Hello everyone.

Welcome back to the blog.

It's been a while, hasn't it?

When I took over on the Hampshire Vegetarians and Vegans Facebook page, there were two other administrators, and one of them wrote the blog. They have since left, and only I am posting on the page now. Recently I thought it would be good to update the blog. I have had several meals out in places that cater for vegans, and thought I would write a review of each place. For now, though, I thought I would introduce myself, so that you know who is behind the blog posts and the posts on the Facebook page.

My name is Pam Denison. I live in Winchester, I am a piano and singing teacher, accompanist, choir director and singer. I have been a vegan for 9 years, and I am a runner.

Here I am before the Bournemouth Marathon in 2014. 

I also enjoy cycling and try and cycle whenever I can rather than drive (if I'm going somewhere within Winchester).

I shall be at the New Forest Vegan Fair on Saturday and intend to write a blog post about that sometime soon. I hope to have the first of my reviews posted up on Monday.

If any of you are coming to the New Forest Vegan Fair do look out for me and come and introduce yourselves. I'd love to meet you and have chat.

Whipped and Baked, Chichester

Picture taken from Whipped & Baked's Facebook page.

I've been meaning to visit Whipped & Baked since it opened. I'd heard such amazing things, and their Facebook picture of their vegan cinnamon buns on Saturday morning made too much to bare, so off we went in the car for a little pootle to Chichester.

First off, the shop is absolutely stunning! You walk in and to your left are fresh organic veggies from Wayside Organics displayed beautifully, with fantastic bread from Bread A La Mer above. The counter is in front full of AMAZING looking cakes and goodies. To the right is an equally beautiful seating area:

 

We decided to sit in and have a drink and cake. They had a great choice of items for vegetarians and vegans. I had a soya latte and a vegan cinnamon bun. My Husband had a hot chocolate and his favourite new york style, baked cheesecake.

 

My latte was gorgeous, it was made with organic soya milk which was a bonus and the coffee tasted beautiful. My cinnamon bun was phenomenal!! It had an absolutely gorgeous taste, really cinnamony (is that a word?) and the glaze was sweet and perfect.

My Husband said his hot chocolate and cheesecake were really lovely too.

I also picked up some other goodies to take home. I wanted to buy all the vegan friendly items but had to draw a line somewhere haha. So I came away with a gorgeous loaf of walnut and pumpkin seed bread (which is all gone now!) a vegan chocolate cupcake each for me and my husband and their last vegan macadamia nut and caramel slice.

This was absolutely gorgeous! I could eat a million of these (ok, slight exaggeration, but a lot anyway)

and the beautiful chocolate cupcake (please excuse the top, I slightly squished it on the way home) I've eaten my fair few vegan chocolate cupcakes and these are one of the best! Really REALLY tasty!

I cannot recommened Whipped & Baked enough. If you are anywhere near Chichester, PLEASE pay them a visit, you wont be sorry! 

Did I mention they are awesome people too?

This photo is also taken from thier Facebook page.

Please give their Facebook page a 'like' https://www.facebook.com/whippedandbaked

and make sure you support local small businesses like this ♥

Vivesoy - Product Review

Hi guys, I was lucky enough to be contacted by the marketing people in charge of the new Vivesoy products that have been launched in the UK this year.

Here is the press release:

Putting Soy Drinks On The Map

A new soy brand that has recently launched in Tesco stores hopes to show us why dairy is 'so last year' with their range of exciting soy drinks. The drinks hope to finally put soya milk on the map and ensure that, whilst its health benefits may be the reason you first try soy, Vivesoy's taste will make the switch permanent...

Soya milk is well known for a host of benefits, from helping with health issues and bloating, to being greener for the planet than milk and offering an alternative for vegans and those with a lactose intolerance. The launch of Vivesoy however hopes to put taste up there as the number one reason why we should all give soya milk a go in 2013.

Vivesoy is the leading soy drinks brand in Spain and for good reason. They produce delicious soy drinks that are renowned for their flavour and have become a firm favourite in households around Europe. Now for the first time they have arrived in the UK and hope to show shoppers why 2013 is the time to give soya drinks a go.

Vivesoy drinks are now available in Tesco stores with six exciting flavours that include Chocolate, Vanilla, Cappucino, Original, Unsweetened and Light. Prices start at just £1.25 per litre pack.

For more information on Vivesoy and their range please visit http://www.vivesoy.co.uk

Quick facts on Vivesoy

• Cholesterol free
• Low in calories: from only 88Kcal in a 200ml glass
• High quality soya protein
• Rich in anti-oxidants and isoflavones
• Contains Omegas 3 and 6 and Vitamins A and D
• Source of fibre
• Can be drunk cold or hot and used in tea, coffee, over cereals and when making desserts
• Tastes great!

I was sent the Chocolate, Unsweetened and Cappucino to try.

