Volume 8 Number 2 FALL 2008
Transcription
Volume 8 Number 2 FALL 2008
Ahimsa Lights the Way Ahimsa Lights The Way Second Series: Volume 8 Number 2 FALL 2008 Eighteen-year-old Davey Brown reflects on going vegan at age seven. The GREATEST IMPACT on My Life For fifteen years, Kids Make A Difference has really been getting kids to make a difference. I am one of those kids. I plan to attend college in the fall, studying Environmental Science—in no small part because of the positive experiences I have had for thirteen years with this Los Angeles-based nonprofit kids community service organization. Continued on page 3 Dr. Andy Mars and Davey Brown (when 11) at Big Sur. INSIDE: ● ● Dating Vegans ● Vegan Ethnic Dining Let Nature Cure! ● ● Advice to Teens Vegan Garden Party ● ● Raw Food Center American 8—2, FALL●2008 New Books Vegan ● Recipes Letters1 AHIMSA THE COMPASSIONATE WAY AHIMSA is a Sanskrit term meaning non-killing, non-injuring, non-harming. AVS defines it in daily life as Dynamic Harmlessness, spelled out at right. THE AMERICAN VEGAN SOCIETY is a nonprofit, non-sectarian, non-political, tax-exempt educational membership organization teaching a compassionate way of living by Ahimsa (see above) and Reverence for Life. VEGANS—pronounced VEE-guns—live on products of the plant kingdom, so exclude flesh, fish, fowl, dairy products (animal milk, butter, cheese, yogurt, etc.), eggs, honey, animal gelatin and broths, all other items of animal origin. VEGANISM ALSO EXCLUDES animal products such as leather, wool, fur, and silk, in clothing, upholstery, etc. Vegans usually try to avoid the less-thanobvious animal oils, secretions, etc., in many soaps, cosmetics, toiletries, household goods and other common commodities. AN EDUCATIONAL CONVENTION is held each year, at Malaga or elsewhere. INDIVIDUAL MEDICAL ADVICE is not given; AVS educates on ethical, ecological, aesthetic, healthful, economic aspects of vegan living in general. KNOWLEDGE AND OPINIONS in articles (or books, tapes, etc., listed or reviewed in American Vegan) represent the views of the individual authors, not necessarily those of the society or American Vegan. CONFIDENTIALITY: AVS' membership list is never rented or given out for commercial use or solicitations. NO PAID ADVERTISING: any notices printed are for informational value to our readers, and unpaid. ARTICLES or items may be submitted for possible publication. AMERICAN VEGAN SOCIETY Since 1960 Founder: H. Jay Dinshah AVS Council Members & Officers *Freya Dinshah, Malaga, NJ –President/Treasurer/Editor Roshan Dinshah, Malaga NJ –1st Vice President *Rosemary O’Brien, Woodbridge NJ –2nd Vice President/Secretary *Anne Dinshah, Columbus OH –Assistant Editor *Andy Mars, Los Angeles CA Daniel J. Dinshah, Malaga NJ –Assistant Treasurer *Gabriel Figueroa, Austin TX–Assistant Editor *Council Website hosted by VegSource ABSTINENCE from Animal Products HARMLESSNESS with Reverence for Life INTEGRITY of Thought, Word, and Deed MASTERY over Oneself SERVICE to Humanity, Nature, and Creation ADVANCEMENT of Understanding and Truth American Vegan Volume 8, Number 2— Fall 2008 ISSN: 1536-3767 © 2008 Contents The Greatest Impact on My Life....................1, 3 American Vegan Garden Party Recipes ............4 Obituary: Dr. Meherwan M. Bhamgara.............6 Let Nature Heal! ................................................7 Dating Vegans: Meet Hank Hawkins ................8 Book Review: Great Chefs Cook Vegan .........11 Hawaii:Vegetarian School Lunch Resolution..12 American Vegan T-Shirts ................................13 Congratulations, Philadelphia Phillies!............13 New Books and DVD/CD................................14 The Living Light Culinary Arts Center ...........16 Cherie’s Story ..................................................17 Notices: Vegan Health Study, Vegfam............19 Why Is Our Teen So Thin? ..............................20 Employees at Pig Farm Charged .....................21 Teen Book List.................................................21 Letters to Editors..............................................21 Book Review: The Asian Vegan Kitchen........22 World Vegan Day ............................................23 Jo’s Recipes .....................................................24 Dating Vegans: Jo and Michael .......................25 Eating Vegan at Ethnic Restaurants.................28 Events & Conferences .....................................30 AVS Membership/Subscription.......................31 Book Announcement: Metamorphosis ............32 Front Cover Photo: Kids Make a Difference Back Cover Photo: Golden Gibson Rees/M. Katz Inside photos as credited, or by AVS Some design images by iStockphoto, Inc. Assistant Editor and Graphics: Carolyn Githens Technical Assistance: Scott Depew Printed by GraphiColor Corporation, Vineland NJ Request our Book & Video/DVD Catalog. Order from AVS! www.americanvegan.org Sign on to E-Alert 2 American Vegan 8—2, FALL 2008 Webmaster: Curt Hamre The Greatest Impact on My Life (Continued from page 1) I am now eighteen years old and I have been a kid making a difference since I was five years old because of this group. Director Andy Mars is the man who has made the greatest impact on my life. I first met him when he did an environmental education program at my school when I was in kindergarten. That made a big impact on this little kid. I then started to realize that I had choices. I started to think about how my living on this planet could have the least negative impact and most positive impact. Weekend Activities I was so excited to join Kids Make A Difference on my first weekend activity. We spent a fun day hiking, doing some important trail maintenance and clean up. I was very upset that people had gone into nature and trashed it. I was very uplifted that we could go undo the damage that others had done. I also especially remember my second Kids Make A Difference activity. We made meals for the homeless. Together we covered the park picnic tables with a roll of brown paper. I fondly recall that after the project we made a peace banner on the paper—over the food stains. I also remember the wind that had its own idea, but I remember how we worked together until we succeeded. I was the littlest kid there, a mere five compared to the others who were 10, 11, 12. Even though I was so little, everyone made me feel so big and important. I was put in charge of crayoning the brown-paper lunch bags. I remember Louis, who seemed so big to me at twice my age, telling me that, "the homeless people are so happy to get happy-colored lunch bags." I had so much fun and felt so good! Other kids wore gloves as they made sandwiches*. This was my first exposure to vegan food. Inspiring Lessons I remember Andy bouncing from table to table inspiring us with little lessons and making each of us feel so special and important. He told us different reasons that different people became homeless. He drew a map in the sand and tossed in pebbles and stones here and there to show the warped distribution of food and other resources on this planet. He talked about how what we eat and our system of food production plays such a dramatic role on this planet. He explained to us all about the food we were packing. He impressed upon us that homeless people needed food not junk. While some of the other lessons didn't sink in until a few years later, they were seeds planted in me ready to grow. Even at five, I did get to thinking about not wanting to put junk into my body either. I started eating a lot better. It took over a year, but I became a total vegetarian (vegan), with Andy's support, the summer between first and second grades while attending Kids Make A Difference's totally vegan summer camp, (www.CampExploration.org). Acceptance and Support With Andy's help, my parents came to accept and support my choice. After being vegan for 10 years, my mom gave me a very special birthday present this year. She told me that she was now going to go vegetarian too! With my subtle pushing, and Andy's patient diplomatic help, my father also recently gave up his gasoline guzzling SUV and instead got a CNG-fueled truck like the Kids Make A Difference eco-van. My parents also had already stopped subscribing to the daily newspaper that they barely read anyway, began carrying cloth bags to the market for shopping, and started eating more organic fruits and vegetables. See? Not only can Kids Make A Difference, but adults can too! No matter how old I get, this kid, thanks to Kids Make A Difference, is always going to be a kid who makes a difference. Thanks, Andy, for making such a difference in my life and helping me make a difference to others! For More Information Contact the Kids Make A Difference community service programs for kids, or the Camp Exploration vegan summer and winter camp programs from the web, www.KidsMakeADifference.org, Phone: 818-344-7838, or write Dr. Andrew Mars, 6716 Kurl Way, Reseda CA 91335. Children from across the country are able to participate in the overnight camp programs, and children in the Los Angeles area are able to participate in the day-camp programs and the weekend community-service projects, which are based in the West San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles. Davey Brown wrote this essay for his college application. *Sandwiches were bread with sunflowerseed butter and pure-fruit jelly. American Vegan 8—2, FALL 2008 o 3 A growing crowd of members and friends flock to our South Jersey headquarters on Memorial Weekend Sunday in May for the annual meeting—Garden Party. An outdoor luncheon buffet is served on the front porch, then participants sit at tables under the trees (oak, hickory, maple—with a backdrop of rhododendrons in bloom, cedar, pine, and holly). Volunteers prepare the meal that includes garden-grown salads, local asparagus, and strawberries. Cook beans in a covered pot until very soft (3 hours*). Drain, reserving cooking liquid to cook grains. Mash. MUSHROOM ONION GRAVY 1 cup steel-cut oats 2 cups bean liquid/water Cook about 30 minutes. Heat the oil and soy sauce in a saucepan*. When hot, add onions, then mushrooms. Cook in covered pot at medium, then low heat. The onions and mushrooms will release, and cook in, their juices. When tender, using a fine strainer, sprinkle in starch; stir, and turn off heat. Gravy will thicken more on standing. *For shorter cooking time, presoak beans. Drain, and add fresh water to cover beans placed in a pressure cooker. Cook for 30 minutes. Melissa Maly making the bean burgers BEAN BURGERS (24 burgers) 1 lb. pinto beans 6 or 7 cups water (Add more hot water as needed to keep beans covered while cooking.) 1 Tbsp. caraway, celery, fennel, fenugreek—a ground-seed mix 2 tsp. ground cumin 1 Tbsp. mixed dried herbs 4 garlic cloves 4 Sequoia Maly tasting the yummy food 1 cup millet 1 cup pineapple juice 2 cups water Cook about 20 minutes. Add grains to beans; mix and mash. Add: 3 Tbsp. apple sauce ¼ cup shoyu soy sauce 2 Tbsp. sesame tahini ½ cup minced fresh sage 1 Tbsp. dried tarragon ¼ cup lemon juice Mix well. Leave overnight to cool and set. Measure with halfcup scoop onto oiled baking sheet; press and shape with fork. Bake at 375ºF. for 40 minutes, switching racks halfway through cooking. Freeze extra burgers for later use. American Vegan 8—2, FALL 2008 1 Tbsp. oil 1 Tbsp. soy sauce 2 cups sliced onions 2 cups sliced mushrooms 1 Tbsp. starch (arrowroot, corn, potato starch, etc.) *Using an appropriate-sized saucepan, rather than a frying pan, minimizes the amount of oil needed. Photos by Jana-Lyn Medina The menu also included herbed teas and fruit juices; crackers and vegan “cheeses”, salads, patés, and cookies— contributed by volunteers. CARROT DRESSING 1 cup carrots—chopped, cooked Cooking water from carrots ¼ cup olive oil 2 Tbsp. lemon juice Purée in a blender, then add ½ cup fresh lemon balm leaves. Blend briefly, with optional salt to taste. Serve with steamed asparagus. DRESSING FOR POTATO SALAD (4 lbs. potatoes serves 10 people) Combine: ½ cup Vegenaise® 6 Tbsp. olive oil (3 fl oz) 2 Tbsp. vinegar 2 tsp. prepared mustard 1 Vidalia onion, diced 1 celery heart, diced 1 cucumber, diced parsley, minced Mix dressing into peeled, diced, cooked potatoes while they are still hot/warm. Sarah Summerville icing the carob cakes CAROB CAKE (2 cakes, 16 slices) Dry Mix: 3 cups whole grain spelt flour (or 1½ cups whole wheat bread flour and 1½ cups whole wheat pastry flour) 1½ tsp. baking soda ½ tsp. salt 2/3 cup toasted carob powder 1 Tbsp. Five-Spices, a mix of cinnamon, anise, ginger, nutmeg, cloves Wet Mix: ¾ cup corn oil 2 cups maple syrup (grade B) (2 tsp. vanilla) 2 cups soy milk or vanilla soy milk Optional ingredients for richer cake: 2/3 cup roasted hazel nuts, ground 3 Tbsp. lemon juice ICING FOR 2 CAKES Combine wet and dry mixes. Pour into oiled cake pans. The batter depth should be ½-inch. Bake cakes at 350ºF. for 40 to 45 minutes—until a toothpick comes out clean. 