The Vegan Pizza Day That Was Giveaway!

Hey friends! Do you love pizza? Of course you do! Now through Monday afternoon, take a pic of your vegan pizza and share it with us at fuck yeah vegan pizza for a chance to win one of three prize packages stuffed with goodies from Tofurky, Daiya, Lightlife, Gardein, Nasoya, Tofutti, Field Roast, Bob’s Red Mill, and Upton’s Naturals (for US & Canadian readers) or a ginormous box of vegan meats and cheeses from Redwood Foods (for mainland UK residents).

Even if you lose the giveaway, you still win at life! (‘Cause you got to make and share pizza, duh!)

(Too much shameless self-promotion? Never!)

I am a Pizza, by Charlotte Diamond

So I was searching for music for a pizza mix tape (NO I SHIT YOU NOT) and found this video on the youtubes. I’ve listened to it at least a dozen times now and the lyrics are stuck all up in my head. I sang it to Peedee and O-Ren during our afternoon walk in the park, but I don’t think they enjoyed it. Whatever, they’re dogs, they eat poo. Anyway it’s dope and you should totally give it a listen so that it sticks in your noggin too. Then I won’t be the only weirdo wandering the streets yelling “I AM A PIZZA!” at the top of her lungs.

Cheesy Penne Pizza

With mozzarella Daiya, sauteed carrots, mushrooms, garlic and tomatoes, and baked penne pasta, all on a fluffy white pizza crust. I have yet to write up a recipe, but basically you just make up a dish of your favorite oven-baked pasta and set aside a few cups (three? four?) for the pizza prior to baking it. (Two meals in one!) Layer it on top of some red sauce, top with a lil’ extra cheese, and bake the pizza as you would normally. Nom!

Extra-Easy Vegan Bisquick Cheese Pizza

Aside from using store-bought bread, this Bisquick pizza crust is about as easy as it gets! Because it doesn’t contain any yeast, you don’t need to let the dough rise at all. (Pizza in a pinch, anyone?!?) It also makes for a pretty foolproof thin crust recipe – what you see is what you get! Quick and yummy, and super-useful for those nights when you’re craving pizza but are in too of much of a hurry to make a proper dough. Definitely a keeper!

“Buttery” Bisquick Crust Pizza

Another Bisquick pizza, this time with a margarine/garlic sauce on the crust. Amazaballs! It tastes a lot like the incredible Cheddar Cheesy Garlic Biscuits I made for veganmofo, only all pizza-like. In fact, this whole series of Bisquick pizzas was inspired by the biscuits, which brings us to Bisquick pizza #3!

“Buttery” Bisquick Crust Pizza with Daiya Cheddar Cheese

In an effort to make the “Buttery” Bisquick crust pizza taste even more like the Cheddar Cheesy Garlic Biscuits that inspired it, Shane and I tried another version, this time topped only with red sauce, Daiya cheddar cheese and oregano (similar to the ingredients in the biscuits I so loved). The result? Delicious, hello! It’s a cheese pizza, what did you expect? Not necessarily better than the original, just slightly different. Especially since I so rarely eat plain cheese pizzas. I like to put veggies on my veggie, yo!

Pinkies

Like Twinkies, but with pizza foodstuffs! The dough is the same Bisquick concoction as my Pancakes & Sausage on a Stick; inside is a sliver of Follow Your Heart mozzarella cheese, and on top, a few slices of Lightlife Pepperoni. Serve with a side of piping hot marina sauce for dipping and voilà – bite-sized pizza appetizers!

These were totes Shane’s babies. I like the idea, but something about the combination of Bisquick pancake batter with tomato sauce didn’t sit right with me. But the pancakes with cheese and pepperoni? Delish. This one I might play around with a bit. It intrigues me.

Angel Wing Pizza!

Angel Wing Pizza! THIS IS WHAT ANGEL WINGS ARE MADE OF PEOPLE! VEGAN PIZZA!

Just joshing! This is a toaster oven pizza made with red sauce, Follow Your Heart mozzarella, and black olives, all on a store-bought roll slices in half. Gotcha though didn’t I?

Onion Roll Pizzas!

Same as above, but using onion “hamburger” rolls instead of wing-shaped ones. Quick and easy, and a delicious way to use up extra rolls before they go stale. Gotta love pizza in ten minutes or less!

Tomato & Sweet Corn Pizza

This is a simple pie, with red sauce, mozzarella Follow Your Heart, garden-fresh tomatoes, and sweet corn. Almost not worth mentioning – except for the most hilarious “negative” reaction it generated on tumblr. BEST HATE MAIL EVER!

Garlicky “Nooch” Cheese Pizza

Nutritional yeast cheese: unlike processed vegan cheeses, it’s cheap, widely available, and easy to make yourself! You can find “nooch” at most natural or health food stores (hint: look in the bulk foods section!), or order by the pound online. Add some water and seasonings and – voilà! – cheese sauce.

Lately Shane has been experimenting with different flavor combos; this is first of many concoctions. Okay, so maybe it does look like a cauliflower with a yeast infection (or alternately play dough play food) – but it tastes like cheesy pizza perfection! (Or so I’ve heard; I don’t really care for nooch myself. I KNOW I’M AWFUL!)

Chili “Nooch” Cheese Pizza

Another nooch cheese pizza! This one’s a bit spicier than its garlicky counterpart. Give it a try and let us know what you think!

Shane’s Pepperjcack “Chicken” Pizza

I never did get around to writing up a recipe for this one, but basically it’s just our go-to pizza crust, topped with red sauce, pepperjack Daiya cheese, and Boca chicken patties, which Shane buys by the cart full from Wal-Mart. Seriously, I think he keeps them in stock single handedly.

