Vbites Vegan Food and Cookbook

Vegan food has had a bit of a bad reputation in the past. When people think of vegan food, they only think of salads and tasteless fake meats, but bland vegan food is a thing of the past. Due to the bountiful health and environmental benefits of veganism, we here at The Amazing Blog have put a lot of thought into the idea of starting a vegan diet. When we learned the story behind Vbites founder, Heather Mills, we were inspired to try out veganism for ourselves. After enduring a devastating motorcycle accident, Heather discovered that the best way to heal her body was from the inside out. Which meant using a holistic approach rooted in a vegan diet. This story helps to explain why she was determined to create delicious foods that satisfy every craving, while nourishing the body. After learning her story, we were even more thrilled to receive a sampling of the Meat-Free products from this pioneering and award-winning plant-based brand at Vbites.  

Eating less meat or cutting it out completely can be daunting for many individuals, which is why Vbites products are perfect for anyone who needs a little help getting their foot in the door when it comes to becoming a vegan. Vbites offers a wide array of vegan products including meat-free, dairy-free, and fish-free products. To help with meal preparations, we would suggest using The LoveBites recipe book. This cookbook from Vbites comes with each of their Plant-Based Kits, which offers 60 new easy-to-follow recipes to try out and fall in love with. You can whip up delicious alternatives to some of your favourite meals like shepherd’s pie or asparagus quiche that are all completely vegan. From starters to soups, salads and main dishes, these recipes have definitely inspired us to cook more hearty meals that make us feel good from the inside out.

Our personal favourite of the Vbites selection that we tried was the Meat-Free Duck Hoisin (£2.99 for 150g). We added it to a veggie stir-fry and were licking our plates clean. We had some friends over to it try out and they were amazed to learn what they thought was a duck hoisin stir fry was in fact 100% vegan! Coming in a close second was the Meat-Free Lincolnshire Style Sausages (£2.69 for 295g) which we plated up as Bangers 'n Mash for a quick Sunday night supper (with a dollop of baked beans). They truly did taste like savoury sausages and certainly satisfied one very hungry male guest! 

So whether you are already practising a vegan lifestyle or you are considering starting, these Vbites will help you to incorporate some seriously tasty and healthy meals into your diet. You can check out the wide array of Vbites vegan products on their website here. 

Friday Feature - Breadren Cooking Classes

Bread. It’s perhaps one of our favourite comfort carbs not only at The Amazing Blog but for most of us, and the Breadren Cooking Class will teach you how to make it but with an artisan twist. You can learn how to make artisan bread from the comfort of your own home, which sounds fantastic to us. You will be taught by the bread-master Baker Max Tobias at the London-based artisan bakery, Breadren. Breadren, is holding cooking classes with dietary restrictions in mind. They understand the daily struggle if you’re gluten-free, vegan or even vegetarian, and they’re here to broaden your horizons. Their ethos is to promote natural, unpretentious food. You won't learn just how to bake, however, as some of their star recipes include roasted cauliflower with tahini, quinoa with roasted brussel sprouts, crispy kale & fresh pomegranate, Vietnamese-style summer rolls, charred sprouting broccoli with harissa, and matcha and coconut mochi cake.

We’ve often pined for the baking abilities of those we see on the British Bake Off, and now the abilty to shape round loaves, rolls and batards, to knead and proof dough, and manipulating temperatures for the ultimate loaf is at our fingertips. Both sweet and savoury baked goods are incorporated into the classes, and both naughty and nice recipes! You needn’t be trapped by trendy food fads and uninspired ‘free from’ diets. Their recipes naturally forego ingredients like eggs, sugar, wheat or dairy so you can keep to your diet restrictions if necessary, whilst cooking and eating some tasty food.

Vegan Cornbread

There are classes once a month throughout the year, ranging from ‘Vegan Seasonal Cooking and Baking’ to ‘Seasoning & Spice’ classes. However, if you prefer cooking around your loved ones you can book a private cooking class on everyday cooking or a themed cooking class for you and your friends and enjoy the experience. Breadren uses local and seasonal ingredients wherever possible, sourcing primarily from London and the South East, an added bonus.

