Choc-Orange Cupcakes

This weekend we had two parties to attend - one for each afternoon - and so I baked up a big batch of these yummy choc-orange cupcakes.



I just used the recipe for vanilla cupcakes from Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World and topped them with icing made with organic fair trade cocoa and orange zest. They were a hit at both parties. Several people commented on how yummy they were and were surprised to be informed that they were vegan.

Vegan Chili - my new favourite dinner

Lately P and I have decided that vegan chili served on fried polenta is our new favourite dinner food.


This version has kidney beans, borlotti beans, green lentils, tvp, herbs, spices and tomatoes - and it is yummy!



To cook fried polenta you need to make sure that you cook it in the right amount of water:

• Pour 2 cups of polenta into a medium saucepan
• Add 2.5 cups of cold water and place on the stove over a medium heat
• Add a little salt
• Add 2 cups of boiling water
• Stir continuously until it starts to boil
• Turn down the heat to low
• Keep stirring continuously until it is thick and almost (but not quite) sticking to the pan
• Turn off the heat and put a lid on the pan
• After about 5 minutes, pour the polenta into a baking tray and spread it so that it is about 2 cms thick
• Leave to cool
• Chop into pieces and fry over medium heat (with some olive oil).

That looks like lots of steps, doesn't it? It shouldn't though - it really is very easy.