Digital painting -lost & blue- + random sketch

I felt like drawing today (fufufu-fwha?) Didn't know where it was going, but this is what happened -

Just because (it's fun) :D

(image source LINK)

...
Today I really feel like making a little compilation post about a few random things that add shine to my day.
...
First off, text emoticons (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧ How could you not love them...
Text emoti sources I use -
...
#1. LINK - Possibly the most enormous source of emoti's
#2. LINK - A long & cute list
#3. LINK - Another great list :)
#4. LINK - Nice compilation of cute emoti's
#5. LINK - Short list with some good ones
#6. LINK - Wikipedia emoti page
...
Next, a song I recently discovered (& now love) via this artist -
...

...
& finally, there has to be some Vegan stuff .｡:*☆...
...

...

Vegweb.com - A great Vegan Recipe website <3

Like A Vegan - Vegan Foodie Blog

...

& remember, these are delicious!

(Eli's Earth Bars by Sjaaks)

Get them from The Uproar Shop!

...

Live compassionately. Live free. Woo!

(image source - LINK)

...

Enjoy everyone~ ｡◕‿◕｡

Awesome Nori Roll with 'Mock Tuna'. Fresh, delicious & Vegan :D

This is now officially my favourite way to eat nori <3
To make this roll you'll need 'mock tuna' you can use my mock tuna recipe, or try one of these. Once you've got the mock tuna sorted, it's super easy from there...

Ingredients:
- 1 sheet of Nori
- 2 - 3 tbs of 'mock tuna' mix
- A handful of organic Alfalfa sprouts
- 1 small carrot

Method:
1. Wash the carrot, grate it & set aside. Lay the nori sheet shiny-side down on a flat clean surface, & spread out a thin layer of the mock tuna mix, leaving the sides bare.
2. Lay the alfalfa & grated carrot in a line down the middle.
3. Carefully roll it up, & form it into a neat log (this may take a bit of practice) Let it sit on the join for about 30 seconds to allow the nori to seal closed. Slice the roll down the middle with a damp, sharp knife & serve it up :)

You don't have to slice it in half, I like to chow down on the log as is ':) but it is nicer for presentation c;
These travel well, so they're handy to take for lunch, & they're great for picnics & the like too :) Test out different fillings & customise them to suit your tastes, lettuce, almond, avocado, etc are all nice fillings to try.
It's a good idea to include some Vitamin C rich food or drink to help your body absorb the Iron from the nori, & leave out tea & dairy, because these can inhibit the absorption of Iron ;)

Enjoy~

Chickpea 'Mock Tuna' Recipe. It's been a long time coming...

I've made this stuff four or five times in the past fortnight, & each time I'd intended to photograph it & share the recipe, & each time I ate the lot  >_> I guess it didn't help that the battery for the camera went flat... No matter, because I've finally managed to get a shot of this elusive (delicious) food.

This recipe is based on the first recipe on this page, so give that one a try if you like, but the way I do it is pretty similar.
The finished product is referred to as a 'mock tuna', & whilst it looks kinda like tuna, it doesn't taste anything like it to me. There's no cooking required if using canned chickpeas, so it's almost impossible to mess it up.
This recipe does require some veganaise, which of course you can buy if you like, but mayo is pretty easy to make, & homemade is so much nicer, not to mention you can customise it to suit your tastes :) If you would like to make your own mayo, feel free to check out my Vegan mayonnaise Recipe. I use homemade veganaise in my chickpea salad, but if the mayo you're using is fairly basic (no herbs, etc) you may want to add some minced garlic & finely chopped parsley into the chickpea mix to add some extra flavour.

Chickpea 'Mock Tuna' Recipe

Ingredients:
- 1 can of Chickpeas (aka. garbanzo beans, ceci, chana)
- 1.5 - 2 TBS of homemade vegenaise 
- 1 medium Pickle (whichever type you like)
- 1 Artichoke heart (whichever you like, marinated, plain, etc)
- 1/4 - 1/2 a small Red Onion
- 1 tsp of fresh Lemon juice
- 5cm piece of Celery
- 1-2 tsp Dulse flakes (Optional. Adds fishy/ocean-type flavour)

Method:
1. Strain & rinse the chickpeas & set them aside to drain.
2. In the mean time finely dice the onion, pickle, artichoke heart, & celery, & set aside.
3. Put the drained chickpeas into a medium sized bowl, & use a fork to roughly mash them. Once there are no whole chickpeas left & the mix resembles mushed tuna it's done.
4. Add all the other ingredients to the mashed chickpeas & mix until well combined.
5. Munch immediately, or whack it in the fridge for later :D

