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Vegan Christmas or Yule
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Solstice Chocolate
Refrigerator Christmas Cake
recipe on blog
Tweets by @veganfamily Advent Calendars 
Playmobil make some gorgeous Advent Calendars
see the range at Amazon.co.uk
or
here on Amazon.com (USA)
moo free chocolate Santa
Buy UK or Buy US
our designs on stuff!
Spreadshirt (UK/Eur)
Cafepress (USA)
Buy Kindle from Amazon.co.uk
or
Amazon.com (USA)
Vegan Kindle titles:
from Amazon.co.uk
or
from Amazon.com
free titles:
at Amazon.co.uk
or
at Amazon.com
gourmet raw brownies
use code GR003 for 10% off
they make raw crisps too!
Easy Raw Vegan Holidays
Fancy a raw Chrimbo?
Buy UK or Buy US
Organic Tomato Soup
one of our kids favouritetreats for many years now!
available in multi-buy too.
The greatest gift ever...
The Vitamix!
Used daily by us :)
from
Amazon.co uk
or
Amazon.com
very powerful for it's size
smaller price than Vitamix
great containers too
The Tribest Personal Blender
from
Amazon.co.uk
or
Amazon.com
stocking filler for p&p only:
'Vegetarian Christmas' by Rose Elliot. Hardcover available cheaply below!
Buy UK or Buy US
a juicer...the ultimate healthy gift! Buy UK or Buy US
cosy hats from us!
8 children rescue 8 turkeys from Farmer Mack Nugget.
Buy UK or Buy US
who wants the cake?
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Fabulous food...
Buy UK or Buy US
hints paid off
got it for Christmas :)
very funny & good recipes too...
Buy UK or Buy US
An unusual stocking filler? 
Salt of the Earth deodorant
totally natural and awesome!
from Amazon.co.uk
or
Amazon.com
Healthy Hedonist Holidays
veg & non-veg recipes.
Buy UK or Buy US
another great present...
Buy UK or Buy US
and then came...
the cookies!
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new by the same author: 
250 more recipes...
Buy UK or Buy US
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We love Christmas time or Yule - lights, colour, celebration, sharing, eating and drinking special things with friends and family... in midwinter in Scotland this time is very welcome! For a peek into our lives you can visit the blog, sign up for the mailing list or follow us on twitter
 
Pictured above are a Redwood celebration roast dinner, the lazier option, and Divine Dark Chocolate Coins
Savoury festive recipes All savoury recipes generously serve four people.
Cream of Tomato Soup 
A beautifully simple dish from our soup page that could be made in advance and frozen, making a perfect brightly coloured starter. 2 tins of plum tomatoes about a cup of water (rinse out tins with it) 1 onion 5 cloves of garlic 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped 1 or 2 handfuls of cashew nuts seasalt to taste Place the tomatoes and water in a pan and bring to the boil, adding the onion, sweet potato and garlic as it heats. Once it boils, turn down to a simmer for 10-15 minutes, until potatoes are soft. Place soup in a blender and add the cashew nuts. Blend and taste for seasoning, add salt as desired. If your blender is not very strong, try soaking the cashews in water overnight to soften them before using. Vitamix and Blendtec high powered blenders are now available through Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com
Cashew Nut Roast with Sage and onion stuffing 
A sixth of a cup/30g/1oz of vegan margarine 2 sticks of celery, finely chopped 1 medium leek, finely chopped 1 and a half cups of hot water 1 teaspoon of yeast extract (marmite, vegemite or our favourite vecon stock etc.) 3 cups/550g/16oz of ground cashew nuts (or other nuts of your choice - almonds work well too) 2 Tablespoons of soya flour 2 teaspoons of fresh herbs - winter savoury is great (if using dried 1 teaspoon) 3 cups/160g/6oz of white bread crumbs. Orgrans's rice crumbs are an excellent substitute for a gluten free version, easier too, we use them all the time. seasalt and pepper to taste sage and onion stuffing (see recipe further down the page) Melt the margarine (in a large pan for mixing) and cook the celery and leek in it for a few minutes. Mix the yeast extract into the hot water (alternatively you could use any stock you like) and add this to the leek