Breakfast Ideas for School / Work / Uni (Healthy & Vegan)


Breakfast foods are one of my favourite things in life, I would eat breakfast for every meal if I could (actually I pretty much do that anyway) and therefore I am so surprised when people tell me they don't have breakfast before school / work / uni ??!! However I do understand that making time to fit everything into your morning routine can be pretty difficult if you have an early start, and sometimes you just have to prioritise your eyeliner over making breakfast. Therefore I have compiled a list of some of my favourite easy breakfast ideas that are perfect for making before school, uni or work (or just for any day) and are of course 100% vegan and healthy(ish). 

 BREAKFAST IDEAS FOR SCHOOL / WORK / UNI (HEALTHY & VEGAN) 

I'm going to break down these breakfast ideas into a few different categories as then it'll be easier to find the breakfast that best fits your preference. Also you can adjust any of these recipes to suit the foods that you have around your house or to your dietary preferences, for example wherever I mention a type of non-dairy milk you could substitute it for any non-dairy milk that you like (e.g coconut milk, rice milk, soya milk), and you do not have to use the specific fruits or extra ingredients such as chia seeds or flax seed if you do not have them! 

DRINKING WATER

The most important thing to do in the morning is to drink lots of water! I recommend that you have around 1L of water as soon as you wake up, and preferably 30 minutes before breakfast (so get ready first before eating anything) this really kick starts your metabolism and wakes you up for the day! If you aren't used to drinking water in that quantity or in the morning then start slow but force yourself and soon you will get into the habit! You get so dehydrated during the night that if you don't drink a lot in the morning you could have headaches or affected performance at school or uni so its very important! Also lemon water and green tea are perfect ways to start the morning as they contain little to no caffeine and naturally wake your body up so you are not dependent on caffeine to function!

Quick & Easy 

These breakfast ideas are the quickest & easiest healthy breakfasts that I regularly have, each taking under 10 minutes (maybe longer if you take time to make them look pretty and take pictures for instagram - because thats all I do realistically).


1. Nice-cream (banana ice-cream)
Nice-cream is one of my favourite meals all year round as it is just so tasty, especially when flavoured with different fruits! My favourite types of nice-cream are raspberry, peanut butter or mango, topped with a variety of yummy things such as granola, coconut, chia seeds, flax seeds or even vegan brownie pieces (as pictured above). To make nice-cream all you have to do is freeze some bananas overnight and then in the morning before school you can just put your frozen banana (I use about 3-4 bananas) into a blender - though make sure its a fairly powerful blender or it could potentially break the blade, and blend up with whatever flavour you desire, I love to add a handful of frozen raspberries or a tablespoon of peanutbutter at this stage. The banana will clump together at first but once its been blended for a few minutes it will become smooth and creamy, and then its done! Just spoon into a bowl and top with fruit, nuts / seeds, granola or whatever else you would like, and enjoy!

2. Smoothie Bowls 

Smoothie Bowls are my FAVOURITE BREAKFAST EVER as they are just delicious, so easy to make and so good for your body! I already have a whole post on smoothie recipes that you can read here, but I am constantly discovering more and more flavours and combinations that I love. The best thing about having smoothies for breakfast is that all you need to do is put all the fruit in a blender (I have the blendactive one which was about £30 from Argos) and blend together. You can pour it into a bowl so you can top it with granola, nuts and seeds, fruit, coconut and any other toppings of your choice! The smoothie bowl featured below consisted of banana, strawberries, peach and almond milk and was topped with blueberries, granola and coconut! If you are new to having smoothies for breakfast I would suggest you may want to add some type of sweetener such as maple syrup however if you consistently eat them then you will get used to not including sweeteners in your smoothies! 


3. Oatmeal 
Many people may think that oatmeal is only a winter breakfast, however I love it so much that I don't think it should be limited to only one season! I prefer to cook oatmeal on the hob however you could also cook it in the microwave if you prefer! Just combine 1 - 2 cups of oats with 2x the amount of liquid (I usually go for 1 cup of oats, 1 cup of almond milk and 1 cup of water) in a small saucepan and cook on a low to medium heat for 3-5 minutes, stirring continuously until thickened. Make sure that you do not cook your oatmeal for too long otherwise it will start to clump together, making it not as creamy. The great thing about oatmeal is that you can create so many different variations, I love to add flax seed, chia seed and cinnamon to my oatmeal whilst its cooking and then add fruit and other toppings afterwards. Alternatively you could add fruit into your saucepan whilst your oatmeal is cooking, such as banana slices or frozen berries. 

