What's in The Vegan Kind Box? May 2018

It's National Vegetarian Week!! So what better time to take a rummage through this month's The Vegan Kind Box? Here's a peep at everything inside TVK55...
 

Following on from my last post, I'm sticking with a veggie theme - not least because it happens to be National Vegetarian Week in the UK this week. I've been sitting on my hands on this one ever since I received my The Vegan Kind May box because I don't want to be that person doling out spoilers and ruining it for other subscribers. So I've been patient. But I'm done being patient....

It seems like forever since I reviewed a TVK box! I haven't yet been able to bring myself to explain my absence fully here, but I'm sure it'll come with time. The important thing is, I'm back now, so I'm raring to go on this month's box. 

For those of you who might be new to TVK subscription box, or have had your curiosity peaked with all the veggie chat going on this week, The Vegan Kind were the first in the UK to offer a 100% Vegan lifestyle subscription box. Each month, TVK subscribers receive a yummy parcel of vegan treats, food items, and other household products or toiletries through their door. What could be better, right? They even branched out into doing cruelty free beauty boxes! 

It really is a fantastic way to introduce yourself to new vegan products each month, and a great way to ease yourself into a more plant-based way of living.

So, what's in the Box?!

Herby GEOSticks

Crispy, herby little multigrain sticks made from rice, lentils and quinoa. These were the first item to fall prey to my office munchies (I tend to stash the contents of each box in my desk drawer each month) and contain some gorgeous Fairtrade ingredients from Japan and Peru.

Belvas Flaked Belgian Chocolate Truffles

Oh, my goodness! Very decadent, flakey-soft truffles made using 73% Peruvian cocoa. You'd never in a million years assume these were plant-based - they're so morish and indulgent!

BetterYou Daily Vitamin B12 Oral Spray

"Where do you get your B12?"... RIGHT HERE! 

I've always favoured oral and sublingual B12 supplements and I'm looking forward to trying this one. It has the added bonus of chromium and green tea extract to keep you awake and alert. Just 4 sprays per day delivers 48,000% of your RDA(!!) and with a pleasant apricot flavour. 

I Love Snacks Californian Smoked Almonds

Are you a nutter like me? If you're partial to a tasty hit of healthy fats, these will be right up your alley. And if portion control is an issue then the handy little mini-packs mean you can't get too carried away. These are great for a quick afternoon pick me up. 

YumEarth Organic Fruit Snacks

SWEETS!! I love a good veggie jelly sweet and these are particularly tasty. They are flavoured using natural, organic fruit juices with no syrups or artificial colours/flavours. The icing on the cake is that they're also packing a hit of Vitamin C! 

Montezuma's Dark Chocolate Chilli Mini-Bar

There is no bad kind of mini-bar, and this little slab of pure joy packs quite a punch! You might have noticed Montezuma's creations in supermarkets, and this chilli variety was one of their original 5 products and inspired by a traditional Mexican recipe.

Turmerlicious Choco Latte

I'm really looking forward to trying this! I've heard amazing things about 'golden milk' turmeric lattes. This one is blended with coconut milk, ginger, cinnamon, black pepper and... well... turmeric (obvs). All you need to do is add hot water!

My Thoughts... 

To be honest, I've yet to receive a TVK box I didn't like! This one, however, is particularly wonderful! I love everything in it! As always, it's super value for money, containing 7 good-sized products worth over £23. It's a great combo of sweet, savoury and functional too. I think if I had to pick a favourite product of the bunch, it would have to be the Belvas truffles. They are spectacular, and really didn't last long. I could have done with another box! 

As always, there was a delicious recipe card included with the products for a yummy green veggie curry. 10p from each TVK55 box sold was also donated to Well Small Animal Rescue, which is a small cat rescue charity based in Lincolnshire. 

To subscribe to The Vegan  Kind, head over to thevegankind.com, pick your box, pick your subscription, and you're all set! The Lifestyle Box Subscription (which is what I have) starts from just £8 per month. Or, if you're a cruelty-free beauty lover, you might also love their bi-monthly Beauty Box.

The Vegan Kind also operates an online vegan supermarket - probably the biggest in the UK - where they offer a HUGE range of cruelty-free, plant based products for home delivery anywhere in the UK! 

What Veggie/Vegan Treats have you been enjoying for National Vegetarian Week?

UK Vegan Supermarket Finds - May

Meet the most exciting new vegan products I've discovered in UK supermarkets this month!