and celery. Stir in the soya flour, nuts, herbs, breadcrumbs and salt and pepper and mix well. Allow to cool slightly while you grease a loaf tin. Place half the nut roast mixture in the tin and press down well - then add the sage and onion stuffing (pressing down well again) and place the rest of the nut roast mixture on top. Bake in the oven for about 40 minutes at 180/360 then turn out of the tin and slice. Nice served with all the traditional trimmings. Variations:- you can substitute wine (red or white) or soya milk for the water and yeast extract. The sage and onion stuffing is optional - it works just as well without it and might actually slice up easier! A layer of sliced mushrooms and garlic is an alternative to the stuffing. Pictured roast is made with red onion and lots of fresh rosemary. Speaking of rosemary, an absolutely perfect accompaniment for any nut roast either hot or sliced up cold in sandwiches, is the rosemary and redcurrant jelly detailed here on the blog. If reading this in winter, sorry, it's a bit late to go out and get redcurrants (though rosemary plants grow all year round!), but it's a great one to make for next year. A jar of that would be a very nice gift too. Also see our lentil walnut roast on the blog (gluten free)
Creamy mushroom Puff 
A third of a cup/60g/2oz of vegan margarine 4 tablespoons of plain white flour 1 onion 4 cloves of garlic, crushed or very finely chopped (this can be reduced or left out if desired) 3 cups of mushrooms, sliced half a litre/500ml of soya milk 1 glass of white wine (or stock) handful of chopped parsley salt and pepper to taste approx. 500g/18oz of frozen puff pastry (this even comes ready-rolled now for extra laziness!!!) Melt the margarine and cook the onion and garlic in it for a few minutes and then add the sliced mushrooms and cook for a couple of minutes more. Add the flour and stir well. Gradually add the soya milk stirring all the time and then the wine and keep stirring on a low heat until the sauce thickens. Once thick remove from the heat and add your seasoning and the parsley. Allow to cool slightly while you prepare the pastry. Roll out into 2 wide rectangular shapes reserving some pastry for decoration. Place one sheet of pastry on a greased baking tray. Heap the slightly cooled sauce onto it leaving a space round the edges. Place the top sheet on and seal up the edges with some soya milk or water (fold over if needed). Make some small slits on the top of the puff and let your artistic side shine with the reserved pastry! I usually make holly leaves to place on the top but do whatever you like. Glaze with soya milk and then bake in a medium hot oven for about half an hour or until the pastry seems cooked (no soggy bits and nicely puffed up!) Nice served with gravy, roast potatoes, stuffing, vegan sausages, cranberry sauce and vegetables of your choice - a feast! Pictured puff was very easy, missing out the sealing up edges part, just plonking it between 2 pieces of pastry in a tin with sides!! Printable version
'Now that's what I call a Christmas dinner' mushroom parcel by Cat There are a few steps to this but most can be made a day ahead... in fact I normally assemble it all the evening before and then it is ready to go... Ingredients list: Mushroom Risotto 300mls/just over 1 cup rice approx. 600mls/2 and a quarter cups hot stock ( I use Kallo mushroom stock cubes) 1 onion, finely chopped couple of cloves garlic, crushed or finely chopped Jar of antipasto mushrooms, minus a tbsp mushrooms (make sure they are vegan), drain and reserve the oil. big handful of chestnut mushrooms, sliced a few dried mushrooms, soaked in hot water and then finely chopped tsp dried oregano ( or fresh if you can) fresh basil, sliced Soyamince filling 1 cup defrosted vegemince or 1 cup rehydrated soya mince, remaining tbsp of mushrooms, enough sundried tomato puree to bind it together and some fresh basil Stuffing 1 onion finely chopped, 1 cup oats 1/2 cup suet, 1 tsp mixed herbs and some salt and pepper. Aprox. 500g./18oz of frozen, vegan puff pastry
