One Year Vegan Update #Veganuary

The start of the new year marks the start of Veganuary and, for me, the one year milestone of being vegan. As it is the month for Veganuary and all things vegan, I will be publishing more posts about my vegan favourites, recipes and vegan beauty products throughout the month so stay tuned. I thought I'd give you a little context before we begin with my thoughts on being vegan for a year. I have been vegetarian for around 15 years and I have been on/off vegan for the past three years but at the start of 2019 I decided to become fully vegan and I'm SO happy that I did!

No more eczema

There are many changes, both positive and negative, about a vegan diet and lifestyle but one of the main changes I've personally noticed is how much dairy affected my eczema. As I've mentioned, I have been on/off vegan for years but never for more than a month; however I wish I'd made the change so much sooner because since mid-febuary I haven't had any eczema at all on my face and only the smallest amount on one tiny section of my hand which is incredible.

If you personally have eczema, then you know how utterly upsetting and painful it can be especially if you have to keep going back to the doctors and having endless flare-ups. There's no 'cure' for eczema so I had resigned myself to a life of eczema management using steroid creams and anti-histamines (neither of which helped that much overall) so the lack of eczema for the entire year has been almost unbelievable.

For the first time in over ten years, I haven't had to use a single eczema product, I haven't had to go to the doctors regarding my eczema and I haven't had any eczema on my face...it's incredible and something I genuinely never thought would happen. I'm so grateful that I've found the trigger for my eczema and now I can avoid it so I don't have to have eczema at all anymore. It's such a relief, especially after having horrendous eczema on my face and eyes for so many years.

Vegan Food Favourites

2019 was the year of vegan food releases, from Marks and Spencer, Tesco, Sainsburys, Greggs and many more. Before 2019 I had trouble just finding vegetarian food, never mind vegan options but I'm so glad to have many more choice now. Whether you're vegan for health/moral reasons, if you are trying to reduce meat consumption or if you're just interested in trying new food, I think we can all appreciate the delicious new vegan options in major supermarkets, online and in restaurants.

Some of my favourites of the year have to include the Ben and Jerrys ice cream (chocolate fudge brownie), Pizza Hut vegan pizza, Greggs vegan sausage roll and the Marks and Spencers Plant Kitchen range and especially the Thai Green Curry and No Chic'n Nuggets. A more recent favourite from the range are their no duck spring roll which is incredibly delicious. Also I have to mention the incredible Beyond Meat burger which is the best burger I've ever had!

Tips

Lastly for today's post, I wanted to mention a few tips that might be helpful for those who are trying out veganuary for the first time. If you are vegan or vegetarian and you have any tips or advice then leave it in the comment below.

• I have been eating a vegetarian diet since I was a child and I think the process of becoming vegan was much easier for that reason so my first tip is to switch gradually. Starting by reducing meat and dairy consumption, switching to vegan meals throughout the week or switch to a vegetarian diet first. 
• Make small changes! Your switch doesn't have to be instantaneous or dramatic, just make small adjusts over time such as adding in meat and dairy free alternatives to your diet. Instead of using cows milk, use almond, for example. 
• It doesn't have to be all or nothing, you can just cut out eggs and fish or dairy and pork. You don't have to be fully vegan, it isn't a competition. Making ethical and environmentally friendly choices consistently is something we should all think about and strive to achieve but it doesn't have to happen instantly or in its entirety.

For more vegan recipes that promote good eye health, check out the Essilor blog!

Do you have any tips? Are you vegetarian or vegan? If not, why not? Are you trying veganuary?

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Recipe: Vegan Cheesy Vegetable + 'Meat' Pizza

Pizza is probably my favourite food, especially the Dominos cheese and tomato pizza with the glorious garlic and herb dip *drools on keyboard* but since switching to a mostly vegan diet, it's the one thing that I've really missed but last week I created a vegan pizza for the first time and not only did it turn out really well, it is also a healthy pizza alternative and it's delicious! If you follow me on Instagram then you will have seen some of the process!

This pizza is 100% vegan so there's no meat, fish, eggs or dairy in this recipe and I adapted it from a Food.com recipe - I always adapt recipes, even if it's the first time I've made it! The recipe as a whole takes about 40-45 minutes to make and it's so easy. Here are the ingredients I used:

Dough Ingredients

- 2 cups of plain white flour (not bread flour)
- 1 cup of wholewheat flour (you could just use three cups of plain flour)
- 2 1/2 teaspoons of active dry yeast
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 1 teaspoon of garlic granules
- 1 cup of warm water
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil

Vegan Toppings

- Vegan cheese (I used the garlic and herb vegan cheese spread and vegan caramalised onion cheese, both from Sainsburys - use as much as you want)
- Parsley, salt, black pepper and fried onions (latter is pre-made from Waitrose/Ocado)
- Broccoli stalks and button mushrooms
- Vegan 'meat' (I used the Frys Family vegan chicken strips which are delicious!)
- Tomato ketchup or passata

This recipe is so quick and easy to put together and as I said I did alter this recipe, in terms of the dough ingredients and I used whatever toppings I wanted - add what you want but I'd definitely recommend fresh herbs, garlic in the dough, Frys Family vegan meat alternatives and the two vegan cheeses I've mentioned. Here are the steps:

1. Measure and combine the flour, yeast, salt, warm water, olive oil and garlic granules in a large bowl or your mixer if you have one. I used my Kitchen Aid for this recipe and it made kneading and mixing the ingredients so quick and easy with minimal mess. When fully combined and lightly kneaded leave in a warm place for ten minutes while your oven is pre-heating to around 200 degrees celcius fan.

2. After ten minutes knead the dough slightly and place on a non-stick silicone baking mat or large greased baking tray and roll out or shape the dough with your hands into whatever pizza shape you want (mine turned out rectangular...) and make sure it's an even thickness so it bakes evenly. Mine was about a £1 coin thickness (approx. 0.5cm) but next time I'd make it slightly thinner. Bake the dough (without the sauce or toppings) for 5-8 minutes.

3. After a maximum of 8 or so minutes, remove the pizza base from the oven and cover with your pizza sauce, I used ketchup as this was a very impromptu pizza but you could use tomato paste, pre-made pizza sauce or passata. Cover with your chosen toppings and bake for around 20 minutes, keep checking on it. Finishing with your fresh herbs and that's it you have a vegan pizza - I used it for multiple meals but it would serve about four with sides!

This was the first vegan pizza I've made and only the fourth or fifth pizza I've made from scratch but this was so quick, easy and foolproof that I'd definitely make it again! I love the toppings I chose especially the vegan cheeses and vegan meat which I will definitely be adding more of next time. The ketchup made it a little sweet so I would use passata next time instead. The dough to me is a combination of pizza dough and flatbread which I love - it's quite filling and a lot healthier than takeaway pizza!

