Written by PETA | February 25, 2017

We received word from Wolfgang Puck, the renowned chef behind the Oscars Governors Ball, that this years menu will include extraordinary mouthwatering plant-based dishes that are sure to delight vegan A-listers such as Casey Affleck and Natalie Portman.

The animal-free menu will feature a hearts of palm, watercress, and grapefruit salad with a jalapeo-lemon vinaigretteand thats just the tip of the iceberg! Pucks signature pizzas will include a vegan option, and guests will also be offered housemade gnocchetti with braised mushroom and cashew cream. Vegan desserts include chocolate chip cookie sandwiches, coconut cupcakes, and double chocolate cherry cookies.

PETA is blown away by Wolfgang Pucks Oscars menu of creative plant-based cuisine, says PETA President Ingrid Newkirk. These delicious dishes will be a treat for all of Hollywoods A-listers, from the longtime vegans to those who simply want a bite to eat thats heart-healthy and animal-friendly.

The PETA motto reads, in part, that animals are not ours to eatnotes that every person who goes vegan spares more than 100 animals every year daily suffering and a terrifying death in todays industrialized meat, egg, and dairy industries. Vegans are also less prone to suffering from cancer, obesity, and diabetes than meat-eaters are and have a lower carbon footprint.

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Oscars Celebration Will Offer Delicious Vegan Menu - PETA (blog) (press release)

What's a bagel without cream cheese?

TV's Lisa Edelstein who gained fame for her role in "House" and currently stars in "The Girlfriend's Guide to Divorce," would say a bagel without cream cheese is unenjoyable but, she'd like her cream cheese to be vegan, please.

Edelstein, who once posed nude for PETA on a bed of greens to encourage people to eat a vegetarian diet, is working with the animal rights organization again. This time, she's encouraging Einstein Bros. Bagels "to consider adding vegan cream cheese options to your menus so that people who cant or wont consume dairy foods might still be able to enjoy a good bagel with shmear at your many establishments.

Those are the words she wrote to Einstein CEO and President Mike Tattersfield, according to The Know.

Einstein doesn't have to invent the plant-based schmear (which can also be spelled shmear, for anyone wondering). In Edelstein's letter, she pointed to several grocery store brands .

Whether it's called schmear, spread or cream cheese, everyone should have a vegan option. (Photo: Moving Moment/Shutterstock)

When thinking about Edelstein's request, I also thought about the dairy-free, vegan Ben & Jerry's desserts I tried a few days ago. Some of them were so delicious, I'd happily choose them over milk-based ice cream, knowing that plant-based foods are better for the planet. Is there a vegan cream cheese that's as flavorful, creamy and delicious as milk-based cream cheese? I don't know, but if there is and Einstein or some other place sold it, I would opt for it. If taste and quality are the same, plant-based is the smarter choice.

So someone get Edelstein some vegan schmear. And make it really, really good vegan schmear to entice people like me who are embracing vegan foods, one plant-based product at a time.

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Get this lady some vegan schmear, stat! - Mother Nature Network (blog)

PORTLAND, Ore.

After moving from New York City to Portland in the early 2000s, Emiko Badillo and her husband Chad Miller found that they had to schlep to a bunch of different stores to satisfy their vegan diet.

We couldn't get all the things we wanted in one store when we were grocery shopping so we just decided to go for it and open our own -- and get super into credit card debt, Miller said from behind the counter of the couples second all-vegan store, Food Fight!

The couples first store opened at 21st and Southeast Division Street in 2003, and then moved to Southeast 12 and Stark Street. They share a building with like-minded vegan business owners Herbivore Clothing, Scapegoat Tattoo and Sweetpea Baking Company.

Miller said the building came to be known as the vegan mini-mall, a name customers adopted and later out-of-town visitors discovered as a tourist stop, a particularly Portland, niche attraction.

From the beginning they tried to stock their shelves with more than old hippie, granola-heavy products. That includes coconut bacon and even vegan haggis and caviar to go along with meatless jerky and dozens of other non-dairy, non-meat products.

We try to make it seem like less like self-flagellation, self-sacrifice and make it a bunch of fun food, Miller said. You don't have to give up corn dogs"

The couples second Food Fight! opened two weeks ago at 11155 NE Halsey Street, in the changing and up-and-coming Gateway neighborhood.

The area is attracting new small business owners, including a new coffee shop called Jet Black, one of the first independent coffee shops in the neighborhood that shares the building with Food Fight! The coffee shop is looking at an early March opening.

For Rosalind and Clayton McCallard, Food Fight is one of dozens of locations the husband/wife team sell their vegan sandwiches under the own brand, Snackrilege Foods.

