Peace and Parsnips

Lee’s BBC Radio interviews with Steve Wright and Eleri Sion

Posted on May 25, 2015 by leroy watson

I thought I’d pop these on #thebeachhousekitchen as I had such a laugh doing them, it was the first time I’d ever set foot into a radio studio and spoke to a nation! Quite a day out. All the people I met were lovely and made me feel very relaxed. I’ve never had a problem talking (loads) about anything! Especially veganism, something I’m so passionate about. They could hardly shut me up!

I ended up chatting about all things vegan, fav foods, chia seeds, healthy eating, nutrition, vegetarian week and ‘Peace and Parsnips’. I started the day with BBC Radio Wales and Eleri was a real star. We kicked off with a little ABBA ‘Knowing me, knowing you’ and halfway through the interview we went for ‘Whhhaakkaaan Be Your Hero Baby’ by Enrique Inglesias. The banter could hardly live up to the tunes, but we tried. Eleri is the daughter of a cattle farmer and I had little chance of converting her to vegan ways (not that I expected to!) but we had a real laugh and some of Eleri’s questions were quite a surprise. My favourite of the day was;

‘So Lee, tell us, where is the peace in ‘Peace and Parsnips’?’

I wasn’t prepared for something so deep! I thought we’d just talk a bit of tofu.

Steve and Janie Lee Grace were very nice and welcoming, the interview was high energy with loads of chat and questions flying around the place. I challenged Steve to a ‘Roast Squash Gnocchi’ (a recipe from the book) which he didn’t fancy much, but I got the impression that they were both open to the idea of vegan food and more veggies in our diets. I was sandwiched between the guys from ‘Made in Chelsea’ and Gilbert O’Sullivan. A mixed bag! I also got my picture taken outside of the BBC building by the paparazzi and touched Elton Johns piano. Quite surreal times.

Todays cook off – Loads of new tasty recipes for the Beach House Kitchen.

Click HERE for the Steve Wright interview.

Listen to me chatting with Eleri Sion HERE about vegan wind issues, the joy of plants and PEACE. I start about 2:05 minutes.

Sunbathing today on Dinas Dinlle, many miles away from a Radio interview! PS – This is how we sunbathe up here, wearing jeans and hiking boots.

If you’re not in the U.K. I don’t think you can access these. Sorry about that. If you’d like to hear them, Jane’s recorded them on her ZOOM. We can maybe transfer them across somehow.

PEACE AND PARSNIPS ROCKS THE TOP 20

Peace and Parsnips has been selling really well and even stormed the Amazon top 20 bestsellers recently. It is still the number 1 selling Salad cookbook on Amazon and we have plenty more promotional behaviour planned for the summer. Jane and I are organising some supper club style nights in local cafes and restaurants, I’ll be doing book signings and cooking demos around the country and we may even run a vegan cooking course (with yoga and hiking) this winter. We’ll let you know. Add all that to tending to our veg patch and cooking up a storm in the BHK and 2015 is looking like a busy one!

WIN!

If you’d like to win a copy of Peace and Parsnips, have a look here. Plenty of sparkling veggie books being given away by the great folk over at The Happy Foodie.

Categories: Healthy Eating, Peace and Parsnips, photography, Press, Vegan, Wales | Tags: BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio Wales, bestsellers, cookbooks, food, steve wright | 2 Comments

PEACE & PARSNIPS – Published TODAY! Plus my top 11 recipes from the book

Posted on May 7, 2015 by leroy watson

It’s a bit like Christmas morning in the Beach House today……..Peace & Parsnips goes on sale across the world. There are people selling it in Germany, France, Spain, Czech Republic (we think), Japan, Korea, Russia….all over…..Its very cool indeed!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Peace & Parsnips is finally out in the shops. It seems like an age since I first sat down to begin writing it and dream up the recipes and how best to showcase vegan food. “How can I make vegan recipes appeal to everyone?” Make them outrageously tasty I think is the answer!

The process has been long and fascinating and I must thank all at Penguin Books UK for their amazing support and enthusiasm. Peace & Parsnips was written in India, Spain, Turkey, Italy, Wales and various family and friends houses in England. It has been a wonderful experience getting this cookbook together and seeing it morph and change, finally creating a gorgeous vegan tome. I still can’t believe it happened!!!! The shoots in London and Wales especially were a real laugh and the photography in the book is just stunning.