4. Granola, Fruit and Almond Milk with PB and Banana Bagel 
One of my absolute favourite breakfasts for before school, the banana and peanut butter provide you with energy to wake you up and keep you motivated with school, whilst the granola and fruit is the perfect combination of sweetness that also helps to keep you full until lunch! I love using wholewheat bagels, with organic 100% peanut butter and sometimes I will have granola and milk without fruit, sometimes I'll add fruit, usually depending what's in the fridge! So easy to make but so filling and delicious at the same time!


On-The-Go 
These breakfast ideas are perfect if you don't have any time to eat breakfast before leaving for school or work, or if you have a long journey to school on a train or bus that is convenient to eat breakfast during. Each of these ideas either takes under 10 minutes to make or can be pre-made the night / week before so that you can just grab it in the morning and go.

1. Smoothies 
You can pour your smoothie into a bottle to take to school or work if you are really in a rush (I always used to take smoothies on the train to drink in the morning). The blender that I have is really convenient for this because you make the smoothie in a sports bottle which is screwed onto the base, meaning that you can easily unscrew the blade and replace it with a lid and then take your smoothie with you on-the-go without having to put it into another bottle, for more information on the blender I have, you can check it out here. 

2. Banana Muffins 
Another of my favourite quick and easy breakfast options is a banana muffin, which I actually have a recipe for here. Whilst not as filling as oatmeal (I would suggest you have a smoothie or some fruit along with a muffin otherwise it may not fill you up completely and you will be extremely hungry waiting for break time!) Bananas are a great thing to have for your breakfast because they provide energy that will help wake you up in the morning and get your metabolism kickstarted! 

3. Overnight Oats 

 When I first came to veganism, the idea of cold oats that had been prepared the day before was not at all appealing but trust me when I say this is such a yummy breakfast, and so easy to prepare! The night before, pour about a cup of oats and 2 cups of non-dairy milk into a jar (one with a lid so you can take it with you) or a container. Add some peanut butter or cacao powder to sweeten (about 1 tbsp of cacao and 1 tbsp of pb) and mix together, leave in the fridge overnight and then in the morning add any toppings such as banana or granola and take it with you for an easy on-the-go breakfast! 


If you have a bit more time in the morning 

When I was at school (I am currently on my gap year) I used to have one day per week where I would have no lessons and therefore didn't have to get up at 6.30am to get ready, meaning that once a week I could make something for breakfast that took me a bit longer to prepare. These breakfast ideas would also be great for the weekend, or for if you just have that little bit extra time in the morning, as they take around 10-30 minutes to make!

1. Nice cream with Avocado on Toast 
As already mentioned, nice cream is one of my favourite breakfasts, but sometimes I just want something warm in the morning to go alongside it, and that's where avocado toast comes in! Personally I really dislike the taste of avocado by itself, but I can just about handle it on toast or in a sandwich (as mentioned in my picnic blog post which you can read here). When having avocado on toast I love using a heartier bread such as sourdough or homemade bread (pictured above is homemade wholemeal bread), because I feel it is just such a nicer combination. Once my bread is toasted, I mash up an avocado (I use about half of one for 2 slices of toast) and then top with lemon juice and cracked pepper to taste. This breakfast will fill you up until lunch and is perfect for indulging in the morning!

2. Spelt Waffles 
I just purchased a waffle maker which was probably the best decision of my life so far, and therefore I had to include this amazing recipe that I discovered (see below). Whilst this isn't the healthiest breakfast to have everyday its a perfect treat for a Friday or a day where you have a little more time, and you could even make this batter the night before and keep it refrigerated meaning in the morning you would just have to pre-heat your waffle maker and your waffles would be done in under 10 minutes! I love topping my waffles with banana and strawberries, vegan whipped cream and even icecream (I mean if it's vegan it's healthy right??)
- 1 1/4 cup non-dairy milk 
- 1/4 cup coconut oil (melted)
- 1/4 cup maple syrup 
- 1 3/4 cups spelt flour
- 1/2 cup oats
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp vanilla extract 
- 1 tbsp flax seed