Let me know if you make this recipe? What are your favourite pizza toppings? 

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Veganuary: My Vegan Essentials

Veganuary is almost over and while it hasn't been as successful for me this year as it was last year, I've still enjoyed trying healthier recipes and benefitting from not having dairy in my diet as it has definitely helped reduce bloating almost completely. I already don't eat meat, fish, gelatine or milk but I think from now on I'm going to stick to a vegan diet during the weekdays and a vegetarian diet over the weekends.

Veganuary can be a little difficult if you don't have any meat or dairy alternatives so here are some of my favourite ingredients for vegan meals as well as tools and pre-made vegan food that I've loved over the past month.

Nutribullet 

Now, this isn't necessarily feasible for everyone as the NutriBullet isn't cheap, mine was around £100 but I don't think I could enjoy vegan recipes without it. I use my NutriBullet to make smoothies, soup, sauces and dips. It helps to make any soup, sauce or smoothie as smoothie as it can possibly be which is why I love it! It's perfect for creamy vegan cheese sauce and smooth smoothies; I use it multiple times per week and I can't recommend it enough!

Cashew Nuts 

Related to the Nutribullet are cashew nuts which may seem like an unusual and uninteresting addition but hear me out - believe it or not, cashew nuts make the most creamy, smooth and perfect alternative to dairy sauces containing cream or cheese! I know it sounds too good to be true but 'cashew cream' as it is sometimes termed, is my biggest revelation when I came across it last year. To make a creamy, smooth cashew cream all you need is cashew nuts soaked overnight in water, unsweetened almond milk or vegetable stock, seasoning/herbs and a NutriBullet or another high powdered blender. Here's my basic and well loved cheesy vegan pasta sauce:

• Cashew nuts (approx. 25g per person)
• Water, vegetable stock, mushroom stock or unsweetened almond milk (approx. one cup)
• Salt, pepper, garlic granules 
• Nutritional yeast (two - three tablespoons)

First, soak the cashew nuts in your water or stock and leave for a couple of hours or overnight for the best results. When the cashew nuts are softened, add them along with the water/stock to your blender along with the nutritional yeast - blend until smooth. Then transfer the sauce to a pan and heat gently until it starts to thicken (keep stirring or it will stick or become too thick); it will only take a minute or two. Take off the heat and add in the salt, pepper, garlic or any other seasonings/herbs you want - parsley, basil, smoked paprika work really well and the more the better as the cashew sauce dilutes any flavouring added so taste as you go!

Fry's Family Meat Alternatives 

I discovered this brand via a lovely PR who sent me a range of the frozen products to review on my vegetarian food blog and I am now so grateful as it's the best meat alternative I've ever tried - forget Quorn, it's all about Fry's! Since trying the products I was sent, I have bought SO many more products from Fry's. I love the sausages, mince, chicken burgers, mushroom pies and stir-fry strips, all of which are vegan. I buy mine from Ocado, I've tried almost everything from them and I've loved every item apart from the 'prawns'. 

Ingredients: Seasonings, Liquid Smoke & Nutritional Yeast

Seasonings and herbs are essential for all delicious meals, it doesn't matter if they are vegan or vegetarian - if there aren't herbs, salt, pepper or spices then it will be very bland. I add far too much salt to my food but I feel like it's needed with vegan meals to enhance the subtle flavours. I love herbs, especially basil, parsley, dill, rosemary and spices such as cinnamon, smoked paprika and chilli flakes. Dill is perfect in vegan soup, rosemary is great for roasted vegetables and parsley or basil or essential pasta partners. Another seasoning that I love is Liquid Smoke which is a vegan BBQ flavouring liquid that is amazing when added to vegan meaty pasta sauce and dips - it makes anything have a BBQ smoked flavour which I adore. 

Nutritional yeast was something very new to me when I started exploring vegan food last year but it's now an essential for my vegan meals. First of all, what is it? Nutritional yeast is composed of inactive yeast (usually with some flavourings and additions) which is gluten free, vegan and great for adding a savoury and somewhat cheesy flavour to sauce and dips. I love the Bragg version which is a little pricy and harder to find so you can check out the Engevita nutritional yeast which can be found in Holland and Barrett. 

There you have my vegan essentials, I cannot recommend them enough and if you are taking part in veganuary them definitely check them out! I just wanted to mention a few pre-made vegan foods that I love; the Tesco free-from milk chocolate is heavenly and it melts really well so it's perfect for melting over raspberries, Alpro have a couple of vegan ice creams but I love the salted caramel flavour from Almond Dream and lastly, Tesco make a vegan white sauce which I've been using for lasagna. 

Have you tried any of these products? Do you have a NutriBullet? Are you taking part in Veganuary? 

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DegustaBox - January 2020

My first DegustaBox of 2020 is here and it's a little late but I'm trying to post my reviews within the month instead of leaving it so late - fingers crossed I can stick to that for the next box! I've been lucky enough to receive many DegustaBox packages and I always love receiving the boxes as they contain so many delicious snacks, drinks and cooking ingredients. If that is something you're interested in then check out DegustaBox and use the code DTPL4 to get £5 off your box.

*DegustaBox - January 2020 

The theme for the first box of 2020 is 'breakfast and on the go' which is a great theme for the start of the year! There's a great selection of items in the January box, from vegan lattes, snack bars and chocolate to porridge, lunch pots and more. There are quite a few vegan items in the box and I've found a few new favourites from this box that I'll definitely be buying in the future.

*PrepCo Thai Green Curry and Indian Spiced Lentils (£2)

Let's start with the lunch items from the box including these delicious sounding instant lunch pots from PrepCo, which is a brand I haven't heard of before. I received the Thai Green Curry and the Indian Spiced Lentil pots but you should have received one of the four flavour options in your box. One of them is vegan but the other is vegetarian. I haven't been able to try them yet but I think they'd make great work lunches.

*Kallo Organic Honey Rice and Corn Cakes (£1.89)

Another option to add to your work or school lunch are these cutely packaged honey rice and corn cakes from Kallo (I love their vegan stock cubes). They contain organic honey and can be purchased from Waitrose and Sainsburys. Items like this aren't something I eat but I know my mum loves them for a quick work lunch!

*Nescafe Vegan Almond Latte (£2.98)

My favourite item from the box and one that I've purchased multiple items before receiving it in the January DegustaBox are the relatively new vegan lattes from Nescafe. I have bought so many of the oat latte sachets but I have only tried a box or two of the almond option. I love both and I cannot recommend them enough. I think the oat flavour is my favourite but I'm very happy with both flavours and now I just need to try the coconut one!

