Notice of Absence!

Hello There! 

Just a quick little message to let you know that I will not be posting a blog for a week or two because I am having an operation! You can read more about that here! 

Let's hope the surgeon had plenty of practice finding the gallbladder in the Operation Board Game last Christmas! 

Take care! 

Monday's Manicure - River Phoenix

Since I was about 10 or 11, one of my heroes has been River Phoenix. I would watch his films daily, and when I was going through a tough time - mid teens - I believe they helped me wholeheartedly. River inspired me so much with his kind and caring attitude towards every other living thing. He was a Vegan, a devoted advocate for speaking out against animal cruelty and stopping the waste of food resources, he also bought hundreds of acres of The Rainforest in Costa Rica so they wouldn't be cut down and ruined. The list of good deeds River did goes on and on. He was truly a great and amazing person. Today marks the anniversary of when River Phoenix passed away. To remember and celebrate him I thought it would be a nice tribute to dedicate this Monday's Manicure to River.  
   

Thumb - When I think of River and the message he wanted to put out to the World, I think of Peace. I believe River wanted to make the World a more peaceful place without pain and suffering. To symbolise this I have included a Peace Sign in the nail design! 

Pointer - This nail has an attempt at the logo for River's band - Aleka's Attic! River stated many times that his love for music was greater than his love for acting, so that is what I wanted this nail to show. Aleka's Attic was formed of River, his sister Rain and some friends. I love their music especially "Across The Way!" Here is a better look at what the logo is supposed to look like (nail varnish just doesn't do it justice!) I love how the "A" is fashioned to look like an attic - very clever! 

Middle - For this one I tried to capture the image in Stand By Me, where the four guys walk along the tracks at sunset. Stand By Me was the first film I ever seen of River, and to this day is still my favourite film of all time! Fellow Stand By Me fans..."skin it!"

Ring - I chose to do a sparkling gold heart for this nail, to represent River's caring and loving heart that sparkled, just like gold, to everyone and everything he helped. 

Pinkie - I think the name "River" is as beautiful as he was. It encompasses his calm and meaningful demeanour and is why I have chosen to use this nail to pay tribute to his unique and stunning name. 

I hope you enjoyed this post. I certainly enjoyed creating this nail art manicure in honour of River Phoenix. I think it would only be right to leave below some links to River's favourite charities for you to take a look at.

River Phoenix Centre For Peacebuilding 
PETA 
Earth Trust 
Save TheRainforest 

Thanks for reading! 

Hayley x 

A Letter To My Future Post Op Self...

A bit of a different post today! I have been blogging now for a few weeks and have been keeping up with posting a blogpost a day, everyday which fits in rather well with the Daily Hayley name! However I am going to have to take a short hiatus (flashback to One Direction saying that...) for a week or two as I am having an operation! This is my first operation in my life. I've never had an anaesthetic, not even for a pulled tooth. I've never been to the doctor for more than tonsillitis. But in April this year I found that I had gallstones and needed my gallbladder removed. Nearly 7 months later the surgery date has come around.   

I wasn't going to talk about it on here and was going to schedule some posts, but then I realised that this blog is a platform to share thoughts and also to help people. I have found myself over the months googling and looking for advice or people's stories on their operations, to act as a comfort for my own. With this is mind I thought maybe by me talking about my experience it may help someone out there! So this is a list (we all know how much I love a good list) of thoughts, apprehensions and views that are going through my head days before I have surgery. I thought it would be fun to do this in a 'letter-to-my-future-self' sort of style. I hope this is helpful or a comfort to anyone else going through a first time even a second, third) operation as they are worrisome, but we are all in the same boat and thinking the same things. And we will all get through it together! 

I realise this post isn't catered to everyone, so if you are not interested in my operation themed ramblings then I will be back soon with my regular content. But if you are and this helps you in any way to feel not so alone in these pre-op feelings, then I've done my job well! 

