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This is the perfect accompaniment to a creamy curry or tagine, or as a barbecue side salad. Packed with dried fruit, toasted nuts, green herbs, citrus and pomegranate seeds, this has all of the flavours of Western Asia and the beautiful colours make an elegant and stunning dish on the table. Although quite a hefty list of ingredients, there aren't many steps as it is pretty much just a case of combining everything together.

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Recipe

250g couscous
1 red onion (100g), thinly sliced
2 large garlic cloves (12g), crushed
1.5 tsp citrus zest (lemon or lime or a combination of both)
1 tbsp lemon juice
2.5 tbsp orange juice
1.25 tsp toasted cumin seeds
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp ground black pepper
¼ tsp cinnamon
100g dried fruit (raisins, chopped apricots, chopped figs or a mix of 3)
30g roughly chopped fresh herbs (coriander, parsley, mint or a mix of 3)
80g pomegranate seeds
150g toasted nuts (flaked almonds and pistachios or a mix of both)

Directions

Mix all of the ingredients from the red onion through to the pomegranate seeds together and let sit in a bowl for as long as possible, preferably overnight. This will allow the red onion to soften and the dried fruit to plump up in the citrus juices.
Cook the couscous according to packet instructions, usually by soaking in hot water for about 10 minutes, until all the water has been absorbed.
Mix the couscous and the nuts into the rest of the ingredients. I find that mixing by hand is easiest. Serve at room temperature.

Recipe by CAMYOGA Chef Alice Kabala

I always think that dips are a perfect choice for parties: they're relaxed and informal to eat; they're easy to scale up and make in large quantities; and they're served cold so you can just put them on the snack table and forget about them. Probably most importantly, they are very quick to make, which is a huge bonus for those of use who don't take huge pleasure in rolling tens and tens of individual filo pastry parcels!

Homous is a steadfast favourite of vegans and non-vegans alike so you will rarely get anyone complaining about the basic recipe, but this variation on the classic makes it a touch more special (not to mention beautiful to look at!) I always think that you can make quite a striking looking platter with dips as well, combined with a variety of colourful vegetable sticks, crackers, breads or crisps, depending on what you like to dunk in to them! I would thoroughly recommend using a blender for this too; even a high-end food processor won't be able to get the smooth, creamy consistency that you want for this dip. The one downside for this recipe is that it doesn't keep brilliantly, so you will want to make it the day before, or the day of, the event that you're serving it.

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Recipe
1 can (240g) cooked chickpeas
250g raw beetroot
75g tahini
50g extra virgin olive oil
50g water (from the chickpea can or fresh water)
Zest (1.25 tbsp) and juice (50ml) of 1 large lemon
2 large (13g) garlic cloves
1.5 tsp salt
3/4 tsp ground black pepper

Instructions
Scrub the beetroot (no need to peel) and chop in to slightly more manageable chunks for the blender.
Place in to the blender, along with all the other ingredients, and process until completely smooth. That's it!
Garnish with parsley, sesame seeds or anything else you feel like!

If you're looking for some veggie inspiration, look no further. Alice Kabala, the Chef at Great Shelford and food blogger, creates delicious, seasonal and healthy recipes. Feeling fancy and want to get in the kitchen? Check out her blog at Thoughtful Forkfuls. Haven't got the time but have a growling stomach? Come to the Great Shelford studio to try a super yummy meal. Carry on reading for a quick insight into Alice... What inspired you to become vegan?

A: I’ve been a vegetarian since I was about 6 or 7, and then when I moved out from home I started thinking more about the sort of impact that our diets have on animals, the planet, and different people. Vegetarianism started to make less sense to me because animals are still intensively farmed for the dairy and egg industry, and if I wanted to be an ambassador for animals and think of animal welfare, then I thought that I should go completely vegan. I also studied environmental science at university so that allowed me to become more aware about food sustainability and food security, and again choosing a lower impact dietary choice on the planet just seemed to make sense to me. It’s the amount of meat that we are eating all over the world that isn’t sustainable, and anyway which we can all help individually is very important.

What does a typical day, food wise, look like for you?

