Oganico Shop and Tea room Loughton

Whilst on my travels and visiting family, I always find it difficult to find places that meet my dietary needs. In fact, it's near on impossible. I love going out for tea and cake, so I always keep a keen eye for new places that I could go and actually enjoy myself at.

Whenever I go to my parents, I usually have to venture into London to find suitable places to eat, but what with having M.E, I don't get to do this very often, and when I do, I take days to recover. So when I discovered a new wholefoods shop was going to open in Loughton Essex named Organico - I was very keen to see what it was going to be like.

For a healthy person, Organico is a pleasant 10 minute walk from the underground station (central line) however if you don't like walking so much, it would make an incredibly short bus ride!

Places like Organico, are gold dust!
Especially when you have food allergies and staying in Essex!

It's so nice to see shops like these opening up on the outskirts of London. Such a relief for me too, because from my parents, it's just a short drive in the car.
Parking is easy, as Organico is very close to county council car parks (bonus points there!)

Everything is Vegan!
Vegan tea, coffee, juices, smoothies... Even the cake is vegan. What's more, is that they have a couple gluten free choices too (yes, that's vegan too, yaay!)
On my first visit I had a Gluten free vegan Almond Muffin. It was sweet, moist, and had a wonderful texture.

On another visit I had a Spirulina orange truffle (annoyingly I've lost the photo) - now knowing what spirulina tastes like, I was a bit apprehensive... But this truffle was amazingly good! Just the right balance of orange to cover the taste of the spirulina, and sweet enough to cure the sweet craving.

It's an Aladdin's Cave for organic and vegan foods products They sell an array of cupboard foods, herbal teas, home essentials. Stacked from floor to ceiling, They're bound to have what you're looking for!

I really hope that as many people as possible visit this amazing little shop, because shops like this deserve to become the norm of society.




They're fresh, stylish, welcoming and homely, whilst catering for everyone's needs. Shopping needn't be a chore - it should be a pleasure, so why shop at a big bright and noisy superstore that's full of stress, when you could probably find all of your desired things in happy little places like this?

Vegan Chilli non Carne

I have been meaning to post up some recipes, but because I often don't write recipes down, this task is often tricky.

Tonight (with lots of help) I have made a Mexican inspired dish. I would have called it a 'chilli con carne' But - There's no meat, onions, or chilli in fact, in this meal, so I decided to call it the mild mexican, because it should suit at least some sensitive tummies, like me. 

Follow my Instagram! @AngrySquidge

Makes about 8 meals - Freezable up to one month 

The staple ingredients for this recipe are:
1-2 tablespoons Odourless Coconut oil (it's cheaper than regular coconut oil)
2 tins of chopped tomatoes
1 tin ready cooked red kidney beans
1 cup of dried brown lentils
3 large cloves of garlic
1 tablespoon cocoa powder (you could use half a tablespoon of carob powder instead or one square of very dark chocolate)
2 teaspoons smoked/unsmoked paprika
1-2 teaspoons cumin
half a teaspoon coriander
half a teaspoon turmeric - as it's anti inflammatory
1 teaspoon mild chilli powder (optional)
1 tablespoon of gluten free vegan bouillon or one gfv stock cube  (leave this out if you are super sensitive to onions)
1 bay leaf
salt
black pepper - more the merrier as it is anti inflammatory
1 green bell pepper

The veg to bulk it out - I used in tonight's recipe:
1 onion

1 medium Aubergine (you could use a punnet of mushrooms instead)
1 yellow bell pepper (as well as the green pepper)

I'm running low on veg today so just used what I had in the fridge.

You could add in a fresh onion if you're not sensitive to them.

Method:

Pre boil the brown lentils (takes about half an hour till the lentils are soft)
Chop/process your veg to the size you like them (I like them chunky) Then fry them in a large pot the coconut oil till they have reduced in size.
Add all of the staple ingredients to the large pot, stir, bring to the boil, turn the heat down to a very low heat and leave to simmer for up to an hour ( I often forget about it! So if you're like me, put a timer on so you don't forget) 




Don't forget to use organic produce where possible!

