In this issue:
- Happenings
- New products: vegan versions of snickers, mars, bounty & milky way bars, soy creamer, stickers, cookbooks
- Sourcing new products – I need your help
- Product return: vege oyster sauce
- The "it’s un-Australian to eat lamb" advert
- Join the duck rescue team (VIC)
- National veg food guide
- Vegan bake-off (NSW)
- Green earth (vegan) festival (QLD)
- Vegan expo (NSW)
- Vege social events
- Charity of the month
- Recipe of the month
- Quote of the month
Happenings
This newsletter is a little late as Robbie and I went to New Zealand this month for a camping holiday. This was our adventure trip so we did lots of exciting activities like caving, black-water rafting, jet boating, bush walking and even hiked a live volcano. New Zealand never fails to amaze me with the beauty of its countryside and coastline. Dairy is huge in NZ and the number of cows has increased dramatically since we were last there. As a result it is very hard to find any pre-prepared food without dairy in it but we did manage to find a couple of great vegan restaurants and, as we were camping, we cooked most of our own meals - it’s amazing how creative you can get with only one pot and no fridge! I hope you all enjoyed your Christmas break and are having a very happy start to the new year!
New Products
GoMaxGo bars
How does the idea of a vegan Snickers, Mars, Bounty or Milky Way bar sound? If you’re anything like me, just the thought makes me start drooling! When I heard about these bars I knew we had to have them in Australia and 6 months later here they are. So far I’ve tried the Jokerz (just like a delicious snickers), Twilight (like a mars bar complete with a dreamy layer of caramel), Mahalo (tastes like coconut mixed with sweetened condensed milk wrapped in chocolate mmm) – oh it’s a tough job! Just the Buccaneer to go which apparently is like a milky way: mousse-like nougat covered in chocolate. These bars are wickedly good and my favourite new product of the year....so far!
Soy Creamer
For all those times you visit a friend for a cup of tea or coffee and they don't have soy milk or for when you go to a cafe that doesn't serve soy milk...Soygo is the solution. Each pack contains 30 individual packs of powdered soy milk. Keep a couple in your hangbag, wallet or glovebox and you'll never have to go without a cuppa again. Great for travelling or everyday.
Stickers
We are now stocking Animal Liberation NSW's new range of animal rights stickers. By displaying these very cute stickers on your car, school books or bags not only are you helping to spread the message but you’re supporting Animal Lib’s work for the animals too.
Cookbooks
As reviewed in the latest Vegan Voice magazine
The Vegan Table
“200 unforgettable recipes for entertaining every guest at every occasion”. I am really impressed with this cookbook, the recipes sound scrumptious and don’t sound difficult, best of all they have colour photographs so you know how they are supposed to look. A huge variety of vegan meals.
The Vegan Scoop
If you have an ice cream maker then this is the book you need. 150 recipes for dairy-free ice cream that tastes better than the real thing!
Sourcing New Products - we need your help
We need your help to find some fantastic new cruelty-free, vegan (non-food) products such as body lotions, shower gels, household cleaners, cosmetics, skin care, hair care etc for our shop. Unfortunately most products on the market come from companies who still test on animals or contain animal ingredients. Do you have a favourite cruelty-free product you'd like us to stock? If so we'd love to hear from you. The two criteria they have to meet are: 1. They must be vegan and 2. They must have cruelty-free certification from CCF (www.choosecrueltyfree.org.au).
Product Return
Vegetarian Oyster Sauce is back in stock after being unavailble for months. Ideal for stir fries or any Asian recipe that calls for oyster sauce, Vegetarian Mushroom Oyster Sauce adds a delicious finishing touch to all your stir-fries and other asian-style dishes. Made from high quality shitake mushroom extracts, it is rich in flavour and colour.
It’s “un-Australian” to eat lambs
After having to suffer through Sam Kekovich’s ridiculous ad which declared it un-Australian not to eat lamb on Australia Day, I was happy to see the antidote: comedian Simon Kennovich who declared “Lamb on Australia Day, that’s un-Australian”. Watch this funny anti-ad here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUdSrhJcsEQ. With all the amazing meat analogues now available you can have a delicious BBQ without the death. Try throwing these treats on your BBQ: Bounty Burgers, Fry’s or Sanitarium sausages, Redwood sage & marjoram sausages, Vegemeal burgers or sausages, vege kebabs, sliced eggplant, capsicum or zucchini and the list goes on...
Help Protect Native Water birds – Join the duck rescue team
The Coalition Against Duck Shooting will again take an army of rescuers and a mobile veterinary clinic with wildlife carers out to the wetlands on the opening morning of the Victorian duck shooting season, 20 March 2010. The team will work to prevent birds being shot, rescue wounded birds and collect illegally shot, protected and threatened species. Join the rescue team (with volunteers from all over Australia) at www.duck.org.au or contact them on info@duck.org.au. Information meetings for new rescuers will be held in Melbourne and Castlemaine in early March.
National Veg Food Guide
The 2008/09 edition of the Melbourne Veg food guide has sold out and Aduki has decided to embrace your enthusiasm for the book and make the next edition nationwide for the first time. Aduki are now on the look out for restaurant reviewers in NSW, WA, QLD and NT. If you are interested in being a reviewer contact Aduki for more information: info@aduki.net.au.