24 dates pitted, soaked or simmered in water 2 Tbsp. soy powder 2 Tbsp. almond butter 2 Tbsp. toasted carob powder 2 Tbsp. roasted-grain coffeesubstitute powder Water from dates, more if needed. Mix everything in a blender to a thick puree; it will set up on standing. MINTED PEAS (2 cups) 1 cup dry green split peas 2¼ cups water ½ cup fresh spearmint leaves, finely minced Cook peas in water for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until well cooked. When stirred they should purée. Stir herbs into peas. Plan to attend our next Garden Party on May 24 2009 when Erin Williams, co-author of Why Animals Matter, will speak. Mary Grigonis plucking mint leaves. Recipes by Freya Dinshah; right We were saddened to hear of the death of our dear friend Dr. Bhamgara—a vegetarian naturopath, on August 18 2008 at 9:30pm Indian time. On hearing the news, Saurabh Dalal wrote, “He always impressed me with his humility, and I greatly respected his serenity, sincerity, and grace. I found his knowledge of Naturopathy and traditional Ayurveda highly interesting”. The association between the American Vegan Society and Dr. Bhamgara went back to 1967 when AVS’ president H. Jay Dinshah was in India to promote and attend the International Vegetarian Union’s XIX World Vegetarian Congress which took place in Delhi, Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay. Returning to Bombay from tours of different regions, Jay found haven in Meherwan’s third-floor flat at Bharat Mahal on Marine Drive. The fresh fruit, vital raw vegetable salads, and conservatively cooked (boiled, baked, or steamed) vegetables were balm to a digestive system assaulted by the typical highlyspiced and oily Indian fare. Dr. Bhamgara organized the scientific committee of this Congress. His involvement with IVU had grown for years through his association with J.N. Mankarji. He shared the job of Regional Secretary for India and the East (1977 to 1986) first with Shri Surendra Mehta and later with Shri Jashu Shah. In 1983 Bhamgara was a cofounder of The Vegetarian Society in India (Reverence for Life), headquartered in Mumbai (Bombay). 6 At congresses, he frequently led morning meditation and exercise sessions. At the last congress he attended, Goa India in 2006, he made a passionate plea to lactovegetarians to stop drinking milk and to see the vegan way as the next step in compassionate living. A Parsi, Dr. Bhamgara grew up eating meat and fish, despite his distaste for them. His interest in health and natural ways of living led him to study naturopathy at schools in Pudukottai and Pune, India. On a fellowship from the Indian Institute of Natural Therapeutics, he studied in the United Kingdom as a scholar of the J.N. Tata Endowments. In c. 2006, Dr Bhamgara (right) received a gold medal award from Gujarat University. Dr. Bhamgara ran a nursing home in Surat prior to establishing his clinic for outpatients in Mumbai. He helped acute and chronic sufferers—laypersons and dignitaries—through lifestyle counseling, diet, exercise, and hydrotherapy. Long-term benefits came about from health education. Dr. Bhamgara traveled widely on five continents teaching and learning about natural health and healing methods. As a delegate selected by the government of American Vegan 8—2, FALL 2008 India, he lectured in Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaya, Kenya, and Mauritius. He visited the U.S. over a dozen times, lastly in 2003. Bhamgara at 67 on trampoline Dr. Meherwan M. Bhamgara 1928—2008 Dr. Bhamgara believed it is as important to exercise everyday as to eat. He did breathing, yoga asanas, and calisthenics in the morning; fast walking or hill climbing in the evening. Opportunities to jump on a trampoline, or climb a tree were taken eagerly! Shunning allopathic methods, he put his trust in Nature— himself overcoming cancer many years ago, through fasting and diet. He espoused the benefits of relaxation and meditation (mental fasting). A teacher, replacing ignorance with knowledge, he brought understanding. But of greater value than the head, he said, was the heart. A loving attitude to all people and creatures is the key to living. In 1998 he closed his clinic, settling in Lonavla. He continued writing in English, and Gujarati. Booklets and essays were published under Health Science Trust and also by The Vegetarian Society (India), and Panchay Trust. Some can be found on the web, such as collected essays in Reverence for Health at www.health library.com/reading/reverence. -Freya Dinshah Health is the first wealth. Invest time and discipline and Let Nature Heal! Dr. Meherwan M. Bhamgara The first principle of Nature Cure is that the vital power is the curative power. The vital power is that which attends to all the functions and systems of the body over which we have no voluntary control; it is also the power which heals, repairs, and sets right disturbed metabolic or physiologic functions; hence the need for conserving or economizing this power, especially when one is ill. ● The best way to promote elimination is to more or less completely suspend assimilation. Thus by abstaining from food we give an opportunity to the vital power to attend to its curative job. In acute conditions physiological rest is provided by a complete fast, or very light sustenance on light liquids—water of tender coconut, fruit/vegetable juices, vegetable broth, herb teas. ● Abstain from drugs which have toxic side or after effects. Chronic diseases arise because acute conditions are repeatedly suppressed by drugs which mask the symptoms but do not remove the underlying cause(s) of disease. ● Lack of rest, relaxation, and sleep thwarts the remedial work of our vital power. ● Popular beverages such as tea, coffee, and cocoa have harmful alkaloids, theine, caffeine, and theobromine. Alcohol affects the higher centers of the brain. Tobacco injures the mucus lining of the mouth, esophagus, and stomach. Avoid these. ● Shun foodless foods. Especially avoid refined starch and sugar; they are responsible for a great number of diseases including rickets, osteomalacia, poliomyelitis, and arthritis. ● Avoid processed and chemically treated foods. There are additives, artificial colors and flavors, preservatives and other substances which increase shelf life or improve eye appeal, but often harm the digestive system. Beware of the so-called advantages of food technology. Hydrogenated fat is likely to cause digestive disturbances, heart trouble, and cancer. Food grown with chemical fertilizers and sprayed with pesticides can harm human beings. ● Spices and condiments should be used minimally so that the taste of the food is not masked. Pepper, mustard, chilies, asafetida and vinegar are the more harmful spices. Onion, ginger, coriander, and cumin seeds can be used. ● Common salt (sodium chloride) should be used the least. The more one uses sodium, the more one drives potassium out of the system. Another drawback of salt is that it is hygroscopic, even an ounce of salt can hold several pounds of water in the system. ● As per the late Swiss Dr. Bircher-Benner, a sick person should eat all his food raw (uncooked), and a healthy person should eat at least fifty percent uncooked food. This is an important theory of diet reform. ● Fried foods must be avoided. Whenever starch is fried, the particles of starch are enveloped in an impregnable film of fat, hence food remains undigested or poorly digested. When nonvegetarian food is fried, the protein is similarly affected. ● All food should be thoroughly chewed, and liquids held to linger in the mouth. ● The food we are meant to eat is the produce of the vegetable kingdom: fruits, flowers, leaves, stems, grains, tubers, roots, seeds. Right food is the best medicine. ● A physically fit person has balance, flexibility, strength, endurance, power, and agility. Outward fitness automatically improves visceral function. The liver, stomach, intestines, pancreas, spleen, kidneys, all the endocrine glands, all blood vessels, and nerve pathways benefit by an all-around program of exercises. ● Ecological Health is the study of the interdependence of the human organism. There is an inner environment within our body; and there is interdependence of the various organs and systems of the body. ● Holistic Health is a vast subject which embraces all of us, our entire beings, and the environment in which we live and work. ● Body, Mind and Spirit The study of the patient is still more important than the study of his disease. The human being is not only the human body, but the human mind, and the spirit that dwells within. Nature Cure is also known as Natural Hygiene in the U.S. American Vegan 8—2, FALL 2008 7 As vegans socialize with non-vegans, our food choices can be a source of frustration or an opportunity for positive interactions and fun festivities. This series of articles provides ideas to improve dating experiences as we share our recipes for relationships. Meet Hank Hawkins For our “date” Hank and I decided to plant a small garden, eat dinner, and then take a sunset cruise on Chautauqua Lake in his boat. We also enjoyed just sitting on the boat, watching the sunset without the motor competing for conversation or sucking gas. Hank has a nice little fenced garden plot that he rototills ready for planting. His site has more Hank Hawkins, Photo: Anne Dinshah possibilities than my wooded thorn-filled land. We picked out $11 of plants at a local greenhouse. I stuck the plants in their new organic home in about an hour while Hank mowed his lawn. Hank volunteered to do the weeding. The problem with his weeding offer is that I know what plants are where and how they look different from the weeds. He does not. Preferring art over gardening, I doodled on large wooden stakes. Each stake has a picture of the plant on one side, and a picture of the harvestable vegetable on the other side as well as the name of the plant. “The stakes are fun and provide idiot-proof gardening!” he commented. Stakes go in the garden, no steaks on the table. For dinner I made a Lentil Garden Stew (see recipe), which we enjoyed with fresh Italian bread and vegan margarine. Hank mused, “The lentil base makes the vegetable flavors meld nicely together. I didn’t even know what lentils are. Maybe a grain? The taste was good, and I learned they are like a bean.” We bought everything for stew at the store. As summer progresses we will alter the ingredients to use garden vegetables, except the lentils. Lentils, which we are not growing ourselves, are a good protein to give substance to a stew. They do not require the extra planning of other dry beans as they cook along with the vegetables. The garden has muskmelon, a refreshing appetizer for a summer meal, which can be served cubed fresh or slightly frozen. A variety of lettuces called a mesclun mix will make great piquant garden salads. Kale, tomatoes, red bell peppers, broccoli, and zucchini can go from garden to stew. Acorn squash bakes either with a dash of maple syrup or vegan margarine for a side dish. The acorn squash usually leaves one not needing additional dessert. 8 American Vegan 8—2, FALL 2008 Since the acorn squash is a long way from being ready to harvest, I made a Pineapple Upside-down Cake (see recipe) for dessert. In order to enjoy more date time, I made the cake the day before, and chilled. “Pineapple Upside-down Cake is my favorite dessert. I didn’t notice any difference in taste, consistency, or texture from what I like. I couldn’t tell it was vegan. The syrupy pineapple and cake were perfect. Goes great with vegan vanilla ice cream.” The cake recipe is not difficult; however, someone not familiar with baking might prefer to purchase a mix. In Hank’s cupboard there is a box of Dr. Oetker’s Organics lemon cake mix. The directions are on the back. I changed the pictures of additional ingredients, eggs and milk, to a mashed banana and soymilk. “She makes me laugh with the banana drawing. But it works. I can bake a delicious vegan cake.” Hank would serve the cake right side up with fresh pineapple and vegan ice cream. “Now I know how to buy a fresh pineapple. Look for the yellow color, not too green or brown.” One of his favorite dinners is Hank’s Stir-fry Veggies (see recipe). He makes it with garden vegetables and a few mushrooms from the store. He serves it with refried beans, which he is careful to purchase without lard or other non-vegan ingredients. We consume tortillas or tortilla chips with the meal. The other vegan meal Hank is very confident making centers on Pasta with Garden Vegetable Sauce (see recipe). He purchases a vegan pasta sauce and mixes it with Hank’s Stir-fry Veggies. He serves Festive Garlic-free Bread (see recipe). For dessert, Hank offers store-bought vegan cookies such as Country Choice organic sandwich crèmes: ginger lemon cookies. Hank and I met in the summer of 2005 at a contra dance. We had both arrived during a dance and were waiting for the next dance to begin. He said, “Hi, I’m Hank.” I replied, “I have a truck named Hank.” “Then we must dance!” Hank is one of those terrific datable men who just isn’t right for me to date (we’re at different places in our lives) so we hang out as friends. It’s like dating without any pressure of how the date will end. Sometimes we even discuss our respective dates. I will never forget the time he said, “So, I was on this date and she was talking about beef or chicken. I couldn’t believe we were discussing beef or chicken. I was so bored. You’ve spoiled me for dating other women!” What that means is he has been hanging out with a vegan friend who influenced him to think about his food choices, inspired intelligent conversation on a variety of topics, and taught him how to cook a little. That was his way of saying thank you. At the time of this writing, he is still single and datable. He is, we joke, mildly trainable. Hank would date a vegan, would try any vegan food that is prepared for him, and is interested in good health. Left to his own devices, don’t expect to find a vegan fridge in his house. He has attended local vegetarian society