Thin Crust Mozzarella Pizza

…and the search for the perfect thin crust recipe continues! (Or at the very least a serviceable thin crust recipe!) This one actually does have some semblance of thinness about it. Not as thin as a piece of pita bread, but at least half the size of the puffy, fluffy white pizza dough we normally use. Also: delicious and relatively easy to make. No complaints here!

Triple Tomato Pizza

A cheesy triple tomato pita pizza with cheddar Daiya cheese and black and Kalamata olives! You can tell how long it’s been since the last pizza roundup, since this mini-pie features a ton of tomatoes fresh from my garden. (Including one tomato penis!)

Such a hot, delicious mess that you’ll need a full arsenal of cutlery to consume/consummate it! Even after carving it in two, it was a hands-off affair. Steamy hot veggie action, that’s what I’m talkin’ ’bout.

Come celebrate the Vegan Pizza Day That Was with us, ALL WEEK LONG! Americans & Canadians, share your vegan pizza photos with us for a chance to win one of three awesome prize packages featuring buttons, tees, totes – & more free product coupons than you can wag your tongue at! – from Tofurky, Daiya, Lightlife, Gardein, Nasoya, Tofutti, Field Roast, Bob’s Red Mill, Upton’s Naturals, & more! I may or may not have burned a few mix tapes especially for the occasion!

We also have a special Early Vegan Pizza Day giveaway for those in the mainland UK. Share your vegan pizza photos for a chance to win a prize package of vegan meats and cheeses from Redwood Foods! There are enough goodies here to keep you happily snacking for a month or more. (Or a week, if you’re anything like me. omnomnom!)

A cheesy, saucy, sexy time will be had by all! Vegan Pizza Day, so nice we’re celebrating it twice.

Hey people! I’m giving away a copy of Jo Stepaniak’s The Ultimate Uncheese Cookbook over on fuck yeah vegan pizza. Enter here! The contest closes Thursday night, so get to it!* This is the first of many giveaways I have planned in the next few months, so follow me over there if you aren’t already. (Clearly I’m not above bribery, nosiree.)

* A tumblr account is a bonus, but not necessary – you can enter via email as well. The more you know!

(Seriously, the husband and I are opting/lazing out of the traditional Tofurky and mashed potato feast this year. But feel free to visit ghosts of meals past, mkay? See, e.g., 2009, 2008, 2007 and 2006.)

Whether you choose to observe the holiday or not, may your Thanksgiving day be a gentle one, friends.

Feed the Turkeys ceremony at Animal Acres Thanksgiving!
They got pies, salad, and stuffed squash!
CC image via Flickr user prideandvegudice.
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Food, delicious food!

Caramel Apple Pie from Apryl Knight @ Vegan Etsy

Vegan Lemon Bars from I Eat Trees

Chocolate Chestnut Tart from The New Vegan Table

Chocolate Covered Potato Chips from Manifest Vegan

Sweet Potato Black Bean Burgers from Cooking at the Pacific Outpost

Cornbread Casserole, Dirty Dumpling Soup and Coconut Fudge from bite me, I’m vegan.

Smokey Maple BBQ Beans from Vegan Guinea Pig

Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes from Sweet Treats and Vegan Eats

Hindbærsnitter from Seglare in Copenhagen

Lentil Walnut Pate Lettuce Wraps from thefrenchvegan

Garlic-Glazed Green Beans and Candied Sweet Potatoes from the vegan crew

Thousand Island Dressing from Our Veggie Kitchen

Sweet Potato Power Cookies from vegan cookbook critic

Garlic Mushrooms and Lentils from Vegging out in T-Town

Thyme Bread and Pizza Pretzels from tahinitoo

Green Risotto with Fresh Herbs from How Not To Be A Skinny Vegan

Vegan Coconut Macaroons from seitan is my motor

Caramel Pecan Cookies from Musings From The Fishbowl

Peanut Butter Kisses from megatarian

no-bake chocolate pumpkin pie from sweet beat and green bean (photo below)

Raw Pizza Crackers from christine cooks vegetarian

White Chocolate Matcha Truffles from veganbaking.net

Pierogies from Meg’s Cooking Addiction

Caramelised Pineapple Turnovers with Chamomile Soy Cream from vegalicious

… and, for the dog-kids …

Pumpkin Pie Muffins from It’s A Vegan Dog’s Life

Thanksgiving at Animal Acres! Stuffed “turkey” roast, mashed potatoes and gravy,
and sautéed veggies from One World Vegetarian.
CC image via Flickr user prideandvegudice.
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Bonus food!: Thanksgiving / Thanksliving / Tofurky Day / Save-a-Turkey Day ed.

Frugal Thanksgiving Recipes Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4 from MELOMEALS: VEGAN FOR $3.33 A DAY

Thanksgiving Recipes from FatFree Vegan Kitchen

Vegan Thanksgiving Menu Ideas: Cornucopia of Recipes from Happy. Healthy. Life

Vegan Thanksgiving Ideas from C’est La Vegan

The Tofurkey Day Countdown from Get Sconed!

Vegan Mofo Comfort Food: Vegan Thanksgiving Suggestions for Americans from It Ain’t Meat, Babe

A Vegan Thanksgiving: The 2010 Version from The Veg Blog

Vegan Thanksgiving Menu Suggestions from I Eat Trees

What Vegans Eat, The US Holiday Way from Mylène @ My Face Is On Fire

Token Thanksgiving Post from The Token Vegan

Vegan Thanksgiving Ideas from the Vegetarian Resource Group (VRG)

Holiday Recipes for Your Vegan Kitchen from WholeSoy

yummy yams, and tofu cashew loaf, and bbq tofu
CC image via Flickr user massdistraction.

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Contests

Voting for the L4 GAY CAKE CONTEST is now open – from MONDAY 11/22 through SUNDAY 11/28, stop by Loony Louzilla Lovegood Letters and show some love for your favorite, kay?

