On January 13th my firstborn turned 4. 

On January 17th my baby turned 1. 

On January 19th we threw them a joint birthday party with a [party] animal theme. 

Meanwhile I was working at all hours after both kids were in bed to complete my eBooks ‘Nurtured - plant based recipes for kids’.

January was nuts. 

That party though!!

Lake said it was the best day of her life. And we’re pretty sure it was too! 

We hired a bouncy castle for Lakey’s gang, a soft play area for Banksy’s baby crew and incredibly it all fit inside The Living Room of My Chelsea/Tanya’s!!

 

 

The entire buffet spread was 100% vegan and nut-free and the sweets were also gluten-free and refined-sugar-free in addition to that. 

We ordered all the savoury yummies from My Chelsea and I did all the baking.

Lake’s grown up cake was Chocolate with Strawberry Frosting and Banksy’s baby cake was Carob with Apricot Frosting, because a). I wanted them to match and b). there’s no stimulants or caffeine in carob.

Here’s our plant based menu...

 

From My Chelsea Hotel:

Vegan Pizzas

Vegan Pasties

Vegan Sausage Rolls

Vegan Nuggets

Hummus + crudités + pita breads

Beetroot falafels

 

From ‘Nurtured - plant based recipes for kids’ eBooks:

Creamy Pea Dip (Dips & Party Foods eBook)

Blueberry Ice Lollies (Shakes & Ice Creams eBook)

Breakfast Popsicles (Shakes & Ice Creams eBook)

Banana Cake Bites (Dips & Party Foods eBook)

Baked Doughnuts (Dips & Party Foods eBook)

Chocolate Cake & Strawberry Frosting (Birthday Cakes eBook) 

Carob Cake & Apricot Frosting (Birthday Cakes eBook)

 

 

  

Lake specifically requested a Chocolate and Strawberry Cake, so that’s exactly what she got.

The end result went down an absolute treat and was very popular among all the parents as well as the kiddos.

It’s also a great staple cake recipe to keep handy and any one of your favourite frostings will go amazingly here, so have fun with it!

 

Aaaaand if you're looking for the perfect recipe to bake on the upcoming Love Day (Valentine's Day is this Friday people!!), then you've just found it...

 

VEGAN CHOCOLATE CAKE & STRAWBERRY FROSTING 

 

For the cake:

(This recipe is enough for two 7-inch cakes just like you see in my pictures. Or you can make two slim 9-inch cakes instead.)

 

3 cups (440g) GF self-raising flour

3/4 cup (65g) cacao powder

2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp Himalayan pink salt

1 1/2 cup (420g) agave nectar

1 cup (200g) coconut milk from tin

1 cup (200g) light olive oil

2 tbsp apple cider vinegar

2 tbsp ground flaxseed

1 tbsp vanilla extract

 

For the icing:

2 cups (250g) ground xylitol

1/3 cup (70g) vegan butter or a non-dairy spread

280g jar of sugar-free strawberry jam

3/4 block (150g) creamed coconut or 1/2 cup coconut butter

optional: 2-8 tbsp coconut flour

  

 METHOD

1. Preheat your oven to 200°C/180°C Fan/390°F/gas mark 6. Grease two 7 inch (18cm) removable base cake tins with some olive oil.
2. Place the flour, cacao powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl and whisk together to combine.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk the coconut milk with agave, olive oil, vinegar, vanilla and ground flax.
4. Pour the wet mixture into the dry and whisk again to combine, but don’t over-do it. Distribute among the two greased tins in equal amounts, tap tins on a hard surface for the mixture to even out and let them sit for 5-10 minutes at room temperature.
5. Place inside the hot oven and bake for 25 minutes. Cakes are ready when a sharp knife comes out clean or with a few crumbs stuck to it, just make sure not to overcook - this recipe is better gooey than too dry. Let the cakes cool entirely before getting started on the icing.
6. You can grind xylitol in your blender, simply blend on high until powdered and wait for 2-3 minutes for the dust to settle before opening the lid. Place all of the icing ingredients, except the coconut flour, into a food processor and process until smooth (You may need to open the lid and scrape everything down from the sides of the jug).
7. If you are making a Victoria sandwich-style cake, the cakes will need to be levelled off before they will stack neatly (only if the cakes haven’t sunk in the middle. If they’ve sunk, leave untouched). To do this, use a sharp knife to slice off the top of both cakes where they have over-risen. Then place a scoop of frosting onto the bottom cake and smooth out to the edges giving a generous layer of filling. Flip the second cake over and place on top. Pour the rest of the frosting on top of that if your icing is thick and spreadable but not runny. If it is too runny, add 1-2 tablespoons coconut flour to thicken it up and process to combine. Continue adding more coconut flour until the desired texture for icing your cakes has been achieved, careful not to over-do it as the coconut flour has a drying effect. Spread a generous amount of icing all over the top of the cake and take your time to carefully spread it towards the sides and then down the sides to completely cover the cake. If you like the exposed look of my cake, scrape off the icing from the sides as you are turning the cake on its stand. Decorate to your liking.

