me

I love a challenge, especially a foodie one, so when McCain emailed me and asked me if I’d like to write about my dream breakfast, I was happy to oblige – even more so when I read further and learned the plan was to challenge my family to make it for me. WIN!

So, by supermarket delivery this morning arrived all the ingredients for my dream breakfast of scrambled red pepper tofu, veggie sausages, hashbrowns, seeded toast and grilled tomatoes, with a big glass of fresh orange.

I have to admit, I helped to make the tofu part, but low and behold I sat in the garden on a sunny Sunday morning and enjoyed a beautiful – and perfectly vegan – cooked breakfast. I was stuffed!

If you’d like to try it for yourself, the textured, flavourful sausages are Linda McCartney and the from-frozen, crispy hash browns are McCain. Both manufacturers have confirmed their products are meat, dairy and egg free.

If you want to make the scrambled tofu, here’s what to do (with thanks to Jolinda Hackett for the inspiration for this recipe:

Ingredients

396g pack of tofu (we used Cauldron)
2 sprays of liquid aminos
1/2 tsp tumeric
1/2 tsp garlic granules
4 tsp yeast flakes with B12
2 tsp olive oil + 1tbsp for the pan
1 red pepper
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Drain the tofu and press out the excess liquid against kitchen towel
In a large bowl roughly mash the tofu with the aminos, tumeric, garlic and olive oil
De-seed and finely chop the red pepper
Warm the remaining oil in a large pan over a medium heat and fry the pepper until soft
Tip in the tofu and fry for about 8-10 minute, stirring occassionally until the flavours taste cooked through
Stir through the yeast, season to taste (I recommend lots of pepper), give a final taste test and serve

The result is rather yummy and perfect for breakfast.

One thing I’d say, though, is that if you’re going to try a vegan meal, try not compare the components to their meaty/eggy/dairy-rich cousins – it’s not about being better or even the same as, it’s about being different, and we can all benefit from widening our experiences with food, whatever our day-to-day diet needs and choices :)

Disclosure: we were sent some McCain hashbrowns free of charge for review. No payment was recieved. All posts are 100% honest.

Filed Under: Food and drink Tagged With: breakfast, cooked, hash brown, sausage, vegan, vegetarian

Here’s what’s been keeping my tea breaks interesting in May

19 May, 2013 By Emily Leary 1 Comment

I think Daddy would like a cup of tea – JD, 5

Look how funky my kitchen is looking! As well as the lovely Brabantia textiles that grace my kitchen these days, I’ve also been loving this super funky Koziol Audrey Murano tea strainer from Red Candy (£13.00). It’s cool and functional. Aces.

Tea-wise, I love a bit of loose green tea, but I’ve also been trying out the highly unusual Higher Living Sweet Chilli Tea (£1.99 for 15 bags), which is flavoured with chilli (obviously), cocoa, licorice, ginger, cinnamon, fennel, anise, black pepper, bourbon vanilla, cardamom, cloves. It’s an acquired taste, but certainly makes a change from my usual brew.

If you’re more a fan of traditional tea, I highly recommend Tetley’s newest tea, Estate Selection (£2.99 for 80 bags). Apparently the leaves in this really clean and full tasting black tea are “handpicked at altitude from tea estates in the foothills of Mount Kenya, where leaves are famed for their more intense and concentrated flavour”. It’s so lovely that we’ve switched over to this from our usual brands – it’s worth the extra 50p-£1 per pack.

And finally, when I fancy a sweetened brew, I’ve been squeezing in a dash of Sweet Freedom (£2.98 for 350g), a natural syrup made from 100% fruit. It’s lovely on toast too and apparently healthier and lower in calories than sugar.

What tea break treats have you been enjoying this month?

Disclosure: we were sent all of the items featured in this post free of charge for review. No payment was recieved or this post. All posts are 100% honest.