- Combine the wet ingredients into a small bowl and whisk together
- Add dry ingredients to a mixing bowl and combine
- Add the wet ingredients into the mixing bowl and mix with the dry ingredients until thoroughly combined
- Let it set for 5-10 minutes whilst you preheat your waffle maker 
- Coat your waffle maker with coconut oil before pouring in your batter (about 1/2 cup)
- Cook according to your device's instructions (around 2-3 minutes) 
- Remove from waffle maker and top with your choice of toppings 



3. Pancakes
I'm sure you already all know that I absolutely adore pancakes, and you can check out my basic pancake recipe here, but I really want to reiterate how incredible pancakes are, especially for breakfast! You can make the mixture the night before and refridgerate it so that in the morning you just have to cook and eat them! A delicious breakfast in under 15 minutes? YES PLEASE!! 


4. French Toast 

Another one of my favourite foods, vegan french toast was something I never thought I would find! But here it is, crunchy, sweet and perfectly flavoured, this french toast is perfect for the morning before school! You can find the recipe I love to use here, just make the batter the night before and in the morning you can fry your french toast and its complete! I love topping mine with blueberries, banana and maple syrup! 

I hope you have enjoyed these breakfast ideas for school, work or uni and that this is helpful to you! If you try out any of these or have any questions feel free to email me at positivesoph@gmail.co.uk or contact me on instagram or twitter (@positivesoph) I would love to hear from you!! Make sure you always have a healthy breakfast before school as it really does affect your performance throughout the day!







Keep your soul happy! - Sophie :)

Quick & Easy Vegan Peanut Butter Cookies


Peanut Butter is no doubt one of my favourite foods of all time, so it would be unfair of me to not share this incredible cookie recipe. These cookies are perfect for a healthy (ish) snack, either to take to school / uni / work or just out and about with you, alternatively they would be great for breakfast if you're running late or with a cup of tea in the afternoon - the possibilities are endless when it comes to cookies! I personally prefer to use peanut butter that is made of 100% peanuts, as the commercially more common peanut butter (such as Sunpat) is too sweet and artificial tasting for me. The peanut butter that I use is 'Meridian Organic Crunchy Peanut Butter', as it contains no palm oil or added sugar, is organic and is just really tasty! I switch up between crunchy and smooth depending on what is available so either will work, depending on your preference!

VEGAN PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES

As with all of my recipes this is a base recipe so adaptations are welcome, you can use any type of non-dairy milk, my favourites being almond milk and rice milk, but any should work just fine! You can also use gluten free oats / oat flour if you wanted to make this into a gluten free cookie recipe, and coconut sugar could replace the brown sugar if wanted however note that this may alter the taste. I wouldn't suggest substituting the brown sugar for a liquid sugar such as maple syrup as this would alter the texture and as they are already pretty gooey cookies they may not set as well to form the cookie shape. Please let me know how you get on if you choose to substitute any of the ingredients via my email or instagram (@positivesoph).


Yields 9 - 10 cookies 
You will need 
1 cup peanut butter 
2/3rds cup oats / oat flour  
1tsp bicarb of soda / baking soda 
2tsp vanilla extract
1/4th cup non-dairy milk
1 cup brown sugar 
Food Processor (such as a magimix)


1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celcius 
2. If using oats as opposed to oat flour, put your oats into the food processor and pulse until a flour-like consistency is formed 
3. Add the rest of the ingredients to the food processor and blend together (alternatively if you don't have a food processor, put all of the ingredients into a large bowl and mix) 


4. Once completely mixed your mixture should form a ball in the food processor
5. Remove the mixture from the food processor and grease two baking trays with greaseproof paper
6. Take small handfuls of cookie dough and place onto the greased trays, making sure you lightly flatten each ball of dough onto the tray (see below) 


7. Place trays in the preheated oven and bake for 8 - 10 minutes, once cooked the cookies should have a cracked exterior that has browned but is still squishy to touch
8. Leave the cookies to harden for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack and leaving to cool completely (or until cool enough for you to have a bite) 


9. ENJOY! Pair with a hot drink of your choice and try not to eat them all in one go! 

Just like with my breakfast cookies, these would be the perfect type of cookie to create a ice cream sandwich with! Just take your favourite non-dairy ice cream (mine are Booja Booja Chocolate or Swedish Glace Vanilla) and sandwich a spoonful between two of these cookies! Perfect for dessert or as a summer snack! I hope you have enjoyed this recipe and if you do recreate them please send me a picture on twitter (@positivesoph) or tag me on instagram (@positivesoph) I would love to see your creations! 


