Ironwood Pig Sanctuary

The Ironwood Pig Sanctuary is dedicated to eliminating the suffering of pot bellied pigs in Arizona and surrounding states by promoting spaying and neutering, assisting owners and other sanctuaries, and providing a permanent home in a safe, nurturing environment for those that are abandoned, abused, neglected, or unwanted.

To Learn More: http://www.ironwoodpigs.org

The Candle Cafe Cookbook: More Than 150 Enlightened Recipes

I blogged in March about the Candle Cafe Cookbook that my sister got me for my birthday. I loaned my copy out to a friend but decided that I would get the same gift for my friend Barbara who recently started adjusting to a Vegan lifestyle. Since my book has not resurfaced I am hoping Barbara will try a couple receipes and if she gives it a thumbs up I will order myself another copy from Amazon just incase mine is not returned any time soon.

Peppered Tofurky Deli Slices

Turtle Island Foods created a mock lunch meat called Tofurky. Today I sampled the Peppered Tofurky Deli Slices that are filled with cracked peppercorns. I ate mine in a salad but the Tofurky added a wonderful zesty, pastrami-type flavor to my salad. I would not hesitate to try this mock meat on a sandwich or tortilla roll. It was very tasty!

http://www.tofurky.com

Bora Bora Organic Nutrition Bars

Recently I discovered Bora Bora Organic Nutrition Bars. They are gluten free and the two bars I sampled were also Vegan. The Wild Pomegranate Pecan Bar and the Paradise Walnut Pistachio bar are both delicious. I will be keeping my eye out for additional flavors to sample.

http://www.boraborafoods.com/

Kind Fruit and Nut Bars

Although not all of their bars are Vegan I have discovered quite a few that are. The bars are delicious and filling. They are wonderful for an afternoon snack and I have been able to locate them at most stores locally including Albertsons, Fred Meyer and the Boise Co-Op. My favorites are the Fruit and Nut Delight, Nut Delight and there is a Blueberry Bar that Starbucks carries that is amazing. It is the blueberry vanilla and cashew fruit and nut bar. It is my very favorite. I am going to keep reading ingredients and discovering new flavors.

http://www.kindsnacks.com/

WholeSoy & Co. - Non-Dairy Soy Yogurt

I recently discovered Whole Soy Yogurt at Fred Meyer. It is delicious yogurt make with organic soybeans. It is vegan, whey and gluten free and contains no cholesterol. So far I have sampled the vanilla, blueberry, strawberry and raspberry flavors. I can't wait to try the lemon and key lime flavors too. Their web-site lists all their flavors and recipes too. It is wonderful!

http://www.wholesoyco.com

Amy's Rice Macaroni

Earlier this week I was dying for some comfort food and I discovered Amy's Gluten Free - Dairy Free Rice Macaroni. It is a delicious dish that is very tasty and replaces traditional Mac & Cheese. Although the calories (520) and fat (22g) are not for the faint of heart the Rice Macaroni and Cheeze was wonderful and hit the spot perfectly for my comfort food fix. Delicious!

http://www.amys.com/

Oprah Goes Vegan For One Week

Oprah and 378 Staffers Go Vegan: The One-Week Challenge
February 1, 2011

http://www.oprah.com/showinfo/Oprah-and-378-Staffers-Go-Vegan-The-One-Week-Challenge

The challenge is on! No meat, no milk, no animal anything. Oprah and 378 Harpo staffers go vegan for one week.

Vegan Gingerbread Cookies

Vegan Gingerbread Cookies

For the Cookies:
1 cup vegan margarine
1 cup sugar
Egg Replacer equivalent to 1 egg
1 cup molasses
2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
5 cups flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 Tbsp. ginger
1 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. ground cloves

For the Frosting:
1/2 cup vegan margarine
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
4 cups powdered sugar
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 Tbsp. vanilla soy milk
Food coloring

• In a large bowl, cream the vegan margarine and the sugar. Mix in the egg replacer, molasses, and vinegar. Set aside.
• In a medium bowl, sift together the dry ingredients. Add to the wet ingredients.
• Chill in the refrigerator for 3 hours or overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a cookie sheet.
• Remove from the refrigerator and roll out on a floured surface. Cut into desired shapes.
• Bake for 6 to 8 minutes, until the edges brown. Cool for 5 minutes on the cookie sheet and remove to a wire rack.
• While the cookies are cooling, make the frosting. Using a hand mixer, cream the vegan margarine. Add the shortening and continue to mix. Add the remaining ingredients and mix until thoroughly combined. The frosting should be stiff.
• Using a pastry bag and a star tip, decorate the cookies.