Sydney Vegan Bake-off Competition
Aduki, in association with Naked Espresso/Basil Pizza, will be holding a Vegan Bake-off comptetion on 14 February at 126 King Street, Newtown from 2pm. Aspiring chefs can enter their dishes in the following categories; cupcakes, savoury, sweet & savoury pies, raw desserts and gluten free. If you'd like to enter the Vegan Bake-off email: cate@adukipress.net.au.
Green Earth Festival
The Green Earth Festival is Brisbane’s first ever 100% vegan festival which will be held on Saturday 13 March at the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens – Don’t miss it! The festival will feature live bands & performers, demonstrations & speakers, lots of great vegan food, children’s zone, video zone, art and fashion displays, roving entertainment and lots of stalls. The festival goals are to raise awareness of issues such as the environment, health and lifestyle, cruelty-free living, recycling and sustainability. Visit the Green Earth Festival website for more information.
Sydney Vegan Expo
Put Sunday 2 May in your diary and come on down to the 5th annual Sydney Vegan Expo for a great day of entertainment, speakers, stalls and food. More details will come in our next newsletter but be assured it will be a great day. This year’s Vegan Expo will be held at Petersham Town Hall from 10am – 4pm. The Vegan Society is now seeking expressions of interest from sponsors and stallholders so if you are interested in being part of this exciting event please contact Sarah Wade on 0431 849 711 or swade08@yahoo.co.uk.
Vege Social Events
VIC
Saturday 6 February, 7.30pm: Vegetarian Network Victoria social dinner at the Moroccan Soup Bar, 183 St Georges Road, Fitzroy North. Cost is $20 for a 3 course banquet, or mains are around $10. RSVP to Emily at social.dinners@vnv.org.au by 1/2.
Friday 12 February, 7pm: Join Vegans Unite for a hearty Italian social dinner at Vege2go, 452 Lygon Street, Brunswick East. Order from the menu. RSVP to Shaun on rsvp@vegansunite.org.au by 6/2.
NSW
Sunday 7 February, 1pm: Vegan Society NSW lunch at Funky Pies, Shop 2 144-148 Glenayr Avenue, Bondi. If you haven’t been to Funky Pies before I highly recommend you make the trip as their pies are unbelievably good! Not to mention their sausage rolls, cakes and biscuits - and of course they are all vegan. RSVP by calling 02 9898 9893 or email events@vegansocietynsw.com by 3/2.
Saturday 20 February, 7pm: Join the Vegan Society NSW at Green Gourmet, 115 King Street, Newtown for a vegan feast and meet like-minded people. Cost is $25 per person. RSVP by calling 02 9898 9893 or email events@vegansocietynsw.com. All welcome.
QLD
Saturday 13 February, 7pm: Come along and meet like-minded people at Loving Hut, Shop 2, 1420 Logan Road, Mt Gravatt, non-members are very welcome. Cost is $25 for a delicious buffet meal. RSVP by calling (07) 3300 9320 by 6/2.
Charity of the Month
Meet Hansel and Gretel, two adorable calves who have just arrived at Edgar’s Mission Sanctuary in Victoria. Gretel was born with only three legs, which for many would have been a serious handicap but it proved to be her saving grace. Her indomitable spirit to rise against the odds touched the hearts of the farmer who, not wishing to see her killed, contacted Edgar’s Mission. Of course Gretel needed a buddy and fate brought her Hansel. Little Hansel, just a few hours old was always destined to be killed as male calves have very little commercial value but he got lucky as he too found his way to Edgar’s Mission.
The on-going costs for caring for these two babies will be significant as they will need a special formula to sustain them in their first critical months. Having not had access to their mothers’ milk their immune systems are weak. Hansel has already cheated death by surviving a disease which often claims the lives of young animals and Gretel is suffering from eye infections due to the heat, dust and flies. The two babies will also need their own paddock and shelter as three legged Gretel will never be strong enough to join the regular herd. Please help Edgar’s Mission Sanctuary care for these young calves by adding a donation to your next Cruelty Free Shop order.
Recipe of the Month
Macaroni and 'Cheese'
From peta.org.au
Ingredients:
3 1/2 cups elbow macaroni
1/2 cup vegan margarine (Nuttelex)
1/2 cup flour
3 1/2 cups boiling water
1-2 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. soy sauce
1 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
Pinch of turmeric
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 cup Lotus yeast flakes
Paprika, to taste
Method:
- Preheat the oven to 180C
- Cook the macaroni according to the package directions, drain and set aside.
- In a saucepan, melt the margarine over low heat then whisk in the flour.
- Continue whisking over medium heat until smooth and bubbly.
- Whisk in the boiling water, salt, soy sauce, garlic powder, and turmeric.
- Continue whisking until dissolved. Once thick and bubbling, whisk in the oil and the yeast flakes.
- Mix 3/4 of the sauce with the noodles and place in a casserole dish. Cover with the remaining sauce and sprinkle with the paprika.
- Bake for 15 minutes.
- Put under the grill for a few minutes until topping is crisp.
- Makes 5 servings
Quote of the Month
"Anyone who has accustomed himself to regard the life of any living creature as worthless is in danger of arriving also at the idea of worthless human lives." Albert Schweitzer