A: I snack quite a lot and frequently so I eat smaller amounts. Also, because I’m in the kitchen, I’m often tasting throughout the morning so when I get to lunch I’m not starving hungry. I usually start the day in Winter with porridge, but I’m feeling less like that now. I’ve actually started to become a green smoothie person which I never thought would happen but I like to throw in nuts, oats, different fruits, chia seeds, mint – different things just to make it more exciting. I will tend to choose healthy snacks, like carrots and hummus, dried fruit, those kinds of things. For lunch I will eat soup or a salad, whatever I’m making that day, and then for dinner again just something that’s different to the other meals I’ve had because I try quite hard to have a varied diet, so things like curry, stir-fry, fajita wraps, all different kinds of things.

Do you have any foodie inspirations?

A: I like Yotam Ottolenghi - he has some really interesting recipes for vegetarians and vegans. I generally admire and respect all of the big foodies out there who are advocating a more plant based diet. I think they’re very important in terms of glamourising veganism. Someone like Jamie Oliver who’s done loads of work with school meals and factory farming helps to raise awareness of these issues - whilst also being a very likeable character it really helps in terms of getting that message out there. In terms of specifically vegan chefs, I tend to use a lot of food blogs – sometimes the best recipes are from people who aren’t well known, but who have just set up a free blog.

What’s your go-to comfort food?

A: I like things in tortilla wraps, like falafel and hummus wraps or just beans and guacamole, because it reminds me of street food and being at festivals and I really love that way of eating. It’s messy and fun and good for a group of people for a more casual setting.

How did you come to work at Camyoga?

A: I was still finishing my degree and I was looking into what career I might go into and I originally wanted to stay within the field of food sustainability, but my main passion was cooking and I thought it would be great if I could do this for a living, whilst promoting a more sustainable way of eating if you’re cooking and people are enjoying it. So I just looked for job adverts online and found this one. I didn’t think there was a chance of getting it because I hadn’t had any professional kitchen experience but I applied, bought some falafels to the interview which went down well and I got the job.

Have you got anything you’d like to add to the menu in the future?

A: Not specifically, but I do like to challenge myself and try new things. I don’t tend to plan as such, I like to cook with the seasons, for example getting a vegetable box with the best veggies from that week locally, and being forced to create something with just those ingredients. We have these herbs that one of our clients brings in and they change weekly so we don’t know what we’re going to get. It’s nice to think, oh wow, we’ve got this so I’ll make that, and that sort of thing.

What makes you happy?

A: Listening to music, eating food, and being with the people I love of course.

We all know that vegetables are great. And we all know we need to eat more of them, but there are only so many salads you can munch on in a day and so many carrot sticks you’re willing to chomp on – so how can you get more vegetable goodness into your daily diet enjoyably and easily? Even if you are a plant based powerhouse yourself, maybe you know someone who needs a little convincing before they join the veggie tribe, or maybe you have a child who will not eat anything green. Here are 5 ways to sneak more veggies into your diet without you even noticing!

                              

Don't fancy cooking yourself? Our Chef Alice makes fresh dishes every day, so you can simply pop in for something yummy and even take it with you if you're in a hurry!

Serves 4

This quinoa salad is a great one-pot meal, which transports really well and could be a great dish to take to work for lunch. The inclusion of tofu, peanuts, cashew nuts and quinoa makes it a real high-protein meal which will certainly keep you going all afternoon. Try and get British-grown quinoa if you can, and use whatever vegetables are in season. I've used pak choi and carrots, but asparagus, spring greens or kale would all work really nicely here too. If you're short of time, you could just throw in some raw vegetables instead of cooked and if you have leftover rice or noodles, the dressing also works well with those instead of quinoa. I've also used the coconut milk from a carton rather than a can, which is just a less concentrated form of coconut. If you only have the canned variety, you could use half canned coconut milk, and half water.

