Category Archives: Vegan

Co Yo has arrived, a vegan yoghurt that is heaven in a mouthful (receipe)

Posted on 20 March, 2012 by | 2 Comments

Co Yo has to be one of the most highly anticipated coconut desserts this season.

It is, quite simply, a coconut milk yoghurt, making it a delicious alternative for vegan and dairy-free palates. But it has to be tasted to be believed.

Some say it’s better than normal yoghurt because it has a superior creamy and fresh taste – something you’d expect from coconut. But the flavour is also light and gently nutty and, mixed to make other varieties, like Pineapple Co Yo or Mixed Berry Co Yo, well let’s just say it’s not unappropriate to describe it as “Heaven in a Mouthful”.

But whether it’s the fruit flavours or the Natural Co Yo you get a surprisingly filling probiotic delicacy, perfect for cereals or with fruit or as a combination for savoury meals too.

It’s also gluten free with no artificial preservatives or colouring. In fact it’s 100% natural – employing the benefits of coconut: full of minerals and healthy fats, particularly lauric acid which boosts the immune system.

Co Yo.. Heaven in a Mouthful

Co Yo.. Heaven in a Mouthful

Just to entice your tastebuds, here’s a recipe to try:

CO YO Cherries
This special treat contrasts the slight bite of coconut yoghurt with the sweetness of cherries.

Ingredients:
450g fresh cherries
Piece of fresh ginger about 6-8 cm long, or substitute ginger syrup
50-100g coconut sugar, to taste
400g CO YO coconut milk yoghurt, natural flavour
25g chopped nuts

1. Place cherries in small saucepan with sugar and 60ml cup water. Chop fresh ginger into pieces then squeeze each in a garlic crush to capture the juice. (Alternatively leave out the sugar and add 120ml ginger syrup to cherries.)
2. Heat the cherries, sugar, ginger (or ginger syrup) and simmer until cherries soften. Mash lightly with a fork and allow to cool.
3. Add your choice of chopped nuts (macadamias or brazil nuts are excellent), stir into a generous serving of CO YO and serve.

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Posted in Coeliac (Gluten-Free), Dairy Free, Dairy-Free, Egg free, General Food, Gluten-Free, recipe, Vegan, Vegetarian

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Stay clean inside and outside your body with organic ingredients

Posted on 13 March, 2012 by | Leave a comment

A latest report on pesticides might give us more reason than ever to go organic.

Fruit & Veg Wash

Fruit & Veg Wash kills 99.9% of bacteria

The scientific investigation found that pesticides used on farm crops can remain in the flesh of fruit and vegetables even though they are washed.

But what about the bacteria and bugs that the pesticides are supposed to kill off? Well, that is where the washing does come in.

Bentley Organic have developed a new Salad, Fruit & Veg Wash which is proven to kill 99.9% of harmful bacteria. It’s approved by the Soil Association too. The Wash stops Listeria, Salmonella and E-coli but has no impact on water because it is made from naturally derived ingredients, so the fish are safe.

As a family firm, Bentley Organic started off making soap, but now produce a far bigger range including body care, hair care and a unique range of environmentally friendly household cleaning products.

Their latest household innovations include:
Organic Window  & Glass Cleaner
Organic Washing Up Liquid
Organic Toilet Cleaner

However, Bentley Organic have won many awards for making natural products that are good for your skin. These now include a new selection of balms for baby and mum. Like their household cleaners, Bentley’s bodycare and babycare range are nearly entirely vegan.

Vapour rub

Mild and gentle for delicate skin

Organic Baby Nappy Balm
Organic Baby Vapour Balm
Organic Strawberry or Mint Lip Balm
Organic Mother & Baby Hand Sanitizer

Also, try Bentley’s new Organic Handwash and Bodywash blended with Cinnamon, Sweet Orange and Clove Buds

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Posted in Eco/Environmental, Lifestyle, Organic, Vegan

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Booja Booja – for Easter Eggs with a difference

Posted on 7 March, 2012 by | 1 Comment

If you’re looking for an Easter egg with a difference you’ll be impressed by Booja Booja.