Keep your soul happy! - Sophie :)

Packing a Summer Picnic (Vegan & Healthy)


One of my favourite things about summer is spending time with the people closest to me, in a beautiful location whilst laughing and eating amazing vegan food. Picnics are the type of activity traditionally exclusive to summer however you don't have to just limit yourself to the warm weather, picnics indoors are just as fun if you have great company and good food! For me, vegan lunch and picnic-esque options were the most difficult to think of as snack foods are often filled with unnecessary dairy products, however I have created a compilation of foods that are idea for these types of situations and would also be great for school / work lunches (though I have a full post on that coming shortly!).

HOW TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL PICNIC (VEGAN & HEALTHY) 

1. Location - For me personally, location is key when having a picnic as it just completes the whole ambience of the day. My favourite picnic spots are fully immersed in nature, such as forests, riverside locations, the beach and on the moors being some of the best. Make sure that there is an area suitable for setting out your picnic blanket and check the regulations of the area to ensure you are allowed to picnic there. It would also be a good idea to pick a day with suitable weather as you are going to be outside for a lengthy amount of time and you don't want to be spontaneously rained on! (Although I did see a post on Pinterest about a couple who had their anniversary picnic in the rain and they hung umbrellas on the trees which was incredibly cute! You can view that here if you would like.)


2. Picnic Essentials - The most essential step for a successful picnic is ensuring that you have everything you need, as there is nothing worse than getting to your beautiful, secluded location to discover you left the picnic blanket at home! I would recommend the following items as picnic essentials : 

- Picnic Basket : I use an authentic wicker picnic basket that is quite large and fits in all the food that we usually bring, however you could use a cool bag / rucksack or even a carrier bag for this. 

- Picnic Blanket : Unless you are one of those people who enjoys sitting at picnic tables, a picnic blanket is essential! Make sure yours is big enough to sit on and lay out the food, and most importantly make sure it is comfortable! If you feel like you could be sitting on hard ground, cushions are also a great thing to bring to a picnic!

- Warm Clothing - Even if it is a brilliantly warm day, you never know when the sun will go behind the clouds or when the wind will pick up (especially in England) therefore I would always recommend bringing extra layers just in case!

- Napkins / Wet Wipes - We had a bit of a disaster with salsa getting everywhere during our picnic but luckily we brought plenty of napkins as a precaution. When packing food for any occasion, you never know when something might spill out everywhere so having emergency napkins or wet wipes is a must!


3. Picnic Food - arguably the most important part of the picnic, it's good to decide what type of picnic you are aiming for before you good food shopping (otherwise you'll end up throwing everything in sight in your trolley). We were having this picnic around 4 / 5pm so it was a mix between lunch and dinner meaning that we wanted substantial foods that were mainly snack orientated, as well as some sweet treats. The foods we brought were 100% vegan, mostly healthy and included: 

- Hummus & Carrot Sticks 

- Salsa & Tortilla Chips 

- Tomato & Basil Couscous 

- Avocado, Hummus, Pesto & Salad Sandwiches in Sundried Tomato Ciabatta Rolls 

- Strawberries, Blueberries, Grapes & Mango Chunks

- Mini Donuts 

- Strawberry Lemonade 

Preparing your picnic food at home as opposed to packing your basket straight from your shopping eliminates any unessecary rubbish or plastic wrapping when you are on your picnic. We decanted the tortilla chips, carrot sticks and mini donuts into large airtight jars so that they would remain fresh and to maximise space within the basket. We decanted the hummus, salsa and couscous into glass ramekins with lids so that we could just take the amount that we were going to eat and no food would be wasted. For the fruit, we just kept it in its original packaging, and the sandwiches we prepared at home. For the Strawberry Lemonade we decanted it into a large glass, sealed top bottle and we brought with us some jars (with handles) to drink it out of. 


