Vegan archery glove and bracer

I love archery but animal products are very common in the equipment (especially the style of equipment I like) and so you have to be careful when making purchases. I would love to shoot an old fashioned longbow but you shoot off the hand and plastic fletchings do no not fold down like feathers do as they pass the hand, this can make the arrow flight erratic.

So I compromise, I shoot an olympic style recurve but I shoot barebow, no sights or stabilisers here. I am switching to wooden arrows as I prefer the look and feel of wood and the fact they can rot away when they break, but I still have to use plastic fletchings on them.

I compromise with my protection too, I wear fabric gloves that get worn very quickly by the string and leave me with numb finger tips after a day of shooting. Hopefully Timber Creek have brought an end to this compromise.

Timber Creek have just released for sale Alcantara gloves and bracers, but what is Alcantara?

Alcantara is a tradename given to a composite material used to cover surfaces and forms in a variety of applications. It can be described as an artificial substitute for suede leather. - Source

Alcantara is often used on performance car steering wheels, it is currently the seat material in Formula One cars and is being used in SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule.

Despite the main material being Alcantara I wanted to make sure no leather or other animal bits made it into the products so I asked Timber Creek on Facebook and they confirmed it was all synthetic, YAY!

My glove and bracer arrived today, they look and feel great. 

The bracer is thicker than I though so should provide a large amount of protection, I chose the Viking model too as it is longer and covers more of the arm. 

The glove is very sturdy feeling too, a little stiff but I am sure that is because it is new an unused (like leather can be when you first get it). The fingers have a a second layer of reinforcement which should hopefully protect my fingers more than the fabric gloves I use.

I plan to use these at the weekend and will update this post as to how they feel in use and how they last under normal conditions.

They are currently available from Merlin Archery.

Glove - http://www.merlinarchery.co.uk/timber-creek-microfibre-full-glove.html 

Bracer - http://www.merlinarchery.co.uk/timber-creek-ancarta-bracer-viking.html

Giant seitan chilly steak

I have recently been making seitan to the Vegan Zombie recipe found at here. Last night I decided to do it but replaced the garlic with sweet peppers and a chilli pepper. The smell in the house last night was amazing and the taste is fantastic, just a hint of chilli.

P.S. I love my new cast iron casserole dish.

I finally got that vegan tattoo

A few weeks ago I finally got my vegan tattoo, here is the proof.

Luscious Red Velvet Moist Chocolate Cake

So my first birthday since going vegan last October and luckily I was not cake-less thanks to this Luscious Red Velvet Moist Chocolate Cake recipe and my dear old mum.

It's so good.

Argh!!! McDonald's

When I went veggie and later vegan, I chose not to exclude food from places such as McDonald's and other fast food chains as I a) like the food and b) sometimes need the convenience.  I often have to order a slightly modified vegetarian option i.e. no mayo etc.

Today my friend went to a McDonald's drive through and I ordered a Spicy Veggie Wrap without mayo.  I am happy to report it came without mayo but unfortunately after I bit into it I discovered it came without the veggie patty too, it was chicken (I spat it out without swallowing any of it and my friend ate the rest).

At first I gave them the benefit of the doubt assuming it could have been a misunderstanding and they thought my friend ordered the chicken, but the receipt below clearly shows the veggie wrap.

So today ended my run of 334 days without having parts of a dead animal in my mouth, thanks McDonald's.  I either need to inspect my food more carefully in future or just avoid McDonald's.

I completed my first triathlon

I ran in my first triathlon today, I had fun and was on a high for ages after.  Not got the energy or words to explain it so feel free to browse the photo album by clicking the picture below.

Vegan Billionaire’s Shortbread

I didn't make this but I'm sure going to eat it.  Recipe can be found at http://cashewcatering.co.uk/john_bailey_vegetarian_vegan_wedding_catering_blog/?p=224

I am doing a triathlon Sunday, "thanks" veganism

I have my first ever triathlon on Sunday, a sprint distance which is a 750 metre swim, a 20 kilometre bike and a 5 kilometre run.  I never would have had the energy or drive to do this before I went vegan but now I do.  I am doing it for a great charity, All Dogs Matter.

In 2007 I was 22 stone 2 lbs.  In August 2011 I was 19 stone.  I went vegan, I got into exorcising and now this morning I weigh 15 stone 0 lbs.  Want to read more about my weight loss, see Ralph is helping me change my life - Barry Scott

Roll on Sunday, wish me luck.

My sponsorship page: Barry Scott's Fundraising Page

Young Baz, before I got really fat

The Redwood Co. Meatless Feast Pizza

I popped into the local Holland & Barrett and when I saw some of Redwood's new vegan pizzas I grabbed a few.

Today I had The Redwood Co. Meatless Feast Pizza, they are small, only 7" so perfect for one (pathetic, I know).

I like how the plastic does not needlessly cover the whole back

This is an easy one, remove the packaging, place it on a tray and cook at 200c or gas mark 6 for 10-12 minutes.  I would recommend 12 as after 10 minutes my pizza was a little under done.  Also get yourself a decent knife or pizza cutter and cut it on a board, my knife would not get through the base (I just picked the whole thing up and ate it like that).