potluck dinners and is considering attending a vegetarian conference. Easy Meals a vegan and non-vegan can make for each other: ● Lentil Garden Stew, Italian bread with vegan margarine, Pineapple Upside-down Cake with vegan vanilla ice cream. ● Melon appetizer, mixed lettuce salad, Lentil Garden Stew, bread, acorn squash. ● Hank’s Stir-fry Veggies, refried beans, tortillas or tortilla chips, fresh fruit ● Pasta with Garden Vegetable Sauce, Festive Garlic-free Bread, cookies. Festive Garlic-Free Bread (Yield: 6 pieces) Lightly spread each piece 6 slices Italian bread of bread with 1 tsp. marga6 tsp. vegan soy margarine rine. Place bread on baking 1½ tsp. nutritional yeast sheet. Sprinkle flavorings on ¾ tsp. paprika bread. Bake at 350ºF. for 8 ¾ tsp. rosemary minutes or until lightly ½ tsp. sage toasted. ¼ tsp. salt (optional) Lentil Garden Stew (shown above) and more recipes on next page. Photo: Anne Dinshah American Vegan 8—2, FALL 2008 9 Lentil Garden Stew 1 cup lentils, green-brown 3 cups water 1 onion 1 carrot 1 potato 1 small head broccoli ½ small head cauliflower Wash lentils. Place in medium pot with water and bring to a boil, reduce heat and cover with lid. While lentils are cooking, wash and chop onion, carrot, and potato; put into pot. Bring to a simmer again. Wash and chop broccoli and cauliflower; add to stew. Simmer a total of 40 minutes or until potato and lentils are tender. Serve warm with bread. I also like it served as a cold stew. Leftover stew, hot or cold, is great with a tomato product such as juice or sauce mixed in and some black olives. This is the standard anytime of the year recipe with typical vegetables from the store. Substitute vegetables from the garden when available such as kale, tomatoes, red bell peppers, and zucchini. Hank’s Stir-fry Veggies 1 large carrot 1 zucchini 1 small head broccoli ½ green bell pepper 10 baby portabella or white button mushrooms dash of olive oil Wash all vegetables. Slice carrot diagonally very thinly. Add carrot to hot oil and continue cooking at medium-high heat. Stir frequently, adding vegetables as they are sliced— mushrooms last. It will take approximately 10 minutes, depending on how crunchy or soft veggies are preferred. 10 Pineapple Upside-down Cake (Yield: 9x13” cake) This looks like a long list of ingredients and instructions compared with most recipes I make. However, it is not difficult. Friends say it is worth the effort! 8 rings sliced pineapple, canned or fresh 8 pitted cherries (maraschino or bing) ¼ cup light brown sugar 3 Tbsp. vegan margarine ½ lemon, organic 1½ cups light brown sugar (yes, additional) ¾ cup white grape juice ½ lb. tofu 1 Tbsp. vanilla extract 1 cup whole wheat bread flour 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour 1½ tsp baking soda 1 Tbsp. poppy seeds Melt margarine. Mix ¼ cup sugar with margarine. Spread margarine/sugar mixture in 9x13” casserole dish. Arrange pineapple slices in bottom of pan. Place one pitted cherry* in the center of each pineapple slice. Pasta with Garden Vegetable Sauce To make pasta: spaghetti, macaroni, rotini, etc., follow the directions on box. For example: to cook tri-color rotini, place 3 quarts water in large pot. Bring to boil. Add ¾ lb. rotini. Stir. Reduce heat and cook 10 minutes. Stir occasionally. Drain. For sauce: combine Hank’s Stir-fry Veggies (see recipe) with a jar of marinara pasta sauce with vegan ingredients. Serve on pasta. These recipes make dinner for two with second servings, or leftovers. American Vegan 8—2, FALL 2008 Pineapple Upside-down Cake Photo: Anne Dinshah Squeeze lemon to obtain 1½ tsp. lemon juice and cut 1 Tbsp. fresh organic lemon zest (yellow part of peel, not white part). Place lemon products in blender with 1½ cups sugar, grape juice, tofu, and vanilla. Blend until smooth. In a large mixing bowl, combine both flours, soda, and poppy seeds. Add wet ingredients from blender and mix well. Pour batter over pineapple, being careful not to disrupt slices. Bake at 350ºF. for approximately 40 minutes. A toothpick should come out clean from the center. While hot, carefully place platter or cookie sheet over cake and flip it upside down. Cool and serve. *Traditionally one maraschino cherry is placed in the center of each pineapple slice where the core was removed. However, maraschino cherries typically are packed with chemicals, dyes, lots of sugar, etc. Fresh bing cherries may be used as a garnish after baking so as to retain their natural color. Anne Dinshah coaches rowing at The Ohio State University. She enjoys taking grad classes and learning wrestling. She lives with rescued rabbits, Guinevere and Hargrove. “Best Cookbook of the Year” —Veg News magazine Book Review: Great Chefs Cook Vegan by Linda Long I am honored to pay tribute to Linda Long and her great accomplishment, the gorgeous and paradigm shifting book, Great Chefs Cook Vegan. As a culinary instructor, author and admitted foodie—who just happens to be vegan—I have yearned for a book of this caliber. It took visionary vegan, food writer, and photographer Linda Long to manifest the new standard for plant-based cuisine, proving unquestionably that you can eat haute, and healthy too. Linda has created a culinary reference for foodies of all persuasions and skill levels with Great Chefs Cook Vegan. That Linda convinced twentyfive of today’s (non-vegan) award-winning uber-star chefs (think Thomas Keller, JeanGeorges Vongerichten, Eric Ripert, Charlie Trotter, and Iron Chef Cat Cora among others), to create fantastically creative multicourse vegan meals is incredible. That Linda crisscrossed the U.S. to style and take the exquisite photographs of mouthwatering meals is remarkable. Each chef section in the book includes a three- or fourcourse vegan meal, complete with instructive recipes and mouthwatering photographs of the meal. Interviews of the chefs add even more interest. You will want to eat this book, but trust me, buy a copy for yourself and use it, then buy copies for everyone you know. Now when you are asked,” but what do vegans eat?” you might suggest: Linda Long with American Vegan Society at the Collingswood NJ Book Fair, October 4 2008. Photo: Ronda Martinez Jean-Georges’ Chilled Watermelon Gazpacho, or Daniel Boloud’s Beet Salad with Red Beet Reduction, Walnut Chutney, Arugula, and Horseradish or perhaps Bradford Thompson’s Baby Beet Salad with Pistachio Vinaigrette and Chickpea Fritters, Gabriel Kreuther’s Seasonal Vegetable Medley with Sautéed Tofu and Horseradish Broth, Dan Barber’s Cauliflower Steak with Quinoa, or Terrance Brennen’s Warm Provençal Vegetables with Olive and Basil Tempura. Do save room for dessert and David Burke’s Stir Fried Fruit and Peach Sorbet, John Besh’s Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Truffle Molten Center and Johnny Iuzzini’s Crisp Chocolate with Sautéed Bananas, Fresh Figs, Blackberry Coulis, and Brandied Cherries. Some recipes are actually quite simple, while others take longer preparation time and attention to detail, giving cooks of all levels a choice. A glossary of ingredients is included. Move over brown rice and steamed veggies, we’ve got far more choice now. Thank you Linda! Reviewed by Fran Costigan, New York City-based culinary instructor and author of More Great Good Dairy-Free Desserts Naturally, www.francostigan.com. Great Chefs Cook Vegan— Linda Long 2008, 272pp 9x10¼”, 98 color plates, hard $35 (or $25 until Dec 31 2008— This price cannot be combined with other discount offers). American Vegan 8—2, FALL 2008 11 Hawaii: Vegetarian School Lunch Resolution Passes by William Harris, MD Senate Concurrent Resolution SCR84, “Requesting the Department of Education and the Hawaii Public School Food Service to Develop Nutritionally-sound Public School Menu Plans That Include Vegetarian and Vegan Meals,” passed the 2008 Hawaii Legislature. Most of the original provisions had been removed from its predecessor SB2136, because of objections from the Departments of Education and Health, and from the Hawaii School Food Service itself, but in its final form it received the blessings of both the DOE and the DOH. From my position the most pertinent parts are 1 and 3: 1. The Department of Education and the Hawaii School Food Service [should] consider nutritionally-sound public school menu plans that give students the option of vegetarian and vegan public school meals. 3. The DOE. [should] post on its website a list of schools that have vegetarian and vegan menu options. History: our December 1991 newsletter included a petition by member Eliot Rosen requesting support for HB3195 in the Hawaii State House of Representatives, which required that an optional low-fat vegan diet be made available in schools where students, faculty, or school lunch managers express interest. The bill went nowhere, but in the intervening years members Cheryl Chung, Carol Gabbard, Laurie Veatch, Jim Deutch, and I continued to encourage vegetarian school lunch options with Ha12 waii Food Service manager Gene Kaneshiro, who has since been succeeded by Glenna Owens. In 2001 SCR151, very similar to SCR84, made it through the Senate, but HCR152, its companion, failed in the House. However, the resolutions generated some interest on the Mainland and the language was used for a similar bill in California. Finally, in 2008, Freshman Representative Joe Bertram III, 11th District (Makena-WaileaKihei on Maui), a raw-food vegan himself, introduced SB2136, a mandate bill “To Require the Department of Health to Develop Nutritionally-sound Public School Menu Plans That Give Students the Option of a Vegetarian School Lunch Meal.” The video of Bertram’s March 2008 VSH talk is online (all URLs are listed at the end of this article). SB2136 failed as noted above, but after modifications to some of its Whereases and Therefores it became SCR84 SD1, cleared the last hurdles, and was passed with the assistance of about 34 individuals and organizations (including HMSA) who sent in positive testimony. So, after sporadic VSH efforts spanning 15 years, the 2008 Hawaii Legislature has finally endorsed the concept that vegetarian meals may be a healthy school option. Where it goes from here is anyone’s guess. However, VSH has put up a school lunch page and will link it to the DOE Vegetarian School Lunch URL when it appears. Using these as a springboard, perhaps some interested American Vegan 8—2, FALL 2008 vegetarian parents can continue the process we began. A fitting finale to this win was our May 13th speaker, John Cadman from Haiku Elementary School on Maui. To our knowledge, John is the only school food service manager in Hawaii offering USDA-reimbursable vegetarian options to students on a regular basis. John’s strategy to meet the USDA requirement of 18% protein by weight of food is to use beans, and his web page displays many veggie bean recipes, bean lore, and strategies for properly cooking beans. His video “A Successful Vegetarian School Lunch Program: One Man’s Commitment,” will show on Olelo and the other Public Access TV stations sometime after June 1 2008, but it’s already online. Cadman gave us a very clear and entertaining overview of the history and practicalities of the school lunch program, and I hope that interested parties countrywide will take advantage of it in concert with the veggie school lunch pages at DOE and VSH. For my part, I don’t hold the school lunch program responsible for childhood obesity. It’s the junk food that permeates society and TV advertising, all federally subsidized by the USDA and taxdeducted by the IRS that’s causing it. But the Hawaii DOE got soft drinks out of the school vending machines a couple of years ago and that was a huge step. SCR84, if implemented vigorously, could be another. Contacts and websites T-SHIRTS Typestyle and text as above 50% preshrunk cotton, 50% polyester Small, Medium, Large, Xtra Large, 2X Large Yellow type on Cornflower Blue, or Forest Green Shirt Adult sizes: $15 each ($12-AVS members) Youth XS, Youth S, Youth M, Youth L, Youth XL Yellow type on Forest Green, or Iris Blue Shirt Children’s sizes (Youth): $12 ($10-AVS members) Sequoia (5 yrs), Cypress (3 yrs), and Sebastian (7 yrs) of the Maly family, from Elmer NJ, model AVS T-shirts. Photo: January 2008 HELP AVS SPREAD THE VEGAN MESSAGE! GoodSearch.com and GoodShop.com are search engines that donate half their revenues, to the charities their users designate. You use them just as you would any search engine, and they are powered by Yahoo!, so you get great results. Go to www.goodsearch.com or www.goodshop.com and enter American Vegan Society as the charity you want to support. American Vegan Society 56 Dinshah Lane, PO Box 369 Malaga NJ 08328-0908 Phone (856) 694–2887, Fax:–2288 www.americanvegan.org Sign on to our E-Alert for messages. Congratulations to the Philadelphia Phillies, 2008 World Series Champions! Their Citizens’ Bank Park was named North America’s Most Vegetarian-Friendly Baseball Park for 2007 and 2008. Vegan versions of hot dogs, burgers, steak sandwiches; mock-chicken, and crabless-crabcakes are on the menu. For season updates at ball parks across North America, see the Venue Reference Guide at www.soyhappy.org/venue.htm. Healthy School Lunch Program Resolutions Have Been Passed in Four States: California (2003), New York (2004), Florida (2007), and now Hawaii (2008). Texts of the resolutions, which include provision of vegetarian and vegan meal options, may be read at www.choiceusa.net, a web site to encourage and support such initiatives—that need public support to succeed in the long run. Vegetarian School Lunch Resolution Passes reprinted from The Island Vegetarian, quarterly newsletter, Vegetarian Society of Hawaii, Vol. 19, issue 3, July-September 2008. Contacts and Websites: by William Harris, MD Hawaii Department of Education Superintendent, Patricia Hamamoto: doe.k12.hi.us/about/meet_the_supt.htm, patricia_hamamoto@notes.k12.hi.us Hawaii Board of Education: www.boe.k12.hi.us Office of School Facilities and Support Services, School Food Service Director, Glenna Owens: 808-733-8400, glenna_owens@notes.k12.hi.us Office of Hawaii Child Nutrition Programs, Child Nutrition Specialists, Alice Toguchi-Matsuo, Kenneth Ortiz: 808-587-3600 Office of Curriculum, Instruction & Student Support, Coordinated School Health Specialists, Dave Randall/Shirley Robinson: 808-733-9141 ext. 329 Department of Health, Departmental School Health Coordinator, Cathy Yamamoto Tanaka: 808-586-4437, cathykt@doh.hawaii.gov DOE school lunch website: doe.k12.hi.us/foodservice/toolkit/index.htm VSH school lunch website: www.vsh.org/links_Lunch,htm Rep. Joe Bertram III, 11th District: 808-586-8525, repbertram@Capitol.hawaii.gov “Vegetarian School Lunch Meal”: vsh.voip-info.org/Bertram.html John Cadman: mauisurfer1961@gmail.com, www.thebeanpages.com, vsh.voip-info.org/Cadman.html Positive testimony to SCR84 SD1: www.vsh.org/SCR84%20SD1.pdf Text: www.capitol.hawaii.gov/site1/docs/getstatus2.asp?billno=SCR84 American Vegan 8—2, FALL 2008 13 NEW BOOKS 100% VEGAN COOKBOOKS EVERYDAY RAW ─Matthew Kenney. Celebrity chef’s straightforward and flavorful raw food book. 40pp full-color photos. 