*Crafted Blueberry and Blackberry Fruit Drink (£1.50)

The second and final drink item is a fruit drink from Crafted which is a brand that has been included in previous boxes. This drink is certified by the Vegan Society and it is one of your five a day. Additionally it doesn't contain sweeteners, preservatives or any added sugar which is great. I love fruit drinks and this one is delicious.

*Sun-Pat Peanut Butter (£1.79)

Another of my favourite items from the box are the two tubs of peanut butter from Sun-Pat. I received both the smooth and crunchy varieties as I'm lucky enough to be a DegustaBox ambassador but you'll have received one of the two. I love both options but I think that the smooth peanut butter is my favourite - I love having it on toast with raspberry jam!

*Eat Natural Simply Vegan Peanut, Coconut and Chocolate Bar (£1)

Yet another item from the box that I love is this delicious snack bar from Eat Natural which is a brand I love - it's been included in a previous box and I've purchased their items myself. Snack bars are some of my favourite on the go items as they are quick, easy and healthy snack options. Snack bars that contain chocolate and nuts are my favourite so naturally I love this one and I'd definitely buy it in the future.

*Bounce Energy Ball - Peanut (£1.79)

Sticking with the theme of on the go snacks, the next is a peanut protein ball from Bounce. It contains a whopping 13g of protein as well as healthy fats and antioxidants. I love peanut butter so this snack sounds perfect for me but sadly it isn't vegan but I'm sure so many people would love this addition to the January box.

*KitKat Chunky More and Yorkie More (£1.29 per bar)

Next up for snacks are two chocolate bars by KitKit and Yorkie which aren't your usual chocolate bars as they come in strange flavours - raspberry and hazelnut (which sounds incredible) and apple, oats and cinnamon'. Also, both bars contains more protein and fibre than regular chocolate bars but sadly again they aren't vegan. I hopefully assumed when I opened the box that they would be vegan as vegan products tend to focus on protein but I have my fingers crossed for vegan versions in the future.

*Chescots Supergut Porridge (£1.99)

I have already mentioned a few of my favourite items from the box but I think my absolute favourite from the January box are the two porridge pots from Chescots, which is a brand I've never heard of. Each porridge pot contains half of your daily fibre and prebiotic fibre to support your gut. There are two flavours (raspberry and blackcurrant and coconut) and both are gluten free, dairy free and vegan which is fantastic. The raspberry option is my favourite but I love both of them and I already have a couple of the raspberry pots in my basket on Ocado!

*Whitworths Berry and White Chocolate Shots (£1.60 for four pack)

We're coming to the final few products and the last sweet snack is this box of mixed fruit, nuts and chocolate from Whitworths. I received another variation of this snack in a previous DesgustaBox and this one also isn't vegan so I've passed them onto my mum as she liked the previous flavour opinion and she liked these too.

*Wholesums Fresh Veg Popped Chips (£1.75)

The last snack is a packet of veggie chips which are made from whole potatoes, peas and carrots. They contain all of the nutrients from the veggies and they're only 86 calories per packet - they are also vegan. As well as snack bars, I like snacks like this which are quick, easy and healthy. I tried the salted version and loved them!

*Zest Vegan Basil Pesto (£2.20)

Last but definitely not least is another vegan item (it makes me very happy to see vegan items in the boxes) and it's a vegan pesto! I love pesto and I typically make my own but add in vegan cheese and spinach (which isn't a usual pesto ingredient) to bulk it out. I cannot wait to try this pesto as making it can be delicious but also a little messy.

Don't forget to use the code DTPL4 to get £5 off your box!

Have you tried any of these products? What do you think of the January DegustaBox? 

*gifted

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Vegan Chocolate + Raspberry Muffins

It's almost easter and usually that means scoffing easter eggs and chocolate in general at any possible moment but as I'm now vegan, that's a little more difficult. However, my solution is to make some lovely vegan chocolates and chocolate muffins myself to satisfy my sweet cravings and to take part in the chocolate indulgences of easter with everyone else.

I have featured and raved about the brand Indigo Herbs on my blog and now I'm lucky enough to work with them again for this recipe and easter chocolates. I was very kindly sent the *Indigo Herbs Easter Raw Chocolate Making Kit (£19.99) which is 100% vegan as well as pure, using botanical ingredients without any additives.

The Indigo Herbs Easter Chocolate Making Kit contains all four ingredients that you will need to make the chocolates as well as an exclusive easter chocolate mould that features cute eggs, bunnies and ducks to eat individually or to decorate cakes and muffins with. I've made their chocolates before and this second time round was just as easy! The only thing the kit doesn't come with is a thermometer which you do need to make sure the water is the correct temperature but other than that it is an all inclusive kit that is a little time consuming but it's so worth it as the chocolate are so heavenly, rich and indulgent!

I have made a lot of chocolate cupcakes, cakes and muffins before but when it comes to vegan chocolate muffins, not so much. I have adapted a recipe I found on Essential Vegan UK to make this one that features cocoa powder and raspberry powder! Here are the ingredients you'll need to make these muffins:

- 2 cups of plain white flour
- 1/2 cup of cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup of raspberry powder
- 1 cup of light brown sugar
- 1 3/4 cups of oat milk (you could use almond milk)
- 1/2 cup of sunflower oil
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt
- 1 tablespoon of baking powder

Optional: vanilla essence (1 teaspoon), vegan chocolate chips (1 cup) or nuts of your choice (1/2 cup). This recipe take about 25/30 minutes total and makes twelve medium sizes muffins but you could add more mixture into each case to make bigger muffins but fewer of them.

Step One: 

Preheat your oven to approximately 190 degrees celsius (fan oven/setting). In a large bowl or kitchenaid sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, cocoa powder and raspberry powder and mix to combine.

Step Two: 

Add in the oat milk and oil (and chocolate chips, nuts or vanilla if you want to add them) to the dry ingredients and mix well but don't over mix; however you don't want lumps of flour!

Step Three:

Add your paper muffin cases (I used tulip muffin cases) to a muffin tray and add in your mixture to approximately just over half full. You could add more or less mixture depending on how big you want your vegan chocolate and raspberry muffins to be. Bake for about 20-25 minutes but keep an eye on them and check with a cocktail stick and if it comes out clean then they are baked.

The muffins turned out so well as did the gorgeous chocolates that non-vegan adore too so I'll definitely be making these again. I wasn't going to make frosting as you don't usually with muffins but I had excess melted vegan chocolate so I made a delicious *if I do say so myself* chocolate frosting. As with every frosting I make, it's complete made up as I go! For this one I used about one cup of melted vegan chocolate combined with 3/4 cup of vegan margarine, 3/4 cup of icing sugar and a splash of water.