Dear Future Gallbladder-less Me,

I am currently a few days away from surgery and am quite frankly bricking it. Or gallstoning it, as they are the reason I'm in this situation in the first place. I heard once that writing your worries down is very therapeutic. So this is my form of pre-op anxiety therapy. (They did say to burn the notes after, but I'm writing this on an iPad and I don't think Apple would be too happy!) 

Things I'm Worried About... 

The drive to the hospital. The waiting in the waiting room. Basically the morning of the op and all the waiting it involves. I'm booked in for one of the first surgeries of the day, so I have to be at the hospital for 7AM, meaning I will have to wake up at 5. On a normal day I would be outraged at this sleep intrusion, but I know I will not be sleeping a wink the night before. Maybe that's a good thing as it means I will be tired and won't mind drifting off to sleep with the anaesthetic? I know once I'm up and the countdown is on, my nerves and anxiety will set in and all the waiting around will only amplify it. 

Anaesthetic. I have a couple of questions on this topic... 
What does it feel like? 
Will I get the giggles or be off my face like the girl who thought the zombie apocalypse had happened after she had her teeth pulled? 
Will I hallucinate? Hopefully of Harry styles...
Do they really ask you to count back from 10? Do you really only reach 7? 
Is the sensation of being knocked out the same as fainting? 
When you wake up does it feel like you've been asleep for a minute or a month?
What do you feel like when you wake up?
Can you see Harry? Haha

I'm worried for my Mum + dad because I know they will worry. I think it's worse for them because now they will be the ones waiting around, while I'm knocked out and won't know what's going on or be aware. They have been so good to me and have 100% supported me and I'm so so grateful to them for everything! 

Slightly odd one but...will I be naked on the operating table? This thought came after a rather giggle filled conversation with a good friend. We were discussing hospital attire and the mention of the famous gown came up. Then it occurred to me that as I am having my abdomen operated on...how  are they going to access that if I'm in a gown?! 

Pain. This one speaks for itself. I'm going to be having keyhole surgery. Where did they make incisions? Are they painful - scale of 1 - rip my hair out? What are the bandages like? 

Something I'm looking forward to...Hummus. The nature of my operation means I can eat again after a VERY restricted diet of 6 months. I have craved hummus (and it has become a bit of an in joke between those close to me) that I will be eating it by the spoonful. When was the first taste of it? Did it taste as good as I remember? I hope my taste buds haven't changed and hummus is off the menu! 

Recovery. Will I sleep more than Rapunzel or whatsherface? Will it be painful? Will the wounds be big? Will they heal? How long before I feel normal again? 

Yours Worridly, 

Me! 

So this was just a bit of light hearted fun, with some of the thoughts I have on my upcoming op to show you that it's okay to feel worried and anxious - it's a normal and natural response. But please know they are just emotions and you will be okay. In all seriousness, if you are going through the same and are worried then there are some really good websites that can help, if you Google "prepping for surgery help" or "surgery anxiety". It's normal to feel apprehensive as it's the fear of the unknown. But once you see that everyone has the same worries, it makes you feel comforted that you're not the only one, and that's what I've tried to do with this post. I hope you enjoyed! Also if you want to discuss further anything about ops or anything like that then follow me on Twitter @HayleyShannon8. 

So for now I am on my hiatus of a week or two while I have my gallbladder removed and recover a little. I will update you on the answers to the above questions as and when I can! Might also do a part two entitled "Dear Stupid Gallbladder..." 

Thanks for reading! 

Hayley x 

A Letter To My Future Post Op Self...

A bit of a different post today! I have been blogging now for a few weeks and have been keeping up with posting a blogpost a day, everyday which fits in rather well with the Daily Hayley name! However I am going to have to take a short hiatus (flashback to One Direction saying that...) for a week or two as I am having an operation! This is my first operation in my life. I've never had an anaesthetic, not even for a pulled tooth. I've never been to the doctor for more than tonsillitis. But in April this year I found that I had gallstones and needed my gallbladder removed. Nearly 7 months later the surgery date has come around.   

I wasn't going to talk about it on here and was going to schedule some posts, but then I realised that this blog is a platform to share thoughts and also to help people. I have found myself over the months googling and looking for advice or people's stories on their operations, to act as a comfort for my own. With this is mind I thought maybe by me talking about my experience it may help someone out there! So this is a list (we all know how much I love a good list) of thoughts, apprehensions and views that are going through my head days before I have surgery. I thought it would be fun to do this in a 'letter-to-my-future-self' sort of style. I hope this is helpful or a comfort to anyone else going through a first time even a second, third) operation as they are worrisome, but we are all in the same boat and thinking the same things. And we will all get through it together! 

I realise this post isn't catered to everyone, so if you are not interested in my operation themed ramblings then I will be back soon with my regular content. But if you are and this helps you in any way to feel not so alone in these pre-op feelings, then I've done my job well! 

Dear Future Gallbladder-less Me,

I am currently a few days away from surgery and am quite frankly bricking it. Or gallstoning it, as they are the reason I'm in this situation in the first place. I heard once that writing your worries down is very therapeutic. So this is my form of pre-op anxiety therapy. (They did say to burn the notes after, but I'm writing this on an iPad and I don't think Apple would be too happy!) 

Things I'm Worried About... 

The drive to the hospital. The waiting in the waiting room. Basically the morning of the op and all the waiting it involves. I'm booked in for one of the first surgeries of the day, so I have to be at the hospital for 7AM, meaning I will have to wake up at 5. On a normal day I would be outraged at this sleep intrusion, but I know I will not be sleeping a wink the night before. Maybe that's a good thing as it means I will be tired and won't mind drifting off to sleep with the anaesthetic? I know once I'm up and the countdown is on, my nerves and anxiety will set in and all the waiting around will only amplify it. 

Anaesthetic. I have a couple of questions on this topic... 
What does it feel like? 
Will I get the giggles or be off my face like the girl who thought the zombie apocalypse had happened after she had her teeth pulled? 
Will I hallucinate? Hopefully of Harry styles...
Do they really ask you to count back from 10? Do you really only reach 7? 
Is the sensation of being knocked out the same as fainting? 
When you wake up does it feel like you've been asleep for a minute or a month?
What do you feel like when you wake up?
Can you see Harry? Haha

I'm worried for my Mum + dad because I know they will worry. I think it's worse for them because now they will be the ones waiting around, while I'm knocked out and won't know what's going on or be aware. They have been so good to me and have 100% supported me and I'm so so grateful to them for everything! 

Slightly odd one but...will I be naked on the operating table? This thought came after a rather giggle filled conversation with a good friend. We were discussing hospital attire and the mention of the famous gown came up. Then it occurred to me that as I am having my abdomen operated on...how  are they going to access that if I'm in a gown?! 

Pain. This one speaks for itself. I'm going to be having keyhole surgery. Where did they make incisions? Are they painful - scale of 1 - rip my hair out? What are the bandages like? 

Something I'm looking forward to...Hummus. The nature of my operation means I can eat again after a VERY restricted diet of 6 months. I have craved hummus (and it has become a bit of an in joke between those close to me) that I will be eating it by the spoonful. When was the first taste of it? Did it taste as good as I remember? I hope my taste buds haven't changed and hummus is off the menu! 

Recovery. Will I sleep more than Rapunzel or whatsherface? Will it be painful? Will the wounds be big? Will they heal? How long before I feel normal again? 

Yours Worridly, 

Me! 

So this was just a bit of light hearted fun, with some of the thoughts I have on my upcoming op to show you that it's okay to feel worried and anxious - it's a normal and natural response. But please know they are just emotions and you will be okay. In all seriousness, if you are going through the same and are worried then there are some really good websites that can help, if you Google "prepping for surgery help" or "surgery anxiety". It's normal to feel apprehensive as it's the fear of the unknown. But once you see that everyone has the same worries, it makes you feel comforted that you're not the only one, and that's what I've tried to do with this post. I hope you enjoyed! Also if you want to discuss further anything about ops or anything like that then follow me on Twitter @HayleyShannon8. 

So for now I am on my hiatus of a week or two while I have my gallbladder removed and recover a little. I will update you on the answers to the above questions as and when I can! Might also do a part two entitled "Dear Stupid Gallbladder..." 

Thanks for reading! 

Hayley x 

Spaghetti Stuffed Bell Peppers in Disguise!

At this time of year everyone goes as pumpkin mad as Cinderella! Personally I don't really like the taste myself, so when I seen a post on Instagram of a stew cooked and served in a pumpkin it sparked my imagination! I came up with Spaghetti Bolognese (instead of stew) and Bell Peppers instead of a pumpkin! You can still achieve the 'Pumpkin' look with the orange peppers, and can even carve them for a fun twist! This recipe is suitable for vegans and gluten free, but can be adapted to suit anyone's dietary preferences! I hope you enjoy!

You will need:

• Spaghetti (For a Vegan Gluten Free Option try this one from Tesco!) 
• Mince (A great and tasty vegan version is the Linda McCartney Vegemince) 
• Sauce (I love this Tomato + Basil Pasta Sauce)
• Bell Peppers

Method 

1. Heat the mince up in a pan on the hob over a medium heat. Add in your choice of pasta sauce and stir until the clumps have dissolved!

2. Season the mince with salt, pepper and any other seasoning to your taste. Cover with a lid (or a plate) and leave to simmer for 10-15 minutes. Make sure to regularly check and stir the mixture though! 

3. Meanwhile, prep the peppers! Cut off the tops, wash and carve out the insides and leave to one side. At this point if you are feeling creative (or have had a glass or two of vino) you can carve a cute or funny face into your peppers! I did one to show you with and one without. 

4. Cook your spaghetti in salt water following the package instruction and make sure to keep checking on the mince. You can also add in some vegetables if you would like! 

5. Once the spaghetti is nearly done, drain off most of the water and quickly tip the mince and sauce mixture into the pan. Stir over a low heat on the hob until combined.

6. Spoon the spaghetti bolognese into the peppers and serve! 

I really hope you enjoyed this fun twist on stuffed peppers, and also a very yummy vegan spaghetti bolognese recipe! You can tailor this to suit your tastes and preferences and ultimately just have fun with your yummy dinner! 

Thanks for reading! 

VEGAN FAST FOOD DUPES! A Complete Nandos Meal Suitable for Vegans + Gluten Free!

A bonus post today as I'm on  roll with my Vegan Fast Food Dupes! The concept behind this series on my blog is that just because you're vegan, gluten free, coeliac, lactose intolerant or whatever the case may be doesn't mean you have to settle for boring and bland food. This being said, I will take a fast food meal and rather than scrap it from my diet, I just adapt it to be vegan and gluten free! I hope you enjoy, and even if you are a meat eater this could be a healthier option you may want to recreate at home! 

On Today's Menu - CHEEKY VEGAN NANDOS! 

• Grilled Chicken and Salad Pitta
• Peri Peri Chips
• Spicy Rice - SEE MY RICE RECIPE HERE 
• Hummus

Who doesn't love a cheeky Nandos? Vegans. Although there are veggie options, they leave a lot to be desired. I wanted to recreate the options on the menu I would eat if I was a meat eater! So here they are and I hope you cheekily enjoy!

You will need:

• Maris Piper Potatoes 
• Nandos Peri Peri Salt 
• Spicy Rice (You can make your own or see my recipe here!)
• Hummus (My all time fave is this one. If you want to go full Nandos try this Peri Peri Hummus!) 
• 1 BFree Gluten Free Pitta Bread
• 2 Quorn Fillet 
• 3tbsp of Nandos Rub (choose which ever heat rating you like)
• Salad (I like to add lettuce, spinach, tomato and cucumber) 
• Nandos Sauce (to season) 

Method 

1. Slice the potatoes into chip size slices. Sprinkle with the Peri Peri Salt and bake n the oven until they are crisp but fluffy inside.

2. Make my spicy rice following this recipe, or prepare any rice you prefer. 

3. Take the Quorn Fillet and marinate in the Nandos Rub. If you can leave for a few hours or ideally overnight in a sandwich bag to infuse with the flavour. Grill in the over following the package instructions.

4. Toast your pitta bread, and spread with a generous layer of a Nandos Sauce of your choice. Add in the salad and Quorn Fillet and top with more sauce if desired!

5. Plate the pitta with the chips, rice and hummus! Time to tuck in!

I hope you enjoyed my vegan and gluten free version of the well loved classics at Nandos.  Even if you are not vegan, you can follow this recipe to create a healthier and cheaper meal at home! To see my other Fast Food Dupes click here for KFC Toasted Twister and here for Happy Meals!

Thanks for reading!

VEGAN FAST FOOD DUPES! "Happy Meal" inspired Hayley Meal!

I'm back today with another post on a Vegan Fast Food Dupe. The concept behind this series on my blog is that just because you're vegan, gluten free, coeliac, lactose intolerant or whatever the case may be doesn't mean you have to settle for boring and bland food. This being said, I will take a fast food meal and rather than scrap it from my diet, I just adapt it to be vegan and gluten free! I hope you enjoy, and even if you are a meat eater this could be a healthier option you may want to recreate at home! 

On Today's Menu - Happy Meals!  

Chicken Nugget Option
I think everyone is partial to a chicken nugget or two. A friend of mine could quite easily live off the 20 piece boxes that McDonalds do! As I am now vegan, it was really hard to give up my lunch time luxuries until I decided to create my own! It's quite a simple (and some would say obvious) recipe - so much so that I wouldn't really call it a recipe...just a collection of recommendations of food that will satisfy the need for a Happy Meal!

You will need: 

• Quorn Vegan Nuggets (these are vegan + really tasty!)
• Maris Piper Potatoes 
• Ketchup (If you're gluten free this one from Tesco is great!)

Method
1. Slice the potatoes into chip size pieces - as thin or as thick as you prefer. Sprinkle with a touch of salt and bake in the oven until fluffy and crisp

2. Cook the Quorn Nuggets as per the packet instructions

3. Serve with your favourite beverage and ketchup! Toy and box are optional!

Hamburger + Cheeseburger Options
Another firm favourite is the hamburger and cheeseburger Happy Meals. This one has a little bit more to it!  

You will need: 

• BFree Burger Bun (tastes yummy and soft without gluten!) 
• Linda McCartney Vegetarian Burger (they are vegan and the perfect size!)
• Ketchup
• Diced Onion (chopped really finely)
• Gherkin Slice (if you like that sort of thing) 
• Violife Cheese Slice (for the cheeseburger)
• Maris Piper Potatoes 

Method
1. Cook the chips as stated above

2. Cook the burger following the packet instruction 

3. In  a pan, sauté the onions until golden brown. I'm not sure how McDonalds get their onions so tiny but I'm not really a fan of them, so I'd prefer these ones over them any day! 

4. Toast your bun in the oven for a minute or two, spread a generous layer of ketchup on, then onions, pickle slices (that you can pick out later - is that why they're called pickles?) Add the burger and the top bun for the hamburger, and the cheese and the top bun for the cheeseburger! 
  
5. Serve with chips, condiments and a cooling drink! 

I hope you enjoyed my fast food dupes for some of the Happy Meal options that are suitable for vegans! If you wanted to make it extra healthy you could swap the chips for carrot sticks or a fruit bag! To see my last Vegan Fast Food Dupe on Toasted Twisters see here!

Thanks for reading!

Homemade Cornbread (Vegan Option Included)

Recently for my Mum's Birthday, we went to a fantastic restaurant that happened to be Cowboy and Western themed! It was fantastic, and one thing from the menu became a firm favourite with my dad - cornbread! We've searched high and low in supermarkets since, but cannot find any anywhere! I took to Google, found a recipe and adapted it to recreate the ones we had with John Wayne...and here it is! I also adjusted it to make a vegan version which I will show below in this colour. I hope you enjoy!

