Vegetarian Star

Poet Benjamin Zephaniah has become one of several celebrities to join the campaign to ask the Malvern Conservators to reconsider their plans to close the vegetarian St. Ann’s Well Cafe in Malvern Hills in West Worcestershire, England.

According to a press release from the Save St. Ann’s Well campaign, Zephaniah contacted supporters to offer his thoughts, saying he was sad to hear about the closing.

“In the book Icons of England I named the Malvern Hills as my favourite place in England. I could have also said that St Anns Well cafe is my favourite place on the hills. It is unique, it is a treasure, it is fully in keeping with the hills, and is a sustainable enterprise. This cafe is a great example of the kind of ethical business that can carry us forward in the 21st century. It must be protected, it must be saved, it must just be for all of us. PS I recommend the chocolate cake!’”

The owner of the cafe, John Redman, has occupied the site of St. Ann’s Well for both his business and his residency for the past 20 years.

He was informed late last year that the Conservators would not be renewing his lease.

An online petition has been started in an attempt to persuade them to reverse their decision.

Hope this won’t be the last year for the chocolate cake Zephaniah likes so much.

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Michael Pollan has been named of the most influential people of 2010 on Time Magazine‘s annual list.

Pollan, author of The Omnivore’s Dilemma, who’s criticized the unfit conditions for humans and animals in factory farms, can still be considered a vegetarian’s ally, despite his reluctance to go any further than advocating less meat.

Alice Waters has written his bio:

“Unwilling to accept the food industry’s account of where beef comes from, Michael bought a steer in Kansas to follow the life cycle of a kernel of corn from the laboratory to the feed bin to the restaurant where the beef is served. It’s a harrowing tale, and since the moment I heard him tell it, I have not served corn-fed beef of any kind. I was Pollanized — and I am not alone.”

“In the Oscar-nominated documentary Food, Inc. and in his books Food Rules and The Omnivore’s Dilemma, Michael, 55, tells complex stories in an engaging voice. When he speaks live, I’ve seen thousands grip their seats as they realize what our food system has become and how badly we need to fix it.”

The full list of Time’s Most Influential People can be viewed here.

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Mark Bittman is famous for his flexitarian approach to eating and in a recent column in the New York Times, Bittman shares with readers how to make sushi without the fish.

Sushi without the seafood is not only vegetarian friendly, but budget friendly and Bittman points this out in the article.

“Think about it: sushi without seafood, sushi without restaurants and sushi without spending $80 a person. It’s an appealing option,” he writes.

Vegetarians already know that nori seaweed strips make great wraps and although not every non seafood option Bittman gives is vegetarian, there is an abundance of vegetables and vegetarian protein to try like fried tofu, raw or seared tofu, avocado, mushrooms and eggplants.

Bittman says that when buying nori, look for sheets with darker colors and fewer holes.

And eat right away for a crispy sushi experience–as soon as nori touches moisture, it begins to soften.

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Colleen Patrick-Goudreau "The Joy Of Vegan Baking"

Colleen Patrick-Goudreau, author of several vegetarian cookbooks, including “The Joy Of Vegan Baking,” is giving a series of speeches around the United States titled, “From Excuse-itarian to Vegetarian: Addressing the Blocks that Keep People from Making Changes.”

Patrick-Goudreau says making the transition to vegetarian or veganism is easier than you think and you may not even realize your diet is almost there.

Even meat eaters area already eating fruits, vegetables and nuts, for example.

Sometimes it’s just a matter of taking the same spices you’d use in a meat dish and applying those to a plant based one.

“When you’re going to get salad from the salad bar, just don’t put cheese on it,” Patrick-Goudreau said. “Try a bean burrito instead of a chicken burrito.”

Patrick-Goudreau advised vegans worried about calcium to consume lots of dark, leafy greens that contain the mineral, such as kale, collard greens, chard and broccoli.

Of course, buying her cookbooks doesn’t  hurt either.

Besides The Joy of Vegan Baking, Patrick-Goudreau has also authored The Vegan Table : 200 Unforgettable Recipes for Entertaining Every Guest at Every Occasion.

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Here’s the perfect opportunity to use those FAQs Erin McKenna has  recently compiled for her BabyCakes cookbook.

As previously reported, McKenna has added about 20 of the most common questions or problems people have had with the recipes.

The owner of the famous bakery in New York City offering vegan, sugar-free, and gluten-free desserts has a blueberry muffins recipe that she made on Good Morning America.

If you’re out of coconut oil, don’t despair.

According to the FAQs, any other vegetable oil can be substituted in the batter. However, if you were making frosting, you’d have to use liquid coconut oil.

Grab the recipe here, and to learn where to get your Bob’s Red Mill flour, visit the FAQs.

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"Put On Your Crown" Queen Latifah

Queen Latifah has authored a book about empowering girls and women, Put On Your Crown.

Good self esteem starts by eating healthy and the Queen begins chapter one of her book reflecting on a moment after she’d finished her yoga class and ate a vegan breakfast.

Yes, she even specified vegan.

Sure would have been nice if she gave more details.

Granola over soy milk?

Tofu scramble with vegetables?

If you’re treating yourself like a queen, there are dozens of breakfasts you can consume that are free of milk and eggs and EatDrinkBetter has suggested 10 ways to start your day with a vegan meal, some traditional, some you may have never considered breakfast food.

Like banana boats.

“Split each banana length-wise and spread each half generously with peanut butter. Top with raisins, drizzle on the agave nectar, and dust with cinnamon.”

Yum! Sounds like dessert for breakfast!

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Erin McKenna is busy cranking out another cookbook, but if you’re still navigating your way through her first one, BabyCakes: Vegan, Gluten Free and (Mostly) Sugar Free Recipes from New York’s Most Talked About Bakery, there is help available on her website.

If you’ve ever wondered if potato starch can replace potato flour, you’re in luck.

Over the months since publishing the book, she’s compiled a list of some of the most frequently asked questions about her recipes, and she’s created an FAQ list.

BTW, potato starch and flour are TOTALLY different and you have to use what the recipe calls for.

Here are a couple of other commonly asked questions.

Q: What if I can’t have gluten or bean flours? Is there a substitute?
A: You may substitute rice flour for the recipes that call for Garbanzo-Fava bean flour, but not for the recipes that call for Bob’s Red Mill All Purpose Gluten Free Baking Flour or Spelt Flour.

Q: What is Evaporated Cane Juice? Is it liquid or granular?
A: It’s granular and relatively easy to find. Try Florida Crystals. You may also use Rapadura.

For the complete list of FAQs, visit BabyCakes.

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"Oh My Dog" Beth Ostrosky Stern

Beth Ostrosky Stern‘s new book on choosing and caring for a dog, Oh My Dog,  may appear to have a mixed message about animal welfare.

The wife of Howard Stern who has been both a volunteer at animal shelters and a North Shore Animal League America spokesperson, wrote that although her family had always taken in rescue pets from shelters, for some reason, she and Howard were set on finding a breed-an English Bulldog.

When she arrived at the breeder, she fell in love with a Bulldog that was a former show dog, but developed a wiggle and was of “no use” anymore in her former profession.

The dog went home with Beth and was named Bianca Romijn-Stamos-Ostrosky-Stern.

While adopting a shelter dog is the best way to reduce the millions of animals euthanized every year, like Beth’s story, some adoptions of breeds can prove just as beneficial, especially if the breed was “rescued” from a dangerous or unhealthy situation.

Like a bred dog suffering from the genetic mutation of missing or disabled limbs due to generations of inbreeding.

Retired racing greyhounds are another example of taking in a breed otherwise likely to be euthanized or abandoned.

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