The sandwiches were my favourite dish as the flavours went so incredibly well together! To make them we just sliced a sundried tomato ciabatta roll in half and spread pesto on one half, hummus on the other. Then we sliced up an avocado and placed it inside along with some mixed baby salad leaves, and it was complete! 


If you would like to see any more of my pictures from our picnic I shall leave some below and also there will be some posted on my instagram (@positivesoph). I hope you have enjoyed this post and it has inspired you to have a picnic this summer! If you do happen to have one then I would love to know about it and see your pictures! You can tag me on instagram, tweet me at @positivesoph or email me at positivesoph@gmail.com ! Have a beautiful summer !!






Keep your soul happy - Sophie :)

Cruelty Free (Vegan) Skincare Products







One of the hardest things I found about transitioning to the vegan lifestyle was finding cruelty free / vegan skincare and beauty products, considering the majority of major brands out there are pretty involved in the whole animal testing scene, which is not something I want to support or contribute to. Therefore I wanted to share with you some of the products that I have tried out over the past year that have been the most beneficial for my skin and that have had the best results.

I'm going to be including two different companies in this post, one being Lush and the other being the superdrug own brand 'simply pure', so that I can provide a price range to be inclusive of everyones budgets and preferences. I want to put a disclaimer out there that I personally have dry / combination skin that is also very sensitive (to the point where I would get rashes if I wore a heavy skincare product) but no previous history of skin conditions such as acne, therefore the products that work for me may not work for you! If you want more information on any of the products mentioned you can check out www.lush.co.uk and www.superdrug.com. 

{ DISCLAIMER I am not sponsored by any of the brands mentioned in this post (as much as I would like to be !!) and therefore all and any opinions stated on the products are mine and mine only }

Simply Pure (as pictured above) 

1. Foaming Cleanser - this product is perfect for everyday use as its not too heavy on the skin meaning it can be used both morning and night. I love to use this product in the shower in the morning as it helps to wake me up whilst acting as a purifying cleanser to rejuvenate my skin after a nights sleep. I also use this product every evening after removing my makeup, but before I apply moisturiser as it insures that my skin is oil and dirt free after wearing makeup all day. Even if you don't wear makeup regularly this would be great to remove any excess dirt buildup that may accumulate on your skin during the day. This cleanser is around the £2.50 mark and lasts for a few months depending on how often you use it. To use, just apply one pump of cleanser to damp skin, gently rub in and then rinse with water. 

2. Micellar Water - this is the ideal product to use as a toner after removing your makeup, or even to just remove excess oil and dirt from your face if you're having a no makeup day. It such a light product that you can hardly feel it on your skin, just take some on a cotton pad and sweep it across your face after removing your makeup. If you are using this product with the foaming cleanser mentioned above I would recommend using this afterwards (I'm not sure if this is the correct way but I've found it works best for me). This product is around £2.50 also. 

3. Light Moisturiser - I tend to switch up between this moisturiser and my Lush moisturiser (mentioned below) on a day to day basis. I find this moisturiser better for use in the morning as it is a lot lighter on the skin, hence the name, and therefore works well under makeup as it sinks into the skin a lot easier. My skincare routing in the morning will consist of, foaming cleanser, Lush toning water (mentioned below) and then this Light Moisturiser and I find that because all the products are so light on the skin it works really well under any makeup that you may be wearing. This moisturiser is also around the £2.50 mark. 



Lush Cosmetics (as pictured above)

1. Eau Roma Water - this toner water is my absolute favourite product from Lush as it hydrates and moisturises without being too harsh on the skin. Rose water helps to reduce redness and calm the skin, whilst Lavender water softens the skin whilst acting as an aromatherapy oil. I find this product has the best results if used in the evening as it leaves your skin feeling soft and supple, with the Lavender scent helping you to relax also. Because the eau roma water contains a majority of natural ingredients its perfect for sensitive skin and daily use. Just spritz this toner all over your face in a sweeping motion after cleansing your face for a light, refreshing feeling. This product is pricier than the Simply Pure range, at around £8 but its definitely worth it, and lasts a good few months. 

