plant based kashmiri spice pizza.

As well as grab-and-go snacks, convenient vegan ready meals and delicious desserts, Co-op have added a pizza to their GRO range, their plant based options that have proved popular with vegans and omnivores alike.

Aside from the fact that it is totally plant based, I was intrigued by the Indian inspired flavours. Not to mention how these would work the the addition of cheese that is anything but paneer. The clever Co-op chefs have created a spiced cauliflower and chilli topping with Kashmiri-style sauce and stringy MozzaRisella - a well-known vegan cheese brand. So what were my thoughts?

vegan piña colada style smoothie.

Combining fruity flavours inspired by the Piña Colada cocktail, this tropical inspired drink features creamy coconut milk, wholesome banana and tangy pineapple juice to create a refreshing Summer treat. Simply whizz up the ingredients to create this dairy free, gluten free non-alcoholic Piña Colada style smoothie which goes towards your five a day. I've teamed up with the lovely lot at Wayfair to bring you a bright and bold smoothie idea, featuring their quirky mason jar glasses and rustic wooden holder. 

vegan starter, main and dessert ideas with coop.

Did you know that there are now over 600,000 vegans in the UK? A study by the Vegan Society in 2018 discovered this incredible stat - which compares with around 160,000 people following a vegan lifestyle back in 2006. It's no surprise that with this great rise comes lots of incredible plant-based options on our supermarket shelves, restaurant menus and street food stalls. Long gone are the times where dairy free diners could only choose from the likes of sad salads, portobello mushrooms that call themselves burgers or fruit medleys for dessert. With so much amazing choice - the rise of vegan junk food, beautiful bakes and scarily realistic mock meat is now on the menu.

When Central England Cooperative challenged me to create a three course meal with their new products - as well as low alcohol drinks for Dry January - I couldn't wait to take on the challenge for plant based perfection.

vegan tacos with homemade mushroom & bean mince.

A delicious homemade veggie mince recipe that is both vegetarian and vegan! In this case, I've added some subtle spice to create a chilli style mince, perfect for tasty tacos. But the results are so versatile! The recipe is also perfect for dairy free diners who also may avoid soya or eggs in the supermarket bought varieties.

Using my trusty new Veggie Bullet, I was so pleased that shredding up healthy mushrooms and borlotti beans was such an easy way to create a mince-like base for so many meals. With around 20 calories in 200g of mushrooms too, the cheap ingredient means you can create a really low fat, low price meat substitute which is packed with nutrients too. Will you be giving it a try for #MeatfreeMonday?

dumpling time, san francisco.

If you're fond of beautifully fluffy bao, rows of gyoza and oodles of noodles, then Dumpling Time has probably been on your restaurant radar for a San Francisco food trip. From open faced siu mai to steamed har gow, these guys know their dumplings and they do them well. When we spent a week in the Californian city, I just knew this had to be on the ever-growing list.

gro: lunchtime inspiration from the new coop plant based range.

Whether you're taking part in Veganuary, looking to switch to plant based plates one day a week or are follow a egg or dairy-free diet, you'll be pleased to know that your local Coop might be worth stopping by. I've been trying out their new GRO plant based range, which has a range of delicious dinner ideas, snacks and desserts at your convenience. In this post I'm trying out a few of their lunch options, which are great for on the go.

homemade turkey burgers with avocado and houmous.

Just like 2019, 2018 and, come to think of it, most years before that, I'll be eating many burgers in 2020. Whether they're stacked to the ceiling, an interesting veggie option or a classic cheeseburger, I'm always game when it comes to a good quality patty, layered up fillings and a bouncy burger bun. If you're hoping to eat more vegetables, try out healthier meats, cut back on sugary sauces or perhaps get more grains in your day, I've created a burger recipe to give you a bit of inspiration. So next time you're making a burger a home, perhaps you could give these ideas a try. This is part of my healthy swaps collaboration with Central England Cooperative, where you can find lots more recipes here.