I've tried a few products from Indigo Herbs and I've been really happy with everything I've kindly been sent, especially the amazing Raw Vegan Chocolate Kit which I cannot recommend enough! I'm always interested in trying new/different products and when this tea arrived, I was excited to give it a go.

I'm trying to switch back to a more vegan diet and to reduce the amount of caffeine I drink so herbal teas are an essential for me. I have the *Indigo Herbs Super Cleanse Tea (£3.99, 50g) which contains fennel seed, liquorice root, nettle leaf, dandelion leaf, red clover leaf and ginger power. It is suitable for vegans, it contains 100% pure ingredients and it is a loose tea.

I use my adorable squirrel tea infuser with my loose tea; I love this herbal tea! Sometimes herbal tea can be really bitter but this one isn't and I adore it. I do get an after taste of aniseed/liquorice which I personally like but I don't think it will be for everyone but it does add a earthy warm to the tea. It's comforting, warming and soothing but there's no caffeine as there are no actual tea leaves in it. I cannot recommend it enough! Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5.

I love chocolate, although I'm quite picky about it but when this kit arrived, I was SO excited as it is a chocolate making kit - not a 'melt the chocolate, put it in a mould' kit but it contains cacao butter, syrup and more to actually make chocolate!

The *Indigo Nutrition Organic Raw Chocolate Starter Kit (£12.99, 300g) contains organic raw cacao butter, organic raw cacao powder, organic raw agave syrup and organic raw vanilla powder as well as instructions. I love the packaging, the instructions are easy to follow and I think it would make such a fantastic and really unique gift.

The kit makes dairy free, vegan chocolate so it's a bit healthier than regular chocolate and it doesn't contain additives or extras that you don't want. It makes approx. 20 bars of chocolate but I didn't find that it made that much but still a good amount. The instructions first state to melt the cacao butter at a temperature of 45 degrees celsius which took ages (well about 40 minutes or so) and I did have to buy a food thermometer to make sure it melted at the correct temperature but other than that it is a quick and easy process.

The only thing I wish the instructions included was how the mixture should look and what the texture should be like as I thought the final mixture was quite thick; I thought it would have the consistency of melted chocolate but it doesn't and it made it a little harder to fully fill in the moulds that I used. I picked a 'rolo' style chocolate mould and letters - they both turned out better than I thought they would!

The chocolate itself does have a dark chocolate, bitter taste but not overly so and it is so incredibly smooth, it is just like regular chocolate that contains dairy. My parents, sister and aunties have tried it and they ALL loved them! I was a little dubious about the quality, as I haven't made anything like this before and the instructions say to put the chocolate in the fridge to set (which I thought would make it look dull) but the chocolates were all so shiny!

Overall, I think the kit is fantastic and I'm really happy with the final result and everyone loves the taste of them! I think the price of the kit is great as it's fun to do (although the first part is quite time consuming) and the quality is great! I think it would make a lovely gift for any food/chocolate lovers. Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5.

Today marks the start of the Thai New Year *13th April - 15th* and to celebrate, I'm going to be talking about easy cooking kits, food and quick and easy thai inspired lunch ideas. I'm a vegetarian (of almost 12 years now, I can't believe it myself!) so the two lunch idea recipes in this post are not only suitable for vegetarians but they are both suitable for vegans too.

I was very kindly sent a range of products and kits from Thai Taste and I was excited to try the products and see what recipes I could come up with. I received:

- Thai Taste Sweet Chilli Sauce
- Thai Taste Coconut Milk
- Thai Taste East Thai Green Curry Kit
- Thai Taste Easy Thai Red Curry Kit
- Thai Taste Sticky Rice
- Thai Taste Rice Noodles

I haven't tried anything from this brand or cooked specifically Thai food before until I received these products. I love the packaging, there is a great range of products to choose from, all of the products are widely available and I think the prices are really reasonable, especially the kits at only £2.29!

Rice noodles with mushrooms and carrot noodles in a creamy coconut, chill and tarragon sauce

Firstly, if you know me in 'real life' then you will know that I adore pasta and noodles so the rice noodles was the first product I received that I wanted to try. I haven't tried rice noodles before so I didn't know what the texture would be like but I ended up loving them!

