Super street food style noodles with easy Vegan egg -RECIPE- Vegan Gluten-free

Time for a brand new recipe!
The other night we had a craving for something like 2 minute noodles, and way back in the day my Dad used to add egg. In the cupboard we had some mung bean vermicelli noodles along with a packet of Orgran vegan easy egg, so we came up with a loose idea, gave it a try, and it turned out really delicious!

Ingredients:
- 250g packet Mung bean vermicelli noodles
- Orgran vegan easy egg
- Massel Chicken stock cubes
- Spring onions - Finely sliced - To serve
- Changs Gluten-free fried noodles - To server (adds great crunchy element - optional)
- Sweet soy sauce - To serve

Method:
1. Prepare and cook some Orgran easy egg according to instructions on the packet. Once your vegan eggs are cooked set them aside.
2. Cook the mung bean vermicelli according to instructions on the packet, once noodles are cooked add or remove water according to how much broth you prefer. Gradually mix in 'chicken' stock until the broth is lightly flavored.
3. Dish up some noodles, add some of the prepared vegan egg and a handful of sliced spring onions, lightly drizzle some sweet garlic soy sauce and finally garnish with a sprinkle of the GF fried noodles.

M U N G E !
Serves 2-4 depending on how hungry/greedy you feel.

Great as a snack or a quick meal, let me know if you try this one, and if you have any suggestions. It reminds us of street food, and we're a bit addicted. I'm keen to share some with friends to see what they think too.

Enjoy~

Sweet cranberry garlic soy sauce RECIPE - Vegan Gluten-free

This has become my go-to sauce for almost everything, from steamed veggies to noodle salad, it goes great on most everything, and it's nice and easy to make!

Ingredients:
1 cup Gluten-free Soy sauce
3/4 cup raw Sugar
1/2 cup Cranberry juice
1 glove of Garlic - Very finely diced
1/2 an Onion - Very finely diced

Method:
1. Add all ingredients to a small pot, and stir constantly over a low flame until sugar has completely dissolved.
2. Once sugar is dissolved gently simmer on low flame for 5 minutes, turn the flame off and allow to cool.

DONE! ✩⚫꒳⚫✩

Character design - Backpack theme

You may be familiar with the Character Design Challenge on Facebook, well I did this drawing for last months theme 'Backpacker', but I didn't get it finished in time, so I didn't submit it. :I failment

The idea I had was based on myself and my doggo soulmate Jiji. She has bad legs, but I always want her with me, so strap her to a backpack why not!

Here's my drawing -

Appreciate your dog friends, they are the best. <3

Meditation - artwork + app recommendations

Meditation (version one)

As you may guess from the title, I have started meditation practice again after many years of neglecting my poor brain.
My mood can sometimes be unstable, and I have collected anger from lots of different sources, and this was starting to take a toll on my everyday life.
Since starting daily meditation there have been major improvements in my thoughts, mood, and reactions. Even after just a short time of daily sessions, I find I can cope in difficult situations much better, and my anxiety has greatly reduced. c:

Maybe it goes without saying, but I do highly recommend meditation practice for everyone, no matter if you have obvious troubles or not, it will benefit anyone~

The concept of meditation is very simple, however the practice is quite challenging, and requires... practice~ The idea is to relax, stand/sit/lay comfortably, clear your mind, and focus on your breath, when thoughts arise you must gently push them aside and return your focus to your breathing.

There are some useful apps which can help guide you as you learn, here are three I have been using:

1. Oak Meditation - This is my go-to app, it is simple, easy to use, and totally free. I do a breathing exercise and a 20+ minute 'mindful' meditation each day. This app has some good features and a nice design. This would be my first choice regardless of your experience level.

2. Relax Meditation - This app has many features, but most are locked unless you buy a monthly or lifetime subscription. My favorite feature is creating a soundscape which you can meditate to. Relax has a lovely design, and plenty of features, this is a great app if you want to try some different sounds and guided meditation sessions.

3. Head Space - A standout app that has a fresh modern feel, the design is fantastic, complete with some really cool artwork and animations, and plenty of features. This one is at the higher end of the price range, but it may be worth the investment if it works for you. I completed the 10 day introduction to meditation, however the first two apps work great for me, so I opted not to pay for this one.