Filed Under: Food and drink Tagged With: kitchen, lifestyle, review, tea

Why I love the new Lavender Textiles from Brabantia

15 May, 2013 By Emily Leary 1 Comment

Don’t spill any jam!! – me

If you’re a regular reader of amummytoo.co.uk, you may have noticed a theme in recent posts; a certain lavender-blue, chequered pattern. That, my friends, is the gorgeous new Lavender Textiles range from Brabantia.

From table clothes, to placemats to tea towels, these are great quality, thick and above all, gorgeous to look at. Oh, and they wash and press well, which is handy when you have a family as messy as ours!

If you love the textiles, you could team them up with the other lavender items in Brabantia’s Get Together range such as beautiful porcelain dinner plates, bowls and cake plates, as well as practical accessories like pan coasters, egg cups and coasters. I’ve reviewed the lavender T4ONE set before, and it goes beautifully with the textiles to create a really bright, fresh feel at breakfast.

Have a look at the whole range on the Brabantia website - I challenge you not to be tempted!

Disclosure: we were sent some textiles free of charge for review. All posts are 100% honest. No payment was received for this post.

Filed Under: Food and drink Tagged With: brabantia, kitchenware, review, tea towel, textiles

Have you tried Chocolate Soreen with banana? (sponsored post)

13 May, 2013 By Emily Leary 2 Comments

Mmm, cake – Miss J, 1.5

Sometimes, when I’m sent food to review I think, “How am I going to get through all that by the Use By date???” When I work with Soreen, I often think that at first, but once the kids have devoured a few loaves and friends have happily marched off with a pack each, it’s soon all gone.

And that’s a particular shame when it comes to Limited Edition Chocolate Soreen as it’s only in the shops for a few more weeks. Get yourself to ASDA or Morrisons and grab some. It’s so worth it. The kids adore the chocolate chip malty loaf with a few bits of sliced banana on top. Yum. Miss J seems to think it’s cake but actually it’s only 6.3% fat which isn’t bad at all for such a squidgey, chocolatey product.

I reckon it’s even worth buying extra loaves and sticking them in the freezer. They’ll last three months and you’ll be having a yummy chocolate snack for weeks to come.

Disclosure: this is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.

Filed Under: Food and drink Tagged With: banana, chocolate, malt loaf, recipe, soreen

Almond sponge pudding (vegan microwave recipe) + #recipeoftheweek 11 May

12 May, 2013 By Emily Leary 6 Comments

Woohoo, pudding! – me

I went to Blog Summit in Birmingham yesterday to catch up with some blogging friends, which was lovely, but there were biscuits and cakes everywhere and I couldn’t eat any of them! Cue some 11am emergency cake making this morning, and here’s the result: a yummy almond pudding with loads of jam and no eggs or dairy.

Here’s what to do…

Ingredients

50g caster sugar
50g vegan margarine
1/2 tsp baking powder
25g ground almonds
8g sachet of arrowroot
1/2 tsp vanilla essence
10 tsp soya milk
75g self raising flour
4 tbsp jam

Instructions

In a microwave-safe cereal bowl, cream together the margarine and sugar
Mix in all the other ingredients except the jam until smooth, then level off
Microwave on high for 2 – 3 minutes, depending on how good your microwave is – you want it to be just set. If you over cook it, it’ll go dry and stiff as it cools
When it seems just set on top, spoon the jam on top and return to the microwave for 1-2 minutes until the jam just bubbles
Allow to cool a little so it doesn’t burn anyone, then serve with vegan custard

YUM! Thanks to Mammasaurus for inspiring the flavours in this dish with her Raspberry Bakewell cake.

Add your #recipeoftheweek

Do you have a recipe to share? Here’s the place you can do it! Pick one from the past week, or any time at all. Meaty, vegan, fatty, low-calorie – all recipes are welcome, just as long as you haven’t linked them up to #recipeoftheweek before.

You share the goods, then I generally go round reading, commenting, Stumbling, Pinning and drooling over everyone’s entries. It’s that simple. So just link up below and let’s share the love.