I ate two muffins before I managed to get to my camera as they were so yummy! The frosting is heavenly, chocolately and rich so much so that you would never know that it's vegan - it is the same for the chocolate as non-vegans said they wouldn't know that they were dairy free. Due to the raspberry powder, they have a unique flavour that is moreish and chocolatey but it also has a slight raspberry flavour which I adore as raspberries and chocolate are a perfect duo for me. I can't wait to use the *Indigo Herbs Raspberry Powder (£6.49, 50g) again in a recipe or in smoothies!

As I made twelve, well ten when I finished scoffing them, I gave them to my mum to take into work as they were having a bake sale at the primary school I went to, to raise money for a child at the school with cancer so these muffins raised a little money and everyone loved the muffins and chocolates so I will definitely make more to sell.

Have you tried any vegan chocolate? What do you think of these muffins and the chocolate kit?

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Restaurant Review: Cote Brasserie - Manchester

Earlier this week I was very kindly invited to visit my local Cote Brasserie restaurant in Manchester with guests for a complimentary meal and drinks which was in equal parts an exciting but also an anxiety inducing offer. I'm lucky enough to receive a fair amount of lovely event invites and review experiences but I end up turning down the vast majority of emails as my anxiety prevents me from accepting.

However, I didn't want to turn down this offer as it would be a fantastic opportunity to treat my friends but also because my parents love Cote Brasserie and visited a few days before I did to celebrate their wedding anniversary. I'm so glad that I visited the restaurant and I'm grateful for the lovely invite as we had a fantastic evening and meal!

Cote Brasserie is a French restaurant chain with restaurant locations around the UK from Bristol, Bath and Brighton to Windsor, Wimbledon and Worcester. There are a variety of menus to choose from including the pre-theatre, breakfast, gluten free and children's menu to the prestige set menu and vegan/vegetarian menu. I naturally chose the vegetarian and vegan menu (as they have recently expanded their vegetarian and vegan range) but they had such a great variety of options on all of their menus so you're bound to find something you'll love.

Upon arriving we were greeted by the lovely staff at the Manchester restaurant and were seated. The decor within the restaurant is luxe but also very cosy and inviting which creates such a relaxing atmosphere. I never usually visit any restaurants as I can feel a little uncomfortable so it was a refreshing and very welcome change to the usual tense and slightly awkward feeling I typically experience.

I was given the option for the vegetarian and vegan menu which included quite a few main courses that I could choose from but I had to choose the Wild Mushroom and Walnut Parmentier (doesn't it sound delicious) as well as the Lemon Sorbet, both of which are vegan. I never choose a starter, wherever I go but my friends chose the fougasse, prawn gratinee and chicken liver parfait, all of which they loved (the fougasse looked absolutely delicious and I wish there was a vegan option available).

Being vegan, or vegetarian, can be a little tricky when it comes to eating in restaurants or even takeaways as there are usually sides and other options that seem vegan but they aren't labelled as such but thankfully on the Cote Brasserie menu, all of the vegan options are labelled as vegan including the frites and salads etc.

 
The vegan mushroom and walnut parmentier was so delicious and very moreish! It is almost a vegan version of a cottage pie, of sorts, so it is naturally very comforting and filling. French cuisine isn't something I'm very familiar with, especially since I became mostly vegan a few years ago but I wish it was a style of cooking I'd explored sooner as I don't think many French recipes are naturally vegan without making any changes. I would love to try and recreate this vegan parmentier sometime in the future as I think it would make a great main for family dinners.

My friends all chose from the a la carte menu and opted for the steaks which were all served with the most adorable cup of fries! Everyone loved their starter and main course and they were all served by friendly and attentive staff who were kind enough to explain the options, offer bread for the table and always be on hand for questions or ask if we needed anything.

Finally for dessert, I chose the lemon sorbet which is a sweet treat I've had on holiday in the Mediterranean so it always brings back summer holiday memories. There was a lemon or raspberry option and it was tempting to chose both but I'm glad I chose lemon as it was delicious and far creamier and flavourful than I remember the Mediterranean offerings being. My friend chose the praline crepes which looked incredible and the chocolate fondant that was the most indulgent chocolaty treat!

We all had such a lovely evening filled with lots of laughter and delicious food which is something we all needed so I'm very grateful for the review opportunity! Everything was perfect, from the food and presentation to the welcoming staff, decor and the calm, cosy atmosphere. As I've said, I don't typically enjoy going to restaurants on the whole but I would highly recommend Cote Brasserie and I would love to visit again (particularly as I loved their vegan options), which is something I didn't think I'd say about any restaurant.

Have you been to Cote Brasserie? What do you think of their menu? 

*gifted

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My Vegan Essentials ft. Indigo Herbs

If you didn't know I've had an almost entirely vegan diet for the past three years with between 70% to 95% of my diet being vegan (meat, fish, dairy, gelatine and egg free). Unlike my switch to a vegetarian diet at the very young age of 11 which I chose to stick to overnight, my switch to a vegan diet has been gradual which I think is a good way to do it. I've started posting more about my diet on instagram and I'm planning so many vegan recipes so stay tuned for those but todays post is a list of a few of my vegan essentials:

Rice, Beans & Pulses

Let's start with the basics and one thing that I always see about 'cons' of the vegan lifestyle is that it's more expensive which isn't the case at all. In my opinion any lifestyle (whether you eat meat, you're a vegetarian or if you're vegan), is as expensive as you make it - you can buy the most expensive cuts of meat or delicacies; alternatively you can buy the most inexpensive items.

"Data published by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) shows healthier foods bought in super markets tend to have a smaller price tag than their unhealthier counterparts" - The Independent 2017

Rice, beans and pulses are some of the cheapest foods, although organic foods do tend to be a little pricier (you obviously don't have to buy organic if you don't want to) but I think that Indigo Herbs has an amazing range of organic wholefoods at really reasonable prices! They have a wide range of rice and lentil varieties. I use rice quite a lot for vegan fried rice *drools*, sushi bowls or stir frys. Additionally, beans such as butterbeans are ideal for adding an interesting texture and protein to your salads or blended with plant milk into a creamy dressing or dip (you do need a high powered blender for this though, I use my Nutribullet).

Nutritional Yeast, Herbs & Spices

Next up are essentials for anyone, herbs and spices. I use dried herbs and spices every single day and some of my favourites have to include basil (with pasta or salad), tarragon (with pasta, dips, dressing or sauce), garlic pepper (on pretty much everything), chives (for vegan ranch) and nutmeg (great with creamy pasta or eggs/egg replacer).

