Today I had the privilege of seeing this movie in Vancouver today.  It is very well made, thoughtful, and more importantly, thought-provoking.  Who among us is immune to being sexist in some form?  What is media telling girls and women they should be? (hot, sexy, skinny, a model.)  What is media telling boys and men they should be? (president, CEO, crime fighter, gangster.)  The media’s forceful not to mention limited portrayal of these gender roles has come to define what society expects from us, and what we even expect from ourselves.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5pM1fW6hNs

So, for my first post back, just a quickie:

I went with my Dad today to stock up on Veggie samosas from Sundhu’s Sweet House in North Surrey.  We’ve become fairly addicted to them and figured they were well worth the half hour drive.  $20 got us two full cases for a total of 40 fresh made samosas.  Needless to say, there will be no shortage of night time (or day time for that matter) snack food in our house!  I also came to realize today, that Chana Masala is the only dish I’ve been able to find consistently at every Indian restaurant I’ve ever enjoyed that has always been Vegan.

So this evening, I’m much too stuffed with potatoes, peas and garbanzos to eat a proper meal, but I’m still in the mood for a late snack.  So I’m putting a large pot on medium-high heat (setting 6 out of 9) with just barely enough oil to cover the bottom.  Next, I’m covering the bottom with just enough popcorn kearnals to cover, they’ll expand to fill the whole pot!)  I stir them constantly, and after a few minutes, they’ll change to a darker color, just before they start to POP, then I turn the heat down to low-medium (setting 3 out of 9.)  Once they start popping, I let them go until it sounds like they’re all done popping.  Then I pour them into a bowl, cover with 1/3 cup of melted Vegan margarine, then sprinkle extremely generously with nutritional yeast to make ‘Cheesy Popcorn.”

Enjoy!!  And my sincerest apologies for the extended absence.  I’ll be posting a series of informational bits on Vegan travel over the coming weeks and months.

Peace be in you all and may you share it with the ones you love.

In 2009 HLS are still $70 million in debt and meant to pay it back in 2011, but HLS were also in crisis in March 2009 when they were unable to make one of their loan repayments. CEO Brian Cass even tried putting out a desperate plea in the national press calling on a bank to give them a loan and bank account, but no one responded as HLS rightfully remains a pariah.

HLS cannot pay back their 2011 loan to Fortress, and as a result have been forced to sell the company. No one else wants to help HLS which is why their American management has borrowed still more money to privately buy the company for over $100 million! Before the sale could take place, HLS was forced to commission an independent analysis of their financial situation. The results were incredible as they were proven to be on the brink of bankruptcy.  Fortress has been the key to HLS’s survival, and are really their only hope.

2010 has seen major demonstrations against Fortress and their subsidiaries all over the world.  Recently this post was released to an Animal Liberation reporting website:

– statement released by anti-HLS campaigners:

“Fortress Investment Group have ceased all loan facilities with Huntingdon Life Sciences / LSR / and all associated subsidiary companies. They will not re-finance the loan either themselves or via any other financer.

More information will be made public soon.”  –  The following was taken from bite back online.

For more information on the campaign to Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty check out:  http://www.shac.net/HLS/who_are_hls.html

When planning your Holiday Feast please remember the values of the Season: Peace, Charity, Health and Good Will.

Peace is not harming or killing someone for your dinner.

Charity is not taking grain away from the Starving in Africa to feed to Turkeys.

Health is carotene rich Squashes rather than hormone, sodium nitrate, parasite and worm laced Turkey bodies.

Good Will is thinking about all of the people -the animals, the farm workers, the ecosystems, the processors- and all of the other people that are harmed and oppressed by animal exploitation.

Peace be with you and those you love this Christmas, and with all of the less fortunate non-human animals.

• 1/2 cup vegan butter
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3 teaspoons Ener-G Egg Substitute
• 4 tablespoons water
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 1/4 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons Almond milk(optional)

Directions:

9 Decorate with frosting or just dig in and enjoy!

You may have heard by now that former President of the United States, Bill Clinton has recently become Vegan!  What a great representative of the Vegan diet   In this video clip CNN’s Wolf Blitzer discusses near-Veganism with Doctors Esselstyn and Ornish.  They’re not pure-Vegans, but they’re sending a great message:

We started by putting together a list of things that Thanksgiving cannot happen without, and then added some of our personal favorites.  Here’s what we came up with:

Tofurkey

Roasted Hubbard Squash  -

We cut off the top of the squash and carved out the guts.  Then we covered it in foil and popped it into the oven at 350 degrees for one hour and 20 minutes.  When it was done, we carved it into strips and served it with the stuffing and gravy on top.

