VBITES 07

Do you think the tabloids have got their priorities wrong?comment@thelatest.co.uk

SPICY SOYA SAUSAGE ANDCHORIZO CASSEROLEI know becoming vegan is a winningformula for life! It was the bestdecision I have ever made and ithas had such a positive effect onmy life. Greater nutritionalawareness of the food that I putinto my body was the foundationstone of my new beginnings aftermy accident and I will never everlook back. Enjoy this warmingwinter night casserole.

Serves 4Ingredients1 white onion thinly sliced2 spring onions julienne style1 small red onion thinly sliced2 carrots diced2 potatoes diced1 red pepper diced1 yellow pepper diced1 packet of soya chorizo1 packet VBites soya sausages1 tsp crushed chilli/chilli flakes1 tsp cayenne pepper1 tbs Boullion with 500ml water1 tin chopped tomatoes1 tbs tomato paste1 tsp of balsamic vinegar1 tbs oregano1 tsp paprika

Method:• Sweat red and white onions

with peppers.• Then add diced potatoes

and carrots.• Add cayenne pepper, crushed chilli,

tinned tomatoes and tomato paste.• Allow to simmer for approx 10

to 15 mins.• Add balsamic vinegar and oregano.• Add paprika and ground black

pepper to taste.• Simmer for another 5 to 10 mins.• Add vegan soya sausage andchorizo at the last minute, cookuntil hot through.

VBites of wisdom

Important news abounds at the moment. Just like an action movie, ournewspapers are filled with glitz and glamour, sex, war, death, politicalintrigue, conspiracy and an end-of-the-world plotline worthy of a

Hollywood movie.It must be a tough job for the editors of our tabloids to decide which story to

run on the front page these days when there is so much important news toreport. Now, do they go with the latest earthquake or tsunami, drought or faminein Africa... or maybe just a salacious little rumour about an X Factor finalist?Tough decision, this one. Phew, Paris Hilton flashed her knickers getting out of acar – and have you seen that cellulite? That’s the lead, yes! Genius.

Useless trivia prevails. News has become entertainment, and entertainmentis news. And the glue that binds this all together is television celebrity. I’m notanti-celebrity at all since I’m not blind to the fact that this would be just a tadhypocritical. I am, however, anti ‘the cult of celebrity’ that has made any oldnonsense about a celebrity newsworthy and then goes on to hog the front pagesin place of real news and genuine issues.

We all love to beentertained. But what I’vebeen pondering is thethought that our lust forentertainment,amusement anddistraction is preventingus all from genuinelygrasping reality and theseriousness of the mostimportant issues of theday. It is this that isholding back so many of us from getting active in our democracy and makingsure our voices are heard right now, when they are needed the most.

The lines between news and entertainment are so blurred these days that,perhaps, so much that comes out of the television is presumed to be purelyfor our amusement rather than education. However serious the subject, TVcan turn it into show business.

Could it be that what makes for the most popular television andnewspapers these days is diverting our attention away from the very realproblems our society is facing? There actually seems to be a directcorrelation between an increasing level of intensity in world events and anincrease in puerile news reporting. I wonder if this current trend will continuewhen the polar ice caps melt? Will The Sun’s front page lead be a close-upphotograph of pee dribble on Peter Andre’s trousers while the nation’s doingthe backstroke in a deluge of salty sea water?

Tabloid weapons of mass ‘distraction’ continue to explode liberalsprinklings of glitter, fluff and bile all over public discourse. The truth is wehave never lived in more serious times and our inaction will have genuinelycatastrophic consequences for life on earth.

“There seems to be directcorrelation between anincreasing intensity in worldevents and an increase inpuerile news reporting”

A VBites Christmas SpecialHeather and our Head Chef have being working hard to

create a delicious Vegan Christmas menu with plenty of

festive cheer. Get the party started with a glass of bubbly

before being seated for your choice of starter, main course

and dessert. Finish off with our very own mince pies and

your choice of Fairtrade coffee or tea. Tables will be

decorated with complimentary Christmas crackers and

decorations. Our attentive staff will do everything possible

to accommodate your special wishes so let us know if there

is any particular entertainment you’d like us to arrange (we can do Father

Christmas but reindeer may be a little more difficult).

