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The Wall Street Journal posits the question, "What would T-day feast be without the fowl?"  To answer this question they performed a taste test with four "faux roasts": The ubiquitous Tofurky, made by Turtle Islands Food, Inc. Vegetarian Plus Whole Turkey made by California-based VegeUSA.  (I'm not clear whether they tested the vegan or vegetarian version.) Celebration Roast, this one is made by the Field Roast Grain Meat Co. Vegetarian Ham and made by All Vegetarian Inc. Of all the faux roasts, the Celebration Roast won hands down, it even impressed the meat eaters in the crowd.  We've…

Vegan Turkey - Oxymoron? If you're tired of Tofurky and don't feel like trying something new like the Holiday Nut Loaf or Tofurky Take 2, Whole Foods has an option that looks like a lot of fun... a vegan turkey.  At $50, it's not that steep if it truly feeds the 10-16 people it claims it will feed.  However, it's only 4 pounds so we're skeptical. Thought you all might find it interesting.  (Sorry about the poor quality photo, we don't usually have our camera when we're at the grocery store.) Related posts:I Want Turkey for Thanksgiving Jane and I have been anxious about Thanksgiving, and…

First, we'd like to thank everyone who shared their recipes with us.  There are some really wonderful sounding dishes here.  We hope you find this compilation of Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes of value when you're planning your Thanksgiving Feast! Main Dishes Holiday Nut Loaf Tofurky Take 2 Side Dishes Cashew Gravy Cranberry Sauce Cumin Braised Brussels Sprouts Garlic Potatoes Green Beans with Balsamic Carmelized Red Onions Orange Yams Stuffing with Apples, Cranberries and Roasted Pecans Walnut, Fig and Cranberry Cornbread Dressing Desserts Apple Pie Tofu Pumpkin Pie Beverages Cranberry Punch…

We've gotten a few emails and tweets asking if we're okay (since we live in the Southern California area).  Despite what the news is saying, all of SoCal is not up in flames.  We're fine, aside from the  bad air quality, which you can get a good idea of by looking at the photos at the top of this post (taken from one of our windows).  But we do know people whose homes are in jeopardy, and our thoughts are with them. It's shocking how unprepared most of us are for this kind of thing.  FEMA has a great guide called Are You Ready, which provides information on what to do in the event of all…

So Jane and I are busy working tonight and we have the television on in the background.  It's Thanksgiving season and we tend to enjoy watching the Food Network at this time, even though most of the recipes being prepared would not be found on our table!  Butter, heavy cream, turkey, eggs, need I say more? However, the recipes can often be veganized.  So we like to watch these shows to get ideas.  We've learned preparation techniques, new spice combinations, and factual information about various foods. Tonight, we were half watching The Secret Life of Thanksgiving on the Food Network. …

Just in time for the holidays, my new book, The Ultimate Vegan Guide: Compassionate Living Without Sacrifice, has hit Amazon.com, and it’s available now for immediate shipping. I wrote this book because it’s almost 2009 and our literature still didn’t have a breezy, fun, yet thorough introduction to how to go vegan. I think this book’s best quality is that it digs into the stuff that’s truly important and offers real help in every key area of making the transition. Plus, it’s got two introductory chapters about the advantages of a vegan diet, as well as a…

This LA Times article came out November 10, but I didn’t see it until today. Its headline asks: “Is red meat’s bad name justified?” And the answer seems to be a resounding Yes. After exploring the link between red meat and breast cancer, the article continues: Add the numerous studies linking red meat to other cancers, cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes and even Alzheimer’s disease, and it sounds like the hamburger you had for lunch might as well have been laced with rat poison. I don’t think that’s fair to rat poison. Link.

coconut cookies with raspberry jam Originally uploaded by olgucz These look delightful. I can’t remember the last time I used delightful in a sentence.

I’ve come to the conclusion that everything in life is a gigantic, malevolent hallucination. Because there’s no way the below video have been filmed under any other scenario. (Thanks, Matt)

Suppose Peter Singer were to update his classic text Animal Liberation to reflect the recent gains made by the animal protection movement, and suppose he condensed this resultant effort down to a medium-sized magazine article. What he’d create would strongly resemble this piece of his that was just published by Newsweek. Required reading. (Thanks, Mark) Link.

Attention All Vegans, Vegetarians, and Veg-Curious: Get Sauced With Sass!, the new ebook from VeganCoach.com, is now available for purchase. As a vegan since 1994, I have found dairy-free sauces to be THE KEY to a successful vegan diet. In Get Sauced...

Hold onto your spoons, guys, because this Vegan Banana Split is extremely yummy -- it will knock your socks off. And it contains no ice cream. Just the extras that make the banana split soooo tasty. This treat is perfect not only for vegans, but for those...

Tonight I made what I'm officially calling Vegan Irish Stew. And it's quite yummy. The stew contains, among other ingredients, green beans, sauerkraut and dill weed, which is oh-so-Irish, thus the name. ;O) I wasn't planning on sharing a recipe tonight....

Well, kids, this is the last blog for the month of October. Today I'll share my responses to a Vegan Survey that has been making the rounds of many of my fellow Vegan MoFo blogs. I always find it a lot of fun to read surveys like this. Hope you enjoy...

Dinner tonight? Vegan Tacos! I needed something easy peasy and fun to help ease our hangovers -- the Halloween party last night was QUITE the bash. Whoa. It's easy to veganize traditional tacos to make Vegan Tacos. They take just minutes to prepare....

British National Party membership and contacts list, spread sheet, 2007-2008 - WikileaksI guess by now anyone who think they may find it useful in the fight against speciesism and racism has obtained a copy. But just in case, here is the link - This is not intended to encourage or provoke any activity that would break the law - no hypocrisy please - it just very useful to know who your dealing with isn't it?I don't hide my support of a more environmentally friendly healthy and pascifist lifestyle - it's a worry when people hide their views of hatred.The most reassuring fact in these days of…

Vegan Recipes - Healthy, Nutritious and Delicious.: Vegan Catering Challenge WinnersThe Vegan Society Challenge WinnersMore Vegan and Vegetarian News at Vegan News - Health, Diet and Nutrition News

Barack Obama "One Voice can change the World" - There's no doubt that TODAY November 5th 2008 will go down in history - no longer as Bonfire night / firework night / Guy Fawkes but the day that Barack Obama changed history, ended many years of struggle to deliver the hope of true equal rights in America to black people and gave hope to the rest of the world after years of terror and abuse of power under George W Bush.Obama - Thank you for giving us back HOPE!My hope? - Peace One Day for all EarthlingsOriginal Presidential Nomination Candidacy Acceptance SpeechDemocracy, Liberty, Opportunity…

Vegetarian Real Mens Magazine ‘Off the Hoof’ Is Better Than Viagra and Fully Loaded To Eat Nuts A new adult mens magazine is claiming it's better than Viagra!'Off the Hoof' have thrown down their non leather, non silk, gaunlet to men's magazines Nuts and Loaded, with plans to reach sales of over 300,000 by World Vegan Day 2009. The defiant 'Off the Hoof' editor Al Slurry says “Nut’s is for burger munching Viagra dependent wimps and flaccid porn reliant merchant bankers. The magazine we have written is for adults, real men and their ladies who love a sausage that tastes just as good…

