Who You Callin' Vegangelical?

Recently I've heard some perplexing criticisms of veganism. They go something like this: vegans are extremists, vegans are so preachy, veganism is like some fanatical religion, veganism is a cult.. There obviously is some misunderstanding going on and I'd like to try and stamp out this issue once and for all. I realize I can't possibly speak for all vegans, but this is how I see it: First of all, veganism is clearly not some religion or cult. There is no Church of Vegan. Veganism is a philosophy. Donald Watson first coined the term "vegan" in 1944. This was how he defined it: The word "veganism" denotes a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude -- as far as is possible and practical -- all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose;...

Read more »

Posted in: Articles,Vegan

Milk Comes From Grieving Mothers - Truth About Organic Dairy

img alt="" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('c298bbe2-ffe6-4984-8230-f3df9c98e93e'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "";" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYTwF4la1LdH2GvTiKGX_tSW1unTmvFn-is1L8vKhUnmtGJdJvm2Lo6VZ-5n28yqSDyd5vpS5MR1pELE1arNpXZBJKSgNSoNHow1YBI4R75STGFvkgA-XZhMAbzWZQ_5M0uZ7kVpCH148/?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none">...

Read more »

Posted in: Vegan,Video

VEGAN. For the People. For the Planet. For the Animals

img alt="" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('cbbb0662-8c89-445d-9dd3-0268cb088bbe'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "";" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDgIrDL7T5X794FkOmQAKbwMom9zuHbp7VMPeIc9WLA7V_xStBsJfPhJNYaHv-5sZG7EYCcOlCEqfx6UIbBqxZOmcR6j53tdHw69gEz3yP3sE-e8WPcXhdfF5FNIE8mh8DMc_aqfPqQLQ/?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none">...

Read more »

Posted in: Vegan,Video

Classic Frozen Margarita

Ingredients: Tequila - 4 oz Triple Sec - 2 oz Lime Juice - 1 oz Ice - 2 cups Lime wedges Coarse Salt Directions: Prepare glasses for frozen cocktail: Pour coarse salt into a shallow dish. Lightly wet rim of margarita glass. Dip glass rim in salt, spin gently until lightly coated. Combine tequila, triple sec, lime juice, and ice in blender. Blend on low speed to desired consistency. Pour into margartia glasses. Garnish with limed wedges. (optional) Enjoy your frozen cocktail! Serves: 2...

Read more »

Posted in: Recipes

Raspberry-Peach Daiquiri

Ingredients: Light Rum - 4 oz Frozen raspberries - 1/4 cup Frozen peaches - 1/4 cup Ice - 1/2 cup Sugar Directions: Prepare glasses: Pour sugar into dish. Dampen rim of glass and dip in sugar. Combine rum, raspberries, peaches, and ice in blender. Blend well. Pour into glasses and sip your frozen cocktail! Serves: 2 ...

Read more »

Posted in: Recipes

Stuffed Acorn Squash

Ingredients 2 acorn squash 1 can crushed pineapple drained 1/2 cup both cranberries and chopped walnuts 4 tablespoons of chopped dried apricots A small amount of butter or vegan spread for each half Cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom to taste Directions Gently prick each acorn squash in 2-3 spots and microwave them for 4 minutes to soften Cut them in half and scoop out seeds, place face down in a baking dish with 1/2 inch of water and bake at 350 for 30 minutes While that is baking mix together the rest of the ingredients and let them sit After baking the squash, remove from oven, drain the water, turn over the squash Rub a little...

Read more »

Posted in: Dessert Recipes,Quick Recipes,Recipes

Pasta with Mushroom & Pistachio

Ingredients: 1/2 cup shelled pistachios 10 oz mushrooms- I used Baby Bella’s, a mix of exotics would be great 1 large onion sliced thin- I used Vidalia 8 oz thin spaghetti 2 tbsp butter 4 tbsp olive oil 1 cup fat free half & half (use full fat if you like) 2 cloves minced garlic 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar Salt & pepper to taste Directions Cook pasta according to directions Place pistachios in food processor and blender and grind until fine pieces, remove from processor In a saucepan melt butter and saute onion until lightly browned, add olive oil and mushrooms and 2 teaspoons of olive oil cook...