You will need:

• 1/4 Cup of Butter (Or Violife Butter if Vegan)
• 1 Cup of Milk (Use Unsweetened Non-Dairy Milk of Vegan)
• 1 Large Egg (Use a Flax Egg = 1tbsp Ground Flax Seed + 3tbsp Water) 
• 1 + 1/2 Cups of Yellow Cornmeal (I found this one in Asda)
• 1 Cup Plain Flour
• 1/2 Cup Granulated Sugar
• 1tbsp Baking Powder
• 1/2tsp Salt
• 1/2 Cup Sweetcorn 

Method 

1. Preheat your oven to 160c. 

2. In a large bowl combine the room temperature butter, milk and egg (or their alternatives) with a whisk until well mixed.

3. Add in the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and sweetcorn (all together) and stir to mix the wet and dry ingredients. When your batter looks like lumpy yellow custard - you know it's ready! 

4. Pour into your choice of oven wear. I like to make mine in a muffin tray,  so they come out as individual portions. However you can bake this in a cake tin, a sandwich tin, baking tray - anything you like as long as it's oven safe!

5. Bake in the oven for 20-30 minutes until they have risen and are springy to the touch! 

I hope you enjoyed my recipe for cornbread! I feel like this recipe has something for everyone - a recipe for dairy eaters alongside a recipe for vegans! I hope to do more like this in the future so no one is left out. Being vegan myself, finding out about a "Flax Egg" has made baking a thing I can enjoy again! If you want to see my baking post from last week on testing out baking from a bottle click here! 

Thanks for reading!

Sharing is Caring - Food Banks.

As it's coming up to Christmas - the season of Good Will, I thought I would talk today about how you can share some help to those in need. 

A food bank is a non-profit organisation that provides basic provisions for 3 days in the form of a food parcel for people who need it. The provisions include non-perishable food items (things that won't go off and don't need to be refrigerated such as tins and cereals), and basic toiletries. The items that are available are only available due to donations from the public. You may think that not many people find themselves having to turn to a food bank, but I was absolutely shocked to learn that over 1 million 3 day supplies were given out last year. That's one million people that have been in such a dire situation, they have had to go to a food bank to make sure that they and their children eat that night. It breaks my heart to think of that, so I wanted to write a post to spread the word and let you know how you can help if you are able to. 

The question that runs through my mind is why has there been such a significant increase in the amount of Food Banks opening, and the amount of people needing them? According to the Trussell Trust the main three reasons for people needing to rely on food banks are:

1. Benefit Delays
2. Low Income
3. Benefit Changes 

What strikes me is that these reasons are not the people fault. Delayed or changed benefits are out of their control, and when the benefit officials are contacted they are passed from pillar to post trying to chase it up. Meanwhile they are finding themselves having to use a food bank to support themselves. The same with a low income - it is a known fact that in London most wages do not cover the cost of living, even though you may be working long hard hours. I believe these issues should be tackled in parliament with the utmost importance. 

Some more statistics on Food Banks: - 

• There are currently nearly 500 Food Banks operating in the UK 
• Over 10,000 tonnes of food were donated by the public last year alone
• 40,000 Doctors and Social Workers gave out Food Bank Vouchers last year
• 50,000 people volunteered to work with the food banks 

As you can see, there are a lot of people relying on the use of Food Banks to survive. Here's how you can help...

Donate Supplies
The first way you can help is by donating supplies to fill the Food Parcels. It doesn't cost a lot to do. Simply find your local Food Bank - there are two options to do this. Firstly, most supermarkets have a brilliant system where, as you are doing your own shopping, you can add a few bits to it for the food bank and drop that into the supermarket's food bank collection which is located at the front of the shop. This saves you having to find a Food Bank and as you are already doing your shopping it's simple to add a few extras. Plus it might mean that you are able to regularly donate when you visit the supermarket. Secondly, you can find where your local Food Bank is and take your donations there. They are usually in Churches or Community Centres. See here where you can find one near you.  