Preparation Mushroom Risotto Put some of the reserved mushroom oil in a pan and saute the onions and garlic until soft, add the rice and mix it all together. Add all the different mushrooms and the oregano if dried. Mix again and then gradually add the stock stirring constantly for that creamy risotto texture. More or less liquid may be needed. Add fresh herbs , mix and set aside. soyamince filling In a blender mix together approx. 1 cup defrosted vegemince or 1 cup rehydrated soya mince, remaining tbsp of mushrooms, enough sundried tomato puree to bind it together and some fresh basil Stuffing chop an onion finely and mix it with 1 cup oats to 1/2 cup suet,1 tsp mixed herbs and some salt and pepper. bind with a little water to form a sausage...be careful not to add too much water. Have ready some defrosted vegan puff pastry rolled out into a rectangle. Assembly Get the puff pastry and spread it lightly with sundried tomato paste and stick basil leaves on to this. Get the cooled mushroom risotto and spread it onto the pastry leaving room at all ends... you wont need all the risotto. On top of this place the soya mince filling and then place the stuffing sausage along the centre. Fold up the sides until they meet in the middle...hopefully!! If they are reluctant to stick down then brush with a little soya milk. Put on a baking tray. It is advisable, if possible, to raise the pastry parcel off the tray using a rack as I have found the bottom has a tendency to burn. You can now leave it until Christmas Day! To cook follow the temperature guide on the packet of puff pastry. Easy! Also check out Cat's Garlic-Lemon Seitan Roast with stuffing over on the Modern Housewife blog
Spinach-Tofu Manicotti by Secular PaganNot exactly a traditional Yule/Christmas dish, but it's red, white, and green, so it fits. FILLING: (stuffs about ten manicotti "tubes") 1 pound/450g firm tofu, drained and rinsed PASTA: SAUCE:
Glazed Parsnips and Carrots with Pistachio Definitely the star of Christmas dinner 2011, pictured right, and so simple, as often is the way with the best food :) 8 medium parsnips (you can of course use bigger/smaller and adjust quantities) 8 medium carrots a little sunflower oil to rub a couple of teaspoons of maple or golden syrup a teaspoon of rough seasalt a handful of natural pistachios (not salted or roasted) Peel/scrape the vegetables and cut into quarters, once lengthways and once across the middle. Rub them with oil and place in roasting tin. Drizzle syrup. Sprinkle salt and pistachios. Roast in a hot oven for about half an hour.
Cranberry, Orange and Ginger sauce 3/4 cup/150g/5oz sugar 1/2 cup/150ml/quarter pint of orange juice zest of 1 lemon 1 teaspoon of fresh grated ginger (or half a teaspoon of dried ginger) 2 cups of fresh cranberries pinch of salt Place the cranberries, orange juice and ginger in a pan and simmer for about 10 minutes. Give the berries a mash and add the sugar, zest and salt. Cook gently until all the sugar is completely dissolved. The sauce will thicken up as it cools slightly. Nice served hot or warm with nut roast or mushroom puff and parcel.
Cheat's nut roast rolls! Very simple if you buy a vegan packet mix for a nut roast and some frozen puff pastry! Simply make up the nut roast mix and place it in the puff pastry in roll shapes. Nice done like cocktail sausage rolls for serving with drinks. Bake in a medium oven for about 20 minutes.
Sage and Onion Roast Potatoes 4 teaspoons of dried sage or 8 teaspoons of freshly chopped sage 4 tablespoons of sunflower oil 1 finely chopped onion 4 tablespoons of medium oatmeal Potatoes, peeled and cut to desired size (this coating is enough for about 4 or 5 lbs/2 or 3 kilos.) salt to taste Par boil the potatoes then just when they are beginning to soften remove from heat and drain. Place in baking tray and rub the coating all over them (careful!) - roast in a hot oven until nice and crispy (30 minutes plus). You might want to baste with a little more oil half way through for extra crispiness! Variation : sesame roast potatoes - coat the potatoes in sunflower oil and plenty sesame seeds before roasting - this has a lovely flavour too. Pictured are plain roast pots coated in flour prior to roasting and the oil heated in a hot oven first and also roast parsnips and peppers roasted in a mixture of sunflower oil and maple syrup.