Flickr: World Vegan Day 2008Happy World Vegan Day! Pass it On. Send your friends a Happy World Vegan Day greeting.Visit www.flickr.com/groups/worldveganday choose a picture, add a picture and use delivr to send a personalised bespoke World Vegan Day E greeting card and inspire all your friends.More Vegan and Vegetarian News at Vegan News - Health, Diet and Nutrition News

Our Canadian Thanksgiving was in October, and unfortunately I wasn't posting regularly to offer up some dishes for a Thanksgiving celebration. I'm here to help for US Thanksgiving, however, and have a selection of recipes to bring to the table.The recipes are: Festive Chickpea Tart (pictured above; not in any of my current cookbooks), Autumn Puree (ed&bv), Lemon Broiled Green Beans (ed&bv), Traditional Cranberry Sauce (ed&bv), and Chocolate Pumpkin Pie (ed&bv). These recipes can all be found here in this seriouseats.com feature. There are a couple of other vegan Thanksgiving…

This Pureed Squash and Sweet Potato Soup is a recipe from my early-vegan days, and remains one of my very favorite soups to this day. I always rely on it this time of year, it's a comforting soup perfectly suited to the colder months when winter squash and sweet potatoes are plentiful. Plus, it's simple to make, and yields fairly big batch, which means leftovers go into the freezer for another night - meaning an even easier meal to follow!I adore soups and stews during the fall and winter. I don't know if there is a more cozy meal on cold days than a warm soup with crusty bread. As I said,…

I'm hooked on making new dessert recipes. This is a new recipe for a Pumpkin Spice Cake with a Vanilla Buttercream Frosting.The catch is... this buttercream does not have any butter, or any margarine! Yet, it is thick, rich, and buttery tasting just as you'd expect in a buttercream frosting. How is this so, you say? Well, I got the idea after someone e-mailed me for a soy-free frosting recipe (because of allergies), and as we know vegan buttercream frostings use Earth Balance margarine, which contains soy. Plus, some other creamy frostings (many of my own recipes) use silken tofu, which…

Recently I introduced a pomegranate to my Living Caesar dressing. The two became great friends immediately, agreeing that their flavors nicely complemented one another. The sour, salty nutty caesar dressing enjoyed the pop of sweet, tangy juice from the fresh crimson-colored pomegranate seeds.Go make some new friends with your food too. :)(p.s. don't forget to enter the November Salba giveaway if you haven't already)

Here we go again, a chance to win the Source Salba giveaway for November!To remind you, one Canadian reader (excluding province of Quebec) has the chance to win:- one bag of Source Salba Ground Organic Salba®- three Source Salba REAL Whole Food bars- one box of Source Salba Cinnamon and Apple Krispy Rice barsSo, here are the two questions you need to correctly answer (enter your name or blogger profile in the comments of this post; one entry per person):1. How much omega-3 do the Source Salba REAL Whole Food bars (flavours original, apple/cinnamon, blueberry, peach, raspberry) contain?2.

One of my favorite ways to cook winter squash is to roast it simply with lemon, salt, and pepper. So when I brought home these beautiful sweet dumpling squash and started thinking about how to use them, my first impulse was toward the simple lemon treatment. But these little cuties are just the perfect size for stuffing, and it would have been a shame not to take advantage of that. I decided

What if you love pie but don't like crust? Strange as it sounds to me, I have a daughter who doesn't like crust--on bread, on pizza, or on pie. Her aversion is not a big deal because she can always eat around it, but since I have my own reasons for avoiding pie crust, I like to make desserts that taste like pie but don't have a crust...at least not a traditional crust. So here's a dessert that

No, this photo wasn't torn out of an old newspaper, though that was the effect I was going for. Sometimes when I don't like the way a photo comes out, I imagine how it would look in some different era, such as the 70's. Dark, washed out colors and a grainy texture can hide a multitude of photographic sins. Or maybe not. (Click on that link, take the tour, and come back here when you've

Scrambled tofu is one of my family's favorite breakfasts, but I think we enjoy it even more for dinner. There's something comforting about coming home at the end of a long Autumn day to a plate piled high with scrambled tofu, toast, and possibly some creamy grits and vegan sausage. It's the kind of soothing meal I like to fortify myself with before a nerve-wracking night watching election

What I love most about sharing recipes online is the conversation that follows, when readers share their tips and variations. I'm constantly getting ideas from you: ingredients I haven't tried, short-cuts that make a recipe faster, substitutions I've never thought of. Case in point, this email I received earlier this week from Emily Findley in Michigan: So i am OBSESSED with your okara

From the UK, comes Hemp Garden , a company known for their use of hemp in their personal hygiene products. ... I don’t have much hair left, as genetics have caught up with me, however, I do have enough to use shampoo. ... Hemp-based shampoos cost more money compared to traditional shampoos, but you, again, get what you pay for.

It does have a little bit of what seems to be carbonation, but I’ve mentioned that above. ... Maybe the health benefits of probiotics cause the products to be watery and I personally do not like watery salsa. If I was going to weigh the pros and cons as my determining factor as to purchase or don’t purchase the Zukay products in the store, well, I’d say I probably would not get the salsa again, but the ketchup, sure it’s ok by me.

If you are looking for a great sugar free organic apple sauce for your little one (or even for you!) ... It comes in this adorable packaging that has a squeeze top for moms and dads to easily wiggle the applesauce into a bowl. Or, if there isn’t a spoon in sight, an older child could suck it right out of the top.

In honor of the new President-Elect, the economy not doing well at all and just to greenwash a little, We have a bunch of goodies here to giveaway. ... A Guayaki t-shirt, a Go Appetit t-shirt, a hemp bag from HTnaturals, many Very Super Cool Greeting Cards, Smart Spice Flash drive, stickers, a few Leafygreen.info pin, a handmade Record Bowl made my me and maybe some other fun stuff just for the hell of it! So leave a comment here, the contest ends December 30 and winners will randomly be selected.

What I like most is that you can recycle the bottle and in most places you can’t recycle juice boxes due to their waxy paper. All three of my kids (ages 5, 3 and 1) have liked both flavors of bot we tried (lemon and orange). ... In other news, Zinio is giving away millions of free subscriptions to digital magazines, including Outside, Yoga, Green Source, Vegetarian, and more, and I thought you might be interested in letting your readers know about this opportunity.