The Raidoactive Vegan is giving away one copy of Vegan on the Cheap. The deadline to enter is Thursday, November 25 at 8 PM.

Vegging Out in T-Town is giving away a copy of Veganomicon. The deadline to enter is Sunday, November 28th @ 11:59 PM CST.

Manifest Vegan is giving away a rhino-print messenger bag by Saraparelle. The deadline to enter is Friday, November 26th @ midnight EST.

I Eat Trees is giving away a copy of Vegan Vittles. The deadline to enter is Saturday, November 27th @ 11 PM EST.

Molly @ It’s A Vegan Dog’s Life is giving away a copy of her book, also titled It’s A Vegan Dog’s Life. The deadline to enter is Sunday, November 28th.

Vegan Planet is giving away a copy of Party Vegan. The deadline to enter is Monday, November 29th at midnight.

Vegan Appetite of giving away a copy of 500 Vegan Recipes. The deadline to enter is early next week, when veganmofo wraps up.

A complete list of veganmofo giveaways is available @ the PPK forums.

no-bake chocolate pumpkin pie (recipe here)
CC image via Flickr user sweetbeatandgreenbean.
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Frugal Vegans

In Part II of the Barebones Vegan, chooseyourownfoodchain shows you what a barebones vegan pantry, fridge and freezer might look like – and also shares a few sources of free or cheap vegan food!

A Very Vegan Thanksgiving Table
CC image via Flickr user QuintanaRoo.
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Miscellaneous

First up, some festive holiday reading! (“Festive” from a grumpy vegan’s perspective, that is.)

* Thanksgiving without blinders… from Marla @ Vegan Feminist Agitator

* Thanksgiving Boycott from Laura @ Peace Chicken

* Walle’s Shadow from Marji @ Animal Rights & AntiOppression

* To My Friends at Thanksgiving from Mary @ Animal Person

* Thanksgiving and Tradition from Ryan @ The Veg Blog

* Rethinking Tradition from jenna @ LOVE

* “We Should All Be So Lucky” from Stephanie @ Animal Rights & AntiOppression

* A Tribute to Turkeys by Karen Davis of United Poultry Concerns (UPC)

* Our Turkey Celebration at Catskill Animal Sanctuary by Kathy Stevens @ The Huffpo

* Why turkeys RULE! from Megan @ vegansaurus!

* Thanksgiving and Turkeys by Doris @ AnimalRights.About.com

And, should you find yourself needing an avenue of escape from your deer-slaughtering uncle or a break from that bacon-loving hipster doofus cousin-in-law of yours, take a copy of this awesome veganmofo crossword puzzle to your family holiday dinner. Five minutes of vegan trivia should scare even the most tenacious of meat-eaters away, no?

Finally, I know that August feels a long way off (’cause it is!), but if you plan on attending Vida Vegan Con, don’t delay – book your ticks by March 11 for Early Bird registration rates!

What’s Vida Vegan Con, you ask? Lucky mofo, have I got the press release for you!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 16, 2010

VIDA VEGAN CON: THE FIRST EVER VEGAN BLOGGER CONFERENCE

PORTLAND, OR — August 26-28, 2011. Vida Vegan Con will bring together vegan lifestyle bloggers from around the globe for a weekend of learning, mingling, and exploring led by the vegan community’s top talent.

University Place Hotel & Convention Center, of Portland State University, will act as base of operations as an estimated 200 vegan bloggers and professionals participate in workshops, panel discussions, and classes covering topics from food photography to activism, social networking to overcoming writer’s block. Speakers include The Post Punk Kitchen’s Isa Chandra Moskowitz, FatFree Vegan’s Susan Voisin, and Urban Vegan’s Dynise Balcavage.

Registration is open at VidaVeganCon.com/registration.

Vida Vegan LLC is an independent body formed by bloggers Janessa Philemon-Kerp of Epicurious Vegan, Jess Scone of Get Sconed!, and Michele Truty of Vegtastic Voyage.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Vida Vegan LLC
VidaVeganConference@gmail.com
503.395.8432
vidavegancon.com
@VidaVeganCon
VVC on Facebook

Love turkeys, don’t eat them!

For those of you who, like me, are not lucky enough to live near a vegan farmed animal sanctuary, here’s some shiny happy turkey-friendly Thanksgiving goodness, in bite-sized video form. Enjoy! (Preferably with your omnivorous family members.)

“mashed cauliflower: This Mashed Cauliflower recipe (which I make in place of mashed potatoes) is perfect for a gluten free, Paleo Thanksgiving.”
CC image via Flickr user elena’s pantry.
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Food, delicious food!

Mashed Cauliflower, Carrot French Fries and Vegan Pumpkin Ice Cream from Elena’s Pantry (pictured above and below)

Vegan Butterflake Rolls from Inspired Eats

Best Vegan Pecan Pie from My Vegan Cookbook

Twice-Baked Colcannon from Miso for Breakfast

Thanksgiving “Pie” with Variations and Spiced Two-Apple Tart with Cider Crème from Vegan Planet

Vegan Green Bean Casserole from Vegan Etsy

Vanilla Bean Cupcakes With Chocolate Ganache from Isa @ the PPK

Tasty cream horns from vegalicious

Graham Crackers from VeganYumYum

VEGAN Battleship Chocolate Bundt Cake with Sour Cherry Compote! from Terry Hope Romero @ vegansaurus!

Quick(er) Pierogies from Vegan Nom Noms

Vegan Peppermint Stick Ice Cream from I Eat Trees

Chocolate Hazelnut Spread from Musings From The Fishbowl

Buckeye Candy (with a Hint of Cardamom) from Manifest Vegan

Beer Breaded Garlic Mushrooms from Lustrous Musings

“carrot fries: My boys love these gluten free carrot fries hot out of the oven. I like baking them as it eliminates the messy splattering that results from the typical preparation.”
CC image via Flickr user elena’s pantry.
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Contests

Bitt of Raw is giving away a copy of Becoming Vegan or Becoming Raw (winner’s choice). The deadline to enter is Sunday, November 21st at 11:59 PM.

