Sweet treat day!!!! Licorice

 Today is Wednesday, midweek day so time for a sweet treat post!!!
I think having a treat is fun.
My treat is licorice, I like the strong flavor it gives me on my tongue.
I am talking about the true black licorice :) a plus is you don't need to eat much
to get a fill of a sweet treat. I like to try different kinds, and brands but I still
go back to one of my favorites Panda. Having a treat of something you like
is very special and individual so go have your favorite treat and smile :)
Let me now what your sweet treat is?
Let your mouth water here comes the pictures!
panda.fi
                                                         
                                                        Birch Life
                                                 

                                                         

Delightful Pancake "Kake" or Pannkakor simple and yummy:)

This recipe comes from making pancakes for a very special friend, she loves pancakes,and she could eat them everyday if she could. When I made them for her, I decided why not layer them with filling and stack, this is how the recipe came about. These are gluten free but not vegan, they have eggs in them. I have not been able to make them thin enough without eggs. I will show you how I made it then give you the recipe:)

I used a 23 1/2 cm pan to make them you can make them what ever size you have.

Make 6 pancakes

When done I spread my desired topping for each layer.This time it was strawberry jam and strawberry yogurt(vegan) I like to put a little each layer, and I serve the filling on the side so you can put as much on as you like!

View from the top finished, I added yogurt to the top(my favorite Oatly strawberry)

Here is the way it looks cut

Now you can eat!!!!!! Smelled like strawberry cake:)

 Pancake "cake" Pannkakor

2 cups gluten free flour

2 eggs

1 cup of "milk" ( I used oatly milk)

1 1/2 cup water

few Tablespoon of  butter

desired filling and topping

Mix altogether and let sit for 10 minutes. 

Place pan on stove top on medium heat and add Tablespoon of butter once melted

you can begin making them.

Cook each side 2-3 minutes until light brown.

When they are done you can add the filling, desired amount

keep layering and filling.

You can dress the top or leave plain

 

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New find from Sweden, Astrid och Aporna cheese:) vegan!!!

Astrid och Aporna is a company in Malmo Sweden. They make cheese and meat alternative.
I discovered them online, then to my surprise my local store just started carrying it.
The only place you can get it now is in Sweden or some places in Denmark.
The store was Willy's, but ICA, COOP, also sell them. Check your natural food store as well.
I purchased the Jeezly original it is a white cheese, smooth soft cheese with creamy texture.
Mild cheese flavor, so you can use it with everything.
I think it has a sweet flavor, reminds me of a good farmer cheese.
I have melted it also and it is sooooooooo good!#
Cuts like a dream with a cheese slicers.
Here is some pictures of it and a link to other things they sell!
If you are vegan or cannot have milk you should be jumping for joy. Enjoy

astridochaporna.se

                                                           Birch Life

My Incredible Leftover Green Salad

This is a fun salad, basically it is whatever you have leftover. You just need to start with the base,

I like to use a head of lettuce, my favorite is a butter lettuce. I tend to not use the micro greens,

I like the lettuce flavor and the crispness you get. Then a simple dressing that is tasty with all vegetables.  

I will give you the recipe then I will give you suggestions at the end :) 

Incredible leftover green salad

This is what I had leftover.

1 head of lettuce

1 carrot 

1 cup broccoli (chopped in big pieces)

1/2 cup peas

1/4 cup vegan mayonnaise

1/4 cup "milk" ( I used Oatly milk)

1 Tablespoon "butter" ( vegan) 

4  rice cakes ( crumbled)

sea salt

In a large bowl add the washed lettuce, tear it into large pieces.

Grate the carrot into bowl. Add a pinch of sea salt.

I sauteed the broccoli and peas with butter  for 5 minutes, then let them cool for another 5 minutes.

Mix the mayonnaise, milk and pinch of sea salt until combined.

Now mix altogether and coat everything with dressing.

Top with crumbled rice cakes, add more sea salt if desired.

You can add whatever you have in leftover vegetables.

Baked potatoes ( diced and sauteed)

small pieces of onion or leeks

peas

small carrot 

few stalks of celery

corn 

half cucumber

beans 

even if they have been cooked.

You get the idea!

Sometimes if I have a piece of  bread or 2, I butter each side and saute until 

crisp on each side. Instant croutons.

Happy salad making.