2008, 144pp 7½x9¾” $19.99. HEALTHFUL CUISINE: Over 170 Raw Vegan Recipes. 2nd Edition ─Anna Maria Clement, PhD, NMD, Chef Kelly Serbonich, Chef Chad Sarno. Lavishly produced— 42pp full-color photos. 2007, 141pp Spiral Bound 7½x11” $21.95. REFRESH: Contemporary Vegan Recipes from the Award-winning Fresh Restaurants ─Ruth Tal with Jennifer Houston. A juice bar morphed into 3 Toronto cafés that feed the mind, body, and soul. Quality and variety in lunch and dinner menus, vital juices and elixirs. 33pp full-color photos. 2007, 212pp 8½x8½” $25.95. TOFU COOKERY: 25th Anniversary Edition ─Louise Hagler. The updated and greatly expanded edition of this venerable classic! More than 30 intriguing new recipes. 42pp fullcolor photos. 2008, 188pp 8x9¼” $21.95. VIETNAMESE FUSION VEGETARIAN CUISINE ─Chat Mingkwan. Renowned Asian culinary expert adapts Vietnamese cuisine to present time-honored favorites using completely vegan ingredients. 6pp full-color photos. 2007, 160pp 7x8” $14.95. STUDENT’S GO VEGAN COOKBOOK: Over 135 Quick, Easy, Cheap, and Tasty Vegan Recipes —Carole Raymond. Recipes for full-days’ menus, guidance and advice from a mother to the college crowd, and high schoolers too. 2006, 225pp 5½x8¼” $13.95. The 30-DAY DIABETES MIRACLE COOKBOOK: Stop Diabetes with an Easy-toFollow Plant-Based, CarbCounting Diet ─Bonnie House, Diana Fleming, PhD, LDN, Linda Brinegar, Linda Kennedy, Ian Blake Newman. The companion cookbook from the folks at the Lifestyle Center of America, who brought us the 30Day Diabetes Miracle! 8pp fullcolor photos. 2008, 308pp 7½x9” $19.95. 14 VEGAN FIRE & SPICE: 200 Sultry and Savory Global Recipes ─Robin Robertson. Your culinary passport to world cuisines ranging from mildly spiced to nearly incendiary. Explore food of the Americas, Mediterranean Europe, the Middle East and Africa, India and East Asia. Make traditional dishes using readily available ingredients. Best of all, you can adjust the heat yourself and enjoy these recipes hot —or not. 2008, 238pp 7½x9” 18.95. DVD & CD VEGAN BITES: Recipes for Singles ─Beverly Lynn Bennett. Not just quick, small quantity, vegan recipes, but commentary opens each chapter and adds to each dish. Glossary of less common ingredients. 2008, 154pp 8x9¼” $15.95. American Vegan 8—2, FALL 2008 VEGETARIAN COOKING with COMPASSIONATE COOKS: Delicious, Nutritious, Easy-to-Make Dishes ─Colleen Patrick-Goudreau, Alka Chandra. The engaging hosts of this informative DVD demonstrate six tantalizing dishes, packing them full of nutritional facts and shopping tips. Includes a helpful segment about finding vegetarian products in the supermarket. 2006, 70 min DVD $19.95. WORLD PEACE DIET: Eating for Spiritual Health and Social Harmony ─Will Tuttle, PhD. Unabridged audio version of Tuttle’s book. MP3 format, playable on computers and many (not all) CD players. 13 hours 26 minutes $20.00. HEALTH DR. NEAL BARNARD’S PROGRAM for REVERSING DIABETES: The Scientifically Proven System for Reversing Diabetes Without Drugs ─Neal D. Barnard, MD, Bryanna Clark Grogan. Paperback edition of this must-read book for anyone with diabetes. Information for many other major health conditions, as well. 2007, 272pp 6x9” $15.95. ENVIRONMENT GREEN LIVING HANDBOOK: A Six Step Program to Create an Environmentally Sustainable Lifestyle. Saving the Planet …One Household at a Time ─David Gershon. With this program of environmental action, you can make a difference over a two-week period. 2008, 153pp 8½x11” $14.95. EVERY CREATURE a WORD of GOD: Compassion for Animals as Christian Spirituality ─Annika Spalde, Pelle Strindlund. Beyond doctrine and obedience, God’s compassion is the core of Christianity. Concerned about being Christian in a world shared by other beings, Spalde and Strindlund blend stories of compassion for animals from throughout religious history with accounts of modern activism and their personal witness. Encourages Christians of all denominations to follow this powerful tradition. 2008, 162pp 6x9” $18.00. SKINNY BITCH: Bun in the Oven ─Rory Freedman, Kim Barnouin. The smart and sassy SB girls are back with their third book, another no-nonsense guide, this time dedicated to the pregnant vegan. 2008, 329pp 5¼x7¼” $14.95. ANIMAL OPPRESSION ANIMALS AS PERSONS: Essays on the Abolition of Animal Exploitation ─Gary L. Francione. Advocates a wholly consistent animal rights position which is uncompromisingly against any use and abuse of animals. Pro-vegan, and rigorously argued. 2008, 235pp 6¼x9¼” Hard $35.00. PHILOSOPHY & RELIGION FARM SANCTUARY: Changing Hearts and Minds About Animals and Food ─Gene Baur. Leading animal rights activist examines the real cost of meat on our plates—for humans and animals alike—in this provocative and thorough examination of the modern farm industry. 2008, 287pp 6½x9½” Hard $25.00. SUNFOOD LIVING: Resource Guide for Global Health ─John McCabe; fwd: David Wolfe. The new bible (reference book), on how to live ecologically for Mother Earth, from a vegan’s point of view. 2007, 562pp 6x9” $29.95. 30% Discount to AVS Members on all Books until December 31 2008. Thereafter: 20% discount, 30% for 10 or more books. Order from American Vegan Society, PO Box 369, Malaga NJ 08328 Phone: 856-694-2887, Fax: 856-694-2288 Free shipping by media mail within the U.S. Shipping & Handling minimums on foreign orders: Canada: $20.00. Other countries: $30.00 or $50.00. Purchaser responsible for import taxes. American Vegan 8—2, FALL 2008 15 The Raw Beet The Living Light Culinary Arts Center Paulette Eisen I arrived at the Living Light Culinary Arts Center in Fort Bragg on the day that the associateraw-food-gourmet chefs were doing their demos. I was ready to immerse myself in a full experience of wonderful cuisine—as taught by Cherie Soria. My interest had first been aroused a few years ago at a big gala event in Los Angeles where Cherie’s delectable creations were served—such flavors and textures as I would not have known were possible. The next opportunity to meet her was when I attended the Raw Food Festival in Portland Oregon, and was equally impressed. Cherie not only revealed that she was a top-notch gourmet-rawfoods chef, but also an incredibly gifted teacher and organizer. Her skills were so superior to anyone else’s I had so far experienced in the raw food movement that I attended every single demo she gave at this three-day event. It was at this function that I learned about her Living Light Culinary Arts Center in Fort Bragg California, where she teaches students the skills and information they need to become qualified rawfood chefs. The school that Cherie and her husband Dan Ladermann estab16 wood paneling everywhere. The equipment is all cutting-edge. At the back of the demo room, an audio-visual technician is able to sit at a computer and monitor and press buttons that angle multiple cameras to optimize the view of the food being prepared. I watched one student after another as they did their demos. These men and women were not only being taught how to skillfully prepare gourmet raw foods, but also Dan Ladermann and Cherie Soria how to demonstrate and Photo: Living Light Culinary Arts Center teach others how to do it. They were also exlished is housed in a beautifully pected to know about the ingredirenovated old building that used ents they were using—from their to be the Union Lumber Com- culinary history to their nutripany department store, when Fort tional components. These stuBragg was a lumber town. A third dents are required to be able to of the building now contains the teach the curriculum of the school, the attached deli/café, and school. They are given prep the Living Light Marketplace sheets of what to prepare for their store. The café offers a great se- demos. Cherie has these prep lection of juices, smoothies, raw sheets highly structured and very sandwiches, salads, raw soups, thorough, but at the same time entrées, and desserts. The Mar- she encourages her students to ketplace is the ultimate store for bring their own ideas and uniqueraw-food chefs, offering gadgets ness to their demos. and equipment that is used in the I was impressed with most of school, as well as raw-food the students and felt enriched by books, DVDs, specialty oils, and their presentations. I had a few other special ingredients. minutes between demos to talk The school itself has been with some of them. I discovered beautifully constructed, with that they were from different American Vegan 8—2, FALL 2008 countries and were there for different reasons. Some were raw foodists and others were not. Some wanted to apply their new skills professionally, after graduation, while others just wanted to learn more about preparing raw-food cuisine. All were very enthused about being there. My visit to the Living Light Culinary Arts Center was indeed a special, uplifting adventure. I felt nourished and inspired. Cherie and Dan were very gracious and it was wonderful to meet their staff—people who clearly loved what they were doing. Cherie and Dan also hold the annual Vibrant Living Expo at the Center during the fourth week in August (August 21-23 2009). It attracts most of the leaders and founders of the raw food movement. For more information on the school and the Vibrant Living Expo, you may visit www.RawFoodChef.com. Phone: 800-816-2319. Living Light Culinary Arts Institute, 301-B N Main St, Fort Bragg CA 95437. (Left) Cherie Soria, now in her 60s, on cover of her new book The RAW REVOLUTION DIET: Feast, Lose Weight, Gain Energy, Feel Younger, written with nutritional guidance from Brenda Davis, RD, Vesanto Melina, MS, RD. 2008, 238pp 8x9” $21.95. Cherie’s Story Alex Malinsky, a young, exciting and up-and-coming raw-food chef himself, interviewed Cherie a few months ago about herself and her school. Here are some excerpts from that interview: How did you start on raw foods? I began my raw journey in 1992 when I went to Puerto Rico to study with Dr. Ann Wigmore, after reading books about the amazing results she achieved using wheat grass and raw food to heal cancer and other terminal illnesses. I was curious about Dr. Wigmore’s work and thought a vacation in Puerto Rico sounded like a good idea. I had no intention of trading my cooked-vegan diet for a raw-food diet, but after witnessing the amazing healings that transpired there, I came home a true believer in the power of the rawfood lifestyle. I knew that the majority of Dr. Wigmore’s clients would return to their old ways of eating, because her diet was de- signed for cleansing and healing. I understood human nature enough to know that most people would be bored to death if forced to eat that way the rest of their lives, because food has to feed more than the body, more than the emotions—food must nourish the soul. So, as soon as I returned home, I began creating foods that were delicious, satisfying, comforting, and nourishing. Foods like lasagna, burritos, burgers, spaghetti, pizza, brownies, and ice cream, are not easily forgotten. My goal became to make them organic, raw, and healthpromoting—leading to the birth of the gourmet raw cuisine I teach today. Then I began teaching rawvegan culinary arts—first in my home, then through community colleges and vegetarian conferences throughout the country. In 1996, I published my first recipe book, ANGEL FOODS: Healthy Recipes for Heavenly Bodies. I included some cooked vegan recipes in it, because I wanted the raw message to reach people who had no idea what raw-living foods were. In those days, there were no gourmet-raw-recipe books. Later, my friendship with Viktoras Kulvinskas motivated me to start Living Light Culinary Arts Institute. How did Viktoras influence you to create a culinary institute? When I studied with Dr. Ann Wigmore, I had already been teaching vegetarian culinary arts for 20 years. Dr. Ann loved the raw foods I was inspired to create and she told me that I would be a beacon of light for her teachings. She suggested that