Christina is the proficient blogger behind Addicted To Dates! She shares yummy plant primarily based recipes and goals to point out people who you do not have to compromise on treating your self when vegan. She believes all non-vegan recipes could be recreated in a more healthy, cleaner, moral model. We chatted to Christina about her passions, way of life and weblog…
Inform us about your self!
Hey! I am Christina. I stay within the south west of Eire. I studied a enterprise diploma in Culinary arts. All through my time in school and since then I’ve labored in plenty of fields. From housekeeping, bar and waitressing to a chef, from direct gross sales to workplace administration to accounts which I work in now. My true ardour is when I’m within the kitchen creating vegan recipes and bringing them to life by way of pictures. I like talking to folks about veganism and spreading the message as a lot as I can by way of each social media and the little head to head conversations with work colleagues and so forth.
When did you begin meals running a blog on Instagram and what impressed you to begin?
I began my Instagram account final summer season. I used to be massive into watching youtube movies about veganism on the time (nonetheless am). I noticed Instagram as an incredible platform to begin documenting scrumptious meals. I wished to point out folks how straightforward it was to exchange animal merchandise with plant primarily based options, and that changing into vegan doesn’t suggest sacrificing style.
By final September, I realised how a lot potential Instagram needed to attain a large viewers. I invested in my first digital camera and have been devoted to vegan recipe improvement and pictures ever since.
How lengthy have you ever been vegan and what impressed you?
I have been vegan for two years and eight months. I had been vegetarian for three years earlier than deciding to go totally vegan. In January 2015, I gave myself a 30-day vegan problem, initially extra for well being causes. I assumed that if I might make it by way of the 30 days then I might go vegan completely. It was throughout this time that I started to analysis extra concerning the way of life and watch documentaries which knowledgeable me concerning the cruelty behind the dairy and egg business. What began as a 30-day problem become a everlasting resolution and an moral one. I would not say that I went vegan in a single day as a result of I consider veganism is a journey and it is about studying extra every day. Sadly today so many merchandise are primarily based on animal exploitation. We’re not ‘good’ vegans in a single day. Now we have to remain open to studying and enhancing every day if we make a mistake, we should not beat ourselves up simply develop from it and transfer ahead.
Your vegan desserts are out of this world wonderful. The place did you be taught your expertise from?
Thanks a lot! I suppose I discovered rather a lot by way of my school diploma about cooking normally, though I used to be by no means fairly the pastry chef! I do not like ovens! I like making use of my expertise to uncooked recipes as I discover them far more forgiving and there’s a lot house for creativity. For instance, with uncooked ‘baking’ if a mix is simply too dry, I can add extra moisture to it and get it proper. Whereas with baking, I might solely discover out after it has been cooked that it wasn’t proper, after which it is an issue! Most baking requires actual measurements, and I like to create one thing new each week, so I like to have the ability to add substances as I’m going alongside to get the recipe proper. I get big inspiration from different Instagram accounts too, there’s a lot expertise on the market.
Your Instagram feed is so shiny and exquisite! The place do you supply all your fruit and veg from?
Aweee thanks! I get it from plenty of locations, to be trustworthy. While different individuals are out garments procuring or heading to the pub, I am doing a fruit and veg crawl. I get quite a lot of fruit and veg from native supermarkets and cooperatives. As I stay within the nation, if I ever cross by way of a city or market I’ve to cease and scope out the contemporary produce! I have been to Thailand a number of occasions and certainly one of my favorite components of the journey is at all times going to the native marketplace for native tropical fruit. We won’t get contemporary dragon fruit over right here and the papayas aren’t so good as they’re imported. In a really perfect world, I might stay in a tropical local weather and eat contemporary fruit all day.
Your images are at all times styled so properly, what ideas and methods are you able to share to help in creating such nice photographs?
You are making me blush now.. One thing I discover actually makes an image stand out is creating a superb depth of discipline. For instance, your fundamental topic ie; smoothie jar ought to be on the entrance. Then place a number of associated objects within the background at totally different distances which seem out of focus.. eg a tea towel a bit bit behind the smoothie after which additional behind that throw in some contemporary fruit. This brings the attention ahead to the topic but additionally makes the picture extra attention-grabbing. Lighting can be actually essential. I solely ever use pure gentle, I do not ever work with synthetic gentle as I haven’t got the talents to make it seem pure.
For those who needed to stay off one ingredient for the remainder of your life what wouldn’t it be?
This can be a actually troublesome one. I like so lots of them! It might be a toss up between bananas and coconuts. As a result of they’re each so versatile you can also make a lot with them!
What’s your go-to breakfast?
For the time being I am loving oatmeal made with cashew milk and a splash of vanilla. Topped with contemporary fruit and nut butter. When I’ve extra time on the weekends I make issues like parfaits/ nice-creams.
You serve up some fairly wonderful dishes in our Coconut Bowls! What has been your favorite thus far?
Hmmmm….. Wow you do not make these questions straightforward! I suppose my favorite was most likely the Avocado and Asparagus Inexperienced Summer season salad with creamy garlic dressing.
What’s your favorite factor about your Coconut Bowls?
I like that they remind me of being in Thailand. They at all times make me really feel like I ought to be sitting on a seaside watching the waves crash in whereas consuming my smoothie bowl. I additionally love the truth that one thing that’s usually a ‘waste’ product is recycled into one thing so lovely.
Thanks Christina! Massive love from Coconut Bowls ❤