Hearty Vegan Stuffing -

1 loaf of bread, we used Silver Hills Squirlly cut into 1-in. cubes
1 pound some kind of Tofurky Italian sausage (or your preference)
2 stalks celery, diced
1/2 cup vegan butter– I like Earth Balance, melted
1/2 of a large onion or 1 small onion, diced
1 clove of garlic, minced
14-15 ounces (about 1 3/4 cups) Veggie Stock
1 egg substitute, with dashes of salt and pepper added to it
a VERY generous pinch of poultry seasoning
large baking dish, greased

Directions:

I should mention that according to my mother’s recipe, the bread should be left out for 1 week in a paper bag to get a little stale, however, she has made this without leaving the bread out and it tastes the same. I surely don’t do it.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cook the  ‘sausage’ (crumbled or chunked) until heated through.  Add the celery in, then add the onion and garlic.  Saute until tender.

In a large bowl, add the cubed bread and all the other ingredients. Mix together.

Add the stuffing to the baking dish and bake at 350 for 50-60 minutes, until the stuffing is not watery. Don’t cook too long or it may dry out.

This can also be prepared a day or two ahead. Just bake it for 45 minutes and refrigerate. Bake for 20 more minutes or so when ready to serve.

Enjoy with or without the vegan gravy of your choice

Two Gravies

Yorkshire Puddings -

Ingredients at room temperature:

2 cups sweet rice flour
2 tsp guar gum
2 cups soy milk
Egg Replacer for 6 eggs
1 tsp salt
Olive Oil

Preheat oven to 400 F.  Mix with whisk. It’s ok to leave a few lumps.(Batter should be super runny.) Let stand at room temperature for 10-15 minutes. Put a half a cap full of oil into each muffin cup.  Fill muffin cups about half full of batter and bake approx. 25 mins.

Variation – I did these Gluten Free, however you can use wheat flour instead of the sweet rice flour, and just eliminate the guar gum which isn’t necessary with wheat flour.

Pumpkin Pie! -

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Have ready, one 9″ unbaked pastry crust

Blend in blender:
2 cups solid-pack canned pumpkin
1 cup almond milk
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 tbsp. blackstrap molasses
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. EACH ground ginger, nutmeg and salt
1/4 tsp. ground allspice or cloves

Pour the filling into the pastry and bake 60 minutes, covering the edges with foil if they begin to brown too quickly. Cool on a rack, then refrigerate overnight before serving.

Portabellos with Almond Sauce

Roasted Seasonal Mixed Veggies

Scalloped Potatoes -

6 medium potatoes, peeled and super thinly sliced
4 tablespoons earth balance
3 tablespoons flour (we used sweet rice flour)
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 1/2 cups Almond milk
1 small onion, finely chopped

Preheat oven to 325ºF.

Heat 3 tablespoons of earth balance in a saucepan over low heat until melted. Blend in flour, salt and pepper. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth and bubbly. Gradually stir in almond milk, 1/2 cup at a time. Heat to boiling. Boil and stir 1 minute.

Arrange potatoes in greased 2 quart casserole in 3 layers, topping each layer with part of the chopped onions and 1/3 of the sauce. Dot the top with the remaining 1 tablespoon of earth balance, broken into little pieces.

Cover and bake until potatoes are tender, about 60-70 minutes. Let stand 5 to 10 minute before serving.

Add 1/2 to 3/4 cup shredded Daiya cheese to the sauce and mix to melt.

Olives

and

Chocolate Chip-Coconut Cookies

Recipes to come very soon!

Leading a busy life, full of activities is difficult enough on its own.  Trying to stay healthy and eat three meals a day, ideally that consist of something better than a handful of brazil nuts and a Happy Planet juice, is a whole other ball game.  I have created a network in my mind of the closest Vegan restaurants, Vegan friendly places to grab a bite to eat, and places to eat if you’re in total desperation

My #1 suggestion to travelers and locals alike, is to check out www.happycow.net for their absolutely invaluable list of Vegan, vegetarian, and veg-friendly places all over the world.  This site has pulled me out of innumerable binds in my Vegan life (which makes me think I should drop them a donation!)  Below is a list of the Vegan, vegetarian, and veg-friendly places in town that I eat at regularly and would happily recommend:

3G – 3424 Cambie St.  They have wonderful service, and feature nearly all Vegan, chinese food (do ask about dairy in the “meat” dishes though.)  **I recommend: The “Chicken” Drumsticks, you can’t go there without ordering them!

