Eating Vegan on the go: Emergency Foods to Keep in your Handbag

As a vegan, you've probably found yourself in a situation at least once where you are out and about and have struggled to find something suitable to eat. Whether it's a day out at an attraction, a day trip to a rural village or a buffet at a party/wedding/funeral/function, it's often a good idea to be prepared and take your own food if you don't want to go hungry. Whilst many eating establishments will happily rustle up something for vegans if there's nothing suitable on the menu, some places are sadly still behind the times and don't have a clue about veganism. Buffets can be particularly tricky too, especially if foods aren't labelled, so it's handy to have some food stashed in your handbag for emergencies. I thought I'd share a few suggestions as to the kinds of food that you can throw into your handbag before a day out. 

Food that I stash in my faux-leather New Look tote!

Houmous is a fab staple food. If you don't want to carry it around in your bag all day, most shops will sell it so you can just nip in and buy a tub. Keep some crackers, breadsticks, oat cakes or vegetable batons wrapped up in your bag for dipping into the houmous. Or, bring a houmous and salad sandwich with you. This can also be spontaneously put together if you haven't brought anything with you but you are near a shop (I've often bought a crusty roll, tub of houmous and a bag of ready-washed salad and quickly put it all together). For these instances it may be handy to keep some plastic cutlery and napkins/tissues in your bag.  Crisps are another great item to keep in your bag. Whilst they aren't the healthiest option, they are an ideal snack for on the go. If you want to keep it healthy, why not try some vegetable crisps or kale chips? Fruit is another perfect option; try bananas or oranges that can be peeled, or ready-washed fruit placed in a food bag or lunch box. Save any mini plastic tubs that you get when you buy sorbets etc. as they come in really handy to store sliced/chopped fruit, grapes, olives, nuts and seeds. Other ideal snacks are things like flapjacks, fruit and nut bars, non-dairy yogurts, biscuits and vegan chocolate bars. Home baked goods are great for taking on the go; think vegetable pasties, tofu quiche, scones, cheeze straws, muffins, cakes and biscuits.   I'd love to hear some of your suggestions for other vegan foods to keep in your bag!  

*This post contains sponsored content.

Review: Old Wives Tail Jojoba & Clove Organic Hair Oil Treatment

I was recently approached by Old Wives Tail, a small hair care company that sells handmade vegan hair products. They make a range of natural, organic hair masks and oil treatments that aim to nourish your hair back to life. Just like myself, Old Wives Tail hopes to eradicate animal testing in the beauty industry, and consequently donate 10% of their profits to charities that save animals from being tested on. Old Wives Tail kindly invited me to try one of their hair oil treatments. I decided to try the organic jojoba and clove treatment which is designed to hydrate and balance dull, thinning, brittle or broken hair. My hair is very long and is naturally fine and straight, and it can often look rather limp, so I am always looking for ways to help give it some extra oomph.
 The product was carefully packaged and arrived safely wrapped in pretty paper.  

 The texture of the oil treatment is soft and creamy and it has a gorgeous spicy aroma. The ingredients for this product are:Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Karite Butter Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Fruit, Eugenia Caryophyllus (Clove) Flower Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil.

The jojoba oil penetrates every hair follicle to add strength, volume and texture to weak, lifeless hair. This treatment has anti-bacterial and stimulating properties which help to naturally soothe, balance and stimulate your roots to encourage healthy hair growth.

To use the oil treatment you apply to wet hair, massage into your scalp then leave it on for an hour (or overnight if your hair is in a bad way). I put mine on while I relaxed in the bath with an orange bath melt. The combination of the bath melt and the oil treatment made it smell like Christmas (I'm already counting down the days!). I then washed the product out; you do need to shampoo a couple of times to get all the oil out, especially if you have oily hair like me. I didn't feel like I needed to use any conditioner but you can just use a bit on the ends of your hair if necessary. I then blow-dried my hair and I loved the end result. My hair looked and felt in great condition; not only did it appear more volumised but the strands actually felt thicker in texture as well. My hair felt soft and smooth, and it still smelt of lovely cloves, even the next day! My hair looked shinier than usual and had more volume for a few days after using the oil treatment.