Ingredients:

250g quinoa

450g tofu

1 tbsp vegetable oil

1 tbsp tamari soya sauce

250g carrots

100g pak choi (or any greens)

60g fresh coriander

60g peanut butter

60ml coconut milk (I use Alpro coconut milk from the carton)

2 cloves of garlic

Zest and juice of 1 lime (I just peel the zest off with a grater)

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp chilli flakes

1/2 tsp ground black pepper

1 tbsp agave (or any liquid sweetener)

Instructions:

• Cook the quinoa according to packet instructions. I use 250g quinoa to 375ml water and a pinch of salt. I steam the quinoa on a low heat for about 15 minutes until the quinoa has soaked up all the water. Then, in a colander,  run the quinoa under cold water until it is cool.
• For the tofu, pre-heat the oven to 200 degrees C. Slice the block of tofu in to slabs around 1cm thick and place on a baking tray. Smother with the vegetable oil and tamari, and sprinkle with a pinch of salt and pepper. Place in the oven and bake for around 30-45 minutes, until it is beginning to develop a crispy exterior. Remove from the oven, allow to cool and cut in to bite size chunks.
• For the vegetables, cut the carrots in to chunks and roughly chop the pak choi. I tend to cook these together, with the carrots boiling in some hot water in a pan for around 10 minutes and the pak choi steaming in a sieve above the carrots, with the saucepan lid tightly on. This way, both vegetables are cooked together, and are just tender at the same time. Like you did with the quinoa, drain the vegetables and run under cold water until they are cool; this will halt the cooking process.
• For the dressing,  I use a food processor to whiz up the coriander, peanut butter, coconut milk, garlic, lime zest and juice, salt, chilli flakes, pepper and agave until a smooth consistency if formed.
• Finally, combine all the ingredients. I use my hands to incorporate the quinoa, tofu, vegetables and dressing to make sure everything is mixed in.
• Garnish with roasted cashew nuts, lots of chopped coriander, extra chilli flakes (if you want) and a wedge of lime.

This is a great recipe to kick-start the New Year; it’s light, super-healthy and still uses the best of the vegetables that we have in season here in the UK. It is also very easy to make, especially if you own a food processer which can chop and grate the vegetables in a matter of seconds. It also happens to be vegan, gluten-free and raw! The richness of the tahini in this vegan salad works wonderfully with the sweetness of the apples and raisins, especially when offset by the sharp tanginess of the cider vinegar. I would serve this dish as part of a salad selection, perhaps with a quinoa salad, a dip and some protein. However, it’s also excellent as a crunchy side to a stew and rice, or combined with some falafel and homous inside a flatbread or tortilla wrap. The possibilities are endless!

One thing to note is that it doesn’t keep too well because the vegetables start to release water, and the taste deteriorates over time; I would suggest combining the dressing and the vegetables just before you intend to serve.

Ingredients

For the dressing:

70g tahini

60g cider vinegar

15g flat-leaf parsley (plus more to garnish)

2 small sweet apples (I used gala), cored and de-seeded

½ tsp salt

½ tsp pepper

¼ tsp dried chilli flakes

For the salad:

225g celery

500g carrots

Half a red cabbage

150g raisins

Instructions

1. To prepare the dressing, use the small component of a food processer to whizz up all the ingredients. If you don’t own an electric mixer, grate the apple manually and whisk up all the ingredients in a bowl. The dressing is quite a stiff mixture; this is because the salt in it will encourage the vegetables to release moisture and if it were runnier, the whole dish would end up being too ‘wet’.
2. Grate (or use the grating attachment from a food processer) to grate the celery, carrots and cabbage.
3. Combine the dressing, the vegetables and the raisins in a large bowl. I find it easier to mix using my hands to make sure everything is incorporated.
4. Garnish with some springs of parsley for colour. Enjoy!

These vegan chocolate muffins are delicious! Excellent muffin texture, choc muffin with chocolate chips AND banana. What's not to love!

I tend to use cups for baking, these american style cups (don't be confused and use mugs) come in 1, 1/2, 1/3 and 1/4 sizes usually in a set of four. They are really quick and easy to us. If you don't have cups there is a really good conversion here

Most vegan baking uses a bowl of 'dry' and a bowl of 'wet' ingredients. The wet and dry are mixed separately first, then added together and mixed.

First the dry: 1 and 1/2 cups self raising flour 1/2 cup cocoa 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 cup sugar (any sugar you like) 1 cup vegan chocolate chips or broken chocolate

Then the wet: 1 cup mashed bananas (i use 2-4 depending on how many i have) 1/2 cup almond or soy milk 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/3 cup coconut oil

Hot to make:

Add the cider vinegar to the milk and set aside (it will curdle) Mix all the dry ingredients in a bowl Mash the bananas and add to the coconut oil and vanilla extract. Then add the curdled milk/vinegar mix Add the wet to the dry and mix week. Add the chocolate chips and mix Put mix into 12 muffin cases (might make a duple of extra ones)

Bake for 20-25 minutes at 180C

Cool in the tin for 10 mins, then transfer to a wire rack still in their cases.