Made by a small Norfolk company, the eggs are exquisitely painted wooden shells. But it’s what’s inside that really causes a stir…

Cushioned in velvet within you’ll find handmade chocolate truffles, prepared without dairy or gluten, and tasting like a dream, whatever your palate.

Booja Booja offer a choice of small and large eggs and the truffles come in six wondrous flavours.

An Easter Egg to treasure

■ Around Midnight Espresso
■ Banoffee Toffee
■ Hazelnut Crunch
■ Champagne Truffle
■ Rum Sozzled Sultana
■ Stem Ginger Truffle
(See the whole Booja Booja range at GoodnessDirect)

If you’re thinking ethically about Easter (which you should be*) then it’s good to know that Booja Booja import their cocoa from a family run firm in Ecuador, all the ingredients are organic and suitable for vegans. The eggshells themselves are also sustainably made by a community of artists from the troubled Kashmir region – and you can reuse the shell as a keepsafe for your trinkets and your memories.

* There is a great deal of concern over the use of child labour in much of the cocoa imported from West Africa. To learn more visit 10 campaign  and consider buying ethically sourced chocolate such as Fairtrade.

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Posted in Chocolate, Coeliac (Gluten-Free), Dairy-Free, Diet, Fairtrade, Organic, Vegan

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There’s a new tasty chocolate milkshake in town – it’s dairy free too (think Bounty bar)

Posted on 22 February, 2012 by | Leave a comment

When you’re allergic to milk you don’t have to miss out on one of the greatest wonders of the food world: chocolate milkshake!

But, you will have to find the taste that works for you. You can find chocolate milkshakes like Rice Dream Chocolate Flavour or Provamel Organic Soya Chocolate Drink. My favourite by far is Oatly Chocolate made, of course, from oat milk.

Introducing…

A delicious dairy free chocolate milk

A delicious dairy free chocolate milk

But there is a new contender to challenge the non-milk chocolate heavyweights. It’s Kara’s Dairy Free Chocolate made with coconut milk and it’s officially delicious!

For decades chocolate confectionary has been cashing in on the wonderful combined flavours of chocolate and coconut – now it’s a time for a liquid version. And it’s a bonus that it’s dairy and lactose free; no soya, gluten or cholesterol either.

All Kara’s coconut milks have added calcium and vitamins like B12 which is helpful for vegetarians and vitamin D2 which is great for vegans. Plus, just in case you’re wondering, coconuts are fine for people with nut sensitivities too (because they’re really a fruit not a nut – but don’t tell anyone I told you…)

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Posted in Chocolate, Coeliac (Gluten-Free), Dairy-Free, Vegan

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The 2012 FreeFrom Food Awards shortlist is out

Posted on 21 February, 2012 by | 3 Comments

If you’re gluten free or dairy free, vegan or avoiding yeast take note the FreeFrom Food Awards judging panels have chosen just under 170 freefrom foods to go on the 2012 shortlist.

Many of these new free from foods really pushing at the boundaries of ‘freefrom’ manufacture. From coconut yogurt to nettle ‘beer’! Here’s the 2012 FreeFrom Food Awards shortlist. Winners to be announced on the 17th April.

1. The Innovation Award
Bessant & Drury Fine Ice Cream Co. – Lemon
Bessant & Drury Fine Ice Cream Co. – Chocolate
Bessant & Drury Fine Ice Cream Co. – Vanilla
BoojaBooja – Banoffee Toffee Truffles
Conscious Chocolates – Wild at Heart
CoYo – Coconut Milk Yoghurt – Natural
CoYo – Coconut Milk Yoghurt – Mixed Berry
Foodswild – Cornish Stinger Nettle Beer
Knead Bakery – Carrot Cake
Provamel Botanicals – Alternative to Yoghurt Apple & Green Tea
The Foodamentalists – Brown Bread Mix
Triano Brands – Tofutti Ricotta Soya Cheese Alternative