One cooking ingredient that I hadn't heard of until becoming vegan is nutritional yeast. Nutritional yeast is deactivated yeast, that's all, it's nothing unusual but it has such a nice savoury, nutty and slightly cheese flavour. To me it isn't very cheesy (although some people think it is) but I think it's more like salted crisps...I love it blended into cheese sauce or sprinkled onto salad or pasta.

Cashew Nuts & Protein

Speaking of cheese sauce, the most delicious vegan cheese sauce is made with soaked cashew nuts. I've already posted a recipe for vegan mac 'n' cheese using a cashew based sauce so you can check it out for the recipe - I also have an updated low fat version recipe. Nuts are high in fat so I only tend to use them on occasion but soaked cashew nuts blended with plant milk and herbs makes the most incredibly smooth, super creamy and yummy sauce - you don't need single cream when you can use cashew nuts!

Last but not least is another item I don't use too often but it's something I sometimes use in my smoothies - protein powders. I think they'd be great if you are more into your fitness or if you don't want to include other protein sources in your diet. I've tried a couple of pea protein powders and they have been my favourites so far.

Are you vegan or vegetarian? Are any of these foods part of your diet? Have you bought anything from Indigo Herbs?

*This is a sponsored post
*Images from Indigo Herbs 

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Veganuary: Mini Vegan Chocolate + Cinnamon Rolls

Today's post is my first veganuary post of 2017 and it's also the first I've posted on my main blog (I did veganuary last year but I only posted on my food blog). Veganuary, if you didn't know, is where you stick to a vegan diet throughout January which isn't that difficult for me as I'm a vegetarian so I don't eat meat, fish or gelatine anyway (I've been a vegetarian for over 13 years now!) so cutting out dairy and eggs isn't as difficult for me as it would be for others.

Last year I did have a couple of slip ups but it was my first time trying to stick to a vegan diet and if you are doing veganuary then please don't be hard on yourself if you don't fully stick to it fully as it makes it more of a chore than it could be. Last year I discovered the amazing Isa Chandra Moskowitz who creates the most incredible vegan recipes which aren't all about superfoods or really difficult to find ingredients. I've bought two of her cookbooks and I can't recommend Isa Does It enough especially if you are a first time vegan or veganuary participant; I've made so many of her recipes and I adore her New England 'Clam' Chowder with I've made countless times since purchasing the book this time last year.

Another amazing vegan cook and recipe developer is Dana from the Minimalist Baker who is more of a recent find for me but I love the look of her recipes so I had to try one, hence this recipe post today. My recipe is based and inspired by hers but mine has a few changes including some ingredient substitutes and additions as well as measurement changes. Her cinnamon rolls look amazing and I definitely want to stick to her full recipe one day but in the meantime I really love my own take on her vegan cinnamon rolls!

Ingredients: to make approx. 16 mini rolls

- 1 1/2 cups of self raising flour
- 1/2 cup of oat milk or unsweetened almond milk (I used oat milk)
- 1 1/2 teaspoon of instant packet yeast
- 1 1/2 teaspoons of vegan margarine (extra teaspoon to melt and brush over before baking)
- 2 teaspoons of plain granulated sugar
- 2 to 3 teaspoons of cinnamon
- 2 to 3 teaspoons of light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons of vegan chocolate sauce or spread (I used the Choc Shot sauce)
- 1 or 2 teaspoons of warm water
- 1 or 2 teaspoons of olive oil or sunflower oil

Steps (takes approx: 1 hour 40 minutes)

1. Measure out the oat milk and vegan margarine and melt in a small pan until the margarine has melted but don't let it boil. Remove from the heat and let it cool until it is warm (approx. bath temperature).

2. Add the yeast and sugar to the margarine and oat milk, to activate the yeast. I placed the small pan in a bowl of warm water so that the yeast can activate quicker and remains at a constant warm temperature. At this stage you'll find out if your yeast if activate or not, if it is you'll see bubbles and foam after ten minutes but if you don't then your yeast might have expired, the temperature might not be warm enough to activate it fully or the temperature might be too hot and have killed the yeast. Mine had a few bubbles but it wasn't very active but I still used it, I just used self raising flour instead of plain to give it a boost when baking. If your yeast is foamy and active then just use plain flour instead of self raising flour.

3. To the foamy mixture add in the flour a little at a time as you might not need it all. My dough was quite dry so I kneaded with my hands to bring it together more but it was still a little dry so I added two teaspoons of water a little at a time as you might not need all of the warm water. Knead for a minute or two on a floured surface until it comes together and place in a lightly oiled bowl. Cover with a towel and leave in a warm place for an hour. I leave the bowl in a sink half full of warm water to help the dough develop and grow (I do this will all bread dough) but make sure the water don't go into the bowl.

4. After an hour the dough should be about double the size it was, don't worry if it isn't quite double. Roll out on a lightly floured surface to approx. the size of a chopping board and with a pound coin size thickness (don't make it too thin or it might rip when you're rolling it). When rolled out spread the vegan chocolate sauce or spread in a thin layer, when I make these again I'll add more chocolate spread. Sprinkle on a mixture of the light brown sugar and cinnamon all over and make sure you remember to add it to the edges of the dough - the chocolate spread/sauce helps the sugar and cinnamon adhere.

5. Roll up the dough from the longest side as you can see fro the first photo and make sure you gently pull as you are rolling so you get a tight roll (check out Paul Hollywood's video to see this method in action). When rolled, cut off the end and then cut out the rolls - I cut approx. 1 inch sections which left me with just enough dough for 16 mini rolls but you could cut them much bigger for bigger but fewer rolls. I used a very sharp knife to cut them in a sawing motion and moulded them slightly with my hands to make them into a more fully rounded shape.

6. Place a cm or two apart in a greased square baking tin (I used margarine to grease the tin and my tin was about 20cm by 20cm in size). Melt one teaspoon of margarine and brush onto the rolls. Set your oven to 180 degrees celcius (fan) and put the tin in while it's heating up and bake for between 20 to 30 minutes. Mine took just over 20 minutes to bake but all ovens will vary. Leave to cool slightly before removing from the tin; best served warm.

My vegan chocolate and cinnamon mini rolls turned out really well although when I make them again I think I'll make them a bit bigger so they are more fluffy and less cakey. I'd also add more cinnamon and chocolate spread! They are great snacks or morning rolls with a coffee and as they are mini you don't feel too naughty eating one or two...or five. They'll last in a air tight container for about four days and they should definitely be heated slightly in the microwave for 5-10 seconds so they are warm, soft and even more yummy!

My poll on Twitter was a landslide win for posting lots of vegan recipes on my blog this month so stay tuned for more including my amazing and moreish vegan mac 'n' cheese which is mouth wateringly delicious!

Will you be making these? Are you taking part in veganuary this month? Do you want to see more vegan posts on my blog this month? 