Snackrilege really provides a niche in terms of providing healthy, delicious vegan grab-and-go food when you dont want to stop and cook and you dont want lentils, Rosalind McCallard said. Good, hearty sandwiches without the meat or dairy.

Clayton McCallard helps design and name the sandwiches, which sport such names as Lord of the Wings, he BBQ Bunslawter, Steak Bite Love and the Notorious B.L.T.

The McCallards made their first ever delivery of their sandwiches to Food Fight! three years ago this month, but you can find the sandwiches at 35 locations in Oregon, Washington and Idaho.

Read the rest here:

Vegan convenience store Food Fight! expands to second location in Gateway district - KATU

From ReneePress atPlant Based on a Budget

Today I share with you one of my all time favorite Indian dishes, Malai Kofta. Traditionally, this dish is a rich combination of fried potato, veggie and cheese meatball/dumplings floating in a creamy spiced tomato sauce. Served with rice or flat bread, it really is a treat. Of course, we modified this recipe and made it both vegan and gluten-free, but kept all of the tastiness and fragrant flavors.

It does take a bit of prep work, so save it for a weekend or a day when you have a bit of extra time. If you want to make ahead, you can preparethe sauce inadvanceit actually tastes better when made a day aheadand simply reheat and drop in the freshly made dumplings. These crispypotato delights can be baked as I show you here, or fried until golden brown on all sides. This was probably the dish that got me hooked on Indian cuisine back in the day, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Vegan Malai Kofta (Potato Dumplings in Spiced Tomato Sauce)

30 minPrep Time

30 minCook Time

1 hrTotal Time

Ingredients

Instructions

6.6.15

For more recipes follow Plant Based on a Budget onFacebookandTwitter.

Photo Credit: Plant Based on a Budget

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

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Vegan Malai Kofta (Potato Dumplings in Spiced Tomato Sauce) - Care2.com

Id been vegan for six and a half years when it happened. It was entirely unexpected, and it left me feeling completely drained and questioning my lifestyle choices. Sadly, Im writing this essay to confess that I finally had to listen to my body.

Many people were urging me to give my body what it needed, and initially I resisted. I can be quite stubborn, and I told myself that if I pretended it wasnt happening, it would go away. But it didnt, and thats because I was ignoring the obvious signals that my body sent.

At this point, I had so little energy that all I wanted to do was go back to bed and pull the covers up to my chin and sleep it off, away from everyone and everything. I was palealmost greyand I knew that the decision I was dreading was going to have to be made.

Let me tell you, when I made that choice, I didnt feel good about it. I felt the weight of that guilt and worried about the knock-on effects it might have. But I did it. Slowly, I dialled the number and I called in sick. And I took the vitamin C and zinc tablets that my friends were urging. And then I had a massive vegan lunch, kept myself hydrated, and took some rest. And after a couple of days, the flu symptoms went away, the colour came back to my cheeks, and I got my usual energy back.

I cant do much about my lifestyle choices: I work with people, and sometimes people get sick and cough in my general direction (Id like to think its not an intentional attempt to infect me but rather carelessness and bad manners, but who knows?). Most of the time, my immune system is strong enough to resist, but even the strongest people get the sniffles sometimes. Yep, vegans too! And its no reason not to be vegan, despite what plant-based YouTubers who expect that eating fruits and vegetables will make them invincible say.

If youre vegan, and you get sick, listen to your body: get some rest; see a doctor if needs be. Eat more fruit and veg; in fact, eat more in general. But if you think that listening to your body means participating in harming animals, then youre mistaken. All of the major dietetic associations agree that well-planned all-plant diets are appropriate for all people in all stages of life.

Vegans arent invincible. Sometimes well get sick. And eventuallywell, I dont have to spell it out for you. But thats not because were vegan; its because were alive, and illness is, sadly, a part of life.

Truth be told, Im stronger, fitter, and less prone to illness than I was when I was nonvegan. But even if that werent the case, Id still be vegan, because instead of listening to my body I prefer to listen to my conscience. And my conscience tells me that using animals when I dont need to is morally wrong.

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How I Got Ill on a Vegan Diet and Why I Ended Up Listening to My Body - Ecorazzi

Written by PETA | February 23, 2017

If you live in Canada, you know about Pizza Pizza, but do you know about the new Pizza Pizza vegan cheese? The popular chain has added plant-basedcheese to its menu, courtesy of Violifefoods. Think its too good to be true? Check out this page and click the Whats in It? tab. Then select Cheeses. Read it and weep with joy! Then find a location and taste it for yourself.

People are literally freaking out over the new vegan offering and with good reasonjust look at these gorgeous pies:

The ways that cows are exploited for their milk would make anyone turn away in disgust. Mothers calves are taken away from them, often within a day of birth. They are immediately hooked up to milking machines two or more times a day. Artificial insemination, milking regimens, and sometimes drugs are used to force them to produce even more milkthe average cow today produces more than four times as much milk as cows did in 1950.