C’est La Vegan is giving away two bags of Pistachio Aniseed Biscotti and two bags of Pumpkin Pecan Biscotti with Chocolate Chips to one lucky mofo. The deadline to enter is Sunday, November 21st, at 6:00 PST.

Robin Robertson is giving away a copy of her cookbook Vegan Fire and Spice @ Vegan Planet. The deadline to enter is Monday, November 22nd at 12 midnight EST.

An Opera Singer in the Kitchen is giving away four coupons for free Turtle Mountain products to ten lucky mofos! The deadline to enter is Monday, November 22nd at 12 midnight EST.

And, as always, do be sure to check out the dedicated contest thread over on the PPK forums.

“pumpkin pie ice cream: This vegan and gluten free pumpkin pie ice cream is a delicious fall frozen treat whether served at Halloween or Thanksgiving.”
CC image via Flickr user elena’s pantry.
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Miscellany

‘Twas the week in which the MEAT CAKE! dominated veganmofo. To wit: check out these beautiful monstrosities from Mo @ Mo Betta Vegan and Janet @ vegansaurus! Laugh or cry? You tell me, folks. You tell me.

(Yes, that was a link to a “meat” pie that I posted earlier; and no, I’m not losing my mind. Maybe I just find the idea of a vertically-challenged “meat” dessert easier to wrap my head around? Fewer layers, at least. Less food mixage. Food mixage, no like.)

Also – and I know it’s still a little early to be thinking about x-mas, but – gift ideas from I Eat Trees!

Marla at Vegan Feminist Agitator has been blogging tips for World Vegan Month all November. You should totes check it out!

Last but not least, Isa is reminiscing about the five cookbooks that changed her life. If, like me, you’re old enough to remember the ’90s with some fondness, you’ll get a real kick out of this!: Cookbooks That Changed My Life: Soy Not Oi! (Part 2) and Cookbooks That Changed My Life: Tofu Cookery (Part 1)

Share those links if you got ‘em, mofos!

Miss Hash Brown – my parents’ beagle/terrier mix-breed dog-kid – tries to sweet-talk me into sharing a piece of my sun-dried tomato bagel with her. And by “talk” I mean “kiss.”
Needless to say, she had me at *sad eyes*.
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It took me a good six hours, but I finally finished working through this year’s veganmofo blogroll earlier this week. Everything looks so nice and neat and sorted now! Of course, this means that I have even more Friday Food to share with y’all! Enjoy the links, and try not to drool on your keyboard or, worse yet, lick your monitor (it’s not real, it’s just an illusion!).

Before we get started, though, I have got to direct you to the following blogs – or, more to the point, blog titles, which tickled me every shade of pink whilst browsing through them. Most are rooted in pop culture, which is totally my thing.

bite me, I’m vegan | bitemevegan.blogspot.com
Duchess Of Kircaldy | duchessofkircaldy.wordpress.com
It Ain’t Meat, Babe | www.itaintmeatbabe.com
It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Cooking…) | imonlycooking.blogspot.com
meansoybean | meansoybean.com
Meatless in Seattle | meatlessinseattle85.blogspot.com
No Murders in the Rue Morgue | nomurders.wordpress.com
Thyme Bombe | thymebombe.com
Vegan Dance if you want to. | vegandance.blogspot.com

Also be sure to visit Seitan Said Dance, who’s cooking up comic book themed dishes all week. Totally awesome. Bonus smiles: Mozilla recommends that I change “Seitan” to “Satan.”

“Oat Pumpkin Pancakes” (recipe here). CC image via digiyesica on Flickr.
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Food, delicious food!

Tempeh Roulade en Croute from VegSpinz

Sweet Potato and Apple Bake from megatarian

Mint Chocolate Shots from Lustrous Musings

The (vegan) Soup Post! and Molasses Ginger Cookies! from Healthy. Happy. Life.

Cappuccino Muffins and Vegan Apple Hand Pies from Vegan Nom Noms

Rooibos Chai from Vegan Junk Food

Dad’s Chocolate Peanut Butter Bon Bons from In My Vegan Life

The Vegan Nacho from Unhealthy Vegan

Vegan Pizza Bites from Toast and Tofu

Braised Maple Tarragon Carrots from The Elizavegan Page

Easy Ganache from Musings From The Fishbowl

Vegan Fried Mac and Cheese from MidwestVeg

Lime Coconut Custard Pie from Wasabi Peas

Amazing Homemade Vegan Bacon from The Ordinary Vegetarian

The Homemade Hummus Challenge: Are Dried Chickpeas Better Than Canned? from the paupered chef

Carrot Cake Pancakes from Isa @ the PPK

(Vegan) Garlic and Chive Mashed Potato-Stuffed Crust Pizza from …and it’s vegan.

Vegan Loaded Potato Soup from Down Home Vegan

Mashed Potato Pizza (Personal Size) from Pixie & Dusty Eat

Vegan Needham Recipe. (Maine Regional Potato Candy) from Killer Bunnies, Inc

Po’rn Puppies from Grow’n Boy

Chai Pumpkin Pie Ice Creem Sandwiches from vegan cookbook critic

Vegan Pizza Bites from Another Healthy Habit

Miss Pumpkin Whoopie Pies from The Daily Coop

Homemade Tofurkey with Brown Rice Stuffing Recipe from CHOW

…don’t forget the dog-kids!

Sweet Potato Muffins from It’s A Vegan Dog’s Life

“Canada’s next top Vegan competition blindfold taste test.” CC image via paulr_42 on Flickr.
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Contests

I forgot to link to it last week, but the PPK forums have an entire thread dedicated to veganmofo giveaways. You should totally go there if you like free stuff, ’cause this is but a partial list.

Joni Marie Newman is giving away two copies of 500 Vegan Recipes at justthefood.com. The deadline to enter is tonight at 10PM PST.

I Eat Trees is giving away a copy of Lick It. The deadline to enter is Saturday, November 13th at 11 PM EST.

Robin Robertson is giving away a copy of Vegan Unplugged: A Pantry Cuisine Cookbook and Emergency Guide at Vegan Planet. The deadline to enter is Monday, November 15th at midnight.

An Opera Singer in the Kitchen is giving away one TofuXpress tofu press. The deadline to enter is Tuesday, November 16th at midnight EST.

The Health Sleuth is giving away a jar of Nacho Mom’s Vegan Queso. The deadline to enter is Wednesday, November 17th.

Bitt of Raw is giving away a sample pack of Emmy’s Organics macaroons. The deadline to enter is Wednesday, November 17th at 11:59 pm PST.

Finally, Our Veggie Kitchen is giving away one copy of American Vegan Kitchen. The deadline to enter is Tuesday, November 30th.

Normally, I’d ask y’all which contests you’re itching to win, but probably that’s top-secret, yes?

“Dumpstered: A dozen slightly-out-of-date Clif Bars rescued from the trash can.”
CC image via hoveringdog on Flickr.
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Frugal Vegans

In a new-to-Friday Food feature, I’ve also decided to feature those veganmofo posts that focus on saving money. After all, this whole roundup is an outgrowth of my “Frugal Vegans…” series, so it only seems natural to include my fellow mofo’er’s forays into frugality, dontchathink?

Apropos yesterday’s conversation about how to be an awesome vegan through food reclamation, Joni @ justthefood.com gives us: The Garbage Pizza! Ain’t nothing trashy about that bad boy, I tell you what.

Katie @ Don’t Eat Off The Sidewalk! shares her tips for eating vegan while on a budget in the awesomely titled Let’s get this party started as cheaply as possible!

Mo @ Mo Betta Vegan (another shiny happy blog name!) shares her dollar and discount stores finds. If you’ve never shopped at a Dollar Store, friends, you haven’t lived. Dog’s mouth to your ears.

Nicole at Vegan Nom Noms goes dumpster diving and returns home with a CSA’s worth of produce. Her finds? Impressive!

Also impressive: her mad coupon blegging skillz. Mission: Vegan Coupons is a must-read. (I’ve tried this one before; several times, actually. It really works!)

Finally, in the first of what promises to be a series – The Barebones Vegan – chooseyourownfoodchain suggests a list of relatively inexpensive must-have vegan kitchen appliances and accessories. Stay tuned for more!

So, mofo’s. Which veganmofo posts have you been loving on this week? Remember: sharing is caring!

And also, I am a junk food junkie. Judging from the unhealthy bent of this list, even more so than I realized. Problems, I got ‘em. Sigh. So many sweets, so little time.

Chocolate-coconut truffles (recipe here). CC image via floridecires on Flickr.
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Food, delicious food!

Homemade Tofurkey with Brown Rice Stuffing Recipe from Chow, by way of vegansaurus!

White Trash Tater Tot Casserole with Daiya, Mac ‘n Teese® Cheese Casserole, and Cranberry Apple Crisp with Maple Syrup from SnarkyVegan

Blueberry and Earl Grey Scones from Cookin’ Vegan & Jessica @VeganFood

Vegan Black Bean Tostadas with Corn Relish from Veggie Terrain

Vegan Sweet Potato Naan from Cook’s Hideout

Kelly Beth’s Vegan Deviled Eggs (a.k.a. Potato Angels) from Vegan Etsy

Chocolate Coconut Truffles (above) from Veggie Wedgie

Super Fudgy Brownies (AKA Crusty Fudge) and Chocolate Viennese Whirls from Not a Rabbit

Chocolate Cake with White Chocolate Mousse, Berry Compote and Almond Milk Ice Cream and Fried Lemon Pie and Salted Caramel Ice Cream from vegansaurus! (and Project Just Desserts guest-chefs Melisser and Bianca)

Black Bean and Chipotle Dip from Wednesday Food Blogging

Apple Gingerbread Upside-Down Cake and Mapley Apple Oat Muffins from Vegan Appetite

Isa VS The Cookiepuss from Isa @ the PPK

Croissants from The New Vegan Table

French Onion Soup from Miranda Writes

Vegan Tomato Pie with Heirloom Tomatoes from Bird and Belle’s Excellent Adventures in Marriage

Morbid chocolate skull cakes from Parsley Park

Whiskey Apple Crisp from It Ain’t Meat, Babe

Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups from Inspired Eats

Pierogi (Potato and Mushroom Sauerkraut) by Isa from epicurious

Step by Step Sweet Potato Gnocchi from Vegan Soul Power!

Banana Vodka from Lustrous Musings

…don’t forget the dog-kids!

Sage Muffins and Pumpkin Carob Muffins from It’s a Vegan Dog’s Life

“The 3rd Annual Totally Fabulous Vegan Bake-off” – CC image via Sean Ohlenkamp on Flickr.
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Contests

Over at Vegan Appetite, Tamasin Noyes is offering up one copy of her latest cookbook, American Vegan Kitchen. The deadline for submissions is 11/7, so don’t delay!

Enter to win a copy of Robin Robertson’s Vegan on the Cheap @ Vegan Planet by 11/9.

Also at Vegan Appetite: leave a comment, win a copy of Kelly Peloza’s The Vegan Cookie Connoisseur. Or not. I seriously want this cookbook – hello, cookies! – so “not” works for me. The deadline for entry is 11/10. Wait, did I say 11/10? I meant 11/17. *wink*

Loony Louzilla Lovegood Letters is hosting the awesomest contest ever, namely, a gay cake decorating contest! The rules are simple: bake and decorate a “gay” (presumably vegan) cake and send her a photo by 11/21. On 11/22 through 11/28, check back to vote for your favorite. The winner scores a rainbow tote bag, rumored to be stuffed with “some awesome stuff.” See what I mean? Awesome!

Vegan Etsy gets in on the Grab Bag of Awesomeness fun with a short answer contest. Stop by the blog and leave a comment about why you’re vegan (or transitioning towards veganism). The winner will be chosen randomly – but, given all of the goodies Etsy team members are contributing, make your answer a good one, kay? (Okay, yeah, I went a wee bit overboard. Join me so I don’t look like a total dweeb?) That’s some badass prize bag there! The deadline to enter is 11/31.

Finally, Miso for Breakfast – which I keep typing as “A Cup of Miso,” for some odd reason – is hosting one giveaway daily for the entire month of November. Yay Miso!

“Vegan Food Served Here…in Barcelona.” – CC image via cogdogblog on Flickr.
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Miscellany

The Cinnamon Snail needs our help, y’all! Faced with expanded vending ordinances – including new street restrictions – in Red Bank, NJ, this vegan food truck may be forced to shut its doors until the spring season. Baking Vinyl has more, including a list of contact information for those wishing to intervene on behalf of vegan noms and the peoples who love them.

This has nothing to do with food or veganism, but wev. It’s hilarious, and who doesn’t need a laugh, especially after the week we just had? In 492 parts, The Funniest Signs From The Rally To Restore Sanity And/Or Fear! If you can’t view the photos – it’s a neverending slideshow, yo! – here’s a list of the various slogans, courtesy of Rally the Cause.

So what’s your favorite recipe, contest, or blogger thus far? Share your Vegan MoFo picks in the comments!

“Vegan Brain Food”: A mashup of book covers related to this latest edition of “Intersectionality ‘Round the Interwebs.” Clockwise from the upper-left: Sistah Vegan: Food, Identity, Health, and Society: Black Female Vegans Speak by A. Breeze Harper, ed. (2010); Terrorists or Freedom Fighters?: Reflections on the Liberation of Animals by Anthony J. Nocella II and Steven Best, eds. (2004); Sisterhood Is Forever: The Women’s Anthology for a New Millennium by Robin Morgan, ed. (2003); The Pornography of Meat by Carol Adams (2004); The Year of the Flood: A Novel by Margaret Atwood (2009); Penelope by Marilyn Kaye (2007); Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows: An Introduction to Carnism by Melanie Joy (2009); and VegNews, March+April 2010.
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Sistah Vegan Book: Win a Free Copy!

Editor Breeze Harper is giving away a free, signed copy of her upcoming anthology, Sistah Vegan: Black Female Vegans Speak on Food, Identity, Health & Society. The catch? You have to answer a short essay question, which will (hopefully) get you thinking about issues of food, race, gender, and/or nonhuman animals in new (and fruitful!) way. The deadline is April 1st, so don’t delay!

Let Live Foundation: Food Justice w/ lauren Ornelas (3/21)

I’m so terribly jealous of all you vegan folks living on the east and west coasts; y’all always throw the coolest conferences and lectures! (There’s a reason I titled this link roundup “Brain Food,” yo!) This Sunday, March 21st, Let Live Foundation will be hosting speaker lauren Ornelas of the Food Empowerment Project. On the menu?: Food justice, veganism, and the intersections of human and animal exploitation. If you happen to find yourself in Portland this weekend, attend, take notes, and report back, mkay? (Pretty please? With an organic, raw, fair trade cherry on top?)

The Washington Times: Food For Life Global Is Coming Through Big In Haiti

Who says animal advocates only care about nonhumans, hmmm? Check out this nice writeup Food For Life Global received in The Washington Times, and then hop on over to Disaster Relief in Haiti: Animal Rescue & Vegan/Animal-Friendly Resources to see how else you can help with disaster relief efforts in Haiti (and Chile).

The Voracious Vegan: International Women’s Day: Why Feminism? and “Until We Are All Free”: International Women’s Day (@ Choosing Raw)

In honor of International Women’s Day (which took place on March 8th), the Voracious Vegan penned not one, but two posts. The first includes a short film that, in Tasha’s words explains why “women’s rights and feminism are still relevant and necessary in this day and age.” Additionally, in a guest post at Choosing Raw, Tasha discusses the intersections of feminism and veganism, including the shared ideologies and social systems which allow human, animal and environmental exploitation to thrive. It’s a lengthy piece but well worth it – she touches upon a number of salient points, including the objectification of women’s and animals’s bodies; the state’s (and businesses’) attempts to control the reproductive systems of females, human and nonhuman alike; food and environmental justice; and public safety and human health concerns.

Elaine @ Vegan Soapbox: Celebrating The Victories Of Vegan Women & Female Animals

Also in the International Women’s Day spirit (better late than never!), Elaine highlights the life stories and accomplishments of a few vegan/feminist/animal heroines (or sheroes, if you prefer), including several nonhumans. Little Red and Georgia are my persons of the day – and I long for a time when their rescue, recovery and rebirth will earn them a big fat feminist thank you from a certain popular third wave feminist blog (cough, cough).

Shannon Davis @ POP! goes The Vegan.: Penelope: A Nose by Any Other Name

In my newest baby’s very first guest post, Vegan Burnout Shannon Davis looks at the 2006 romcom Penelope – which stars a delightfully porcine Christina Ricci as the titular heroine – from a vegan-feminist perspective. Spoilers abound, so you may want to rent this one before checking out Shannon’s take!

Vegan Burnout: I do not want to live in a little house on the prairie.