These tasty muffins are so filled with vegetable goodness, but if that puts off the kids then there's no reason they ever need to know! We've made them with butternut squash but this recipe works just as well with courgette if that's what you have in. If you've a sweet tooth then you could whip up a quick batch of vegan icing, otherwise a dusting of icing sugar works just as well. Here we've topped them with rolled oats before baking, which adds a pretty touch and an interesting texture. These measurements are American cups. It's absolutely worth getting yourself a set - they make baking and cooking a whole lot easier. Just use a 250ml mug if you don't have a set of proper measuring cups.

2 cups butternut squash, grated

2 cups sugar

3 1/4 cups flour

1/2 cup plant-based oil (ie. sunflower)

1/2 cup apple sauce

1 tsp vanilla essence

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

2 tsp cinammon (or less, if preferred)

1 tsp salt

1/2 cup raisins

1/2 cup walnuts or pecans, chopped

handful of rolled oats

Method

1) Preheat your oven to 180 degrees and grease your muffin tins or line them with muffin cases. Leave the grated squash in a sieve over the sink so that it drains for around an hour. Squeeze out the remaining moisture.

2) In a large bowl, mix the squash, sugar, oil, apple sauce and vanilla. Add flour and other dry ingredients and mix until just blended. Fold in the nuts and raisins.

3) Fill muffin tins with the batter, sprinkle with the oats, and bake for 18-24 minutes, or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Tops should be golden brown. Allow to cook fully on a rack before eating.

Yes that's right, vegan fudge is possible! And guess what? It not only tastes absolutely delicious but is a whole lot easier to make than the traditional, dairy-laden stuff. So what are you waiting for? This is the perfect dose of sweetness for when you need a little bit of an afternoon or after dinner pick-me-up, but it also works really well as a gift too. Line a pretty box with greaseproof paper, arrange your sliced fudge inside, wrap up with a bow and, hey presto, a tasty treat lies in store for someone special!

1/2 cup maple or date syrup

1/2 cup high quality cocoa

1/2 cup coconut oil

1/2 cup pistachios

few drops of vanilla essence

pinch of salt

Method

1) Chop the nuts and lightly toast them in a heavy based frying pan, or in the oven. Melt the coconut oil in a small saucepan over a low heat and set aside.

2) Sieve the cocoa powder into a large bowl. Slowly add the warm coconut oil and the date syrup. Stir in the vanilla essence and salt. Finally add the nuts and combine thoroughly.

3) Pour into a lined square baking pan, refrigerate until solid. Simple!

Energy balls seem to be cropping up everywhere, from health food stores to yoga studios. They make a great raw, vegan alternative to sugar-packed cereal bars and other unhealthy snacks. Often they contain lots of protein and healthy fats too! Did you know that once you have the ingredients (which are readily available from shops such as Arjuna on Mill Road) these are a piece of cake to make? All that's required is a food processor. Here's one simple version to get you started, but the possibilities are endless - try experimenting with coconut, spirulina, dried cranberries and cashews. Let us know your favourite energy ball combination using the comments section below!

1 cup dates, pitted

1 cup almonds

1/2 cup walnuts

2 tbsp chia seeds

1 tbsp sunflower seeds

1 tbsp cinnamon

1 tsp ground ginger

1 tbsp coconut oil

1 tbsp raw cacao powder

1 tbsp hemp protein powder

1 tbsp water

extra cacao powder for dusting

Method

1) Blend the nuts and seeds in a food processor until almost flour-like. This could take up to a minute depending on the power of your blender. Add the remaining ingredients and continue to blend.

2) Roll the mixture into little balls. Place the remaining cacao into a dish and roll each ball in this until coated.

3) Place the balls on a sheet of non-stick baking parchment and place in the fridge until chilled.

