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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Vegan Mac 'n' Cheese

Macaroni Cheese has been one of my favourite meals since I was a child, although now I prefer to make my own and my vegan mac 'n' cheese is so incredibly delicious and moreish, you won't want to stop eating! I have tried a few variations of macaroni cheese but this one is my favourite and I've been making it months now. Unlike some vegan recipes, it only contains one ingredient that unless you are evan then you probably won't have in your kitchen cupboards - nutritional yeast but it is easy to find online or in Holland and Barrett.

Ingredients: Serves Two

• One cup of macaroni 
• 25g of cashew nuts (it doesn't have to be this precise, just at least this amount)
• Two tablespoons of smoked paprika
• Two - three tablespoons of nutritional yeast
• One tablespoon of garlic granules 
• Parsley, salt and pepper to taste 
• Panko breadcrumbs - just enough to cover the pasta 

How to:

1. Take the cashew nuts and place them in a mug of warm water or vegetable stock, whichever you prefer - make sure to add enough water to cover all of the cashew nuts and 1cm more. This time I only soaked the cashew nuts for 10 or so minutes but you can soak them for hours or overnight. 

2. Boil the pasta until it's al dente, make sure it isn't over done or too soft as it is going to be baked in the oven. 

3. While the pasta is cooking, or while it's drained and in the pan, add the cashew nuts to a food processor (I used my NutriBullet which is amazing for making incredibly smooth sauce so I can't recommend it enough) with the water/stock it has been soaking in as well as the smoked paprika, garlic granules and nutritional yeast - I used the Marigold version but the Bragg one is better! Blend until smooth.

4. Combine the pasta, sauce, salt, pepper and parsley in the pan and mix until well combined. Distribute into two oven safe dishes and cover with the panko breadcrumbs (I found them in Tesco). Bake in the oven at 200 degree celsius until the breadcrumbs are golden brown which for me was about ten minutes and serve hot! If you want to re-heat it, then don't microwave it as the breadcrumbs won't be crispy, you'll have to put it under the grill or oven for up to ten minutes. 

There you have my vegan macaroni cheese and now I want to make some more as it's so addictive and delicious! I know the smoked paprika is an odd inclusion but it is what makes this mac 'n' cheese is yummy and mouthwatering; also because it's red it gives the pasta a orange colour that you usually get with American mac 'n' cheese. You could add liquid smoke to it to give it a barbecue flavour or yo could add vegan cheese - I've heard great things about the Sainsbury's own vegan cheese but sadly it's not available at my local store even though it's huge! 

Let me know what you think and if you make this recipe? Are you taking part in Veganuary? 

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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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August Reading Roundup

All Images from Google

August wasn't the best reading month for me, I mean it wasn't awful, but I didn't get through all of the books that I wanted to in August because we went to London and the Harry Potter tour which took up a few days (even though I was going to read on the very long coach journey, I just couldn't as it was too loud and stressful) and I haven't felt 100% this month. Also this post is quite late, oops!

*Ink and Bone by Lisa - available now 

Firstly, I love the cover and I love the premise of this book; it was free as an e-book via Netgalley. The book follows Finley, a misunderstood young woman who has experienced family tragedies and as a result she has an unusual ability which she shares with her grandmother. She has to use her 'gift' to solve the mystery of missing girls. Finely's ability is that she has a kind of psychic ability so she can see/hear ghosts or links to people which is so interesting. The ghost element, the awful mother and the strong grandmother figure as well as the special and misunderstood abilities really reminds me of another book I've read recently - The Witches Kiss. If you've read Ink and Bone and The Witches Kiss then you'll probably see the connections too. It's a mystery/thriller with lots of paranormal and psychological aspects as well as a focus on family and relationships (whether they are loving or destructive). It definitely gave me a Sleepy Hollow vibe in terms of the setting and paranormal elements which I loved. All of the characters, whether good, bad or plain evil were interesting and I love the story on the whole even though some characters and relationships were quite annoying to me. The writing style is quick and easy to read so I will be looking for other books from this author. I did find the switching from locations and in.out of Finley's visions a bit disjointed and confusing. The book was a lot darker than I thought it would be, in terms of the crimes and missing girls so I think it would be a great halloween read. To summarise, it's a dark and gripping but easy to read story of family tragedies, gruesome crimes, paranormal entities and relationships; it's definitely not perfect with a couple of very annoying characters and an air of predictability but well worth checking out. Overall rating: ★★★☆☆, 3.5/5.