One other app which I have only tried briefly is 'Insight Timer', it has a huge amount of content, much of which is free. This app is somewhat more complicated, but worth a look if you want more variety.

My personal preference is something simple and straight to the point, which is why I think Oak works so well for me. There are plenty of other meditation apps to try, if you have any recommendations please don't hesitate to leave a comment with your experience.

Meditation (version 2)

Art catch-ups

These are a few artworks I completed from last month, and a couple this month.
I have a few new ideas to work on, but I've been finding it difficult to sit at my computer from long stretches lately. *shrug*

Illustrative style -

^Reference this chart to figure me out. ;D

^'Good day~'. When things kinda jump out of the fridge at you.

^The papillon.

^Plant spirits having a secret chat on a window sill.

Painted style -

^Soul bonded. My little family.

^Inspired by the song 'I like giants' by Kimya Dawson.

^Camouflage 'mirror jacket'. One from my list of ideas.

That's the lot for now!
Check back for new posts soon~

Vegan milk (mylk) blend recipe. *REFINED

I have been making soy milk fresh at home using a Joyoung soy milk machine for a few months now, and I recently decided to experiment by making a milk blend. This is simply mixing different Vegan milk ingredients together to create a kind of hybrid milk, incorporating various nutrients and qualities from different sources.

Most people are pretty familiar with Vegan milk options, two of the most popular being soy, and almond. There are more options becoming available, and some innovative companies are creating milk blends, my experiment was inspired by a milk made by Rebel Kitchen.

If you don't have time/energy/motivation to make milk yourself at home then you could simply buy a few different vegan milks from the store and try mixing them in different ratios to find your own preferred blend.

Here's how I make mine:

Tools-
*Vitamix blender
*Joyoung soy milk machine
*Milk bag or Muslin cloth

This is our Joyoung soy milk machine.

Ingredients-
- 800-900ml Fresh Soy Milk (Make some using a soy milk machine, or follow a recipe).
- 1/2 can good quality Thai Coconut Milk - *Give the can a good shake before you open it.
- Filtered Water
- Pinch of Himalayan or Celtic Sea Salt

Method-
1. Make a batch of fresh soy milk using a soy milk machine. *You can make soy milk without this machine, but it saves lots of time and effort.
2. Once the soymilk has cooled, position a strainer over a large bowl to support your milk bag or muslin cloth. Carefully pour the soy milk into the cloth, and gently strain to remove all the fiber from the soy beans, this results in a smooth mylk.
3. Shake the can of coconut milk well, open, and add half the can to the soymilk in the bowl, along with 1/2 a teaspoon of salt. Stir gently to combine.
4. Bottle your mylk, and refrigerate immediately.

Finished! Well done! c:

Mylk will be beautiful and fresh, and will last several days in the fridge.

If you have never made your own vegan milk at home before, there are many 'how to' videos on Youtube to watch, I would highly recommend checking one out to familiarise yourself with the process before trying for the first time.


'Good luck in the kitchen' - Francis.

Enjoy everyone~

Ruby Rod super-green smoothie.

 
My most recent smoothie fixation...

Ingredients-
1/2 a Santa Claus Melon (aka. toad skin or Piel de sapo melon) - Cut into chunks.
1/2 liter of Fresh Orange Juice
1/2 cup Coconut Cream or coconut yoghurt
1 tsp Green powder of choice (I use Amazonia prebiotic greens)
3 soft Gold Kiwis
1 Passionfruit - To serve

Method-
1. To your blender add the chunks of melon, orange juice, yoghurt, & green powder, blend on medium speed until completely smooth.
2. Stop the blender & add the gold kiwis, no need to chop them up, just slice in half and carefully scoop the fruit into the blender using a teaspoon. Blend on low for 10 seconds until kiwi is broken up and mixed through.
3. Scoop the passionfruit into a large mug (or jar), then pour in the smoothie.

aaaaand DRINK UP~

Best advice I can give for this recipe (or any smoothie recipe), is to go to a green grocer and find the freshest most ripe fruit you can get! Otherwise the fruit will be hard and bland, which makes for an uninspiring smoothie. Check for a sweet smell from the fruit, nice colour on the skin (yellow/orange/brown), and 'sugar spots' - these are brown spots in the skin that indicate ripeness+sugar content/sweetness, most commonly seen on bananas, but also appear on many other fruits like melons.
Also try to find a really good quality coconut cream for this recipe, check at Asian grocery stores, the cream should slosh around freely in the bottle/can, & feel thick (not watery).