While I was picking my brain for new, fun, and useful content to start churning out now that I'm rediscovering my blogging mojo again, I got to thinking about what sort of posts my followers on Instagram (which I managed not to ditch during that dark period) have been liking the most, and...

It seems that people like it when you find new and exciting vegan products in UK supermarkets! I certainly do! It's why I'm always straight onto Insta to share them! So I figured it might be cool to try making a round-up blog post each month, featuring any delicious new plant-based products that have appeared on the market in the UK. Admittedly, these may only be new to me, but they're still worth sharing for anyone who might not know what to look out for...

Firstly... and most importantly....

Daiya Cheese comes to Sainsbury's!!

This discovery has been an absolute game-changer for me. I can absolutely live without cheese of any kind and, when I do dabble in non-dairy cheese, I'm happy to accept something that isn't quite how I remember dairy cheese to be, as long as it's semi-decent in its own right (thanks a bunch Violife and Sainsbury's Greek Style), but then I found Daiya Foods' Mozzerella Shreds and Medium Cheddar Farmhouse Block twinkling away next to the Vegenaise in my local Sainsbo's.

Not gonna lie, the price on these cheeses makes me unhappy (they're £4.50 a piece), but I couldn't not try them, as I've been hearing about Daiya ever since I first went vegan in January 2014, and I'm so pleased they're finally in the UK.

In short, these cheeses are pretty amazeballs. I'm going to do a separate post so I can talk more about them because they have the best texture and flavour of any vegan cheese I've tried. I'm still getting creative with them and figuring out new ways to use them (can you believe that I've actually forgotten a lot of ways you can eat cheese), but I'll be reporting back soon!

Sticking with Sainsbury's...

Vegan Summer Iced Coffee - SORTED!

Another brand that seems to have found its way across the pond is Califia Farms with their uber-posh almond milk creations. My local Sainsbury's started stocking these last year, but I didn't get round to trying them until recently. Again, not the most budget-friendly of brands (like Daiya, these products are coming all the way from the US/Canada so the price hike its kinda understandable) but well worth grabbing when you see them on offer, especially now that the weather is heating up.

Also worth mentioning here is the new Alpro Caffe range of soy drinks - which includes a salted caramel coffee and hazlenut coffee flavour, which are slightly friendlier on the purse. I've tried them all and they are GOOD!

Let's nip over to Tesco for a minute...

Quick and Easy Freezer Finds

These products might not be new to some of you, but I can't be the only one who hasn't been able to get my mitts on them until recently? The Itsu Vegetable Fusion Gyoza Dumplings have been on my shopping list for a long time, but only last week did I actually spot them when doing my online Tesco shop. I'm a massive fan of Asian cuisine, and dumplings are my jam so I will probably hoover all of these up in one go!

I also wanted to include these really handy bags of chickpea, bulgar wheat and mixed vegetables, because they look fantastic for a quick lunch thrown over  big salad with some yummy dressing. Exactly what I want for summer! And really affordable too! 

Aaaaaaaand, back to Sainsbo's....

Salty Vegan Chocolate Heaven!

I actually first discovered these Sweet'n'Salty Almond choc bars by Rhythm 108 in a The Vegan Kind box (and they completely rocked my world), but only recently did they appear in Sainsbury's. I almost cried with happiness! 

This is perhaps the best chocolate bar I've ever eaten - vegan or non vegan. Sainsbury's also carries the coconut variety, and there is also a choc hazelnut bar in the range (although not currently in Sainsbury's). At £1.25 each I think they're fairly reasonably priced. The bars could be a little bigger, but maybe that's a good thing for my muffin top in the long run. I could easily go mad on these! Throw one in your basket next time you're in Sainsbury's Free-From aisle - you won't regret it!

And finally... Superdrug!

Vegan, Cruelty Free Glow

Had to add a little mention for this vegan gradual tan lotion I snapped up in Superdrug this week. I go through phases of loving tan and really not caring about it at all, but since I got back from Gran Canaria (see my last post here) I'm loving my new, bronzed look for the first time in ages and I wanted a little something to help it last just a little bit longer. 

While most of my other body care products at the moment are from The Body Shop, their tan contains honey so that's a no-go for me. I used to be a fan of Johnson's Holiday Skin, but didn't like the smell, and I don't like the cruelty... ENTER Superdrug Gradual Tan Lotion. Not going to say too much about this as I want to do a Summer Bodycare post over the next few weeks, but it smells like holidays and I can't wait to try it out. I really hope it's amazing! 

Not sure if I'm going to be doing one of these posts every month, but I'll definitely be back in touch the next time I have a few exciting finds to share with you.

