Blog

Hello and welcome,

Maria-Carin Gala here from Gala's Organic Kitchen. I'm your weekly Loose blogger, bringing you a wholesome seasonal recipe every week using ingredients that you can get at Loose!

To be notified for these just 'like' our Loose Facebook page and 'follow' us. You'll then get a little pop-up window every week telling you that your new weekly recipe is ready.

Hello Loose shoppers,

How about getting into the good old lentils, in particular brown lentils? They're warming, grounding and delicious. You can find them at Loose and they cost next to nothing.

I grew up with a step-father who was German and took cooking very seriously. He and my Slovak mother became vegetarian when I was only a year old, and endeavoured to find vegetarian alternatives to dishes they loved. I have based this recipe on a vegan version of a German lentil soup he used to make.

Hello Loose shoppers,

Autumn in Stroud has been lighting the trees up with gorgeous colours, and plenty of apples and pears at the farmers' markets.

How about making poached pears with a Raw Olive Oil Chocolate Sauce? 

I've been experimenting with other people's recipes and found this one from My New Roots by Sarah Britton.

She mixes equal amounts of olive oil with cacao (try 3 tablespoons each), sweetens with (1.5 tbsp) maple syrup and adds a sprinkle of salt. That’s it.

Hello Loose shoppers,

What are the benefits of shopping at Loose using your own containers?

The obvious one first, you save on excess packaging and get to either re-use your saved bags or packaging, or directly fill your containers with organic goodness.

You get to think about what you need or don't need, stopping you from over-buying. Also, you only buy what you can carry home. I find that reducing my shopping habits down to what I will actually use is much more efficient for my body, wallet and even the planet.

Hello LOOSE shoppers in and around Stroud,

How about grabbing some organic raw cashews next time you're in the shop?!

Do you know how to make the salt stick to roasted cashews?

You roast them on a medium heat for a while (maybe ten minutes) until nice and toasty then add a dash of the best water you can find and a good sprinkle of salt, mix, let evaporate and cool. There you go! 

You could even use curry powder or mixed herbs.

Too easy and wholesomely delicious.

Hello LOOSE shoppers in and around Stroud,

It's the middle of September and the days are still warm. Apples, pears and plums are hanging on their tree ripe and ready for us.

How about making a Plum Cake that happens to be vegan, gluten-free and refined sugar-free but I promise you with my life, that it is utterly delicious and moreish?!

All the dry ingredients are available at LOOSE. 

Hello LOOSE shoppers in and around Stroud,

Do you need a healthy sweet treat recipe that doesn't require any baking or cooking? Something deeply satisfying but good for your body and definitely better for the animals? How about some vegan and gluten-free (as well as refined sugar-free) White Chocolate Bliss Balls?

Hello LOOSE shoppers in and around Stroud,

Do you sometimes make your own chai tea?

In India, as we all know, it's rather hot and they drink chai all day, every day. Masala Chai might be the more correct term but in England we usually just say chai. Especially seeing as the English never stop drinking tea, this might just be a good summer cuppa option.

Do you want an easy recipe to create your very own summer spice concoction? I've got just the one for you. LOOSE sells all the spices and tea that you need.

Here are some new Rhubarb Muffins with Lemon and Vanilla that are gluten-free and vegan! Oh, and delicious and nutritious.