Instacrochet

Although I have been using Instagram for quite a while now, I don't have a public account. Or rather, I didn't - because earlier this week I switched the button from private to public. I feel this comes with an obligation to go out for an arty cappuccino more often and to spot all kinds of quirky details in the wild... Anything to feed my account, right?! *Ahem*

I guess what I'm trying to say here is that it might take me a while to get used to the fact that it's now a public account. But without joking: I'm tremendously excited about the prospect of having another creative outlet. I'm also tremendously anxious that - with one unfortunate swipe on my tablet (they happen) - I will publish an uncensored picture. ;-) In general I will - from now on - post about works in progress on Instagram where as on my blog I will focus on finished works. You'll find yarn on both!

Anyway! Here's a taste of the older pictures you will find on my Instagram. There are quite a few older pictures that you might have seen popping up on this blog before, but there are a whole bunch of new ones too. I hope you'll enjoy it.

Feel welcome to visit me  over at my Instagram account! (With a huge sense for originality called byHaafner.) I now officially declare it open for the public. *champagne*

Thanks for being here - I hope you have a most lovely day! And don't forget to...


♦♦♦

Crochet Country #2

Of course I did some crocheting myself while travelling
through Portugal. I wanted to make something easy.
So I decided to go for simple, round placemats.

It's a basic circle pattern, using double crochet.
I like the result, the vibrant colours are quite cheerful.
But now I'm thinking I might turn them into...
a blanket (another one, yes!), with the big circles connected by smaller ones.

Of course this would mean I'd have to whip up quite a few more.

This was the result at the end of my trip...

It's an ideal pattern for relaxing by crocheting. In the train, on a terrace... My travel equipment consisted of a market-bag-turned-into-yarn-bag and my crochet hook cosy made from animal friendly, vegan faux leather by Namaste.

Do you take your crochet with you while travelling?
I'm quite sure you do! ;-)

♦♦♦
Thanks for taking a peek here.
Have a great day.

♦♦♦

Gelukkig nieuwjaar!

Happy New Year!
May 2013 be a happy, crafty, creative, sustainable
& an animal friendly one...

This time we didn't make any traditional oliebollen for New Year's Eve,
but a coconut & lime cream pie instead -
from Vegan Pie in the Sky.
I wrote about that wonderful book before: here.

And to be honest...
When I state something like 'we made a pie':
My task was confined to picking a recipe. ;-)

Anyway. It was the first time we had this pie,
and it didn't disappoint! At all.
Creamy it was indeed... Mmm.

So, before we ate the rest of it today,
I managed to take some pictures. (Only just!)

To end this first post of the new year:
I'm absolutely thrilled by the fact that there are a growing number of people interested in this blog. :-)
I find it terribly exciting to have visitors from all over the world.
Thank you for visiting and commenting.
It's appreciated, a lot!

I hope you had a good start of the year too.
♥

It's such a perfect day... For a sneak peek

While autumn winds are blowing,
it's nice to snuggle up inside
bake & enjoy a cupcake
or two...

Vegan of course.
The crocheted doily is a thrifted treasure.























So, I figured this might be the right setting for a little sneak peak,
of a crochet project...
Since the colours coordinate quite nicely with the cupcake
- if I may say so.






















Still searching for a nice lacy crochet border pattern for this throw.
But first: finish making all the granny squares.
Still a lot to go...

The hardships of Cruelty-Free Living (Haha)

So, it has been quiet on my blog.
I just got back from a short trip to vegan heaven, better known as NYC.
(They don't call it The Big Apple for nothing, right?)
Of course I stocked up heavily on vegan goodness.

In this case: the marshmallows of Sweet & Sara.
This afternoon I indulged in hot chocolate made with almond milk,
topped with toasted coconut & vanilla marshmallows.
Great recipe to get rid of any jetlag.

Oh yes, I forget, if you're not veg*n, you might be wondering:
vegan marshmallows?
Yeah... because other marshmallows always contain gelatin,
made from the bones of animals.
Yes. Ugh. Indeed.


PS.
Can I just add this pastel doily 'thing' is getting out of control?
;-)

World Animal Day

Please consider going vegetarian/vegan - thank you!

Kidney Beans Brighten Up Any Teatime

Q: 'Where do you, as a vegan, get your proteins?'
A: 'Why - brownies of course.'





















With these brownies this conversations can become reality.
Main ingredient: kidney beans. Love it!

