Classy Vegan Menus for Special Events

Are you hosting a special event such as a wedding, an anniversary, a graduation or a retirement party? If you want a classy menu that everyone will enjoy including the animals you saved by offering vegetarian fare, Peta is an awesome resource! The following ideas come from:  http://www.peta.org/features/elegant-vegan-cuisine.aspx  I strongly encourage you to check out this site anytime you need delicious recipes that anyone can enjoy, whether they are vegan or not.

Is putting together a menu for your special day making you sing the vegan wedding-planning blues? Don't worry; these easy, elegant menus will have you changing your tune in no time flat. Created by special events and nutritional food consultant Susan Baker, who has been helping clients party “humane and hearty” for 35 years, these tasty and tasteful menus are suitable for everything from a casual ceremony on the beach to a black-tie reception at the country club. Just provide your caterer or hotel with one of, or a combination of, these menus, and you've got a surefire recipe for a memorable wedding and a memorable meal.

Order your PETA wedding favor cards today—you can place these beautifully designed cards by the table settings at your event.

LUNCHES

Looking for light fare that would be perfect for an early afternoon wedding reception? Then let's do lunch with these easy, breezy menus:

Menu 1: For a meal that is guaranteed to be faux pas-free, toss together a Grilled Faux-Chicken Caesar Salad and add fresh fruit and rolls with Sun-Dried Tomato Tapenade.

Grilled Faux-Chicken Caesar Salad

Sun-Dried Tomato Tapenade

Basil Pesto

Menu 2: To create an afternoon delight, invite pesto to your nuptials! This menu packs a punch with flavorful Pasta Pesto, refreshing Lemon Fruit Cups, and oh-so-good Garlic Bread or warm baguettes dripping with vegan garlic margarine.

Pasta Pesto

Basil Pesto

Lemon Fruit Cups

Garlic Bread

INFORMAL DINNERS

Perfect for a wedding rehearsal or a casual reception, the following menus are must-haves when the occasion calls for simple, great-tasting cuisine:

Menu 1: For a hearty dinner that has something to tempt everybody’s taste buds, you can’t go wrong with simple fare, including favorites such as “Sausage” Pizza, Mexican Layer Dip, tossed salad, Grilled Corn on the Cob, Grilled Red Skin Potatoes, Grilled Vegetable Kebabs, Grilled "Chicken" Patties With Mango Salsa, and Brownies or “Sundaes.”

‘Sausage’ Pizza

Basil Pesto

Mexican Layer Dip

Tossed Salad

Grilled Corn on the Cob

Grilled Red Skin Potatoes

‘Caesar Dressing’

Grilled Vegetable Kebabs

Garlic Dressing

Fried Plantain Chips With Dipping Sauces

Brownies and ‘Sundae’ Bar

Menu 2: Want to serve a dinner that’s colorful and creative? Then relax and chill with your guests over Grilled Tempeh With Dipping Sauce, Tropical Tossed Salad, Vegan Tetrazini, and Raspberry Phyllo Cups. Add some Sun-Dried Tomato Foccacia, and you’ll have a meal that’ll make your guests say, “Oh, my gosha!”

Grilled Tempeh With Dipping Sauce

Tropical Tossed Salad

Vegan Tetrazini

Sun-Dried Tomato Focaccia

Raspberry Phyllo Cups

Vegan Celebrity I Love: Ben Stiller

I just love this actor and was really interested to find out that he had recently gone vegan...well almost. He still eats fish but whatever he`s doing, it`s working! He`s feeling great and looking fit and handsome. Here is the article I saw about him on Ecorazzi: http://www.ecorazzi.com/2012/07/28/watch-ben-stiller-comes-out-as-vegan-to-his-parents/

While promoting his new movie “The Watch” on Friday’s Conan, Ben Stillerexplained how he was able to perform action-heavy sequences without a stunt double: his conversion to veganism.

Stiller discussed his recent dietary changes, which include giving up coffee as well as animal-based foods. He also mentioned the hardships that can accompany the lifestyle. “I wanted to have ribs,” he told O’Brien, “but I had kale chips.”