6 slices of wholemeal bread (Orgrans's rice crumbs can be subbed for a gluten free version) half a cup/85g/3oz of vegan margarine 4 teaspoons of dried sage or 8 of fresh, chopped sage 1 finely chopped large onion salt to taste Melt the margarine in a saucepan and then cook the onion in it until soft. Break up the wholemeal bread with your hands (into fairly small pieces) and then mix into the onion and margarine with the sage and salt. This can be pressed into an oven-proof bowl for baking or if you like meat analogues it can be sandwiched between two Redwood Cheatin' Turkey Roasts, wrapped in foil and baked in the oven! Printable version
Skirlie (traditional Scottish oatmeal stuffing - quite bland, not to everyone's liking!)1 cup of medium oatmeal 1 large onion, finely chopped 4 tablespoons of sunflower oil a little salt Cook the onion in the oil until soft and then stir in the oatmeal and salt and cook for a few minutes longer, stirring frequently to prevent sticking - then use as Sage and onion stuffing. Printable version
Ice Cream Bombe 
Based on a Jamie Oliver recipe this, we just veganised! Extra pictures of the various steps are on the blog here
1 vegan sponge cake, thinly sliced up (see cake page if you need a recipe) some jam to spread on the cake 1 or 2 tubs of vegan ice cream - we used Swedish Glace Vanilla a small bag of unsalted, shelled pistachio nuts a handful of glace cherries a bar of good dark chocolate Line a round pudding bowl with cake slices (leave some for the base) and spread a layer of jam over them. Get your other ingredients ready before taking the ice cream out of the freezer, then layer it up. A layer of ice cream, a sprinkling of nuts, ice cream, cherries, ice cream, buttons, ice cream then the last slices of cake on the base. Cling film the whole bowl really well and use a plate to press down and squash all the layers together well. Bung it in the freezer until you want to eat it (can be made weeks in advance). Place in the fridge for about an hour before removing from bowl (may have to run outside of bowl under hot tap, being careful not to wet the pudding!) and pouring the melted chocolate over the top (it sets fast on the cold bombe). Slice up and enjoy :) Triple Chocolate Variant: use chocolate cake, and chocolate ice cream and maybe even chocolate spread though cherry or apricot jam would be good too :) Printable version
Chocolate Yule Log Cake (for people who can't do swiss roll!!)1 chocolate cake baked in a loaf tin - basic chocolate cake recipe here (or 1 chocolate swiss roll if you can do it!!) 1 batch of vegan chocolate 'butter' icing: Beat together half a cup/130g/4oz vegan margarine with 1 and a third cups/210g/7 oz sifted icing sugar and one tablespoon of cocoa (also sifted to avoid lumps). Beat in a few drops of natural vanilla extract. 1 tablespoon of icing sugar for dusting 1 festive cake board or large plate and decorations of your choice (fake flowers or berries, holly leaves, small baubles etc.) Cake Assembly: Cut the corner off one end of the cake and turn it round to look like a branch (excuse rough drawing!) - arrange on the cake board or plate. Secure the branch with some of the icing. 
With a knife smooth off the corners of the log to make it rounded. Cover the entire cake with the rest of the icing, then use a fork to make lines and knots like a log :) Dust with icing sugar. Decorate to your hearts content. Printable version
Little Chocolate logs 
1 chocolate cake prepared in a large square tin so it will not be too deep ( visit the chocolate room if you need a recipe for this)vegan marzipan A bar of dark vegan chocolate icing sugar for dusting glace cherries and crystallised angelica for decoration or children might prefer Whizzers chocolate beans or other sweets - in the picture weve used pecan nuts Cut the cake into small rectangles ( 10 cm. X 4 cm. and 2 or 3 cm. deep). Cut thin pieces of marzipan and place on top of the cakes. Pour melted chocolate over the top of each log, decorate to your hearts content and then dust with the icing sugar (snow!).