What new Vegan or Cruelty-Free products have you been trying lately?

Vegan Recipe: Cheezy Eggless Quiche using Mori-nu Silken Tofu

There's a reason you don't see many (or any) recipe posts flying around on this blog. It's because I'm not a very precise cook. Don't get me wrong, I can hold my own better than most in the kitchen but cooking, to me, has always just been an "okay, let's see what I can make with this then" sort of affair, and throwing in a bit of this and a bit of that to see how it turns out really doesn't translate well into a blog post. 

Recently, I was sent over some silken tofu to play with by the lovely folks over at Mori-nu UK. One of my go to uses for silken tofu has always been as a filling for quiche. I've made many many tofu quiches over the last 3 years and none of them have come out quite like the last. I do tend to use the same method each time, just with a slightly different brand or equipment. This is my attempt to share my method with you. This quiche can be made with any veggies or toppings you like. I tend to just use whatever I have in the fridge on any given day. 

I wouldn't say that I'm a lazy cook, but my favourite recipes are the ones where you can do a big part of the work quickly and simply. This recipe hinges on the humble blender. The quiche mixture itself is just a case of throwing ingredients into a blender and whizzing it up to the desired texture - which is considerably thicker than a regular egg quiche mixture. I tend to eyeball this, but I will attempt to quantify things in the recipe below. 

NOTE: I used a very shallow flan tin on this occasion, but the batter recipe below would easily fill a deeper tin (with adjusted cooking time), or even make 2 quiches! I had leftovers.

Ingredients

Quiche batter

1 pack - Mori-nu firm silken tofu

Heaped teaspoon - dijon mustard

A handful of your favourite shredded vegan cheese - with extra for topping

(I used Follow Your Heart Cheddar Shreds)

A pinch of sea salt

2 tbsp ground arrowroot (for setting - you could also use cornflour or chickpea flour, this was just what I had on hand)

1/2 tsp turmeric

Approx half cup of unsweetened non-dairy milk - or enough to get a thick batter-like consistency without blowing up your blender

(I would also add in 2 tbsp of nutritional yeast, but I was all out on this occasion)

Everything else...

Jus-rol shortcrust pastry sheet 

Medium onion - diced

Sliced tomatoes and mushrooms

Generous handful of spinach

Method

Place shortcrust pastry into your chosen dish/tin and part bake, as per pack instructions, for about 5mins - remove from oven and set aside.

Place all batter ingredients into a blender and blend to a thick, smooth consistency - add more seasonings to your own taste if desired.

Saute the onion and spinach until onion is translucent and spinach is wilted.

Place onion/spinach into pastry base and spread out.

Pour batter mixture over onion/spinach and mix well (a better way to do this would be to mix together in a bowl first and then pour into base, but I didn't have a bowl)

Top with sliced tomato and mushroom and sprinkle with more shredded cheese.

Bake in the oven at around 175 celsius, for 30mins - or until quiche is set

Trim crust (just for the sake of neatness, although I never bother doing this to be honest)

Allow to chill and set further before serving.

I am aware that this is at risk of sounding like the vaguest internet recipe in history, but I've always trusted my eyes when it comes to cooking, and I don't think this recipe needs to be over-complicated - because it just isn't! My tofu quiche has been lapped up in the past at family parties without me even getting the chance to mention that it is vegan. 

Silken tofu is a really great ingredient for egg replacement and handy to keep as a store-cupboard staple. You can also use it to add protein to smoothies or to create a thick, luxurious chocolate pudding. 

Not sure if this blog will be turning into a recipe blog any time soon, but I've got a few recipes that I'm working on with my new Instant Pot that I feel like I want to share very soon. 

What is your favourite way to use silken tofu? What would you have made with it?

Pinspiration - Vegan Halloween Treats

The only thing I'm more obsessed with than Pinterest is Halloween. As soon as October rolls around every year I'm all about ghosts, horror movies, and pumpkin in everything and I've always been a sucker for sweet treats. So, for today's post I thought I'd attempt to combine the two and present you with my top 5 Pinterest recipe picks, just in time for Halloween 2016. I really rely on Pinterest when it comes to finding great vegan recipes. A quick keyword search on Pinterest usually turns up all the recipes you will ever need. It's also cheaper than buying expensive cookbooks and brilliant for discovering fabulous new food blogs. It's a vegan's dream! So here are my top 5 picks for vegan Halloween treats...