I absolutely love this stuff, & my favourite way to have it is in a nori wrap with alfalfa sprouts & grated carrot (I'll get a recipe up for this asap)
Another great way to serve it is in a cos lettuce leaf, topped with dulse flakes, chopped walnuts & grated carrot ♥ ♥ ♥ (see below)

Enjoy everyone (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

Vegan mayonnaise (vegenaise) Recipe :)

Today I decided I really really wanted to try a mock tuna recipe, & for that I needed some vegan mayo. My recipe is based of this one >>> vegan mayonnaise, but I changed it up a little :)
Here's how you do it -
*NOTE This recipe requires a blender or food processor* (I used a Vitamix)

Ingredients:
- 1 cup of Canola oil
- 1/2 a cup of Soy milk (apparently other milks don't work as well)
- 2 tsp of Lemon juice
- 1 tsp of Apple Cider Vinegar (optional)
- 1/2 - 1 tsp Agave Nectar
- 1 tsp of Salt
- 1 tsp of Pepper
- 1 tsp of mustard (I used dijon, but any will do)
- 1 clove of garlic - Minced
- A sprig of fresh Parsley - Finely chopped

Method:
1. Add all ingredients except the lemon juice & vinegar into the blender or food processor, & blend until well combined. (If the mix gets stuck (which mine did) stop the blender & loosen it up with a spatula to help it blend properly)
2. Add the lemon juice & vinegar while still blending, & the mayonaise will thicken.
3. Taste the mix & add any extra seasonings. Extra seasoning may need to be stirred through by hand if the mix is too thick to blend. And it's ready!
4. Stick your mayo into a jar & refrigerate :)


Enjoy!

Omega 3 Fatty Acids *Vegetarian & vegan sources*

...

Every now & again I have a little bit of random info that I think is worth sharing, so I'm starting 'mini posts'. Today it's Omega 3 :) Lots of people know that fatty or oily fish are a good source of omega 3, but that's not much help to people who don't/can't eat fish.
So, guided by the wonderful book 'Green for Life' I've compiled a few of the richest Omega 3 sources. It's important to check the ratio of Omega 3 to Omega 6 though, because too much Omega 6 is no good, & many of us will already be getting a lot (maybe too much) in our diet.
...
#1. Flaxseed oil (1 tbs) - Omega 3: 7,196mg / Omega 6: 715mg
#2. Chia seeds (approx 28grams) - Omega 3: 4,915mg / Omega 6: 1,620mg
#3. Flax seeds (approx 28grams) - Omega 3: 6,388mg / Omega 6: 1,655mg
#4. Beans, snap/greeen (1 cup raw) - Omega 3: 39.6mg / Omega 6: 25.3mg
#5. Lettuce, Green leaf (1 head 360g raw) Omega 3: 209mg / Omega 6: 86.4mg
#6. Lettuce, Cos, aka Romain (1 head 626g raw) Omega 3: 707mg / Omega 6: 294mg
#7. Spinach (1 bunch, 340g raw) Omega 3: 469mg / Omega 6: 88.4mg
...
Flaxseed oil is one of the most convenient sources, but you do have to be careful with it because it can go rancid very easily, it must always be refrigerated. It can be mixed into a meal or drink, however it must not be heated or the omega 3 fatty acids will be destroyed.
Another important thing to keep in mind is that there are 3 types of Omega Fatty Acids, ALA, EPA, & DHA. DHA can be an issue, because whilst our bodies can construct it using ALA, people who eat little or no fish may be deficient. There are supplements available, including vegan options.
For more information, check out veganhealth.org.
If you're wandering what the best way to consume a whole bunch of raw spinach might be, maybe check out greenforlife.com ;)
...
All the best everyone~

100% Vegan products from...

...

An Australian shop dedicated to selling vegan products - THE CRUELTY FREE SHOP

They also have a great range of Gluten-free products, AND Notrzarella cheese, which I am desperately keen to try.

The shop is based in NSW, but they can deliver refrigerated items in an insulated box with an ice-pack included (at an extra $5 cost) Personally I think it'd be worth it (at least once) just to give Notzarella a try :)

Speaking of Notzarella, I recently contacted them via their facebook page to enquire if/when it might become available here in Victoria, they couldn't give me any dates, but they said they hoped it would be very soon :)

So check it out & pick up some awesome, cruelty-free products for yourself or maybe a vegan friend ;)

...