2. 9 to 5 Cleansing Lotion - perfect for removing waterproof mascara and stubborn eyeliner, this cleansing lotion is soothing and moisturising and excellent at removing all makeup, oil and dirt from the skin. Almond oil is packed with vitamin E making it moisturising and hydrating for the skin, whilst Dove Orchid helps to clear breakouts and gently rejuvenate the skin to its optimum condition. This cleanser has a beautiful smell, with the help of floral oils such as Ylang Ylang Oil which actually is proven to help combat symptoms of stress and depression! Retailing at just over £5 for 95g this cleanser is a perfect middle ground in terms of budget, and considering its completely vegan and cruelty free (as are all of the products mentioned in this post) and suitable for daily use its extremely reasonably priced. 

3. Celestial Moisturiser (pictured below) - this is my luxury skincare product as it is pretty pricey (£12.50 for 45g) by boy is it luxurious! Not only does this moisturiser smell like cupcake mix, with hints of almond and vanilla, it is such a beautiful product to apply to the skin. I personally only use this moisturiser at night time rather than in the morning as it is that little bit thicker meaning its perfect for hydrating the skin overnight however not so great to layer under makeup. Almonds and Dove Orchid once again help to hydrate and sooth the skin, and vanilla water not only adds an amazing scent but also has antioxidant qualities meaning it stimulates the skin and helps to combat breakouts. This moisturiser is perfect for dry skin and sensitive skin, but if its not in your budget then the Simply Pure moisturiser mentioned above is also a great product for daily use. 


My Skincare Routine ( & top tips )
MORNING 

1. Drink minimum 1L of water as soon as you wake up - your skin becomes extremely dehydrated overnight so it is crucial to rehydrate in the morning, meaning your skin won't be as dry and breakouts are prevented 

2. Cleanse with the Simply Pure Foaming Cleaner - apply to damp skin ( I do this in the shower ) and rinse off your face with cold water, as it will help to close your pores, preventing build up of oil, dirt or makeup products during the day 

3. Spritz your skin with the Eau Roma Toner Water to hydrate your skin and wake yourself up a little more, make sure you let this product completely absorb into your skin before applying any other products 

4. Moisturise using the Simply Pure Light Moisturiser, make sure you leave this moisturiser to sink into your skin for at least 10 minutes before applying makeup or any other products to your face 

EVENING 

1. Remove makeup with the 9 to 5 Cleansing Lotion and a cotton pad, gently sweep over your face to remove as much makeup, oil and dirt as you can 

2. Cleanse with the Simpy Pure Foaming Cleanser - apply to damp skin ( if you have night showers then this would be the perfect time to do this, or alternatively just apply to your face before splashing your skin with cold water and patting your face dry with a towel )

3. Use either the Eau Roma Toner Water or the Simply Pure Micellar Water to tone your face, either spritz onto your skin or sweep across your skin with a cotton pad to remove any excess oil or dirt that has built up

4. Moisturise using the Celestial Moisturiser, making sure you do not use too much of this product as it is fairly thick and heavy on the skin, allow this to sink into your skin before getting into bed to avoid getting any product on your bedding 

5. Drink minimum of 1L of water during the evening before you go to bed to make sure your skin is hydrated before going to sleep 


Thank you SO much for reading this post and I hope that this slightly different topic here on my blog is useful to some of you! I will have a cruelty free / vegan beauty products post up very soon as that is a very highly requested post and also something I am very passionate about! As always if you have any extra questions or feedback, feel free to leave a comment or message me at positivesoph@gmail.co.uk or at my social media outlets (links in the top bar of my layout - @positivesoph on all). 

Keep your soul happy - Sophie :)

Vegan Marbled Chocolate Banana Muffins


My favourite ever activity when staying with friends is to bake, in fact as I'm writing this we are watching the Great British Bake Off whilst devouring these delicious vegan marbled chocolate banana muffins. Every year when I stay with my best friend for a week in summer we bake together, and this year I took the opportunity to use our baking adventure to give you guys a recipe! The best way to enjoy these muffins is warm, with a cup of tea (with almond milk of course) whilst having a catch up with a good friend. 

VEGAN MARBLED CHOCOLATE BANANA MUFFINS 

These muffins are a perfect afternoon snack, breakfast on-the-go option, or an after dinner dessert. As always my recipes are adaptable and suitable for substitutions for example you could use any other type of non-dairy milk in this recipe such as soya, oat, rice however be cautious that these may cause crying results. You could also substitute plain flour with almond meal, spelt flour, wholemeal flour or gluten free flour however as I did not experiment with these then the results will vary. Alike most of my recipes this can be used as a base to develop to suit your own personal preferences, but please let me know how you get on if you choose to substitute any of the ingredients via my email or instagram (@positivesoph). 