Yet the greatest challenge for Stiller was telling his parents. “I had to tell my parents I was a vegan, I came out to them,” he said to much laughter. “They were a little bit confused at first, but now they’re supportive.”

Stiller isn’t quite a full vegan. He has yet to give up fish, but with other meat, dairy and eggs out of his diet he is almost there.

Watch his hilarious take on veganism go to Ecorazzi here: http://www.ecorazzi.com/2012/07/28/watch-ben-stiller-comes-out-as-vegan-to-his-parents/

Avocado and Corn Salsa/ Salad

Have you subscribed to Meatout Monday yet?
If you go to www.meatoutmondays.org , you will get new recipes to inspire you every Monday.

 I`m hoping that you are vegetarian 7 days a week already....but if not, once a week is a start! and it`s a trend that`s sweeping the nation. Anyone can be encouraged and inspired to eat vegetarian at minimum once a week through this Meatout Monday campaign.

This week`s recipe features fresh produce from the garden..or from your local farmer`s market. Tis a wonderful time to eat vegetarian with all the sweet, colorful and delicious veggies ready for picking!

Fresh Corn & Avocado Salad

What a great time of year!  Fresh produce is rolling in from gardens and fields.  Roadside stands and farmers’ markets are ripe with inspiration. If the summer heat has been testing your resolve or the power outages in your neighborhood are stifling your creativity in the kitchen, this recipe will help you focus on the bright side.  It’s raw, it’s cooling, and it’s filled with garden goodness. Ingredients:3 ears fresh sweet corn, cleaned (or 3 cups frozen, thawed) 1/2 cup red onion, diced 1 small avocado, diced juice of 1/2 lime 1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped 1/2 teaspoon salt freshly ground pepper, to taste Directions: Husk, clean, and cut corn from the cob. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. May serve immediately or allow to marinate. Note: Serve as a side, with tortilla chips, or as a taco topping. Even better the next day! Thanks for reading this week's issue of Meatout Mondays! Share the veggie love with your friends and family... forward this e-mail or sign them up at www.MeatoutMondays.org! Looking for more recipes, resources, and tips? Visit LiveVegan.org! Thank you “greeneyedlady” at VegWeb.com for this colorful recipe and photo.

Snooters Farm Animal Sanctuary

Snooters is a Farm Animal Sanctuary in Uxbridge Ontario. Before finding out about this wonderful place, I was under the impression that the only sanctuaries were in the States. I had been to Farm Animal Sanctuary in Ithica New York but had no idea we had any sanctuaries right here in Ontario, Canada! This wonderful sanctuary  protects farm animals and educates the population on the cruelty that goes on in factory farms and the need for vegan eating to protect these furry friends.

 Last weekend, we had the pleasure to go to the annual Open House at Snooters and what a thrill it was! I got to pet cows, sheep, horses and pigs and admire chickens and peacocks. The farm itself is beautiful and spotless. The owners Susan Morris and her husband sure do take care of the place! Of course many volunteers are required to keep such an impeccable farm with such happy animals. Can you believe over 300 people showed up to tour this compassionate facility!

At the Open House, besides the admiration of the farm and its inhabitants, there was a vegetarian BBQ going on with delicious veggie burgers and treats. A new vegan bakery was also on hand serving up beautiful and tasty cupcakes and cookies to raise funds for Snooters. Peace Love Happiness Co is the name.

My favorite part besides meeting so many lucky to be alive and so well cared of farm animals was being with so many kindred spirits. I got to make a new vegetarian friends and got inspired to do even more to promote vegetarianism in my neck of the woods.