Book early to avoid disappointment

Heather’sDIARY

I love all the winter festivals.Halloween and Bonfire Nightwere such successes at

VBites that we’re now planningour Christmas celebrations. Imustn’t give away any surprisestoo early but I’ll update yousoon with everything we’relining up. I know how hard it is toentertain children on miserablewinter days. But VBites has thesolution! We've started theVBites Kids' Klub every Saturdayand Sunday from 10.30am to12.30pm. Switch off the tellyand get them down to theseafront for some fresh air andactivities with friends. Now, Ineed to start thinking about myNew Year’s Eve bash.

Heather Mills on weaponsof mass distraction

Kingsway, Hove Lagoon,Hove BN3 4LX

01273 933757

www.vbites.com

Open 7 days a week10:30-22:30(Open 09:30 weekends)

Christmas at VBitesIt’s time to start thinkingabout the festive season, be ita work Christmas lunch or aparty with friends. VBites isthe perfect venue. Check outour website, call or pop in forfurther details.

see you – Heather

007_LS452_VBites 11/27/09 12:37 PM Page 1

VBITES 07

Do you worry about the cult of celebrity affecting children?comment@thelatest.co.uk

VBites of wisdom

Ican’t say it strongly enough: celebrity culture is harming our children. Itputs undue importance on what is superficial and instills a belief inchildren that fame is more important than anything else. It’s hindering

the development of our children’s genuine gifts and abilities and potentialto become well-rounded adults. They are being taught that fame is arelatively easy target to reach – and nobody really cares how you achievethis goal.

As far as I can see, this is what the mainstream media is pushing on ourchildren. Kids are absorbed in pop culture almost from day one. But therehas never been anything as powerful as the television cult thatperpetuates myths about fame whilst all along reinforcing messagesabout consumerism. Politicians are powerless to do anything exceptcomplain about the nation’s moralcompass having gone haywire.

Is getting on the telly the newnirvana for the noughties? Has thedream of an access-all-areasgolden VIP ticket and a guaranteedpull on a Saturday night reachedreligious heights?

After the daily informationoverload of fragmented news clipsand soundbites, the importantissues are all too easily forgotten.All our children are left with is theoverriding and all pervasivemainstream influence of acelebrity cult pushing the importance of money, fame, status, beauty, sexand self-recognition of a red carpet nirvana as the ultimate goal for allhuman aspiration.

Maybe it’s an establishment conspiracy to dumb us all down and narrowour kids’ perspective. Or, maybe it’s just another example of the decline inintegrity, which goes hand-in-hand with corporations seeking greater andgreater profit ahead of civic responsibility for the welfare and wellbeing ofthe population and our planet.

Some say we are living in the ‘information age’. I prefer to call it the ‘toomuch information age’ where we have elevated irrelevance to the status ofnews. It might give children in the playground and teenagers on streetcorners something to talk about when they have little else to do, but thisirrelevance does not lead to anything constructive in their lives.

Our children deserve better. They are more passionate about the stateof our planet than most adults I’ve ever met, and care deeply about theplight of other children worse off than them. We have to stop smotheringthem with this avalanche of irrelevance, and let their enthusiasm breathe.The future of our planet depends on it.

“Is getting on thetelly the new nirvanafor the noughties?Has the dream of aVIP ticket reachedreligious heights?”

A VBites Christmas SpecialHeather and our Head Chef have being working hard to

create a delicious Vegan Christmas menu with plenty of

festive cheer. Get the party started with a glass of bubbly

before being seated for your choice of starter, main course

and dessert. Finish off with our very own mince pies and

your choice of Fairtrade coffee or tea. Tables will be

decorated with complimentary Christmas crackers and

decorations. Our attentive staff will do everything possible

to accommodate your special wishes so let us know if there

is any particular entertainment you’d like us to arrange (we can do Father

Christmas but reindeer may be a little more difficult).