In which The New York Times‘s Peggy Orenstein attempts to coin the newest trend, the “feminist” keeping (and slaughtering) of nonhuman animals. Not if Shannon can help it!

What is “The Femivore’s Dilemma,” you ask? Is it reconciling one’s anti-oppressive beliefs with, um, one’s own participation in the exploitation of sentient beings? Perhaps the term refers to the obvious discord between hijacking the bodies and reproductive systems of female nonhuman animals – all in the name of “feminist” self-sufficiency?

None of the above, you say?

Hayes found that without a larger purpose — activism, teaching, creating a business or otherwise moving outside the home — women’s enthusiasm for the domestic arts eventually flagged, especially if their husbands weren’t equally involved. “If you don’t go into this as a genuinely egalitarian relationship,” she warned, “you’re creating a dangerous situation. There can be loss of self-esteem, loss of soul and an inability to return to the world and get your bearings. You can start to wonder, What’s this all for?” It was an unnervingly familiar litany: if a woman is not careful, it seems, chicken wire can coop her up as surely as any gilded cage.

I guess “egalitarian” relationships are, in Hayes’s estimation, only those in which the human animals involved share equal rights and considerations. How very…conventional. *sniff*

Sociological Images: “Lovers Special” Pizza Deal

Meat is for men, vegetables are for women. Different advert, same tired old stereotypes. Cue: exaggerated eye roll.

Sociological Images: The Difference Between Male and Female Vegetarians: Self-Sufficiency!

The difference between (teenage) male and female vegetarians? Young men tell their parents what to cook for them; young women cook their own meals alongside their parents, thus demonstrating what they can eat. With all this gender conformity, I’m surprised the website authors don’t also presume that mom still cooks 100% of the family’s meals. Or that there’s one mom (and one dad) in the picture at all.

The Vegan Ideal: Exploitation and Resistance: The Story of Tilikum

Ida deconstructs the discourse surrounding the killing of Sea World employee Dawn Brancheau by Tilikum, a captive orca whale, showing how the dominant narratives reflect our attitudes about nonhuman behavior, intelligence, and intent. Ultimately, “Tilly’s” actions can be viewed not as a purely instinctual, “wild,” uncontrollable, unpredictable outburst – but as a deliberate act of resistance. Unfortunately, Sea World has yet to receive the message, as Tilikum remains a prisoner.

Finally, over at the Bitch Blogs, guest bitch Brittany Shoot has been busy! In no particular order:

The Biotic Woman: Vegans of Color

Vegans of Color founder Johanna Eeva shares with us the genesis of VoC, gives several examples of white privilege in the vegan community, and discusses the reactions to her work, both positive and negative, from vegans and non-vegans alike. If you’re not already a VoC reader, get thee to vegansofcolor.wordpress.com and subscribe to the blog’s feed, stat. Just be sure to lurk before you speak, and do check out the resources section for additional reading.

The Biotic Woman: What Natural Disaster Means for Chilean Women

In times of crisis – earthquakes, war, tsunamis, religious and ethnic conflict, you name it – women and children often bear the brunt of hardship, and not uncommonly in physically and sexually violent ways. The recent disasters in Chile (and Haiti) are no exception; here, Brittany details the risks faced by Chilean women, and in questioning to what extent these (and other) disasters may be linked to our destruction of the environment, uncovers yet another intersection between women, nonhuman animals, and the planet we all call home.

The Biotic Woman: The Dirty Politics of Coal

Coal mining (and burning) is neither clean nor sexy, despite what General Electric would have you believe.

The Biotic Woman: My Enviro-Oscars Roundup

Avatar, Avatar, Avatar! Also: can a huge, conspicuously consumptive, Hollywood wankfest like the Oscars ever truly be “green”?

See also: Domination and Rape in Avatar: This Is “Respect” for Animals?, to which I simply cannot link often enough.

The Biotic Woman: Legal Representation for Animals in Switzerland

Seizing upon a Swiss referendum which sought to give nonhumans legal representation in court (sadly, it failed) as a jumping-off point, Brittany briefly examines the history of prosecuting nonhuman animals in court, oftentimes for “crimes” of which they were arguably victims. Looking back, Westerners tend to view these practices as archaic; and yet, animals are commonly “tried” and “executed” – more often than not, sans the “luxury” of a jury trial – in modern times. (Three words: breed specific legislation. Two more: Save Spork.)

See also: Egypt’s Pigs: Beaten, Stoned, and Burned Alive (Part 1) and Religious Discrimination and the Killing of Egypt’s Pigs (Part 2), which I wrote for “the other blog” during the swine flu scare of last summer.

The Biotic Woman: A Profile of Celeb Chef Katie Lee

Brittany uses a New York Times Magazine profile of celeb chef Katie Lee to segue into a mini-rant about how the current trend towards “eco” living (and eating) rarely intersects with vegetarianism and veganism, which is – for those living in Western/industrialized nations, at least – the greenest of the so-called “green” diets.

See also: “(Car) Bon Voyage” (VegNews, April 2010), in which Farm Sanctuary’s Jasmin Singer picks a similar bone with the eco-tourism industry.

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Tagged: animals animal rights animal welfare patriarchy intersections parallel oppressions animals and women sexism misogyny gender feminism race racism violence stereotyping exploitation sex intersectionality kyriarchy megatheocorporatocracy pop culture speciesism flickr photos news in the news quick links link roundup link dump Intersectionality ‘Round the Interwebs international women’s day oppression food justice food for life global bitch the biotic woman coal green the oscars vegans of color sistah vegan race racism food Tilikum Sea World femivore The Femivore’s Dilemma sheroes heroines let live foundation lauren Ornelas Food Empowerment Project breeze harper books book covers flickr photos

Dogs Deserve Better, an anti-tethering group, is in need of photos for its 2010 calendar. If you’re a guardian, foster parent or rescuer of a formerly chained or penned dog(s), read on:

Calling for Calendar Photos

DDB is once again calling for photo entries for the 2010 Dogs Deserve Better Calendar!!

