vegan Archives - Megan Taylor

VEGAN MILLIONAIRE’S SHORTBREAD RECIPE

If you just immediately find out how to make these super scrumptious goodies then skip on past my waffling but for those that fancy a little background to why I made these then stick around for the next paragraph 😉

So, I have had an idea for vegan millionaires shortbread for quite a while. I have always had a sweet tooth and I am quite fond of millionaires shortbread but find it a tiny bit too sweet and I know it’s not good for me. I have made vegan chocolate before and am incredible nutty and coconut combined thing. That’s when I thought, if I can make caramel then I could make a millionaires shortbread. 4 hours in the kitchen and a lot of ingredients provided by Coconut Collective I managed to make something so delicious that you would never guess they were vegan, never mind then having no refined sugar in them. If I could, I would mass make them for you all and send them through the internet pipes but sadly that’s not possible, so for now, you can make your own with my tried and tested recipe.
(Some of these ingredients were kindly gifted by Coconut Merchant but this is not a paid post in any way).

INGREDIENTS LIST

BASE

2 handfuls of mixed nuts
1 handful of coconut flakes
Heaped tablespoon of coconut oil
4 pitted medjool date
Water

GOOEY CHOCOLATE LAYER

Coconut Merchant coconut and cacoa spread

VEGAN CARAMEL

Coconut nectar
Coconut butter

VEGAN CHOCOLATE TOPPING

Cocoa butter
Coconut nectar
Cacao powder

VEGAN MILLIONAIRE'S SHORTBREAD RECIPE | Megan Taylor

METHOD

BASE

• Mix and grind your nuts and coconut together in a blender under they resemble crumbled granola.
• Place your coconut oil in a saucepan on a very low heat. Once your coconut oil has melted place your medjool dates in and heat for a minute or two.
• Pour in a dash or two of water and a few minutes later, turn off the heat and blend the ingredients together with a stick blender.
• Pour in the nutty mixture into the sauce and mix together. Pour your mixture into a cling film lined box and squish down as tight as possible.

GOOEY CHOCOLATE LAYER

• Simply spread Coconut Merchant’s coconut and cocoa spread over the nutty base.

VEGAN CARAMEL

•Melt 150g of coconut butter in a small pan on a low heat.
• Once this is fully melted and a squirt of the coconut nectar (you could use any syrup but coconut nectar is the healthiest option I could find). Mix this in, constantly stirring. It will immediately bind. Add more and more after examining each squirt of nectar. It can be tricky to get the perfect amount so take this process slowly. You will know it is ready when it turns into a pale and thick caramel appearance. Resist licking the spoon at this point because it will burn you!! …yup, been there.
• Immediately pour your caramel over your gooey chocolate layer and place in the fridge until set (about 15 minutes or the duration of how long it takes you to make your chocolate).

VEGAN CHOCOLATE TOPPING

• Fully melt your cacao butter in a small pan over a low heat.
• Turn of the heat and add 2 tablespoons of cacao powder to the melted cacao butter and stir in.
• Add one teaspoon of coconut nectar for sweetness (personal preference as to how much to add).
• Pour your chocolate over the set caramel and leave in the fridge for a further 10 minutes.
• Et voila, all set and yummy and ready for munching.
• (If this step is too much effort then you could always melt down a vegan chocolate bar such as Pana Chocolate, Kakao or Ombar).

What do you think of this recipe? Are you going to give it a go? I promise you won’t regret it.

The Coolest Snack Of The Moment

I am a snacking fiend. I either spend my days hunched over my laptop or scooting around from audition to audition. With my hectic lifestyle I often miss out on time to sit down and eat lunch. In turn I have to have a bag full of snacks. I am constantly on the hunt for healthy snacks to eat on the go. My snack tick list tends to be; sugar free, vegetarian and most randomly and most importantly, snacks that don’t get stuck in my teeth. This last point is because when I am in between auditions I can’t have bits of food in my teeth without realising. I recently came across the company ‘Nothing But’ and I believe they have now answered my prayers! If like me you love a new snack then read ahead for the coolest snack of the moment…

The company Nothing But have a whole range of snacks which are split into savoury and sweet and are just freeze dried with nothing added. With my insanely sweet tooth I can’t help but prefer the sweet treats yet much like desert let’s save that treat until last and get started with the savoury offerings.

Buy ‘Nothing But’ here.

SAVOURY
Options:
Beetroot & Parsnip • Pea & Sweetcorn • Mange Tout & Red Pepper
My favourite was the sweetcorn pieces, most likely because they were the sweetest. Yet the combination of the peas and sweetcorn together worked really well. The flavour of the red pepper was amazing, the freezing process really brought out the flavour.

SWEET
Options:
Apple & Fig • Strawberry & Bannana • Pineapple & Grape
I think my favourite packet was the Pineapple & Grape. My mouth is literally watering as I sit here typing. The pineapple is familiar as I am a huge pineapple fan with dried pineapple snacks but I have never had grapes like this before. They tasted absolutely incredible and wonderfully sweet. I also adored the strawberries.