You can book a cooking class here from £55, and book a private cooking tutorial here for a small group of 2-5 persons for £60 per person.

Spreads - Savvy, Keen Nut Butter, Erbology and Ogilvy's

We are surrounded by so many healthy and so-called ‘delicious’ alternatives to our favourite toast toppers and sandwich fillers. Here at The Amazing Blog, we have compiled our favourite natural spreads that will give our usual peanut butter and chocolate spread a run for their money. Today we are so aware of what we are putting into our body and Savvy Spreads, Keen Nut Butter, Erbology and Ogilvy’s will ensure we remain beautiful from the inside out.

Firstly, we are bringing you a taste of the Mediterranean with Savvy’s Sweet Sesame Spreads in three different flavours, Carob & Honey, Chocolate and their award-winning Date.

Astoundingly, there are only up to 5 ingredients in each spread, and each is from a totally natural source. The founder of Savvy Spreads uses an ancient Mediterranean preserve recipe and gave it a 21st Century update for all the family to enjoy. We had full confidence that we were spreading pure nutrition on our morning toast and it felt great. Savvy Spreads can be used in sandwich fillers, cake flavouring, crepes and even porridge toppers. All spreads are gluten free and vegan friendly. We loved that it satisfied our sweet tooth without damaging our health. But don't just take our word for it, try out these delicious healthy spreads for yourself here.  

We are particularly excited at the discovery of a mouth-watering and all-natural nut butter. Peanut butter fanatics will love Keen Nut Butter, an indulgent creamy spread free from added sugar, salt and artificial flavouring.

There is a wide range of flavours to choose from, something most nut butter brands are lacking. We had the opportunity to try the Triple Nut flavour and were not disappointed. The divine smell itself left our stomachs rumbling before we’d even tried it, and we loved the rich taste and buttery texture. It melted beautifully on warm toast to provide us with a nutritious and indulgent breakfast or a midday snack. If you’re keen to get your hands on this guilt-free nut butter get your own here for £2.99 per jar. 

If jam is more up your street, we have the perfect organic substitution. Erbology have created a range of delicious Sea Buckthorn jams, of which we had the opportunity to try the apple flavour.

Rather than a simple sugar high, these jams contain a host of vitamins, minerals and Omega 3,6,9 + 7 that is rarely found in such a concentrated form. As avid beauty enthusiasts, we were ecstatic to learn that the antioxidants in the jam promotes healthy skin and hair. Radiant skin and thick shiny locks while satisfying sweet cravings, that’s our kind of spread!  We thought it made a tasty topping to our porridge and a delectable addition to afternoon tea scones, along with a spoonful of clotted cream. If you want to watch your waistline but don’t want to give up your favourite sweet spreads, try out the Sea Buckthorn Apple jam here for £8.90. 

Last, but not least, Ogilvy’s has produced a British honey range with a difference.

The nectar collected to create the honey comes from a wide variety of plants and flowers, which gives each one its own unique taste. We were lucky enough to try the Borage, Heather and Wildflower honeys. We loved the traceability of these spreads; the Borage nectar was collected in Warwickshire, the Heather nectar in the Derbyshire Peak District, while the Wildflower nectar came from gardens and hedgerows in the heart of England. The differing textures, richness and fragrances provided a refreshing variety. The runnier Borage honey was great as a sweetener in porridge or in warm drinks. Whereas the Heather honey was rich and thick which made it an ideal toast topper. Check out the range of Ogilvy’s British honey range here for just £5.59 each.

Cookbooks Special

Here at The Amazing Blog, we don’t just enjoy eating great food, we love feeding our culinary skills in the hope of creating some delicious dishes ourselves. In the run up to Christmas there are a plethora of cookbooks out there to buy, but we've picked a few of our favourites to share with you. Some are inspired by a range of cultures, others inspiring you to spice up your favourite meat. The countless mouth-watering recipes will have you running to the kitchen to try them out for yourself.

The Nomadic Kitchen Spices & Spandex is a charming cookbook following Tom Perkins and Matt Chennells on a cycling adventure with a difference.