                                           Birch Life

  

4 Favorite Products From Oatly, Wonderful product from Sweden

Like all vegans we have many "milk" choices. But I have found a new product for me,and now it is my Favorite!
Oatly is the brand, it is made with oats. Yes oats it has a creamy and thick body. Very delicious, and really
satisfying. I think it is important as vegans that we eat all different kinds of food.
Oats if you think of it when you make them they can get very creamy, and they have a satisfying taste. They make other products as well ice cream, yogurt, creme fraiche, etc.
I have had the "milk" in my coffee and it gave the same body as whole milk.
The chocolate "milk" is so yummy, again it has a thick creamy texture!
I have had the strawberry ice cream several times, it is like ice cream but whipped. I don't know how they make it but you would never think it was not "real" ice cream.This is incredible.
The yogurt is also wonderful as well, it is a little thinner then "regular" yogurt, but full of flavor.
I love them all but I have a special place for the creme fraiche, whoever made it is genius,
the taste is similar to "real" creme fraiche, it has a slight sour flavor, very rich taste.
You only need to use a little to achieve the desired taste you are going for. I mean a little!
I have used the creme fraiche on lentils, beans with chips, in soup and it has always added a great depth
to the dish.
I hope you try these products for yourself and let me know how you like them.
Leave a comment or suggestion.
If your natural grocery or grocery store does not carry Oatly, simply ask them to get it!
Here is the link to there website, check it out for yourself.
This product is made in Sweden!!!!!!
oatly.com

                                                Birch Life
  

Creamy rice textured salad with a hint of fennel flavor (vegan)

I like making this dish because it is soooooooo yummy and creamy. It can be very difficult to find vegan recipes true creamy texture. The recipe has fennel in it when you saute it has a soft and creamy texture.  If you have never tried fennel flavor it tastes of anise, when you cook it becomes milder.

Creamy rice fennel salad

4 cups of pre-made rice
1 bulb of fennel ( chopped to desire size)
1/2 of stack of leek ( chopped fine)
3 generous Tablespoons of  mayonnaise (vegan)
1/4 cup of milk ( I used oat milk)
1/2 cup of chopped or torn parsley
2 Tablespoons of butter (vegan)
sea salt to taste

In a saute pan add the butter melt then add the leeks, cook 1 minute, add the fennel saute until
light brown( put a cover on the pan). If  it becomes dry in the pan add water just to cover the bottom, but not to much.
Cook 5- 7 minutes.
In large bowl add the mayonnaise and milk and pinch of  sea salt, mix until combined.
Then add rice and fennel mixture mix until creamy, add more sea salt to taste.( if you want more flavor you can make the rice with a bouillon cube).
Add parsley
Of course you can make it vegan or not whatever you eat!

Side note you can omit the mayonnaise, and replace it with plain yogurt.
Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                   Birch Life

Satisfying tasty versatile 4 ingredients vegan lentil dish :)

I like lentils because they are super easy to make. They take about 30 minutes to cook.
There are a variety of different lentils. My favorite are the small french lentils.
You can use any kind you like for this recipe. I am using green lentils, because they are easy to find.
This is a simple dish so you can add different ingredients if you like, or condiments.

Simple lentil dish

2 cups of  lentils (any variety)
2 carrots chopped ( chop to desired size)
1 bouillon cube
water

Rinse lentils, add to pot on medium heat, add carrots
fill with water 2 inches above lentils ( what I learned from Jamie Oliver, boil water int he kettle, it cooks faster)
cook 30 minutes slightly covered
check in 15 minutes if more water is needed
when finished add bouillon if no bouillon add sea salt to taste.


Now you have a wonderfully simple lentil dish
you can embellish or not, either way it is a satisfying dish.
Sometimes I will eat it with vegan sour cream on top and tortilla chips;)
Other ways is on a baked potato, with toast as a soup, cold on a lettuce salad, and hot as a side dish the
list is endless!
If you can find vegan creme fraiche  yummy!!!!
It keeps for 2 days in refrigerator.

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1 Ingredient Homemade Vegan Deodorant that works!!!!!!!!!!

I have tried so many natural deodorants in the past, and they always stop working. I also had to use different kinds for different seasons, annoying. Sometimes I can get 2 weeks or even 3 months before they stop working, it can become very costly. So I thought maybe I will try making my own, searched around online for ideas, but the combinations where baking soda to rubbing alcohol. No way I was going to use those ingredients, some seemed very harsh. I finally found something, a Irish Herbalist said all you need is a lime. What a LIME? It has to do with the PH of our body and the acidic nature of the lime. I mite as well give it a try. When I tried it it was the middle of a hot summer, was not sure it would work. I bought a lime and cut it in half, then took half the lime cut it again so you get a quarter wedge. To use, your underarm should be freshly washed. I squeezed it slightly for the juice to come out, applied it to my underarms but only where the hair grows. It worked the first time but will it last? I used it over several weeks it keep going and still working, was not sure? But I can tell you it has been over a year now and still lasting. I have found that a quarter wedge lasts 1 week only, refrigerated. For me it lasted until I shower it off, I can't add any more after I have put it on the first time, like if I wanted to put some on that evening or something it will burn slightly and get red. So I apply it after my shower or bath soon after when my pores are open. The whole lime keeps for about 3 weeks covered tightly in the refrigerator. The unused  part of the lime you can use in cooking or baking as well.
Has been the best deodorant I have ever used it works in all weather and it does not stain any of my clothes.Best of all it is really cheap!
I hope you give it a try and enjoy it as much as I have!

                                                                 
                                                                      Birch Life