Ethiopian, mystery sauces, and donuts: What's been keeping me alive recently

I should be all about the Christmas posts right now, and the things I'm making ahead for the festive season. But I'm not, I'm laid up with a weird injury to my foot that means I can't really get out and about.

So, I'm forced to plunder pictures on my phone to remember what I've been eating.

Firstly, this platter of Ethiopian loveliness, courtesy of a place around Old Street. It was massive and surprisingly good for £5. I wish I could remember the name of the place, because I'd be back there like a whippet up a drainpipe.

I love the way that, with Ethiopian food, you get to try a million different dishes on one plate. Mr Flicking the Vs has a pathological hatred of me pinching food off his plate (note: this doesn't in any way stop me doing just that) but at least with Ethiopian food, I get to try out a little of everything, so his dinner is safe from my questing fork.

I also stopped into Mamma Dough in Honor Oak Park for a rather pleasing pizza (and this coming from an avowed pizza skeptic.) Not only was it pleasing because it was a crispy pizza with lots of vegan toppings, but because of an exchange with the waiter. After thumbing the menu, I made the usual 'can I have a pizza with no egg, no dairy' etc etc request with the guy who said 'Oh, you want a vegan one?' I could have hugged him. Yes, yes, I did want a vegan one. And not only did I get a vegan version of a veggie pizza, but the waiter popped back to see if I'd like any veggies instead of the missing cheese.

Unusually for me when confronted with a pizza the size of a dustbin lid, I finished the whole lot.

My photo doesn't do it much justice, but trust me, it was a good solid pizza.

I also managed to get out for a walk around Camden not so long ago. Given it's a very long way from me, I don't get out there as often as I'd like. Apart from a long walk along the canal or a nosey around the markets, there's always something good to eat in Camden.

Case in point: MyVillage. A small cafe up towards the Chalk Farm end of Camden, I'd been in once before and had a decent if unexciting falafel affair. I decided to give it another go and chose a vegan MyVillage meal.

I'm glad I paid that return visit: like the Ethiopian platter, I loved that there were so many different things to sample, and that there was a nice mix of veggies, proteins, and carbs. I also was rather charmed by one of the sauces, which was delicious, but due to ingredients I couldn't identify. I kept taking tiny mouthfuls trying to suss it out, but it eluded me. Who doesn't love a bit of mystery with their dinner?

And the best thing about Camden? Cookies and Scream. If there's a reason to be grateful for Camden being such a trek from where I live, it's that Cookies and Scream is so far away.

Don't get me wrong, I think they do some of the best vegan cakes in London, but that's why I'm glad we're not neighbours - otherwise I'd be stopping in their every day to get myself some sweet treat or other, and wearing out what little remains of my student budget.

As it is, it's a rare treat to get to Cookies and Scream, but one that always pays out. Case in point: this bad boy salted caramel donut that I picked up on my recent visit. Who wouldn't want to put themselves on the outside of something like this: