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 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

Vegan Vox Reviews...Laura's Larder App

I was approached recently by the lovely people from CAT (The Centre for Alternative Technology) in Wales regarding testing out a brand new food app called Laura's Larder. The purpose of this app is to make us more aware of the impact of what we choose to eat on the environment. Even vegan diets high in processed foods and imported goods can have a significant carbon impact. 

You use the app by inputting your meals for a week, portion sizes, country of origin etc. Once you have completed a week, you can go to the stats section, where it will show you the environmental impact in terms of emissions for your diet. The app will then show the you highest impact foods you eat and suggest how you can reduce your impact. The app also analyses the health impact of your diet and warns you if you are low in essential dietary requirements or where you should cut down.

This is a great app to sit down with children and show them the impact of food choices on the environment. It would work well in a classroom or home environment and is very family friendly and educational whilst remaining fun and interactive as well.

The app is available via the CAT website now at www.cat.org.uk 

So go and try it out and find out what impact your diet is having on our planet.

Big Vegan Love,

VVx

NB. I volunteered to test out this app and was not paid for this article.

Vegan Recipe of the Week - Quick & Easy Veggie Soup

Sometimes you just want something you can whip up for lunch that doesn't take too long. This soup is ideal. You can use whatever veggies you have in the house. This is my version.

Ingredients:

1 Cabbage
2 Carrots
1 Onion
4 Green Beans
2 Vegetable stock cubes
1 tsp Parsley
1 tsp Basil
1/2 tsp Chilli powder
1 tsp Henderson's Relish

Method - Serves 3-4:

Chop the beans and carrots and leave to one side. Meanwhile, chop the onions and the cabbage in a food processor until fine.

Pour the veggies into a saucepan. Make up 700ml of veggie stock and add to the veggies. Bring to the boil and then reduce heat and simmer.

Add the flavourings, herbs and spices. Add salt and pepper if required.

Simmer for 15-20 minutes and then blend using a stick blender.

Serve and eat with a crusty bread roll or freeze in individual portions.

Eat and Enjoy!

Big Vegan Love,

VVx

Vegan Recipe of the Week - Summer Sandwiches - The Italian SLT & Homemade Chutney

Vegusto Hot Salami with Tomato and Red Onion Chutney and Rocket on a wholemeal Ciabatta Roll. 

Chutney Recipe

Ingredients:

250g red onions, sliced

500g tomatoes, chopped

1 red chilli, deseeded and sliced

150g soft brown sugar

70ml red wine vinegar

Method:

Place all of the ingredients into a large pan and stir well. Bring to the boil and then simmer for 40 minutes until a jam-like consistency. Pour into a large sterilised jar and leave to cool completely. Keeps in the fridge for around 6 weeks.

The Sandwich

Ingredients:

A Ciabatta Roll

4 slices of Vegusto Hotsami

2 slices of beef tomato

A handful of rocket

A heaped tablespoon of chutney

Method:

Slice the Ciabatta roll lengthways in half.

Put the vegan salami slices on the bottom layer.

Add the tomato, then the rocket.

Finish with a generous layer of tomato and red onion chutney and put the top of the roll on.

Serve with mixed olives.

Eat and Enjoy!

VVx

Vegan Recipe of the Week - Summer Sandwiches - Mexican Wrap

Mixed Beans with homemade Spicy Salsa, Lime Rice and Guacamole in a Soft Tortilla Wrap

For the Lime Rice:

Ingredients:

100g red rice, steamed

2 Tbsp fresh coriander, chopped

½ lime, zest and juice

salt and pepper to taste

dash of olive oil

Method:

Steam or boil the rice until cooked and then grate the zest of half a lime into the rice and stir. Add in the lime juice, olive oil, salt, pepper and coriander and stir well. Spoon into a bowl.

For the Guacamole:

Ingredients:

1 ripe avocado

1/3 red onion, chopped finely

½ -1 green chilli, deseeded and finely chopped

1 small plum tomato, finely chopped

1 Tbsp coriander, finely chopped

2 tsp lime juice

Sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

1 Tbsp of soya cream (optional)

Method:

Cut the avocado in half and remove the stone. Scoop the flesh from the skin into a bowl.

Mash the avocado with a fork until smooth. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir into the avocado. Add the soya cream if you like a creamier consistency and flavour. If not using immediately, cover with cling film directly onto the surface of the guacamole to stop it browning. Can be refrigerated for 24 hours.

For the salsa:

See my salsa recipe here

For the sandwich - serves 4:

Ingredients:

4 large soft flour tortillas

A tin of organic mixed beans

Lime rice

Salsa

Guacamole

Method:

Warm the tortillas in a large dry frying pan.

Spread a layer of guacamole along the centre of each tortilla.

Top this with a layer of salsa.

Add a few spoonfuls of mixed beans followed by a few spoonfuls of lime rice.

Roll the tortillas up folding in the sides as you go.

Cut in half before eating.

Eat and Enjoy

VVx

The Ordinary Vegan - The Food Doctor - Chipotle Chilli Wholeful Grains

I found these snacks at Home Sense but Food Doctor products can be found in many health food shops, supermarkets and online as well. 

These are a great vegan snack to keep in the car for a long journey, to take to the cinema or to keep you going at work. It's full of healthy grains and seeds - including pumpkin seeds, corn, broad beans, soya beans, black beans, brown rice, almonds, peppers, peas, chillies, lime, herbs and spices. It is labelled as suitable for vegans on the packaging and sells for around £2.50 for a 150g bag.

They are spicy and full of flavour and make eating nuts and seeds more fun! They are a good source of protein and high in fibre. Food Doctor do a range of vegan-friendly snacks which are based on whole foods. What is your favourite go to healthy savoury snack to top your energy levels up until your next meal? Share in the comments below.

Big Vegan Love,

VVx

Vegan Recipe of the Week- Breakfast Ideas

This week is a slightly different version of the VROTW feature. So many people ask me what vegans can eat for breakfast other than porridge or cereal with soy milk, that I thought I'd do a breakfast feature to offer some inspiration.

Monday

Start the week off with a delicious Oat Bagel served with dairy-free butter, jam and a banana.

Tuesday

Bake some delicious fruit muffins with banana, nuts or cranberries and have a muffin and coffee.

Wednesday

Grab some delicious fresh organic fruit and a Nakd bar for breakfast on the run.

Thursday

Keep it simple with fresh granary toast and baked beans with a little brown sauce.

Friday

Make some Jus-Rol Croissants and take them in for your colleagues - Friday treat time!

Saturday

Try a vegan sausage and hash brown roll or VBites Bacon and hash brown roll with a glass of chocolate almond milk.

Sunday

Make it a Sunday Brunch with a full English, vegan sausage and bacon, mushrooms, hash browns, granary toast and baked beans.

Special Days - Anniversaries, Birthdays, Valentine's Day etc.

Treat the loved one in your life to delicious iced cinnamon rolls freshly baked and served in bed with a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice. Perfect!

What are your favourite breakfast ideas? Share in the comments below. For more recipe ideas click here.

Big Vegan Love,

VVx