A few products...
...

(Notzarella cheese, Veg (vegan egg yolk 0_0), & Vegan Gluten-free Gummy bears!)

...

Night all~

'Green for Life' a book recommendation :)

...
Last night I really felt like reading a book (this is pretty odd for me, & I still can't explain it...) I took a look at our bookshelf (which is filled mostly with DVD's & clothes ':D) & I spotted 'green for life' by Victoria Boutenko, which had come with the Vitamix package we purchased a while back.
I sat down & started reading right from the start, & with each chapter I became more & more interested & amazed. This book was answering all the questions I had about diet & nutrition, & provided all the necessary information about how to drastically improve health.
It feels very much like fate, everything I was was looking for seemed to be found all of a sudden, it's an unusual & fantastic feeling.
If you're interested in reading this book, it's very affordable, & is available from both Fishpond & Amazon.
I feel like I've stumbled upon something really important, of course I won't know for sure if all this is a brilliant as it sounds until I try it, so I'm going to test the books claims on myself & I'll post my findings here.
...
I hope as many people read this as possible, I plan to pass my copy around to friends & family, & hopefully it will have a positive impact on them too :)
All the best everyone~

Trying something new... Quinoa flakes! Time to make quinoa porridge \:D/

(づ￣ ³￣)づ ~do want...

...

I recently decided to try adding some porridge back into my diet, so Eli & I hoped on our bikes & took a quick ride down to the local supermarket. They didn't have the rice porridge I was looking for (or the buckwheat pasta either ': /) but we searched around the health food section & came across quinoa flakes :) We eat quinoa from time to time, but we've never tried the flakes before, & having set my mind on porridge it was the perfect time to grab a pack & give it a go.

I'm so glad we did, cause they're amazing~ I much prefer them over the rice porridge, they have more flavour & better health benefits too. So if you're after some healthy, delicious, gluten-free porridge I'd highly recommend giving quinoa flakes a try.
...

These are the ones we bought, they're certified organic & gluten-free : ) You can probably find these just about anywhere now days, which is pretty fantastic. I'm super happy to see shops offering more certified organic products too :D
.
.
.
.
.
.
...
The porridge > > >

...

How to make -
...
1. Add some quinoa flakes to a saucepan & add 2 to 3 times the amount of soy/rice/nut milk. Bring the flakes to a gentle boil, then lower the heat & simmer gently for a few minutes. *(You may need to add more milk depending on how thick/thin you like it)

2. Once the porridge has cooked, stick a lid on the saucepan & allow it to sit for a few minutes. In the mean time prep some fruit, nuts, or whatever you want to add. I used some fresh granny smith apple, chopped walnuts, sultanas & topped it off with a drizzle of organic maple syrup ;)

3. Dish up the porridge, throw on the toppings, & eat like a champion!

...

This is an inexpensive, super quick, super duper easy meal to make. It's comforting, it's vegan, it's healthy, & I highly recommend it :)
Change up the toppings to keep it interesting, & even mix in some flaxseed oil for added Omega 3.
...

Get out there & give it a try everyone~

Going Vegan ...can it be? -Quick update-

Short answer... Yes! I am working my way to becoming 100% Vegan. No animal products at all. Dairy, eggs, honey, I'll have non of it.
The reasons why are fairly simple, I love animals, I'm rather fond of this planet, & I'm convinced that it will be a healthier existence for myself also.
Having said all that, going vegan may not work for me, but I won't ever know unless I try.
...
Future recipes will all be Vegan & Gluten-free : ) & I'll be adding a new 'vegan' label, & tagging existing (& future) vegan posts to make them more easily accesible.
...
I want to re-work my blog a little, & try to improve it, & I'll hopefully get started on that tomorrow.
Until then, goodnight all~
...

(Sorry for the water-marked image, but it's late & I gotta get to bed :p)

Bad news: Hiatus on my recipes. Good news: The Vegan Zombie

I feel like a chump for not announcing this a bit sooner, but admittedly I didn't know it would go on for this long...