(Note: Embedded widgets may not be visible on some mobile devices - switch to web view)

Healthy Pumpkin PopTarts from Recipe Girl:

PopTarts are so easy to make at home. Even though the regular kind (unfrosted) are usually vegan friendly, they are loaded with refined sugars and additives so this spooky homemade version should please both parents and kids alike. Simply sub for vegan butter and this recipe is perfect!

Chocolate Pumpkin Candies by Veggie Staples:

All you need for a batch of these pumpkin-based chocolate bites is a chocolate mould. Sub the honey for agave or maple syrup and you've got an entirely vegan sweet treat.

Healthier Halloween Bark by House of Vegan:

Doesn't this look fantastic! I'm definitely going to attempt to make a big slab of something like this this year (even though the only halloween party I'm having this year is by myself, on the sofa, watching bad horror flicks on Netflix, so this should do nicely). This is a sweet and salty combination using crushed pretzels, seeds and homemade nut-butter candy corn.

Sugar-Free Chocolate Pumpkin Fudge by My Darling Vegan:

You gotta love fudge, regardless of the time of year but what a great idea to add pumpkin as an ingredient! Although we don't celebrate it here in the UK, recipes like this would be perfect for Thanksgiving as well as Halloween.

Monster Rice Cereal Treats by Fork & Beans: 

Definitely saved the most impressive for last here! Cara at Fork & Beans is one of the most creative cooks I've come across. All of her recipes are also dairy, egg and gluten-free. What's more, she's produced an eBook showcasing all of her Halloween creations. Perfect if you're planning a party this Halloween!

*****

Tough to pick out just 5 from the many thousands of great pins I've come across lately! If you want more fang-tastic vegan food inspiration you can follow my Halloween-themed Pinterest board. 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!! 

Summer of TVK | 3 Box Bonanza!

Well HELLO there! Once again, I'm going to kick off another post by apologising for how awful I've been with this blog. In my defense, I am on a mission at the moment to figure out a way to generate my own personal blog content more efficiently alongside the content I create for clients as part of my paid job. I hope this post goes some way to making up for it, because I've got a bumper summer crop of The Vegan Kind* for you today. 3 whole months' worth of wholesome, cruelty-free, vegan food and lifestyle goodness! 

The Vegan Kind TVK 32 - June 2016

The TVK box for June threw me right into the mood for summer. I guess they were as excited as I was, because the stars of this box were the Green People Edelweiss Sun Lotion and natural tan accelerator, and the Smooze coconut and mango fruit lollies. The only thing that could have made this box better would be a plane ticket, a palm tree, and a good book (fat chance of that for me at the moment though - busy busy busy - maybe next year). 

Also tucked away in this box was a glorious Chocolate and Raspberry Cookie from The Foods of Athenry. I'm a huge fan of their baked goods after discovering their gluten-free mince pies last christmas and they're a regular with TVK. The Good Full Stop cocoa orange bar was a refreshing change for me from the Nakd version, and I'd not got round to trying the Granovita Vegetable Pate, despite seeing it around multiple times. Also... cheese and onion Hoots! Enough said. 10/10 TVK!

The Vegan Kind TVK33 - July 2016

I have another apology to make (that makes 2 so far this post, I'm going for a record) and that apology is to Angelic Gluten Free, whose chocolate, coconut and oat slices were too delicious and were the only item out of all 3 boxes not to survive to the photography stage of this post (although, the Yushoi Snapea Soy and Balsamic Vinegar rice sticks bag also looks mysteriously empty... my bad). Believe me when I say that you need them in your belly. I thought I could just pinch one and photograph the rest. How wrong I was. I will make it up to them by annihilating their stock at Vegfest London in October. 

Massive shoutout once again to Harper's Bizarre for another TVK exclusive candle. I'm lucky enough to call Victoria Harper a friend and her candles are always welcome in my house. Particularly her raspberry and rose, so The Raspberry Kind was very well received. 

This was a very sweet box, with Goody Good Stuff cola bottles, a Conscious Chocolate Goji and Coconut mini-bar, and a delightfully refreshing Virtue Lemon Iced Tea in addition to the Angelic cakey goodness, but I also o-loved (see what I did there) the Oloves chilli and garlic olives.

The Vegan Kind TVK34 - August 2016

Hard to choose a best out of all 3 summer boxes, but... I think this one just takes the trophy, purely for the Follow Your Heart Veganegg. Prior to becoming vegan, I remember citing eggs as something I could never give up. I was extremely 'meh' about cheese and I've never been able to stand the smell of bacon, but eggs were my bae (if I were the sort of person to use the word 'bae' *shudder*). I think I'm going to save my thoughts on this product for a full review and maybe even a taste test video. 