2. Dairy and/or lactose-free animal milk, butter, yogurt – sponsored by Swedish Glace
Delamere Dairy – Natural Goats Yoghurt
Delamere Dairy – Semi-Skimmed Goats Milk
Delamere Dairy – Goats Butter
Woodlands Dairy – Gooseberry & Elderflower with Natural Sheep Milk Yoghurt
Woodlands Dairy – Rhubarb & Ginger with Natural Sheep Milk Yoghurt

3. Plant ‘milk’, spread & cheese – sponsored by Pure Dairy Free
Bessant & Drury Fine Ice Cream Co. – Chocolate
Bessant & Drury Fine Ice Cream Co. – Lemon
CoYo – Coconut Yoghurt Natural
CoYo – Coconut Yoghurt Mixed Berry
Delamere Dairy – Sweetened Soya Milk
Essence of Eden – Virgin Coconut Oil
Higher Nature – Omega Excellence Organic Virgin Coconut Butter
Its Only Natural – Fruit Freezies Orange and Mango
Kara Dairy Free – Alternative to Milk Original + Calcium
Vegusto – Melty Dairy-Free Cheese
Vegusto – Mild Aromatic Dairy-Free Cheese
Vegusto – Dairy-free cheese sauce

4. FreeFrom Breakfast Cereals – sponsored by Fria Gluten Free
Bob’s Red Mill – Pure Traditional Oats
Groovy Food Company – Corn Flakes
Groovy Food Company – Choco Crispies
Juvela – Fibre Flakes
Morrisons – FreeFrom Gluten Free Oats
Nature’s Path – Maple Sunrise
 Sainsbury’s – FreeFrom Oaty Granola
Tesco – FreeFrom Special Flakes

5. Gluten-free breads and bread mixes – sponsored by Genius Gluten Free
Butterfly Snacks – Gluten Free Rotis (Naan/Bread Wrap)
Crazy Bakers Bundies Brothers – Brown Bread Rolls
Finax – Oat Bread Mix
Fria – Grova Dark Seeded Sliced Loaf
Fria – Grov Minibaguette Dark Seeded Roll
Glutafin – Gluten Free Wheat Free 4 Fibre Rolls
Juvela – Gluten-Free All Purpose White Mix
Sainsbury’s – FreeFrom Soft White Seeded Rolls

6. Gluten-free pasta and pizza bases/mixes – sponsored by Tesco
Bob’s Red Mill – GF Wholegrain Pizza Crust Mix
Co-operative Foods – FreeFrom Fusilli
Doves Farm Foods – Organic Tricolore Pasta
Eskal Foods – Corn Pasta
Farabella – Acini di Pepe/Pasta Grains
Molino di Ferro – La Veneziane Penne

7. Freefrom foods manufactured for food service – sponsored by Livwell
Costa  – Gluten Free Fruit Cake
Doves Farm Foods – Gluten Free Plain White Flour Blend without Buckwheat
Doves Farm Foods– Organic Brown Rice Penne
Foodamentalists – Golden Batter Mix
Red House Foods – Gluten Free Chicken Bites
Sauces of Choice – Sauces for Kids Tikka Sauce
Triano Brands – Tofutti Grated Mozzarella Soya Cheese Alternative

8. Freefrom Ingredients – sponsored by Juvela
Anila’s Sauces – Goan Green Sauce
Black Farmer – Spicy Muscovado sauce
Bob’s Red Mill – Gluten Free All Purpose Baking Flour
Clearspring – Kuzu Gluten Free Starch Thickener
Finax – Psyllium
Go Free Foods – Pancake Mix
Mesquite Company – Pure Mesquite Pod Flour
Pepper & Stew – Jollof  Sauce
Sauces of Choice – Balsamic & Garlic Sauce