Yields 9 muffins 
Ingredients
3 medium sized ripe bananas
170g golden caster sugar 
1tsp vanilla extract 
2tbsp sunflower oil
170g plain flour 
3/4 tsp bicarbonate of soda 
pinch of salt 
3tbsp cocoa powder 
3tbsp boiling water 
(alternatively to marbling the cocoa powder, you could just add chunks of chocolate)
80ml unsweetened almond milk 

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius 
2. Mash the banana in a large mixing bowl before mixing in the caster sugar, sunflower oil, almond milk and vanilla extract 
3. Once mixed together, add in the flour, bicarbonate of soda and the pinch of salt and mix once more until just combined, being careful not to over mix 
4. Separate one large spoonful of mixture into a separate bowl to form the chocolate marble layer


5. In a small bowl, combine the cocoa powder with boiling water until the chocolate is thoroughly dissolved
6. Add the chocolate mixture to the separated cake mixture and combine until fully incorporated 
7. Using a silicon muffin tray, spoon in the unmodified mixture until the cases are around 3/4 full, then spoon in one tbsp worth of the chocolate mixture into each case
8. Using a knife or cocktail stick, swirl the chocolate mixture into the unmodified mixture to create a marbled effect 


9. Place the muffins into the oven and cook for 18-20 minutes, or until the muffins are golden brown and springy to touch 
10. Remove from the oven and leave to cool for 5 minutes before removing from the silicon tray
11. ENJOY !!

Please send me photos if you recreate this recipe at my email (positivesoph@gmail.co.uk) or tag me on instagram (@positivesoph) and let me know any feedback you have! 

Keep yourself grounded, be mindful, as always keep your soul happy !!

- Sophie :)

Eating Vegan at The Port Eliot Festival


A few weeks ago I was fortunate enough to attend the Port Eliot Festival for a long weekend, a bohemian style literary festival situated in a beautiful country estate in St Germans, East Cornwall. The festival is described as "an annual celebration of words, music, imagination, ideas, nature, food, fashion, flowers, laughter, exploration and fun" which is why it is such a refreshing atmosphere, encompassing beautiful music, inspiring literature, good food (the majority being vegetarian / vegan) and a community of likeminded souls. 

One of the highlights of the festival for me was the incredible vegan food, and the abundance of it! I was a bit hesitant as to whether there would be a variety of vegan options to sustain me for 4 days at the festival (as much as I enjoy noodles I wasn't sure I could stomach them for 3 meals a day, 4 days in a row). However when I arrived and saw the sheer variety of plant based food available I was both relieved and delighted. I thought I would share a few of my favourites incase any of you were thinking of visiting the festival next year, wanted to explore more vegan food companies (as they were all based in other locations permanently) or were just interested in the vegan options I tried! 


1. Luardos Mexican Street Food 

Luardos Mexican Street Food was my absolute favourite of the food options at the festival as it consisted of such delicious and authentic food at a reasonable price. They sold both Burritos and Nachos which consisted of tortilla / tortilla chips with rice, black beans, salsa, guacamole, lettuce and fresh corriander (also cheese, sour cream and the option of meat if not vegan). You could tell that all the components (such as salsa and guacamole) were homemade onsite with fresh, good quality ingredients as both the nachos and the burrito were delicious! Luardos Mexican Street Food is located in Kings Cross Market, Brockley Market and at a variety of festivals at events around the country (find out more at www.luardos.co.uk). 


2. Dog Town London 

Hot dogs and chips were my festival food expectations however never did I think I would find a tofu hot dog that tasted so good! Even my family who are extremely wary of just the word 'tofu' tried this hot dog and agreed that it tasted no different to a frankfurter sausage. As well as having the best hot dog I have ever tasted, the chips from this food stand were AMAZING and I am quite the passionate chip lover so this is a big statement to make! Whilst not the healthiest plant based meal, this was certainly one of convenience and made the perfect on-the-go festival lunch! They are permanently located in Central London, near Regent Street, at a venue called 'The Social' (find out more at www.dogtown-london.co.uk)