Part travelogue and part recipe book, the book features 65 recipes inspired from the 26 counties which the boys travelled to in 501 days. Starting their journey in England and ending in South Africa, the book thoughtfully documents the entire journey and the food inspiration found along the way. This is no ordinary cookbook, we felt fully engaged in the narrative and loved the diverse global recipes, cultural observations and stunning photography. Enjoy recreating dishes from Egyptian Falafel Pittas to Zimbabwean Oxtail & Okra Stew, and begin your own culinary journey by purchasing Spices & Spandex here for £25.

Our next cookbook will transport you on a culinary journey through the different China Towns found around the world. Chef Jean-Francois Mallet travelled to different Chinese communities in an effort to understand the reason behind the diversity in East Asian cuisine within the western world. China Towns explores his journey and gives us 100 delicious recipes to try out for ourselves.

We loved the vivid and vibrant photography that really brought the book to life. There are dishes influenced from different Asian cuisines, some Vietnamese, and even hints of Thai. Open your mind to a world of stunning East Asian cuisine from all over the world and get your own copy here for £20.40.

For something a little closer to home, Louise Searle and Hayley Spurway have brought us the Saltwater Kitchen Cookbook.

The book brings the taste of Cornwall, a beautiful gastronomic hotspot on the English Coast, into your very own kitchen. Saltwater Kitchen flaunts a simplistic, back to nature method of cooking, heavily influenced by fresh foraged and saltwater ingredients. We loved the real food for real people aspect of the cookbook, and not only do they include fresh and simple recipes, but also recommendations for the best places to eat and drink. Expect recipes for many exciting foodie festivities like beach barbecues and fine dining feasts that will have you wanting to book a stay in Cornwall right away. If you want to learn recipes using fresh and sustainably grown ingredients, then this is the book for you, get yours here for £17.99.

Last but certainly not least, we have found a particularly useful cookbook to bring excitement back into poultry. Paul Gayler has brought us Chicken & Other Birds, which contains a bounty of delicious poultry recipes that employ a whole range of cooking techniques.

Gayler doesn’t simply stick to chicken; he introduces us to a variety of birds including Turkey, Goose, Duck, Guinea Fowl and even Pigeon. We were astounded by the wide array of mouth-watering recipes, ensuring us that meal times never have to be dull again. Whether it is curry, casseroles or roasts you're looking for, this cookbook will have a recipe for you, with a choice of 100 classic and contemporary dishes. Pick up your own beautifully illustrated copy here for £19.99.

Inspiral - Kale-os and Coconut Pecks

When hunger strikes, so many of us grab quick, convenient and unhealthy snacks, but here at The Amazing Blog, we're changing our ways, one bite at a time. We have been lucky enough to try the Inspiral range of Kale-os and Coconut Pecks; they are organic, 100% natural super foods that give us real nutritional satisfaction, rather than a short lived sugar rush.

Kale-os are an innovative new range of kale crisps that are neither baked nor fried. These nutritionally dense kale crisps are nut-free, low in calories, and use an air-drying method to retain more nutrients than any of its competitors. Kale is extremely high in Vitamins B and C, plus the use of extra-virgin olive oil adds the anti-inflammatory and cardiovascular benefits that come from good fats. They aren’t just packed with endless goodness; they actually taste delicious with flavours like Tomato & Basil Pizza and Celtic Sea Salt & Lime. These are far more exciting and vibrant than any flavours offered by the leading potato crisp brands. If you are a certified Kale Queen you will love the crisp texture that reminded us of scrumptious seaweed dishes.

Inspiral haven’t ended it there, they have continued their snack innovation with a range of Coconut Pecks. These are simply organic raw coconut chips that are also air-dried, rather than toasted, to keep them free from trans-fat. We loved their crunchy texture and the unexpected sweet taste thanks to the use of Palmyra Blossom Nectar, a natural and low G.I. sugar. You can choose between two delicious flavours, Smokin’ (Paprika) or Raspberry, they thoughtfully included both a sweet and more savoury flavour for us. Inspiral aren’t only keeping us healthy, but they focus on keeping the planet happy too. The packaging is fully compostable, the ink is made from vegetables, and this is all produced in a solar-powered eco factory.

Keep your waistline and the planet happy by getting yourself some guilt-free kale snacks here for £1.29, or grab a bag of Coconut Pecks here for 99p each.