Recipe: Squash and Pear SoupGuest: The FembotsAir Date: November 6th, 2008 Download The Episode

Recipe: Space CakesGuest: VincatAir Date: October 30th, 2008 Download The Episode

Recipe: Brunswick StewGuest: Lake of StewAir Date: October 23rd, 2008 Download The Episode

Recipe: The Belly Bomb BurritoGuest: The WeakerthansAir Date: October 16th, 2008 Download The Episode

Recipe: Wookie ballsGuest: Hot PandaAir Date: October 9th, 2008 Download The Episode

Finally some time to blog. I went on a free and easy trip to Hong Kong and Macau last week. Though I note down the vegetarian places that I would possibly be visiting, there wasn't much time for vegetarian food hunting as our iternary was pretty packed.But I manage to get real veg food at the famous Po Lin Monastery on the 1st day where we went to see the Big Buddha on Lantau Island. Do note the veg restaurant is not inside the cultural centre where the Big Buddha is. It is located inside the Monastery. There was also a vegetarian food festival going on at Ngong Ping village beside the…

I am very disappointed with My Izakaya - Ministry of Food (a non-veg Japanese cuisine outlet serving some vegetarian options). Some of you may have read my review on the vegetarian options in this post about their soba noodles. This was a terrible mistake, the soba is not vegetarian! I am very sorry if I had mislead you to have the dish at that place.The other day I went there again with my non-veg friends. The waiter told me the soba was not vegetarian and that they used fish extract in the soup. (When I went there the first time, another waiter told me the dish is vegetarian and no fish or…

I am somehow torn between better welfare for the animals in the cruel industries (since it seems to be almost impossible to rid of these industries forever, might as well lessen the harm) and the elimination of these industries as a whole. After this video, I think it would be more sensible that the cruel industry does not exist. Regulation of these industries may well promote the industry by letting us think that the practice is more humane and acceptable.Somehow, rejection of fur seems easier to accept than rejection of meat. Perhaps it's because it's easy to give up fur and say proudly "I…

On 3rd September, Alice Newstead pierces her skin using shark fishing hooks and suspends herself from the ceiling in a campaign to end shark finning. I feel it's very important to post this as it is very difficult and and admirable to be willing to endure pain for the sake of others - especially so for another species. And this woman has done it, these photos should not go to waste and should be shown to as many people as possible.Please do not support this cruel industry by buying, eating or using shark body parts. If you are getting married, please do not serve shark's fin soup during the…

...The more cows there are producing greenhouse gases.  Subscribe in a reader

[The turkeys say "Thank You!"]New York City is a paradise for vegans on Thanksgiving. Choose from the options below, and do make your reservations soon--these places fill up fast! Angelica Kitchen is offering a $50 five course prix fixe menu. Blossom has a $68 four course prix fixe menu, while Cafe Blossom offers three courses for $58. Candle 79's four course prix fixe is $69, while sister restaurant Candle Cafe gives you four courses for $52, plus a la carte options. Caravan of Dreams will serve a three course dinner for $22. Counter's got a $45 four course…

Vegan Drinks is tomorrow at Angels & Kings bar in the East Village. We'll have the usual cheap beers ($3 domestic, $4 imports) and crowd of wonderful people. Also, starting this month, it's one dollar off on all well drinks. Special note to the media whores among you: This month, Planet Verge will be filming for their "On the Verge" Internet TV show. For those of you shy of the camera, you will be happy to know that they'll be steering away from crowd shots and focusing on the people being interviewed. Planet Verge wants to speak to you about being vegan and your involvement within…

SuperVegan will be down for a few hours tonight as we move the site to a new server. Don't panic! We'll be back soon and better than ever.[Comments (1) | Read Comments and Add Your Own ]

Celebrate 2008's Political Victories for Animals with the League of Humane Voters of New York City TONIGHT at 8pm at the Jivamukti Yoga School in Union Square! Join the wonderful folks at LOHV-NYC and emcee Yetta Kurland to honor humane champions State Senator Frank Padavan, Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal, Council Member Peter Vallone, Jr., and Manhattan Mini Storage CEO Stephen Nislick. Guest speakers include Congressman and 2009 Mayoral Candidate Anthony Weiner and Senate Majority Leader-in-waiting Malcolm Smith. Tickets start at $75. Purchase tickets at http://www.humanenyc.org or…

[Click here to see it in action.]We've got new features!* You can now keep up with new restaurants as we add them to our amazing NYC vegan restaurant guide. Just click here to see the latest restaurants, subscribe by RSS feed, or get email alerts. You'll never miss a new vegan restaurant again! (You can help us keep this up-to-date by alerting us to new restaurants at tips@supervegan.com.) We've also been having fun with our restaurant reviews system--now you can see the top rated restaurants in each borough of New York City. Check out the top restaurants in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the…

Ancho-Lentil Soup with Grilled Pineapple (Veganomicon)Delicious, wonderful, spicy (I doubled the spice) perfect-for-autumn soup. You wouldn't think that sweet grilled pineapple would complement the ancho so well, but it does! It's like culinary magic!Brooklyn Pad Thai (VwaV)Minus pepper sub carrots and mushrooms. As you might recall, tamarind concentrate was among my haul from the Thai market, so I finally got to use it in this recipe! It really adds an "authentic" flavor (ie, one of those tastes I notice in restaurant pad thai but couldn't seem to replicate at home). I also used wide rice…

Yay, the next test recipe from the multi-talented Hannah from BitterSweet! This recipe sent my taste buds soaring with two of my favorite flavors - cherry and coconut!Cherry Macaroon TartA crispy yet chewy crust of coconut, filled with an amazingly addictive dark cherry filling. This was made using frozen cherries, as it's not exactly cherry season, but you can use fresh, too! I took one little taste of the filling as I was cooking it on the stove and then proceeded to eat about half of it, it was so good! I could barely wait until it had set so I could eat it. And it was pretty easy and very…

...and have a salad. Last weekend was all about the comfort food (biscuits and gravy, Indian food, pizza, etc.), so I detoxed with this lovely bowl of happiness on Monday night while we watched a couple episodes of Blue Planet.Field greens, mushrooms, olives, sprouts, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, carrot, radish, veg bacon bits, drizzled with Annie's Naturals Shiitake & Sesame Vinaigrette. Served with crusty french bread. (The carrots and walnuts are from my grandma!)

...because it makes them indescribably delicious!Roasted carrots along with steamed broccoli and cashew ginger tofu from Eat Drink & Be Vegan! by Dreena Burton

As winter rolls around and I start shivering in 55 degree weather (I don't want to hear about how it's below 30 where you are - my chill is enhanced by my icy cold heart, sob!), clothing stores start hawking wool like it's made of pure happiness and will cure all your ills. I was never a wool fan to begin with (my skin does not like the scratchies), but when I first went vegan, I was sort of ambivalent about the wool issue.'Meh,' I thought, 'It's not like it's fur, it doesn't hurt anyone, and besides, they NEED to be sheared, right?'I am the first to admit I was dead wrong. Emphasis on…

Express Night Out | Styles | Tofurkey: A Vegan's Guide to Thanksgiving Isa and Terry talk Tofurkey with the Washington Post. [via DC Vegan] (tags: isaforkingrules tofurkey thanksgiving)

This Saturday is the annual Poplar Spring Thanksgiving with the Turkeys.  It’s a gigantic vegan potluck with hundreds of attendees.  And, of course, the turkeys get their fair shake at this celebration, eating first on tables covered with grapes and other snacks.  They’re even nice about it and let the chickens join in on the fun. If you’re in the DC/MD area, try to make it.  It’s a mere $10 suggested donation (kids under 16 are free).  And, of course, bring a vegan dish to share! Poplar Spring Thanksgiving with the Turkeys November 22, 2008,…

I’m sure this will be all over the place (if it’s not already, I haven’t checked), but here it is… Alaska governor and former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin being interviewed in front of turkeys being slaughtered: This is one of those videos that you can’t watch without your blood pressure rising. Gov. Palin’s patented cocky attitude combined with painful irony starts right from the start, where she describes how running for office is “brutal” at the very moment that a turkey behind her, on camera, is being slaughtered. Blood covers the…

Does this screenshot from the latest episode of The Simpsons prove that Lisa’s finally gone vegan? Level 5, maybe?