3. Pea Souk 

If you're looking for variety, Pea Souk is the option for you! With over 10 different lunch / dinner options from a festival food stand this was the perfect place for vegetarians and vegans. My favourite dish was the soybean burger with vegan cheese, beetroot salad and tomato chutney as the flavours blended perfectly, and it was a eclectic (and much healthier) twist on the classic cheeseburger. The other dishes available included falafel pittas, vegan sausage rolls, a mezze plate and an amazing selection of desserts. Unfortunately I tripped and dropped my piece of vegan cheesecake before I could take a picture but just trust me that it tasted incredible. Luckily for me Pea Souk is permanently located in Cornwall, as the cafe is situated in Falmouth, and therefore I can continue to try out the abundance of wholesome, healthy dishes but whether you live in the South West or not I would definitely recommend it! (find out more at www.peasouk.co.uk)


Aside from the food however, the music, setting and general atmosphere of the Port Eliot Festival was so inspiring that I would definitely recommend you attend if you are looking for a literary festival next summer. It runs annually, at the end of July / beginning of August and there is camping onsite meaning you are fully immersed in the community of festival goers looking for a memorable weekend spent in one of the most beautiful areas of England. To find out more information about the festival you can visit www.porteliotfestival.com or as always you can message me at @positivesoph on instagram or positivesoph@gmail.com. 

Keep your soul happy - Sophie :)

Vegan Stuffed Mushroom Burgers


Quite a lot of you seem to enjoy when I post easy vegan lunch / dinner recipes, such as my vegetable pasta sauce, as finding the inspiration for plant based main meals is always the trickiest and most time consuming! Therefore I thought I would upload another quick and easy recipe that can be adapted both for lunch or dinner, summer or winter and is simply delicious! This recipe is 100% vegan, takes around 40 minutes to create including cooking time and would be perfect for a summer barbecue, a gathering with friends or just a simple weekday meal! 



This mushroom burger can be adapted in a number of ways to suit your preferences, as this recipe (as always) acts as a base for you to be creative with. I paired my mushroom burgers with ciabatta rolls, mixed baby salad leaves and barbecue sauce however you could add ketchup, mustard, salsa or vegan mayo and an abundance of salad options including tomato slices. If you were looking for more of a burger vibe you could also add in a slice of vegan cheese and use a soft bread roll or alternatively a pitta or tortilla wrap. You could also pair these burgers with wedges, sweet potato mash or onion rings, the possibilities are endless! 

VEGAN STUFFED MUSHROOM BURGERS

Yields 2 Burgers

Ingredients

1/2 onion
1 clove of garlic
2 portobello mushrooms
4 tbsp vegan butter 
1 slice of wholemeal bread
thyme (1 sprig)
1 tbsp red wine vinegar
a handful of pine nuts
parsley (dried or fresh)
olive oil
salad (optional)
ciabatta rolls (optional)

{ Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius / Gas Mark 6 }

1. Finely chop the onions, garlic, the stalks of the mushrooms and the thyme and set aside

2. In a deep frying pan, heat 2 tbsp of vegan butter and a dash of olive oil

3. Once heated, fry the onions until soft, before adding in the mushroom stalks, garlic and thyme. Season with salt and pepper and cook for a few minutes until combined and all ingredients have softened 

4. Dice the slice of bread into breadcrumbs using a food processor, add to the pan along with the red wine vinegar and the remaining 2 tbsp of vegan butter and fry for a few more minutes 

5. Add the pine nuts and parsley to the pan along with more seasoning to taste, allow to cook until all ingredients are combined 

6. Lightly coat the outside of the mushrooms with olive oil before placing on a baking tray 

7. Spoon the mixture between the two mushrooms and press it down lightly with your fingers or the back of a spoon to pack it in tightly 

8. Cook the mushrooms in the oven for around 25 minutes, or until breadcrumbs are crispy


9. Sandwich the burgers between ciabatta rolls with salad leaves and barbecue sauce for a delicious taste and enjoy !

{ recipe adapted from www.peasouppeats.com }

Keep your soul happy - Sophie :)

I just wanted to remind you guys that if you have any suggestions for future posts or any feedback on not only my blog but my other social media accounts (@positivesoph on everything) then please let me know either via instagram or twitter or email me over at positivesoph@gmail.com ! I love to hear from you guys !! Thank you :)
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