9. Raw foods and superfoods – sponsored by Asda
Elements for Life – Raw Chocolate Making Kit
Elements for Life – Spiced Hot Chocolate
Higher Nature– Omega Excellence Raw Organic Walnut Butter
inSpiral – Raw Blackout Tart
inSpiral – Raw Dehydrated Kale Chips: Cheesie Purple Corn
James White Drinks – Beet It Organic Stamina Shot
Mesquite Company – Pure Mesquite Pod Flour
Pulsin’ – Beond Organic Acai Berry Bar
Raw Health – Organic Chia & Flax Dippers
The Living Food Kitchen – Raw Hummus

10. Gluten-free savoury pies, flans, sausages and ready meals – sponsored by Delamere Dairy
Meat-based meal centres:
Black Farmer – Pork Meatballs
Black Farmer – Pork, Onion & Chive Sausages
Cloughbane Farm – Gluten Free Beef Sausages
Cloughbane Farm – Gluten Free Steak Burgers
Co-operative Foods – Truly Irresistible Pork Sausages
Co-operative Foods – Truly Irresistible Minted Lamb Burgers
Pies, flans, pizzas, one pot meals:
Amy’s Kitchen – Gluten Free Vegetable Lasagne
Amy’s Kitchen– Gluten Free Bean and Rice Burrito
Butterfly Snacks – Gluten Free Chicken Spring Rolls
Dr Schar – Gluten Free Tortellini
Dr Schar – Gluten Free Bonta d’Italia Margherita Pizza
Easy Bean – New Mexican Chilli Fairtrade Red Bean with Sweet Pepper One Pot Meal
Foodamentalists – Pork, Black Pudding & Caramelised Red Onion Pie
Genius – Mozzarella Cheese & Tomato Pizza
Gluten Free Kitchen – Ovencrust Steak Pie
Gluten Free Kitchen – Ovencrust Chicken & Bacon Pie
stewed! – Chickpea, Sweet Potato & Feta One Pot Meal
The Food Resource – Fusilli al Funghi
Worthenshaws – Chicken Tikka with Brown Basmati Rice
Worthenshaws – Thai Green Vegetable Curry with Brown Basmati Rice

11. Gluten-free savoury biscuits and snacks – sponsored by Genon Laboratories
Amisa – Multiseed Crisp Bread
Conscious Foods – Millet Crackers with Rosemary
Crazy Bakers – Half Pipes Swedish Crispbreads
Darling Spuds – Fire Roasted Jalapeno Crisps
Darling Spuds – Sour Cream with a hint of Mexican Chilli
Darling Spuds – Tomato, Olive & Oregano
Juvela – Crostini Bites

12. Gluten-free scones, sweet tarts, Bakewells, cake bars, muffins etc – sponsored by Tesco
Asda – FreeFrom All Butter Lemon Sicilian Shortbread
Conscious Foods – Ginger Thins
Co-operative Foods – FreeFrom Triple Chocolate Cookies
Co-operative Foods – FreeFrom Fruited Teacakes 4 Pack
Crazy Bakers – Oaties
Heavenly Cakes – Gluten & Wheat Free Millionaires
Molino di Ferro – La Veneziane Coconut Biscotti
Morrisons – FreeFrom 6 Assorted Jam Tarts
Sugargrain – Almond, Apricot and Tahini Flapjack
Sweetcheeks – Almondies
Tesco – FreeFrom Chocolate Chip Cookies
Tesco – FreeFrom Ginger Cookies

13. Gluten-free cakes and mixes – sponsored by Mrs Crimbles
The Brilliant Bakers – Cupcake Gift Cake
Cake Angels – Traditional Cherry & Almond Cake
The Cake Crusader – Gluten, Wheat and Dairy Free Carrot Cake
The Cake Crusader– Rich Fruit Cake
Cakes Divine – Dairy & Gluten Free Carrot Cupcakes
Cariad Cakes – Gluten Free Orchard Plum & Ginger Cake
Fria – Kladdkaka Chocolate Brownie Cake
Incognito Cakes – Choc Fudge Cake
Incognito Cakes – White Choc Raspberry Muffins
Lewis & Cooper – Gluten-free Fruit Cake
Ms Cupcake – Cupcakes
Sainsbury’s – FreeFrom Chocolate Chip Muffins
Steph’s Free From Cakes – Lemon Drizzle Cake
Sugargrain – Banana & Chocolate Chip Loaf
Sweetcheeks – Maple & Pecan Cupcakes