Link up your post using the Linky tool below
Add the “Recipe of the Week” badge to your post so that readers can find other great recipes.
Take a little time to read and comment on each other’s recipes.
Come back next Saturday and we’ll do it all over again.

Enjoy!

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.amummytoo.co.uk/2013/05/almond-sponge-pudding-vegan-microwave-recipe" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><img alt="Link up your recipe of the week" src="http://www.amummytoo.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/recipe-of-the-week.png" /></a></div>

Filed Under: Food and drink Tagged With: #recipeoftheweek, cake, microwave, pudding, recipe, sponge, vegan

Taste testing Five Valley’s Cordials (review)

7 May, 2013 By Emily Leary 2 Comments

Ooh, posh cordial – me

Are you guilty of not drinking enough water? I most definitely am. I drink tea, sometimes cola, but overall I know I don’t take in enough fluids. Unless, that is, I have a really good cordial in the house. The new range from Five Valleys is just the ticket

The Peach and Lychee flavour is deliciously subtle with a pleasant aftertaste and no bitterness, the Pomegranate and Rose variety is clean and sweet with notes of red wine, while the Lemon and Mint has a strong, tart flavour that would be perfect with crushed ice and a shot of vodka (just for the grown ups, obviously).

As well as being unusual and yummy, Five Valleys Cordials are made from natural ingredients and free from artificial flavours, sweeteners, colourings or preservatives. You can really taste the difference.

If you want to try them for yourself, they’re available in Waitrose & Ocado, priced at £3.50 per bottle. You might also want to try Apricot & Ginger, Sloe & Raspberry and Coconut & Kaffir Lime.

Disclosure: we were sent three bottles of Five Valleys Cordials free of charge for review. No payment was received for this post. All posts are 100% honest.

Filed Under: Food and drink Tagged With: cordial, drink, review, taste test

Kicap Manis glazed tofu + #recipeoftheweek 4-10 May

6 May, 2013 By Emily Leary 6 Comments

What’s that sticky stuff? – JD, 5

Ever since I was sent some Malay Taste Kicap Manis to review, I’ve been putting it on everything.

It’s an authentic Malysian soy-based sauce, made thick, sweet and sticky with wheat flour, starch and sugar. Added to sauces, it lends a subtle salty sweetness, but it really comes into its own as a glaze. Baked on tofu, it gives a textured, sweet coating while the interior remains light.

To make the glazed tofu you see above, drain a block of tofu, then slice along the length to create two thinner slabs. Press carefully with kitchen towel to remove as much moisture as possible, then cut into six fingers.

On a clean plate, pour 2 tbsps of Kicap Manis, then tip on the tofus fingers and carefully turn them until they’re fully coated then leave to marinade for 1-2 hours.

Place carefully on a lightly oiled tray and bake in a hot oven (240C / 220C fan assisted) for 20-30 minutes until the glaze has darkened and cracked but is not burnt.

I had mine today on a bed of chilli spiced rice noodles and tenderstem broccoli. Delicious.

Kicap Manis is available now from Sainsbury’s and Waitrose stores nationwide, at an RRP of £2.29. Let me know if you try it :)

(If you’re vegan, please note that Kicap Manis contains lactic acid, which could be from a dairy source – I’ll try to find out)

Now, on with the slightly belated Recipe of the Week…

Add your #recipeoftheweek

You share the goods, then I generally go round reading, commenting, Stumbling, Pinning and drooling over everyone’s entries. It’s that simple. So just link up below and let’s share the love.

Link up your post using the Linky tool below
Add the “Recipe of the Week” badge to your post so that readers can find other great recipes.
Take a little time to read and comment on each other’s recipes.
Come back next Saturday and we’ll do it all over again.

Enjoy!