Hope you enjoy this one! I came up with it when I felt like something rich & sweet for breakfast last week. : )

Recipe for my girlfriends tofu scram.

This is one of the quickest, easiest recipes I've ever learned, very useful when you want something to eat in a hurry. It's also quite addictive, so maybe keep a few extra blocks of tofu in the fridge.

My girlfriends tofu scram:

Ingredients-
1 large Onion - Very finely diced
1 clove of Garlic - Very finely diced
1 450g Block of Tofu (firm is best soft is ok too) - Coarsely crumbled
1 tsp Cumin Seeds
1 tsp Dill Seeds
1/2 tsp Turmeric Powder
2 TBS Vegan butter/spread (I use Funky Fields Organic Spreadable)
1 tsp Pink Himalayan or Celtic Sea Salt
1/2 tsp Black Salt (optional)

Method-
1. Finely dice the onion & add to a medium saucepan with the Vegan butter & 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Allow to saute over a low-medium heat, stirring occasionally.
2. While the onion simmers, finely dice the garlic & set aside. Measure the cumin seeds, dill seeds, turmeric, & 1/2 teaspoon of salt, placing them in a small bowl & set aside.
3. Once the onion is completely cooked add the garlic & the spices, mix well to incorporate, & gently simmer for one minute.
4. Remove tofu block from the packet & coarsely crumble it into the pan with the onion and spices, gently stir & turn the tofu for a couple of minutes to evenly coat in the seasonings.
5. Once the tofu is thoroughly coated & warmed through, check the seasonings, if it needs some extra salt add another 1/2 teaspoon, feel free to use black salt to add an eggy scent/flavour. Mix well & Serve!

This scram is pretty versatile, add some extra veggies, & it's a nice meal on it's own, or use it as a side dish. One of my favourite ways to have it is in a nori wrap, see below...

Step one: Spoon some of the scram in a line onto the nori sheet (sheet is rough-side-up).
Step two: On top add some fresh butter lettuce &/or rocket, then some cucumber strips, and finally a little drizzle of grapefruit juice (alternatively you could use lemon).
Step three: Carefully roll the nori over & around into a log (like you see at sushi shops).
Step four: Pinch the bottom end so the filling won't fall out, & eat !!!

The tofu scramble is quite rich, so it pairs very well with fresh greens, & the sweet tang from the citrus juice, I highly recommend trying the grapefruit, it's super delicious!


I hope you all enjoy this recipe, of course you can change it up & experiment; try adding your favourite veg like broccoli, peas, or edamame!

Enjoy your time cooking~

A few more games I'm waiting for...

These games are in addition to my previous list, and I'm pretty keen to give them all a try!

In no particular order, the new additions are -

1. Graveyard keeper
This game is based around a graveyard keeper who is determined to run a successful business, pretty much by any means possible, even if that may involve bending some morals a little to explore some questionable options, which others may frown upon. This game has a charming pixel style, and seems to be loaded with dark humor (my favorite). I really have high hopes that this will be a quirky, funny, and creative adventure that's a bit different from others.

Graveyard keeper trailer:

2. Sable
The visual style is what really captured my attention about Sable, and although not much has been revealed just yet, it looks like Sable could be an epic exploration game that evokes deep emotion as you cruise across the desert, explore ruins, and discover the mysteries that this world has hidden. This is another game I can't wait to get my hands on, I feel like it may have a similar aesthetic to Abzu, which is one of my favorite games ever!

Sable trailer:

3. Kynseed
A 'sandbox RPG adventure' game with a vibrant pixel style and an interesting premise. Kynseed stands out as a heartfelt adventure with lots of open world freedom, and an immersive story that pulls the player into the world and keeps hold though character development and deep connections to other characters throughout the story. With so much beauty and depth I feel like this is one that I want to play all the way to the end.