Hey folks. Sorry I’ve gone missing in recent weeks. Things will pick up here again soon, so hang tight. … Ryan

Saturday December 20th, 2008 Northampton Center For The Arts featuring: Shokazoba, DJ Brando, Drum Circle and Open Stage* Soyalangwul is the winter solstice ceremony of the Hopi Indians, known as the “The Peaceful Ones”. The purpose of the ritual is to ceremonially bring the sun back from its long winter slumber. Join us for a celebration of peace and a dance party to wake up the sun! We will begin the festivities with open stage performances themed around solstice and renewal, transitioning into a drum circle led by Kwame from Ghana, Africa and the Shokazoba rhythm section. The…

On Sunday Sept 28, 2008 the Vegan Bus took our local Afrobeat band Shokazoba to NYC for the 2008 Farm Sanctuary “Walk For Farm Animals”. Although the band only got to play one song due to rain, fun was had by all, as you can see from these photos… photos by Derek Goodwin

Wednesday November 5th, 2008 Cafe Evolution 22 Chestnut St in Florence, MA Doors & Pizza at 5:30PM; Robert Blake at 7PM Suggested Donation $5 Join us the night after the election to prepare for whatever future awaits us with comfort foods for the soul and belly. We will be featuring a performance by the folk-punk-celtic-blues-speed strumming anarchist legend from Washington, Robert Blake. We will also be featuring Heather Bargeron’s Amazing Vegan Pizza, and of course fabulous Desserts by Oh Sweet Mama’s Vegan Bakery! Proceeds from the food sales will go to benefit the Vegan…

This is the first in a series of articles that will be featured in our upcoming Vegan Bus Zine… Mohandas K. Gandhi with textile workers at Darwen, Lancashire (UK), September 26, 1931. Discourse on Exclusive Non-Violent Action: A Reply to Peyser (Abridged) by Jeff Perz In “Exclusive Non-Violent Action: Its Absolute Necessity for Building a Genuine Animal Rights Movement”, I argue that the only ethical and effective tactics open to non-human (and human) animal rights activists are non-violent. In his essay “Response to Perz’s ‘Exclusive Non-Violent Action,” Daniel Peyser…

WEDNESDAY, OCT 1 330 North King Street in Northampton, MA Northampton’s new food coop, the River Valley Market, is kicking off a month of Grand Opening festivities with a ceremony and parking lot party next Wednesday, October 1. Since the party will take up a significant portion of their parking lot, The Vegan Bus will be shuttling people from the Wal Mart parking lot down the street. The fun will start at 4:00 pm in the parking lot. The evening will feature: LIVE MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT including Jay Mankita (4pm), Setanta-The Jewetts and David Kaynor (5pm), Ellen Clegg, Hoop Master…

I have a serious problem. I can't stop making muffins. Once you get the basic proportions down of wet to dry, you can ad lib to your heart's content. Muffins have now become a staple on my lunch, and they come in handy when I need an energy boost after a squash game. I am going to noodle around with the recipe in the future--I think oat flour, spelt flour, etc, would work just as well as the wheat flour. INGREDIENTSMakes 12 muffins- 1/2 cup raisins- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour- 2 tsp baking powder- 1/2 tsp baking soda- 1/2 cup brown sugar- 2 tsp cinnamon- 1/2 tsp nutmeg- 1/2 tsp nutmeg- 1/4…

My life has seemed impossibly busy over the past year, and recently it got even busier. Yes, that means additional responsibilities on top of teaching, writing a book, trying to get tenure, taking care of 3 kids, cooking, cleaning, putting together a cookbook, running a home bakery, and blogging on daily basis. Something has to give. In this case, the daily blogging. My plan is still to post 4 times a week or so, but I just can't keep up my current pace. There are, of course, 471 other posts for you to sift through. They're not all gems, but there are some great recipes I would like to…

You may have noticed a that my mom posted a message a few days ago asking for a carrot or zucchini muffin recipe. Well, here you go, Mom.INGREDIENTSMakes 12 large muffins- 1/2 cup raisins- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour- 2 tsp baking powder- 1/2 tsp baking soda- 1/2 cup sugar- 1 tsp cinnamon- 1 tsp ginger- 1/2 tsp nutmeg- 1/4 tsp allspice- 1/8 tsp ground cardamom- 1/2 tsp salt- 3/4 cup wheat bran- 1/4 cup oat bran- 1 cup cooked and mashed sweet potato- 1/3 cup canola oil (or applesauce)- 1 1/2 cup soy milk- 1 1/2 cup cup finely grated carrotMETHODPreheat oven to 400 degrees1. Soak raisins in…

I love lasagna but I rarely have the time to make it. I have learned that, like pizza, you don't need to top it with cheese (or cheese substitutes) to make a great lasaga. I make mine nice and saucy so it does not dry out and have yet to be disappointed. The fennel is a nice flavour addition here, and the sausage and mushrooms provide great texture.INGREDIENTS- 9 lasagna noodles- 2 tbsp oil- 1 fennel bulb, trimmed, halved, and thinly sliced- 2 cloves garlic, chopped- 1 small red pepper, diced- 1 small yellow pepper, diced- 8 oz sliced cremini mushrooms- 5 king oyster mushrooms, sliced- 3…

This is a great Indian dish with a nice kick to it. You can adjust the heat by adding more or less chili flakes--the way I have it written here will clean out your sinuses but was mild enough that the kids still ate it.INGREDIENTS- 1 large sweet onion, chopped- 2 garlic cloves, chopped- 1" piece of ginger, chopped- 2 tsp cumin- 1 tsp red chili flakes- 1/4 tsp ground cardamom- 1 tsp black mustard seeds- 1/2 tsp salt- 1/2 tsp black pepper- 1 tbsp brown sugar- 1/4 cup white wine vinegar- 2 tbsp oil- 3 cups chopped beefy seitan- 1 1/2 cups water (plus more, if needed)- 2 tsp coriander- 1/2 tsp…

today i was walking out of a store on michigan avenue when i found myself squeezing past a woman in a full-length fur coat in the doorway. just as i passed her ears, i blurted out, "disgusting." it almost felt like i couldn't help myself. i honestly don't know if she heard me, and even if she did i don't know if she realized it was directed at her coat, but somehow i felt a little better. almost like i'd vented off some of my frustration-steam. i know, i'm kind of a jerk, but fur coats seriously make me angry. (i'd yammer on some more, but i'm posting from my iphone due to internet craziness,…