Peace & Parsnips have been a labour of love for sure. It really is ‘vegan cooking for everyone’ and I have packed as many tantalising recipes into the 350 pages as possible. No filler, all foodie heaven. There are many recipes I love, so many great memories of friends and family are linked to them. Food is so important to Jane and I, we believe it links us all and goes a long way to representing who we are.

Chestnut, Millet and Sage Sausage Sarnie with Homemade Ketchup

If I had to do a top 11 recipes that I’d make right now for lunch. It would be (drum rollllllllllllllll pllleeaassseee):

– Portobello Pecan Burger with Roast Pumpkin Wedges

– Blueberry and Macadamia Cheesecake

– Shiiitake Tempura with Wasabi Mayo

– Seitan and Sweet Potato Kebabs with Mango Barbecue Sauce

– Oven Baked Squash Gnocchi with Spinach Pesto

– Smoked Chocolate and Beetroot Beans with Baked Chilli Polenta

– Pakistani Beetroot and Pumpkin Bhuna with Banana and Lime Raita

– Puy Lentil and Walnut Burger with Parsnip Clotted Cream

– Chargrilled Chorizo Pinchos with Pistachio and Coriander Pesto

– Okra, Corn and Black Eyed Bean Succotash with Chilli Cornbread Crust

– Spiced Apple and Date Pie

Peace and parsnips recipe slider, by Healthista.com

Portobello and Pecan Burger, Raw Blueberry and Macadamia Cheesecake – a few shots from Peace & Pasrnips

In the book, Jane and I share with the world what it is to live up here in the Beach House and cook in our lovely kitchen. The book revolves around our little cottage and the beautiful landscape around. There is, of course, some shots of us on the beach and me trying to catch some little waves on our surfboard. Unsuccessfully! We also take in local waterfalls, lakes, valleys, mountains and of course, our local glorious veg and fruit farms. Wales sparkles and shines in the book.

Burgers, curries, many sweet treats, bakes, salads, sauces and dips, tapas style little plates, mammoth style big plates, hot drinks and smoothies, its all here in P & P. All superbly healthy and naturally vibrant. I hope you love it as much as I loved writing it!!!

I’m off for some Champagne on toast!

BUY PEACE & PARSNIPS (Available globally)

Thanks to PETA UK and Hodmedod’s for supporting the launch today.

Categories: Healthy Eating, Peace and Parsnips, photography, Vegan, Wales | Tags: cookbooks, gluten-free, penguin books UK | 31 Comments

PEACE & PARSNIPS – Behind the scenes at the photo shoot

Posted on May 4, 2015 by leroy watson

Peace and Parsnips climbed Snowdon recently

Only a couple of days until the BIG DAY!!!!! No, I’m not talking about the election (which surely must be a little refreshing), I’m talking ‘PEACE AND PARSNIPS‘!!!!!!!

‘Happy, healthy and hearty – it’s time to cook vegan…discover the delights of eating meat- and diary-free recipes, bursting with vitality and taste. Using fresh produce, Lee celebrates this incredibly healthy way of eating through recipes that are varied, nutritious and utterly delicious. From curries, burgers and bakes to show-stoppers….’

Preparations are almost complete, like Christmas Day, all of the vegan elves and parsnip fairies have been working overtime to get the book ready and on Thursday, all the good veggie (and non veggie) boys and girls of the world will wake to a massive slice of vegan deliciousness. It’s a real tome, over 350 pages packed with recipes and gorgeous pictures of North Wales, many of which are gluten free (or with options for GF). Its the full montilado!!!!

Here’s a little look behind the scenes of the shoot where I’m trying to keep my cool in the middle of a heatwave and full on cookathon:

Here’s an interview here: The Happy Foodie

PLUS

An article in the lovely Healthista

There will be some very exciting things happening in the press over the next couple of weeks. Watch this space or twitter (below) for updates.

The first vegan cookbook ever to climb Mount Snowdon – clever thing!

I’m new to twitter, but am sharing loads over there; pictures, recipes and all – @lee_the_vegan or check out #peaceandparsnips

Categories: gluten-free, Healthy Eating, Peace and Parsnips, photography, Vegan, Wales | Tags: cookbooks, food, North Wales, snowdon | 3 Comments

‘Peace and Parsnips’ on Youtube – Vegan Myth Buster

Posted on April 28, 2015 by leroy watson

Peace and Parsnips was a full-on shoot, Sophie and I worked our socks off getting the food looking scrumptious for the camera and Al, the photographer, did the rest….