This warming, substantial soup is a breeze to rustle up - you can have it on the table within half an hour! Delicious with some chunky wholemeal bread slathered in soy margarine...yummy. Powdered stock rather than the real deal is totally acceptable. We recommend Marigold Swiss Vegetable stock powder, which is widely available in decent sized tubs, they also do a reduced salt variety. You will need a blender or hand blender for this recipe. Serves 4. 2 tbsp olive oil | 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped | 4 heads broccoli, chopped into florets | 1 litre stock | salt & freshly ground black pepper | pinch of chili flakes

1. Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy-based saucepan. Add the garlic and fry for 1-2minutes, being careful not to burn. Add a tiny pinch of chili flakes if you're inclined towards a little spice.

2. Add the broccoli and stock. Bring to the boil, cover, reduce heat and simmer for 10-12 mins.

3. Remove from the heat and blend. Return to heat to warm through before dividing between bowls and serving.

1) How long have you been vegan and what inspired the change?

LEANNE: Just over a year and a half. I did a 21 day vegan detox designed by Sharon Gannon, just before I did the Jivamukti Teacher training and I felt amazing after (it was pretty challenging over the 21 days though). During the Jivamukti Teacher training you eat strict vegan diet and I decided to carry on from there. Ethically and morally, it didn't make sense to go back. As Jivamukti students and teachers we are very pro animal rights, and speaking up for the voiceless animals we will often talk about vegan diet in class.

2) As a yoga teacher you probably have a high energy lifestyle, do you find that your veganism supports that?

LEANNE: Yes, totally, I have more energy now than I used to when I ate meat and even dairy, to an extent (I've been veggie since 2011) and my digestion works properly now, plus I get a well balanced diet.

3) Do you ever crave meat or dairy products?

LEANNE : No I don't crave meat or dairy but I do miss Cheese, I use to eat ALOT, probably too much, cheese, whenever you go out to eat the veggie option is usually covered with cheese which is not ideal. However, I couldn't go back to eating meat or dairy and I don't feel the need too. There are really good alternatives on the market, if you look for them. I know some people say "why would you eat something that looks like meat but isn't meat" and I think if it supports you in your way of life then why not? I often have Linda McCartney vegan sausages with mash and veg, when I feel the need for something hearty.

4) How do your friends and family react to your veganism?

LEANNE: Hmmm tricky one..!! I think people struggle with change sometimes, to start with it was quite tough..but 2 Christmas's on as a vegan my friends and family are beginning to understand it a bit more. I think the not understanding is more of a challenge than anything, veganism isn't widely promoted therefore people don't really know what it is. I'm often asked what I can/cant eat as  vegan..my standard response is Vegan's eat vegetables! I think it has been harder for them to adjust than me but that's because they dont have the same yogic belief system as me (not that you have to be yogi to be vegan) but now they know what I can/cant eat and how to modify dinner for me they are cool, if all else fails I provide my own vegan goods when I visit. On the other hand, some of my friends like to see it as a challenge and enjoy cooking a vegan meal.

5) What is your favourite vegan treat?

LEANNE - I have two - dark chocolate, ive always got a bar in the fridge and Swedish Glace Ice cream, its soooo good you cant tell its soya and you can get it in most supermarkets now.

Leanne Jones teaches Jivamukti at Camyoga. Click here to view her classes.

These tasty energy bars make a toothsome snack at any time of day - perfect with a mug of tea. They also keep really well so make a big batch at the weekend and store them in an airtight container so they're on hand throughout the week for whenever you need a little something sweet!

2 large, ripe bananas, mashed | 2 cups oats | 1/2 cup coconut or almond milk | 1/4 cup apple sauce | 2 tbsp oil | 1 tsp vanilla extract | 2 tbsp agave | pinch salt | 5 large dates, chopped.

(Try also adding vegan dark choc or perhaps even some walnuts too!)

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees. Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well.

2. Pour the mixture into a greased and floured square baking pan.

3. Bake for around 30 mins or until golden brown. Leave to cool completely on a wire rack before slicing into bars and removing from tin.

Vegan Kitchari Recipe

Kitchari (also known as Kitchadee, it's the inspiration for the English dish Kedgeree) is used in Ayurveda as a nourishing and detoxifying food which is suitable for all bodies. It's wholesome, filling and easy to digest, combining protein, carbohydrates, plus essential vitamins, minerals and fats. It's the perfect holistic dinner and is Rachael's go-to supper dish! This recipe serves 3-4, and is both gluten free and free from onion and garlic.

