Hi, I’m Simone – Adventurer and cook, Mum to two young kids, Wife to Jan, Yogi, Vegan, #buslifer, Florist, Author, Youtube Content Creator… and much more. I’m a dreamer and a doer. I am Australian, born and raised on the Sunshine Coast. Jan is German, raised in Alabama, and our kids were born in Sydney and the Gold Coast, but have spent the majority of their lives on the road. Naturally, we make ourselves at home quickly and almost anywhere, travel is at the core of everything we do.ย
This wonโt be glamorous, our life on the road is anything but. Everything you find in the IHTBvegan blog is real life, recipes created during chaotic mealtimes with a toddler or the blissful moments of solitude in my kitchen while Jan and the kids explore outside. Our life revolves around food and when Iโm not outside playing, youโll find me in the kitchen.ย
I learnt to cook from my Mum, which means very loosely following recipes and “chucking in a bit of this and a bit of that” and lots of tasting along the way. I continue to learn every single day and still abide by these principles.
Regardless of your dietary disposition, I encourage you to experiment, be flexible and resourceful while cooking. I love a good substitution, so if you have discovered a great alternative to an ingredient in a recipe, please leave a comment. This is a space for sharing and creating – negativity and bad manners will not be tolerated and comments will be modified as such.ย
THE V WORD
Throughout this blog, I hope to dispel the myths that vegan food is gross or bland, and share with you some simply delicious food that happens to be vegan. It just means that you wonโt find any meat, dairy, eggs or other animal bi-products in our kitchen.ย ย
You donโt need to be vegan to enjoy vegan food. Whether you are looking to incorporate more plant-based meals into your repertoire, are looking for a recipe to cook for a vegan friend, or are simply wondering what vegan eating looks like, I hope you find this resource helpful.ย
Jan and I have been eating exclusively plant-based since late 2017. It happened almost overnight in the midst of a health crisis (and what I now see as a spiritual crisis) that I will elaborate on later. The transition was far easier than I expected and learning how and what to cook completely opened up my culinary world. I cook a more varied and exciting repertoire of meals now than ever before, using new ingredients and combinations of familiar ingredients to create flavours that continue to blow my mind meal after meal.ย
ย LIFE ON THE ROAD
We live full-time on the road in a converted Toyota Coaster bus home. We are currently making our way around Australia exploring itโs beaches, mountains, rainforests, and finding local produce and foodie delights along the way.ย
With this lifestyle comes a simplification of life and a minimalist approach to belongings. In my tiny galley kitchen, I feel very fortunate to have a 3 burner gas stove and grill (which I creatively use as an oven), with plenty of bench space and enough storage to keep a well stocked kitchen. We carry only the essentials, and this process of minimising our belongings has been extremely liberating. I am excited to share with you the details of my tiny kitchen including my pantry storage, staples, planning, shopping, minimising waste, and culling down my kitchen accessories.
If you have any questions or suggestions, I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to reach out to me at [email protected]ย or use the contact form here.ย
Happy cooking!ย
Simoneย
