MEET VIRTUE – A MOUTH-WATERING, DAIRY-FREE VEGAN ICE-CREAM
The inspiration for Virtue Ice-Cream struck me while enjoying a piña colada on the beach in Mozambique, with family,” says Melissa Cuthbert. “My vegan sister-in-law was chatting to my lactose-intolerant brother about their son, who also suffers from allergies. As we lamented the sad lack of options available to them, I realised that everyone deserves to indulge their sweet tooth – without being restricted by lifestyle choices or allergies.”
With a background in ice-cream and determination to find a solution, Melissa researched alternatives and formulated her first coconut milk dessert.
Why the name Virtue? “It stands for goodness, integrity and purity – all qualities of our vegan, dairy- free coconut milk ice-cream. A simple definition states ‘behaviour showing high moral standards’, which as a single mom is something I strive to teach my daughter,” smiles Melissa.
*Available at: Village Mall SuperSpar, Maytime Spar, Hillcrest KwikSpar and Deeghuys
OREO CASSATA ICE-CREAM LOAF
Ingredients:
• 1 box Oreo cookies
• 10g Flora vegan margarine • 2L Virtue Vegan Cookies n Creme ice-cream
• 100g good quality dark chocolate
• 1 tbsp coconut oil
Method:
1. Remove ice-cream from the freezer and allow to soften slightly.
2. Spoon ice-cream into a lined loaf tin, leaving 1cm from the rim of the tin – for the base. Cover and freeze for an hour or until firm.
3. While the ice-cream is setting, crush half of the Oreo cookies
in a blender or with a rolling pin until fine.
4. Melt the margarine and mix with the crushed Oreos.
5. Remove the tin with the ice- cream from the freezer, add the mix to form a base layer on top, then return to freezer for another half an hour.
6. Once hard, remove from freezer and carefully invert the loaf of ice- cream on to a serving platter. You may need to briefly dip the tin into hot water to help it release.
7. Melt the dark chocolate and coconut oil together until smooth. Stand for a couple of minutes
to cool.
8. Drizzle the melted chocolate on to the ice-cream, and for further indulgence decorate with the remaining Oreos – whole, in half or crushed.
9. Serve and enjoy!