Mini Burgers

I love making burgers, I use different ingredients every time I make them. Sometimes I use chickpeas or butter beans or even kidney beans to make up the burgers. They are so simple to make and I have recently found a new way to shape them. These mini burgers are made into round shapes by using a biscuit cutter, the type you would usually use to shape scones. It is so easy to do you simply place the burger mixture into the cutter on a lightly oiled tray and then take off the cutter leaving a perfectly round mini burger. I also cook my burgers in the oven now instead of how I used to cook them in oil. I am always looking for ways to make my food as healthy as possible and reducing the amount of oil you use is an easy way to do this as oil can contain trans fats. keep your food healthy and looking amazing! 

Quick, healthy meal idea Avocado and Chickpea spread on a Bagel with Couscous and Salad

I love quick and healthy foods it makes evening meals easier especially when you are in a rush. This meal idea combined lots of my favourite foods, I made it when I was home late so didn't want to spend a long time cooking but still wanted something healthy. 

I mashed together an avocado and a tin of chickpeas and added the juice of half a lemon and seasoned this with black pepper and added it to a toasted bagel. I then added chopped tomato and cucumber, fried onion and paired it with wholemeal couscous made with mushrooms and grated carrot. It took less than  30 minutes to prepare and was extremely filling and tasty, I also added tahini as a dressing. Eating healthy is easy and doesn't have to take long to prepare. Plus when you have a meal with many different foods you gain the nutrients from all the different ingredients as well as having array of flavour. I used the New York Co bagels for this meal which are vegan and high in protein making them a great part of a meal or a snack after working out. You also gain protein from the chickpeas and healthy fat from the avocado as well as nutrients from the rest of the vegetables. This meal shows that healthy food can be quick, simple and delicious.  

Adding flavour to a cake

One way to add flavour to a cake without having to use flavourings is to add a none dairy milk which already has flavour in it. This rice milk from Rice Dream is vanilla flavour meaning it can be used to add moisture and blend a cake mixture while also adding flavour. 

What's great about this brand is the milk is also organic so it makes the cake healthy right? I like using non-dairy milks in cakes as I find them a great alternative to eggs for blending a cake mixture. I do this by adding small amounts of the milk to the batter of dairy-free butter, sugar and flour until it has reached a nice consistency and then cooking it. This method makes a really moist cake. Trying different milks is a great way to experiment with your baking. I liked using this brand, it didn't give the cake a strong flavour but it added a subtle sweetness which was delicious and not over powering. 

There are so many ways to make baked goods vegan, it is all about attempting new options and realising that you really don't need dairy or eggs to make a delicious cake. 

Why I want to start a vegan business

When you are passionate about something it becomes a big part of your life. For me being a vegan is the strongest belief I have. I don't believe animals are on this earth to be eaten, used in any way from testing cosmetics to providing entertainment in a zoo so my belief has become part of everything I do.

I choose clothes based on what materials are used, I go to restaurants that are vegan or have vegan options and I buy make-up which is vegan and against animal testing. Going vegan also inspired me to start this blog writing about my experiences and helping others going vegan by showing the products that are available and sharing recipes.

I love writing about being vegan, I love vegan products and lately I've been thinking about starting a vegan business. Just like my blog it is a way to share what I love and earn money from promoting veganism and proving that you don't need to use animals in any way.

I think it is important for people to promote what they believe in and show the world there are other, cruelty free ways of living. So I am planning to start a business that sells vegan and ethical products, I am currently working on ideas. There is a saying that if you can make money doing something you love you will never work a day in your life, I think these are words to live by so watch this space! I may be revealing a vegan business on the blog soon.