Book early to avoid disappointment

Heather Mills thinks society hasbecome one big fame academy

Kingsway, Hove Lagoon,Hove BN3 4LX

01273 933757

www.vbites.com

Open 7 days a week10:30-22:30(Open 09:30 weekends)

Christmas at VBitesIt’s time to start thinkingabout the festive season, be ita work Christmas lunch or aparty with friends. VBites isthe perfect venue. Check outour website, call or pop in forfurther details.

see you – Heather

She’s glamorous, sultry,and has men falling ather feet. A real old-

school Hollywood star.Marilyn Monroe? JayneMansfield? No, I’m talkingabout Jessica Rabbit. And ontop of all that glamour, she’ssmart and moralistic. We allknow she’s just a cartoon but, Ithink you’ll agree, she’s risenabove her pen and ink existence.So, why has Brighton artist DanCushing decided to depict me asJessica Rabbit? Flattered? Whowouldn’t be!

I’d already seen Dan’s imagesof Michael Jackson, Madonna and

Victoria Beckham. Dan’s artworksare stunning: vibrant, enormousimages printed onto sheet metal.What I had loved was the clash oftraditional tales or classicalimagery with modern themes.There’s a delicious and almostnaughty mix of irony and humourin his artworks. In this collection,fabled tales like Snow White andAlice In Wonderland meet celebrityculture. Who wouldn’t want to beDan’s muse?

It takes Dan six weeks tocomplete his artworks. A lot ofwork for one pic! Who could liveup to Jessica Rabbit? Certainlynot a nearly 42 year oldGeordie! I was going to beseeing it for the first time alongwith everyone else invited tothe gallery opening. This wasgoing to take nerves of steel.

You can see the artwork alongwith the complete collection at theFrame of Mind Gallery onBlatchington Road in Hove. Andmy reaction? It hit me that I was

looking at a powerful statementabout the media’s depiction of me.When I first saw Who FramedRoger Rabbit?, little did I knowhow Jessica Rabbit’s immortal linecould be applied to me: “I’m notbad, I’m just drawn that way.”[See pictures of the Dan Cushingprivate view in Social Diary, p 4]

Heather’sDIARY

007_LS453_VBites 12/2/09 3:51 PM Page 1

VBITES 07

Got any unwanted gifts you’d like to take to Heather’s Swap Shop?comment@thelatest.co.uk

AUBERGINE AND CAULIFLOWER BAKETry this wholesome crispy bake, asfeatured in December’s CookVegetarian magazine.

Serves 6Ingredients3 large aubergines2 medium cauliflowers4 tbsp soya margarine4 tbsp plain flour600ml soya milkSoya cream (optional)1 block Melting Mozzarella-styleCheezly1 tsp mustard (optional)White Cheddar-style Cheesly(optional)

Method:• Cut the aubergines in half and

scoop out the insides leaving ashell of around 1 cm flesh. Boil inwater until almost tender, thendrain. Do not overcook!

• Cut the cauliflower into florets. Boil for five minutes (you don’t want themtoo tender) then drain.

• Push enough cauliflower florets insidethe hollow aubergine to fill it half way.Set the rest aside. Place the semi-stuffed aubergines into a baking dishand turn the oven on to heat(180C/350F/Gas 4).

• To make the vegan cheese sauce,melt the soya margarine in a pan,take off the heat and stir in the twotbsp plain flour. Return to the heatand slowly add the soya milk (andmustard if liked).

• Keep stirring the sauce constantlyuntil it thickens nicely. Then stir in thesoya cream (if desired) and a handfulof the VBites melting mozzarella.

• Pour around half of the cheese sauceinto the aubergines. Now fill theaubergines with the rest of thecauliflower florets so they slightly popout of the top, and pour on theremaining sauce.

• Bake in the oven until the sauce isbubbling and crispy. For a crispytopping, sprinkle grated cheddar-styleCheezly on top and grill briefly.

VBites of wisdom

I’m dreaming of a green Christmas. Maybe that sounds corny or just a littlesentimental, but doesn’t it prick your conscience about all that wastedfood, discarded wrapping paper and cards, and unwanted presents that

even the shops can’t sell come Boxing Day?Every year, the bright lights and sparkle of Christmas descend into a heap

of plastic packaging, rotting food mountains and broken, unloved gifts. Yousee it all lined up in the piles of rubbish outside our homes on Boxing Day.Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a killjoy. I love Christmas. I just don’t think it hasto be an annual blowout of excess that even the ancient Romans, with theirlove of a gluttonous feast, couldn’t rival.