Read more »

Posted in: Dinner Recipes,Mushrooms Recipes,Recipes

Easter or Ostara Bunny Bread

Ingredients: 3/4 cup soy milk 2 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast 3 1/4 - 3 1/2 cups flour 1/3 cup maple syrup or agave nectar 1 teaspoon salt 1/4 cup vegan margarine 1/4 cup warm water 1 cup quick or old fashioned oats, uncooked 2 1/2 teaspoon flax meal mixed with 3 Tablespoons water 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 1/2 cups vegan powdered sugar 2 tablespoons soy milk How to Make? View More Here!  ...

Read more »

Posted in: Recipes

Stuffed Mushrooms

Roasted, stuffed mushrooms are a hearty, satistfying crowd-pleaser. This recipe makes enough for three mushrooms per person. Yield: 8 servings Ingredients 3/4 cup slices of whole grain bread, toasted and ground in the food processor 4 cloves of garlic, minced 24 “stuffing” mushrooms, stems removed and reserved 1c raw cashews pieces to taste salt, pepper, onion powder 3c spinach 1c fresh basil 1c nutritional yeast olive oil How to Make? View More Here!...

Read more »

Posted in: Appetizers Recipes,Beans and Grains Recipes,Mushrooms Recipes,Recipes

Roasted Veggies with Tahini Miso Dressing

Hearty roasted veggies and potatoes are a filling dish, and this version gets rave reviews from my omnivore pals. The tahini dressing makes this really special and adds a protein boost, too! Yield: 8 servings Ingredients 8 red potatoes, cut into bite sized pieces 4c Brussels sprouts 1 large red onion, chopped 1 red pepper, sliced into 2″ strips 1/2c olive oil 1/4c soy sauce 1T herbes de Provence 1/2c Tahini 1/3c red miso paste 1/4c rice wine vinegar 1″ piece of fresh ginger, minced water How to Make? View on Care2.com Here!...

Read more »

Posted in: Appetizers Recipes,Dinner Recipes,Potatoes Recipes,Recipes,Vegan Recipes

Field Green Salad with Pear and Almonds

This salad is a simple and delicious way to start your Easter meal. Yield: 8 servings Ingredients 8c mixed field greens 1 pear, diced 1c sliced almonds 2 Haas avocados, diced 3/4c olive oil 1/4c lemon juice to taste salt and pepper How to Make? View More on Care2.com Here!...

Read more »

Posted in: Almond Recipes,Quick Recipes,Recipes,Salads Recipes,Vegan Recipes

Edamame: Planet Friendly Protein, Tasty and Nutrious

Edamame (eh-dah-mah-may) is a tasty snack food from Asia that has become a popular appetizer at Japanese restaurants here in the west. Often called green vegetable soybeans, they are a special variety harvested when still immature and green. Served in the pod at restaurants, frozen shelled edamame are now widely available at supermarkets and Trader Joe’s, as well as in health food stores. Possibly be the worlds oldest snack food, going back well over a thousand years, edamame could very well be the healthiest, too. Edamame has a lot going for it. Great taste, ease of preparation and excellent nutrition make it a delightful snack, not only in restaurants but in kitchens across America. Try adding shelled edamame to your favorite stir-fry,...

Read more »

Posted in: Articles,Beans and Grains Recipes,Health,Nutrition,Recipes,Vegan

Portrait of Life in Bagansiapiapi Part II

See Portrait of Life in Bagansiapiapi Part I Related Post: Portrait of Grave Pilgrimage in Bagansiapiapi Vegetarian in Bagansiapiapi...

Read more »

Creamy Chickpea and Tomato Curry

INGREDIENTS 3 cups cooked chickpeas salt and pepper 2 tbsp oil 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1/4 tsp cloves 1 tsp garam masala 1 tsp chili powder 4 curry leaves 1 sweet onion, diced 2 garlic cloves, minced 500g chopped fresh tomatoes, skinned 400 ml can light coconut milk How to Make? View on VeganDad.blogspot.com Here!...