The first I decided to try was the Unsweetened and I knew one of the first things people would want to know is whether it curdles in coffee as some soya milks on the market do. I am very pleased to report that is doesn't. I tried it both with instant coffee, and by making myself a latte by heating it up and adding an espresso to it. I also tried it in tea and on its own. It's great! Nice and creamy, but not as creamy as the Alpro unsweetened (which I think can be a little too creamy in tea sometimes) I even used it in cups of tea for some visitors that normally have cows milk, and they didn't notice the difference =)

Those that know me, know that I am coffee mad! So I was looking forward to trying the cappuccino flavoured variety and it didn't disappoint. I don't like iced coffees, or cold coffee in any form (except ice cream) but I thought I would try it cold. I found it a little too sweet for my taste, but a friend of mine was raving about it! I really like it warmed up though! A perfect 'hug in a mug' for chilly evenings, and for those that like iced coffee's it would be a perfect drink on a warm sunny day.

For the chocolate flavour, I passed it over to my Husband, he has a bit of a chocolate addiction so I knew it would be great to get his opinion. He loved it, he said it was really rich and creamy and that it was on a par with his favourite coconut milk version. I also tried it, but again, it was a little too sweet for me, but then, I don't have a sweet tooth at all.

I would recommend Vivesoy, I like the variety of flavours they do, especially the Cappucino, I think that could be used in many different things. I'd love to try it in baking. I had someone say to me that it would be great with vodka, but I don't really drink so haven't tried that. I reckon it would be delicious though.

*disclaimer* - I received, as stated 1 x 1 litre of the cappucino, unsweetened and chocolate to try. I have received no payment for this blog post - Kate.

Amazing Vegan Competition - Hannah Banana Bakery

Hey everyone!

The amazingly talented Hannah from Hannah Banana Bakery is having a HUGE competition in honour of 4,000 likes on her Facebook page.

I'm sure everyone that reads this blog knows all about Hannah Banana Bakery. For those that don't, HBB is a one woman, vegan bakery business based in Southampton.

To be in with a chance of winning all those incredible vegan goodies, pop on over to Hannah's website and follow the instructions http://hannahbananabakery.wordpress.com/2013/03/16/4000-likes-vegan-130-pamper-hamper-give-away/

Hello again

Hi everyone! It's been nearly a year since we last posted on here. This depresses me =( so I've decided to make more of an effort and start posting here regularly. I currently write 3 other blogs, so please forgive the lack of updates, I'm determined to change this though and will start posting food blog posts here shortly.

If anyone is interested in writing posts on here, or has any ideas about what they would like us to write about, please email me at kemiller11@hotmail.co.uk. It would be nice to include perhaps some vegetarian and vegan family posts, days out at veggie friendly places, anything really. I'd like to keep Hampshire Vegetarians and Vegans a happy friendly place, for everyone visiting =)

So yes, there will be more posts coming soon =) and please except my apologies for the lack of posts.

Love, Kate xx

Hello

Hi everyone, and welcome to the new look Hampshire Vegetarians and Vegans website/blog.

I am looking for more writers to be part of HVV, so if you are a vegetarian or a vegan living in Hampshire and are interested, please email me at vegankate@hotmail.co.uk :-)

The blog posts can be about anything vegetarian or vegan related, so I was thinking reviews of products, cafe's/restaurants in the Hampshire area (and outside the Hampshire area), animal rights information, nutritional information (sources will need to be included), and anything really that is related.

I would like to build this up to be a great resource for new vegetarians and vegans, and to be a happy friendly group. I would also like to arrange events once interest starts to rise, including get togethers, fundraising events and fayre's selling good veggie and vegan food and eco items (handmade/upcycled, etc).

I am also going to have a Hampshire Vegetarians and Vegans business listing on here, so if you are a vegetarian or a vegan in the Hampshire area and would like your business included, please email vegankate@hotmail.co.uk with a little bit of information about yourselves and your business and I will add you :-)

I received so much support from other vegans when I went from a vegetarian to a vegan (especially from Hannah at Hannah Banana Bakery (Southampton based vegan bakery) that I would like to give something back and help others as much as I can. Also where I live, I don't know many people that are vegetarians or vegans, so it would be nice to see how many of us are out there, and to also offer support to new veggies or vegans that are struggling with whatever issues :-)

It would be awesome for others to get involved :-) please email me if you are interested ♥

Redwood Food's 'Vegi Deli' Gourmet Meat Free Chicken Style Pieces

Last night, I decided to try Redwood Food's Vegi Deli, Gourmet Meat Free Chicken Style Pieces for the first time. We decided to have a salad and baked potato with them, so I decided to marinate the chicken style pieces in a BBQ sauce (I used Morrisons Sticky BBQ Marinade).

I put them in a bowl and marinated them in the BBQ sauce for about 3-4 hours.

 I then put them on a baking sheet and cooked them for about 10-15 mins

They were absolutely out of this world!!! They were really succulent and even looked just like meat. My husband said this was the kind of thing he had been missing since he went Vegetarian. I am now a Vegan and I have to admit, it freaked me out a bit eating them, because they were SO similar to meat. But they are totally guilt free and no animal has had to die for it! They truly are delicious :-)

I would challenge ANY meat eater to a taste challenge between these and pieces of chicken thigh meat (bleurgh!) marinated in the same sauce. I truly believe no one could tell the difference!!

I am a huge fan of Redwood foods and have placed a large order this afternoon for Christmas and the New Year, that is, if we don't eat it all before that!! haha

If you are looking for a GOOD meat replacement, especially if you are a new Vegetarian or Vegan, you seriously cannot go wrong with these chicken style pieces.

Kate
My Personal Blog - Stinky Boo