We are so lucky inBrighton. The North Laine isoverflowing with shopsoffering ethical andenvironmentally-friendlyalternatives to high streetgifts made by desperatechildren in sweatshopfactories. And they are apleasure to visit! There isn’ta boy (young or old) whowouldn’t want one of Eco Logic Cool’ssolar-powered helicopter kits. Theirshop on Sydney Street is a havenof gadgets for boys. Then there’sInHouse Space on GloucesterRoad with its trendy homeaccessories all made fromsustainable renewable sources orcertified organic farming sources. Awayfrom the North Laine, there’s the Fairtrade Fair and Farmers’ Market every thirdSaturday of the month in the Friends Meeting House on Ship Street, witheverything from jewellery, clothes and art to locally-made jams. Why contendwith the hustle and bustle of Churchill Square on a Saturday afternoon?

Christmas doesn’t have to be a burden on the environment. I’ve beenpondering how to reconcile my love of fairy lights and all things sparkly withmy environmental concerns, and have found some outside solar-poweredChristmas lights. We all love a beautifully decorated Christmas tree, and it’seasy to make sure it’s from a sustainable grower – or, even better, buy onewith roots and plant it in the garden afterwards to use again next year.

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas in my house without a vegan feast. I’veput together an amazing menu and you can share it at VBites if you book aChristmas party for work colleagues or friends.

And all those unwanted Christmas presents? We’re planning a Swap Shopat VBites in the new year with legendary entertainer Mike Reid. I’ll keep youposted with the details. Recycling just got a lot more fun! Merry Christmas!

“I’ve been ponderinghow to reconcile my loveof fairy lights and allthings sparkly with myenvironmental concerns”

Ring in the new year with HeatherHeather’s throwing a New Year’s Eve party atVBites – and everyone’s invited. Entry is free tosay thank you for all the fantastic supportVBites has had since its summer launch. There’llbe food and music with a special vegan buffetand a DJ. The fun kicks off at 7pm and goes on’til late. Start the year with a bang at Brightonand Hove’s most fashionable vegan party venue.

Happy New Year from all the staff at VBites

Heather’sDIARY

Imust tell you how Claudio, ourhead chef, got on when hiskitchen was invaded by Hove’s

troop of Girl Guides. They soonhad him wrapped around theircollective proverbial finger. I gave them a talk about food and following a vegan diet, andwe discussed the impact ofintensive meat and diary farmingon the global environment.Claudio and I enjoyed it so much,we’re up for more visits fromschool classes and clubs. VBiteswill be open on Christmas BankHoliday Monday. I know I’ll beready for some fresh air and awalk along the seafront by then!I’ll also be starting to think aboutour New Year New You programmeof health and wellbeing that I’mstarting in January.

Heather Mills is dreamingof a green Christmas

Kingsway, Hove Lagoon,Hove BN3 4LX

01273 933757

www.vbites.com

Open 7 days a week10:30-22:30(Open 09:30 weekends)

FREE Vbites NewYear’s Eve party7pm til late, DJ and veganbuffet. And remember to join us every Saturday andSunday from 10.30am to12.30pm for the popular

VBites Kids’ Klub

see you – Heather

007_LS453_VBites 12/11/09 12:41 PM Page 1

VBITES 07

VBites of wisdom

I ’m not going to hold back this week. Stop turning a blind eye and wake upto what’s happening to our planet. Complacency won’t stop globalwarming, the polar ice caps from melting or the destruction of our natural

environment. It’s a new year and it’s time to turn over a new leaf.Don’t make excuses about environmental issues having nothing to do with

you. It is everyone’s responsibility. Together we are killing the planet, andindividually we can make a difference.

The food you eat has a global impact. Rearing cattle produces moregreenhouse gases than driving cars. You might dismiss this saying I’mexaggerating but this isn’t me speaking, it’s the United Nations. Got yourattention now?