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.amummytoo.co.uk/2013/05/kicap-manis-glazed-tofu-recipeoftheweek-4-10-may" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><img alt="Link up your recipe of the week" src="http://www.amummytoo.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/recipe-of-the-week.png" /></a></div>

Disclosure: we were sent Kicap Manis free of charge for review. Ni payment was received for this post. All posts are 100% honest.

Filed Under: Food and drink Tagged With: #recipeoftheweek, glazed tofu, Kicap Manis, recipe, vegan, vegetarian

Taste testing Walkers Hoops and Crosses (sponsored review)

6 May, 2013 By Emily Leary 1 Comment

Are there any more? – JD, 5

This week, we were sent a pack of Roast Beef Hoops and Crosses – the new type of crisp from Walkers.

So what makes them different? Well they’re baked, which the makers say means they contain 30% less fat than standard crisps and according to the packaging, “Walkers baked Hoops and Crosses are a tasty new way to boost kids’ wholegrain”.

Here’s the nutritional information:

Walkers Roast Beef Hoops and Crosses	Per 18g Pack	Per 100g
Energy	358kg / 85kcal	1987kg / 474kcal
Fat	3.8g (0.3g saturates)	20.9g (1.9g saturates)
Carbohydrate	11.0g (1.0g sugar)	61.3g (5.8g sugar)
Fibre	1.1g	5.9g
Protein	1.3g	7.4g
Salt	0.27g	1.49g

And here’s the nutritional information for a typical pack of crisps:

Walkers Smokey Bacon Crisps	Per 25g Pack	Per 100g
Energy	542kg / 130kcal	2168kg / 520kcal
Fat	7.6g (0.6g saturates)	30.5g (2.5g saturates)
Carbohydrate	13.4g (1.1g sugar)	53.4g (4.4g sugar)
Fibre	1.0g	4.1g
Protein	1.5g	5.9g
Salt	0.32g	1.30g

Clearly Hoops and Crosses compare favourably pack for pack, but it’s worth noting that gram for gram, Hoops and Crosses are saltier and more sugary than a standard packet of crisps.

Turning then to the wholegrain claim, it seems that the crisps are made from every part of the grain kernel (the outer fibre-rich bran, the inner micronutrient-rich germ and the starchy main ‘body’ of the kernel), which is thought to be good for protecting against diabetes and heart conditions, among other things.

It’s unclear how much wholegrain a pack provides, but assuming it contributes to the majority of the carbohydrate content, let’s say 10g. I struggled to find data on recommended wholegrain intake in the same way you would expect for standard nutrition like fat and salt, but it does appear that over 8g is considered a good source, so the claim on the pack seems valid.

As the packet doesn’t say they’re suitable for vegetarians (update: they are suitable for vegetarians!), I passed the taste testing job to JD. He didn’t seem to notice the fun shapes, but was quite impressed with the taste:

They are delicious. They taste like they’re made by crisp specialists. They’re meaty, crunchy and no ‘bits’.

And husband Mark’s verdict?

Really tasty. Perfect for eating with a sandwich. They don’t taste wholegrain at all.

Overall, Hoops and Crosses seem like a slightly healthier option than standard crisps, without any compromise on taste. We’d recommend them – in moderation, of course.

Disclosure: we were sent a pack of Hoops and Crosses free of charge for review. A payment was also received for this post. All posts are 100% honest.

Filed Under: Food and drink Tagged With: baked crisps, crisps, health, review, snacks for kids, walkers, wholegrain

Wagamamma spiced mushroom rice (low fat, vegan recipe)

1 May, 2013 By Emily Leary 6 Comments

Ohhhhh, I have to get some of those! – me

So we were wondering round a food market this weekend and we spotted the most amazing mushroom boxes. How could anyone resist these?!

I bought some, obviously, and when we got home I cooked them right away. Trust me – the result was sooo good! The Wagamamma sauce has a really distinctive kick of soy, garlic, ginger and rice wine vinegar and the mushrooms have a wonderful range of textures and subtle flavours.

Here’s what to do – feeds 2.