 

 

 If you think this recipe is pretty special, I have many many more in my new eBook series 'Nurtured - plant based recipes for kids'.

And the Launch Special 'Buy 2 eBooks, Get all 5!' is still on... check it out:

tanyasliving.com/pages/nurtured-plant-based-recipes-for-kids

 

 

 

Guys, brace yourself for all the exclamation marks ahead, this is some seriously exciting news!

But first some FACTS about YOU:

#1  I know you salivate over my posts online (you tell me all the time!)*

#2  I know you love chocolate (you tell me all the time!)*

#3  I know you don't live close enough to us in Chelsea to try everything I make (you tell me all the time!)*

#4  I know you'd way rather eat all the rawsome, GF, DF, RSF cakes for breakfast (if they tasted as good as the overindulgent ones do!)*

#5  I know you wish I could be your personal chocolate elf, rolling you handmade truffles and sneaking them on your desk (you tell that all the time!- in your own language though)*

#6  I know you also love to share and want to give the best, the tastiest, healthiest, creamiest, most decadent treats to everyone you love (that's what you tell me when you've eaten enough dessert yourself!)

#7  I know you love Valentine's Day just as much as I do!*

*If I got you completely mixed up for someone else, go here and make these salad recipes>>

Well my friend, I'm literally about to make all of your dreams come true!

For the first time EVER and only until Valentine's Day (that's next Wednesday 14th February for those that couldn't care less about this Valentine fella, but still reading because of, hmmm, chocolate?) I'm sending out some of my very best treats across all of the UK!

Yes yes UK- you heard!

[Please forgive me, my overseas friends, you've no idea how much I wish that I could post some handmade sweetness your way too, let's first see if they survive the overnight post locally :)]

 

Oh and did I mention that I'm making everything by hand? 

Speaking of which, I have to limit the number of available love balls, truffles, cookies, slices, etc, because you know- 2 hands, 24 hours in a day, a toddler, and all- so order yours quickly!

Go straight to the online store: https://tanyasliving.com/collections/valentines-day-gifts


Bring on Love Day 2018!

Happy Shopping and Happy Valentine's...

 

Notes on delivery:

FREE pick-up option is available. Please come to Tanya's at My Chelsea (SW3 3QX) on the evening of Tuesday 13th or any time on Wednesday14th.

London residents - You can order whole cakes too! (Please see this map to check if your area is covered by our delivery partners). If your order includes a cake, the entire order will be delivered on Wednesday 14th. If your order has no cake, it will be posted by 1st class Royal Mail with the rest on Monday 12th.

UK residents - Please place your order by 10am Monday 12th if you'd like us to mail it that day. We can't guarantee your delivery on or before Wednesday 14th if an order is placed after 10am Monday. Your order will be sent via 1st class Royal Mail and needs to go straight into the fridge as soon as it arrives.

THIS raw creamy decadent cheesecake truly came out special beyond words. The flavours had it all- zesty, punchy, salty, sweet, vanillary, gooey caramelly, chocolatey, refreshing, nutty and fruity- and together they just worked.

Read more

Today I learned/ realised three things:

1. Earth Angel to millions, my publisher Louise Hay, has been promoted to Angel to trillions. On this very day of her transition, I got a crazy urge to run again. I haven't been for a run in a long loooong time and today I ran like I did in my years of Cross Country before I broke my back in a car crash. And I didn't just run either, I ran with affirmations flowing through my mind while rain drops were soaking my clothes. I thought of Louise Hay because she introduced me to the power of affirmation. Then I got home and learned of her passing. With a heavy heart, I reached for her Power Thought Cards and this is what I pulled out: "The Past is Over. This is a new day, one that I have never lived before. I stay in the Now and enjoy each and every moment". Thank you for this message dear Angel Louise -this time and for the first time- from above.

2. This year my birthday falls on my favourite day of the year. Monday. I've always loved Mondays, I believed Monday to be lucky and it has always brought me luck. And this year I'll be turning 33. For anyone not in the know- 33 is the Jesus Year/ Year of Christ. It is the age he was risen so this year is significant to many (me included) as it's all about reinvention, rebirth and setting new benchmarks. How dear this all feels to me knowing that this is also the 1 Universal Year. Wow. (It also marks the beginning of a long 9 year journey towards my Elvis Year at 42, so I best be making the most of Jesus Year then 😜)

3. I remembered that I vowed to never work on my birthday ever again so next Monday 4th September instead of doing any work or answering emails, I'll be eating and giving out cake! Pop in to Tanya's @ My Chelsea any time from 10am (till we close at 11pm) and share a delicious slice of indulgent organic vegan cheezecake with me, on me! No purchase necessary. No limit to how many of you turn up. You can thank Jesus (and Angel Louise) for that!

Bring on next Monday!
Hope to see and meet lots and lots of you,

 

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