Elsewhere in the box, I've thoroughly enjoyed munching my way through the Hippeas Far out Fajita chickpea puffs, the Landgarten crunchy choco balls, and the Squirrel Sisters Coconut and Cashew energy bar over the last few days. We had my brother's 6 year old step-daughter staying over on Thursday night and she was only too happy to share the Candy Kittens Sweet Pineapple candies with me (in fact, she rather liked them - see below).

I shared the @candykittens_uk from my @thevegankind box with my brother's 6yr old step-daughter (yes, I do occasionally share food - shocking, I know)... I think she liked them! 💚💚💚 #aww #vegan #vegansofig #vegansweets #cute #thevegankind #tvk34 #candy #sharingiscaring

A photo posted by Lisa Clare 🇬🇧 (@thatlisaclare) on Aug 19, 2016 at 9:01am PDT

And, finally, there was the Native Unearthed Volcanic Crystals and Aloe deodorant, which I haven't got round to testing out yet, but that I have high hopes for. I was also lucky enough to get a £5 John Lewis/Waitrose gift card with my box, which I donated to my preggers sister-in-law towards baby clothes as my first duty as an Auntie-to-be. 

I know I say this every time I review a TVK box, but I've been getting these boxes (initially as a paying customer and now as a blogger) for well over a year now, and I can honestly say they never send out a bad box. They are amazing value for money and there's always something new to try with TVK. It's never the 'same old stuff' with them. I've never felt tempted to order from any of the other vegan subscription box services that have sprung up in the UK (TVK were the first). 

For more information and to subscribe to The Vegan Kind Lifestyle Box visit www.thevegankind.com

My Vegan Life (In Pictures)

I've been vegan for over two years now. It's not a secret. I've completely embraced it in every aspect of my life and it's been the most positive thing I've ever done for myself - although I didn't actually do it for myself to begin with - but I don't talk about it much. Sure, I'll wax lyrical about cruelty-free beauty products or what I had for dinner and I think I've used all of the vegan hashtags at some point in the last two years, but I don't really get deep and ethical about it online. To be honest, I'm a little self-conscious because I don't really fancy being stereotyped, and I don't want it to overshadow other aspects of my identity. Today, however, I really feel like giving a bit of insight into my day-to-day life as a vegan...

Vegans are some of the most food-obsessed people I've ever come across, and I'm right in there with them. It's not because we have trouble finding food either; it's more to do with the fact that a whole new world of food options opens up to you when you ditch old habits. Hand on heart, I can honestly say I don't miss anything that I used to eat - mainly because I've been veggie for most of my life, and because, a lot of the time, the meals I cook now are just plant-based versions of the meals I used to make.  I may experience the odd feels when I see someone with blue cheese or a poached egg, but I definitely don't want to eat those things now. They don't register as food with me any more. Those feels are pure nostalgia and have been relegated to the 'been there, done that' folder in my brain. 

Pizza Express Pianta Pizza

Nowadays, you'll find me getting ridiculously overexcited about artichokes, guacamole and sweet potatoes (although not on the same plate). Yesterday I baked a swede in the oven and devoured it whole, sprinkled with salt, pepper and nutritional yeast. I never enjoyed steak or bacon as much I enjoyed that swede yesterday. I'd describe my current diet as high-carb-low-fat, with mostly whole foods, although that may not be reflected in some of the photos in this post. We're all allowed treats once in a while, and vegan treats are positively saintly compared to their meat, dairy and egg laden counterparts. I shop in regular supermarkets and eat out at regular chain restaurants. 

Beauty has been more of a challenge. I'm still using up the dregs of my pre-vegan makeup stash because I'm not in a position to be able to afford to throw away expensive makeup. Non-vegan ingredients are harder to identify on beauty products and animal testing is a minefield thanks to various legal loopholes. Thanks to sites like Logical Harmony though, I'm able to make more informed choices now and, although there are occasional slip ups - I bought myself a new Barry M eyeshadow palette recently and the primer included with it turned out to contain beeswax - you live and learn) - I now know which brands to avoid and which brands offer amazing cruelty-free products for vegans. 

I wouldn't say that being vegan has changed anything about my personality or who I am as a person, although I'm definitely more mindful now in my day to day life. I've learned that it's okay to ask questions and not to be scared to say no to something because it conflicts with what you feel is right, because people who belong in your life, and deserve your time, will always understand and respect your choices. The most powerful thing I've learned is that it's okay to change your opinion based on new information. One of the most humble things we can do in our lives is to be constantly in search of knowledge and to grow and shape our lives around the things we experience. Some things we see along the way may be shocking and unpleasant, but sometimes they make us better people. I'm definitely a happier, healthier person today because of those things. 

Now that I'm starting to ease myself back into regular blogging again, I'm going to try and share more vegan lifestyle related content, some amazing resources, and maybe even dabble in the odd plant-based recipe post (although don't get too excited about that - I'm a 'fly by the seat of my pants' kinda cook and very rarely use precise measurements or keep track of what ingredients I'm throwing in my pot). 

For more snippets of my vegan lifestyle, feel free to stalk me over on Instagram and Pinterest. I'd love to see you all there! 

Unboxing The Vegan Kind #TVK29

This month's The Vegan Kind* lifestyle box had a lot to live up to. It's March. March means Easter. and Easter means treats. Luckily, vegan and cruelty free treats are what TVK do best. Somehow I've managed to keep the lid on this box for almost an entire month, and finally broke the seal on it on Easter Sunday to check out what was inside (and apply it to my face)... 

Considerit Chocolate Cream Egg

No Easter is complete without at least one creme egg, and vegan/dairy-free folks no longer have to miss out. This version by ConsiderIt is ever-so-slightly more luxurious than it's Cadburys counterpart, made from hand-tempered Belgian dark chocolate with a fondant filling. It's also not as sickly as the original, which is a bonus for me. Also, excuse my fake-tan-stained nails in this pic (because it appears that 6 years of beauty blogging has taught me nothing)

Wheaty Red Hot Chilli Pepper Spacebar

I'm familiar with Wheaty products. One of the best things about my digital marketing internship with PETA was that their offices are just around the corner from Vx in King's Cross and I could exploit their Wheaty gyro kebab wraps every day. The Spacebar is a first for me, and I found it most like a Pepperami/Frankfurter hotdog hybrid. I wouldn't say it was *red* hot, but then again I have a high tolerance for spice. 

Vegan For The Animals Magnet/Choose Compassion Sticker

These really are delightful. The Vegan Kind have thrown these into the box themselves, as an added extra. The magnet is now proudly stuck on the side of my filing unit in my office. I'm looking at it right now as I type this. I'm still looking for a home for the sticker. You can also buy these separately from the TVK website.

Hectares Red Onion & Black Pepper Sweet Potato Crisps

Always happy to find a bag of Hectares in my box. Hectares are a regular feature with TVK and they always manage to come up with great flavours that pack a punch. These have the moreish-ness of the red onion favour along with the bite of black pepper. Winner!

The Foods of Athenry Cookie Shots Brownie Biscuits

I love The Foods of Athenry. I devoured an entire box of their vegan, gluten-free mince pies over the festive period. They are a gorgeous family business hailing from Ireland, and these Cookie Shots are a cross between a biscuit and a mini brownie. I devoured them straight from the bag, but I must get my hands on some more because I feel like they'd be perfect for decorating a huge chocolate cake, which now obviously has to happen. 

Soypresso

Vegan, organic, fairtrade, recyclable packaging.. Soypresso is one seriously ethical iced coffee! I'm an absolute sucker for iced coffee and I'm drinking this as I write. Soypresso is the first cold coffee drink to be made from a soya base. 

So, once again, TVK can do no wrong. It shouldn't really be a surprise to me by now, to be honest. They're the most consistent subscription box service I've ever known (and I've tried a few and had my fair share of disappointing boxes). Their quarterly beauty boxes are also very special. Note to self - must order one of those soon. 

TVK monthly lifestyle boxes are £10 each (plus £3 P&P)
For more information about The Vegan Kind, visit their website at
www.thevegankind.com

You can also find them on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram

The Ultimate Festive Treats for a Plant-Based Christmas

I was going to do some epic Christmas gift-guides this year. I really was. I was even excited about doing them. Not really sure what happened but, with the influx of various gift guides already doing the rounds on my social media feeds, I lost my festive mojo a little. Long story short, I've compromised. This post, whilst being packed with last-minute festive treat ideas and stocking fillers for your vegan or dairy-intolerant loved ones (we're really not that difficult to buy for if you know where to look), is also dedicated to anyone who wants to indulge themselves with plant-based goodness over the festive season. 

 Vegan Life Magazine - December '15

If you're planning a cruelty-free Christmas there's no better place to start than with the December issue of Vegan Life Magazine*. This issue has you covered with recipes, gifts and vegan news and stories. Their subscription packages also make for amazing gifts for anyone looking to explore plant-based living in the new year. Doing Veganuary in 2016? This is your perfect companion! You can read via your tablet or pick up a print copy at Sainsburys, Tesco, WHSmith and other stockists. 

Artisan Grains Cashew & Cranberry Roast

I'm a huge fan of the Artisan Grains nut roasts. I've usually got one in the cupboard ready for my next roast dinner. They're also a hassle-free, last-minute Christmas dinner option. Just add water and bake in the oven. I'll be having this cashew and cranberry one on Boxing Day though, as part of a buffet. You can grab these roasts in Holland & Barratt, Tesco and Ocado. There are several varieties to choose from and all come with the TLC stamp of approval. 

The Vegan Kind Monthly Subscription Box

Let's talk about The Vegan Kind for a second: Their lifestyle boxes are the highlight of my month, every month. This month I've got two boxes to delight my palette. Their regular December box (I'll be unboxing TVK26 over the weekend, so stay tuned for that) and a one-off Christmas chocolate selection box, which is staying firmly sealed shut until Christmas day. TVK subscriptions are a real treat for anyone, not just for vegans. They always find the perfect combo of sweet and savoury snacks, eco-friendly and cruelty-free toiletries and household items, as well as interesting ingredients you may have never thought to try before. Perfect Christmas gift!

Moo Free Chocolate

Moo-Free have saved my chocolate cravings many a time over the last 2 years. Last year was my first Christmas as a vegan and I was scared to death that I wouldn't have any chocolate to line my stocking. Then I came across the Moo-Free selection boxes (available in Holland & Barrett, Sainsburys and other supermarkets) and advent calendars. As it turns out, this year I am practically overflowing with chocolate, but I still couldn't resist adding this mini chocolate santa bar to my festive stash. 

Booja Booja Fine De Champagne Truffles

If you want to go all-out posh with your choc this year, you've got to go for Booja Booja. There are loads of different varieties and flavours of these rich, naughty, truffles (including this box of 12 champagne truffles I received as a gift from my gorgeous boss) and they're widely available from Holland & Barrett, Waitrose, Ocado and other stockists. Don't be put off by the price - this box comes in at £9.49 - I can assure you the quality is more than worth it as a Christmas indulgence. As an added bonus, these chocs are also gluten and soy free and are made with coconut oil. 

Choc Shot Spiced Orange Liquid Chocolate

I'm still bummed about being unable to indulge in many of the festive seasonal selections at the likes of Costa and Starbucks, due to the presence of milk powder. Terry's chocolate orange is also off-limits. I'm seriously looking forward to mixing this extra special edition Choc Shot with some hot oat milk and smothering it in soy whip and marshmallows (see Freedom Mallows in the above pic - available from Holland & Barrett). This will be my Christmas Eve treat I think. You can pick up Choc Shot in most supermarkets. It's also perfect drizzled over desserts and porridge. 

Harper's Bizarre Handmade Soy Wax Candles

Couldn't not mention Harper's Bizarre, could I? These candles are one of my favourite things at the moment and Victoria has, once again, come up with some gorgeous Christmas fragrances this year. My favourites include Jingle Bells, Holy Moley and Figgy Pudding. There is still some availability on the Harper's website for these Christmas candles, but be quick! I can also recommend their entire range. For a few of my other favourite Harper's winter smells, see this post.

More Top Festive Tips

- Stalk supermarket free-from aisles for dairy and egg free treats such as dark chocolate pennies, chocolate santas and other nibbles.

- Loads of supermarket own-brand mince pies are accidentally vegan. Aldi's mince pies have no dairy or egg ingredients at all and are an absolute bargain!

- Holland & Barrett is your best friend for DIY vegan/gluten-free Christmas hamper fillers, as well as veggie party nibbles, non-dairy cheeses and roasts.

- If you want to be super-lazy, there's still time to order yourself (or a loved one) a luxury, vegan-friendly Christmas hamper. There are loads of options now. Planet Organic, Archie Browns and Hotel Chocolat all have amazing vegan and vegetarian selections and can still ship in time for Christmas. 

- Of course, you could always give a gift to the animals on behalf of a vegan/vegetarian loved one. Many animal sanctuaries, shelters and charities offer sponsorship gifts. Why not adopt a turkey? Or donate food and hay to rescued animals? 

I'm really looking forward to Christmas this year. Last year was the trial run and this time around I'm 100% on the ball and ready. I'm catering all of the veggie options at my family's annual Boxing Day gathering and have enough treats in my hoard to keep myself, my gluten-free sister in law and my dairy-free niece extremely happy over Christmas. 