Bodhi Choi Heung – 3932 Fraser St.  This is a wonderful Buddhist restaurant that is nearly Vegan, but again, do ask about egg or dairy in items.  **I recommend:  The Lemon “Duck” it is in a VERY sweet lemon sauce so please be warned if you aren’t a fan of super sweet food.  I find it devine though, and the crispy bean curd “duck” is simply amazing!

Loving Hut – 546 West Broadway.  I adore this place because it is smack in between my work and my school, right on a major transit hub (Broadway & Cambie.)  They have traditional American food like pizza (with Daiya cheese,) caesar salad, soups, wraps, nachos and the like.  **I recommen: The Loving Hut Pizza;  it’s got a heavenly garlic sauce and is creamy, cheesy and just a flavour sensation!

Budgies Burritos – 44 Kingsway (Kingsway & Main.)  100% Vegetarian burritos to go, or to stay if you really want.  These are typical, Amercian style burritos, with Yves Ground Round, or various types of beans, veggies, and instead of cheese (which is only available as dairy) they can substitute extra avocado for no extra charge. **I recommend: The Poser on whole wheat, with black beans and fresh salsa, done Vegan.  Can’t go wrong.

Organic Lives – 1829 Quebec Street.  100% Raw, Vegan place with a somewhat limited menu and hefty prices, but delicious and unique.  **I recommend: The Caesar Salad with raw croutons.

All India Sweets – 6507 Main St.  This place has traditional Indian food with a $9.95 vegetarian all you can eat buffet every day until 10pm which has a fair bit of Vegan options.  They also have samosas, tikkis, and weird little curried things that are grab-and-go for $.75  **I recommend: The Buffet, it’s cheap, and the curries are all delicious (though one looks like tofu, but is actually cheese!)

Banditas Tacqueria – 2781 Commercial Drive.  Absolutely fabulous Vegan food!  I wouldn’t say that it is Mexican at all rather it is based upon Mexican and they have used the idea to create a terrific, unique menu.  They use Daiya cheese and can make basically everything Vegan upon request. **I recommend: The Taco Salad done Vegan.  The lime dressing tastes so fresh that  I have a theory that they make it fresh for every order.

Cafe Deux Soleils – 2096 Commercial Dr.  Great vegetarian late night spot for a beer with friends, or to catch some local music or maybe even a poetry slam?  Not much for Vegan options though…  **I recommend:  The Tofu Scramble, it’s the best on I’ve found so far in town!  Seriously, delicious.

Sejuiced – 1958 W4th.  This place is a rad little juice bar, with soups, salads, sandwiches and little dessert treats as well.  I’m somewhat confident that they are just about Vegan except for honey, and maybe something else that isn’t coming to my mind right now.  Suffice it to say, they are chock full of Vegan yummyness!  I recommend:  The veggie sandwich.  It sounds so boring and plain, and it is in the best way!  It is a simple, perfectly made sandwich.

Gorilla Foods – #101 – 436 Richards St.  If raw food is new to you, Gorilla will ease you in with foods you’re used to but happen to be completely raw.  Menu includes devine smoothies, raw pizza, raw fudge, raw soups, raw falafal.  Everything is 100% raw and Vegan, and shall I add, made with love <3  **I recommend:  Thai Collard Fresh Wraps;  I can’t recommend these highly enough in fact!  They are absolutely heavenly and come with a beautifully spiced chutney.

Sweet Cherubim – 1105 Commercial Dr.  They have Indian food and some American food, but after half a dozen rotten salads, 2 or 3 rotten somosas, and a rancid bowl of stew, I have abandoned their food possibly forever.  However, their desserts are to die for, and have (so far) never steered my wrong.  **I recommend: The Bliss Ball.  Anyone in East Van will tell you that you haven’t lived until you’ve tried them!

The Cafe @ Eternal Abundance – 1025 Commercial Dr.  This is a tiny, all Vegan and Organic, half raw, half cooked cafe with soups, raw zughetti, a raw burrito, raw burger, salad, etc.  **I recommend: The Gazpacho, but you can only get it during the summer months.  It is totally raw, mostly local, and 100% delicious!