holy smokes, my belly is full. we had dinner at the chicago diner tonight and it was ah-MAY-zing. as per usual, i almost shut down reading the menu, because it's so exciting to have eleventy frillion options... but eventually i zeroed in on the sweet potato quesadilla, and it did not disappoint. black beans, spinach, mashed sweet potatoes, vegan cheese, guacamole, and salsa in a spinach tortilla. YUM. it was huge, and i could only eat three-quarters of it (my husband did his best with the other piece). my husband ordered the (vegan) roast beef & cheddar, along with a salad. and a side…

holy crap, you guys. i'm going into my fifth thanksgiving as a vegan, and (as i've whined about several times before) i was dreading going to family thanksgiving again, especially because on my mom's side it's always awkward and frustrating. but last night, due to a number of family circumstances, something crazy happened: i found myself in the position of offering to host an entirely vegan meal at our house. and they accepted! my husband is an awesome chef and generous person, and i'm totally psyched.we're going to do thanksgiving, lasagna-style, and i'll be…

today i was training a new dog-walker at the humane society, and in the course of our shift together, she asked me how i got started volunteering there myself. i was all, "blah blah loved dogs, couldn't have one, blah blah animals are cute, blah blah animal rights, right up my alley, blah blah." she took my mention of animal rights and ran with it, saying that she has been meat-free since may, then adding that she still eats fish (baby steps, i guess), and mentioning that it was spurred when her sister loaned her skinny bitch to read. after listening to her for awhile, i let on…

many moons ago (well, i guess it was about eight moons, if we want to get all technical), i posted about my toothpaste flavor (tom's of maine cinnamint) getting discontinued, and i asked for recommendations. i also mentioned that JASON powersmile tasted like burning, and that i wouldn't be going down that road again. well, i've changed my mind.for quite awhile (i'd say at least 4 tubes) we were using the JASON orange-cinnamon-mint nutrismile, and we liked it it, but lately i've realized that i just feel like it wasn't getting my teeth totally clean. the backs of my…

Happy Halloween Everyone! Just a quick post with two more pumpkin carvings. I figured I better get my act together and post pumpkin carvings as today is Halloween. October just flew by. Rob carved this “Pac-o-latern”: I wanted to do some sort of political pumpkin but I knew that would probably just result in someone stealing or smashing my pumpkin. Instead I did a peace sign made of bones. It was hard to get a good picture of this pumpkin since there is so much open space and the light just pours out of the pumpkin. It looks much more defined in person.

What could make shopping at Joe Caputo’s in Algonquin even better? How about a vegetarian cafe inside that is very vegan-friendly? Yes, it’s true! Tasty vegan dining options can be found at Expressly Leslie. The cafe is located at the very front of the store, across from the checkout lanes. There are several tables so you can eat in or get your food to go. The owner, Leslie, is very personable and told us about how she decided to open up her own place. Did I mention that the cafe serves Middle Eastern food? Rob and I opted for the Sampler Plate. I wanted to make sure that nothing…

Fall is my favorite time of the year and of course that means it is time to get pumpkins! I get several pumpkins over the course of September and October. I love pumpkin carving and, of course, roasting pumpkin seeds.  We’ve lived in Chicagoland almost two years now and I am thrilled that I found a great place for pumpkins this year - Dave’s Pumpkins in Huntley, IL. All pumpkins are $5 each so it is best to go early to have your pick of pumpkins.  They are located on Algonquin Rd, between Randall Rd. and Rte 47, and they are located on the westbound side of the road. There was…

Over the weekend I tried the Rice and Lentil Soup (Adas biz-ruz) from the cookbook Recipes for an Arabian Night by David Scott. It was pretty simple to make and had a rich flavor. The recipe called for 5 cups of water or vegetable broth and I had to add more during the cooking process, about an extra cup or two. I also doubled the amount of spices. I took this soup for lunch the next day and it was super thick so I recommend adding a little water to the soup before reheating. Next time to speed up the cooking process, I might make my rice on the side and then add it to the soup. Overall, I…

It's a taste of the tropics! Today I made Caribbean Beans and Rice: black beans and rice cooked with coconut milk and spices. Cooking beans and rice with a touch of coconut milk is a common practice in Jamaica and other parts of the Caribbean. (That's a green onion curl in the middle, trying to look all fancy-shmancy. Mine doesn't look as good as the one in the instructions picture...)On the side is Spinach Bhaji, an Indian-style spinach recipe from the island of Trinidad. There is a large Indian influence on much of the cooking of Trinidad, where hundreds of thousands of Indians came as…

Paprika is serious business in Hungary. Unlike here in the states where paprika is paprika, in Hungary it is available in a wide range of heats from mild to hot. The sweet-hot flavor of paprika is essential in Hungarian cooking, as in this vegan version of Hungarian Chicken Paprikas -- chicken-style seitan simmered with tomato, green pepper, and paprika. A small container of vegan sour cream is on the side to stir in at lunchtime.Below the paprikas is another Hungarian dish: Noodles with Poppy Seeds. Normally this dish would be made with egg noodles; I substituted campanelle. Next to the…

An old Russian proverb says, "You can't feed a Russian without kasha." Here is kasha kupe- cheskaya: cooked toasted buckwheat kernels, carmelized onions, and tofu (taking the place of the traditional hard-boiled eggs).I would add to that old saying that you also can’t feed a Russian without mushrooms. I have never eaten mushrooms as delicious as those made for me by a Russian immigrant friend, who told me of how they would hunt for wild mushrooms in her native country, and how mushrooms were considered an important meat replacer during the Orthodox fasts. These are chanterelles (I don't…

Here is another menu inspired by my recent study of African cuisine. This lunch features three more foods used widely across the continent...In the bottom container, I seasoned black-eyed peas and potatoes with touches of cilantro, cumin, and lime juice. Tender black-eyed peas and other cowpeas (also called "crowder peas" here in the U.S., because they’re all crowded together in their pods) are served all over the African continent.On top of this dish are oven roasted okra pods. I love okra so much! Here in America we tend to think of okra as a southern vegetable, but it, too, has its…

Last week some of my girlfriends and I left the husbands and kids at home and took a trip to beautiful Portland, Oregon. It was undoubtedly the most fun I've had in a long, long time. We ate and shopped and ate some more (Nicholas Restaurant has out-of-this-world Lebanese and Middle Eastern food, btw).We stopped by Powell's Books for Home & Garden on Hawthorne Street, and look what we found! It's Vegan Lunch Box right up front, with a hand-written staff recommendation sign! Woo hoo! Powell's, you so made my day!!

On our 54th podcast we chat with Kathy Freston, the author of Quantum Wellness, the book that convinced Oprah Winfrey to go on a 21 day vegan cleanse. Freston discusses working with Oprah and the wider issues around conscious eating and living. Then we hear from the Quinn band a song called Good People that will have you humming along in no time. And there is a Science Fact about how eating red meat weakens the human body in its fight against the very pathogens that are likely to be present in red meat itself.

