Optimum VAC2 Vortex Blender Review and Reader Offer

*UPDATED AUGUST 2020* This review was originally written in January 2018. Over two and a half years later, and the Optimum VAC2 Vortex is still my family’s ‘go to’ power blender. It gets used multiple times a week; sometimes multiple times a day! Below I give the lowdown on this brilliant blender and why we love it so much. 

One of the perks of being a Froothie ambassador is that I get the chance to test their new kitchen gadgets when they come on the market. As soon as it launched, the Optimum VAC2 Vortex Blender was creating quite a buzz on social media so I couldn’t wait to get my hands on one and see what all the fuss was about.

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Book Review: Hummus Where the Heart Is by Dunja Gulin and Recipe for Pea & Basil Hummus

In today’s post, I’m delighted to share with you a new book that’s dedicated to one of my favourite foods of all time… HUMMUS! This stylish book, humorously title ‘Hummus Where The Heart Is is the latest publication by cooking teacher and cookbook author, Dunja Gulin. It features over 50 vegan-friendly recipes, each one accompanied by a stunning photograph taken by London-based food & lifestyle photographer, Mowie Kay.

If you thought hummus was a bit dull and bland-looking, this book will completely change your perception. The pages are filled with a riot of colours, from the vibrant oranges of spicy lentil hummus, fresh greens of pea and basil hummus, through to the rich browns of cacao and rum hummus… yes there is even chocolate hummus in this book!

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Viridian Vegan EPA & DHA Oil Review & Giveaway

I’ve been on the hunt for a vegan EPA/DHA supplement that contains quality ingredients, no ‘nasties’ and, equally importantly, tastes palatable! Well I’m pleased to say that the search is finally over. And here is the winning product…. Viridian Vegan EPA & DHA Oil 💚

In today’s post, I thought I’d share some details about this product, as well as a few words on why my family chooses to take an EPA/DHA supplement. I’m also launching a fantastic giveaway open to UK readers, so be sure to read on.

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Good Full Stop Snack Bar Review & Reader Offer

When you enter a giveaway and actually win, it’s such a buzz isn’t it?

This is something I rarely get to experience myself, so you can imagine my delight when a notification popped up on my phone to say that I’d been selected as the lucky winner of a #FreebieFriday giveaway on Twitter. The prize was an assortment of Good Full Stop snack bars 😋

[Image credit: Good Full Stop]

I was really chuffed as I’d been wanting to try these bars for ages. They’re produced by a company based in Devon, South West England (so not far from me) and I’d read lots of good things about them. On the website, the bars are described as being made with ‘natural, wholesome ingredients’ with ‘a hint of naughtiness’. Now that does sound enticing, doesn’t it?

There are currently nine flavour combinations in the range, all of which are vegan and gluten-freeContinue reading “Good Full Stop Snack Bar Review & Reader Offer”

Optimum Nutri Force Extractor Review and Reader Offer

For the past three years, I’ve been using a Froothie Optimum 9400 blender at home. It’s by far the best blender that I’ve owned and since I was so impressed with it, I became a Froothie Ambassador. You can check out my review of the 9400 blender and my special reader offers here.

This Summer, I was contacted by Froothie and asked whether I would like to test their newest blender – the Optimum Nutri Force Extractor. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect. My family was about to embark on a road trip to France for a three-week self-catering vacation. I’d been contemplating taking a blender so that we could make our own daily smoothies, rather than buying them in cafes like we usually do (thus saving us about 15 euros a day!) My 9400 is a bit big and heavy for travel, but the Nutri Force Extractor sounded just perfect. It’s smaller, much lighter (3.4kg), yet has a powerful 1000W motor. It comes with 450ml and 1 litre size cups, so perfect for single and two-person smoothies.

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Naturally Nourished and Kid-Approved Broccoli Basil Broth with Noodles

Today on the blog, I’m sharing a review of Sarah Britton’s new release Naturally Nourished and one of my family’s current favourite recipes from the book – Broccoli Basil Broth with Noodles.

I’m sure a lot of my blog readers will already have heard of Sarah Britton. She is the creative force behind the hugely popular vegetarian blog My New Roots and launched her debut cookbook, under the same name, in 2015. Responding to her readers’ requests, her follow-up cookbook is filled with recipes and inspiration for weeknight cooking, using easy-to-source ingredients.

Though Naturally Nourished is a vegetarian cookbook, by far the greatest majority of the recipes are vegan (I counted 89), plus most of the non-vegan recipes can be easily “veganized” by switching the dairy cheese or yogurt for their vegan counterparts.

Sarah’s style of cooking really appeals to me as it focuses on using natural, whole food ingredients. This is the kind of food that my family loves to eat and we thrive on it. After eating meals like this, I always feel highly energised and great ‘on the inside’. I tend to make all our meals from scratch, so I’m always on the look out for simple, whole food recipes that are easy to throw together.

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