I used my spiraliser to make some carrot 'noodles' and fried them along with garlic and mushrooms in toasted sesame oil. To make the sauce I use the coconut milk I received; I added light soy sauce, chilli flakes, taragon and...crunchy peanut butter, stick with me here. I adore Thai peanut noodle type recipes and I always try and make me own versions of recipes. You don't taste peanut butter but it adds sweetness and a nutty flavour to the sauce which if you haven't tried it, I'd definitely recommend it.

The noodle texture is different to 'normal' noodles that I'm used to and they won't be for everyone but I really liked them especially within the slightly spicy, tarragon and coconut sauce. I adore tarragon with coconut milk and chilli! This improvised recipe and lunch idea was so yummy, filling and really quick and easy to make; I will definitely be making this again!

 Thai sticky rice with vegan Quorn pieces, green beans, carrots and coconut milk

As with the previous lunch idea, I also haven't cooked with Thai sticky rice before! The rice cooks a little differently to 'normal' rice but it is a bit quicker to cook which is always a plus. I started by lightly frying green beans, carrots, garlic, ginger and mushrooms in toasted sesame oil *I love toasted sesame oil, if you couldn't tell already*. Half way through cooking, I added the coconut milk, chilli flakes, tarragon and Quorn vegan pieces - yes, Quorn have launched a range of vegan products!

I love the Quorn vegan products I've tried and they work well with so many recipes, this one included. It's a really tasty lunch idea, the rice is obviously different but I like it and it makes a really filling lunch which is something I always look for as I tend to snack throughout the day but more filling lunch ideas help with that.

Overall, I'm really happy with the products I have tried from Thai Tastes, I only used the rice noodles, coconut milk and sticky rice for these lunch ideas but I will have reviews of the Thai curry kits on my Vegetarian Food Blog soon so stay tuned for those reviews!

The first week of spring has been so sunny and I love it! As well as autumn, spring is one of my favourite seasons as the lighter evenings are amazing *especially for bloggers!* and when spring comes around I tend to eat much healthier. I've been a vegetarian for almost 12 years so finding new spring recipes can be a little difficult but here are two of my current favourite recipes that are super healthy, delicious and so easy to make! I think these recipes would be great for the upcoming bank holiday, check out the Tesco Direct website for great bank holiday deals!

Green Vegetable, White Stilton & Dill Quiche 

Until a week or so ago, I hadn't made a quiche before but I've been obsessed with this one as it is so light, fresh and healthy but delicious. I used spinach, broccoli and asparagus in this quiche as well as white stilton and dill but you can use which ever cheese and herbs you want - I just prefer these recently and they are both very light/spring like to me.

To be honest, I make this up every time, it changes with whatever needs using up or whatever I want to use that day. I don't use specific measurements apart from that I use just over half a pack of pre-made shortcrust pastry (I always make my own pastry but this is just so much easier and quicker) and I use three eggs per quiche so it will set.

1. Leave the pastry out of the fridge for half an hour so it can reach room temperature (or put it in the microwave for 5-8 seconds but no longer than that). Chop up the broccoli, asparagus, spinach, herbs and cheese - make everything fairly small/flat or it will be too big for the tart/quiche tin. I don't cook the vegetables in this recipe prior to baking the quiche in the oven but you could if you wanted although they might end up too soft/mushy.

2. Roll out the pastry onto a floured surface into a circle big enough to cover the tin and to cover the sides too. I had only just enough pastry so a little over half a packet will be perfect for a shallow tart tin like the one I used. Grease the tin lightly and lay over the pastry, pressing it to the base and sides. Prick the pastry base with a fork. You don't need to blind bake the pastry.

3. Place your vegetables onto the uncooked pastry where you want them.

4. Combine three medium eggs and single cream with garlic, herbs and salt/pepper and mix well so you have enough mixture to almost cover all of the vegetables - it's better if you don't fully cover everything as I think it looks better.

5. Gently pour the egg/cream mixture over the vegetables and top with whatever cheese you want. Don't over fill as it will spill out over the edges as it bubbles up and cooks in the oven. If you need to add more liquid, then add a little extra cream or milk.

