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 - Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich

This is a hearty sandwich - famous in the US - made vegan by Vegan Vox!

Serves 2.

You will need:

2 Ciabatta Rolls

2 Seitan Steaks

6 Onion Rings - I buy vegan ones from a local Chinese supermarket

6 Jalapenos

Veganic Pizza Cheese

Spicy BBQ Sauce

Vegan Mayo (optional)

Salad (to serve)

Method:

Slice open your rolls and warm in the oven for a few minutes until soft.

Add the cheese and BBQ sauce to the rolls.

Cook the onion rings and seitan steaks in a griddle pan and slice the steaks into strips.

Add the onion rings and steak strips to the top and bottom of your rolls. Add the jalapenos and mayo (if using).

Place the sandwich into a panini press and grill for a few minutes until the cheese has melted.

Meanwhile, prepare your salad.

Serve your sandwiches with the side salad.

Eat and Enjoy!

Big Vegan Love,

VVx

If you enjoyed this recipe, click here to see my other recipes.

The Ordinary Vegan - McCoy's Ultimate

These new sharing bag size crisps from McCoy's are for sale in Tesco at the moment for £1.99. They were recently on offer for 2 for £2 and they come in three flavours - all of which are vegan-friendly:

Sizzling BBQ Chicken

Chargrilled Steak & Peri Peri

Sea Salt & Black Pepper

I tried the BBQ Chicken and the Steak flavours and they were both delicious, full of flavour, really crunchy and great for parties and BBQs.

They may market themselves as "Man Crisps" but this vegan girl is quite a fan!

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

The Ordinary Vegan - Morrisons Bacon Rashers Crisps

Today's TOV is from Morrisons, delicious bacon flavoured "Frazzle" style crisps in a large sharing bag for £1 - currently on offer for 70p! Yummy and salty, perfect for sharing during a film and all vegan!

What are your favourite supermarket crisps? Share in the comments below.

Big Vegan Love,

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

The Ordinary Vegan - Coconut Ice

This week's TOV is another from Tesco. This handmade coconut ice is free from artificial flavours and colours and is vegan. Yay! Yummy sweet delicious coconutty treats, what's not to love? It costs £1.48 for a pack of 150g. Most coconut ice has condensed milk in so it is great to find a vegan version in a supermarket.

Here are the ingredients:

Big Vegan Love,

VVx

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