Deserts – 905 Commercial Dr.  They are totally vegetarian, and have a great Vegan selection.  It’s quick, cheap food on the drive, and you’ll enjoy your meal, so I recommend it when you’re in a hurray.  **I recommend:  The Vegan Falafal, it’s soooo good!

Hon’s Wonton House – 1339 Robson St.   This is a huge restaurant with two completely seperate kitchens, one with meat and one that is completely vegetarian.  I love the food here, and there’s a terrific variety of veggie chinese food.  **I recommend: The Bean Curd Skin Rolls in Black Bean Sauce, always a hit.

The NAAM – 2724 W 4th.  I’m fairly confident that this is the oldest vegetarian restaurant in Vancouver.  There is nearly always a line up out the door, and they are open 24 hours.  The service is iffy, but the food is always good; not a ton of Vegan options, but they do used Daiya!  **I recommend: The Thai Noodles.  It’s sort of their take on Pad Thai.

Karmavore Vegan Shop – 468 East Columbia St.  Karmavore is an absolute must visit for Vancouverites.  They have a marvelous selection of Vegan meats, treats, books, shoes & boots, Vegan condoms (that’s right,) clothing and so much more; all 100% Vegan!!!  **I recommend the invaluable Vegan Bodybuilding book by everybody’s favorite Vegan bodybuilder Robert Cheeke.

This is by no means a complete list of veggie friendly places to eat in our fine city.  I strongly encourage you to check out happycow for the full list.  You can also email mevegan.com at penniesforprince@gmail.com  for personal advice, recipes, feedback, or maybe a home delivered batch of Chocolate Cupcakes with Blueberry Buttercream Icing!

Bon Appétite!

So this August I had a wonderful opportunity to go to my traditional family home of Binscarth Manitoba (population 450.)  Naturally, I was well aware that small town Manitoba is not the Veganism capital of Canada.  Since Binscarth is nowhere near an anything, we flew into Regina Saskatchewan, then drove 4 hours.

I started my journey my checking out the invaluable www.happycow.net for a list of health food stores in Regina to stock up on Vegan staples for our time away.  I found a fantastic store Nature’s Best (2224 14th Ave, Regina, Saskatchewan.)  While the store is not vegetarian, they are filled with all of the staples you could want for a few days away from ‘civilization’ such as; vegan cheeses, tofurky meats, produce, bulk nuts, canned soups, breads, vegan snacks, chocolates, and even a great vegertaian sandwich bar.  I picked up a package of frozen Tofurky Kielbasa Sausages (which kept them nice and cold all the way to Binscarth) half a dozen Primal Strips, two chocolate bars, 3 grapefruits, 2 pears, a handfull of dried chickpeas, a handfull of dried black beans, a veggie sandwich, and refilled my Food Fight water bottle (which I never leave home without!)  Honestly, I think I ate better than most of the people I travelled with!

Our first night in Binscarth I enjoyed a tofu scramble with peppers and a soy-teriyaki sauce.  Breakfast the next morning consisted of fresh fruit, and a juice with Vega.  Lunch for the others was steak sandwiches, so I thought I would have something along the same lines.  I found some Vegan bread in our lovely hostess’s freezer, spread some mustard on most slices,  I sliced up the Tofurky Kielbasa Sausage to make long, thing strips, and put that on the bottom with some cucumber and tomato slices in the middle, and cut up a Primal Strip for some extra “meat” on top.  Everyone was jealous of my sandwich, which to be honest, looked amazing.  For dinner we all went to the only restaurant in town, Arbuckles.  I wasn’t sure if or what I would be eating, so I just went with an open mind.  Our meals came out and she placed in front of me the most exquisite roasted peppers stuffed with a spiced quinoa, with beans on the side and a beautiful salad to start!  Naturally I was immensely grateful and very impressed.

Our final morning was another refreshing breakfast of fresh picked fruit with juice and Vega.  Our lunch was full of Vegan foods that most people forget are Vegan.  I made up another sandwich, and had a cob of corn with some salt and olive oil, and a baked potato, which was more than enough food to fill me to the brim!

I left my extended family and Binscarth feeling well fed, excited by the surprising meals I had experienced, and deeply proud to come from the family that I do.  If you’re ever travelling in the middle of frigging nowhere Manitoba, you would do well to make a stop in Binscarth.  It is a special town, filled with wonderful people, lots of history, and natural beauty.