(I'm sorry Spider Man! D:)

...
I'm following a strict program that has been designed by a dietitian, in the hopes that it will drastically help my ulcerative colitis, & maybe also my Gluten allergy. I'll definitely fill you all in with the results once it's all over & done with, the only thing is I'm not sure exactly how long it will take : / The program has been pretty intense & has involved fasting, followed by a strict eating plan, which makes it pretty difficult to cook anything other than what I'm allowed to eat -___- On the up-side, I do feel pretty good : )
I've been on this program for a little over a month now (hence the recipe hiatus) I'll be seeing the naturopath tomorrow, & I'm desperately hoping (although not expecting) that he'll tell me I can eat normally again [: I If that happens I'm gonna start cooking like a mad person 0_0 If not I'll just have to keep waiting...
...
On to happier news! Whilst on this program I've missed food so much that I find myself staring at food all day, recipes, cooking channels on Youtube, etc. I've bookmarked hundreds of recipes & more recently I came across a fantastic Youtube channel called 'The Vegan Zombie'. In short it's a vegan guy named John trying to survive a zombie apocalypse. He travels around & cooks up a variety of vegan food & shares recipes : ) This channel basically combines two of my greatest loves, food & zombies
(I also happen to fear zombies above all other things, but I still love zombie movies, etc ???) The zombie crew have a Facebook Page, & a Website too, complete with a shop where you can get Zombie Crew totes, wristbands, shirts, aprons & more :D
***I just checked & there's no shipping to Australia though. Heartbroken :(
...

...

Although majority of the Vegan Zombie recipes are not Gluten-free, I do plan on adapting a few to be celiac friendly, once I can cook again of course, so there's another thing to look forward to : )
...
Here's one of my favourites from the Vegan Zombie-

...

...

More good news: During my food deprived madness I also made a facebook group called Vegetarian & Gluten-free Food Ideas. I post on there as much as I can, so if you're interested definitely join, everyone is welcome : )

...

All the best everyone! Stay happy & eat well.

Ja!

Random Photos: Colourful foam + Dandies arrive! :D

I've been making a lot of juices for the eating program I'm on & on one particular day the ingredients resulted in some pretty cool looking coloured foam :)

The whole time I was wondering if it would be possible to use it to dye clothes... I think it would look nice, but I doubt that all the colours would stain, they'd probably just wash right out :p
...

In other news, the Gluten-free, Vegan marshmallows I ordered several weeks ago have finally arrived! :D (they were delayed due to back-orders over christmas) & ok, I can't actually eat them yet (cause of my eating program) but at least I know I have them to look forward to : )
...

Foam~

...

Dandies!

...
Remember though that even those Dandies mallows are Gluten-free, Vegan, & generally a bit healthy than most other mallows, they are still candy, so try not to scoff too many at once :p I'm really really looking forward to trying them in some hot chocolate or s'mores 0_0 You can get your hands on some Dandies at the UPROAR Shop : )
...
Take care everyone [; ) /

Happy Birthday to my Eli! (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

Today my partner Eli is 26, I drew up this little pic yesterday to go on his B'day card. We've been together for almost 9 years!

I hope everyone has an amazing day!

UPROAR -Cool Vegan Site-

...
This site has some great info we should all be concerned about, especially if you eat meat. There are a few nice recipes & even an online shop with some great Vegan products, including candy bars, honey substitute & (my favourite) Vegan, Gluten-free marshmallows! Plus loads more ! :)
So head on over & give them some love...
...
***UPROAR***
...

New Minecraft Seed for 1.2.4 -Snowy Biome-

Playing around with some new seed generation in Minecraft yesterday & I found this one
...
generateCoolTerrainPLZ
...
It results in a pretty cool (& quite expansive) snowy biome. There is a combination of gentle slopes & mountains along with some nice (frozen) rivers & a couple of waterfalls too. On top of that this world has the most above-ground exposed coal I've ever seen. Even after collecting some wood, crafting a pick & wondering around I still managed to collected almost 30 pieces of coal on my first day with virtually no effort (probably a record for me) & there was still plenty more.
The spawn point is actually on top of a tree (which amused me) & there are mostly chickens near by. By the 2nd day I had seen pigs & cows as well, all within a fairly short distance of spawn (no sheep yet tho)
Check out some screenshots...
...

 Spawn, facing east :)
...

 There's a couple of these...
...

 Some pretty nice mountain terrain
...

 Rivers (coal) & some hills/mountains
...

& one of these [: ) (no idea how deep it is)

...

So if you're up for the challenge of living in a snowy biome, maybe give this one a try :)
Just type generateCoolTerrainPLZ in as your seed & you'll enter a snowy playground atop a tree :p
For anyone wondering I'm using Jolicraft as my texture pack, which you can download HERE, or visit the Jolicraft Website.

Have fun everyone ;)
...Ja!