Maybe you need a little moreevidence to be convinced? FriendsOf The Earth have worked out that ifeveryone in the world lived as we doin the UK, we’d need three planets. Ifyou only bought what you need (analien concept, I know, in this age ofconsumerism), reused stuff, andrecycled the things you do get rid of,we’d use up less of the planet’sprecious resources.

It might seem odd to you, butthrowing away food is not normal. Think back; do you remember your mumtaking rotting, slimy bags of pre-packaged salad out of the fridge once aweek and putting them into the bin? If everyone stopped throwing food away,climate-changing emissions could be reduced by the equivalent of taking onein five cars off the road. Puts it in perspective, doesn’t it?

Small changes don’t have to impact on your quality of life. But they willsave the lives of others in developing countries. One billion people depend onforests for food, fuel and fresh water. Experts say, in Indonesia there will beno more forests left in ten years’ time if they continue to be cut down at thesame rate as they are now.

My tip? Start small. Make your new year’s resolutions changes that you willhardly even notice. Get into the habit of putting your recycling out, eating oneless meal with meat a week, buying products without unnecessary wrapping,and turning your thermostat down by two degrees – hardly a big sacrifice.

Tomorrow never comes. Make a difference today.

“Do you rememberyour mum takingrotting, slimy bags ofpre-packaged saladout of the fridge?”

New Year New You! Take the chance to make a fresh startwith VBites’ new winter menu inspiredby Heather and endorsed by anutritionist for its health benefits.

If you’re ready to make a change toyour lifestyle, make VBites your firstport of call for healthy shakes andfresh fruit smoothies.

Here’s to a healthy, vegan new year!

Heather Mills says there’s one NY resolution we all have to make

Kingsway, Hove Lagoon,Hove BN3 4LX

01273 933757

www.vbites.com

Open 7 days a week10:30-22:30(Open 09:30 weekends)

Love is inthe airBook your table now forVBites LGBT Valentineson 6 February.

see you – Heather

A s you’ll probably know bynow my new year is gettingoff to a flying start (quite

literally!) with Dancing On Ice.I’ve had such fun in training, I’llkeep you posted on my progress(across the ice)!

New Year New You! It’severyone’s chance to make afresh start, and I know I’ll bepicking the brains of thenutritionist we’ve got onboard atVBites. She’s given me greatadvice for the new winter menu,and it’s the warming soups andhearty meals I’ll be lookingforward to after a day on the ice.

If having a good clear out ispart of your fresh start, bringyour unwanted Christmas giftsdown to the Swap Shop we’rehaving at VBites on 9 January.

Heather’sDIARY

CHILLI NONE CARNE – NEW ONTHE VBITES WINTER MENU

Serves 1

Ingredients1 onion2 cloves garlic1 pepper1-2 carrots1 packet of soya mince, preferablyVBites or Redwood1 can of sweetcorn (optional)2 tins of plum tomatoes2 tbls tomato puree2 tins kidney beans – drained and rinsed2-3 tbls tomato ketchup2 tsp mild chilli powder or to taste2 tsp (or to taste) cayenne pepper2 tsp garra masala2 tsp paprika2 tsp cuminSplash of red wine (optional)

Method:1 Sauté the onions and garlic and

cook through for about 5 minutesin olive oil.

2 Add spices to taste and cookthrough. Add a little water ifnecessary.

3 Add carrots, peppers, (sweetcorn if desired).

4 Add tomato puree, ketchup andtinned tomatoes, and stir through.

5 Add kidney beans.6 If necessary add more water.7 Cook through and leave to simmer

for about 10 minutes.8 Add the soya mince and

simmer on low, heat for a further15 minutes.

9 Take off the heat and leave tostand. The longer the better (min 40 mins, max overnight).

10 Add a splash of red wine.11 Add salt and pepper to taste and a

splash of olive oil.12 Heat and serve on rice or on a

baked potato.

What green resolution are you pledging to keep this year?comment@thelatest.co.uk

007_LS456_VBites 12/21/09 5:08 PM Page 1

VBITES 07

VBites of wisdom

Have you noticed how supermarkets are telling us they are the greatsaviours of the world with their eco-friendly marketing and salespitches? All falling over themselves to prove how much greener they

are than each other? They must think we were all born yesterday. Stop andlook at the food on the shelves. Fruit from South America and New Zealand –it couldn’t have come from any further away!