Once you have found the Food Bank you want to donate to, check with them what supplies they accept, or what they are in need of. Here is a list of basic supplies that complete a Food Parcel. They are inexpensive to buy and will help someone out a great deal! 

• Cereal
• Soup
• Pasta
• Rice
• Pasta Sauce
• Beans 
• Tinned Meat
• Tinned Vegetables
• Tea/Coffee/Hot Chocolate
• Sugar
• Biscuits
• Toothbrush + Toothpaste
• Baby Wipes
• Nappies
• Sanitary Items 

These are just some basic supplies. You can add other bits, I like to include some sweets in case there are any children the parcel is going to. Just make sure that whatever you donate is a non-perishable. You may want to include some supplies for those with a dietary requirement also. It's best to check with the Food Bank you are donating to as they can give you an idea of exactly what they need. 

Here are some links regarding supplies to donate...

Trussell Trust Food Parcel List 

"20 Things Food Banks Need Most"


Volunteer 
When volunteering and giving your time to help out at a Food Bank, you will be making the Food Parcels and distributing them, talking to the customers and helping them, receiving donations and stocking them. It's very fulfilling and a lovely thing to do. You can see here on how to volunteer, and also here. 

To conclude, I just wanted to write a post today to spread the word about how many people are being forced to use Food Banks, and how you can help after I seen the staggering statistic on just how many people are actually having to use them. I hope the issues that are behind the reasons why will be tackled and help to decrease that number. 

If you feel you need to use a food bank yourself, then please do. They are there to help and have the supplies you need. It is not your fault and it is okay to ask for help. You have not failed, the system has failed you. See here how to find one near you. 

Thanks for reading! 

VEGAN FAST FOOD DUPES - "KFC" Style Toasted Twister! (Suitable for Gluten Free)

Just because you're vegan, gluten free, coeliac, lactose intolerant or whatever the case may be doesn't mean you have to settle for boring and bland food. I want to start a series on my blog called "Vegan Fast Food Dupes" where I take a fast food meal and rather than scrap it from my diet, I just adapt it to be vegan and gluten free! I hope you enjoy, and even if you are a meat eater this could be a healthier option you may want to recreate at home! 

When I ate meat, my favourite fast food treat was a KFC Toasted Twister. Since becoming vegan, I thought those cheat day meals were out the drive through window! I was making a sandwich wrap the other day and thought to myself...why don't I attempt to make a Toasted Twister? I did, following this recipe and loved it. Obviously it doesn't taste EXACTLY like KFC's one, but it's pretty close...

You will need: - 

• 1 Tortilla Wrap (I'm using BFree Tortillas) 
• 2 tbsp Ground Pepper
• 1 Squeeze of Vegan Mayo (I love Hampton Creeks "Just Mayo") 
• Shredded Lettuce 
• Diced Tomato 
• Quorn Breaded Fillet 
• Southern Fried Spice - SEE BELOW 

Method 

1. In a small bowl combine the vegan mayo with the ground pepper, to create the signature KFC peppernaise that coats the twister. 

2. Take your Quorn Breaded Fillet and cook for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and season. At this point you can choose how authentic you want this to taste. If you want to copy the KFC famous "11 herbs and spices" then you can see them here. If not, you can adjust it to your preferences. I like to use a teaspoon of paprika, half a teaspoon of nutmeg, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Use any marinade or rub your tastebuds crave. Place them back in the oven for the remaining cooking time to allow the spices to sink it well. 

3. Time for the twist! Take your tortilla, spread a generous amount of the pepper mayo on, top that with shredded lettuce, diced tomato, more mayo and finally the southern fried chicken! Or should that be Quoricken..? 

4. Wrap the tortilla up and grill in the oven until the outside appears toasted! Tuck in and enjoy on its own, or with a side of fries! 

I hope you enjoyed this recipe for an alternative to the KFC Toasted Twister. It will satisfy your cravings on a restricted diet, but is also good for those that aren't vegan or gluten free, as it is a whole lot healthier than the fast food version - half the calories better actually! Look out for my next instalment of my fast food dupes! 