Thats not all. A cows natural lifespan is about 20 years, but cows used by the dairy industry are typically killed after about five years because their bodies wear out from constantly being pregnant or lactating. A dairy-industry study found that by the time when theyre killed, nearly 50 percent of cows are lame because of standing on concrete flooring and filth in intensive confinement.

As more people learn about the horrors of the dairy industry, were seeing more cruelty-free options become available. Pizza Pizza joins a slew of other companies that are introducing nondairy foods. Coffeemate recently announced that its offering vegan creamers, and both Ben & Jerrys and Breyers released new dairy-free ice cream flavors. Were thrilled!

Want to learn more? Here are the five most common misconceptions about the dairy industry.

If youre not Canadian, check out this list of 42 pizza restaurants that have vegan options.

Also, you can sign up for our popular PETA Living E-News to have compassionate content delivered to your inbox once a week.

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By submitting this form, you are agreeing to our collection, storage, use, and disclosure of your personal info in accordance with our privacy policy as well as to receiving e-mails from us.

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Pizza Pizza Added Vegan Cheese to Its Menu, and People Are Freaking Out - PETA (blog) (press release)

Viva Las VegansThursday, February 23 5:40pmBy Diana Edelman

Torta Cubana at Panchos Vegan Tacos. Photo courtesy of Panchos

Folks in Centennial Hills now have a vegan reason to celebrate: There are not onebut two notable vegan and vegan-friendly options over on the west side. Chef Kenny Chye of Chinatowns Veggie House fame, who recently opened the Valleys first-ever entirely plant-based fast food spot/drive-thru, Vege-Way (6410 N. Durango Dr.,vegewaylv.com) has opened its second outpost. The all-vegan joint offers cheeseburgers, fish tacos, popcorn chicken and more. Theres even honest-to-goodness milkshakes that leave you questioning just how dairy-free they are. (Trust us, they are.) Because they get their vegan ice cream across the way from the also newly opened second location of Perfect Scoop (6446 N. Durango Dr., perfectscooplv.com), which has a pretty healthy selection of vegan ice cream. Centennial Hills, you have arrived.

Craving Indian food? Urban Turban (39000 Paradise Rd., urbanturbanusa.com) recently revamped its entire plant-based menu, thanks to its new chef, Tarun Kapoor, a master chef from the five-star world. He has created some of the best vegan Indian eats in town, and the restaurant now has 16 (yup, 16!) vegan options. You cant go wrong with the lentil soup, but get a little creative with your apps and main courses and check out the Pani Puri (a crispy flour-filled pastry with potatoes with mint and herb-spiced water you pour over), the Vegetable Korma (fresh veggies in a coconut milk curry) or the Yellow Tadka Dhal, a stew of yellow lentils and Indian spices. End your indulgence with a dark chocolate samosa. Stay tuned this is only the start of the vegan scene at Urban Turban.

Taco shops are a dime a dozen in town, sure. But an entirely vegan taco joint? Say hello to Panchos Vegan Tacos (4865 S. Pecos Rd., panchovegano.com), the only entirely vegan Mexican restaurant in the Valley. Just how much vegan Mexican exists at Panchos? Were talking street tacos with a choice of meat. Fried rolled potato tacos. Quesadillas. Burritos smothered in melted cheese. Tamales stuffed with jalapenos and cheese or meat. Traditional Mexican soups like fideo. Huaraches. Desserts. Horchata. And so much more. Dont be fooledeven if the menu says beef, cheese, sour cream, etc., it is all vegan and animal-free.

Bingeing on Healthy Eats, Indian Gets a Makeover and Vegan Tacos

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Bingeing on Healthy Eats, Indian Gets a Makeover and Vegan Tacos - Vegas Seven

Written by PETA | February 22, 2017

Starbucks has been making great strides in offering vegan foods lately, adding almond milk to its roster of plant-based milks. (It already offered soy and coconut milk.)

And now this: Picture a cupof steel-cut oats, quinoa, and chia seeds that have been soaked in coconut milk and topped with almond slices and shaved coconut. The popular coffee chain has introduced these Overnight Grains in 600 New York locations, and if youre near one, we encourage you to try this vegan goodness immediately. If Starbucks first prepared vegan food item is a hit, it could become available across the entire U.S.

Starbucks is aware of the growing number of plant-based eaters and offered this fascinating statistic when it began to carry almond milk: More than half (58%) of all U.S. adults consume non-dairy milk, and almondmilk is the most popular option with 60% of the non-dairy market.

As the cruel treatment of cows used in the dairy industry becomes common knowledge, the market will increasingly feel the effects of consumers compassionate choices. And consumers choices definitely make a difference.