Kynseed trailer:

Just a short list this time around, but I feel like all 3 are well worth mentioning, and I remember reading that Graveyard keeper may be released this month, which is pretty exciting!
Feel free to leave a comment with your thoughts about any of the games mentioned above, or if you know of any stand-out games that are not on my lists, comment with the details, I'm always on the lookout for promising new games! :D

30 Day Drawing Challenge - Days 1-3

I've never completed a 30DDC, but this time my girlfriend is doing the same one, and even if we don't managed to submit daily, we're still going to complete this list and do all 30!

I don't remember where I found it, but here's a look at the list we're working through currently -

We're trying to look at one at a time, so we don't know what's next. I think it's a good way to approach it, since we can focus on the one we're up to, and not get distracted thinking about one that's still a week away.

Here are my first three -

 Day 1 (above) - 'Something in flight'.
Me an my girl in a poorly made cardboard rocket on our way to somewhere awesome.

 Day 2 (above) - 'A character or scene from your favorite movie'.
Leeloo from The Fifth Element.

Day 3 (above) - 'Something you'd like to eat right now'.
The answer to that is always fresh Malaysian 'green bamboo' durian.

Hope you enjoy these.
Comments and critiques always welcome~

Superfligh - a lovable wing-suite game.

If like me you are somewhat enamored with flight/gliding, then this game could fulfill some of that longing.

Take control of a floppy, surprisingly aerodynamic fellow and soar through procedurally generated landscapes, the closer you pass by rocks, and the smaller spaces you zip through without crashing, the more points you earn. Easy!
It's basically just about beating your high score, and your best combo, this is especially fun if you take turns with a friend and try to best each other.

I would recommend a controller to play, I haven't tried with a keyboard, but I think a thumbstick really helps pull off those super tight maneuvers.

This little gem is currently on sale until July 6 on steam, it's just $1.49USD for infinite gliding!

Take a look at some of my screenshots -

Fall with style guys! ;D

Art post: 'Hungry alien' + 'Portal' NSFW

Sometimes as an artist (or at least as someone who just loves drawing), certain ideas or themes enter your mind, and it's difficult to get them out unless you do as your brain is commanding, and draw it. That is certainly the case with these two artworks.
 
Hungry alien depicts an emaciated alien lost in a forest after recently arriving on Earth. After unintentionally scaring away a hunter who had shot a deer, the creature drags itself towards a piece left behind by the hunter. Whilst not a usual source of nourishment for the alien creature, it will allow her to survive a little bit longer on this unfamiliar planet. Just as she reaches the piece of deer, a stranger hiking in the woods stumbles upon the scene, unsure what to make of the situation, they stand in awe as the aliens attention is torn between a life saving meal and a strange new life form, which may potentially pose a new threat.

You can probably see pretty quickly that the aliens mouth somewhat resembles, 'lady bits', and that's the theme caught in my mind presently, as is even more evident in my next piece 'Portal'.

After spending a good deal of time and effort painting Hungry alien, and still having this particular idea in my mind, I wanted to do something illustrative that would be a bit more loose and free. It didn't take long to draw the line art and add all the crazy colours I wanted. It could be that as a gay artist Vaginas are something I want to include in my art from time to time, certainly not in a perverted way, I see them as natural and cute, like sassy flowers. I certainly hope this doesn't offend anyone, but I consider self expression to be very important, and it's not something I wish to hide.

So, I hope everyone finds something to appreciate about these artworks, I certainly had fun making them!

Special recipe – Creamy garlic potatoes with jackfruit and edamame

100% VGF

This is a rich and delicious dish, especially good for cold days, or when you feel like some comfort food. The tofu in the sauce is an optional extra, which you can blend completely smooth if you prefer.