1 cup dried mung dahl (the yellow ones) | 1 cup basmati rice | 2 tbsp coconut oil | 2 carrots, cubed | 1/2 cup dessicated coconut | bundle of spinach leaves, washed & shredded | 2" fresh ginger, grated | 1/2tsp each of: cumin seeds, ground cumin, ground coriander, turmeric, black mustard seeds, garam masala | pinch of asafoetida | bunch fresh coriander, shredded.

1) Thoroughly rinse the mung dahl and rice until the water runs clear. In a small dish, mix the dessicated coconut with a few tablespoons of hot water, half of the coriander and ginger.

2) Heat the coconut oil in a heavy bottomed pan and add the spices. Stir for a minute or so, being careful not to burn them. Add the lentils and rice to the pan with the carrots. Stir well for a few minutes then add the coconut blend and 6 cups of hot water. Bring to the boil, then reduce heat, cover and simmer for 20-30 minutes until lentils and rice are soft with just a tiny hint of bite.

3) Stir in the spinach leaves, until wilted. Divide between bowls and serve sprinkled liberally with coriander.

Sam's Vegan Root Vegetable Cobbler

This is a deliciously sustaining dish, which works very well with a whole host of different vegetables. Adapt the recipe depending on what's in your cupboards!

1 onion | 1 leek | 4 sticks celery | 4 carrots | 2 tbsp oil | 300g mushrooms | 1 tsp dried thyme | 2 tsp marjoram | 2 tsp paprika | 750g assorted veg, rougly chopped | 100g split red lentils | 300ml vegetable stock | 2 x tins tomatoes | salt + pepper | 400g self raising flour | 100g margarine | 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley | 200ml soya milk

1) Preheat the oven to 200 degrees / Gas Mark 6. Slice the onion, leek, celery and carrot. Heat the oil in a large heavy bottomed pan and fry gently for around 10min. Add the mushrooms, thyme, marjoram and paprika, cook for another 5 min.

2) Prepare the veg and add to the pan. Also add the stock, lentils and tomatoes, then simmer for around 20 mins, or until the lentils are just cooked. Season well.

3) Sift the flour and salt into a large bowl. Rub in the margarine. Stir in the parsley and add the milk, little by little, until you have a dough.

4) Roll the dough out on a clean surface (to around 1cm thick) and cut out circles.

5) Pour the sauce into a deep oven dish and top with the dough circles. Brush the top with a little soy milk and bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until the scones are golden brown.

Blend Happy - Our Favourite Smoothie Recipes

Bored of your blender? Need a little liquid inspiration? Here are some of our staff's favourite juice and smoothie recipes to get your creative juices (sorry, couldn't resist) flowing! Got your own recommendation? Post it below on the comments section.

Louise's Turbo Breakfast Booster Nothing beats a Monday morning meeting fuelled by Louise's legendary turbo booster smoothies. Satisfyingly substantial and also totally vegan!

1/2  banana

1/2 avocado or some mango

1 tsp maca powder

1 tbsp hemp protein

1 tbsp chia seeds

1 tbsp coconut oil

1 tsb baobub powder (optional)

2 tsps goji berries

2 tsps peanut butter (optional)

water or koko coconut milk to mix

Luca's Better Than Coffee Choco Banana Shake

"My favourite smoothie recipe which I have for breakfast as its better than coffee! Or after running as a post workout protein shake."

1/2 tbsp hemp protein powder

2 dates, pitted and pureed

2 tbsp  raw almond butter

1 tbsp flaxseed oil

1 cup coconut milk

1/2 tbsp raw cacao powder

1 frozen banana

Rachael's Rosewater & Almond Lassi

"Not technically a smoothie, but deserves a mention. I like it a bit on the thick side, but you can adjust yogurt/water ratio to suit. Use decent quality rosewater-  there are a few shops on Mill Road where you'll find this, it's not expensive. "

3/4 cup natural yogurt

1/4 cup water

couple of ice cubes

small handful roasted almonds or dessicated coconut, if you're feeling fancy

pinch of ground cardamom

honey or agave, to taste

Sam's Easy Lazy Smoothie "Aim is lazy smoothie post workout. Is also great as a meal replacement. Rice protein is more digestible than hemp. Coconut milk is high in a type of fat that your body converts to energy. Really important this is organic."

