Vegan Sofritas, Chipotle-Style
I must’ve been Mexican in my last life because I could happily eat Mexican food every day. When the Chipotle chain came out with their vegan sofritas, which are basically chopped bits of organic tofu in a saucy base, I changed my stance on what fast food could offer.I still prefer homemade and in case you do, try this version of delicious sofritas.Still, there’s nothing like home-cooked food for so many reasons. Cooking from scratch lets you use the freshest ingredients in the ...
Climate Change on Your Plate
I read that red salmon practically vanished from Alaska this year. They were once abundant, and clockwork-dependable and now, nada. It's not just the fish. Other species are suffering, whales and manatees and so much declining, becoming extinct from under us.What's happening feels so big. Recycling and cutting out plastic straws is a step but not a big one.If we really want to do something, it's time to look at the facts about the environment and what we eat.A haunting article in ...
The Vegan Tipping Point?
Just five years ago, veganism was still so far from mainstream that it would require a lengthy explanation and a slew of apologies, especially when seeking out vegan foods in a restaurant. Meatless was one thing but no eggs and cheese? Fuggedahbout it, as they say in Brooklyn.How things have changed. More and more people are waking up to a diet sans animal products. According to some sources, the number of vegans in America has doubled since 2009. In fact, like probiotic and ...
Easiest Pickled Dandelion Capers
Dandelions are getting a makeover in the public eye. Sure, they're weeds marring the green lawn perfection. But the health benefits and culinary side of them have been getting increasing attention. Greens bursting with flavor and calcium, vitamins A and C, and iron, they are abundant and generally free. This recipe for naturally fermented (pickled) dandelion buds shouts gourmet but is the easiest way to preserve the ever-present weeds. No boiling, no vinegar, just easy. Bonus points ...
Easy and Satisfying “BBQ” Baked Tofu
Say tofu to any meat eater and they'll immediately conjure up sandal-wearing brown-rice loving frumps eating tasteless hunks of pasty mush. This barbecued tofu, which is actually just baked, on the other end of the spectrum, is bound to change hearts and minds!Start with extra firm organic tofu, marinate for an hour or so (if there's time) and bake. We've given some sauce suggestions here but improvisation is encouraged - just be sure to use something with a little sweetness to encourage ...
Watch: I Can’t Be Vegan Because…. DF Mavens Makes Ice Cream No Excuse!
We often hear from people who say they want to go vegan, and they get it on an intellectual level, since plant-based eating has been shown to be good for body (health), mind (function) and soul (ease), but their various cravings won’t allow it. Among the most-cited can't-live-without foods is ice cream, with its yummy sweet cold creaminess -- for many it is a must-have treat.Well, good news! DF Mavens makes some of the best ice cream we've ever tasted -- dairy or non-dairy -- no ...
Classic Tuna Salad – Minus the Fish (Vegan)
What could be more retro and comforting than a tuna salad sandwich? Chunky tuna, tangy mayo, chopped celery on toasted bread with a pickle and chips on the side? Yum.Yet, not only is tuna one of those mercury-heavy fish (not so good for anyone, especially kids), the unrelenting quest for sandwiches has meant countless dolphins, turtles, sharks, seabirds and more snared in the tuna trawls along with massive amount of bycatch (that’s the industry word for marine life caught as a ...
Driven by Flavor: Who’s Kidding Themselves?
More on Dan Barber's rantings in the Wall Street Journal seeking to justify his feeling that burgers "should be part of your diet." As Eleanor West writes in Food Republic, (Vegetarians, Carb Lovers and Coke Fans Beware), the crux of Barber's argument boils down to three main points. Our response to each point follows.1. Vegetables deplete soil more than grazing cows.Response: So what? This “argument” is a textbook example of logical fallacies in action. Just because ...
Should Aliens Keep Humans in Crates for Their Juicy Meat?
There is sooo much talk these days about aliens, it's clearly time to go beyond the standard they-are-taking-over the-planet meme (or have already taken it over, depending on who you ask).Let's get to the nitty-gritty details, like what aliens eat. All species eat, right? If they do, we can only hope it's not us, but it certainly could be. Imagine human gestation crates, just like the ones pregnant pork pigs (who are kept pregnant/caged their entire lives - fun, we're sure) "live" ...
Sam Harris — Meat and Ethical Eating
Sam Harris, described as a neuroscientist, author and "public intellectual" (what's that?), is well-known for his views on religion (in a nutshell, he thinks it's bunk) and the need for more reason in our society.What you may not know, however, is that this uber-rationalist (he heads up Project Reason, dedicated to scientific and secular knowledge) gets it when it comes to meat. As he says, he cannot defend the ethics of eating animals (even if he eats them). Animals suffer and we are ...