\
♥ Animal Friendly Teatime

Vegan Haven in The Ardennes

Recently I went on a weekend trip to Belgium with friends.
We stayed in The Ardennes:
beautiful landscape with rolling hills -
old farms -
weather-beaten houses -
lovely old towns...

But the icing on the cake
was our destination:
This ecological and vegan guesthouse,
Located in a stunning old farmhouse:
La Ferme du Bois-le-Comte.

The guesthouse is mainly run by volunteers.

The rooms are basic - but light and airy.
There is a spacious communal area,
where the food is being served.
We had our own private dinner table.
I'd heard before from people who'd been there,
the most amazing things about dinner.

And although dinner was tasty and abundant,
it wasn't that special.
But the packed lunches we ordered to take away were really good,
just like the breakfast buffet.

(Silly enough I didn't make photos of the food.)

There's a huge kitchen garden
where they grow their own organic vegetables.
Straight from the garden to your plate, yummie!

















Final judgment: recommended for a relaxing weekend.
(Also if you not a vegan!)

Vegan pie to die for

After a small hint from my side
(Pleaeaease bake me a pie - please?)
Mr. H. decided it was a good day to try a recipe from
Vegan Pie in the Sky
Another fabulous cookbook from Isa Chandra Moskowitz & Terry Hope Romero.

He decided to try his hand on the Lagusta's Chocolate Raspberry Tart.
Kudos to him for that choice.

I tell you it's really hard to catch this pie's gooeyness on a photo,
but I gave it a try.
Although it meant having to deal with small hints of Mr. H.
(Can we pleaeaease eat it now - please?)

If you're vegan or not: the pies in this book really are to die for.
To make it (just a little bit) more complicated:
The recipe for Chocolate Raspberry Pie was borrowed from Lagusta's Luscious,
definitely a site (and vegan chocolate shop) to add to your favourites!

Vegan Pie in the Sky is well written and funny.
If you click here you'll find some sample recipes:
Like Pear Frangipane Tart and Old Fashioned Chocolate Pudding Pie.

Highly addictive stuff...

Teatime!

Whether it's at home...

With a homebaked vegan muffin...

Or outside on my terrace - on those very rare sunny days...

I do enjoy teatime.

I would... Pack my suitcases

It's tempting to pack my suitcases and just leave
to more exciting places.

I would take some good books with me to read or reread.

I would definitely try as much dishes as possible.
Oh! The joy of all that great vegan food to discover abroad!
One of the many delicious meals I had in South East Asia:

I would be learning the necessary phrases
to make sure my vegan meal isn't drenched in fish sauce.




































I would go to the local markets. 
And buy even more food...

*snap*
Back to reality.
No travelling for months to come.
But one can dream...

Vegan Treat of the Month ***Date & Almond Truffles***

Every month I'll share a recipe of one of my favorite vegan treats.

And - whether it's sunny or not -

these ***Almonds and Dates Truffles*** are perfect for July.

Easy to make, they're kind of cute too.
Perfect for picnics. Great with mint tea.
But the thing I like best about them is the hint of orange flower water -
I love that smell so much...

I veganized this recipe from The Vegetarian Table: North Africa by Kitty Morse, which is still available via internet. 
I bought this wonderful book back in the nineties when I was still a student and - although my collection of cookbooks has expanded substantially since then - I still use it. 
She uses honey, which I replaced by maple syrup.

Before we begin: I recommend you use organic products. 

Especially the almonds, dates and coconut will be tastier...

For about 30 truffles, you'll need:

185 gram / 1,5 cups of toasted almonds (be careful not to let them burn while toasting them)
125 gram / 1 cup pitted and chopped dates
1 tablespoon orange flowers water
1 tablespoon maple syrup (alternatively rice syrup or agave syrup)
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
65 gram / 1/2 cup shredded coconut

Place the toasted almonds and the dates in a blender or food processor.
Grind them to a thick paste.
If you're food processor is not big, grind the almonds and dates in two shifts. 

I actually use this old coffee grinder that has been in the family since the 1960's or so - it beats any modern food processor. 
Somehow I don't think today's food processors will still be in use in the 2060's...

Anyway! 
Transfer this paste to a bowl and blend in the orange flower water, maple syrup and cinnamon.
Shape into ball of about 1,5 cm (less than 1 inch).
The book says 1 inch, but I like these truffles a bit smaller.

Sprinkle the shredded coconut on a plate.
Roll the balls untill they are nicely coated with the coconut.
Place them in fluted paper cups.
(BTW I really like these mint green ones, I bought them at a local grocery store.)

Enjoy!