Happy eating!

 - I would love to hear from you if you have used this recipe, even if it's just for inspiration :-)

Eden Perfumes - A review

Some months ago I was exploring Instagram for natural product companies and stumbled across Eden_Perfumes_Brighton
At first I thought that surely this wasn't Brighton UK - It's usually the USA (who also happen to have a place called Brighton)
who get the more luxurious organic products...

To my pleasant surprise, it was a Spanish family who were setting up a shop in very close proximity to my chiropractor in lucky Hove!

I immediately wanted to investigate this company, and to test my body to see as to whether I would react to the ingredients used in the perfume. I had 2 weeks to wait till the shop was open, plus an extra wait on my health, seeing that it's so unpredictable.

First impressions...

A beautifully modern style, with a clever burst of nature as you take note of your surroundings. 

As I was walking into this shop, not only was I greeted with a warm welcome, the aura of the shop felt like home from home. The customer service is outstanding. And the sales assistants are perfectly educated about they're selling - not a lazy, ditzy salesperson in sight!

A cross between a sweet shop, a science lab, and a distillery - The bottles beautifully arranged on the wall ready to be dispensed.

A total of 130 perfumes for sale, with more arriving at christmas 2014!

With 109 Perfumes on display, all you have to do is walk round the shop and choose a sample you like the sound of, or simply sit at the table and sample recommendations from the lovely sales assistants. They will help you find your perfect match, even finding an incredibly similar natural alternative to your regular favourite perfume. How cool is that?!
Ditch your toxic non vegan perfume for a naturally made, organic, non toxic alternative - Your body will thank you for it! 

Organically Original...

Did you know that regular perfume companies, including celebrity perfumes, contain hormones extracted from the glands of animals such as deers and beavers? and use animal urine - aka, Ammonia? 

link - How Toxic are your body and household products?

At Eden Perfumes, you will only find safe, natural, organic, vegan friendly ingredients. Not only are the perfumes on show in independently designed dispensers, but all of the ingredients are on show too. 
Finally, a perfume company that has nothing to hide. 

Eden Perfumes consists of flowers, grains, fruit oils and alcohol, all grown and naturally processed by themselves at their farms in Spain. The alcohol is derived from distilled aubergine, having a very low toxicity percentage. 
The alcohol is used as a natural preservative which evaporates quickly, leaving just the beautiful scent of your chosen perfume behind.
 
They really are an independant company that deserves recognition. 
One thing that stood out for me is that despite the perfume being preserved in alcohol, I did not get a headache/migraine, or any respiratory reactions. I didn't get instant vertigo either, which often happens if someone sprays a regular toxic cocktail close by.. 
This proved to me that Eden Perfumes really is a natural product. I never believe something is natural until my body has confirmed it is so - one of the strange perks of having a hypersensitive chronically unwell body.
I am sensitive to alcohol and I did notice this slightly when the perfume was sprayed, but that's easily mended with a roll on perfume bottle, to which Eden Perfume will be introducing to their shop some time next year. If you can't wait that long, just bring your own rollerball perfume bottle and they will use that instead. Problem solved!

 Truly Vegan

No animal testing, No animal ingredients. 

None of their ingredients have been tested on animals for or by them. 

The one thing that really sold my heart to this company is the fact that they give their profits to a charity named SFHFC - St. Francis Hospice For Cats - A charity that is dedicated to looking after and caring for senior and terminally ill cats.The charity only survive through charitable donations. 

Jacky has 3 pets, a cat named Tito and 2 rabbits, Chester and Franky. She has an amazing love for animals, and her pets have been her biggest inspiration to develop a vegan friendly perfume.

She loves all animals and hopes to one day run a sanctuary - To rescue animals from the inhumane entertainment industry. She wishes she could save all animals in suffering. No living soul should have to live in any pain. 