I go out and share my delicious raw-living cuisine with the world, so I took her advice and stopped teaching the cooked-vegan classes and began teaching classes in rawvegan foods. I spent every spare moment creating my new culinary art: gourmet-raw-vegan cuisine. American Vegan 8—2, FALL 2008 17 Cooking Class at the Living Light Culinary Arts Center Photo: LLCAI Also, I began catering the National Essene Gatherings at Breitenbush Hot Springs and became friends with Viktoras Kulvinskas. He and his wife Youkta loved the raw-vegan gourmet cuisine I was creating, and invited me to cater their yearly retreat for women in the healing arts. Viktoras was adamant that my new style of cuisine should be taught to the top chefs in the world. About the same time, I met an inspiring woman named Dr. Janedare Winston, a professor and teacher of the living-food lifestyle, who insisted I should devote myself to teaching teachers, so there would be an army of people sharing the livefood lifestyle with the world. “One person can only do so much,” she told me. I felt I had received a mandate from these three people, whom I admired, to create a school designed for the purpose of teaching individuals, chefs, and instructors of raw living foods. I called it Living Light Culinary Arts Institute because I wanted it to reflect the interconnection of all things, and kept remembering what Dr. Ann had said to me about being a beacon of light for her teachings. I also wanted it to express my commitment to living lightly on the land, eating light, and being in the light, so Living Light Culinary Arts Institute was born. Who are some of the raw chefs who have trained at Liv18 ing Light Institute, or written recipe books? Roxanne Klein, who was recently featured on the cover of Bon Appétit magazine as one of the ten most innovative chefs of the decade, trained with us about a year before she opened her highly acclaimed restaurant, Roxanne’s. I placed one of my protégés, Chad Sarno, and another chef training graduate, Suzanne Alex Ferrara, with Roxanne to help her with recipe and menu development for the restaurant. All three of them have since written recipe books of their own. There are many other internationally-known instructors of raw foods who have trained with us and several who have authored raw-recipe books. Some came to us as novices and others were already raw-food chefs and teachers, but wanted an opportunity to work with me personally. The number of people who have taken our workshops or graduated from our chef trainings who have written recipe books are too numerous to mention. A few names you may recognize are the Boutenkos, Renee LouxUnderkoffler, Alicia Ojeda, Elaina Love, Nomi Shannon, Rose Lee Calabro, Matt Samuelson, Ito, and Rayek. Your book, Angel Foods, has a spiritual quality along with both cooked and raw food preparation. Would you share the essential message of the book with our readers? Are you planning another book? I spent many years championing EarthSave and learned the importance of meeting people where they are. That is why my book, Angel Foods, is not 100% raw. It is 100% vegan and contains about 125 raw recipes and 125 cooked recipes. I feel my place is American Vegan 8—2, FALL 2008 to help people move in the direction of healthy living without judgment about where they are or how far they want to go. I have a gentle approach and consequently attract a lot of people who are not vegetarians when they first come to our school. My book reflects my spiritual approach to life. Believing that love and appreciation are powerful creators, I use prayer and intention as a means of creating a joyful life. It was inconceivable to me to separate my spiritual self and my work, even though I was warned that many health-food stores would not carry a recipe book that included spiritual content. I have a second book in print that was written in Spanish: Comiendo Pura Vida, meaning “Eating Pure Life”, which is 100% raw. I coauthored it with a Costa Rican, Rodrigo Crespo. Angel Foods has now been published in German and I am working on a third raw book, and have two others that will follow. The raw food movement has grown a lot in the last few years. Where do you see it heading? The raw-food movement is growing faster than the vegetarian movement did in its infancy because people don’t have to give anything up. They can simply add more delicious raw foods to their diet. The more they eat the better they feel. Raw food is less threatening than diets that restrict certain foods. Also, it just makes sense to people that the more raw food they eat the better they will feel. We have over 300 Living Light instructor graduates out there sharing this message with people who are sharing with others, and so forth. It is exponential growth. Cherie’s Recipes Cherie’s Recipes Here are some recipes of condiments that were prepared in the demos on the day Paulette was there: Cashew “Mayonnaise” Hot Mustard (Yield: 1½ cups—6 servings) (Yield: 1 pint—36 servings) 1 cup cashews, soaked 4 hours, rinsed, and drained 6 Tbsp. purified water 2 Tbsp. olive oil 2 Tbsp. flax oil 1½ Tbsp. lemon juice 2 dates, pitted 1 tsp. onion powder ¾ tsp. solar-dried sea salt ½ tsp. garlic powder pinch white pepper Purée all of the ingredients in a blender, stopping the blender to scrape down the sides with a spatula and resuming blending until the “mayonnaise” is completely smooth and emulsified. Store in airtight container in the refrigerator up to two weeks. ½ cup mustard seeds (preferably a mix of yellow and brown), soaked 8 to 12 hours and drained ½ cup lemon juice ¼ cup water 9 pitted dates or 2 Tbsp. agave* 2 Tbsp. unpasteurized tamari or ½ Tbsp. salt Purée all ingredients together in a blender to form a smooth paste. Store in a sealed glass jar in the refrigerator for two weeks before using—to allow it to mellow. Keeps for up to two months in the refrigerator. *syrup from agave cactus Trio of Condiments with Zoomburger. (Zoomburger recipe in The Raw Revolution) Real Tomato Ketchup (Yield: 2 cups—12 servings) 2 cups chopped tomatoes 3/8 cup sun-dried tomato powder 1½ Tbsp. evaporated cane juice 1 Tbsp. lemon juice 1 Tbsp. tamarind paste, or 2 tsp. additional lemon juice ¾ tsp. solar-dried sea salt pinch white pepper Purée all of the ingredients in a blender, or food processor outfitted with the “S” blade. Store in a sealed glass jar in the refrigerator for up to one week. A Raw Food Program should not be followed dogmatically. There are important benefits from eating uncooked food. A general goal of taking one third to one half of one’s diet raw is good for the average person, but individual needs and constitutions should be considered. As an elimination diet for curative purposes, a raw food program may be followed for a limited period of time. And it is good for losing weight. Those who are very active and/or want to gain weight probably need some cooked food, including beans. Due to metabolism rates, older women who tend to be overweight may adapt well to eating all or most food uncooked, whereas for men, growing children, and others to do so would be too limiting. So, explore, have fun, and enjoy raw food. Let it become a vital part your diet!.–Ed. VEGAN HEALTH STUDY Participate in nutrition research, investigating the long-term effects of vegan diets, by any or all of these ways: • • • Complete a questionnaire. Provide blood and urine samples for lab testing—fee charged. Donate tax-deductible funding. Michael Klaper, MD, Director Institute of Nutrition Education & Research 1601 N Sepulveda Ave #342 Manhattan Beach CA 90266 www.veganhealthstudy.org VEGFAM feeds the hungry without exploiting animals VEGFAM ℅ Cwm Cottage Cwmynys, Cilycwm, LLandovery, Carmarthenshire SA20 0EU, WALES, U.K. www.vegfamcharity.org.uk Checks to American Vegan Society designated projects only or projects & administrative costs, and marked for overseas relief will be forwarded in £s Or Vegfam’s online giving facility https://charitychoice.co.uk/vegfam can be used from the U.S. American Vegan 8—2, FALL 2008 19 Question Time: Why Is Our Teen So Thin? Query: Hi. I need some help with my teenage son’s being vegan. He's 16 yrs. old and my wife and I want to support him. Trouble is in two months he's lost 12 lbs. and is now a very thin and pale looking 111 lbs. and 5'6" tall. He has stopped growing taller as well. He was always thin to begin with. This is pretty scary for us as parents. We want to support his principles, so what can we do? Why is he so thin? And getting thinner? We often have to remind him to eat and then eat good food choice combinations to get the nutrients he needs. Do you have some suggestions, please? AVS: In their book, Becoming Vegan, dieticians Brenda Davis and Vesanto Melina make these recommendations to teenagers, which we summarize: ● Eat breakfast: scrambled tofu on toast, oatmeal with sunflower seeds and raisins, etc. ● Replace meat with protein-rich plant foods: veggie "meats", tofu, beans (many kinds, many ways), nuts, seeds, and their "butters". ● Replace cow milk with soy milk (Drink it. Put it on cereal, in soups, etc.) ● Eat plenty of vegetables—raw and cooked. Especially greens. ● Buy Red Star® Vegetarian Support Formula Nutritional Yeast (which is fortified with vitamin B12). Use like parmesan cheese, on and in foods. ● Use flax oil on food. ● A multi-vitamin-mineral supplement, although not necessary if you eat well, may be advisable if eating habits are haphazard. 20 George Eisman RD says, in A Basic Course in Vegetarian & Vegan Nutrition, regarding underweight: "Because of the high fiber content of most vegetarian diets, there is a tendency to eat fewer calories if the same volume of food is eaten. This can easily be overcome by eating a greater volume of food at each meal, and/or by eating more frequent meals." As much as possible, avoid junk food. Eat nutritious whole grains such as brown rice and brown bread. Hummus, a spread made from chick peas and tahini (sesame seed) with flavorings, is a good staple food to have around to eat any time on bread or crackers, or as a dip with raw vegetables. Baked potatoes with toppings are tasty. Mashed yams with nut butter make a lovely sandwich filling. Most people do not eat recommended amounts of fresh fruit and raw vegetables. But vegans eating raw salads may not have time to eat enough calories, or may be expending too much energy for calories gained. Take a hot soup for a lunchtime change; eat over rice or with a sandwich. Vegan teens need to look out for themselves, learn basic nutrition, even cook and self-cater. Otherwise, there are situations where they will go hungry. When eating out, take a small can of beans, and/or grated nuts, to add to a basic pasta marinara and salad. Ask for mushrooms. Request slices of tofu on tomato pizza (under the sauce), veggies on top. In towns lacking better eateries, do this until adequate menus for vegans arrive. American Vegan 8—2, FALL 2008 Exercise! While some people exercise to lose weight, thin teens can benefit from weight training (followed by a good meal) to put on some pounds. Being thinner than average Americans is desirable. Being too thin or anorexic is a problem that needs to be addressed. Another suggestion for calorie-dense nutrition is to eat fruit cake or muffins. Preferably, all or most flour should be whole grain. An applesauce or carrot cake recipe—with added raisins, dates, walnuts and sunflower seeds is good. Muffins are handy for teens on the run. The advantage of cake and muffins over eating handfuls of nuts and raisins is that they move through the digestive system more slowly and the nutrition has time to be absorbed. Above all, a vegan diet should not be restrictive. Most people who become and stay vegan eat a more interesting and varied menu than before—all from plants. Pile it up! Make a “pyramid” or “haystack” on your plate. Layer the food groups. Use a base of rice, potatoes, bread, or pasta. Add greens and vegetables (raw and cooked), then beans (or peas or lentils), and garnish with avocado, olives, nuts, seeds, or a dressing incorporating them. Eat dessert for extra calories: puddings, pies, cakes, and vegan ice “cream”. Add dried fruits and nut butters to snacks of fresh fruits and raw vegetables. Have confidence. The American Dietetic Association has endorsed well-planned vegan diets at all stages of life. More help with meal planning is at www.NutritionMD.com. Consult a registered dietitian if need be—a good one will give advice within the context of your beliefs. See book list for teens on next page. Employees at Pig Farm Charged October 23 2008 According to reports by the People For the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), their undercover investigation last month on an Iowa pig farm (that breeds piglets to supply Hormel) revealed that pregnant pigs were confined to barren gestation crates, beaten with metal gate rods, and kicked by farm workers. Workers were documented shocking pigs and spraying toxic paint around their eyes and up their noses, and one supervisor even raped a pig with a cane. The Greene County Sheriff stated in a news release dated October 22 2008 that six individuals employed by the farm at the time of PETA's investigation now face a total of 22 counts of livestock neglect and abuse. Those charged include a former farm manager and a supervisor. Fourteen of the counts are aggravated misdemeanors—the stiffest possible charges under Iowa state law for crimes committed against farmed animals—and each carry up to two years behind bars. Such charges are unprecedented. Further information from People For the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA): PETA, 501 Front St, Norfolk VA 23510, Ph: 757-622-PETA (7382), Fax: 757-622-0457, www.peta.org. Teen Book List: A BASIC COURSE in VEGETARIAN & VEGAN NUTRITION, 9th Edition Revised ─George Eisman, MA, MSc, RD. 2006, 148pp 8½ x11” $21.95. BECOMING VEGAN: The Complete Guide to Adopting a PlantBased Diet —Brenda Davis, RD and Vesanto Melina, RD, MS. 2000, 224pp 8x11" $17.95. BURGERS 'N' FRIES 'N' CINNAMON BUNS —Bobbie Hinman. Fast-food favorites—veg’n versions. 