It is the lockdown situation, which means we are all craving for good food, and those of us who are away from home are reminiscing mom-made food. I love my mom's and granny's aata halwa, and honestly missing it. When it comes to Indian desserts, its hard to replicate many of them in vegan form. For example, vegan rasgulla - I am yet to get my hands on one of those. But thankfully, halwas can be easily veganised and if cooked properly, with right ingredients, they taste like the real deal. The trick to making a good vegan wheat halwa is to ensure you add good amount of saffron and cardamom for flavor. This will overpower the smell of oil and give you the authentic taste. I always ground the saffron in a mortar and pestle with hot water first, to release its flavor, before adding to the halwa. It makes all the difference. Another thing is, use the oil that has more neutral flavor and freshly extracted is better. We have an oil extraction machine at home,
This deliciously creamy and rich Vegan Chickpea Curry makes for a warm and comforting meal that’s super easy to make. The best part about this recipe is that it uses basic ingredients that most of us have in our pantry or can find at our local supermarket. Gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, oil-free option and vegan, this chickpea curry is packed with flavor and taste. Served with brown rice, this hearty vegan curry surely makes for a nutritious meal, perfect for lunch or dinner! Nothing beats the flavor of freshly cooked chickpeas, and honestly it doesn't take much effort to cook either. I would strongly recommend that you soak the chickpeas early morning or overnight, and avoid using canned chickpeas. The addition of coconut milk to this curry adds a nice creaminess and flavor. I am a big fan of coconuts and this curry is one of my favorite recipes. Plus, it is so easy to make. I have made this curry so many times, and have perfected the recipe over time. This recipe is m
Dear friends Hope you are doing well. Between the chaos, uncertainty and fears during this lockdown, we’ve been given time to reset ourselves, start fresh and create a new normal. What seems like a curse now, might result in a blessing. This much needed break gives us time to ponder about what really holds value (happiness and ethics vs money and greed, for example) and a reminder of our place in this world (as part of nature, not above it). In the hustle before #corona, we were lost, we had forgotten the purpose of life and we were chasing happiness in wrong places and destroying the world in the process. Consumerism, greed, animal cruelty, deforestation, polluting land, air and water. We can't blame the virus for the situation we are in. It is "each one of us" who is responsible for this pandemic. But nature is calling us, giving us a chance (perhaps the last one) to get it right. Let us all take this time seriously and not waste it completely on Netflix, ho
British iconic footwear brand, created by a German doctor, Dr. Martens is famous for their chunky boots, which have evolved from strictly workwear to punk must-haves to fashion-girl staples. Since 1940s Dr. Martens only made footwear cut from leather. But with the rise in veganism and growing demand for leather-free products, Dr. Martens finally dropped their first vegan collection in 2011. The collection comprised of two of its most iconic styles - the 8 eye boot and the 3 eye shoe. Ever since its launch, the sales of vegan Dr. Martens boots have sky rocketed and the brand has introduced various new styles and colors to its animal-free collection. While Dr. Martens cult combat boots with tough leather upper, air-cushioned sole, and yellow stitching are what the brand is most known for, they are so much more. Docs are also available in a wide range of styles available from shoes to sandals that all have an edge that is distinctively Dr. Martens. On one of my trips to San Franci
Try the traditional "Bajre Ka Khichda or Bajra Khichdo" - with no dairy, and no sugar and its gluten-free ! There are many treasures in India's culinary history. And as much as I love eating all the exotic food from foreign lands, I equally love the recipes closer to my roots (more so, actually!). Rajasthani cuisine is one of my favorites, especially the "Khichdas", which are mostly eaten in colder weathers (but the bajra khichda you can have any time of the year). However, I haven't seen this amazing dish ever shared on social media. In fact, there aren't many vegan Indian recipes on the internet, which is a shame, but I am hoping there will be; things like vegan rasgulla, vegan ras malai, vegan gulab jamun and the sweet bajra khichda (now you've got that). "Bajra Khichda" with its creamy consistency and amazing flavors is both comforting and satiating. You can call it the “Pearl Millet Sweet Porridge”. It’s super healthy too!
The 5 Best Eco-Friendly Vegan Sneakers That Are Stylish & Cool
As a self-proclaimed shoe addict, I'm super picky when it comes to shoe shopping. A stylish pair that fits well is just the starting point. I want shoes that are also vegan, eco-friendly, sustainable, and I love it when they have innovative design. Shoes should combine style and sustainability - its not a choice of one over the other. However, one common problem with sustainable fashion is that most of their products do not score well on style and many-a-times they are not vegan. Eco-conscious sneakers, including most leather-free styles, are not vegan-friendly because the glues used in the construction is derived from animals. It's the same with the dyes. So it can be challenging to especially find eco-conscious sneakers that are also vegan. Fortunately, there are some shoes brands that have successfully created sneakers that look good, feel good and do good. These sneakers are not only made with vegan materials but also use sustainable materials like recycled plastic &a
Copenhagen charmed me with its trendy vibes, cutting-edge eco-architecture, very warm and friendly people, traffic jams of cyclers {not cars}, its focus on sustainability and amazing vegan food (who could have thought?). Copenhagen is an interesting city, with a compact downtown area and lots of canals, which makes it easier to explore it on foot. It is built around waterways and has many beautiful parks and gardens, making walking around the city a delight, even in winter. Honestly, Copenhagen is more of a lifestyle place and is far different from other beautiful capital cities in Europe like Paris, London or Amsterdam. So don't be disappointed if you don't see the colorful buildings all over Copenhagen, as it seems in the pictures, or can't find romantic streets or fancy museums, because there aren't any. Being a Scandinavian city, it is outrageously expensive too. Yet this city has its charm, and once you explore it, you're most likely going to love it.
A vegan diet is packed with nutrition and offers you not only peace of mind but great health too. However, if your vegan diet is not planned, like any other diet, you may be prone to deficiencies. For vegans who want to stay healthy, consuming a nutrient-rich diet is very important. Here are 5 foods that must be part of every vegan diet to ensure you are getting optimum nutrition and are enjoying a lifestyle of abundance! 1. FRUITS AND VEGETABLES Vegetables, especially leafy greens, are packed with vitamins and minerals, keep your calories in check and offer a lot of health benefits – other than good skin and healthier body. For example, veggies like celery and carrots are known to naturally whiten your teeth by acting as natural stain removers. These foods increase saliva production, which serves as the mouth's self-cleaning agent. If you have discolored teeth, teeth whitening will help, but you have to remember that a lot of cleaning your teeth is about stimulating