Eden Perfumes have 3 pet perfumes for you and your pet to choose from. Vanilla, Green Apple, and Grosella Fruity.

You can't get more vegan than that. 

Value for money

Eden Perfume is such good value for money considering the amazing quality of this product, it's just £12 for a 30ml bottle, or even better, just £10 for a refill!

I bought one bottle for my mum, and one for myself.
Both containing vanilla and vegan musk. 
Eden Perfumes on Twitter

Another serious natural bargain here!

 


Jacky, her future husband, and family have put their hearts and souls into developing this perfume distillery.

Using Jacky's Grandfathers' techniques, her knowledge as an environmental scientist, and her personal experience suffering from multiple allergies, they have been able to invent a product for the future, all by nature. 

They are all so passionate and determined about Eden Perfumes.

Jacky had a scholarship from Spain after studying veterinary nursing, so she decided to study Environmental science at Brighton University, working 2 jobs, she never has a day off - How amazing is that?!
She is truly happy, enjoying her journey and such a joy to be around.

A pure inspiration.

Like this review? Check out my review on Natural Lip Balm -
and blog post - Beauty and health


*Photos are not taken by me 

Healthy Lentil 'Shepherds' pie

 Today has been a feast day of gorgeous comfort food! I really fancied a shepherd's pie, but of course, without the meat.

Whenever I want something inspired by meat dishes I go for either brown/green lentils or aduki beans. Lentils are much easier and cheaper to get hold of, so are usually the first choice.

I had my organic veg order arrive yesterday. So having planned what we were going to make this week, the shepherd's pie was first on the list!

We always batch bake in this house because I can't cook most days, if I want to cook, someone is always helping, as in I choose the ingredients, sit down and tell them what to cook, and do the taste testing..

Today's meal is definitely a keeper! (I'm getting the hang of writing these recipes down)
Super comforting and super filling! If you need that full feeling without the fear of piling on the lbs,
I really suggest you try this.

So here it is.

Vegan Lentil Shepherds Pie.

You will need.
A large rectangular oven dish
A very big pan, or deep sided wok
2 pans to boil your veg and lentils.

Serves 6-8 people - I made 6 portions, because I like my food!

Ingredients

1 cup dried green lentils
1 leek
1 celery
1 red bell pepper
2 courgettes (zucchini)
400g chestnut mushrooms
1 tbsp tomato puree
1 stock cube or 1 and a half tbsp stock powder in 250ml boiled water
1 tsp turmeric
black pepper
6 slices or grated vegan cheese (optional)

Mash topping.
1 butternut squash
3 mini-medium potatoes

Start boiling the lentils.
In a food processor, blitz the celery and leek till they are very small pieces.
Add to the wok or large pan and with a little oil sweat them down.
Process or chop the mushrooms to how you like them, I used my chunky strip blade on my food processor. Leave to one side.
Chunky chop the courgette and red pepper, add to the celery and leeks, stir and cover the pan,leaving it for 5 minutes to sweat down. Add the chopped mushrooms and vegetable stock, turmeric, black pepper  and stir.
Once the lentils have softened add to the vegetable mixture and gently mix. leave to simmer on a low heat.

Pre heat oven to 180oC fan

wash the butternut squash and potatoes thoroughly as we will be keeping the skins on.
Once you have washed them, chop into cubes, rinse, add boiling water and simmer till they become soft (about 15-20 minutes)
Drain and mash well, add salt and pepper to taste.

Transfer the lentil mixture to the oven dish,






Then Add the Vegetable mash, layering or sprinkling the vegan cheese on top.

Bake for half an hour, and serve with your favourite green veg. I had peas and kale. and a dollop of mayo!


We even had berry crumble after!






I used chestnut flour, millet, vegan marge and coconut sugar for the crumble topping, and added maple syrup and amaretto to the berries, Seriously naughty!

Seriously stuffed now.

Hope you enjoy this meal as much as I did!


Fancy cake for dessert? Try this Cupcake recipe