6. Bake at 200 degrees celsius (fan ovens) for about 30-35 minutes. Turn half way through the cooking time so the quiche is baked as evenly as possible. To prevent the uncovered vegetables from catching, cover lightly with tin foil while baking. It will be baked when there is no wobble in the quiche. Allow to cool slightly before serving, it would be great with a fresh rocket, lettuce and lemon salad.

Vegan Spinach Pesto Penne 

I have been referred to by my family, for all of my life, as the 'pasta queen'. I adore pasta, I eat it pretty much constantly so there isn't a vegetarian pasta combination that I haven't tried. However, last year when I had a period of being vegan, I came across a new idea (cashew cream) which I adapted and loved. Creamy, spinach pesto pasta with no dairy in sight! Although if you wanted to add cheese you could with vegan cheese or vegetarian parmesan cheese.

As with the previous recipe, I don't have specific measurements as neither recipes are from books, they are just mash ups of ideas and they are always changing to make something new. The rough measurements will make enough for two or just one Heather...

1. Soak 1/4 cup of cashew nuts and a small handful of pine nuts in a mug full of hot vegetable stock (check the packet to make sure it's vegan as some contain milk) for about two hours, stirring every so often.

2. Cook whatever pasta you want and while it is cooking, add the now cool cashew nut/stock mixture to a food processor - make sure it is fully cool. I use my NutriBullet as it makes the pesto sauce incredibly smooth! So I'd definitely recommend using a NutriBullet or it won't be as good/creamy. Add a good handful or two of spinach, garlic, salt/pepper and a lot of basil to the NutriBullet along with half a teaspoon of nutritional yeast to make it slightly cheesy but this is optional.

3. Blended everything in the NutriBullet for blasts of ten seconds until the mixture is completely smooth. At this point you can adjust the ingredients, I usually add more garlic and basil; also sometimes I add cornstarch dissolved in a tiny amount of water to thicken it later.

4. Drain the pasta when al dente and add the pesto sauce to the pan to heat through slightly. Add the pasta to the sauce and that's it! It's so easy but so delicious and very creamy even though it doesn't contain dairy. It is very filing and very healthy! This is a sponsored post.

I've never had a massive sweet tooth, apart from chocolate, so Easter is an exciting time as it's a time were it's more socially acceptable to stuff my face with chocolate without too many judgmental looks! However, as one of my new years resolutions is to have at least half of my diet as vegan/dairy free, that limits my easter chocolate indulgences but Chocolate and Love comes to the rescue! Also I'm more than happy to be a chocolate reviewer, it's a difficult task but you know, someones got to do it...

I was very kindly sent the range of chocolate bars from Chocolate and Love which is a brand that uses high quality, organic and fair-trade ingredients and the best thing for me is that five out of the seven chocolate bars are suitable for vegans which is amazing! Firstly, I have to say how gorgeous the packaging design for each chocolate bar is; each is a bespoke hand painted design.

The high level of natural cocoa results in a high levels of antioxidants *see, chocolate is basically salad*! The bars are gluten free, GMO free and they don't contain additives. The chocolate bars contain less sugar and more cocoa than other bars on the market.
- *Chocolate and Love Dark Chocolate with Orange Bar (£3, 100g): The bars contain varying amounts of cocoa and this bar contains 65% cocoa/chocolate. I love Terry's chocolate oranges so I was excited to give this one a go. The orange flavour comes through but not strong and the dark chocolate is creamy, smooth and not too bitter. Overall rating:  ★★★★☆, 4/5.

- *Chocolate and Love Dark Chocolate and Coffee (£3, 100g): This is the first bar I tried as I adore coffee and it didn't disappoint. The coffee is quite strong but I love that, otherwise it could be too strong of dark chocolate. It is creamy, smooth and moreish - I'd definitely buy this bar! Also the packaging design is definitely one of my favourites. Overall rating:  ★★★★★, 5/5.

- *Chocolate and Love Dark Chocolate with Mint Crunch (£3, 100g): First, I have to say, I am not a fan of mint and chocolate so I knew this wouldn't be my favourite bar. The mint flavour comes through strongly but I think it works really well with the dark chocolate! There are also small crunchy pieces in the bar which I love - I actually really like this one, surprisingly! Overall rating:  ★★★★☆, 4/5.

