The Ordinary Vegan - Sainsbury's Free From - Gluten Free Roasted Pepper Arrabbiata

Sorry for the long blogging break. The Vegan Grindhouse has taken over most of my waking hours of late and we have just returned from a lovely holiday in sunny Devon. However, I am back and blogging. This week TOV is a new frozen product from Sainsbury's. It is a Roasted Pepper Arrabbiata pasta dish which is vegan and wheat/gluten free. The pasta comes in a separate sachet from the arrabbiata sauce and you can oven cook or microwave. The meal was nice, not too spicy with a good texture and flavour, but would have been easy to make from scratch or just as quick to use a jar of sauce and some gluten free pasta. This ready-meal is pricey at £2.50, however for a quick frozen meal which is gluten and wheat free as well as vegan, it provides another option.

Big Vegan Love,

VVx

Vegan Vox Reviews...Tibits Restaurant, London

A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to be invited to London to try out the new all-vegan days at Tibits Restaurant. Tibits is an all-vegetarian restaurant on Heddon Street, just off Regent Street in Central London. A few times a month, they have an all-vegan day at the restaurant, which means all of their buffet showboat is full of yummy vegan starters, salads, mains and desserts as well as an extensive drinks menu including fresh juices and vegan beers.

We arrived at the restaurant and were shown to our seat by the manager who was a lovely lady, full of useful information on the food and drinks and we were seated under a beautiful chandelier.

We had some soft drinks and cashew nuts whilst we were getting settled and then went up to look at the impressive buffet range.

The buffet consisted of a range of healthy salads, hot dishes, snacks and sides.

This is what I chose for my main meal:

Tabouleh, couscous, breaded tofu escalopes, ratatouille and lots of tasty vegetables.

Mr Vox had the following:

Pizza, crusty bread roll, salad, tofu slices, onion rings, guacamole and falafal. We both really enjoyed our meals, they were fresh and tasty and full of flavour. There was a good range of dishes to mix and match to suit all diets, including gluten-free and raw vegan.

You choose your items and then take your plate to be weighed at the till, the food is charged by weight to reduce food waste often associated with buffet restaurants.

Next we had some more drinks, Mr Vox went for a vegan beer by Brew Dog and I had a fresh Carrot, Apple and Ginger juice which was super refreshing.

Next, it was time for dessert. There was a nice selection of desserts on offer:

I went for fresh strawberries with cherry coconut cream, it was so nice and light.

Mr Vox had the sticky toffee pudding with chocolate cream - pure decadence.

We finished off with a coffee and a loyalty card, as we will definitely be returning!

Tibits is our new favourite London restaurant and we will be returning later this month.

Big Vegan Love,

VVx

Disclaimer: We were invited for a free meal and drinks to review this restaurant, however the review is entirely my own opinion and has not been edited or amended by Tibits or their associates. All photos are my own and I received no payment for this review.

Vegan Recipe of the Week - Super Quick Pitta Pizzas

Super Quick Pitta Pizzas are easy to make, taste great and are a quick meal when you've had a long day at work. They are fun to make with children too and taste lovely.

Makes 2 pizzas:

You will need:

1/2 jar of sundried tomato pesto

1/4 packet of veganic pizza cheese

1/4 red bell pepper, sliced

4 cherry tomatoes, quartered

2 wholemeal pittas

2 portobello mushrooms, sliced

1/4 red onion, diced

a few strips of smoked tofu

1 tsp olive oil

Fry the onions and mushrooms in the olive oil over a medium heat whilst the pittas are in the toaster.

Once the pittas are lightly toasted, spread with the tomato pesto.

Next add all of the chopped veggies, the fried veggies, the tofu and the cheese.

Place under a pre heated grill for 3 minutes to melt the cheese.

Eat and Enjoy!

VVx

The Ordinary Vegan - Hot Cross Buns

This week's TOV is a yummy British classic sweet bread - Hot Cross Buns. Sainsbury's Hot Cross Buns are vegan and taste yummy toasted and spread with a little vegan butter. Perfect!

Big Vegan Love,

VVx

Vegan Recipe of the Week- Shortbread

I love shortbread, it is so easy to make and you can use it as a base for lots of variations.

Here is my recipe:

125g Hard Stork in the foil packet
60g Caster Sugar
180g Plain Flour
1 Tbsp Vanilla Extract
pinch of salt

Preheat the oven to 170C fan/190C conventional.

Cream together the sugar, vanilla and margarine until smooth, then sieve the flour into the creamed mixture, add the salt and work together until in forms a soft dough.

Roll the dough out until it is around 1/2 inch thick and cut into fingers, circles, stars, hearts or whatever you like. Sprinkle with caster sugar and prick with a fork.

Chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.

Bake in the oven for around 16-18 minutes until golden brown and then transfer onto a cooling rack.

Variations on the recipe include adding dark chocolate chips into the dough before rolling, adding chopped cherries or raisins to the dough before rolling or after baking drizzle with lemon or vanilla glace icing.

Eat and Enjoy!

VVx

Vegan Vox Reviews...Vive Soy

A couple of weeks ago the lovely people at Vive Soy sent me a mixed crate to sample and review. The range of soy milks is great with Vanilla, Unsweetened, Chocolate, Light, Sweetened and Cappuccino flavours available. The milks are fortified with calcium and vitamins A & D and are suitable for vegans.

I decided to experiment with the different milks so I could recommend the perfect partner for the milk.

Here are my findings:

Vanilla

The Vanilla flavour is a perfect partner to coffee, cereal, smoothies and for baking cupcakes, Victoria sponge and rock cakes. I also used to make custard.

Unsweetened

The unsweetened is great for savoury dishes, such as creamy soups, curries, cheese-style sauces, pie fillings and for brushing on pastry before baking.

Chocolate

The chocolate is delicious straight from the carton in a tall glass with ice, but is also nice with cookies, for baking chocolate cakes and biscuits and in a hot chocolate.

Light

The light is great in tea and coffee, in smoothies and on cereal. Also good in soups and sauces.

Sweetened 

This is perfect in tea and coffee, milkshakes, smoothies and baking any desserts. Also tastes delicious on cereal.

Cappuccino

This is milky iced coffee in a carton. Just pour over ice and drink or add to coffee and walnut cake batter.

If you haven't tried any of the Vive Soy range, then give them a whirl. Hopefully I have given you some inspiration for different ways to use soy milk in your kitchen.

Vive Soy is available in most major supermarkets and health food stores and retails for around £1.25.

What is your favourite soy milk brand and you most inventive way of adding it into your cooking and meals?

Big Vegan Love,

VVx