Mythbustin’…..

HERE is our little article about the book.

Categories: gluten-free, Healthy Eating, Peace and Parsnips, Vegan | Tags: cookbook, cooking, food, health, penguin books, vegan myths, veganize, youtube | 2 Comments

‘Peace and Parsnips’ is really taking off!!!!

Posted on April 26, 2015 by leroy watson

‘Peace and Parsnips’ our new cookbook, taking off!

We went up to the top of Tiger Hill and it turned into a full power ‘Peace and Parsnips’ fest, with various pictures of me goofing around with our brand new cookbook (out on May 7th!). Forgive Jane and I, we are little excited about it all.

Our friend Shira was amazing at catching me in mid air, looking like I’d just been dropped out of a passing plane.

I also went back to cooking at Trigonos Retreat last week, which is always a real pleasure. You could call this my day job, cooking vegan fare for meditators and yoga folk. I am a very lucky chap indeed. It is the place where many of the cookbook recipes were tried and tested.

Playing with food, back cooking at Trigonos Retreat Centre, Nantlle, Wales

Once more, just for kicks…..

‘Peace and Parsnips’ is coming to get yaaaaaah! (Its all in the hips)

We’re also sticking loads of new Beach House Kitchen stuff on Twitter and Facebook. Check. It. Out. Xxxx.

If you haven’t bought the book yet (tuttututututututututtttttuuuut), HERE is a great place to pre-order your very own copy for a superbly reasonable price. Over 200 vegan/ gluten free recipes straight from the Beach House Kitchen. How cool is that! Priceless….. The books contains chapters like: Nuts About Nuts!, The Vegan Larder, Eating from soil, shoot or branch, Seasonality, A Very Meaty Problem, Homemade Milks, The ‘Whats Up’ With Dairy and of course the recipes:

Breakfast, Smoothies, Juices, Steamers and Hot Drinks, Soups, Salads, Sides, Nibbles, Dips and Little Plates, Big Plates, Curries, Burgers, Bakes and Get Stuffed, Sweet Treats and finally Sauces, Dressings, Toppers and Other Stories.

That’s quite a plateful of vegan fare. It’s a tasty vegan tome.

Friends, family and loved ones (everyone) I will even sign your copy for no extra charge!!!! Expect many more gratuitous ‘Peace and Parsnips’ plugs coming in the next couple of weeks.

“Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.” HH Dalai Lama

Viva Vegan (peaceful, bright and bountiful food)xxxx

Categories: Healthy Eating, Peace and Parsnips, photography, Vegan, Wales | Tags: cookbooks, cooking, dairy free, food, gluten-free, healthy, vegan | 4 Comments

No-Knead Everyday Loaf

Posted on April 25, 2015 by leroy watson

No-Knead Everyday Loaf

Risk free, no brainer baking. Perfect! If you have never made bread before, start here…….if you’re a pro kneader, give this one a whirl, you’ll be surprised by the results.

This is bread making without all the fuss and mess. In fact, its as simple as; combining, baking, eating. This is a light loaf, with a slightly crumbly finish, like an Irish soda bread (without the faint twang of soda). You can really taste the yoghurt which is a nice addition, giving richness to the loaf.

This is a bread that we make regularly and is perfect for a quick loaf in a hurry. There is no proving or hanging around with this one. Mix it up, whack it in the oven and before you know it, your whole house is fragrant with the joys of imminent warm bread. Homemade bread is the only way to go and with recipes like this, its hassle free.

Adding sparkling water to your baking really adds a lightness to proceedings. Normal water works fine here also.

Jane nibbling on a ‘Tostada con Tomate’ – One of the recipes in our new cookbook – Peace and Parsnips

Modified from the awesome vegan baking book ‘The Vegan Baker’ by Dunja Gulin

The Bits – Makes a 1/2kg loaf (around 8-10 slices)

275g unbleached white flour

125g wholewheat flour

2 teas baking powder

50g rolled oats

1 ½ teas salt

250ml soya milk

225ml water (sparkling water is best)

4 tbs soya yoghurt (unsweetened)

2 tbs olive oil

Everything in neat bowls, probably the tidiest bread making recipe (no flour everywhere for a start)

Seed Mix

3 tbs rolled oats

1/2 teas caraway seeds

2 tbs flax/linseeds or sunflower seeds (any seed will do….)