Thanks for reading! 

Autumn/Winter Skincare Updates (Cruelty Free + Vegan)

Like a Karma Chameleon, my skincare regime changes at this time of year as the leaves turn red, gold and green... Last week I brought you some make up bag updates for the colder weather, and this week I thought I would do the same for my skin! I hope you enjoy!

LUSH Lip Scrub (Popcorn + Santa Baby)
I think your lips are the first thing that alerts you Autumn has arrived, not only from the Pumpkin Spice Latte's they are drinking, but the cold weather that makes them crack and feel dry. To combat this, I like to firstly use a lip scrub. You can make your own as they are mostly sugar, a binding oil and a flavouring, but I'm a LUSH lover and can never resist their Popcorn one, or as we are nearing the Christmas season - Santa Baby which tastes like cola! The idea is that you scrub your lips and then eat it...I don't really like the thought of eating dead skin, so I like to use mine when I brush my teeth and use the toothbrush to exfoliate them further! 

Lush Passion Fruit Lip Balm 
My second tip for protecting your lips in the colder weather is to layer on an armour of lip balm! There are so many great ones on the market, you could even use coconut oil which
works brilliantly also. I happen to be enjoying the passion fruit option from LUSH which smells beautiful and keeps my lips hydrated for ages. Even if you're a chatterbox like me! 

Pacifica Day & Night Moisturiser
I find that in the autumn and winter my skin gets dryer from the weather and the central heating, so I need to put back that moisture with a heavy duty moisturiser. In the summer, I wouldn't really opt for a day moisturiser and would just go onto primer, but at the moment I find my skin is craving it like I crave hummus. This product can be used as a day + night moisturiser, however I prefer to use it in the mornings as it contains a whole host of natural ingredients that help to deeply moisturise and protect your skin, and support collagen whilst providing radiance. It's the perfect consistency - not too thin that it disappears and not too thick so you can wear foundation over it. 

Organic Surge Overnight Sensation Night Cream Moisturiser
This night cream is such a treat! I pop this on just before bed, it goes on really creamy and massages in well. It also helps me to drift off to sleep due to the fact it is enriched with a lavender essential oil that helps your relax and also calms your skin. It also contains cocoa and Shea butters that nourish your skin so in the morning you have softer skin with a brighter complexion! I also love that this is "98.99% natural" is vegan friendly and is not tested on animals! 

Nourish Revital Eyes Eye Cream 
I use a rich and slightly thicker eye cream all year round, but I thought I would include it here as I know some people opt for a lighter one in the summer and may be looking for a winter friendly one! The Nourish Revital Eye Cream is packed full of things that you'd usually use in a salad such as kale, maqui berries and pomegranate which help to get rid of puffiness and dark circles. It also contains peptides and antioxidants to "boost the natural resilience of ageing" whilst still being mild around the delicate eye area! 

Lush Charity Pot 
This body lotion is one of the best I have tried. I use it all over my body and find it leaves my skin feeling so soft and supple for hours afterwards! I sometimes use a bit as a hand cream too, it's that good. It also does good for the charities that LUSH works with, for every pot that is purchased 100% of the prices goes directly to the charity itself which I think is fantastic. You can read more about it here! 

Green People Organic Butterfly Conservation Nourish Hand Cream - Ho Wood & Red Mandarin
Hand cream is a definite must for this time of year. I like to have one in my bag while I'm on the go. I always look for a rich a creamy one that smells gorgeous and this wins hands down! Fragranced with "Ho wood and red mandarin" and packed with essential oils, this keeps my hands soft and hydrated. I also love the beautiful packaging and the fact that for everyone bought a donation goes to the Butterfly Conservation to protect butterflies, moths and their environment! 

I hope you enjoyed my Autumn/winter skincare updates to help you beat the cold weathers effects on your skin this year! All of the above products are vegan and by cruelty free brands. For more information on other brands that are also in the same categories see this PETA list. 

Thanks for reading!