Review: GreenChef / HelloFresh meal boxes

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on · · 4 comments · 800 words · read ~116 times.
Green Chef logo which looks like a chopping board.

I'm a reasonably adventurous eater - but a rather underwhelming cook. So I thought I'd give these "posh ready-meals" a go. The pitch is simple. GreenChef will send you a big box of ingredients and a bunch of recipes to follow. You get exactly 175g of tomatoes, a precise number of lentils, and a sachet […]

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Gadget Review: Tefal ActiFry Genius+ Air Fryer

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on · · 5 comments · 700 words · read ~304 times.
Chopped veggies in a black bowl.

I don't know when social media influencers started banging on about Air Fryers. All I know is that they're the new hip thing and that I am easily influenced. Anyway, I saw this on sale and thought I'd take a punt on it. What's the worst that could happen? The technology is pretty basic. Point […]

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I'm only vegan for the money

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on · · 4 comments · 500 words · read ~440 times.
Environmental footprints of dairy and plant-based milks Impacts are measured per liter of milk. These are based on a meta-analysis of food system impact studies across the supplychain which includes land use change, on-farm production, processing, transport, and packaging.

I've been a vegetarian since the turn of the century. I always felt like I should probably be vegan but, you know, cheese is delicious. Then, without warning, my body decided that producing the human lactase enzyme was for losers. Stupid body! No more cheese for me 😭 The UK has come on leaps and […]

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Let's eat banana peel!

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on · · 6 comments · 500 words · read ~309 times.
Bright yellow skins in a frying pan.

I'm an indifferent cook, and mostly-vegan. But I like to be adventurous in my eating habits, when I can. So I decided to follow and then adapt this intriguing recipe for "banana peel bacon". OK. But Why? Food waste is a big issue. People throw away lots of perfectly edible food. They also discard tonnes […]

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Review: YumAsia Mini Panda Rice Cooker

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on · · 1 comment · 400 words · read ~1,659 times.
Rice cooker which looks a bit like a panda.

I read this wonderful article about the invention of the rice cooker and, because I am easily influenced, bought one. This is the YumAsia Panda Mini. It seemed to hit the sweet spot for physical size and price. For £80 you get a rice cooker, steamer, and utensils. Makes enough rice for 2 people. Although, […]

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Review: 小鳳腿 (Vegan "Chicken" Drumsticks)

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on · · 350 words · read ~435 times.
Breaded drumsticks - with a bone sticking out of them.

I'm a sucker for weird veggie-friendly foods! I especially love discovering what other countries and cultures do to replicate their meaty dishes in veggie friendly formats. So I was delighted to find a local store to me selling all manner of Chinese meat-substitutes - including these amazing looking "Chicken" Drumsticks! I ordered a bunch and […]

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Make your hackday vegan

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on · · 3 comments · 350 words · read ~275 times.
A projected screen at a conference, it says that all lunch boxes will be vegan.

I go to lots of conferences, unconferences, hackdays, and tech events. As a vegetarian, I'm used to being relegated to second-class when it comes to event catering. If I'm lucky, I get some cheese sandwiches mingled with a plate of meaty snacks. That's why I was overjoyed at ODF Plugfest Rome when the organisers made […]

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Review: Guzzl Box

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on · · 350 words · read ~265 times.
treats inside a box - some jars, boxes, and slabs of chocolate

I've never been a big fan of subscription boxes. They always seem to deliver too much (who uses that many toothbrushes a month?!?!) or the quality is too variable. That said, I was intrigued by the offer of a bunch of British delicacies delivered to my gaping mouth every month. any idea what's in a […]

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A Vegetarian in Beijing

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on · · 2 comments · 800 words · read ~606 times.

I was incredibly fortunate that my new employer sent me to a conference in China recently. I can't discuss what I did out there - but I can report on all the delicious food I ate! (NB - I paid for all meals myself!) Being veggie in Beijing was relatively easy. I had a stock […]

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Mistakes in molecular gastronomy

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on · · 400 words · read ~211 times.

It is a little masochistic to dwell on one's mistakes. I doubt anyone thinks that I am perfect (not even my mother!) - but I think talking about our mistake serves a useful purpose. It's healthy for us to discuss our failings, and hopefully helps people from following in our footsteps. After last week's success […]

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