Overall I thought this was a great product and I will definitely use it regularly to help keep my hair looking its best. Old Wives Tail are currently running a competition where you could win not one but two hair oils of your choice! Which ones would you choose?

Vegan Life Magazine

The times really are changing for veganism, and in a good way too! Since I went vegan over a year and a half ago, I've definitely noticed it becoming more mainstream. One way this has happened is through the launch of several online vegan magazines, all of which are fantastic. And now there is set to be an actual published magazine devoted to the vegan lifestyle! Vegan Life magazine is a bi-monthly magazine set to launch in the UK on the 21st August. Each issue of Vegan Life magazine features over 100 pages of food, recipes, fashion, beauty, interviews with vegan chefs, celebrities, activists and sportspeople and lots more. The magazine can be found in supermarkets, and the first issue will be in a polybag with its sister publication, OM Yoga and Lifestyle magazine, both for the bargain price of £3.95. From the second issue onwards, the magazine will cost £3.95 per issue, while a yearly subscription will cost £14.50 (instead of £23.70 – a saving of over 35%). A digital subscription will cost £9.99 for one year (six issues) and will be available on all platforms. 

 Vegan Life magazine have invited me to join their team as a blogger! Each issue, I will be writing a blog post on an article or feature from the magazine. I have been lucky enough to have seen a preview of the launch issue and I can safely say you won't be disappointed! There are loads of great features in this issue, such as a divine looking recipe for apple crumble cheesecake that I cannot wait to try out, plus an interview with new vegan David Haye, and a debate on whether it's OK to eat eggs from your own hens (personally I don't think it is, but I am interested to read what other people think!). Are you excited for the launch of Vegan Life magazine? Don't forget to follow them on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest news and updates. 

 

No Bake Lotus Biscuit Spread Bars

Lotus biscuit spread. If you've tried it, I needn't say more. If you haven't, then get yourself off to the shop and buy some asap so you understand what I'm talking about! Basically, Lotus biscuit spread is heaven in a jar a spread made of those little caramelised spiced biscuits that you usually get when you order a coffee, and it comes in a smooth and a crunchy version. Both Lotus biscuits and the spreads happen to be vegan! Apart from spreading it on toast and eating it straight from the jar with a spoon, I was eager for some different ways to eat it. I love caramel slices, so I was excited to find this recipe for no bake Lotus spread bars. I tried out the recipe and they are so delicious, albeit very rich! As it is an American recipe I decided to tweak it to make an English (and vegan) version for those who find the former tricky to follow. These bars are very sweet, so you could probably reduce the amount of icing sugar in them if you prefer. 

 Ingredients ♥ 250g icing sugar
♥ Half a packet of vegan digestive biscuits, crushed into crumbs
♥ 225g vegan margarine, melted
♥ 275g Lotus biscuit spread
♥ 400g dark chocolate
♥ 4 tablespoons Lotus biscuit spread Method1. In a large bowl, mix together the icing sugar and digestive biscuit crumbs. In a separate bowl mix the melted margarine and 275g Lotus biscuit spread, then add to the dry ingredients and mix well to combine.
2. Press the crust into an 8 inch square cake tin lined with baking parchment.
3. Break the chocolate up into squares, place in a microwavable bowl and add the 4 tablespoons of Lotus biscuit spread. Microwave in 30 second intervals until melted, then stir. Pour over the crust and smooth over with a spatula if necessary.
4. Place in the fridge and allow to set for at least an hour. Lift the baking parchment out of the tin and carefully slice into squares, or smaller pieces if you prefer.

These did not last long in my house! I think next time I'm going to try the recipe using the crunchy spread. If you give these a go I would love to hear how they turn out.

The Clean Up Cruelty Pledge

Clean Up Cruelty is a campaign run by Cruelty Free International to help raise awareness of animal tested household products such as cleaning products, dishwasher tablets, washing-up liquid and air fresheners. To test the ingredients that go into these products, animals such as rabbits, mice, hamsters and rats are injected, gassed, force-fed and killed. Whilst the law has recently changed meaning that new cosmetics cannot be tested on animals in the European Union, the UK government has failed to keep its promise to ban animal testing of household products.  

Rabbits, hamsters, rats and mice have traditionally been injected, gassed, force-fed and killed to test the ingredients that go into everyday household products such as washing up liquid, air fresheners and dishwasher tablets. - See more at: http://www.crueltyfreeinternational.org/en/household-products#sthash.Fk5FFV4K.dpuf

Rabbits, hamsters, rats and mice have traditionally been injected, gassed, force-fed and killed to test the ingredients that go into everyday household products such as washing up liquid, air fresheners and dishwasher tablets. - See more at: http://www.crueltyfreeinternational.org/en/household-products#sthash.Fk5FFV4K.dpuf

Rabbits, hamsters, rats and mice have traditionally been injected, gassed, force-fed and killed to test the ingredients that go into everyday household products such as washing up liquid, air fresheners and dishwasher tablets. - See more at: http://www.crueltyfreeinternational.org/en/household-products#sthash.Fk5FFV4K.dpuf

There are many cruelty-free cleaning products available, proving that animal testing is not just cruel but unnecessary too. To be sure that the products you are buying are truly cruelty-free, you should only buy from companies that have been awarded the Leaping Bunny logo as this means no animal testing is conducted or commissioned for finished products or ingredients in any phase of product development by the company, its laboratories or its suppliers after a fixed cut-off date. Marks and Spencer's and the Co-operative's own brand cleaning products are certified as cruelty-free, as are brands such as Astonish, Method, Ecozone and Bio-D. Check the Go Cruelty Free website regularly for a full up-to-date list of cruelty-free companies. There are several things that we can all do to help end animal testing of household products: 1. Sign the petition to urge the government to implement the ban as soon as possible. Don't forget to share it on Facebook and Twitter to get your friends involved as well. 2. Send this tweet to the Home Office:@UKHomeOffice @CrueltyFreeIntl It's time to ban animal tests for cleaning products AND ingredients #cleanupcruelty http://bit.ly/14Me98u  3. Take the Clean Up Cruelty Pledge to only buy Leaping Bunny certified products for your home, and make sure you stick to it! Once you know which brands are cruelty-free and where to buy their products it really is easy to stick to the pledge. 4. Take the Clean Up Cruelty Pledge to only buy Leaping Bunny certified products for your workplace. Simply download the pledge form and guidance notes (which can be found here), complete the form stating which Leaping Bunny certified products you use and send it back to Cruelty Free International. In return you will receive a certificate which you can display in your workplace to let everyone know that you are cruelty-free! Before I set up my holistic therapy business I knew that I wanted to only use Leaping Bunny certified products in my treatments. I have to check the company list regularly though, as on a couple of occasions I discovered that I had been continuing to buy from companies that had had their certification revoked without me realising. I managed to find some even better products though, and when I found out about the Clean Up Cruelty Pledge I couldn't wait to apply for my certificate. As well as only using cruelty-free beauty products and essential oils, I also only buy cruelty-free cleaning products for my business. I am lucky that my treatment room is right next to a Co-op, so all my cleaning products, washing-up liquid, hand wash etc comes from there (Co-op clearly label which products are vegan too). I filled out the form and sent it off, and I promptly received my certificate which is proudly displayed in the waiting room.  

 I am really proud to be a cruelty-free consumer, and I have had new clients come to me because I am a cruelty-free and vegan business. I highly recommend making your workplace cruelty-free no matter what line of work you are in as it shows that you are caring and compassionate. Vegan/cruelty-free consumers would much rather give their custom to ethical businesses, so by taking the pledge you could be opening up your doors to new and loyal customers. Don't forget to like Cruelty Free International on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest news and updates.

Vegan Yorkshire Pudding Recipe

In my house we have a roast dinner nearly every Sunday without fail. We don't always have Yorkshire puddings though so I completely forgot about them when I went vegan and it never occurred to me that you must be able to make a vegan version. That was up until a few months ago, when a lovely lady called Heather posted a recipe in a vegan Facebook group. Heather had played around with a non-vegan recipe she had found and discovered that mixing the egg replacer and water in a blender rather than by hand yielded the best results. Intrigued, I decided to give the recipe a go, and upon tasting the golden, crispy puddings I was hooked! My roast dinners just don't feel complete without a couple of these delicious Yorkshires anymore. 

  I've had a few requests for the recipe since I posted some pictures in a recent makes and bakes post, so without further ado, here it is. This recipe makes 6 large Yorkshire puddings, but you can halve the quantities to make 4 smaller ones.  Ingredients

♥ 100g plain flour
♥ 250 ml unsweetened non-dairy milk of your choice
♥ 4 tsp egg replacer powder such as Ener-G or Orgran
♥ 8 tbsp water

Method
1. Preheat oven to 230°C/gas mark 8.

2. Add a drop of oil to each section of your Yorkshire pudding pan and place in the oven to heat.

3. Whisk together the flour and milk.

4. In a blender/food processor combine the egg replacer and water until very fluffy.

5. Quickly fold the "egg" into the flour mixture.

6. Once the pan is very hot, pour the Yorkshire mixture into the sections and put back into the oven. The oil should sizzle when the batter is added to it.

7. After 15-20 minutes take the pan out of the oven (the tops should be starting to crisp at this point) and "pop" the tops with the back of a spoon to expose the centres. Put the Yorkshires back in the oven for a further 10-15 minutes or until cooked through.

 The trick to successful Yorkshire puddings is to ensure that both the oven and the oil in the pan are very hot! If you try out this recipe I'd love to hear how your puddings turn out.

 

Restaurant Review: Wildebeest Cafe in Falmouth, Cornwall

Vegan cafes/restaurants are hard to come by. Sure, there are plenty of vegetarian restaurants that have a few vegan options, but there aren't many totally vegan ones. So imagine my excitement when I heard that a brand new vegan cafe was opening not far from me! Wildebeest is a new cafe/bar in Falmouth, Cornwall. They are open all day for breakfast, coffee and cake, lunch and dinner. The food takes inspiration from all over the world, and local produce is used where possible. Wildebeest also sell a selection of vegan beers, wines and cocktails. I couldn't wait to visit, so when my friends and I were deciding where to go for our next meal out, I suggested the Wildebeest. Although my friends aren't vegan or vegetarian, they are open to trying different foods and were just as excited as I was to go there! 

 

 The cafe is small but cosy. The menu is written on a big blackboard on the wall. What I love about Wildebeest's menu is that it changes regularly; it is nice to be able to have different options to choose from every time you visit a restaurant. Here was the menu on the night we visited: 

 I decided to try the gnocchi. I'd never tried it before and I wasn't disappointed. The pesto was so creamy and delicious - absolutely bursting with flavour. The cashew parmesan was really tasty too. 

 Both my friends went for the Mex Mix (minus the cashew cheese). Chloe has a nut allergy and Zoe is coeliac, so after discussing their dietary requirements with the lovely waitress, they were advised on which dishes would be suitable for them. It felt a little strange that for once I did not have to mention my requirements to the staff! 

 We all thoroughly enjoyed our main courses, which were really filling. But no matter how full you are there's always room for dessert, right? Zoe had the raw raspberry cheesecake with coconut whipped cream, Chloe had the lemon and blueberry cupcake and I had the chocolate brownie (warmed!) with a scoop of homemade chocolate ice cream. We all loved our desserts, and I can safely say (after sampling all three dishes!) that they were among the best vegan desserts I've had. I hope the raspberry cheesecake is available next time I go to Wildebeest as I wouldn't mind having a large slice of it! 

 

I really enjoyed dining at the Wildebeest. The food was excellent and very reasonably priced, and the staff were really friendly and knowledgeable. The cafe was fully booked the night we went, and I've heard it's always really busy. I think it's a hit with both vegans and non-vegans alike! I can't wait to go back :)