Please send (happy) after photos of rescued formerly chained or penned dogs along with before photos (if possible) in high resolution.

Send your entries to dogs [at] dogsdeservebetter.org

All entries are needed by September 10, 2009

I apologize for the late notice – it’s been a busy few weeks.

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Photo via jadean on Flickr.

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Tagged: animals animal rights animal welfare dogs deserve better ddb dog canine pet companion animal animal companion flickr photos calendar contest chaining tethering

Update: 6/19/09: Using the random number generator www.random.org – which selected the #4 – we have a winner! Sharon, I’ll contact you at the email address you provided in order to get your shipping info.

Thanks for playing, everyone. I’ve seen a few similar contests pop up here and there, so if you didn’t win, keep an eye on your favorite veg blogs for more chances to enter!

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We’ve all been hearing about the new documentary Food, Inc. for what seems like months now, and tonight it finally opens to limited release in Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York. Additional screens will be added on 6/19, and every weekend thereafter – through at least mid-August, it looks like. You can view the entire list of play dates here. (Sadly, Kansas City didn’t make the cut, so I guess it’s Netflix for moi.)

In honor of the release, the kind Food, Inc. PR peoples offered me a copy of the film’s companion book, also called Food, Inc., as well as Eric Schlosser’s Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal (the film adaptation of which is still languishing in my Netflix queue; what can I say, I’ve been on a period piece kick as of late!).

They also offered up a set of the books for a reader giveaway. My first ever, at that!

So here’s the deal: in order to win a copy each of Food, Inc. and Fast Food Nation, drop a comment on this post and name your favorite animal-friendly movie: Babe, Behind the Mask, Harry and the Hendersons, whatever. It doesn’t have to be a documentary, in fact, the more creative, the better. Entertain me! A mention of this giveaway on your blog will earn you a second entry (just make sure it shows up here as a trackback, or else leave a second comment with a link to your blog post).

[Updated to add: The PR people didn't mention location restrictions, and I totally forgot to ask, so I'll assume for the time being that they'll only mail the books to U.S. residents. Mylène, if you win, I'll personally ship you your set if need be, since that's only fair!]

The contest ends next Friday, 6/19 at 2 AM, CDT, and I’ll announce the winner sometime that day. (Not often you see Central time, eh?)

By the way, I’m 99.9% sure that I managed to fix the comment issue I mentioned last week. Somehow, somewhere, some way, a requirement that users must be logged on to Word Press in order to comment was accidentally enabled; don’t ask me how. It should all be fixed now, but if you run into any issues (knock on sustainable wood), please email me at easyvegan [at] gmail.com. Or, if instant gratification’s your thing, tweet me @easyvegan.

In the meantime, keep reading for some additional info about Food, Inc. (which, much like Fast Food Nation, seems to be more welfare-oriented, but may still be worth checking out – if only to praise the good and refute the bad).

Firstly, the obligatory trailer:
 

For those who can’t view the videos, here’s the film’s synopsis:

In Food, Inc., filmmaker Robert Kenner lifts the veil on our nation’s food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that has been hidden from the American consumer with the consent of our government’s regulatory agencies, USDA and FDA. Our nation’s food supply is now controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the American farmer, the safety of workers and our own environment. We have bigger-breasted chickens, the perfect pork chop, insecticide-resistant soybean seeds, even tomatoes that won’t go bad, but we also have new strains of E. coli—the harmful bacteria that causes illness for an estimated 73,000 Americans annually. We are riddled with widespread obesity, particularly among children, and an epidemic level of diabetes among adults.

Featuring interviews with such experts as Eric Schlosser (Fast Food Nation), Michael Pollan (The Omnivore’s Dilemma, In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto) along with forward thinking social entrepreneurs like Stonyfield’s Gary Hirshberg and Polyface Farms’ Joel Salatin, Food, Inc. reveals surprising—and often shocking truths—about what we eat, how it’s produced, who we have become as a nation and where we are going from here.

And a brief description of the companion book:

This unique companion book explores the challenges raised by the movie in fascinating depth through 13 essays, most of them written especially for this book, and many by experts featured in the film. Highlights include:

Eric Schlosser on the industrialization of our food supply

Michael Pollan on the benefits of locally – sourced, organic eating

Robert Kenner on the making of Food, Inc.

Marion Nestle on sorting out food facts from fictions

Anna Lappé on how the U.S. food system promotes global warming

Muhammad Yunus on the global impact of food industrialization

Joel Salatin on how to declare your independence from industrial food

Gary Hirshberg on how industrial food is going mainstream

If daily headlines about food poisoning, pollution, labor abuse, and rampant hunger have left you worried or confused about the foods you eat, Food, Inc. provides the facts behind the problems—and shows what you can do to make a difference.

The lack of mention of even animal welfare issues (let alone rights) in the above summaries makes me more than a little nervous, but I’ll withhold judgment until I see the film/read the book for myself. I don’t imagine you can film an entire movie about factory farming without the issue of animal suffering popping up at some point, so we’ll see. (On the plus side, the promise of coverage of labor issues should provide additional material for my “intersections” series.)

And in the (inevitable?) event that Food, Inc. pushes the sustainable meat/dairy line, I’ll just keep repeating the following mantra: Sustainability Isn’t About You.

And also: Meat’s Not Green.

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Tagged: animals animal rights animal welfare environment environmental environmentalism environmentalist contest books movie food, inc. fast food nation factory farming food diet health green meat’s not green sustainability isn’t about you videos video blogging trailer meat farmed animals agriculture vegan veganism vegetarian vegetarianism climate change pollution labor issues intersections parallel oppressions intersectionality