I made a video to give you a global look at this wonderful sanctuary and its inhabitants:


To find out more about Snooters, you can visit their website here: www.snootersforeverhome.com
They also have a blog here: http://www.snooters-susan.blogspot.ca/

Vegetarian Barbecue Season is in Full Force

Summer is barbecue season for sure! Especially since it`s so hot this year, I find I`m making them more than ever... Meatatarians often wonder what I eat as a vegetarian on a bbq. The answer is...there are so many choices! Where shall I begin... First off, one of my favorites this year is a Veggie Chycken Ceasar Salad. I grill a vegetarian chycken breast (available as a PC Blue Menu product and as Gardein Chycken breasts) on the barbecue and create a delicious salad with romaine lettuce, spring onions, tiny pieces of radish, sweet peppers. I top the salad with my sliced chycken and add a creamy tahini or ceasar salad dressing. My second favorite this year would be grilled portabella mushrooms that I then proceed to stuff with a tofu salad sandwich. You could also used the portabella as the meat in a burger and serve it with a garden salad, a baked potato or an ear of sweet corn. Here`s an article I wrote a while back with lots more ideas! What are your favorite vegetarian barbecue foods? Vegetarian Barbecue Cookout Menu Ideas By Sophia Rodriguez Are you planning a vegetarian barbecue cookout and looking for menu ideas? It will be my pleasure to give you some delicious menu ideas on how to have a vegetarian barbecue. This article is geared towards the vegetarian curious, the vegetarian wannabes and the full fledged vegans and vegetarians who just want to enjoy a simple barbecue with family members. If you are hosting a barbecue, don't even mention that it is vegetarian. Cook some of these delicious options and everyone will be so pleased and full that they will not even know what hit them. If you are going to a barbecue somewhere else, make a call to your host to mention that you are vegetarian and that you will bring your own burger or veggie chicken or whatever else you want to bring. This will make your host conscious of your vegetarianism and will respect that you thought of bringing your own so as not to worry the host. To a meat eater, a vegetarian is often a very mysterious creature. Make it easy and pleasant for everyone and everyone will be happy. Menu Ideas For A Vegetarian Barbecue Portobello Mushroom Burgers: When grilled with an oil and spice mix or with a flavoring such as barbecue sauce or balsamic vinegar, portabello mushrooms make excellent burgers and sandwiches. Grill large mushrooms that have been brushed with oil or sauce for approximately 5 minutes on each side. Use a Panini bread or a ciabatta bun with mayonnaise or nayonnaise, lettuce, cheese, tomatoes and sprouts. Often called the steak of veggie burgers, this one is sure to please. (As long as your guests enjoy mushrooms.) Tofu and Veggie Shish Kabobs: This is a colorful, vibrant meal that will please most any guest. Skewer some mini tomatoes, mushrooms, red onions, zucchini and orange pepper along with marinated tofu cubes and you will be creating art through your barbecue. Vary selections to please different guests. Maybe Linda doesn't like mushrooms and Melody doesn't like zucchini so custom shish kabobs can be the perfect solution to picky eaters and varying tastes. Vegetarian Chicken: Not sure if you all know about this product? Vegetarian chicken is delicious! I know some extreme vegetarians say that all mock meats are processed and therefore not healthy or that they don't want to be eating something that tastes like the real thing, I know a lot more regular everyday folk in North America whose diet would be greatly improved by switching up mock meats for the real stuff. Vegetarian chicken has 24g of protein, 5% fat and a host of vitamins such as 35% Vitamin B12, 60% iron and only 1 g sugar. Clearly a winning choice! Lather your chicken with barbecue sauce or spice rub for even more enjoyment. Veggie Burgers and Hot dogs: These are the quintessential barbecue foods and vegetarians should not be left out. If you consider what is in real hot dogs, eating vegetarian hot dogs is a much smarter and healthier choice. Veggie burgers are very popular and available in the great majority of supermarkets all over North and South America and in probably the rest of the world (although I didn't make it around the globe yet to check it out, lol!) When eating with a bunch of carnivores, the best defense for a vegetarian are these 2 staples. Veggie burgers and hot dogs will get you out of many uncomfortable situations and will go almost unnoticed by the other guests. Vegetarian Barbecue Cookout Accompaniments: Baked potatoes with or without herbed butter sweet potatoes drizzled with olive oil and cumin potato and/or sweet potato fries with oil and spices corn on the cob mushrooms and onions foil packet grilled red peppers as a topping for burgers or to eat just like that Vegetarian Desserts On the Barbecue fruit kabobs grilled pear or peach with your favorite ice cream or rice dream pineapple drizzled with honey and lemon then grilled with or without ice cream tortilla buttered with peanut butter, a banana at centre, chocolate chips sprinkled in, then rolled and grilled on low for 8 minutes is sinfully delicious. 2 thin oatmeal cookies grilled with a piece of chocolate at the centre Do you want to know how to lose weight on a healthy vegetarian diet? Click Here to get slim and sexy, the easy, delicious vegetarian way. Barbecue for Vegetarians Scroll to the bottom of the page to get a Free 7 day Meal Plan for Vegetarians wanting to be healthy. And if you prefer an easy to follow basic vegetarian cookbook, you can go here: Quick Veggie Recipes Article Source: Vegetarian Barbecue Cookout Menu Ideas