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DegustaBox - February 2020

I'm trying to stick to my rule of publishing my reviews of the wonderful DegustaBox packages within the month so today's post is my review of the February DegustaBox which is themed around Easter! You can read my previous DegustaBox reviews and subscription box reviews for more information. Also, check out my latest giveaway on Twitter for a chance to win a Slip Silk Sleep Mask (worth £50).

*DegustaBox - February 2020 

I always love the theme for each DegustaBox and this months theme is perfect - Easter. The box contains a plethora of delicious snacks, so many of which are vegan! There's a great range of products from cooking ingredients and milkshakes to vegan chocolate, snack bars and easy lunch ideas. The brands vary from Heinz, Very Lazy and Galaxy to KitKit, Trek, Grey Poupon and more.

*Galaxy Vegan Bars (£3, each)

Let's start with the most exciting products in the box - the new vegan chocolate bars from Galaxy. Thankfully before I switched to a fully vegan diet at the beginning of 2019, I didn't love chocolate and I have to admit that vegan chocolate isn't fantastic. However, the new Hotel Chocolat vegan nutmilk batons are incredible and a very close second has to be the Galaxy bars. I bought the caramelised hazelnut bar a few weeks ago and loved it so I was very happy to see not one but three bars in the February box.

As I'm a DegustaBox ambassador I am lucky enough to receive multiple flavours of some of the items in the box but you will only receive one of the three flavours, either caramelised hazelnut, caramel and sea salt or orange. I haven't tried the latter but I definitely recommend the caramelised hazelnut and caramel and sea salt flavours!

*Trek Protein Flapjacks - Cocoa Oat (£2.50)

Another product that I've purchased previously are the protein flapjacks from Trek. I purchased a bulk box of the bars (in the cocoa oat flavour) a couple of months ago as they're a great on the go, heathy and filling snack bar so I was happy to receive more. The bars contain 9g of protein, they're vegan and they are very moreish. I will definitely buy more again in the future!

*Jacked Foods Jackfruit Chunks and Ndizi Banana (£1.89)

One of my favourite things about the DegustaBoxes is the inclusion of a range of products and brands that I haven't heard of before, such as these dried fruit pieces. I haven't tried the jackfruit option but the ndizi banana pieces were surprisingly delicious - I don't usually like bananas or banana flavoured snacks but I loved these.

*My Sweet Chickpea (£1.25)

Another sweet vegan treat are these chocolate coated roasted chickpeas from My Sweet Chickpea. Firstly, the brand name and packaging is amazing! As well as the dried jackfruit and dried banana from Jacked Foods, I also didn't know if I'd like these - I haven't tried chickpeas in anything other than savoury meals but they were very addictive!

*Heinz Pasta Shapes (55p each)

I used to love tinned pasta like this growing up, especially if the pasta was in the shape of a cartoon or movie character so I knew that my friends son would love these too so I've passed them on as he likes Paw Patrol which is one of the pasta shapes. There should be two tins including Paw Patrol and Frozen in the February box.

*KitKat Easter Bunny (65p each)

The easter specific product in the box are two cute KitKat easter bunny chocolates - which you should also receive two of. I loved receiving chocolates likes this during easter as a child and if there was a vegan version that would be perfect. They are gluten free, free from colour/preservatives and they are vegetarian.

*Shaken Udder Milkshakes (£1.40)

Occasionally there will be a voucher within the box for a free product that isn't in the box as it is a fresh or refrigerated product and the voucher in the February box is for a free milkshake by Shaken Udder (which if I'm honest is such a stomach turning brand name, sorry). There are many flavours, some of which contain fresh fruit or Belgian chocolate as well as cows milk. The milkshakes are gluten free, they contain less than 5% added sugar and they are suitable for vegetarians.

*Livia's Salted Caramel Million Squares (£1.50)

The last vegan chocolatey snack is the very gooey squares from Livia's. I absolutely adore the peanut butter and jelly Dunx from Livia's but sadly they are discontinued (cries, literally). While I don't love these like the previous Livia's product, I do still like them. I think they're a great indulgent on the go snack.

*Very Lazy Slow Cooker Pastes (£1.99 each) 

I love the Very Lazy garlic and ginger jars and it's something I will continue to purchase but I didn't know they made any other products. You should receive one of the two paste flavours, either smoky Spanish stew or harissa tagine. I haven't tried either yet but they are both vegan which is great!

*Grey Poupon Dijon Mustard (£1.50)

Another cooking ingredient within the box is the Grey Poupon dijon mustard which is a brand that has been included within a previous DegustaBox. I'm not really a fan of mustard but my mum loves this one and she loved the others within the December box too.

*Lost Coast Fruit Spritzer (£2.49)

The second and final drink included is a bit of an unusual product as I received the sparkling apple cider vinegar juice with mango, turmeric and ginger...it sounds like a very strange but healthy combination. I love the packaging and design but I was definitely a little wary about trying this product and if I'm honest, I still don't know how to feel about it. It definitely tastes of turmeric and it's quite tangy but it is also fruity and sweet so you'll have to try it for yourself! There are two other flavours you could have received instead in your box.

*Mug Shot High Protein Roast Chicken Pasta (£1.29)

Last but not least is an easy work lunch option from Mug Shot. I used to love their cheesy pasta pots but sadly I don't think any of them are vegan - it would be amazing if they brought out a few vegan flavours! This one isn't vegan or vegetarian as it contains chicken (unlike the vast majority of products like this that are 'chicken' flavoured). It contains 13g of protein and is less than 260 calories.

Overall, I'm very happy with the February box as it contains so many delicious sweet vegan treats but my favourite item by far has to be the Galaxy vegan bars (in particular the caramelised hazelnut flavour) as well as the Trek bars. Don't forget to use the code DTPL4 to get £5 off your first box!

Have you tried any of these products? 

*Gifted

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Veganuary 2019: Experience + Favourites

It is finally February, I didn't think we'd get there but we have managed to in the end, and that also means the end of Veganuary. I think that this is my fourth year taking part and while I definitely did have a rocky start, I have now decided that I'm going to be fully vegan from now on. Although everyone slips up at times so I'm not going to be too hard on myself if I make a mistake every now and then.

Veganuary this year, especially the second half of the month, has been incredibly quick and easy and apart from the few items I already had in my fridge that weren't vegan (and had to use up as I don't like wasting food), it's been extremely successful. One of my goals for the year was to potentially become fully vegan but I didn't know if I wanted to be completely vegan; however, after this month I'm going to be sticking to it as I personally feel as though it's the most environmentally friendly, compassionate, ethical and healthiest way to live.

