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?

baked spinach arancini stuffed with mozzarella cheese.

Arancini; a resourceful (and delicious) way to use up leftover risotto. There isn't often leftover risotto in my house, so in this case I deliberately made too much and used a lot of will power to save it until the next day. Plus, you only need two extra ingredients to make them - flour and cheese. This simple baked arancini recipe is made from a simple spinach, onion and white wine risotto, before being stuffed by mini mozzarella balls and cooked until golden. My theory is, if they aren't deep fried then you're allowed to have more cheese...

roast broccoli, tomato and feta salad.

A warm, vegetarian salad made up of crispy roast broccoli, charred tomatoes, red pesto Quorn pieces and crumbled feta. Packed with goodness, this filling dish works as a midweek main, side dish or lunch box favourite. I roasted ahead the broccoli, tomatoes and Quorn with a drizzle of good quality oil, cracked black pepper and sea salt, and then tossed together the other ingredients right before eating. Super quick, super easy.

tofu korma.

A fragrant and warming vegan curry recipe which is super simple too. This dish takes inspiration from the classic korma and adds tofu, baby corn and green beans for a healthy veggie alternative. It’s a mild but comforting sauce which can be adjusted to taste and packed with lots of wholesome vegetables. Serve with piping hot basmati rice and your favourite Indian bread. It’s perfect for make-ahead meal too and can be easily frozen for simple midweek meals.

butternut squash and goat's cheese risotto.

Risottos, biryanis, arancini, sushi and paella... delicious dinner ideas all with the same ingredient. Rice! An Autumnal inspired dish, I've paired the earthy flavours of roast butternut squash with sweet red peppers, creamy goat's cheese and peppery rocket to create a comforting risotto recipe.

cherry cava granita.

Perfect for this beautifully sunny British Summer we're having; ice cold frozen cherry Cava granita. The ideal mix between a cocktail, cold drink and dessert, this delicious cherry infused recipe is both refreshing and tasty. Oh, and so simple too! Impress your guests by making these Spanish inspired frozen Cava granitas beforehand and finishing with a deliciously juicy Jerte Picota Cherry or two.

The Picota Cherry story begins in the beautiful Spanish valley of Jerte, 200km west of Madrid. The area is famous for the incredible annual cherry blossom of over million trees - it must be a beautiful sight to see as the colour of the valley transforms from a dazzling white to colourful bursts of red and green.! The Picota Cherry blossom and harvest follow a 100% natural growing season, which is why the arrival of the Picota Cherry changes each year. 

avocado pesto, sweetcorn, pepper and roast tomato risotto.

With an avocado and basil pesto stirred through and scattered on top, this deliciously colourful risotto is packed with roast tomatoes and peppers and jewelled with toasted sweetcorn. If you're looking for vegan recipes or are taking part in veganuary, you might be pleased to know it's a totally plant based recipe too. Whether you're looking to introduce more veggies into your diet, try out something new or get involved with meat free Monday, there are lots of ways to get more plant based ingredients into your day-to-day at your local Co-op. 

I'm collaborating with Central England Cooperative throughout January on their healthier, plant-based and low alcohol ranges - and I can't wait to share with you what I find, and what I think. But for now, read on for this tasty vegetarian avocado pesto, sweetcorn, pepper and roast tomato risotto recipe. All of which can be found at your local store - even the ripe avocado, tomato medley and fresh herbs.

homemade vegan sausage rolls.

Bringing together delicious flaky pastry and comforting filling, there's something very welcoming about a homemade sausage roll straight from the oven. Whether you're already vegan or plant based, taking part in Veganuary, trying to cut down your meat consumption or are just curious, you may have tried out a vegan sausage roll this January. Looking for a similar recipe? Here's how to make homemade vegan sausage rolls with just three simple, ready-to-go ingredients.

I love vegetarian sausage rolls anyway and often use the likes of Linda McCartney, Quorn and Good Life in my cooking. For these, I used Fry's vegan sausages as they were most like the kind you get in a classic sausage roll, though Quorn are similar too I could only find vegetarian. You'll find lots of pre-made puff pastry sheets are dairy free too; so you can use Jus Rol as well as many supermarket own offerings for all your pastry needs. They also worked out at around £3 for 6 vegan sausage rolls, with the added convenience that the main two ingredients are from the freezer aisle.

So how did I make these mouthwatering homemade vegan sausage rolls? Scroll on for the super easy recipe...

baked caprese style risotto.

 

Bringing together two of my favourite Italian recipes - the iconic Caprese salad and the reliable risotto - this dish is a warming take on usually more summery flavours. You still get the bursts of tomato and fragrant basil coming through, whilst combining with a great quality mozzarella which oozes and turns golden as it bubbles in the oven. 

For this recipe, I'm working with the new Ciao Gusto range from Ocado, a place where fellow fans of Italian cuisine can find all the best, authentic ingredients. This wholesome dish features their Auricchio P.D.O. Buffalo Mozzarella Campana, which, like many Italian ingredients and good cheeses, is beautiful served simply on its own. 

roast cauliflower, vine tomato and red pepper linguine.

A healthy take on pure comfort food. There's nothing like a piping hot bowl of pasta with lashings of Parmesan cheese. In this recipe, the roasted cauliflower, tomatoes and peppers bring together varying textures and flavours. What's more, it goes towards your five a day.

aubergine, paneer & sweet red pepper curry.