1993, 55pp 5¼x8½" $5.00. HEALTHY HEARTY HELPINGS —Anne Dinshah. For the high school and college crowd. 1999, 128pp 6x9" Otabind lie-flat $8.95. MUNCHIE MADNESS: Vegetarian Meals for Teens —Dorothy R. Bates, Bobbie Hinman, Robert Oser; nutr. info: Suzanne Havala, MS, RD, FADA. Excellent info (particularly for non-vegetarian parents of vegan teens). 2001, 159pp 6x9" $9.95. STUDENT’S GO VEGAN COOKBOOK: Over 135 Quick, Easy, Cheap, and Tasty Vegan Recipes —Carole Raymond. 2006, 225pp 5½x8¼” $13.95. These books are available, from the American Vegan Society. Take 20% discount. Letters to Editors Cut the Meat Re: “The Cost of Steak” Opinion, Aug 23 2008 A Healthier Diet Choice Re: “What’s Not for Dinner” Editorial, June 9 2008 Paul Roberts does a terrific job of laying out the case against factory farms. I have only one complaint. He expresses concern about the rising meat prices that will accompany the return to more traditional methods of raising meat animals, but neglects to mention the benefit: With higher prices, people will eat less meat. Meat consumption is associated with high rates of heart disease, hypertension, and colon cancer; it is a vastly less efficient means of providing food in terms of water and grain usage; and it is a huge contributor to greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. I say, let those prices soar, and pass the hummus. We’ll all be better off. I’m glad to read that the United Nations acknowledges that our appetite for meat products has exacerbated climate change. As a nutritionist, I would also like to underscore the heavy toll that our meat-laden diets take on our personal health. Many studies indicate that the consumption of high-fat, meat-heavy diets contributes to obesity, diabetes, heart disease —even some forms of cancer. These chronic diseases, which can be prevented in part by consuming a healthy, plantbased diet, also cost billions in taxpayer dollars. Choosing the veggie burger over the cheeseburger isn’t just the best choice for our planet, its also the best choice for our own health. Catherine McCallum, Monrovia CA Los Angeles Times 8-30-08 Joseph Keon, Greenbrae CA Los Angeles Times 9-13-08 Clippings of Letters to Editors printed in mainstream newspapers or magazines that express a vegan viewpoint may be submitted to American Vegan Society by the writer, or a reader, to qualify the writer for a free one-year membership and subscription to American Vegan. American Vegan 8—2, FALL 2008 21 Book Review: The Asian Vegan Kitchen: Authentic and Appetizing Dishes from a Continent of Rich Flavors by Hema Parekh Most of the wonderful vegetarian and vegan Asian cookbooks concentrate on Chinese, Japanese and/or Indian dishes. The Asian Vegan Kitchen includes these and adds the cuisines of Burma, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Korea. Recipes include soups, salads, snacks; main, noodle, and rice dishes; desserts, and drinks, from each country. Born into a Jain family in India, Hema Parekh has been a strict vegetarian since birth. Now living in Tokyo, she learned to cook from people from around the world. This book focuses on recipes that Asians eat daily in their homes. As she says, “Nothing can compare with a meal put together in the comfort of your own kitchen, in the warmth of your home, for the people you love.” Each dish includes both the English and Asian name—for example, Vietnamese Pancakes Rolled with Vegetables – Banh xeo chey. This is very helpful for English speakers who want the name to describe the food, but also want to know what it’s “really” called. The glossary describes the exotic ingredients, and sometimes offers more common substitutions. Descriptions of each country’s unique dining style precedes the recipes. India: “Piquant spices are at the heart of Indian cooking, adding zing, color, and energy. … Yet spices are not just an indulgence of the palate; they also impart a medicinal benefit to the food.” Japan: “Like all things Japanese, discipline, detailing, and aesthetics define the country’s cuisine. …The subtle flavors... gently mingle to give a harmonious whole that is Japanese in its elegance and frugality.” 22 China: “What would we do without the wok… or the endless ways to cook noodles. ... Spring rolls and sweet corn soup … Ma po dou fu, silky tofu cubes swimming in the hot sauce … quickly tossed fried rice.” Thailand: “Just the mention of Thailand brings startlingly clear images of food to my mind: fiery red curry, sweet and sour pad thai noodles, vibrant papaya salad. The aromas are there as well…” Vietnam: “The northern region … uses black pepper and ginger, while Central Vietnamese cuisine tends to be hotter and spicier. South Vietnamese food incorporates a lot of fruit and vegetables. And France’s long presence in the country is evident from the Vietnamese love of potatoes, asparagus, and French bread.” Indonesia: “Satay, Gado gado, Soto, Sayur lodeh, Sambal terong, Nasi joreng, Sambal, Bakvan, Sambal goreng, Tempeh. These exotic sounding names … [are] the fabulous dishes that make up the Indonesian culinary repertoire.” Burma: “The Burmese restaurant...in a posh residential [area] of Tokyo...transported me to a land of orange-robed monks and golden pagodas [where] meditation and discipline are a natural part of the people’s upbringing.” Malaysia: “Since so much of Malaysia’s cuisine is influenced by its neighbors...and its immigrant populations..., the country deserves its reputation as the melting pot of Asia’s culinary treasures.” Korea: “A typical Korean table consists of colorful bowls of kimchi, simple vegetable dishes known as namul and chorim, a spicy soup, and sometimes noo- American Vegan 8—2, FALL 2008 THE ASIAN VEGAN KITCHEN: Authentic and Appetizing Dishes from a Continent of Rich FlavorsHema Parekh, 32pp full-color photos. 2007, 192pp 7½x10” $19.95. dles, all arranged beautifully and served with a heaping bowl of piping hot white rice. … But it is the chili pepper and the enthusiasm with which it is used that sets Korean cookery apart from other cuisines.” The recipes include clear instructions and ingredient lists. Spice combinations are explained, demonstrating the subtle nuances and flavors unique to each nation. Perhaps the only shortcoming is the index, sorted by main ingredient and not by the name of the dish. It is difficult to find a recipe if you don’t already know what it contains. But the index does list dishes more than once if there are several main ingredients. The Asian Vegan Kitchen is a marvelous cookbook, filled with delights for the palate of anyone who craves flavor and adventure on their plate. My favorite recipes include Japanese Vegetable Pancakes (Okonomiyaki), Korean Cucumber Kimchi (Oi kimchi) and Indonesian Fried Rice (Nasi goreng). I’m looking forward to preparing many other dishes. Reviewed by Maureen Koplow Kids Make a Difference Invites You to Celebrate WORLD VEGAN DAY Saturday November 1 2008 1pm-5pm Animal Acres, 5200 Escondido Canyon Rd, Acton CA 93510 Ph: 661-269-5404, www.animalacres.org, info@animalacres.org A Celebration of Food, Music, Company & Living! Prizes Voting for LA's Best Vegan Restaurant Scrumptious Foods Uplifting Live Music Loving Visits with the Rescued Animals Pay at the door, but RSVP in advance to: RSVP@VeganDay.info Goodie-bags with a copy American Vegan and other vegan goodies, (worth more than the price of admission) will go to those who RSVP first. $10 Adult Admission, $5 Child Admission Invite your Non-Vegan Friends! Be sure to also celebrate at LA's wonderful vegan restaurants, and then email your vote, by December 1st, to Vote@veganday.info for “LA's Best Vegan Food in 2008”. For more info, and a list of LA restaurants, visit www.veganday.info or phone 818-344-7838. Thursday, October 30 2008, TIME online acknowledged November 1 as World Vegan Day in an article by Claire Suddath entitled A Brief History of Veganism. PlanYour 2009 Celebration Now! For the health of people, the environment, and farmed animals, veganism is the best choice. World VEGAN Day embodies this idea. As an international campaign, it encourages people around the world to experience the benefits and joys of a more compassionate way of life. Share a vegan meal with family and friends Enter cooking competitions, using vegan recipes Talk & write about veganism and respect for animals Hand out vegan literature Show a DVD Ask cafeterias to serve vegan meals Contact a local newspaper to do a feature story For more info, visit www.worldgovegandays.com. ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ Observed since 1994 Worldwide Events listed at www.worldveganday.org Download these booklet guides: "Veganism gives us all the opportunity to say what we 'stand for' in life-- the ideal of healthy, humane living. Add decades to your life, with a clear conscience as a bonus." —Donald Watson, Founder of The Vegan Society ●Vegan Catering for All ●Vegan Catering Guide for Hospitals and Care Homes The founder of American Vegan Society, H. Jay Dinshah (1933-2000), had his birthday on November 2. He was a lonely voice promoting the vegan ideal across the U.S. in the early 1960s, lecturing around the world in 1967-68, and continuing through the 70s, 80s and 90s. His fervor ignited many of today’s vegan and animal rights leaders to passionate advocacy. American Vegan 8—2, FALL 2008 23 HUNGARIAN MUSHROOM SOUP (Yield: 6 servings) 1 3 2 1 1 large onion, chopped Tbsp. olive oil cups sliced fresh mushrooms Tbsp. dill weed Tbsp. Hungarian paprika, or more, to taste 1 Tbsp. tamari 2 cups vegetable stock or water 3 Tbsp. whole wheat flour 1 cup soymilk or unsweetened Nut Milk1 ½ tsp. salt (optional) freshly ground black pepper, to taste Tofu Sour Cream2 (optional) Additional dried dill weed, fresh dill weed, paprika (optional) Sauté onion in olive oil until soft, about 10 minutes. Add mushrooms, dill weed, ½ cup stock or water, tamari, and paprika. Cover and simmer 15 minutes. Place flour and soymilk or nut milk in blender and process briefly until smooth. (Or use a wire whisk, making sure mixture has no lumps.) Stir into mushroom mixture and cook, uncovered, stirring almost constantly, until thickened. Stir in remaining stock or water and season with salt, pepper, and some additional dill weed or paprika, to taste. Cook until hot, but do not boil. Garnish with a dollop of tofu sour cream and fresh dill weed, if desired. 1 NUT MILK (Yield: 1 quart) ½ cup raw nuts (almonds— blanched, cashews, sesame seeds, or mixture) 4 cups water Place nuts or seeds with 2 cups water in blender and process on high for 2-4 minutes. Strain well through a very fine strainer or cheesecloth to remove ground nut meal. (Meal may be used as a body scrub!) Blend in remaining water. VEGETABLE QUICHE (Yield: 6-8 servings) CRUST: 1½ cups whole wheat pastry flour. 3 1/3 cup Tasty Topping ½ cup melted vegan margarine 3 Tbsp. water FILLING: 2 Tbsp. olive oil ⅛-¼ tsp. asafetida 1 cup cauliflower florets ½ cup sliced carrots ¼ cup sliced zucchini 1¼ cups Tofu Sour Cream2 ½ cup Tasty Topping3 1 cup Cashew Cheddar Cheeze Spread4 2 Tbsp. arrowroot powder ½ tsp. salt ¼ tsp. black pepper, freshly ground ⅛ tsp. turmeric ¼ cup water-packed artichoke hearts, drained well and quartered CRUST: Blend together flour, Tasty Topping3 and margarine. Add water, a little at a time. Pat mixture on bottom and along sides of 9” quiche pan. Bake at 400°F. for 8 minutes. FILLING: In a large skillet, heat olive oil and asafetida*. Add cauliflower and carrots and stir to coat evenly. Cover and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add zucchini and cook 5 minutes more. In a large bowl, combine Tofu Sour Cream2, Tasty Topping3, Cashew Cheddar Cheeze Spread4, arrowroot, salt, pepper, and turmeric. Fold in sautéed vegetables and quartered artichoke hearts. Pour into prepared crust. Bake at 400°F. for 40 minutes until the edges of quiche are brown and quiche is golden. Remove from oven and allow to rest about 30 minutes before cutting and serving. Jo’s Recipes (Story next page) 2 TOFU SOUR CREAM (Yield: 1¼ cups) 10 oz. firm silken tofu, drained 3 Tbsp. vegetable oil 1 tsp. brown rice syrup Juice of 1 lemon ½ tsp. salt, or to taste Blend all ingredients until very smooth, in blender or food processor. Store in refrigerator. 3 TASTY TOPPING (Yield: about ¾ cup) 6 Tbsp. raw hulled sesame seeds 8 Tbsp. nutritional yeast flakes ½ tsp. salt ½ tsp. Vegesal 1 tsp. onion powder pinch of asafetida pinch of ground dill seed Grind sesame seeds in a small blender jar, seed mill, or an electric spice grinder or coffee grinder until they are a fine powder. Blend with remaining ingredients. Store in a covered shaker container or a jar. 4 CASHEW CHEDDAR CHEEZE SPREAD (Yield: 3 cups) ½ cup raw cashews 1 cup water 2 whole pimentos, drained and cut into large pieces (about 1 cup) ½ tsp. salt (or to taste) ½ tsp. Vegesal 2½ tsp. onion powder 4 Tbsp. nutritional yeast 2 cups tahini 1/3 cup lemon juice (use up to ¾ cup, depending upon taste) Blend together all ingredients, except tahini, until very smooth. Pour into a bowl and stir in just enough tahini to achieve the consistency you like. The spread keeps well in the refrigerator, or frozen. These recipes are from Jo’s first cookbook, written with Kathy Hecker, ECOLOGICAL COOKING, 1991, 228 pp 6x9” $10.95. Look for Zucchini Fritters on page 130. 