And all the time our farmers and small businesses are struggling tosurvive as the big supermarkets squeeze prices and push them to the brinkof bankruptcy. This isn’t a good deal for us. The prices we pay for food are notgoing down, it’s the supermarkets’ profits that are going up.

The hypocrisy is astounding. I’ll give you an example. They shout loudlyabout installing sophisticated fridges that reduce consumption of climate-changing gases, trying to impress us with how sustainable their stores are.It’s nonsense. Do they think we can’t see the fridges don’t have doors onthem? And do you know why? They worry sales figures will drop if shoppershave to open a door before reaching into a fridge or freezer. I rest my case.

And where is the government in all this? It should be protecting our farmers and food producers, helping them tosurvive the recession and grow our rural economies. Instead, our politiciansare too scared to stand up to the big supermarkets. Supermarkets are bulliesand their bullying should be stopped so that farmers and shoppers can get agood deal.

But, don’t forget, we all have a choice. Food is ournumber one contributor to climate change. Thefood we eat, the way it is produced andeventually thrown away, has an impact onthe environment. You don’t have to buyapples from South Africa wrapped inmetres of plastic packaging. Go down toLondon Road market, buy some thatwere grown down the road and takethem away in a brown paper bag. Do yourbit for our local farmers and the planet –and don’t forget to recycle the bag.

Sharing the VBites loveBook your table now for VBites LGBTValentines on 6 February. It’ll be a night ofsoft music, candles, sparkling wines and finecuisine, with an ambience to match. Book yourtable early to avoid disappointment.

And show your friends how much you lovethem on 13 February at VBites by bringingthem down for our singles night – avoid thesmooching couples, and spread the love around!

Single or in a couple, we’ll show you a good time!

Heather Mills isn’t taken in by thegreen posturing of supermarkets

Kingsway, Hove Lagoon,Hove BN3 4LX

01273 933757

www.vbites.com

See website for winter opening times

Love is inthe airBook your table now forVBites LGBT Valentineson 6 February.

see you – Heather

N ew year, new you. How’s itgoing for you? For me, mybody may be feeling

battered from Dancing On Ice butI’ve been having a ball! Bring onthe Bolero, I say!

The only way I’ve got througheach training day was by makingsure I was eating properly. Somedays, when the training gottough, it really was the thoughtof the new winter menu at VBitesthat kept me going.

We’re into January now andit’s easy to start to flag on yourcommitment to your new year’sresolutions. Come down toVBites, and let my imaginative,nutritious and tasty vegan menuremind you of why looking afteryour body can taste so good.

Heather’sDIARY

SWEET & SOURVEGETABLES Ingredients1/4 cup water 2 medium sliced peeled carrots 2 cups sliced mushrooms 1 large onion cut in 1 inch chunks 1 (8 oz) can water chestnuts, drained1 large green pepper cut in 1 inch chunks 1-tablespoon cornstarch 1/3 cup unsweetened pineapple juice 1 minced garlic clove 1-tablespoon water 1/3 cup ketchup 2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce 3/4 cup unsweetened pineapplechunks 1 tablespoon vinegar

Method:1 In large pan bring 1/4 cup water

to a boil on high heat. 2 Add the carrots, mushrooms,

water chestnuts, onion, and bellpepper. Cover and cook on high for 1 minute.

3 Remove the cover and cookvegetables until tender (about 8minutes). If the pot goes dry, youmay add 1 tbsp water in at a time.

4 Set aside and keep warm. 5 Dissolve cornstarch in a little

pineapple juice in a small bowl.6 Over low heat, in a small pan,

combine the garlic and water; bringto boil.

7 Stir in the ketchup, pineapplejuice, soy sauce and vinegar;return to a boil.

8 Add cornstarch mixture and stiruntil thickened and bubbly, approx 1 minute.

9 Pour the sauce over the vegetablesand toss to coat.

Do you have a favourite local market seller? Big them up!comment@thelatest.co.uk

“They shout about installing sophisticatedfridges – do they think we can’t see theydon’t have any doors on them?”