On our 53rd podcast we talk with Karen Davis of United Poultry Concerns about the fate of chickens and other food animals and how Proposition 2 in California may or may not wind up helping them in the long term. We hear a song from Heidi Howe, and there is a Science Fact about how the bad effects of a Western diet, high in meat, carry over no matter where in the world you are. Lastly we reveal the vegetarian connection to the Phillies winning the World Series.

On our 52nd podcast we hear from Harold Brown, who came to Philadelphia to speak about the global water crisis, and how livestock and citizens, respectively, figure into the equation. Excerpts from his talk, sponsored by Club Veg, are supplemented with a Vegcast question and answer. Then there is a new track from Christina Louise Dicker, the kickass Australian chanteuse, and a Science Fact about the Fountain of Youth, which is another way of saying veganism and exercise.

Our gala 51st podcast continues our series of VegNews musician spotlights, featuring an interview with Chris Walla, one of the two vegetarian founders of Death Cab for Cutie, a band whose Number One album Narrow Stairs is finally bringing them to the attention of the world at large. We also hear a tune from Chris from his solo projects, and there is a Science Fact about the disease fighting combo of veganism and a gluten free diet.

With our gala 50th podcast, Vegcast goes international, focusing on a trip to Quebec to learn about veganic agriculture from Stephan Groleau. For the first time, the main interview is offered in two versions, one in English and one in French. We also introduce a new feature, The Veggie Market, reviewing the array of vegan choices in Quebec groceries. There is a song about the marketing of meat and a science fact about how to really reduce your carbon footprint, plus a quick, and I do mean quick, retrospective of Vegcasts 1 through 50.

I was very excited to see a preview for an upcoming new series on Animal Planet. The show is called Whale Wars and centers around the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.I fully support Sea Shepherd and their courageous efforts to stop whalers in their tracks. They utilize direct action tactics to combat whaling. You can read more about Sea Shepherd here.Here's a preview clip for the show:Whale Wars premieres this Friday, November 7 on Animal Planet at 9PM EST/PST.

I'm initiating a new game of tag for vegan bloggers: what's in your (vegan) freezer?Here's how it works:Take a picture of the items in your freezerPost the picture to your blog and give a summary of the itemsTag 5 vegan bloggersHere's a look into my freezer:As you can see, I have the essentials:Frozen organic fruit (strawberries, blueberries)Frozen organic vegetables (peas, corn, asparagus)Amy's No Cheese pizzasAmy's burritosSo Delicious soy ice cream (Peanut Butter Zig Zag & Praline Pecan)Tofu (freezing and thawing produces a nice texture)WafflesEzekiel bread, english muffins, and (veggie)…

Before moving to Prince Edward Island (PEI) I was prepared to go without tempeh. I heard it was nowhere to be found on the island.I haven't found tempeh but I have found tempeh burgers. Atlantic Superstore in Charlottetown sells them. They're made by Green Cuisine and are available at the store near me in Original and Barbecue flavors.Apparently Green Cuisine is a vegan restaurant in Victoria, BC. They also happen to sell some of their products.The tempeh tastes like Australian tempeh. (I lived in Australia for six months.) It's softer and more moist. I like Canadian/Australian tempeh and…

This is an extremely difficult post to write but I believe in transparency in the animal rights movement.Owen, pictured above attempting to cook himself, is no longer vegan. This deeply saddens me because it forces me to buy animal products but I am acting in his best interest as his guardian.First, here are some facts about urinary tract infections (UTI) you may or may not know:It is much more common for males to become blockedA veterinarian at the clinic my wife previously worked in claimed to have seen a female cat blocked just once.Tabby cats, especially orange tabbies, are more prone to…

I wrote an essay back in college on veganism. I know it was very helpful for many people. In fact, I even received a few emails from people letting me know the essay had convinced them go vegan. I'm posting it here in hopes that others will find it useful. Feel free to pass it around.Why I Am VeganExposing the moral, health, and environmental consequences of consuming animalsIntroductionWe are destroying the environment, our health, and our humanity, not to mention the billions of innocent lives taken by our own hands. The majority of human beings do not make a connection between buying meat…

Dear Readers, It gives me no pleasure to link to this article, published by Harry Cline of the Western Farm Press. It is riddled with inaccuracies and claims of safety which fly in the face of the recent OEHHA report findings that the pheromone-pesticide sprayed in 2007 on the Central Coast was, indeed, a health hazard. Little as I like to link to this, Californians should know what is continuing to be printed about CDFA’s experiment on their health without consent. I suggest you read the article, read my response and then write your own to the author.

News on the LBAM front has been scarce of late, but I know all of my readers will want to read the following article, detailing OEHHA’s LBAM spray report. This is an excellent article, and as it points out, the health harms people experienced and the future harms they feared were legitimate. While, as vegans, we do not support animal testing and are very sorrowful to think of the poor laboratory animals being subjected to the same sickness and indignity suffered by Central Coast families in 2007, all Californians should read the Chronicle article and its indictment of CDFA for having…

Dear President Elect Obama, Last night, I wept, danced, shouted with joy as I felt the yoke of shame lightened which I have carried all of my life as an American, knowing of the injustice, apartheid, violence and genocide to which people of color have been subjected by white people since the very founding of this nation. Millions of tireless steps have been taken by countless African Americans, both famous and unnamed, leading up to this moment in history when our country would at long last relinquish the whip-hand of prejudice and embrace the diversity that is the true foundation of our…

Local news gives you a strong feeling about a town and its people. When you read that a small town like Bolinas, California feeds its homeless neighbors out of its own pockets, rather than through an agency, you figure their must be some very nice folks living there. But when you read about another town - South Whitehall Township, PA - complaining about the ugliness of a shed while one of their neighbor’s lives is at stake, you wonder what is wrong with the people living there. This afternoon, a friend of mine sent me an ABC feature on a South Whitehall Township woman, Elizabeth…

This afternoon, my husband and I were in Marin County. Standing along the beautiful bay shore there, I found myself suddenly in the grip of an incredibly strong feeling - a blend of sadness, anger, urgency - looking at the land and thinking of how the CDFA and the forces behind it had been threatening to soak this place with poisons under the guise of a ludicrous pursuit of an insect. I looked at the bright water, the air-giving trees and the friendly, clear sky, and I guess I had one of those moments of wondering how to make sense of life in a world where some of my fellow men can actually…

Today’s show features an exclusive interview with a true pioneer in the raw food movement, Aris Latham! You’ll discover the secrets to maintaining a healthy raw food diet in any climate! In addition, Aris shares his healthy living tips and tricks to live your life to the fullest! He is radiant and speaks from the heart! One of our best shows to date! Visit Dr. LaTham’s website www.sunfiredfood.com Aris LaTham, PhD. Sunfired Food Scientist, Linguist & Educator The 2004 Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America acclaims: ‘…the raw food movement owes much to…

Our show features recording artists Artichoke Heart Soufflé. Artichoke Heart Souffle have reached extraordinary levels in creativity and music expression with the help of foods powered by the sun! In addition to exclusive interviews, you will gain behind-the-scenes access to an intimate unplugged jam  featuring music that is sure to inspire. It was bound to happen sooner or later. After playing in separate bands for years, Los Angeles based brother and sister, Brad and raw-vegan Stacy Michelson recorded some demos together discovering THIS was the secret recipe for an Artichoke Heart…

