Vegan Eats and Treats of January

The month of January ends with my blog featuring both old and new vegan recipes in support of Veganuary.  Veganuary is a new campaign in association with Viva!  that is encouraging people to pledge and eat vegan food for every meal this January.  Veganuary is not that far removed from Vegan Mofo, which was originally created by Post Punk Kitchen.  I took part for the first time last year and it was brilliant, not just for the vegan inspiration, but also as I got to meet loads of new bloggers through Vegan Mofo.    

January also saw two fellow bloggers feature me.  The Peace Patch and Rachel Cotterill: 10 Warming Vegan Recipes for Winter; and as part of The Vegan Edition for Foodies100.  I would like to take the opportunity to Thank you to both The Peace Patch and Rachel Cotterill for shining a light on my blog. 

Finally, onto January Vegan Swap.  My vegan food swap partner was Natural Vegan Eco Mom. 

Laura she sent me a bumper pack of vegan goodies: Kallo Sea Salt and Balsamic Vinegar Rice Cakes - The Food Doctors: Couscous and Lentil Pot; Hot Wasabi: and Chipotle Crisps - Morrisons Chilli Pistachios; and Salt and Black Pepper Cashews - Dairy free White and Chocolate chips - perfect for making cookies! - Nakd Pineapple; and Tangy Lime raisins ( a super nice change from Nakd bars!) and two completely new things for me to try - On the Go Carrot and Pecan Punch; and Spirulina Powder - I am looking forward to receiving some raw dessert recipes from Laura to try out the spirulina powder, I've had it as a health supplement, but have never used it in cooking.   Thank you so so much Laura, its nice to have discovered some totally new things in my parcel.  The Salt and black pepper cashew packet is already empty.

My receiving partner Vegan Vox.  Here is a photograph of what I sent her.  I hope she likes!

Golden Parsnip and Black Rice Soup

This naturally 'creamy' vegan Parsnip Soup is one of my absolute favourites.  I make it often, though not always with the garnish of black rice.  The soup takes on that golden glow from the turmeric, perfect for blustery days.   If you wish to make this soup even more 'creamier' you can add coconut milk to it, but I personally find it unctuous and naturally creamy without it.  The black rice gives the soup some texture and bite.  

I am sending a virtual bowl of this warming soup over to my friend Sally at Poppycock and Other Creative Nonsense, as she is suffering from the cold.  Hope your feeling better soon Sally.

St Dwynwen's Day - Welsh Valentines Day

Did you know that Wales has its own Valentines Day known as Dydd Santes Dwynwens celebrated today - the 25th January.  

St Dwynwen is The Welsh Saint of Love and Lovers. 

Artwork by Norris Nuvo

Saint Dwynwen lived in the 5th century AD and was one of twenty four daughters of Saint Brychan.  Its a strange story, surrounded by much speculation.  The story goes, that Dwynwen fell in love with a man called Maelon, nothing unusual there I know, however what is interesting about this story is the outcome - She is then either raped by Maelon and prays for help: or she is unable to marry him due to her fathers refusal and prays to forget her love for Maelon. An angel comes along and provides her with a potion.  Maelon consumes it and it turned into ice.  She  repents at what has become of her love and prays for three wishes.  These three wishes are:  that Maelon be released; God look after all true lovers; and that she remain unmarried for the rest of her life.  She retreats to  Llanddwyn Island, off the coast of Anglesey to become a recluse and live in solitude until the day she dies around 460AD. The site has become a pilgrimage for lovers and is visited to this day.   

Her name Drynwen translates to 'she who leads a blessed life; and her most well known saying is 'nothing wins hearts like cheerfulness'.  So if you want to show your loved one a little affection today and celebrate St Dwynwen's Day with us today, why not download a Welsh Love Spoon Card for your loved one tonight, courtesy of Visit Wales.

I leave you with some home-made heart-shaped delights. 

Lavender Heart Scones.  

,Chocolate Orange Brownies

Cranberry Scone - You can also stud with blueberries

Coconut and Coffee Liqueur Pots

 Beetroot Hummus

Beetroot Mousse