Jewel Biscuits Delicious and colourful biscuits or cookies - the 'jewels' are optional but very bright and special - makes about 25 medium (3 inch/9cm) biscuits. 150g/5oz/three quarter cup caster sugar 150g/5 oz/three quarter cup vegan margarine 5 tablespoons of soya milk 300g/10 oz/1and a half cups of plain flour teaspoon vanilla extract (or according to pack instructions) boiled sweets - different colours is good Preheat oven to 200C/400F and grease baking sheets. Cream together the sugar and marg. Mix in the soya milk and vanilla and then the flour. The mixing of the flour is best done with your hands. You should have a workable dough (add more flour if it's too wet or more soya milk if too dry and doesn't hold together well). Roll out on a floured board (to just under 1 cm thick) and cut into shapes - cutters in festive shaped such as stars, trees and angels are lovely but plain round ones are effective too - you can use a drinking glass if you don't have cutters. Lay on baking sheets. Make a hole in the middle of each biscuit - plain round, diamonds, stars - whatever you like, as long as it is big enough for your sweet! Place a sweet in each hole. Bake for about 10 minutes for soft bake cookies or a little longer for dryer, crunchy ones. The sweets will melt down and fill the hole in the oven and then reset once cool. If you want these for tree decoration ONLY you can prelong their life by replacing the sugar in the recipe with salt and adding a couple of tablespoons of PVA glue to the mix (do not eat after doing this option!!) Prior to baking make a small hole in the top with a drinking straw - once cooked and cooled you can thread ribbons through for hanging. Printable version
Easy, Last Minute Christmas Fruit Cake by JeanThis cake has no added sugar or fat (suitable for a range of diets) but is still really sweet and rich. It should be stored in the fridge and eaten within one week. Even easier if you get your children to ice and decorate it as pictured... 8oz/250g/2 cups of cooking dates with the stones removed 
10 fl.oz/300ml/1 and a quarter cups of water (you could substitute a quarter cup of brandy or sherry for a quarter cup of the water if you like) 6oz/175g/1 and a quarter cups of wholemeal flour 1 lb/450g/3 cups of mixed dried fruit of your choice - including lots of dried apricots works very well 2 teaspoons of baking powder 1 teaspoon of mixed spice 4 tablespoons of orange juice For decoration: You can either do a traditional marzipan and white icing topping or use rows of different nuts such as walnuts, pecans, brazils and almonds. Heat the dates and water until the dates are soft. Remove from heat and mash with a fork. Add all the other ingredients and mix well. Spoon into a greased 2lb/900g cake tin and level top. If using the nut topping place rows of different nuts on top of the cake prior to cooking. Bake at 170C/340F for about an hour and a half until cooked. Once cooled the nut topping can be glazed with a little syrup (melt some sugar into hot water) or you can ice traditionally. Printable version
Cranberry Ginger Bars by LureeFilling: 3 cups of fresh or frozen cranberries 3/4 cups each of raisins, dried apricots and crystallised ginger 1 lb/450g/3 cups of mixed dried fruit of your choice - including lots of dried apricots works very well 1 cup brown sugar 1 cup apple juice In a large saucepan combine all ingredients. Bring to a gentle boil over a medium heat. Stir for about 5 minutes or until the cranberries have popped. Let cool. Base and Topping: 2 cups flour 3/4 cups brown sugar 1 and a half teaspoons of ground ginger 1/4 teaspoon of salt 1 cup of margarine or vegetable shortening 1 cup of rolled oats 3/4 cup of raw sunflower seeds Mix all ingredients together. Set aside 1 and a half cups of crumb mixture for topping. Press the remainder into a 9" by 13" baking pan. Bake at 180C/350F for 15 minutes. Spread with cranberry mixture and sprinkle with remaining crumbs. Bake for another 30 minutes. Yummy! Printable version
Easy chocolate-rum truffles 
Some left over cake, crumbled - about 2 cups 2 tablespoons of Apricot jam 2 tablespoons of rum (or rum flavouring) 1 teaspoon of cocoa 50g./2oz (half a large bar) of vegan chocolate, melted Coating of choice - cocoa, chopped nuts, coconut etc. Mix everything together and then squeeze into balls (about 5 cm. diameter) and roll in the coating. Place in petit four cases (or on a festive napkin as in slightly bizarre picture). Printable version