I have really enjoyed trying out all of these snacks. I actually poured all of the packets into two bowls, one sweet and one savoury and felt like they would be a wonderful alternative to snacking on popcorn or sweets at the cinema. Have you tried the Nothing But products before? Do you have any other amazing sugar free snacks that I should try?

Buy ‘Nothing But’ here.

Tried & Tested : Deliciously Ella Energy Balls

I have followed Deliciously Ella‘s work for a while and have been inspired add a little more vegan-ness into my life because of her (I have been a vegetarian since the age of 9). I love her books and have reviewed them both here:
Deliciously Ella
Deliciously Ella – Every Day
If you follow my Snapchat you are likely to know that I am a huge fan of Whole Foods and buy many yummy healthy goods from there whenever I pass by…thank goodness there isn’t one down my road, else I would be broke. So when I heard the Ella and her husband were selling their energy balls in Whole Foods I rushed there in a flash and bought one of each to try them all and review them for you. The balls sell for £1.99 and are rather generous in their size and really fill you up with their density.

Cashew & Ginger
Although I enjoyed this cashew and ginger flavour it was in fact my least favourite out of the three. I love cashew nuts and I adore ginger but this ginger felt a little too sweet and overpowering for me. That being said I still really liked the ball and feel like it would have many benefits to you if you were run down and would also be a fab morning breakfast pick me up.

Hazelnut & Raisin
The hazelnut and raisin flavour was my second favourite. There is a lovely hint of cinnamon in this flavour which makes me feel a teensy bit excited for Christmas. I also really enjoyed the crunch and density to this one. I feel like everyone should like this one because there’s nothing really to dislike 🙂

Cacao & Almond
This is by far my favourite of the three energy balls on offer. Imagine a chocolate brownie without the guilt and that is this ball. I have a very sweet tooth and my first downfall when I am trying to be healthy is my craving for chocolate. This cacao and almond ball is the perfect remedy for the mid afternoon sweet cravings.

Have you tried these yet? What do you think?

Healthy Snacks Haul {Tried & Tested}

I have compiled a fair few sweet sugar free treats and tried them out for you. All the treats are available online and some are more affordable than others. I believe that for even the naughtiest of unhealthy snackers there would be something in this healthy snack haul that they would like. Keep reading to find your favourite yummy but healthy snack in my healthy snacks haul.

Squirrel Sisters Coconut Cashew
I had never heard of this brand before but after trying this bar I will definitely be back for more and would love to know what else they make. I hear they have a raspberry bar which is definitely on my shopping list. After one bite I realised they tasted exactly like my Sugar Free Nutty Biscuits before I cook them, honestly so similar. There are two bars within the packaging. They are very dense and filling which is a great. I was feeling rather hungry after a shoot the other day and had these in my bag, they were the perfect filling snack to keep me going for my journey home and until dinner. My mouth is watering just thinking about them, I think I need more of these in my life asap.

Raw Bite Peanut
I was drawn to the Raw Bite bars because of their eye catching design. They are so beautiful and I loved photographing them for this blogpost. This peanut bar tasted a lot like a Tracker bar that I used to have in my lunchbox as a child yet with no guilt of the excess amount of sugar. These bars have no refined sugar and use dates to make up their sweetness.

Raw Bite Prot ein
I bought this bar for my hubby simply because of it saying Protein on the packaging and I was bit jealous because I wanted the pink bar. It had the same squidgy dense texture as the protein bar but in my opinion was not as yummy. The added cacoa flavour made this bar a bit more dense and filling.

Ombar 72%
Ombar were featured in my recent Whole Foods Haul and as mentioned before I really enjoyed the Ombars that I tried. As with most healthy raw chocolate bars I feel you need to not eat them alongside any “real/standard” chocolate otherways you may be disappointed. Normal chocolate bars that we are used to are incredibly sweet, even dark chocolate bars. They give our sugar brains an instant hit and leave us needing more almost immediately. Raw chocolate bars like Ombar are much richer and have a fairly different taste. I found this 72% bar to be almost alcoholic in taste…and I loved it. You only need a couple of bites and you will be satisfied for a long time. Ombar are the perfect healthy “pick me up”.

iQ Superfood Chocolate Orange Raspberry
Although they are sugarfree, I find the iQ chocolate bars to much more like normal standard chocolate bars therefore a great first taste for those new to raw chocolate. The packaging is adorable with loads of fun information inside about how great the bars are for your health…better get nibbling then. The orange and raspberry bar is incredibly yummy with the perfect amount of sweetness.

iQ Superfood Chocolate Cocoa-Nib
I have to be honest I really need to learn what the difference is between cocoa and cacoa and what the different levels of processed and healthiness is between them. These bars say they have cocoa nibs in them and they taste exactly like bars I have tried that say cacoa-nibs…hmmm. I believe these bars are super healthy whether they are cocoa or cacoa nibs and I adore this bar, the texture of the crunchy nibs is perfect. This bar is basically a more healthy version of Montezuma’s Lordy Lord chocolate bar which I have always adored.