24 American Vegan 8—2, FALL 2008 Jo and Michael Anne Dinshah talks with Jo Stepaniak Jo Stepaniak is a rare vegan gem who inspires people with her sixteen dazzling books on vegan living and cooking. Her website is Grassroots Veganism with Jo Stepaniak, www.vegsource.com/jo/, which provides recipes, essays on vegan living, quotes, and advice. She invites readers to “Ask Jo!” where she answers questions about vegan ethics, philosophy, practical applications, and living compassionately. I asked Jo about her dating experience with her husband Michael. Anne: When and how did you become vegetarian? Jo: I became a vegetarian in the mid-sixties. I didn’t know much about it back then, and I didn’t know any other vegetarians. There were precious few books or other resources available on the subject, so I just winged it. I’m sure I was not the ideal vegetarian, as there were many of the finer points I wasn’t aware of. My motivation was simply a deep feeling in my heart that killing and eating other animals was inherently wrong. I became vegan about sixteen years later along with my husband, Michael. Anne: How did you meet Michael? Jo: Michael and I met when I was a teacher at a sheltered workshop for adults with multiple physical and mental challenges. Michael knew one of the other teachers at the workshop and found out that there was a job opening for a production manager. When he interviewed for the position, our eyes met, and it was literally love at first sight for both of us. Luckily, he got the job! Anne: What was your first date? First meal? Jo: Our first date was a long hike in a state forest in West Virginia about a week after we met. If I recall correctly, I packed a picnic lunch of hummus, pickle, and alfalfa sprout sandwiches on homemade whole-wheat buns and fresh fruit for dessert. Anne: How did he learn you were vegetarian? His response? Jo: I told him right up front that I was a vegetarian. I don’t think he said much in response—even though I was the first vegetarian he had ever met. I think our attraction for each other was so strong that he would have gone out with me no matter what. Anne: What was memorable about dating a non-veg in the early days of your relationship? Jo: The most memorable aspect of dating a non-veg in the early part of our relationship was that Michael never challenged me or questioned my choice. He just “went with the flow,” so to speak. He never ate meat in front of me or around me, so it wasn’t an issue. Anne: When did you decide he was “the one”? Jo: I knew the minute I saw Michael that I had to get to know him. And once I got to know him, I knew I couldn’t let him get away. Anne: How big a role did your ability to cook play in your relationship, his eating habits, and your happiness together? Jo: My ability to cook played a huge role in our relationship. I literally wooed him with food. I was really big into cooking in those days and making everything from scratch including homemade bread, yogurt, and mayonnaise, as well as sprouting and container gardening. Fortunately, Michael has always been a good eater and loves vegetables, so it was easy to please him. Over the years, he has consistently enjoyed what I’ve prepared. Anne: What was a favorite menu you might have enjoyed when you were getting to know each other? Jo: It’s hard to remember what I cooked over thirty years ago, but I do recall that the first dinner I American Vegan 8—2, FALL 2008 25 made for Michael was an unusual concoction of bulgur, red cabbage, Red Delicious apples, and red onions. Some of the other dishes he fondly remembers are zucchini fritters with spearmint, vegetarian chili with cornbread, mixed vegetable quiche, openface sandwiches made with shredded vegetables and cauliflower piled high on toasted English muffins and drizzled with a creamy Dijon-dill mayonnaise sauce, split pea soup, Hungarian mushroom soup, spaghetti-squash casserole, stuffed eggplant, and always, always brownies. We also had a favorite restaurant that we frequented regularly because the atmosphere was romantic and they had a fabulous salad bar. Although our courtship was so long ago, one of the main difficulties with remembering what I cooked in the early days is that I rarely made the same thing twice. I loved experimenting in the kitchen and trying out new recipes and techniques. Michael was the primary tester of my recipes from the get-go and during all the development of the recipes for my cookbooks. Anne: When and how did he become vegetarian? Jo: When we decided to get married, which was just three months after we met, I told Michael that I would not allow any meat in “my” kitchen. It was “mine” because, although Michael was involved with everything around the house from car care to cleaning to laundry, he was not yet willing to prepare food. He told me that he could live with not having meat in the house, but he didn’t want me strong-arming him into becoming vegetarian. He told me that if he was ever going to be vegetarian, it would have to be his own decision, on his own terms, for his own reasons, and in 26 his own time. I am very grateful that by the time we did get married (which was three months later, a total of six months after we met), he had made the choice on his own, with no coercion from me. Anne: When and why did you both become vegan? Jo: When I met Michael, I had been considering eliminating eggs and dairy products from my diet. Although I’m not sure of the exact reasons why, I am confident there was both a health and ethical motivation. However, since he was so new to vegetarianism, I didn’t want to rock the boat with something that might seem so extreme. So, I waited until we were married two years and he was well settled into the vegetarian way. When I brought up the idea of going vegan, Michael was very receptive to it, especially because the ethical component of being vegetarian was always his primary incentive. He felt that as long as I could continue to make tasty dishes, he was perfectly happy to become vegan, both in diet and lifestyle. Anne: What is a simple or favorite menu you might prepare for dinner these days? Jo: Nearly all of the dishes I currently prepare are simple, because we both have very busy work schedules and minimal time. We often just have a giant salad, what I refer to as Monster Salads, in enormous bowls. I am very much into fresh leafy greens, so our salads typically contain plenty of leaf lettuce, romaine, mesclun, baby spinach, baby arugula, and fresh herbs, as well as chopped or shredded raw veggies such as radish (red or daikon), carrots, and red, orange, or yellow bell peppers. We also might add cooked greens or broccoli, asparagus, green beans, or artichoke American Vegan 8—2, FALL 2008 hearts, and usually include cooked beans or raw nuts or seeds. We both like red and green onions and garlic, so as long as we both are eating the same dish, it doesn’t put a damper on our being close. I still grow a variety of sprouts, so they find their way into our salads occasionally, and English cucumbers and homegrown tomatoes have a royal place as well. Two of our favorite dressings to top our salads are my Bestof-the-House Dressing and Sea-Sar Dressing, both from my book Vegan Vittles: Second Helpings. We also often eat meals as described in my book The Saucy Vegetarian. Basically, these are layered, one-bowl meals that might start with a whole grain, such as brown rice or polenta, followed by raw and cooked veggies of all kinds. Perhaps beans, tofu, tempeh, or nuts or seeds will be added. Then the whole mixture is topped off with a delectable sauce, such as Spicy Peanut Sauce or Warm Miso-Almond Gravy. Other quick meals we like are wraps with hummus (I’ve got several hummus recipes in my book, Vegan Deli, that are outstanding), olives, and tender raw greens like mesclun, or pasta with beans and greens. One pasta dish we never grow tired of is Noodles and Greens from Vegan Vittles: Second Helpings. Both of us adore kale and collard greens, so one or the other tends to make its way into almost all of our main meals. Anne: What might he pick to make for you? Jo: It took several years to get Michael to spend some time in the kitchen, but once he donned an apron, there was no stopping him! I taught him three basic “recipes,” and he’s since taken them into never-anticipated new territories. First, I taught him how to make a salad. Give a man tools (a knife and a cutting board) and tell him he can use his hands (to toss the greens) and he’s good to go. What Michael loves most about making salads is that he can be creative, and there’s really nothing “wrong” that he can do. He doesn’t have to worry about precise timing or burning anything, and salads are just plain fun to construct. The next thing I taught him how to make was marinara sauce. Using fresh or canned ingredients, he can go as wild as he pleases with it. Michael really gets into chopping and sautéing onions and then adding tomatoes and whatever else he likes to the sauce. He’s big on hot chiles, hot sauce, black pepper, cayenne, and capers, so I know that whenever he’s making pasta sauce, it’s going to be spicy and have plenty of flavor and zip. The last dish I taught him how to prepare was soup. Again, since there’s no wrong way to make soup, it was easy for him to feel confident about his creations. Granted, he doesn’t always come up with flavor combinations that are common (and sometimes this is with good reason!), but his soups are always original and inspired. I would advise anyone (man or woman) starting off in the kitchen to begin with these three dishes. They can be made without any hard and fast rules to follow, so novice cooks can be creative, have fun, and let go of their fear of cooking. That’s what happened to Michael, and now he loves it whenever I ask him to prepare dinner. Anne: What is the secret to a successful relationship? Jo: Michael and I believe there are several components to a successful relationship, each weighted the same: respect (for yourself and each other), trust, shared values, listening well, willingness to compromise, appreciation, kindness, gratitude, letting go of having to always be right, and picking your battles carefully. We also firmly believe that there are three essential parts to every relationship that must be given equal consideration and care: the two individuals themselves, and the bond they form together. Anne: What do the two of you enjoy doing together on a “date” now? Jo: Our favorite “dates” usually entail a long walk or bike ride, lunch at a restaurant, or watching a movie together at home. It doesn’t take much to please us— we’re happy just sharing each other’s company. Anne: How would you describe your job? His? Jo: I have two jobs, each quite demanding in its own right. I am a senior editor with Book Publishing Company and primarily edit vegan and vegetarian recipe books, books on natural and alternative health, and occasionally books on Native American culture, history, and spirituality. I love being able to mentor new authors as well as work with seasoned ones. My job is the ideal extension of my own skills in recipe development and writing, and it is wonderful to be able to pass on what I’ve learned. My other job is in alternative dispute resolution. I work for a privately held company as an online mediator for international business conflicts. It can be very stressful work, but it is also rewarding to know I am playing some small role in contributing to a more peaceful world. Michael works for a grassroots environmental organization where he coordinates programs involving household hazardous waste, recycling and waste minimization, and environmentally preferable purchasing. Although we have had some rocky times over the years, we both are very proud that we have stuck by our ideals and continued to do what we feel is “right work,” even to this day. Just as we won’t compromise on our diet and lifestyle, we feel equally as strong when it comes to our livelihoods. Anne: What are your hobbies? His? Jo: My work envelops a lot of my personal interests—writing, reading, editing, and conflict resolution. When time permits, I write advice columns for my website, and occasionally poetry and haiku. Of course, I also enjoy preparing food. I do artwork (pen and ink, colored pencil, and needle art) and enjoy doing Sudoku and playing Scrabble. We both like walking and biking and getting outdoors whenever we can. Michael also enjoys car and bike maintenance, home repair, taking care of plants, landscaping, and playing the “bones” (a percussion instrument—the vegan version, of course). He is also an avid reader and music aficionado. Anne: What are the psychological aspects of being vegan that you would like to share with vegan and non-vegan readers? Jo: We’ve been vegan for so many years now that it is no longer what we do, it is simply who we are. We do not respond to someone challenging our veganism any more than we respond to someone challenging our being left-handed or having brown eyes. When veganism infiltrates every part of your being, there is no way to separate it from any other part. To us, being vegan seems like the most natural thing in the world. American Vegan 8—2, FALL 2008 27 Eating Vegan at Ethnic Restaurants Maureen Koplow What’s a vegan to do? You want to eat out, but you’re not sure what to order. What kind of animal products are lurking in the items on the menu? It’s hard enough to find good meals without meat, fish or poultry, and even more challenging without dairy, eggs, and honey. Some of the best vegan meals can be found at ethnic restaurants. While American meals tend to concentrate on the animal protein with various “side” dishes, other countries rely on vegetables, legumes, and grains to create flavorful and nutritious dishes. Always ask if the food is made with dairy, eggs, or honey, if a soup has beef or chicken broth or fish stock (still pervasive although vegetable stock is increasing in popularity). Ask if a dish or sauce uses any meat ingredient or garnish. If you think there may be a language barrier, you can make a card with pictures of a cow, pig, sheep, fish, chicken, egg, milk, honey (bee) to show the server. Point to all the pictures while shaking your head “no”. You can get the pictures from a children’s book or a grocery ad. Or, use The Vegan Passport.