2025 Contest Prize Wins

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  Last year I started keeping track of the prizes I won. You can read that post here  2024 Contest Prize Wins . It is a great post to have for memories so I’m going to start a new post for 2025. I received the first prize of 2025. It took a little to get it because my friend picked it up for me. This was a prize pack from Ottawabloggers and Tiffinit. I thought the prize was just going to be spices as that is all the contest indicated. I got a basket with spices, some cookies that are likely not vegan, 2 toques and some other knickknacks that will be given to my non vegan friend. The spices smell really good and they are vegan. I don’t know what the value of this basket is so I’m going to estimate $50. value of prize $50 Total value of prizes 2025 $50 Thank you for reading. For more vegan food follow me on Instagram @LivingOttawaLocal and @VeganCanadianfinds For scenery videos follow me on YouTube  https://youtube.com/@LivingOttawaLocal

Cheesy vegan baked pasta


I cook everything in the instant vortex plus air fryer oven. I just got a new loaf pan that fits perfectly inside. Vegan feta was on sale so I decided I should make the TikTok viral pasta. I have made it once before with tofu and used a cake pan. The past one was good but I only made it once. 

I recently became vegan so I remember what dairy cheese tastes like. This is the first time I have tried vegan feta it tastes more like cream cheese to me but it’s good. Cherry tomatoes were too expensive so I got fresh San Marzano tomatoes they will be a good substitute. 

I put tomatoes, olive oil, half a block of feta, and some za’star spice. I got the spice as a free sample and I don’t have other dried herbs so also a good substitute. I cooked this in the air fryer oven at 350 for fifteen minutes. 

The feta was all nicely melted but I probably should have cooked the tomatoes for another ten minutes. I have no patience so I added fresh basil and mixed it. 

I had already cooked the pasta and it was in the pan so I poured the sauce in the pan. 

I like to add curry powder to everything so I added some along with pepper. The cheese is already salty. I have eaten vegan Parmesan many times today was the first time I bought a block of Violife vegan parmesan. I had used some for a Caesar salad earlier and I thought if I put it back in the pan and bake it with some more vegan feta and Parmesan I would get a nice baked cheese pasta. 

It didn’t work. The Parmesan became more like crisps and I ate them off the top. I might have to try making vegan Parmesan chips. The rest was great with the creamy feta nicely melted into a sauce. I poured it back into the pan to make it easier to see how creamy it is..

This tasted really good especially with the curry powder addition. I like how the vegan feta melts and gets really creamy so I will probably experiment with making a sauce out of it in the future. I don’t follow recipes but have tried to make one below if you would like to make it. 

Recipe

1/2 box cooked penne pasta
1 container small fresh tomatoes 
dried herbs
1/2 block of vegan feta
2 TBSP olive oil
garlic (optional)
curry powder (optional)
salt, black pepper
fresh basil
vegan parmesan (optional)

Preheat air fryer oven on bake at 350 degrees. In an oven safe container add tomatoes, dried herbs, garlic, one TBSP of olive oil, salt, pepper. Mix well. Place vegan feta in center of tomatoes and sprinkle with herbs and remaining olive oil. Bake for 25 minutes. Add pasta and curry powder, mix well. If desired top container with more vegan cheese and bake for another ten minutes. When plating add more fresh basil and vegan parmesan.

Let me know in the comments or on Instagram @livingvancouverloca if you make this. 

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