14. Gluten-free puddings, desserts & cheesecakes – sponsored by Hale & Hearty
Food Heaven – Summer Fruits Cheesecake
Food Heaven – Sicilian Lemon Cheesecake
Tideford Organics – Butterscotch Rice Pudding
Mamma Cucina – Mango & Passionfruit Non-Dairy Cheesecake

15. Dairy/gluten-free chocolate and snack bars – sponsored by Tesco
Biona – Organic Sour Snakes
Booja Booja – Rum Sozzled Sultana Chocolate Truffles
Celtic Chocolates – Choices FreeFrom White Choc Easter Egg & Buttons
Conscious Chocolates– Essential Orange
Eskal Foods – Chocolate Coated Pretzels
Eskal Foods – Yoghurt Coated Pretzels
Gourmelli – Secret Passion Organic Strawberry Dark Chocolate Bar 74%
Kinnerton – Dairy, Egg, Gluten and Nut Free Bar
Nut Free Chocolatier – Pomegranate & Elderflower Truffles
Pulsin’ – Raw Choc Brownie
Tickety Boo Cakes – Roo’s Crunch

16. Dairy/gluten-free Christmas foods – sponsored by Produced in Italy
Cariad Cakes – Christmas Cake
Conscious Chocolates – Cherry Christmas
Christine’s Puddings – Rum and Ale Pudding
Foodamentalists – Frangipane Mince Pies
Friendly Food and Drink – Xmas chutney
Genius – Gluten-free mince pies
Lewis and Cooper – Plum Pudding
Livwell – Christmas cake
Morrison’s – FreeFrom Christmas pudding
OK Foods – FreeFrom Mince Pies
Pyman Pates – Chickenliver with port, brandy and cranberries
The Heavenly Cake Company – Christmas cake

17. Gluten-free beer – sponsored by Asda
Daas – Ambre Beer
Daas – Blond Beer
Foodswild – Cornish Stinger Nettle Beer
Gluten-Free Shop – Ambar
Green’s – Bottle Refermented Blonde Ale
Green’s – Premium Golden Ale
Wold Top – Against the Grain

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Posted in Chocolate, Coeliac (Gluten-Free), Dairy-Free, General Food, Raw, Vegan

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Kuzu – king of thickening agents

Posted on 17 February, 2012 by | Leave a comment

You may never have heard of Kuzu (or Kudzu) but it is reputedly one of the best food thickeners around.

If you care about the quality of your food then it will interest you to know that kuzu powder is believed to be of far greater quality cooking starch than cornstarch or other thickeners. In fact kuzu can be used as a food in itself and was carried around by samurai warriors for that very purpose.

Kuzu has an ability to enhance tha natural flavours of the food it is cooked with. It’s sweeter flavour lends itself to mousse and jellies. When used in frying it helps food become crispy. It adds a lasting luster and shape to dishes without being affected by slight temperature changes.

Muso pride themselves on their organic kuzu. It’s vegan and, as root vegetable, doesn’t contain any gluten.

For more information on kuzu and its legendary medicinal properties, read the Muso website.

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Posted in Coeliac (Gluten-Free), General Food, Organic, Vegan

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Amazing ways to make pancakes – coconut pancake recipe included

Posted on 15 February, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Is it me or are there more special days around this time of year: Valentines, Burns Night, Mother’s Day, St Patrick’s?

But Pancake Day is surely the most loved of all!

Pancakes are so popular they are made in thousands of different ways around the world, whether they are French crepes, Russian blinis, Mexican tortillas or Indian dosas, so don’t be afraid of trying something a little different.

Just add fizzy water…
If you’re avoiding dairy, or eggs, the day can still be fun.

Did you know that it’s possible to make pancakes with just self-raising flour and carbonated water? You just sift 300g/11oz of flour and whisk in 600ml/1pt of water, and that’s it! Of course, there are lots of little flavourings you can add like vanilla or cinnamon, and it’s easy to use buckwheat flour as a substitute well.