Coconut milk - mixture of the juice and 2-3 tsp of the cream

1 tsp powdered wheat grass

1 tbsp brown rice protein

Half a banana

Becky's Twisted Green Goddess "My fave is a green goddess juice with a twist - made with melon instead of apple with a bit of ginger. Or a summer peach and apricot (which i think is made with a little apple and orange juice)."

cucumber

celery

big handful of spinach

melon chunks

The GOOD cafe sells a wide range of smoothies and juices. Pre-order yours before class to quench that post-yoga thirst!

Andrea Kwiatkowski on Jivamukti Yoga

Q1: Are all Jivamuktis vegan?

ANDREA: Yogic practices teach us that we are all interconnected to each other and the source. I have been a vegetarian for over 25 years, long before I was doing yoga and what I now realise is, how we eat and what we eat is a practice as well. I have been vegan on and off in my life especially in my early teenage years when I was quite passionate about my views, then after the Jivamukti teacher training at Omega in upstate New York I began to see how I could be more eloquent about this subject. Our teachers encourage us to think about how our actions contribute to the suffering in the world and whilst I cannot say every Jivamukti teacher is vegan, we shouldn’t judge anyone who isn’t, I know a lot of teachers and students who find our method difficult to understand as we talk about actions and veganism in the classes, but the skill is to teach with compassion. So I don’t judge a student who walks into my Jivamukti class and is a meat eater I just know that they may walk out thinking about how they live and what they do in the world and how it all matters.

Q2: What drew you to Jivamukti practice?

ANDREA: A friend of mine bought me the Jivamukti book after reading an article on Sharon and David. As they were both artists and performers, Sharon was a dancer , he thought I would interested in the style, I read the book and researched where I could do a class. The nearest was NY city so I hopped on a plane and spent some time there! When I walked out of my first class I knew this was the method of yoga I would like to teach, it felt like home -music, flowing asana, meditation and philosophy that was interwoven into everything – this was the method that I had been searching for… and it still is nearly 9 years later.

Q3: If you could give just one piece of advice what would it be?

ANDREA: It’s called a practice because that is what it is, not yoga perfection. Don’t expect too much too soon, think about what you bring to the mat, your attitude, your state of mind, your respect for the teacher, anyone can do wonderful asana but that doesn’t make you a yogi ! I quote Sri K. Pattabhi jois “Practice, Practice and all is coming”. You have to be prepared to spend a long time with no expection and more often than not we aren’t very good at that.

Q4: Please describe your personal practice.

ANDREA: I find it interesting that I am asked this so much, my practice is varied depending on my day with regard to asana I have a selection of asana that keeps my body open and relaxed with kriyas as well, I always do a long inversion usually headstand and forearm balance , I might do some yin poses and pranayama. If I have a workshop I will practice my sequence for the class over a period of time so I am familiar with it and can feel how it fits into my body. My practice can be anything from 15 /20mins restorative to 2 hours vinyasa finishing with pranayama and meditation or chanting. I love sanskrit so I have regular lessons on Vedic chanting. At the moment I am in the middle of a 108 day practice dedicated to someone special in my life. I have been known to stretch my hamstrings in the supermarket! You would be surprised how much you can fit into your daily life if you only take a few minutes.

Q5: What is your favourite yoga book ?

ANDREA: This is difficult – if only one then of course my obvious choice is Jivamukti: Practices for Liberating Body and Soul, but I love Master Patanajli’s Yoga Sutra too. Of course with this text as with all yoga books you need a teacher to describe the teachings to you, they come in many forms these teachers - oh , I can recommend a few at this yoga studio known as Camyoga...

Andrea Kwiatkowski is a former dancer and Advanced Certified Jivamukti instructor. She regularly runs Jivamukti masterclasses at Camyoga. Join her for Yin & Yang Yoga Day on 2nd Feb 2014. Book here

Love Your Liver: Get Juicing!

It's so easy to overindulge during the festive period, what with the inevitable feasting, drinking and chilling out on the sofa rather than getting outside for some fresh air and exercise. Treats are important - a little of what you fancy really does do you good - but a lot of what you fancy can start to take its toll on sensitive livers.