*Benefit Chocolate (from £2 - £3.50)

Vegan chocolate, even cheap vegan chocolate, is pretty good and I'm been lucky enough to find quite a few that I like with one of my favourites being from Benefit Chocolate. Benefit Chocolate is unique in that it is a vegan chocolate range with lots of added benefits, hence the name, such as extra plant protein, extra vitamins and added caffeine, depending on the bar you choose. I was very kindly sent all three of their flavours in the larger size and the smaller size.

Firstly, I LOVE the packaging! The protein bar contains 19% plant protein which is a good source of fibre as well as protein. I wasn't sure how the additions would change the flavour or texture of the chocolate but the plant protein bar tastes like advent calendar chocolate to me which I actually love! I think it's fantastic that there are added benefits within the chocolate as I'm always trying to find new and healthier snacks.

*Herbalife Shake - Cafe Latte

I was very kindly sent a few products for veganuary as well as a huge box filled with activewear, fitness products and Herbalife items from the wonderful people at Herbalife but sadly as I was taking part in veganuary, I couldn't try a lot of the items I was sent. I did try the 'cafe latte' flavour of the shake which is one of the few vegan items available and I think it's probably my favourite flavour of the three I've tried so far.

I've also been loving the fitnesswear they sent recently as I bought a treadmill in January...If my PE teacher could see me now! I did everything I could to get out of PE lessons in school so to have bought, of my own free will, a treadmill is very out of character but I've put on a couple of pounds over Christmas and it needs to go. I'm loving my treadmill, even though I'm a little (read: very), terrified of it.

*Nature's Charm Banana Blossom in Brine (£1.25)

Wing Yip is an Asian grocery store which has stores over the country including one in Manchester - they also have an online store. I was sent a range of their items which are vegan and my favourite of the three has to be the banana blossom. Banana blossom is an item I haven't ever tried before but I've read that it can be used to make a vegan alternative to battered fish.

If you follow me on instagram (@ofbeautyand) then you'll have seen my experiments with banana blossom and batter...with mixed results but it turned out great in the end. The banana blossom itself does look very odd but don't be put off by it as it has a very neutral flavour so I soaked it in hot water with nori sheets and then I dipped it in batter and shallow fried it. If I made it again, I should have battered it more throughly with a thicker batter to help it stick and I would have deep fried it. Thankfully it isn't an expensive ingredient so it would be great to experiment with it you wanted to give it a go.

*Seed and Bean Vegan Chocolate (£2.69 each)

I've been lucky enough to try out a couple of new brands of vegan chocolate duding veganuary and I would recommend both but in terms of chocolate that you can use for baking, the Seed and Bean chocolate varieties are the options to go for. I used the gorgeous extra dark chocolate with Cornish sea salt in my first attempt at vegan cookies which tasted great but they had more of a soft cake texture rather than a hard, crumbly biscuit texture so I think it is back to the drawing board but the chocolate was the highlight!

Until I was sent a couple of bars, I hadn't tried this brand before but I've heard good things. I love the packaging and the extra dark Cornish sea salt flavour is so good! I've never been a huge fan of dark chocolate but this one is ideal for snacking on or baking with. When it melts in the cookies, it not only looks delicious but it tastes delicious too. I definitely want to try more from Seed and Bean, especially the espresso, lavender or Sicilian hazelnut flavour, all of which sound very unique.

*Weed and Wonderful Scottish Seaweed Oil (£9.99)

One of the most unusual items I was kindly sent in January is the Weed and Wonderful oil which contains seaweed within the bottle. I have the organic smoked Scottish seaweed infused rapeseed oil which comes in the nicest bottle. I haven't tried a seaweed infused oil before and it's surprisingly delicious especially because it is smoked which gives it a gorgeous flavour. I've been using it mainly within my BBQ vegan macaroni cheese sauce (the smoked flavours adds to it) and minimally as part of my salad dressings. My dad isn't a fan but I personally love it and I think if you like smoked flavours such as liquid smoke, then I think you'd love this oil. Don't worry, it isn't too seaweed flavoured, it is definitely more smoked in flavour which makes it much more adaptable.

*Leighton Denny Polishes (£12)

Now onto a few beauty products that I've been loving which are vegan and cruelty free including, Leighton Denny. I've tried this brand numerous times and I've always been impressed with their products and this new polish is no different. I have the Modern Bohemia collection shade in 'Bohemian Spirit' which is a beautiful cool dark grey. The shade is ideal for winter, it applies fairly smoothly and evenly and it dries pretty quickly too. I've been pairing it with the Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Topcoat and the longevity has been great so I cannot recommend it enough.

*Dr Botanicals Limited Edition Moroccan Rose Superfood Facial Oil (£19.90)

Lastly is a product I've tried previously but the facial oil has recently been released in a cute new and limited edition bottle which I adore! Facial oils are an essential for me at this time of the year and this one has been working wonders on my perpetually dry skin, especially as the weather has turned even colder with snow and freezing temperatures.

The facial oil contains almond oil and vitamin C and A which combined deeply hydrate the skin, reduce signs of ageing and protects the skin. It comes with a pipette dispenser, it smells lovely and it doesn't leave a thick or greasy residue. It would be ideal for those with a skin type similar to mine such as dry, sensitive or dehydrated skin.

Have you tried any of these items? Did you take part in veganuary? 

*All of the items included in todays post were gifted #AD

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Favourite Vegan Beauty Products

This post is quite late today as I wasn't happy with the photographs that I took so I had to re-take them today with some gorgeous pink roses! I'm really happy with these photos and this is one of my favourite topics to talk about - natural and amazing skincare and bodycare. Veganuary is almost at an end so I'll have a few round-up posts coming soon including this one.

Skincare 

Let's start with my favourite vegan skincare products so that obviously means talking about Antipodes! Do I even write a skincare post without talking about Antipodes? I am currently using their amazing *Divine Facial Oil which is perfect as part of my winter skincare routine as it's very moisturising, smoothing and nourishing but it isn't very greasy, heavy or irritating. I'm also using the *Rejoice Light Facial Day Cream which is 100% natural and a fantastic day cream and it will be even better during the spring months. If you have dry and sensitive skin then you NEED to check out Antipodes, I cannot recommend them enough! Both of these products are vegan as is the lovely *Joyful Hand & Body Cream.

Bodycare 

A long term favourite of mine is the Mama Mio Liquid Yoga Bath Soak which is the most effective bat soak I've ever tried - it's an essential if you have sore muscles or suffer with anxiety or stress. The scent is so relaxing, calming and heavenly so the newer Mama Mio Space Spray is on my wish list!