Pancakes - You may start drooling now...

You may start drooling now...

Cooking pancakes with fruit.
Or perhaps if you are avoiding eggs you may want to use pulped mango or banana instead which make brilliant binders for flour and milk (or soya milk). There again, you could always use an egg replacer. Significantly for coeliacs, when it comes to avoiding gluten, the whole process is now a lot easier because there are so many speciality flours out there.

However, if you want a tried and tested method then there are always pancake mixes from Orgran and Barkat. The Orgran versions are vegan too.

Try this recipe
Finally, you could try using coconut flour in your pancakes – an entirely gluten free recipe of course; but be careful, the coconut flour soaks up a lot of liquid, you may need to water it down…

Makes 4 pancakes.
2 tablespoons organic coconut flour, sieved
2 tablespoons organic butter, melted down
2 organic eggs
1 teaspoon organic sugar
⅛ teaspoon salt
75ml whole organic milk

Blend the eggs, oil, sugar and salt. Then mix in the coconut flour thoroughly. Continue to stir the mix as you add the milk.

When frying the pancakes use a small frying pan. Make sure you spread the batter thinly across the whole pan.

Enjoy.

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Posted in Coeliac (Gluten-Free), Dairy Free, Dairy-Free, Egg free, General Food, Gluten-Free, Organic, recipe, Vegan, Vegetarian

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Delicious free-from food made easy (takes just a few minutes)

Posted on 13 February, 2012 by | Leave a comment

When free-from food starts being produced as Cooking Sauces and Curry Pastes you know that it’s reached a league of its own.

They’ve been making soups and gravy mixes for a while but now Free & Easy have introduced three stir-in sauces: Roasted Red Pepper and Chilli Sauce, Green Peppercorn and Mushroom Sauce, and Caramelised Red Onion Gravy Sauce.

Delicious free-from food made easy

Delicious free-from food made easy

All take just a few minutes to heat and all vegan and free from gluten, nuts, celery, soya and mustard.

You only need to look at the ingredients to appreciate the effort Free & Easy have made: free from preservatives and only made with natural, recognisable foods.

The curry pastes are just the same: Rogan Josh, Madras, Tikka and a traditional Mild curry flavour.

Excellent foods like this are going to make a great alternative to eating out.

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Posted in Coeliac (Gluten-Free), Dairy-Free, Diet, Vegan, Weight-Loss

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Why is coconut so healthy?

Posted on 6 February, 2012 by | 2 Comments

Recently I wrote about coconut palm sugar. If you’re into health food you can’t have failed to notice that the coconut has become more and more popular lately.

Two impressive claims spring to mind. Coconut water can be taken intravenously (don’t try this at home, but it was found to be useful by soldiers during the Vietnam War). Secondly, coconut oil is the closest food in nature to a mother’s breast milk.

Healthy food from the coconut

Healthy food from the coconut

Other interesting benefits are said to be that it speeds up the metabolism, it’s high in dietary fiber, it helps lower cholesterol, it’s low Gi, it helps those with digestive problems, it provides quick energy, it boosts the immune system.

One company that has capitalised on being able to  providing organic and fairtrade coconut is Tiana. They make coconut flour, oil, milk and sugar which all count as particularly beneficial if you are trying to cut out similar more mainstream foods from your diet.

Tiana’s flour, for example, is gluten and wheat free, the coconut milk is dairy free and while the coconut oil is not fat free – there are still loads of dieters who say it helps them lose weight.

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Posted in Coeliac (Gluten-Free), Coeliac Disease, Dairy-Free, Diet, Digestion, Fairtrade, General Food, Heart and Blood, Low GL (Glycaemic Load), Organic, Uncategorized, Vegan

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Did you know that some people still have to press and freeze tofu and then slice it to create a tofu fillet? They obviously haven’t heard of Taifun who take all the fuss out of creating a hunk of tofu … Continue reading →

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Posted on 31 January, 2012 by