Loaf topped and ready for the oven

Do It

Preheat an oven to 220oC (425oF).

Sift the white flour with the baking powder, then stir in the oats and salt. Mix well.

Mix in the wet ingredients and combine well with a trusty wooden spoon until a sticky dough is formed. It should be easy to spoon, add a touch more water if needed.

Line a loaf tin with oiled baking parchment, the neater, the better. Sprinkle half of the seed mix on the base and then spoon in the bread mix. Level with a spatula (a wet one works best) and sprinkle over the rest of the seed mix.

Pop in the oven and lower heat to 200oC (400oF) and bake for an hour. If you’re using a fan oven, check after 30 minutes that the top is not burning (our oven is a beast and tends to burn tops). Cover with more parchment if this is happening.

Remove from oven and allow to cool in the tin. Turn out and peel off paper. Leave to cool further on a wire rack, the crust will now crisp up nicely.

Store as you do, this bread lasts well, 5 days.

We let it cool outside, meaning you can start eating it sooner!

Serve

Warm with Marmite and good olive oil or some of Jane’s lovely Apple and Tomato Chutney (coming soon on the B.H.K). This loaf is a good toaster.

Foodie Fact

Oats are a concentrated source of fibre and nutrients, a pocket battleship so to speak. They are very high in minerals like manganese, phosphorous and copper. It contains beta-glucan, which is a special type of fibre that actually lowers cholesterol. Isn’t nature kind! Have loads of fibre also means that oats help to stabilise our blood sugar level, meaning a better metabolism and less freaky weight gain. Oats are very cool.

Sunset last night from the BHK window

Categories: Baking, Peace and Parsnips, Recipes, Vegan, Wales | Tags: bread, cookbooks, cooking, food, no-knead, oats, simple | 2 Comments

Peace and Parsnips – Our New Cookbook with Penguin (Out May 7th)

Posted on April 19, 2015 by leroy watson

WE WROTE A COOKBOOK! PEACE AND PARSNIPS

Just a quickie to let all our lovely followers of the B.H.K that we did a cookbook and its coming out very soon with the great folk at Penguin. Pure vegan, pure delicious and packed with stunning pictures of the Beach House and beyond. We couldn’t have done it without all of your inspiration and encouragement along the way.

Peace and Parsnips is simple and decadent, spicy and sultry, moreish and quite an eye full. There are recipes here for everyone, we’ve even tested them on all on ravenous carnivores and they smiled and asked for seconds. YES!

(The veggie prints on the front cover were hand printed by Sarah, our amazing Art Designer, and her daughter on a Sunday afternoon. How lovely is that!)

“This book will rock your concept of vegan cooking – join the meatless revolution and the trend for cooking healthy, hearty food! Nutritious, cheap, easy, diverse and mouth-wateringly delicious, Lee Watson is set to reinvent the way we think about vegan cookery with an incredible range of styles and flavours. Packed full of fantastic recipes that range from basic bites to gourmet delights. This vegan tome is the answer to all your cookery needs, whether you’re a vegan or just want to give it a go. Burgers, curries, salads, pies and sweet treats, this is a book that will appeal to everyone – including carnivores! Welcome to Peace & Parsnips, the ultimate vegan cookbook.”

We are very, very, very happy with the book. It looks AMAZING and the recipes really shine and the food photographs are just plain sexy! Some beautiful shots of the Welsh landscape and plenty of Jane and I cooking up many storms and trays/ bowls of full power vegan goodness. You’ll even see us surfing, hiking in the hills, attacking sandwiches, sitting under a waterfall and laughing. Lots of laughing. IT WAS FUN!

We have filled ‘Peace and Parsnips’ with the recipes that make us smile and shine; Portobello and Pecan Burgers, Macadamia and Blueberry Cheesecake, Kashmiri Turnip and Spinach Curry, Oven Baked Squash Gnocchi, Asparagus and Cashew Tart…..there are over 200 shimmering purely plant-based recipes to get stuck into! There’s even a section on making your own nut, bean and lentil milks.

You can pre-order the book HERE for a special 5 pounds off.

We will be sharing excepts and bits from the book on The Beach House Kitchen as we move towards the launch date. As you can imagine, Jane and I are getting quite excited about it all!!!!!

We’ll also be doing alot of stuff on our facebook and twitter pages. Follow us there for more vegetal fun, games and deliciousness……..

VIVA VEGAN!!!!Xx