On today’s show, we feature Raw Vegan Radio recorded on the Main Stage of the Raw Spirit Festival in Sedona, Arizona from September 12th, 2008. We feature an exclusive interview with Mike Adams from Natural News and special surprise guest Viktoras Kulvinskas. Mike Adams discusses one of the most important issues facing the raw food movement. Viktoras explains how ABC’s 20/20 presented a biased version of the raw food diet and what YOU can do about it! Mike Adams, the Health Ranger is the editor of NaturalNews.com. He is also the author of over a dozen books and guides on natural…

On today’s show, meditation guru, spiritual intuitive and raw food expert Rama provides insight on looking within to manifest your inner and outer beauty.  Also, Rama leads us in a powerful relationship healing session (warning:  Do not operate heavy machinery while listening to this episode).  In addition, Jason Janiak from Raw Creations shares inspiration on his incredible raw food journey with insight into creating delicious raw food desserts! >

On today’s show, we feature an exclusive interview with Jameth Sheridan of Healthforce Nutritionals.  Jameth shares years of scientific study to help sort out the tools needed for ultimate health.  Jameth provides evidence for using herbs and superfoods to attain levels of health never before imagined.  Dr. Jameth Sheridan became interested in health at a very young age. He grew up an avid athlete, and became involved in nutrition’s effects on physical performance. He eventually became a whole food Vegan and watched his health and performance soar. When he discovered raw foods, his…

Sarah Palin pardoned one turkey and then held a news conference in front of turkey slaughter: Warning: some viewers will find this video disturbing. This is the small farm. So if this disgusts you, imagine the factory farm. Actually, don’t imagine it, watch it:

Vegan Soapbox will feature snippets from websites that encourage Americans to give mercy to turkeys until Thanksgiving Day. I’m pretty good at coming up with catchy slogans, so here are a few vegan Thanksgiving catch-phrases you can choose to use if/when you explain that your Thanksgiving dinner won’t feature a dead bird: Ditch the death Choose kindness over killing Dine without death Peace to poultry Truly thankful Thanksgiving For example, you can say, “I’ll be dining without death this year. My thanksgiving dinner is good for people, the planet, and animals,…

Cruelty-free thanksgiving dinner prepared in the tiny vegan kitchen. Full recipes and details at www.tinyvegankitchen.com Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6haMfLTfDic

From Newsweek: “Many people see this movement as a logical continuation of the fight against racism and sexism, and believe that the concept of animal rights will soon be as commonplace as equal pay and opportunities for women and minorities. If that happens—and I believe it will—the effects on the food we eat, how we produce it and the place of animals in our society will be profound.” “If this sounds radical, so did suffrage and civil rights a few decades ago. The notion that we should recognize the rights of animals living among us rests on a firm ethical foundation.

One of the most common responses to the comment that “I’m vegan” or to vegan activism is “I like meat.” It’s really strange to hear because it’s completely unrelated. I’m always tempted to reply, “So? What’s your point? Crack addicts like crack, too. Does’t make it good, healthy, or ethical.” or “I like John Cusack.” And I’ve actually replied, “You can read, right? OK then, here’s a flyer about factory farming.” But the smart-alec approach isn’t always the best. And while it might…

First, the seventy-two labors brought us this food, We should know how it comes to us. — meal gatha A few times a year I go up a mountain and participate in meditation intensives at a Zen monastery. This is a very good thing for me to do. Last weekend I sat my final sesshin of 2008, and despite some congestion and a few fiercely difficult emotional patches, it was a nourishing experience. Sometimes the last thing I want to do is to face myself, let alone for 10 hours a day. Two of the three meals each day are formal meals, called oryoki. It’s a combination of a liturgical ceremony…

I’ve been entertaining friends from out of town this week, which has resulted in some quality eating out. There aren’t a metric ton of places in Boston to eat well as a vegan, but more than most places have, so I won’t complain. One of the friends was the first vegan I ever met, and while not encouraging me to be vegan, became a great role model for me. Looking back I’m surprised how little I realized his influence. Thank you Terry, for being awesome! Also thank you for the Flight of the Conchords CD. Business Time, indeed. I’m dashing out the door in about 10…

I’m back, baby! I have a messy kitchen and a metric ton of oatmeal raisin cookies. V made “meat”loaf last night which was much better than I remember meat loaf being. “Meat” and “loaf” are two words I don’t usually want to hear together, unless we’re talking about the singer, and then only at appropriate times. As an extra bonus, here’s some hott vegan weaving! I bought a loom earlier this year on Craigslist, and have finally gotten around to learning how to use it in recent months. Feast your eyes upon this linen scarf I’m…

Thank you all for your food suggestions and well-wishing. If you can believe it, I’m just starting to feel healthy again. It’s left my life looking like an incredibly messy kitchen where every pot and is in the sink, some with food still stuck to the bottom, and when you walk the floor sticks in an old-movie-theater way. A moth flutters near the pantry, and there’s a lingering fear that there are a few thousand others hiding in a long-forgotten package of pastry flour. Today’s post is about getting back on the horse when you fall off. I fall of metaphorical horses all…

Why hello there! October hasn’t exactly given me the winningest hand. I’ve been busy as heck up until a few days ago, when I got sick. I’ve been aggressively resting since Monday evening in hopes that I can cut it off before the “weeks and weeks of lingering illness” stage, and I might be succeeding. It feels a bit luxurious to be lounging around in bed reading and sleeping, though I know it’s what’s needed. Sick time is not the time for fancy meals. There are three things my mom gave me when I was sick: Sprite, saltines, and Lipton cup-o-noodles (I…

Use Dogpile for search and help contribute to animal rescue. We’re on a mission to help animals in need. We call it our Search and Rescue program. Each time a user goes to Dogpile.com to search the Internet, a portion of the revenue generated will be donated to rescue animals. Our goal is to raise $1 million by the end of 2009. You’ll be helping pets just by doing what you already do – search the Internet. Dogpile gives you one-click access to the best results on the web from Google, Yahoo, Ask, and MSN Live. Just make us your preferred search engine. It’s free. It’s easy. And…

All Vegan is a store in the North Park area of San Diego. It has a great selection of shoes and bags that are 100% man made. My daughter found a pair of shoes she loved and they were reasonably priced. We both left satisfied with our purchases. While there she also found some wonderful carmel filled chocolates that are hard for vegans to find.