*Caribbean Vegan Cookbook by Taymer Mason - available 29th November 

I haven't tried any caribbean cookbooks so I was excited to check this one out and again, it was a free e-book from Netgalley. I have tried a few vegan cookbooks and I love them and this one is no different. I love the food photography, the layout and how colourful the e-book is. I also love the snippets of information about caribbean food culture as it's something I know nothing at all about. I have tried a few recipes in the e-book so far including the chickpea curry which is so yummy and I like the lentil stew too. As with any vegan cookbook, it does include some hard to find or obscure ingredients but not so much so that it makes the recipes unrealistic to make. The only thing I don't like is the font used and I wish there were more photographs but other than those minor points, it's fantastic! Overall rating: ★★★★☆, 4/5.

*Man, I Hate Cursive by Jim Benton - available 18th October

I have read a few illustrated books and graphic novels so far this year and I have loved reading them, especially in-between longer and more heavy reads; they act almost as a refreshing read or a way to get out of a reading slump. I haven't tried anything from Jim Benton but I love his style of illustrations - the style changes throughout the e-book but I love all of the illustrations. It's a very quick, easy and funny little e-book. The illustrations and stories they convey can be cute, sarcastic, funny, relatable and entertaining. The topics the illustrations cover include: daily life, pets, technology, relationships and more. Overall rating: ★★★★☆, 4/5.

*Crafting With Feminism by Bonnie Burton - available 18th October

I have to be honest and say that the cover and the title of the book instantly drew me in! It is a craft book like no other, I don't have anything else like it with feminist quotes throughout as well as interesting craft projects. There were really useful tips for sewing beginners like me and explanations of various crafting tools, some of which were useful but others were so self explanatory I don't know why were they included. There is a recommended feminist reading list and must watch feminist films list which I will definitely be looking into. There were really fun and interesting craft ideas such as a girl coat of arms banner, which I think I'm going to try and make although I will adapt the design and a cassette business card holder. Then there are more obscure craft ideas such as a high heel planter (which again I might actually attempt because it looks pretty amazing), vagina christmas tree ornaments...and a huggable uterus shaped pillow. Overall, it's the most interesting and unusual craft book I've read but I think it's equally amazing. Overall rating: ★★★☆☆, 3/5.

*The Harrowing by James Aitcheson - Available now

First up, the cover of this book really intrigued me! It looks like a dark historical fiction and to me, it is. The story follows five main characters as well as a host of others and it is set during the time just after the battle of Hastings which like every British school child knows was in 1066. The characters are so vivid as is the setting and the harrowing times it must have been to live through with Norman raids and such uncertainty which I think the author captured really well as well as the atrocities, gore and brutality of the time. The main themes for me were survival, morality and friendship and I haven't read anything quite like this before; it was so interesting to read and I wanted to know if the characters were all going to make it to their destination. The ending for me was bittersweet and I think it had to end the way it did to make it realistic and believable. The book did take me a lot longer to get through than I thought it would at around eight/nine days as there were slower and slightly tedious points throughout but overall it was an thought provoking and interesting read but it was quite repetitive at times. Overall rating: ★★★☆☆, 3/5.

*My Family Would Never Eat Vegan! by Kirsty Turner - available 15th November

I've read quite a few vegan cookbooks but I'm always looking for more as there are so many vegan recipes and options out there and I want my diet to be more vegan than vegetarian - this cookbook is amazing! The food photography and recipes in this book make me SO hungry just flicking through it! Some of the recipes are very simple and I don't think they really needed to be included, such as avocado toast but other recipes are so delicious and don't contain a tonne of hard to find ingredients. I love the explanations at the beginning or various vegan ingredients/tools and how to cook the basics so I think it would be perfect for people who are new to a vegan lifestyle. Overall rating: ★★★★☆, 4/5.

*Grace Not Perfection by Emily Ley - available 11th October 

I love the cover and the photography in this book it's so clear, crisp and fits the book perfectly but I really don't think that a e-book is the best format for it; I think it would be a great coffee table book. There are some sections of the book that aren't of interest or relevant to me such as the pregnancy but those sections were still interesting to flick through. The writing style is that of a friend talking to you or an informal letter, it's seems truthful and unforced. The chapter I liked the most was definitely chapter three, all about planning and organising. It is written by an American author so some of the phrases etc aren't familiar to me and make the book a little less relatable. Overall, it was an interesting e-book to flick through and refer back to but I don't think it was created for my age group on the whole. Overall rating: ★★★☆☆, 3/5.

