Hello my friend,
and welcome to the last day of 2023!
Wow, it's come around so quick - but I bet I'm not the first person saying that today. Either way, I hope you had an amazing festive season this December and managed to take some time off for yourself.
I've been enjoying a few quiet days at home over Christmas this year and I tell you: they were much needed! The weeks leading up to Christmas are always extra intense when you work as a food photographer & content creator - and with Veganuary ahead of us, I'm sure the coming weeks will be a whirlwind too.
Have you seen any news of any upcoming vegan product launches for January yet? I'm still keeping my eyes open, but I have to admit, I've not spotted many thus far. Let's hope there will be a few more exciting products coming in the new year!
I know that Crosstown Doughnuts will have some amazing new vegan doughnuts on offer for January - so if you find yourself near one, you should totally stop by (or order some online, if, like me, you're sadly not within travelling distance of a CD store).
A little birdie (aka FB group) also told me that a familiar label for 'Vegan Steak Bake' has been spotted on Gregg's shelves already. So my fingers are crossed that they're bringing this much beloved bake back for Veganuary (& beyond!).
📆 In This Update
YouTube's End of Year Party
In early December, I was honoured to be invited to YouTube's Red Party - aka their end of year party in London! I briefly mentioned in in last month's update, so I wanted to make sure I share some photos from the evening with you.
The party took place at Camden's Koko this year and was themed all in YouTube's red colour. A perfect opportunity for me to whip out my red dress once more in 2023 😉
The party itself was super fun, filled with lots of live music, photobooths and other photo opportunities - and I even found myself a crown, ha! The YouTube team hid little red cats all over the venue and if you found one of them, it gave you entry to a secret 'bar', where you could enjoy a liquid bubble cocktail & share some of your deepest secrets with 5 other people at the party.
Overall, it was a fantastic eve and can't wait to see what's ahead for my YouTube channel in 2024!
Top 10 Recipes of the Year
To round off the end of the year, I want to share the most loved recipes on the blog with you today. These recipes have been selected by you lot, and tried and tested over and over again.
So let's jump right in - countdown style!
10. Vegan Peanut Noodles
One of my personal all time favorites! This easy recipe for peanut noodles has become a favorite for many guests that have visited our home over the years. It's my ultimate go-to dinner to make - whether we have friends or family staying over or are simply craving a flavor-packed bowl of noodles ourselves.
9. Homemade Vegan Burger Buns
This recipe shows how to make the fluffiest vegan burger buns from the comfort of your own kitchen. The secret? well, it's a simple technique that I'm explaining in-depth in the recipe post, so best check it out & take your burger game to the next level!
8. Air Fryer Popcorn
A new kid on the blog! If you didn't know you could make popcorn in your air fryer, you're truly in for a treat! After all, homemade popcorn is the perfect snack for movie nights, am I right?!
7. Miso Roasted Aubergine
A super easy go-to midweek dinner: Miso Roasted Aubergine! It takes this delicious vegetable to a whole new level and makes it the star of the dinner table
6. Swede & Ginger Soup
A warming winter soup with a spicy kick from the ginger! If you find yourself wondering what to cook with the seasonal Swede, give this soup recipe a go - I'm sure it'll easily become a new favorite!
5. Vegan Pork Belly
A fresh addition to the top 10! Made from tofu (yes, you read that right!) this vegan Pork Belly is a fantastic addition to your favorite dishes, such as vegan Ramen and more!
4. Vegan Kofta
This vegan Kofta is not only a favorite on the grill during summer months, but also simply fantastic when pan-fried. It's made with store-bought vegan mince and filled with Middle Eastern flavors such as cardamom, cumin and turmeric.
3. Baked Boursin Pasta
Ultra creamy and so easy to make! This vegan Baked Boursin pasta is made with vegan-friendly Boursin cheese and only needs 1 oven dish to cook everything in (yes, including the pasta!). This recipe should really have the middle name 'convenient'!
2. Vegan Kebab
This Seitan Kebab has been in the Top 10 for years now and it's no wonder! It's perfect for making the homemade vegan Döner of your dreams, and stuffing it with all your favorite kebab toppings.
1. Creamy Butter Bean Curry
This vegan curry is taking the No 1 spot! It's packed with lots of flavor and has the creamiest texture you could wish for. It's not only the perfect midweek dinner but also easily batch-able and freezer-friendly, making it a well-deserved recipe of the year!
What's Ahead for 2024
As this is the last of my monthly updates, coming out at the end of each month, I hope you're looking forward to more recipe fuelled email updates in the new year!
Don't forget that you can always reply to any emails I send you - I'd love to hear from you and I'm always open to newsletter suggestions.
Thank you so much for being part of the newsletter crew - you're simply awesome, and I hope you know it ❤️
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