Another lovely, vegan and natural product is the newest release from Amphora Aromatics (I've tried a few of their products before and loved them). The new *Amphora Aromatics Ylang Ylang, Argan & Rosemary Shower and Bath Gel has such a unique, deep and earthy scent that is so different to any other product I have in my stupidly vast beauty product collection.

Tisserand was one of my favourite brands of last year as I love the Tisserand Sweet Dreams Bath Oil which contains lots of lavender so I'm happy! I also have the *Tisserand Sweet Dreams Aromatherapy Roller Ball and since receiving it I've been using it before bed most nights as it's a lovely product that helps me unwind.

Lush is also an amazing, natural and ethical brand, obvs. I have so many favourites from Lush including the Angels On Bare Skin Cleanser (I need to buy it again ASAP), the glittery *Intergalactic Bath Bomb and the multi-use Silky Underwear Dusting Powder that's perfect as a talcum powder alternative and as a linen powder. I've used it pretty much constantly for months and months and there is still so much left even though the bottle only contains 60g of product!

Winter drys out my skin so much therefore body creams and butters are an essential for me and the two I've been loving the most recently have been the *Dr Botanicals Moroccan Rose & Shea Butter Body Repairing Cream which is so incredibly rich, moisturising and nourishing so much so that it feels like a comforting, rose scented blanket over my skin. The second body cream is The Body Shop Instant Glow British Rose Body Butter; it's also fantastic but not as deeply moisturising or as luxe as the Dr Botanicals cream. However, both are lovely and suitable for vegans!

There are my top picks of my vegan beauty and pampering products and my current winter favourites! I cannot recommend these products enough and they are all of my winter essentials. Some of the products are from vegan brands but others are from brands with a few vegan products and other non-vegan items too.

Have you tried any of these products? What are your favourite natural or vegan beauty brands? What are your favourite Lush products?

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DegustaBox - December 2019

Today's post is a little overdue but I had a little break over the Christmas and new year period; although today's review of the December DegustaBox contains so many amazing items that I can't wait to share! I'm lucky enough to receive the boxes to review and as a DegustaBox ambassador I receive all of the items within the box including items from the alcohol/non-alcohol boxes as well as various flavour options that you may not.

*DegustaBox - December 2019 

The December box was packaged with amazing products, many of which were vegan (which always makes me happy) and a range of items that were perfect to share or snack on over the festive and new year celebrations. The theme of the box was 'gourmet and fiesta' with items including cooking kits, drinks, vegan candy and more. Don't forget to use the code: DTPL4 to get £5 off your box!

*MadeGood Granola Bars (£2.90 each)

Let's start with the snack bars from the December box which are allergy friendly, school safe snacks that are also vegan. You would have receive one of the flavours in the box but I'm lucky enough to receive all three - my favourite from the three has to be the chocolate chip option. I'm always looking for tasty but low calorie vegan snacks so these are ideal. They are only around 100 calories per bar, they are great on the go snacks and while they do have a slightly unusual aftertaste, they are great little snack bars.

*Arden's Gruyere and Spinach Twists (£1.75)

Another snack that's great for sharing especially when you have friends or guests are these cheese and spinach twists. They are made from all butter puff pastry that can be served straight out of the box or they can be used with soup or dips.

*Smith & Sinclair Alcoholic Cocktail Gummies (£15, for a selection of 8)

The second vegan snack are the cocktail gummies that contain premium spirits and a selection of fresh fruit and syrups. Each gummy sweet contains half a shot! There should be one sweet within the box and I instantly thought it wouldn't be vegan as not all gummy textured sweets are (due to gelatine) so it's great that this one is vegan friendly. It was yummy and great for parties or gift bags.

*UFIT Crunchers Sea Salt and Vinegar Chips (gift!)

Last year and in 2018, DegustaBox regularly included various food and snack gifts within their boxes and I'm glad they bought that back with the December box as it's a nice little extra to receive! The gift within the December box was a packet of the high protein chips from UFIT.

*Gloriously Grown Vietnamese Jumbo Wrapped Cashews (£3)

Don't worry, there are still so many more snacks to go! The next is probably the most moreish snack from the box, closely followed by the Candy Kittens sweets. I love using cashew nuts to make very creamy vegan sauces but these are too delicious to use that way and I just ended up eating them as they are from the packet! I'll definitely be buying these in the future!

*Indie Bay Snacks Chocolate Bites (£1.25)

Yet another snack I'll also be buying in the future are the Indie Bay Snacks in the dark chocolate flavours - the dark chocolate bites are vegan but the milk chocolate flavour isn't. The dark chocolate spelt bites are close in flavour to dark chocolate salty prezels which I love so I will be looking out for them in the future.

*Very Lazy Garlic (£1.50)

Moving onto cooking ingredients before going back to delicious snacks. The very Lazy Garlic is a product I've bought a few times and loved so I was happy to see it within the box as there is not such thing as too much garlic! I add garlic to most recipes so a handy product like this is perfect!

*Candy Kittens Tropical Mango Sweets (£2)

I had a Candy Kittens advent calendar in 2018 and 2019, that's how much I love their sweets. While the wild strawberry is my favourite flavour, I do love the tropical mango which might be a very close second. Unlike most vegan or vegetarian sweets, they don't have a weird texture or aftertaste. I cannot recommend their sweets enough!

*Blue Dragon Thai Holy Basil Kit (£1.50)

There are two cooking kits within the December box which is fantastic and one of them is vegan! The first is the non-vegan option which contains a base, sauce and topping to make an authentic Thai stir fry at home - my parents loved this little kit.

*Blue Dragon Teriyaki Street Food Skewers (£2.70)

The second and final cooking kit from Blue Dragon is suitable for vegans! It contains the sauce to make food skewers as well as the wooden skewers too which makes it a little more of an unusual kit. I haven't tried this one yet but I can't wait to.

*Oteas Green Tea, Cranberry, Cherry and Strawberry (£3.39)

I love green and herbal tea so I'm always happy to try another flavour combination! I tried a different blend from Otea in a previous box and loved it so I knew I'd like this one too. It is a perfect fruity tea, although I think it will be a little hit or miss for some.

*Pedrino Vermouth and Tonic Spritz (£1.95)

There are two alcoholic drinks in the box although you should have only received them if you chose the box which included alcohol. The first is a mix of artisan tonic water and 5.5% spritzer with flavours of melon, grapefruit and floral notes that can be served on its own or as part of a cocktail.

*Lagunitas DayTime Session IPA (£1.80)

Last but not least is a product from the box that my dad loves, a light IPA from Lagunitas. It only contains 98 calories per bottle and is 4% ABV. I personally don't often drink beer, it's not a drink that I love but my dad was very happy with this box addition!

Don't forget to use the code: DTPL4 to get £5 off your box!

Have you tried any of the products in the December box?

*Gifted

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