Festive Sweets 
Making your own sweets is actually quite fun - children have a great time with this too. They are also nice gifts if placed in a pretty box or packet. Vegan chocolate - I recommend Maya Gold for these - it's orange spiciness is perfect for this time of year. Nuts of your choice (hazel, walnut, pecan, almond, brazil) Vegan marzipan (many supermarkets stock this) Dates Dessicated coconut Cocoa Icing sugar Crystalised angelica Glace cherries Flaked almonds It's very simple! Melt the chocolate and then dip things in it - nuts, marzipan balls, dates - and then place them on a sheet of grease-proof paper to set. Decorate with angelica, glace cherries (can be made to look like holly) and flaked almonds before the chocolate sets and then you can sprinkle with cocoa, coconut or icing sugar. Dates can be destoned and stuffed with marzipan for a non-chocolate treat. Place in petit four cases and enjoy! Also see Chocolate Fudge icing or soft fudge
Mincemeat by Cat1lb/450g cooking apples, peeled, cored and finely chopped 8oz/225g shredded vegetable suet 12 oz/350g sultanas 16 oz/450g dried apricots 12oz/350g soft dark brown sugar grated rind and juice of 2 oranges 
grated rind and juice of 2 lemons 2oz/60g whole almonds, slivered 4 tsp mixed spice 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon half a nutmeg, grated 6 tbsp vegan brandy Mix all ingredients ,except the brandy, together in a bowl then cover and leave for 12 hours. To prevent fermentation place the mincemeat in a 120C/ 225F oven for 3 hours. Then allow to cool, stir in brandy and put in clean jars and seal. Printable version
Christmas Pud by Catriona12oz/350g sultanas 4oz/120g glace cherries, halved 10z/300g ground almonds 4oz/120g plain flour 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp grated nutmeg 1/2 tsp ground ginger 1 1/2 tsp mixed spice 8oz/230g dark brown molasses sugar 4oz/120gsoft, fresh wholemeal breadcrumbs 8oz/230g vegetable suet grated zest and juice of 1 lemon 1 tbsp black treacle 4 floz/125ml/half a cup soya milk sherry soak the sultanas in plenty sherry Grease a 2 pint pudding basin. Put the soaked fruit, cherries and ground almonds into a large bowl. Add the flour, salt, spices, sugar, breadcrumbs, suet, lemon zest and juice, treacle, soya milk and 4 tbsp sherry. Mix well to make a soft mixture. Spoon into the basin, cover with two layers of greased foil and tie down. Steam for 4 hours. Cool. Cover with a circle of greaseproof paper and two layers of tinfoil. To reheat steam for three hours as before. (I have to say that when I make it I prick the pudding and feed some more sherry or brandy into it...) and don't forget that after it is reheated pour MORE brandy over it and set it on fire. Printable version
Vegan Trifle also by Catriona
I loved this so much before I was vegan that I veganised it one year and it is excellent... you can leave off the 'cream' layer if you like but I think it makes it! Note: since this recipe was written, many vegan creams are available to buy such as cremovita Make a plain vegan sponge and sandwich it together with jam. Slice it up and put it on the bottom of a trifle dish ( or other suitable deep dish) drain a tin of fruit and put on top of the sponge (or use fresh fruit. I like raspberries). Next make up a vegan jelly and pour on top of everything... leave to set. Make up custard with soya milk and pour that on top of the set jelly. Leave that to set. Now put on a thick soya cream made with...2 tbsp cornflour, 2 oz/60g vegan margarine, 1 oz/30g sugar, 1/2 tsp vanilla essence and 1/2 pt/250ml/1 cup of soya milk... blend the cornflour with a little soya milk. Add the rest of the milk gradually and transfer to a saucepan. Bring to the boil gently and stir until the mixture thickens. Set aside to cool. Cream the margarine with the sugar until pale in colour. Beat in the cooled cornflour mixture a little at a time. Add the vanilla essence. Put the cream layer on top of the chilled custard layer. Decorate with fresh fruit and then eat voraciously. The cream can also be turned into brandy cream by adding a spoonful of brandy...serve with Christmas pudding. Books we love... 
