My very vegetarian day out

by Lucy Moore | 3 May 2016

I'm a vegan- but a lazy one. I'm no good at cooking and have got into the bad habit of eating vegan convenience foods because they're quick and easy.

Vegan on Female First

My family and friends make fun of my cooking abilities and my worst dishes have become a running joke. Something had to change and that's why I was thrilled to be asked to attend the LucyCooks Vegetarian Delights cooking course in Staveley on Sunday.

I must admit- it did feel a little like I was in The Great British Bake off when I arrived. The room was filled with long benches stocked high with fresh ingredients just like in the tent.

I'm not going to lie- I felt very nervous indeed. My mind began to race- what if I was the one who finished last? Messed up my dish so it was inedible? What if I spilled my soup? Or cut my veggies wrong?

There was no need to worry as the other ladies in the group were just as nervous as me. They had all come for different reasons- some were veggie and some weren't, one lady had received the cooking course as a gift, another was a meat eater but loved to cook vegetable dishes. Such a diverse group meant we had lots to talk about and learn from each other between cooking.

There are no prerequisites, qualifications or skills needed beforehand- just an open mind and a willingness to learn something new, so everyone is on a level playing field. We began our day with a coffee, homemade gingerbread (yum!) and a chat so we weren't strangers in the kitchen, before we went up for our first demonstration.

Our chef- Scott had a wealth of knowledge from travelling all over the globe to share his cooking skills. He had been influenced by each of his experiences and he confidently adapted some of the dishes along the way to give us alternatives if we wanted to stray from the recipe a little.

He catered for beginners, intermediates and experts in his recommendations so everyone was on the same page. I can't speak for everyone else, but I felt able to go away and repeat what he had shown us because his instructions were so clear and concise.

We made 4 dishes throughout our time in the kitchen; Courgetti and Pesto Salad, Roasted Butternut Squash Soup, Falafel and Yoghurt Dressing and Rosemary Bruschetta.

As the course did include some dairy products like parmesan and yoghurt, I emailed beforehand and asked if I could bring some vegan versions. Sharon got back to me and said that was fine- so if you're a vegan- you can still attend the course with a few tweaks of your own- the cookery school is quite flexible in that respect.

The day progressed at a leisurely pace- Scott was clear about this at the beginning of the session- we were there to have fun and relax as we cooked. It was not a competition- there was no pressure to rush anything. He also said at the beginning that if we had any questions about cooking- related to the dishes we were preparing or not- he would be happy to answer, which was of great comfort.

We then had out lunch, which consisted of the falafel with the yoghurt dressing, a freshly chopped salad and a bowl of our soup. There was a real sense of achievement when we dined together and were able to say 'I made that!'

Scott kindly let us eat the falafel he had made so we could take ours home as evidence of what we had some with our day! My mum kept telling me how impressed my husband was going to be at me taking something edible home- *cheeky!*

I took my mum with me- Dad and I bought her the day as a gift as part of her birthday. She likes what she calls 'do presents' rather than gifts to open as experiences with family are far more precious than something bought. I agree- and anyone who values more practical presents like we do will treasure it.

We rarely get to spend time together just me and her- so if you're looking for a girly day out- this is the perfect way to spend some time together while doing something new and fun.

Overall, I was probably the person who had the most to learn. As I talked to the other ladies, it seemed that their knowledge of cooking far exceeded my own. I already knew my mum is a dab hand in the kitchen. This made me the perfect guinea pig for this course because I left with four edible dishes and a new found confidence in myself. I can do it if I just read the recipe and take my time. The trouble with eating convenience food is everything is so fast, but if you slow it down- the end product is far more satisfying.

Would I do it again? Absolutely- it's the ideal way to get lazy veggies and vegans off their bottoms and make some lovely food from scratch and I have to say- food does taste better homemade.

Thanks Lucy, Sharon and Scott for making mine and mum's girly weekend one to remember.

Lucy Cooks offers tailor made packages for every occasion- including, hen parties, bespoke options and children's parties. With courses from Bakery and Bread to Thai Food, there's a wide range of globally inspired dishes to suit every palate.