The liver performs many functions, from storing energy and supporting the immune system, to detoxifying the blood and assisting digestion. When it gets a bit clogged up - a common January ailment - we can experience fatigue, slugishness, irritability and even symptoms of depression.

Raw fruit and vegetables are an amazing tool for cleansing your liver - eat fresh and organic for maximum benefits. Here are our top juicing ingredient tips for liver health this January:

Green Veg: broccoli, spinach, kale

Healthy fats: avocado, coconut, seeds, nuts and extra virgin olive oil

Fruit: Apples, lemons, limes, grapefruit

Alliums: garlic, onion, leek

In addition to juicing, be sure to cut down on caffeine, alcohol and dairy products. Simple!

To help you take care of your liver this January, we're offering BUY ONE GET ONE FREE juices to all of our Gold Members this January!

~ Leafy Greens: Kale, spinach, arugula, Swiss chard, and especially dandelion greens purify the blood and stimulate the liver to produce it’s cleansing enzymes. Dandelion root makes a great liver-cleansing tea. Though not exactly leafy, asparagus and artichoke deserve special mention for their liver-supporting properties.

~ Alliums: Garlic, onion, and leek are powerful liver cleansers. Chop raw garlic finely, squeeze lemon juice over it, and let it sit for at least 30 minutes to prevent potential damage to the digestive tract.

~ Fruit: Apples for their pectin, which binds to heavy metals and draws them out of the body; and lemon, lime, grapefruit, and other citrus fruits for their cleansing properties and vitamin C content.

~ Chlorophyll: Spirulina, chlorella, and the super dark greens.

~ Curcumin: Turmeric, cayenne, and ginger.

~ Brassicas: Broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower. Especially broccoli sprouts which are particularly high in liver cleansing micronutrients.

~ Healthy Fats: Avocados and cold-pressed extra virgin organic olive (in moderation) help the body produce the liver-supporting HDL (“good”) cholesterol. Walnuts and ground flax seeds are helpful, too.

- See more at: http://www.myhealthylivingcoach.com/cleanse-your-liver-with-raw-foods/#!

The liver is one of the most important and multi-talented organs in the body. It performs more than 5,000 functions, including detoxifying the blood, creating proteins from amino acids, storing energy, supporting the immune system, and assisting digestion. It is the main filtering organ of the body, and all blood flows through it at some point. - See more at: http://www.myhealthylivingcoach.com/cleanse-your-liver-with-raw-foods/#!

Vegan Chocolate Cake Recipe

300g all purpose flour

340g caster sugar

½ tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp bicarbonate soda

170g softened vegan margarine

120ml date syrup

360ml soy milk

1 tsp vanilla extract

115g cocoa powder

For the buttercream:

225g softened vegan margarine

330-450g sifted icing sugar

2 tsps vanilla.

How to:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour 2x 9" round cake pans. Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cocoa powder together and set aside. Cream the margarine and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the date syrup and vanilla, mix well. Mix in the flour then the soy milk, mixing well until combined. Pour an equal amount of batter into the 2 cake pans. Bake for 30-40mins or until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean. Allow to cool in pans for ten minutes then gently invert onto wire cooling racks to cool completely.

To make the icing, beat margarine for about 30 seconds. Continue beating, adding the icing sugar a little at a time. Beat until smooth. Add the vanilla. Decorate with grated plain chocolate and seasonal fruit.

Recipe from the Vegan Society. Photo: Camyoga.

Christmas Treats from Camyoga

All dishes can be gluten free. Please ask for details!

Nut Roast large: £14.00 serves 6-8 (Vegan) Nut Roast Small: £8.00 serves 4 (Vegan)

Mushroom and Almond Wellington large: £16.00 serves 8 ( Vegan) Mushroom and Almond Wellington small £9.00 Serves 4 (Vegan)

Stollen: 400g (small) £3.60 Vegan Stollen 800g ( large) £6.80 Vegan

Mince pies: 50p each Vegan

To place your order call us now on 01223 857930 or email food@camyoga.co.uk

Pre order by Mon 16th Dec. Pick up fresh 20th Dec between 10 am and 4pm from Central or Shelford

 (please specify). Pick up frozen from town Sat 21st 10am - 1.30 pm, Sunday 22nd 9am to 12.30 or Monday 23rd ring for times ( this will coincide with class times).