The way we currently produce our food is damaging both to ourselves and our planet. There is therefore a need to create gardens, woodlands and farms which are in harmony with nature. Natural ecosystems are good models, but many of the plants they contain are not necessarily edible. What we need is to discover and grow a wide variety of easily grown perennial and self-seeding annuals which provide delicious and healthy food, or are useful in other ways. Describing plants such as these, both native to Britain and Europe and from temperate areas around the world, this book includes those…

Savannah’s Vegan Pancakes 2 1/2 cups flour 4 tsp baking powder 2 tsp baking soda 1 tsp salt 3 cups juice (any flavor) Savannah’s Vegan Cornbread (a hit at potlucks, with vegan chili) Combine: 1 cup all purpose flour 1 cup cornmeal 1/4 cup sugar (this could be reduced a bit — it’s a fairly sweet cornbread) 4 tsp baking powder 3/4 tsp salt Combine and add: 6 tbsp water 1 cup plain soymilk (could substitute almond milk, etc.) 1/4 cup cooking oil (I use canola) Mix until smooth. Bake in a greased 8″ pan in 425º oven 20-25 minutes. Recipes courtesy of Julie Johnston

Image via Wikipedia The Organic Center issued a press release a few months ago First-Ever Estimate of the Dramatic Reduction in Pesticide Risk Possible through the “Organic Option”. Conventional Fruits and Vegetables with the Highest Pesticide Dietary Risk Index Scores: Domestic Fruits Cranberries: 178 Nectarines: 97 Strawberries: 56 Peaches: 54 Pears: 48 Vegetables Green beans: 330 Sweet bell peppers: 132 Celery: 104 Cucumbers: 93 Potatoes: 74 Conventional Fruits and Vegetables with the Highest Pesticide Dietary Risk Index Scores: Imported Fruits Grapes: 282 Nectarines: 281…

Daily Random RecipeINGREDIENTS: 8 oz (1 container) plain or vanilla (best) soy yogurt 1/2 (or a bit more) cucumber, peeled A tiny bit of chopped onion, like maybe a fingernails worth or onion powder 1 cup or more ice METHOD:Here is one of my fave recipes - Throw them all in a blender until not gritty - in a Vitamix this takes 2 minutes. In a regular blender, add the ice gradually - may take 5 minutes or more. Dont be afriad to add more ice. NOTES:This is not a smoothie - a very refreshing light summer drink.

Daily Random RecipeINGREDIENTS: 4 T margarine 675 g / 1 1/2 lb soy beef substitute (I use dry soy chunks, reconstituted) 3 onions chopped 1 clove garlic, minced 675 g / 1 1/2 lb fresh mixed greens, chard, escarole or spinach 2 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into 2.5 cm / 1 inch cubes 1 t sugar 1 cup veggie stock (dark mushroom stock works well) Salt and pepper METHOD:In a large lidded saucepot, melt the margarine. Slowly brown the soy chunks, onions and garlic for 4 minutes. Wash the greens. Add them to the soy chunks, along with the potato, sugar, stock, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and…

Daily Random RecipeINGREDIENTS: 3 bunches of broccoli, florets only 1 red bell pepper, finely chopped 1 green bell pepper, diced 1/2 red onion, diced 1/2 cup sesame oil 2 T tamari (or soy sauce) METHOD:Place all the ingredients in a container that has a lid, adding the tamari and sesame oil last. Cover with the lid. Shake the mixture up like a tossed salad. Best if allowed to sit 30 to 45 minutes so that the flavors can marry. Serve on a bed of lettuce. NOTES:'From Delights of the Garden' by Imar Hutchins.

Daily Random RecipeINGREDIENTS: 1/2 lb / 225 g tempeh 1 T ketchup 1 T miso 1 t onion powder 1/2 t garlic powder 1/2 t sage 1/2 t thyme 1/8 t red pepper flakes METHOD: Steam the tempeh for 20 minutes. Process all the ingredients in a food processor until smooth and spread-able. Spread on bread with lettuce and tomato for sandwiches.

Daily Random RecipeINGREDIENTS: 3 cups dried wakame seaweed 1/2 sweet red bell pepper, chopped 1/2 cup red onion, chopped 1 1/2 red tomatoes, chopped 1/8 t cayenne 1/2 t onion powder 1/2 t garlic powder 1/8 t dry mustard Pinch of sea salt or other salt substitute 1 T sesame oil 1 T olive oil 1 T tamari (or soy sauce) 1 T raw honey or maple syrup METHOD:In a large bowl, add just enough hot spring water to the seaweed to cover it. Allow this to sit for 5 to 6 minutes, until the seaweed has absorbed most of the water and has a green-leafy consistency. Squeeze the remainder of the liquid out of…

Should animals have the same rights? I was approached by the folks over at OpposingViews.com to weigh in on the debate over whether or not animals should have the same rights as people. What follows below is the quick essay I submitted to them. You can find the full debate here if their site starts working correctly..there have been transient failures all weekend. In one episode of the 1980s absurd British sitcom “The Young Ones,” Neil, the hippie of the group, famously quipped “vegetable rights and peace!” comically upping his hippie cred into the stratosphere.

The online retailer Zappo’s sells fur, and everyone is outraged. But what about their leather? I can tell when the propaganda machine at PETA has decided that an issue matters, because slowly but surely, it starts to make its way into my consciousness, no matter how much I might wish to avoid the idiocy. Such was the case with the recent Action Alert from PETA which got Zappo’s—the massive online shoe retailer—to stop selling fur. On their site, PETA says: Well, it seems that Zappos.com got the message that people hate fur, because yesterday, the company officially…

On today’s show, we feature an interview with Mark Love, a fitness trainer...We just posted Vegan Freak Radio #99 over at our podcast site. On today’s show, we feature an interview with Mark Love, a fitness trainer with over ten years of experience in training all kinds of people, from athletes to sedentary adults and people recovering from illness or injury. Mark gives tips on how to get motivated and keep yourself motivated to exercise, and discusses what it’s like to be a vegan in the fitness industry. We also have our usual Vegan Freak fare: we discuss articles about dog rental…

3 things that make me wonder about the sanity of AR activistsEvery so often, kind readers or listeners will forward us particular bits of the news that make me wish that I had nothing to do with the so-called animal “rights” movement (when it comes down to it, it really seems to be a movement that is less about rights and more about humane treatment). Here are 3 things that are not only embarrassing for us as animal rights activists, but damaging to our overall message and potential impact: 1. PETA ad compares Greyhound bus attack to slaughtering animals Playing off of the heinous…

Do vegans really pay more for their groceries than omnis when fuel prices rise and bad weather hits crops?I was quoted in a recent article in Metro Newspaper (along with Denyse of Urbanvegan) about which diet is most affected by the rise in food costs.  The article doesn’t delve very deep into the issue, but basically the conclusion seems to be that vegans are the most affected by these increases in food costs, because our costs are higher to begin with and we are hit harder when there’s bad weather that wipes out crops.  Of course, none of this is borne out by actual…

I would like to host a small vegetarian/vegan | gathering this coming Friday afternon - rather | than Thursday as people may be spending time with | family on Thursday. If anyone reading this board | would be interested in attending a vegetarian/vegan | Thanksgiving please email me directly for directions | to the home in Amherst Woods. Blessings, Em

I hope it's ok that my favorite animal friendly website is my own. I run STAY VOCAL (http://www.stayvocal.com), a reuse company. Our mission is to encourage people to reuse whenever and wherever possible. In addition, STAY VOCAL encourages addressing all manner of ideas that can have a positive impact on our Earth, including animal rights. Our "Put the Gun Down" line is dedicated to providing a voice to those concerned with animal rights and...