And the winners are...

Thanks to everyone who entered the contest and for all the great feedback you left. I loved hearing all the reasons why you are interested in eating vegetarian meals! I was extra super pleased to see that so many of you are animal lovers and want to eat vegetarian because you don`t want to eat animals. Now without further ado, here are the winners: 1) Diane Malenfant 2)Lorraine Roberge 3)Joanne Melville If you are not among the lucky winners, you can still get a free preview of the book here to see if it would be right for you: Preview of How to Eat Vegetarian

Enter the Contest to Win How to Veg

Brand new contest starting today!
Would you like to win a copy of the new How to Eat Vegetarian E-Cookbook?
This 110 page book features beginner vegetarian and flexitarian recipes & ideas that are quick & easy to make. The perfect introduction to vegetarian eating from breakfast to lunch to dinner and desserts and it could all be yours for Free!
I`m giving away 3 copies between June 1st and June 15th. All you need to do is enter here:


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cruelty 101: Factory Farming in Canada Exposed

I`first realized I had been living in denial at the Ottawa Vegetarian Festival last weekend...
 Somehow I imagined that elsewhere in the world, animals were being treated horrifically and treated like things instead of living, breathing beings but in Canada, everything was hunkey-dorey.

At the Festival I spoke to many animal activists and one in particular awoke me. A man from the Animal Defense League told me he had seen first hand the condition on factory farms in Canada, and he said the state of affairs in raising animal for meat in Canada was just as bad as in the States.

Today, I received a quiz from PETA to see how much I knew about the horrors of Factory Farming.
I thought the quiz was very informative and feel every Canadian citizen should at least be made aware  of the facts. Maybe seeing actual numbers can touch you and help you see which changes you can make in your life in order to live more compassionately.

I know i`m never eating eggs or dairy again after hearing this information...even though they don`t die right away when we take their products, these animals suffer their entire short, miserable life and end up at the same place as the cows and chickens raised for meat.

Quiz: Factory Farming Cruelty 101

1) How Many aniallls are killed for food in Canada each year?
a) 640,000
b) 6,400,000
c) 640,000,000

2) The natural life span of a dairy cow is 25 years. How long does a cow live on a dairy factory farm before being declared "spent" and sent to slaughter?
a) 4 to 5 years
b) 9 to 10 years
c) 14 to 15 years

3) Approximately how many animals arrive dea at federally inspected slaughterhouses in Canada each year?
a) 30,000
b) 300,000
c) 3,000,000

4) Regarding these dead-on-arrival animals, approximately how many prosecutions by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency are pursued annually?
a) 6
b) 60
c) 600

5) Every year, more than 100 million male chicks of egg-laying hens are tossed into bags to suffocate or thrown alive into high-speed grinders?
True or False

6) A standard "battery cage" is about the size of a file drawer. How many hens are typically confined to this small space?
a) 3
b) 7
c) 11

7) Animal behaviorists consider pigs to be smarter than 3 year old children.
True or False

8) What happens to male piglets after birth on a factory farm?
a) Their testicles are cut out of their scrotum.
b) Their tails are chopped off.
c) Their teeth are clipped in half.
d) Their ears are mutilated.
e) All of the above.