* Indian food can be spicy or mild, and there are lots of wonderful choices. Samosas are vegetable filled triangles, and Pakoras are batter-dipped appetizers. Watch out for paneer—homemade cheese, and yogurt. Also, many dishes are made with ghee—clarified butter. Dal dishes are made with lentils or other beans or peas, and there is usually a 28 wide variety of vegan selections. Vegetable dishes are made with eggplant, cauliflower, spinach, okra, and chickpeas. Mango desserts and beverages are available. Curry spices include cumin, coriander, ginger, mustard seed, turmeric, asafetida, garlic, chili, fennel, fenugreek, anise, and cardamom. Make sure to tell the server whether you want your meal hot and spicy, or mild. Middle Eastern restaurants have a wide variety of delicacies. Dolmades are grape leaves stuffed with rice. Tabouleh is bulgar wheat with parsley, lemon juice, tomatoes, and cucumber. Falafel are spicy chick pea balls, and they are served with a tahini (sesame seed paste) dressing. Hummus combines chick peas with tahini, and Baba Ghanouj has eggplant with tahini. Scoop it all up with pita bread. Be cautious about the desserts—they’re usually made with honey as the sweetener. Seasonings often include lemon, garlic, cumin, cardamom, turmeric, sumac, cinnamon, and aniseed. Japanese food can be tricky, but there are wonderful choices available. Try the miso soup with kombu or mushroom stock, but note common use of fish stock/ingredients. Seaweed salad is a nice appetizer, and you may be able to order Vegetable Gyoza— dumplings—either fried or steamed. Vegetable Tempura is deep-fried with an egg-free batter. Vegetable Teriyaki is prepared in a shoyu soy sauce. Ask for vegetable rolls—sushi-style goodAmerican Vegan 8—2, FALL 2008 ies made with avocado, cucumber, radish, or other vegetables, and served with pickled ginger and wasabi (very hot, green horseradish). Chinese food offers a large selection, and many restaurants now offer “mock” meats. If you’re lucky, you can find General Tzo’s “Chicken”—a sweetly spicy dish. Some places offer vegetarian spring rolls and vegetarian hot & sour soup, but make sure you ask if it’s made with egg. There’s usually egg in the vegetable fried rice, but you might be able to get it without. If you order the long green beans, make sure they don’t add tiny shrimp or pieces of pork—some restaurants add this without noting it on the menu. Chinese Pizza is actually crisp-fried onion pancake served with soy dipping sauce. Vegetable dumplings may be fried or steamed. Chinese spices include garlic, ginger, soy, sesame oil, mirin (rice wine/vinegar), scallions, and five spice powder (cinnamon, star anise, cloves, fennel seed, and szechuan peppercorns). You can ask for hot pepper oil on the side and spice up your meal to your taste. Mexican food usually includes cheese and sour cream, but you can request your meal without these. Try Portabello and Pepper Fajitas, with freshly made tortillas. Guacamole is made with avocado, lemon juice, garlic, and tomatoes. Taco chips and refried beans are usually vegan, but to be safe, ask if they’re made with lard (traditional). Mexican food usually includes some form of tomatoes, corn, beans, rice, and chilis. Your meal can be spiced up with hot chilis, and many restaurants provide salsa (chopped tomatoes and/or tomatillo, garlic, lemon juice, onions, and canned or raw chili peppers) with various degrees of heat. Thai restaurants offer a nice variety. Many will substitute tofu for the meat, and omit the prevalent fish American Vegan 8—2, FALL 2008 sauce, if asked. Watch out for egg in the Pad Thai. Coconut milk is used in place of dairy and the flavor is marvelous. Curry may be red or green and you can choose spicy or mild. Herbs and spices include basil, cilantro, cumin, galanga, ginger, lime, lemon grass, and chilies. Most dishes use a variety of vegetables, and are served with rice or noodles. Peanuts are popular in dishes and sauces. Caribbean food is usually colorful, with a variety of vegetables and grains. Yams, okra, peanuts, beans, and rice are combined in various dishes. Tropical fruit dishes may include mangos, bananas, and coconut. Spices may include ginger, cinnamon, vanilla, chili, cayenne, oregano, nutmeg, and allspice. Korean food is traditionally made with meat or fish, and it may be difficult to find a vegan meal, but if you’re lucky you can enjoy some wonderful flavors. Try Kimchi, pickled cabbage with red pepper and garlic, but make sure it’s not made with shrimp or fish sauce. Bee bim bop can be made with tofu instead of meat, and usually includes rice, shredded carrots, greens, bean sprouts, mushrooms, and other vegetables, topped with soy or chili sauce. Korean seasonings include soy, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, hot pepper paste, hot pepper flakes, dried peppers, and soy bean paste. If you’ve been afraid to eat out because you don’t want to risk animal products in your meal, take a chance on these wonderful and exotic cuisines. Ask the right questions before you order, and then dig in. You’ll never be satisfied with salt, pepper, and ketchup again! *Useful travel companion, pocketsized VEGAN PASSPORT: Each language page (56 languages) lists what a vegan cannot and can eat. 2005, 80pp 4¼x5¾” $8.00. 29 EVENTS & CONFERENCES in U.S.A. OREGON FUN AT THE BEACH! Cookin' it Up! February 1-8 2009. Join vegan chef Al Chase and lifestyle coach Donna Benjamin at the Oregon coast for 5 days cooking it up and two days touring vegan Portland cafés and businesses. E-mail pdxvegan@gmail.com or call 503-752-2588 for more information. Presented by CULINARY AWAKENINGS Chef Al Chase, 4110 SE Hawthorne Blvd #17, Portland OR 97214. Custom Programs tailored to your goals are also available with at least 2 months notice. The above and other vegan cooking classes are listed at www.americanvegan.org. CALIFORNIA 3rd International Green Lifestyle Film Festival (formerly The Raw Lifestyle Film Festival), March 13-15 2009, Los Angeles. Sustainable choices and healthy joy-filled living. www.greenlifestylefilmfestival.com, 310-854-2078. Submit films by December 31 2008. NEW JERSEY American Vegan Society Annual Meeting Garden Party, Sunday May 24 2009, AVS HQ Malaga NJ. Speakers Erin Williams, Why Animals Matter, and TBA. See page 5, and watch www.americanvegan.org. CALIFORNIA The 5th Annual Vibrant Living Expo, August 21-23 2009. Plus FREE Thursday Night Plenary August 20, 7pm at the Town Hall, Fort Bragg CA. Culinary demos, mini film festival, health panels, raw pie contest, renowned speakers, Rising Star Chef showcase, exhibitor booths, workshops, seminars, wellness pavilion, food vendors, and delicious raw food! There are also pre- and post-Expo events and workshops. Register early and save. Living Light Culinary Arts Institute, 301-B N Main St, Fort Bragg CA 95437. Ph: 800-816-2319, 707-964-2420, info@rawfoodchef.com, INTERNATIONAL EVENTS CARIBBEAN Holistic Holiday at Sea™ VI, A Voyage to Well-being, Saturday, March 1-8 2009. A 7-night Western-Caribbean Cruise that includes lectures, workshops, and cooking classes. Enjoy gourmet, healthful, natural, vegan meals and desserts. Onboard: Dr. T. Colin Campbell (author and research scientist), Dr. Will Tuttle (World Peace Diet), Christina Pirello (TV cooking show, author), Denny Waxman (macrobiotics), Yogi Amrit Desai, Dr. Sherry Rogers (environmental medicine), Isa Moskowitz (cookbook author), Dirk Benedict (author, TV) and other teachers. Presented by A Taste of Health, and Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. Holiday at Sea info: Ph: 828-749-9537, www.atasteofhealth.org. BRAZIL 12th International Vegan Festival, July 22-25 2009, at Pontificia Universidade Catolica (PUC University), Rio de Janeiro Brazil, with added post-festival tours and meetings. Check for regular updates at www.vegansworldnetwork.org/festival_12.php. INDONESIA 39th IVU World Congress 2010, Jakarta-Bali Indonesia October 1-7 2010, sponsored by the International Vegetarian Union. Information, as it becomes available, at www.ivu.org/ congress/2010. See AVS’ website: www.americanvegan.org. Check for updates throughout the year. 30 American Vegan 8—2, FALL 2008 Your Address Label Above your name is the year of your membership expiration. If you are a Life member, you will see “Life”. If you have inquired but not yet joined, “Inq” appears above your name. DEFINITIONS VEGAN: Uses no animal-source food or clothing. TOTAL VEGETARIAN: Uses no animal-source food, vegan in diet only; still using some animal items such as leather, wool. VEGETARIAN: Uses no flesh, fish, fowl (products of slaughter), still using milk or dairy products. (lacto-vegetarian), or eggs (ovovegetarian). AMERICAN VEGAN SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP BASIC MEMBERSHIP is open to all: vegan, vegetarian, or non-vegetarian. ADVANCED Membership (voting, office holding) is open to vegans practicing Ahimsa (send for application form). MEMBERSHIP/SUBSCRIPTION is $20 per calendar year (3 print issues & website). ($10 student/low-income within U.S.A). Join before midyear, receive back issues, or join later and you’re on to end of next year. Pay by check/money order/credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express). LIFE MEMBERSHIP is $200; Life Patron $500 or more; Life Benefactor $1000 or more. Each type includes lifetime (your or AVS, as the case may be) American Vegan subscription. Each type payable at one time or in installments, normally completed within two years. IRS REGULATIONS permit tax-deductibility for all actual contributions (including Life Membership donation beyond the first $100—due to the value of the lifetime American Vegan subscription). FEES paid for annual membership, or books, tapes, conventions, etc. are paid for value received so are not taxdeductible according to IRS regulations. CANADA: Please remit in $U.S. only, by International Postal Money Order, or Bank Cashier’s Draft on account in a U.S.A. bank. Or use credit card. OVERSEAS: U.S.$25 air mail. As above; or United Kingdom personal check in ₤ Sterling at current exchange rate. American Vegan Society Together we explore and apply compassionate living concepts, and reflect on the beauty of life. We learn: How to save the animals. How to revere the Earth. How to care for ourselves. Learn to live in harmony, creating a better world for all. People follow a vegan lifestyle for ethical reasons, for health, for the environment. A vegan diet is an adventure in taste offering an amazing variety to please the palate. Vegetables, grains, fruits, and legumes are the basics from which delicious meals are made. Foods from plants best provide for all people in the world. Subscribe to American Vegan Make payments to American Vegan Society & receive 20% or greater discount on books purchased from AVS. Enclosed: …..$20 per year …..$10 Student/Low Income .….New subs. ..…Renewal …..$200 Life Membership …..$500 Life Patron …..$1000 Life Benefactor …..I’m learning about vegan living. …..I am a new vegan. …..I have been vegan …..years. Remarks: Name, Address, City, State, Zip-plus 4: Phone, e-mail Send to: American Vegan Society, PO Box 369, Malaga NJ 08328 Ph : 856-694-2887 or Fax: 856-694-2288 Sign-up for E-Alerts online at www.americanvegan.org AV 8-2 American Vegan 8—2, FALL 2008 31 Thought-provoking poetry and photos speak of animal, environmental, and human rights. Written by a 30-year vegan, the 50 rhyming poems in this book unite to offer a powerful message of the need to change our world, and deliver Truth in a palatable way. Included topics: veganism, deep ecology, animal rights, and saving our environment and humanity. Beautiful color photos accompany the poems throughout the book. METAMORPHOSIS: Poems to Inspire Transformation —Vegan Poet. (Selfpublished by M. Katz.) 50pp full-color photos. 2008, 104pp 6x9” $20.00 (postpaid in U.S.) from AVS. American Vegan Published by The American Vegan Society A NONPROFIT EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATION 56 Dinshah Lane PO Box 369 Malaga NJ 08328-0908 Ph: 856-694-2887 Fax: 856-694-2288 www.americanvegan.org CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED DATED MATERIAL 32 American Vegan 8—2, FALL 2008 Nonprofit org. U.S. POSTAGE PAID MALAGA NJ Permit No. 5 Permit can only be used by Publisher, at Malaga P.O.