Ingredients:
- 14 medium sized Potatoes – Diced
- 1 large Black eggplant – Finely diced
- 2 Brown onions – Finely diced
- 1 Red capsicum - Optional
- 1 Can of Green jackfruit in brine – Well drained & Chopped
- Half a 200g packet Frozen Edamame (or use frozen peas)
- 2 TBS Vegan ‘fish’ sauce
- 4 TBS Monjay Mezza Garlic dip (OR use 2 gloves of minced fresh Garlic
- 4 TBS Organic Spreadable (or equivalent Vegan buttery spread)
- 1/8 Cup of Mirin
- 1 Massel ‘chicken’ stock cube – Mooshed up
- 2 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Ground balck & white pepper

For the sauce:
- 1 Massel ‘chicken’ stock cube – Mooshed up
- 1 Cup Natural coconut yoghurt (or equivalent)
- 3 Cups Bonsoy
- 1 Cup Hot water
- 1 250g block Organic soft tofu – Optional
- 2 TBS Monjay Mezza Garlic dip (or use 2 gloves of minced fresh Garlic)

Method:
1. Add the prepared potato, onion, jackfruit, and eggplant into a large pot, next add the ‘fish’ sauce, garlic dip (or fresh garlic), organic spreadable, mirin, ‘chicken’ stock cube, salt and pepper.
2. Sauté over a medium-low heat, stirring regularly. Cook until eggplant is very soft.
3. Once the eggplant is soft, make the sauce by adding all ingredients for the sauce into a blender, blend on low speed for 10 seconds. Note: if adding optional tofu to the sauce, fine pieces will remain, that’s OK! – blend smooth or omit tofu if you prefer.
4. Add the sauce to the pot with the sautéed vegetables, and stir well. Place a lid slightly ajar and simmer gently for 15 mins, or until potato pieces are just cooked – stirring once or twice.
5. Once the potato is just soft, add the frozen edamame and gently stir to combine, replace the lid and allow to simmer for a further 5 minutes. Then turn off the flame and allow to rest for 5-10 minutes with the lid on.
6. E A T!
Serves 4-6

Feel free to experiment, I made this recipe up, and it’s now my girlfriends favourite.
I hope you’ll enjoy it too!

Art post: 'Goo unicorn' + 'Staring contest'

Hello everyone!

I'm on break from uni, so I've had lots of time for drawing, I have a few things to submit, starting with a couple I finished earlier this month, they're both personal works that I did for fun and practice.

I drew Goo unicorn using free drawing software Firealpaca. Also referred to as 'noodle leg' she's a suspicious female unicorn, always vigilantly watching for anyone who might be after her horn, or her mane/tail, all of which posses unique magical properties.

Staring contest was drawn using Photoshop, which I haven't used to draw anything from start to finish since I got Firealpaca, so it was great to brush up on some techniques I haven't used for a while. I did not plan this drawing at all, it developed as I was playing around with some different techniques.

I have some more artworks to submit, and even more in progress!
Hope you enjoy, feel free to comment below, and you can follow me on DeviantArt or Tumblr.

No fail healthy Vegan Gluten-free Brownies!

Hi guys!

So you want to make some of the best (and easiest) brownies ever? Great! This is what needs to happen -

*Requires a loaf-style baking dish - I use a silicone one for this recipe.

Ingredients:
- 2 Cups Blanched almond meal
- 3/4 Cup of Icing sugar
- 1/2 Cup Cocoa powder
- 1/3 Block of Lindt Premium dark chocolate (or equivalent) - Finely chopped
- Handful of fresh Walnuts - Chopped (optional - adds crunch)
- 1 Can of chickpeas for the Aqua faba (chickpea water)

Method:
1. Pre-heat the oven to 180°C. In a medium mixing bowl add the almond meal, icing sugar, cocoa powder, dark chocolate pieces, & chopped walnuts (if using).
2. Open the can of chickpeas and drizzle a very small amount of the liquid into the bowl with the dry ingredients (approx 3 tablespoons worth)
3. Make sure you have clean hands, then start forming the dough; squeeze, press and turn the mix until it forms a stiff dough (similar to cookie dough). You may need to drizzle a little more aqua faba, be careful not to add too much, you don't want a wet sticky dough!
4. Once the dough is formed, press it into a silicone loaf-style baking mold, or any other loaf-style baking dish.
5. Bake at 180°C for 20 minutes. Allow to cool before turning out the brownie, or it is likely to crumble. Once cooled & turned out from the mold, use a sharp knife to cut into slices or squares.

-ENJOY!-

These are so quick and easy to make - Just a reminder to always check labels to make sure everything is VGF, and use organic products when possible.

Happy baking everyone. :D