Read more »

Posted in: Appetizers Recipes,Chickpea Recipes,Curry Recipes,Recipes,Tomatoes Recipes,Vegan Recipes

Better Vision Pasta

A study by the University of Wisconsin in Madison showed a possible link between the carotenoids in squash and other yellow vegetables with improvements for age related vision loss. Most of us prepare food focusing on taste first and often nutrition and health benefits second. Meal planning should be a carefully balanced collection of nutritious foods that complement each other not only in taste but also in dietetic value. Today’s recipe harnesses in on the benefits of squash for vision health. University of Wisconsin Study Ingredients 4 Cups Butternut Squash Cubed 2 Yellow Squash halved and thick sliced 1 Sweet Yellow Onion Chopped 1-2 TBLS Earth Balance Vegan Olive Stick 1 TBLS Extra...

Read more »

Posted in: Appetizers Recipes,Dinner Recipes,Recipes,Vegan

Bring Meatless Mondays to ALL of America's Public Schools

Target: Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack Sponsored by: Care2.com In light of concerns about the planet and America's health, the Meatless Monday initiative continues to spread and is now making its way into public services like schools and hospitals. Meatless Mondays are a small personal change that make a huge difference. Baltimore Public Schools launched Meatless Mondays and anticipate buying 120,000 fewer pounds of meat for the school year. Eliminating meat from Monday lunch menus is a smart move for kids' health and the environment. Reducing meat can decrease intake of saturated fat and increase eating healthy fruits and vegetables. And numerous reports indicate that reducing meat consumption is integral to reducing environmental problems like water...

Read more »

Posted in: Articles,News,Vegan,Vegetarian

Do Vegetarians Make Better Lovers?

They say vegetarians do it organically. But is there really a "veggie difference?" Do vegetarians have sexual traits that distinguish them from meat-eaters? Does all that chlorophyll really get their hormones going? Are vegetarians better, worse or even noticeably different as lovers? And what makes a good lover, anyway? We posed the question "Do vegetarians make better lovers" to both veggies and meat-eaters on the streets of New York City, to vegetarian chat groups on the internet and to a few of our friends. This is not a scientific poll or an update to the Kinsey or Masters & Johnson studies (the groundbreaking research on human sexuality), but just the reflections and experiences of those who took part in our survey. People referred...

Read more »

Posted in: Articles

Vegetarian? Here's How to Eat Right

It is possible to have a fully balanced diet that is entirely vegetarian, if you work it right. All you need to do is eat smart to make your meals as complete as possible. If you consider a meal of potatoes and rotis or rice and dal as staple vegetarian fare, then you could be getting seriously short-changed on some key nutrients. With such a diet, you will not be getting the required intake of protein, calcium, iron, zinc, Vitamin D, Vitamin B12 and omega 3 fatty acids. Balance your proteins Plant foods offer incomplete protein as they tend to be deficient in one or other essential amino acids (protein is made of building blocks called amino acids and our body needs nine of these from food). But this problem can be managed easily by being careful about both the kind and amount of protein...

Read more »

Posted in: Articles,Health,Nutrition

Do We Need to Eat Animal Products for Optimum Health?

Most of us, including myself, grew up with families and in a society in which the eating of certain animals was completely normal, it was just “the way things are”, it was “natural” and “necessary”.  These beliefs are backed by constant advertising assuring us that foods like hamburgers, bacon and chicken “nuggets” are copacetic, and that we need to eat the flesh of cows, pigs, fish and chickens in order to get the protein we need, along with drink the milk of cows to get calcium for strong bones. Most of us are also not violent creatures, never intentionally hurting or oppressing other people, and we actually have a tendency to show compassion for others, despite the lack of encouragement for such behavior by this current socioeconomic system, that corrupts human nature to fit a for-profit,...

Read more »

Posted in: Animals,Articles,Health

Would You Give it all up to Save the World?