Makes 3 dozen cookies

The Candle Cafe Cookbook

For Christmas my sister, Michelle, sent me The Candle Cafe Cookbook. It boasts more then 150 enlightened recipes from New York's renowned vegan restaurant. I am looking forward to trying some new recipes and already have my eye on the Lemon Tofu Cheesecake. I am also excited to sample the Pecan Crusted Seitan. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!

Vegan Pumpkin Pie - Delicious!

Vegan Pumpkin Pie

1 (16-ounce) can pureed pumpkin
3/4 cup sugar or sucanat OR 1/2 cup maple syrup
1 (10- to 12-ounce) package silken soft tofu (Not Low Fat)
2 to 3 tablespoons cornstarch (to firm up the pie filling)
1 teaspoon ground allspice (optional)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 (9-inch) unbaked vegan pie shell

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Blend the pumpkin and sugar in a blender or food processor. Thoroughly mix in tofu, cornstarch, and spices (allspice, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, salt, and cloves).

3. Pour mixture into pie shell and bake for 15 minutes.

4. Lower heat to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and bake for another 60 minutes. Chill and serve.

Don't use the low fat tofu, then the pie tastes like it was made with tofu. You may also want to reduce the spices to taste.

How Many Lives Will You Save?

Ninety-Five is the average number of animal lives spared annually by one person's vegan diet.

The average American consumes 2,714 land animals in their lifetime. If you quit eating meat now, you could literally prevent the suffering and death of hundreds of animals of the course of a couple decades.

If you stop eating eggs and drinking milk, you will also reduce your share in the suffering and death of battery hens and their offspring, as well as dairy cows and their offspring, too.

"May all that have life be delivered from suffering." -Gautama Buddha

The Search for a Vegetarian Bird

This will be my first Thanksgiving as a Vegan. I still wanted to feel like I was participating in the traditional meal but was not willing to compromise my non meat lifestyle. I went to the Boise Co-Op and found Savory Stuffed Turkey rolls to try by Gardein http://www.gardein.com/ I have really enjoyed their other products and am looking forward to see how these taste. Anthony is going to take care of the traditional meat for the meal as I just could not bring myself to do it. Now I just need to look for a pumpkin pie recipe that I can eat.

See Spot Walk Boise - October 2nd

Julia Davis Park is going to the dogs, See Spot Walk style! What could be more fun than spending a day with your best canine friend? How about spending the day with your best friend and several thousand other dog lovers and their dogs? And, what if you could join a fun canine parade through downtown Boise? That would be fun See Spot Walk style!

• Who: Your friends, your kids, your dog(s) and you!
• What: A 1-mile dog walk through downtown Boise + vendors, contests, demonstrations, food and more
• Why: To have fun and raise money for homeless animals
• Where: Julia Davis Park Band Shell
• When: Saturday, October 2, 2010 - Festivities 10:00, Walk 11:00
(Participate with or without your dog!)

See Spot Walk is Idaho's largest and best dog event, all to benefit the Idaho Humane Society and provide over three thousand participants and their dogs with a great time. Join us the first Saturday of every October in Julia Davis Park.

Enjoy vendors, contests and a giant dog walk through downtown Boise.

http://www.idahohumanesociety.org

World Farm Animals Day

World Farm Animals Day (WFAD), observed on (or around) October 2nd, is dedicated to exposing, mourning, and memorializing the more than 58 billion cows, pigs, turkeys, chickens, and other land animals who needlessly suffer and die every year in the world's factory farms and slaughterhouses.

The 2010 theme is Exposing the Dirty Secrets of Animal Agribusiness. Find out what animal agriculture is hiding from the public, and how they manipulate us, the government, and public institutions.

http://www.wfad.org/

"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way in which its animals are treated."

"I hold that the more helpless a creature, the more entitled it is to protection by man from the cruelty of man."

-Mohandas Gandhi (1869-1948)