Wishing all of my readers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from TLC xxx

Warming Winter Fragrances by Harper's Bizarre Candles

Don't get me wrong, okay, I'm a complete candle freak 12 months of the year. As someone who lives with animals, scented candles are an eco-friendly way to counteract their various whiffs. However, I find them to be particularly comforting during the Winter months. One brand I have really come to love over the past year or so is Harper's Bizarre. Their candles are handmade from 100% soya wax, are eco friendly and come fully accredited by The Vegan Society as being cruelty-free and free from animal ingredients. Today I wanted to share with you a handful of their scents I've been particularly enjoying since the night have started creeping in...

Harper's Bizarre, based in Hull, is the baby of a lovely lady called Victoria, who I have now come to consider a friend. She makes each batch by hand and dreams up each original scent herself. Her quirky personality shines through in her products and the scents are truly unique compared to other candle brands (she recently came up with a scent named 'Chocolate puppies').  The candles come with a double wick for an even burn with an approximate burn time of 20hrs each. The fragrances are strong and carry wonderfully. Nothing worse than a scented candle you can only smell when your nose is in the tin. 

The fragrances I'm loving the most at the moment include the following...

Raspberry & Rose 

This is a year-round favourite if I'm honest, but I couldn't do a favourites round-up without including it. I love a fruit and floral combo. This candle is at its most gorgeous when burned in the kitchen.

Snuggley Blanket 

I find these kinds of scents to be the most comforting once the weather cools down and the nights get darker. Harper's version is particularly lovely and I always have it in the house. My favourite time to burn this one is at bedtime. 

Scary Mary

This is a new seasonal candle for Autumn/Winter 2015 and continues with the fruity/floral theme. I'm obsessed with it! Victoria has taken much inspiration from Halloween this year with other seasonal candles including 'Zombielicious' and 'Dirty Crow'. 

Pumpkin Apple Slice

Okay, this one isn't widely available as it was purely made as an experiment. However, it seriously smells like Autumn in a tin and I'm currently rallying a petition for it to make a more permanent comeback in 2016. Victoria sells her one-off experiments at events and vegan fayres so look out for her at any upcoming Christmas markets. You might find a hidden treasure! Check out her website for more info. 

Harper's Candles collections range from florals, to aromatics, to patisserie so there's something for every taste or mood. Of course, now that the holiday period is looming, the Christmas selections are also creeping onto the site and I can 100% vouch for those too. Jingle Bells and Let it Snow were particular favourites in my house last year. 

Harper's Bizarre candles are priced at £8 each, or 3 for £20. They make pretty gifts as well as a special treat to fight the winter blues. I don't know where I'd be without them! 

For more info or to place an order, visit

harperscandles.com

What scents do you find particularly comforting over the winter months? What are your favourite Harper's Bizarre fragrances? 

Planet Organic Launch 2015 Christmas Hamper Selection

What the heck, I'm going in with the first Christmas-themed postings, seen as my inbox is really starting to fill up with these exciting Christmas launches. Thought I'd get the bauble rolling (see what I did there, hawhaw), with these gorgeous selection hampers just launched by Planet Organic* for Christmas 2015. 

I love me some Planet Organic and, even though I'm no longer resident in London to browse their bountiful shelves in person, I still go potty for their mail-order selections when I really feel like a treat. These guys really know how to spoil those of us after a wholesome vegan or gluten-free indulgeance. These selections have been thought out to cater to veggies, vegans and coeliacs alike and range in price from just £16.99 up to a whopping £480 (one can dream, right?) Here are a handful that caught my eye...

1. The Chocolate Lover - £45
2. Coffee Addict - £16.99
3. The Alternative Baker - £40
4. The Gluten Free Goodies - £50

Each selection is clearly tagged as to what is vegan-friendly or gluten-free. Other options include organic beauty hampers, beer selections and juicing packages (complete with Vitamix - drool). Other gift ideas available from the Planet Organic site include chocolate-making workshops, massage vouchers and spa days. Perfect if you want to really treat someone in your life or just indulge yourself with something extra special over the Christmas period (because that's totally allowed as well).

Browse all gift ideas and Christmas hamper selections over at
planetorganic.com

They are also offering free delivery on orders over £50 and an express delivery option.

How do you plan on treating yourself, or a loved one this Christmas? What are your favourite Christmas treats?

*Disclosure: Post contains affiliate links
** All stock images for this post sourced from planetorganic.com