Frozen, don't eat it just yet

Cooked, now you can eat it

What did it taste like?  Very good, despite being unable to cut the base it was easy to eat and a good texture and taste.  The "cheese" in the middle had not melted as much as at the edges but a bit longer in the oven would sort that right out.  The "meat" was good and a very slightly spicy too. 

Would I get it again?  Yes, I am very glad I bought two of the Meatless Feast pizzas but I am having to try very hard not to put another in the over right now.

Why I'm Veg(an)

This is a brilliant and short video explaining why I'm vegan.  The video was not made by me but all the reasons apply.  Originally shared by Will Travel For Vegan Food on .

My new buddy, Buddha

So I could never be a Buddhist, I enjoy my anger too much to let it go, but I have to admit, the guy was on to something:

"The eating of meat extinguishes the seed of great compassion." ~ The Buddha, Mahaparinirvana Sutra

My new buddy, Buddha

Vegan Tofu Sushi

When I paid a visit to Google last week I picked up some sushi on the way home, vegan of course.  I love sushi, before I was vegan I once spent a week in London and had Sushi 4 or 5 days in a row.

I decided to make myself some and found this recipe for Tofu Nigiri Sushi.  I knew what I was doing with the rice, nori (sheets of very thin dried seaweed) etc but I needed a marinade for the tofu.  There were no measurements so I just put some soya sauce, lemon juice, garlic and ginger in a pot then put the sliced tofu in, I left it in the fridge for about 4 hours but 2 should do it.

Marinating the tofu

I washed and cooked the sushi rice then left it to cool before moulding it.  I prepared some powdered wasabi and cut some nori sheets into strips, then I just had to put it all together.

A dollop (not much, it's very hot) of wasabi is smeared on the moulded rice, I then put the marinated tofu on top and used a strip of nori to hold it on.

Some of the moulded rice with a small dollop of wasabi

The finished article with some picked ginger and soya sauce

Vegan Meatball Sub

I did not take any pictures during the cooking process, unfortunatley once I got this one on the brain I was in a rush to make it or more precisely, a rush to eat it.

Basically I used:
1/2 a pack of Redwood Meat Free Meatballs
1/2 a 350ml pot of good quality pasta sauce
1 part baked half ciabatta
2 slices of Tofutti Mozzarella style slices

Both the meatballs and ciabatta needed 10 minutes at gas mark 6 so I put them in the oven.  Once cooked I put the meatballs in a pan with the pasta sauce to heat the sauce, this was a mistake as stirring was breaking up the meatballs and in the end I heated it in the microwave.  Next time I will heat the sauce on its own in a pan then put the sauce on the meatballs.

All I had to do then was but it all in the ciabatta.  It was very good but I think next time I will add some kick to the sauce, maybe some vegan Worcestershire sauce will do the trick.

Quick vegetable korma

I had a quick and easy vegetable korma tonight.  I used Meridian's vegan korma sauce, broccoli and cauliflower. I puut the cooked veg and the sauce in a wok and heated it all up.  I served it with some rice, delicious.

Tofu scramble

Easy, quick and delicious.  Why did I wait so many months before having it?

Quick and easy snack to use up stuff

A quick and easy post for a quick and easy snack I had today and really liked.

Tomatoes and basil on toast, mushrooms and vegan Worcester sauce on toast.

Vegan fry up

Decided to have a vegan fry up today, it was delicious and at 715 calories I came in 83 calories below my daily limit today, winning.

Vegan McMuffin (Egg Trick Muffin)

I used to love McDonald's sausage and egg McMuffins (even the egg bit my friends often removed) but I have obviously not had one since I went vegan.  Well yesterday a new episode of The Vegan Zombie came out and it showed how to make an Egg Trick Muffin at the Strong Hearts Cafe.  I had to try it.



I had to make some substitutions for items as I am in the UK but in all I used:

• 2 English muffins
• Fry’s Vegetarian Polony/Slicing Sausage
• Tofutti mozzarella style cheese slices
• Tofu
• Garlic Salt
• Turmeric
• Corn Oil

I cut the tofu and sausage up.  I sprinkled some garlic salt and turmeric onto the board and pressed the tofu into it on each side to season it.

I heated the corn oil in a frying pan and then put in the tofu and sausage, a minute or two on each side until it was nicely browned and then I put the cheese on.  I cut the muffins in half and put them in the toaster.  Then I just plated it up and tucked in.  It was really good, the tofu has a very similar firmness and consistency to eggs. I can happily say I cannot think of anyway to make it any more like an McMuffin, it had all the flavour, none of the cruelty.

6 months vegan

Today is my 6 month anniversary of being vegan and I feel happier, healthier and just better in general.  I now have more energy so I exercise regularly and I weight about 2 1/2 stone less than I did 6 months ago.

Still some weight to lose but less chins is good news

How long have you been vegan and what did the change do for you?

Vegan roast needs good vegan gravy

I had a vegan roast today but the vegan bouillon used as gravy is not very nice.  Any good vegan gravy's out there?