What was one of your first amazing recipes?
It would have to be my No-Bake biscoff cheesecake. It’s one of my most popular and most re-created! It’s absolutely delicious!
How long have you been Vegan for and why did you go vegan?
I’ve been vegan for over 5 years now and it’s been amazing!
I started veganism at a time when I was struggling at school with physical and mental health issues. I was put on a FODMAP diet (which is an exclusion diet) so it was on a very bland and limited for quite a while.
I was also spending a lot of time at home with my cat and he became so important to me. That’s where my love of animals came from! How could I love him so much and eat a different animal?
I started to watch vegan documentaries like ‘Cowspiracy’ etc and my passion to help and care for animals grew from there.
Has food always been a passion of yours?
Yes!! I actually have a photo of me in the kitchen, aged 4 making a mess- haha! I love being creative and making something for people to enjoy!
When did you start The Little Blog of Vegan and why?
I started my blog which has now developed into my full-time business around 4-5 years ago. I was at home having left school, with no job prospects, feeling depressed and didn’t know what to do. It was my sister who said ‘why don’t you start a blog?’.
I didn’t know how it would turn out but at the time it helped my mental health and my transition into being vegan. I started to write about what new cruelty-free and vegan products were on the market and I also began to create vegan recipes. It’s only been in the last few years that my passion for baking and creating vegan desserts have taken off.
Where do you find inspiration?
I find inspiration from the many lovely and inspiring food bloggers and YouTubers on the internet alongside Pinterest.
What is the process like for creating a new recipe?
First thing I do is do research online. I love Pinterest to get inspiration and youtube videos for cake decorating tutorials.
Sometimes ideas just come to me and ill draw them out on a piece of paper or on my phone. I often ask my followers what they would like me to do. I also like to hold poll’s on my Instagram stories to get some ideas too.
Most of my recipes work first time but some need a bit of tweaking to get it perfect.
What’s some of your career highlights?
There are so many!!! Winning Food blogger of the year 2017 was a major achievement for me!
I was invited to feature on The Great British Bake Off- An Extra Slice which was incredible. Stacy Soloman and James Acaster loved my cake which was amazing-haha!
I’ve been lucky enough to work with some amazing and high profile companies including Tesla Cars, BBC, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Nokia, Kitchenaid, Smeg etc.
I’ve been the front cover of many magazines including Vegan Food and Living, Vegan Cookbook and Simply Vegan.
Meeting one of my favourite Harry Potter stars Evanna Lynch who is a vegan activist and now regards me as a friend which is amazing.
What’s been the hardest part of your career so far?
I’m lucky to say I haven’t really gone through anything really tough in my career.
The only thing I would say is working on social media can be hard when things like Instagram or Facebook stop working as this is where a large audience of mine are based.
How do you stay motivated when you’re the one in charge?
I stay motivated because I love what I do. It can be hard to get up early in the morning to get in the kitchen as I often work late responding to emails etc. But once I’m up and make a start, I am fine.
I often have deadlines to meet with companies that I’m doing work for and so I like to keep up with my work and not let myself get behind.
Do you have any role models?
Big role models to me are obviously my family, and in the baking scene people like Mary Berry and fellow food bloggers like Vegan Yack Attack and Deliciously Ella.
What do you always carry in your handbag?
What don’t I carry!? I swear my bag is like Hermione Granger’s bag from Harry Potter- it never ends!! My iPhone and purse are number one. I don’t go anywhere without my iPhone as its the tool of my business. Its never far away…..ever!!
Also, I have long hair so a hairbrush is a must. I also like to carry around a reusable straw and coffee cup.
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life what would it be?
I’m a sucker for anything Mexican. Refried beans with rice, fresh guacamole, salsa and tortillas sound perfect to me! I’d have to add a coffee with it though lol.
What are you most looking forward to this year?
I am in the process of writing my first baking book which is super exciting. It will be out spring 2021.
I can’t wait to create lots more content and grow my audience, and show people that veganism can be fun with lots of very delicious food!
Aside from my work, I am interested in music. I play the guitar, bass and the drums. I have tickets for various concerts so I am really looking forward to like Aerosmith, Greenday, MCR. I’m a rocker at heart!
Find The Little Blog of Vegan website here
and Holly’s amazing Instagram here.