Raw Gorilla Munchies
I spotted these Raw Gorilla Munchies in this months Sourced Box and then again in Whole Foods. They seem to be following me around so I thought I had best give them a try. They are hard yet a little bit chewy. They are quite dense so you don’t feel like you need a lot of them. As an on-the-go snack they are great because they travel well and you only need to pop a couple in your mouth to sate your appetite.

Raw Chocolate Mulberries
You may have spotted these in my recent Whole Foods Haul Blog and Vlog. They were my favourite snack and after thinking I wouldn’t buy anymore because of the price, I have actually since bought four more bags…eeeeek the money! I simply can’t help myself they are incredibly yummy. Even my dad who is a through and through milk chocolate guy adores these Raw Chocolate Mulberries. The taste, the texture, they are simply wonderful and you must all try them, except you can’t try mine because I do not share these ☺ .

I hope you have enjoyed my healthy snack taste test. I certainly loved it and so did Liam. I can honestly say that I would definitely buy every single item again. If I were super rich I would buy these snacks regularly and not feel the need to snack on any unhealthy chocolates or crisps ever again.
Have you tried any sugar free yummy treats or wanted to try any that I should try for you?

Sugar Free Sweet Popcorn Recipe

Every week I have three and a half days where I eat very well and this includes being sugar free. My way of sugar free is vaguely strict. I do not eat any refined sugar, added sugar, any food that has a sugar listed in its ingredients. I do not include natural sugars such as honey, agave or fruits in these ‘sugars to avoid’ list.
Even though I am being healthy I still have a need for that afternoon sugar hit like anyone else. My Quinoa Goddess Balls are a fab sweet hit. Here is another recipe I love which is very low in calories and has a low Glycemic Index therefore making you feel full for longer.

This recipe will fill your house with a festive scent of cinnamon and you will have a huge bowl of sticky and chewy popcorn. Best of all at only 205 calories, you can eat a very large bowl guilt free…although you may not be able to finish it because it is so filling.
(Measurements and calories are approximated for serving two people)

What you will need

80g Popcorn maize (278cal)
2tsp Ground cinnamon (12cal)
2 tbsp Date syrup (128cal) or Honey (120cal) or Agave syrup (120cal)

Method

1. Pop some kernels the traditional way in a pan with a little oil.

2. Set your grill to low.

3. Lay out your popped corn on some grease proof paper on a baking tray.

4. Drizzle honey / agave syrup or date syrup over the popcorn.

5. Now your popcorn is sticky, sprinkle ground cinnamon over the popcorn.

6. Place in the grill for about 5 minutes, continuously checking that they are not burning.

My top 5 healthy cook books

I have been a vegetarian for a very long time…twenty one years in fact.
When I was a kid it wasn’t very common. None of my friends were vegetarian and as far as I know nor was anyone at my school.
I am loving the current shift in attitude towards the whole vegetarian and plant based lifestyle. The previous negative stigma is no longer as apparent. There is an abundance of healthy eating Instagram accounts which have brought to the surface these fabulous Instfame beauties celebrating the natural lifestyle and bringing out these wonderful cookbooks.
These are my current favourite tried and tested healthy cook books:

1. The Uncook Book by Tanya Maher
The pictures in this book are beautiful and enticing. I am forever intrigued by the raw lifestyle. I would love to have more raw meals a week but my head says it is only achievable in the summer, yet this book makes the raw life seem attainable. Unfortunately the majority of the amazing recipes such as the fruit leather require a dehumidifier. Not only are they pricey but I cannot find space in my kitchen for anymore appliances…I haven’t even found any room for a dishwasher.

Fave recipe: Falafels on sticks

2. Get The Glow by Madeleine Shaw
I am loving this book. You will probably already use a lot of the ingredients within this book so you don’t have to go out and do a very expensive shop before you can make something. Every recipe looks so yummy but there are a fair few meaty recipes which I obviously won’t be making…although I could always use halloumi as an alternative.

Fave recipe: Quinoa burgers

3. Deliciously Ella by Ella Woodward
This book is fully plant based and sugar free and full of wonderfully delicious recipes. The only downside is that there aren’t many sweet treats in there. Having read this book from front to back a few times, I do feel the sugar free life could be achievable. Ella has even brought out an app full of even more recipes and is regularly updated.

Fave recipe: Sugar free baked beans

4. Hemsley Hemsley by Jasmine and Melissa Hemsley
From the girlies that made the spiralizer insanely popular and the word courgetti known across the globe. This book is beautiful and the least strict on healthy eating out of my top 4 picks. A fair few meaty dishes and sweat treats. You will find some scrummy recipe in here for all the family.

Fave recipe: Summer lime coleslaw