Just recently, The Daily Meal website named PETA President Ingrid Newkirk one of Americas 50 Most Powerful People in Food for influencing consumers food choices and prompting more companies to offer vegan options. To give just one example, Olive Garden has made its marinara sauce vegan and also veganized its minestrone soup. Sign our current action alert asking Einstein Bros. Bagels to carry dairy-free cream cheese! Then check out our popular guide to vegan cheese and these dairy-free yogurts.

To learn more, check out these 18 images that the dairy industry doesnt want you to see.

Want more vegan Starbucks? See our guide to ordering vegan at Starbucks.

More:

Good Morning! Starbucks Unveils First Prepared Vegan Breakfast Item - PETA (blog) (press release)

Customize & buy the Tasty Cookbook here: http://bzfd.it/2fpfeu5

Here is what you'll need!

1 tablespoon vegetable shortening

1. In a small mixing bowl, combine chocolate chips, mint extract, and vegetable shortening, and microwave for 1 minute. Stir often and make sure the chocolate doesn't burn.

2. Dip cracker in chocolate mixture.

3. Place chocolate covered crackers on parchment-lined baking sheet.

4. Refrigerate or freeze until hard.

1 cup sea salt/maldon salt

1. Line a 9-inch baking tray with parchment paper and grease thoroughly.

2. Set aside a metal whisk and one tablespoon of baking soda.

3. In a large saucepan (the bigger, the better, as this will more than triple in size) over medium-high heat, combine sugar, corn syrup, and water.

4. Stir to incorporate, then leave to boil. Insert candy thermometer and continue to heat without stirring until the mixture reaches 300F/150C.

5. Remove from heat, and working quickly, add the baking soda and quickly whisk into the sugar syrup (whisking for no more than five seconds to prevent deflating the toffee). The mixture will begin to expand. Quickly pour it into the prepared pan and leave to set. Do not move it for 1-2 hours.

6. Once the toffee has cooled and set, remove from pan. Using a blunt object, shatter the toffee into bite-size pieces.

7. Melt chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl for 75-90 seconds. Make sure to stop and stir after every 30 seconds.

8. Dip the toffee pieces in chocolate and place on a lined baking tray. Finish with a sprinkle of sea salt and place in the refrigerator to cool for 15 minutes.

1. Chop up some bananas and freeze in container for at least two hours.

2. Blend until the bananas smooth.

3. Add some Oreos and blend again.

4. Pour into a container and freeze until solid.

CHOCOLATE- STUFFED STRAWBERRIES

1. Line a 9-inch baking tray with parchment paper.

2. Set aside melted dark chocolate and white chocolate.

3. Chop the top half of the strawberries off.

4. Carve the inside of the strawberry hollow.

5. Place strawberries in empty egg carton.

6. Fill the strawberries with melted chocolate and cover them with the top half again.

7. Chill for five minutes.

8. Dip in white chocolate and place in baking tray.

9. Chill for another five minutes.

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4 Vegan Dessert Recipes - Santa Maria Times (subscription)

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This delicious recipe is a healthier take on your average potato cakes.

Its made using ingredients like sweet potato and buckwheat flourand is flavoured with spices and fresh herbs for an added zing.

If youre a fan of sweet potatoes, youll love these.

Theyre great for a light dinner when enjoyed with a big salad.

These sweet potato cakes also make a great snack for when youre feeling peckish oryou can take them to work as a packed lunch.

Plus, its vegan and gluten-free so what are you waiting for?

2 large sweet potatoes cut into small cubes (345g cooked weight)

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

1 tbsp olive oil

1/4 cup onion, chopped

1/4cup coriander, chopped

4 tbsp buckwheat flour

1/2 tsp chilli

1 tsp paprika

1-2 tbsp coconut oil (for cooking)

Preheat your oven to 220C (200C for fan assisted).

Place the sweet potato cubes onto a large baking sheet covered with parchment paper.

Season with salt and pepper and drizzle with olive oil.

Roast in the oven for 30 minutes or until soft enough to mash.

Leave to cool, then transfer the sweet potato into a large mixing bowl to mash.

Add the onion, coriander, flour, chilli, and paprika.

Season with additional salt and pepper if required.

Shape the mixture into four patties.

Heat 1-2 tbsp coconut oil in a frying pan over medium to high heat.

Cook the cakes for three minutes on each side (or until they turn brown) then flip and cook for another two to three minutes on the other side.

Enjoy hot.

MORE: Vegan recipe video: Heres how to make a super healthy green smoothie

MORE: Vegan recipe video: Heres how to make chickpea avocado sandwiches

MORE: Vegan recipe video: Heres how to make lentil pesto pasta

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Vegan recipe video: Here's how to make sweet potato cakes - Metro