A UNITED Nations report recently said that the only way to save mankind from the ravages of hunger, poverty and climate change was for us all to go vegan. It said that with the global population expected to reach 9.1 billion by 2050, it will be impossible to keep up with demand for meat and dairy products. "Impacts from agriculture are expected to increase substantially due to population growth increasing consumption of animal products. "Unlike fossil fuels, it is difficult to look for alternatives: people have to eat. "A substantial reduction of impacts would only be possible with a substantial worldwide diet change, away from animal products." But as comments on one of our letters here prove, it's not easy convincing people to...

Read more »

Posted in: Animals,Articles,Environment,Global Warming,News

Medicinal Mushrooms: Health Benefits Include Cancer Fighting, Cholesterol Lowering and More!

If we think about mushrooms at all, we may consider them a tasty addition to a salad or casserole. In fact, an estimated 38,000 species of mushrooms, most provide a wealth of protein, fiber, B vitamins, and vitamin C, as well as calcium and other minerals. And at least three species have demonstrated phenomenal healing potential: maitake, shiitake, and reishi. These medicinal mushrooms have been shown to boost heart health; lower the risk of cancer,; promote immune function; ward off viruses, bacteria, and fungi; reduce inflammation; combat allergies; help balance blood sugar levels; and support the body's detoxification mechanisms. Why are medicinal mushrooms becoming increasingly popular in North America? Harriet Beinfield, acupuncturist...

Read more »

Posted in: Articles,Health,Nutrition

Fantastic Raw Pecan-Almond Treats

Ingredients 1 ½ cups raw pecans (soaked 4 hours and drained well) 1 ½ cups raw almonds (soaked 4 hours and drained well) 2 cups Medjool dates (pitted) ½ vanilla bean OR 2 teaspoons vanilla ½ teaspoon cinnamon ¼ teaspoon ground ginger Pinch of clove powder Pinch of Celtic Sea Salt 2 tablespoon flaxseeds (ground) ½ cup coconut flakes How to Make? View More Complete Here!...

Read more »

Vegetarian Chili

Here's a tasty chili recipe that will bring about some tummy warming on a cold winters day. Ingredients 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil 1 large onion (chopped) 2 bay leaves 1 teaspoon ground cumin 2 tablespoons dried oregano 1 tablespoon Celtic or Himalayan salt (or to taste) 2 stalks celery (diced) 2 red peppers (diced) 2 jalapeno peppers (seeded and diced fine) 3 garlic cloves (peeled and minced) 3 (28 ounce cans whole tomatoes (chopped fine) 1 tablespoon chili powder (to taste) 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (to taste) 1 (15 ounce can kidney beans (drained) 1...

Read more »

Posted in: Recipes

The Value of Sprouts

by Sol Azulay and  others Sprouts: Year-Round Vitamins Sprouts are one of the most complete and nutritional of all foods tested. Sprouts are real 'Life Vitamins, Minerals, Proteins, and Enzymes. Their nutritional value was discovered by the Chinese thousands of years ago. Recently, in the USA, numerous scientific studies suggest the importance of sprouts in a healthy diet. As an example, a sprouted Mung Bean has a carbohydrate content of a melon, vitamin A of a lemon, thiamin of an avocado, riboflavin of a dry apple, niacin of a banana, and ascorbic acid of a loganberry. Because sprouts are predigested food, they have a higher biological efficiency value then whole seeds, raw or cooked. Less food is required, yet more nutrients...

Read more »

Posted in: Articles,Health,News,Nutrition

How To Make Creamy Ice Cream with Just One Ingredient!

Yes, that’s right; you heard us. Creamy, soft-serve style ice cream with just one ingredient – and no ice cream maker needed! what is this one magic ingredient that can be whipped into perfectly rich and silky ice cream, with no additional dairy, sweeteners, or ingredients needed whatsoever? If you guessed BANANA, congratulations! You're right! What? You didn't know that bananas can make some of the best ice cream? Well, I didn't either until last week, when my sister called me up and mentioned that she's been freezing bananas and then pureeing them into ice cream. "That's the sort of thing you discover," she sighed, "when all your friends are vegan, gluten-free, dairy-allergic, and you're on a sugar-free diet." I'd deal with a list...

Read more »

Posted in: Recipes