A super easy curry to make-ahead as a midweek meal, or simmer away on a weekend. This medium spiced vegetarian curry doesn't really have an origin as such. I was influenced by Indian and Thai flavours but on the whole it's pretty made up - why not eh! With a tomato base, the paneer and deliciously softened vegetables are flavoured with the likes of lime, red chillies, ginger, garam masala and fresh coriander. The dish is finished off with a crunch of peanuts and extra lime juice. I ate it with chopsticks just because it made the paneer fun to skewer, but there really are no rules here. If you're a fan of tikka masala and red Thai curries, you might just like this too.

veggie meatballs with baked eggs.

A wholesome, low carb meal idea with lots of veggies, meat-free-meatballs and tasty baked eggs on top. It's great on it's own as a bake, or with your favourite bread for dipping. Simply make the meatballs, beans and sauce ahead and crack on some great quality free range eggs right before baking. I actually use frozen "Swedish style vegetarian meatballs" as they are such a cupboard staple to have in the freezer and bulk out bakes. In fact, a lot of this dish is make with the likes of chopped tomatoes and canned beans which are always so handy (and great on a budget too). Without further ado...

pizza spinaci: back by popular demand.

Back by popular demand; the Pizza Spinaci from Dr. Oetker. And I think I just found out why. With a crisp base, flavoursome herbs, earthy spinach and generous slatherings of mozzarella and Edam cheese, I'm not sure convenience could get much tastier. Super easy to just pop in the freezer for those lazy days (and rather good value too), the spinach and cheese pizza from the Ristorante range is just the simpliest of no-hassle treats. That's right - #SpinaciIsBack!

egg fried cauliflower rice: veggie bullet review.

Spiralized vegetables, cauliflower rice, nutrient packed sauces; it's true we've fast become a nation of the hidden veg. With all the gadgets and gizmos on the market these days, there are so many ways to embrace this trend and switch out carbs for wholesome vegetables. What, wait, no more spaghetti? Now you can whizz up zoodles, boodles, swoodles and whatever other oodles you had in mind, it's super simple to pack out dishes where pasta might have been before.

Don't get me wrong, I love pasta. But I also love trying out new ways to get my five-a-day in a flash. Working 9-5 and on the blog doesn't leave me much time to be grinding away on a spiralizer, let alone taking a picture for Instagram of the results. Cue stage right; the Veggie Bullet. The latest addition to the NutriFamily, this NutriBullet's snazzy younger brother is a 3-in-1 electric Spiralizer, Shredder and Slicer that promises to make cutting down carbohydrates all that more convenient.

convenient veggie meals with goodlife.

Looking to get more veggies into your diet but are always on the go? Perhaps you want to try out more vegetarian meals but don't know where to start? Want ideas for 5:2 meals? Having really enjoyed the GoodLife vegetarian sausages, kievs and falafels, I couldn't wait to try out the newest additions to the range. Coming in at under 300 calories and towards three of your five a day, these tasty meals are perfect for stocking up your trusty freezer with go-to healthy meals.

celebrating the new vegetarian society approved vegan trademark at their cookery school.

From fancy filo desserts to a decadent dairy free chocolate cake, a couple of weeks ago I went along to The Vegetarian Society near Manchester to swot up on the basics of vegan cookery. The occasion? The Vegetarian Society are celebrating this Summer's launch of the official Vegetarian Society Approved vegan trademark to help shoppers navigate the shelves for their plant-based favourites.

Established in 1847, the charity are dedicated to helping those who want to embrace a meat-free lifestyle, and help those that are already vegetarian or vegan. The recognised Vegetarian Society Approved vegetarian trademark is a smart way of helping veggies to rest assured that the product has met their criteria.

Now as many vegetarians turn to a dairy and egg free diet, the fancy new trademark can help newby vegans (and perhaps old school veggies) have peace-of-mind that products are 100% vegan. Since there are print runs to wait for on large scale packaging it'll take a while, but you'll soon be spotting them on your favourite vegan brands!

It couldn't have been a better way to celebrate - thoroughly enjoying my day with some likeminded bloggers and learning lots of vegan cooking and baking skills along the way!

goat's cheese, aubergine & spinach lasagne.

A super cheesy vegetarian lasagne featuring the lovely goat's products from St. Helen's Farm. Goat's cheese lovers will enjoy the combination with roasted aubergine and wilted spinach. Diners who avoid cow dairy will be a fan because - there's none of that here! Layers of roasted vegetables, a creamy goat's cheese sauce and extra cheese on top for good measure make this a weekend treat or make-ahead meal.

eat your greens with goodlife.

"Nobody puts veg in the corner..."

That's the philosophy behind Goodlife and their veg-tastic products. Keen to make your greens the star of the show, the British company have been developing their tasty vegetarian products for the last 25 years. From veggie veterans to flexitarian foodies, the product range spans from vegatable packed sausages to meat-free burgers, with a few gluten free and vegan options in there too.

A lover of vegetarian recipes, I teamed up with the lovely Goodlife lot to sample their newest creations; Mushroom & Spinach Kievs, Chickpea, Cumin & Coriander Falafel and French Bean, Spinach & Wensleydale Cheese Sausages.

honey roast cauliflower, spinach and goat's cheese salad.

A delicious warm vegetarian salad recipe that embraces sweet, honey roast cauliflower with creamy and salty goat's cheese. Toss together with roasted cherry tomatoes and wilted spinach before scattering with nutty almonds. A simple midweek meal that goes towards your daily five!