9) How long does it take for a typical slaughterhouse to kill 1,100 pigs?
a) one hour
b) one day
c) one week

10) How many Canadian federal laws exist governing the treatment of farmed animals?
a) 0
b) 15
c) 50

Answers:
1) c
2) a
3) c
4) a
5) True
6) c
7) True
8) e
9) a
10)a

How to Eat Vegetarian E-Cookbook Now Available for Sale

I have big news today!
I`m so excited and i just can`t hide it...
If you want to learn to eat vegetarian and start integrating easy and quick vegetarian recipes in your diet, I have written a recipe book that is now available for purchase today!!


This e-cookbook is a simple guide on how to eat vegetarian. All the recipes have
been tested on meat eaters to include quick and easy vegetarian recipes that will appeal to all
Besides making it easy for people to integrate vegetarian meals in their daily life, I want to show people that eating vegetarian is not that mysterious and can be quite delicious.

As you may or may not know, I have been a vegetarian for over 30 years and has developped all kinds of tricks and favorite recipes to make kids and tough guys eat vegetarian without complaining and
without even noticing that they are eating vegetarian meals.

Forget eating only salad and tofu on a vegetarian diet. This book will show you what to eat vegetarian
from vegetarian soup recipes, vegetarian pasta recipes, vegetarian chili, pizza and vegetarian sandwiches to sauces and desserts this book has vegetarian breakfast recipes, vegetarian lunch recipes and vegetarian dinner recipes.

On top of recipes, this book contains easy vegetarian ideas for quick and easy vegetarian
meals that won`t even require a recipe for the days when you still want to eat healthy vegetarian
meals but don`t feel like cooking.The variety found in vegetarian cuisine is mind blowing!
Whether you are a flexitarian wanting to eat an increasing amount of vegetarian meals or whether
you are a vegan eating no animal products, the recipes in this book will help you integrate vegetarian
meals in your day to day real life.


Learn more about the book and buy it here: How to Eat Vegetarian E-Cookbook

How To Be The Healthiest Vegetarian You Can Be

I suppose many people think that vegetarians and especially vegans are the epitome of health. Slim, full of energy and glowing with health. Right? Well, not necessarily. It all depends on if you eat the right foods, don`t overindulge, exercise, and get plenty of fresh air... then, Yes you will glow with health! However, vegans too have temptations they must resist to attain their desired level of health...

I found this brilliant article about 7 things a vegetarian can do to be as healthy as they can be and be proud of their body and lifestyle:

By Bianca Phillips, VegNews.com

Prior to what some omnivores may believe, not all vegans are pictures of perfect health. French fries and Oreos are vegan, and thanks to enterprising vegan cookbook authors, any cupcake, cookie, or pie can be made without dairy or eggs. While snack foods and desserts certainly have a place in our lives, they probably shouldn’t be a part of our daily diets. Whether you’re looking to give up bad eating habits for spring cleaning or you’re looking to revive your already-forgotten New Year’s goals, these seven steps can help you get on track to becoming a healthier vegan.

1. Eat out of your fridge.
Between work, kids, classes, and volunteering duties, it’s hard to find time to prepare home-cooked meals. But living out of boxes and bags means taking in lots of processed foods. Choosing Raw blogger and VN food columnist Gena Hamshaw’s number-one piece of advice to vegans looking to adopt a healthier diet is to rely more on foods that can be stored in the refrigerator, such as fresh produce and tofu. “Stop pulling things out of boxes for dinner,” Hamshaw says. “I can’t tell you how many people I know who still eat cereal for dinner.” Instead, try preparing a few large meals over the weekend to dole out for lunches or re-heat for suppers throughout the week. That way, you can enjoy nutritious, home-cooked meals every night and still have time to walk the dogs at the local animal shelter.