'Vegetarian Christmas' by Rose Elliot. Not exclusively vegan but there is a plethora of vegan delights included and most of the lacto-ovo recipes are easily 'veganisable'. Our favourite Christmas dinner of Chestnut and Red wine pate en croute is one of many included here along with lots of advice on taking the work out of Christmas catering. This book is full of ideas for lots of special touches which can be prepared early and frozen - a firm favourite. Now out of print but the hardcover is available cheaply from both UK and USA Amazons below and has lots of lovely photos throughout :) We love this book so much we even wrote a blog post on it!
'Cooking by the Seasons - simple vegetarian feasts' - a beautiful collection of recipes divided into the four main seasons. Most recipes are either vegan or very easily veganised - there is even a tofu salad especially for vegan goddesses! Information is given on the eight major sabbats (summer solstice, Yule etc.) along with suggested menus - suggestions for Yule include mulled wine, winter solstice pumpkin soup, red, white and green lasange and hazelnut ice cream and many, many ideas for everyday feasts. There is a really good vegan version of macaroni cheese - baked shells with brocolli and tomato. Yum yum yum.
'Letters from Father Christmas' by JRR Tolkien. Weve all been enchanted by this lovely book of letters. Tolkien wrote one to his children each year, right down to designing beautiful stamps. The artwork throughout is stunning and the stories amusing, building each year. A lovely book.
...and what about this sweet gift set for veggie kids? Herb the Vegetarian Dragon has always been a great favourite of our kids and now it comes in this 'Peace, Love and vegetable' set with a bendy Herb toy! See more ideas for kids in the Kids Bookstore
...and the most popular title from our kids book pages this year: 'That's Why We Don't Eat Animals: A Book About Vegans, Vegetarians, and All Living Things' by Ruby Roth. A stunningly illustrated book for children which compares the way animals live in the wild to the way their factory farmed counterparts exist. You can see both the book and the author on a video at amazon.com
Festive Children's Books - some recommendations from us. The Book People - always worth checking out what these people have in stock - heavily discounted items. Also see their sister company Red House which specialise in kids books.
Recipe and food sites 
Frugal Christmas - economical ideas for Christmas - shopping, recipes, cards and decorations. The Modern Housewife Series Vol 1 - blog by three vegan women, did a countdown to Vegan Christmas in 2011, Vegan HoHo. Pictured right is one of their chocolate tree decorations Goodness Direct - a wonderful online health food shop with free delivery on orders of £35 or more - great for staples and treats! Seasonal items of note: Divine Dark Chocolate Coins and Plamil Advent Calendars Vegan Wines Online - good selection of all vegan wines from this UK based online shop. Hotel Chocolat
Montezuma's - lots of vegan goodies, the dark chocolate snowmen are great! Ethical Superstore - stocks some fab food and drink from various green and fairtrade brands. Vegan Christmas Recipes from Parsley Soup - some really nice festive offerings from this vegan recipe site. Don't forget that Amazon now stocks a large selection of vegan goodies both here in the UK at Amazon.co.uk
Some places we shop:
UK organisations (most do international orders too)
American Organisations
Have a good festive season | ||||||||||
Sage and Onion stuffing
a vegan advent table