- *Chocolate and Love Single Origin Dark Chocolate (£3, 100g): This bar contains 80% dark chocolate from fair-trade sources in Panama and as with the previous bars, it is vegan and made in Switzerland. I haven't tried this percentage of dark chocolate before and I expected it to be really strong and bitter but it isn't - it's so incredibly creamy, rich and smooth - love it! Overall rating:  ★★★★★, 5/5.

- *Chocolate and Love Filthy Rich Dark Chocolate (£3, 100g): Another dark chocolate bar but this one is 71% and the 100% of the ingredients are from fair-trade cooperatives in The Dominican Republic. The information about the brand, their ethos and source of ingredients for each bar is printed on the inside of the packaging. As with the previous bar, this one is very smooth and rich but it is still creamy and very indulgent. Any chocolate fan would love these bars! Overall rating:  ★★★★☆, 4/5.

- *Chocolate and Love Creamy Dark Chocolate and Cacao Nibs (£3, 100g): I've heard bloggers and youtubers talk about cacao nibs before but I haven't tried them. This bar and the next are both suitable for vegetarians but not vegans, unlike the others in the range as they contain milk. Again, I love the packaging for this bar - it's so unique! 92% of the ingredients of this bar are from fair-trade sources in Peru and The Dominican Republic. Oh, I love this bar - the crunch from the cacao nibs is so nice and the flavour is very luxe and so creamy! It's definitely in my top three favourites from the range. Overall rating:  ★★★★★, 5/5!

- *Chocolate and Love Dark Chocolate with Caramel and Sea Salt (£3, 100g): As with as the previous bar and the coffee one, this is another I was excited to try as I adore salted caramel. This one isn't as creamy or as smooth as all of the others because it does contain pieces of caramel but it does taste really nice and it has a slight salted caramel flavour but to me it is subtle. Sadly, I thought this would be my favourite bar but it isn't. Overall rating:  ★★★☆☆, 3/5.

Overall, I cannot recommend this brand enough, I especially love the coffee bar, the 80% dark chocolate bar and the amazing creamy dark chocolate and cacao nibs bar. I also love the intricate, colourful and beautiful packaging. The brand ethics are also a major selling point for me as they use biodegradable packaging that is produced from renewable materials and sustainable harvested wood, they use organic and fair-trade ingredients and they support responsible management of forests by planting trees - what more could you ask for from a brand! I'd highly recommend this brand and I will be buy the bars in the future, especially the coffee one *drools* and even my dad loves these and he isn't a chocolate fan! I think they would make lovely and unique gifts for friends and family this easter.

I love smoothies but the one thing that puts me off is that most smoothies made at home can be gritty and bitty but since buying my Nutribullet last year I have been drinking them much more! I cannot recommend the NutriBullet enough, I use it so much especially for vegan meals, smoothies and soup.

Over the past couple of months I have only been making one smoothie as I can't get enough of it, it's so yummy, simple and very healthy! There are only four ingredients and it takes about two minutes or so to make!

- One mango
- Half a tub of raspberries (approx. 75g)
- 150-200ml of orange juice
- One teaspoon of Indigo Herbs Protein Powder

I start by chopping the mango into small pieces and place in the NutriBullet with the raspberries. The amount of orange juice depends on how thick you want the smoothie to be. I usually use about 200ml for a large smoothie - as you can see from the large NutriBullet container, it's almost full! I blend everything for about 20 seconds then I add in one teaspoon or just less of the *Indigo Herbs Superprotein Powder (£5.99, 100g) which is a vegan protein blend of organic chia seed powder. It has a nutty, slightly chocolate scent to me *maybe that is just me* but it's fantastic in smoothies to add a hint of flavour but mostly a boost of vitamins and protein.

I love this smoothie as it is smooth, unlike most homemade smoothies, thanks to the amazing Nutribullet; also I love the mango and raspberries as it makes it sour and yummy rather than overly sweet. It's a filling and super healthy smoothie, especially with the addition of the vegan protein powder.