2. Cut out the white stuff.
Simple carbs like white bread, white rice, and white pasta are high on the glycemic index, which affects your blood sugar and can make you feel hungry soon after eating your bowl of spaghetti. Swap white foods for complex, carb-rich whole grains, such as whole-wheat pastry flour, whole-wheat pasta, and brown rice. Mix in some gluten-free versions for variety.

3. Limit sugar.
In the words of Skinny Bitch authors Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin, “Sugar is the devil.” That may sound a little extreme, but sugar has no nutritional value and lots of calories. Switch to evaporated cane juice, agave nectar, or maple syrup-sweetened desserts, and try to only indulge in sugary desserts two to three days per week. If you must have a daily dose of dulce, alternate the naughty stuff with raw nut- or fruit-based desserts. A tip from Hamshaw: “Make desserts with whole grains and actively work to reduce the sugar content.”

4. Eat more greens.
The United States Department of Agriculture recommends filling a little more than one quarter of your plate with vegetables, and it recommends adults eat between two to three cups of veggies per day depending on age and gender. In Vegan’s Daily Companion, cookbook author Colleen Patrick-Goudreau says she has a personal goal of eating one pound of green leafy vegetables each day. That may sound like a lot, but greens pack a nutritional punch and many, such as collards and kale, are great sources of calcium. Steam or sauté greens for side dishes, or enjoy raw kale in salads or wraps. Pack more greens into your diet with homemade green juices or smoothies.

5. Go partially raw.
Eating 100-percent raw isn’t for everyone, but working in a daily dose of raw in the form of salads, nut-based energy bars, or flax crackers will provide a nutrient boost. Hamshaw says her energy and stamina increased dramatically after switching to a mostly raw diet. “Eating a diet high in raw foods and that incorporated juicing was really a game changer for me,” she says.

6. Move your butt.
The USDA recommends two hours and 30 minutes of moderate aerobic activity or one hour and 15 minutes of vigorous activity for adults ages 18 to 64 each week. Mix it up with sporting activities, running, biking, hula hooping, or dancing (yes, your nightclub plans for Saturday can double as a workout). Besides improving cardio health and your waistline, Chef Alan Roettinger, author ofSpeed Vegan, says exercise can have side benefits: “I used to smoke, and then I started taking martial arts. I couldn’t do both, so I quit smoking. And then I started eating better and not staying up late. I got addicted to feeling good.”

7. Cleanse.
An occasional week-long or month-long cleanse focusing on whole foods, raw foods, and juicing is a great way to get yourself back on track when you’ve fallen off the wagon. Roettinger recommends cleansing to break a nasty junk food addiction: “Take some distance from [junk food], even if its just a week or two weeks. Have green juice and fresh food. You will feel better and the junk will slowly start to lose its appeal.”

Ready to get started? Arm your new, healthier self with these tasty, great-for-you recipes!
Almond-Miso Soup
Raw Spanish Rice

Photo credit: Shutterstock.com

A Vegan Easter Brunch Menu

I was looking for ideas for an Easter brunch menu and found this wonderful menu from Peta. I should of known Peta would be the best resource for a delicious vegan brunch. Following is a preview of this menu. You can click on the links to get the individual recipes or go here: Vegetarian Easter Brunch Menu

On Easter morning, whether you're enjoying a piece or two of vegan candy, you'll want to indulge in a decadent, yet easy brunch to celebrate the holiday with your family.

Here are some Easter brunch menu suggestions to help you create a savory and sweet holiday meal that everyone can enjoy.

Sizzling Entrées

• Garlic-Potato Crostini
• Italian Easter Pie
• 'Bacon,' Potato, and Green-Onion Frittata
• Creamy Chive Mashed Potatoes

Savory Desserts

• Babka (Polish Easter Bread)
• Caramel-Apple French Toast
• Apple-Walnut Cake

Sweet Treats

• Charms Lollipops
• Chocolove Dark Chocolate bar
• Dum-Dums
• See more vegan candy/snacks 

Happy holidays!