*How Not To Disappear by Clare Furniss - Available Now

I haven't read anything like it before, it is not the kind of book are usually go for but that is one of the reasons why I wanted to try it! The story follows Hattie, her family and friends as well as a long lost relative, who has a lot of secrets! If you like books involving relationships and family mysteries then definitely pick this one up but be warned that it is not a happy book – it is one of the most melancholy and at times upsetting books I've read recently. The book deals with a lot of important but difficult and potentially triggering topics such as rape, domestic abuse, racism, dysfunctional families, adoption, dementia and more so if any of those topics might be upsetting or triggering to you then maybe this isn't the book for you. I love writing style, it was such an easy and quick read; I loved Gloria, she is such a vivid, interesting and entertaining character – she was my favourite character from the book as well as Hattie! My only problems with the book was a couple of the characters were a bit annoying such as Reuben and Kat as well as the mum at times. Additionally I think the cover/blurb doesn't explain how triggering the book could potentially be although that would take away some of mystery and shock factor I guess. Lastly I think it was a little repetitive in places but that might be the authors way of making the reader feel as people with dementia, and those who care for them, could feel. Overall rating: ★★★★☆, 4/5.

Those are all of the books, illustrated books, cookbooks and craft books I've read during August!

Have you read any of these? What are you currently reading? Will you be picking up any of these books? 

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Indigo Nutrition Raw Vegan Chocolate Kit

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.

What do you think of this kit? Have you tried anything from Indigo Nutrition? 

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Thai New Year + Vegan Lunch Recipes

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!

What do you think of my Thai inspired lunch ideas? Have you tried any products from Thai Tastes? 

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Easter: Chocolate + Love Chocolate Bars

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.

Have you tried any of the chocolate bars from Chocolate and Love? What do you think of the flavours and packaging? 

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The Best Smoothie Ever ft. Indigo Herbs

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.

Have you tried anything from Indigo Herbs? What are your favourite smoothie recipes?

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CÎME Beautifying Dry Oil

One of the best things about being a blogger, apart from being part of this amazing supportive online community, is having the opportunity to try brands and products that I wouldn't otherwise have known about; CÎME is one of those brands! CÎME is a luxury line of certified organic skincare using himalayan plant extracts and oils, vitamins, essential fatty acids and other natural ingredients. All of their products are cruelty free and vegan, suitable for sensitive skin types and use fair trade ingredients; additionally for every product sold CÎME will donate to the Nepal Trust charity organisation - can this brand be any more amazing! Also the products do not contain parabens, perfumes or other ingredients that can be harmful or irritating to the skin. 

I was very kindly sent the *CÎME L'Huile Beautifying Dry Oil (€22.90, 100ml) which is a multi-purpose, 100% natural oil for the skin, hair and nails. The suggested uses include: using it as a moisturising oil for body, a hand/nail oil, a bath oil, a wash out hair oil and mixed with your face cream to add a boost of moisture.

The oil comes in a cute glass spray bottle which makes it so much more convenient and easy to use - it takes the fuss out of using a body oil. It does have a scent although it is subtle and the scent is very plescent - it is light, sweet and floral. I have been using the oil on my legs, arms and chest about three times a week after a shower/bath to add a much needed boost of moisture as well as making the skin look and feel smoother and less dull. I have used a few body and facial oils over the past couple of years and all of them take a while to absorb but not this one, by the time I have massaged the oil into the skin, it is absorbed and I can get dressed without worrying about the oil getting on my clothes. It is definitely the fastest absorbing body/face oil I've used which makes it SO convenient so I am reaching for it more instead of my thick body butters and lotions. 

I have also used it on my dry hair as a treatment and as a finishing product on the ends of my hair to add shine and to tame flyways and it works so well although as with any hair oil you have to use a tiny amount otherwise it will just make your hair look greasy. It is great as a hand and nail oil too while I'm sat at my desk because it is moisturising and smoothing but it sinks in quickly so I don't have to wait around, I can get on with typing.

Overall, I am loving this multi-use dry oil as not only is it a lovely and effective product but it is so fuss free and convenient, particularly because it absorbs quickly. I love it as a body and hair oil and I will definitely be trying it as a bath oil too. Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5!

Have you tried any products from CÎME? 

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