007_LS457_VBites 1/7/10 4:01 PM Page 1

VBITES 25

VBites of wisdom

T he thing that stands out most for me from the wonderful time I’ve hadon Dancing On Ice is the teamwork – all the contestants and behind-the-scenes team supporting each other and helping each other get over

fears and nerves. I’m sure you can imagine how it feels to go out on the iceon national television. It is such a mixed feeling when someone leaves. I’mnot pretending, you’re over the moon that you have been voted in but, at thesame time, you genuinely feel sad to see them go.

And then, of course, there’s the support I’ve received from my dancingpartner, Matt Evers. There’s both physical and emotional support, and mytrust in him has been total. Chris and Jayne do not compromise with thechoreography. They see me as an able-bodied skater and give us thechoreography, and we just have to do it.

When I was first approached to take part in Dancing On Ice, I was actuallyquite surprised that I couldn’t find any ice skaters with amputations. But mywebsite has been inundated with emailsfrom other amputees giving me theirsupport and telling how myachievements on the ice have giventhem courage. These emails remind methat this is another team of people thatI am part of and the generosity of thoseemailing is an inspiration to me.

I’m not forgetting the public votesthat worked together to keep mein the show and gave support tomy charities. Every week I stayed in was a vote formaking a difference. It’smade me feel like peoplewere voting for the things I believe in and support.

Ignore all the tabloidstories, and you’ll see how muchof a team player I am. Getting myHaiti appeal off the ground quicklyis completely dependent onteamwork. The fact I’m able torespond in a meaningful way isbecause I have a fantastic teamand we’re working together to makeit happen, today.

Training for the half marathon?VBites are hosting a pasta party on 20February to fill up on carbohydrates beforerunning the race. Eating carbohydratesbefore a big event such as the half marathonis recommended by health professionals as it releases energy slowly and helps you toperform at your max. This is not only agreat opportunity to stock up on yummypasta but also a fantastic chance to meetother runners. For more details please visitwww.vbites.com

Heather Mills says Dancing On Ice is all about team work

Kingsway, Hove Lagoon,Hove BN3 4LX

01273 933757

www.vbites.com

See website for winter opening times

Love is inthe airBook your table now forVBites LGBT Valentineson 6 February.

see you – Heather

POLENTA PIZZAI believe we are all experiencing ashift in our consciousness andmoving into a period of greaterawareness and understanding aswe begin to recognise and correctthe mistakes we have madethrough a lack of balance andloosing our connection with thenatural world. Veganism is a way ofredressing this balance. And, asthis gluten free recipe shows, beingvegan doesn’t mean missing out onfirm favourites like pizza!

Serves 1

Ingredients250g polenta flour 50g cherry tomatoes2 cloves garlicSalt & pepperOlive OilFlat leaf ParsleyVegan MozzarellaVegan Parmesan

Method:1 Make the polenta following the

packet instructions (substituestock for water if you wish for astronger flavour).

2 Flatten out and place on rounddish and refrigerate for approx. 4 hours.

3 Take out and cut into approx 4-inch disc size.

4 Lightly oil and pepper both sides and grill both sides untillightly browned.

5 Saute the sauce ingredients untilalmost to a pulp.

6 Place sauce on polenta base.7 Top with vegan mozzarella and

parmesan, grill and serve with a dribble of olive oil.

“Ignore all the tabloid stories and you’llsee how much of a team player I am”

S ince hearing about thedisaster in Haiti, I havebeen working closely with

Physicians for Peace (PFP). Theyare a charity helping to providemedical assistance in developingcountries. They have beenworking in Haiti for some time,and their clinic was destroyed bythe earthquake. Despite theirbest efforts to heal victimsquickly and efficiently, problemsgetting around and lack ofequipment have meant manypatients are losing limbs due togangrene. I am working with PFPto raise money, equipment and,most importantly, crutches forpatients until they heal. I willthen be sending artificial limbs. If you can support in anywaypossible, please visit eitherwww.physiciansforpeace.org orwww.heathermills.org

Heather’sDIARY

What did you think of Heather’s performance on Dancing On Ice?comment@thelatest.co.uk

025_LS460_VBites 1/29/10 3:15 PM Page 1