Ⓥ A festive message from Peteronsax

As I begin to prepare tomorrow’s Christmas lunch, I realize how much my tastes have changed over the last 6 months - since giving up animal products. Now that I eat only what’s good for me, I really have developed a taste for it. For example, if I’ve eaten a lot of fruit and vegetables, I feel hunger for beans and peas, and also the other way around. My newly developed tastes lead me to a healthy and balanced diet. And I have almost no cravings for any animal products or their by-products.

In fact, I feel revolted when walking past the meat fridges in the supermarket. Other shoppers see beef and pork and lamb and chicken – while I just see mutilated dead bodies.

Yesterday in Aldi I imagined a fridge full of human body parts, skinned and deboned of course, except for the occasional severed hand and a head with the eyes still open. (I don’t think anyone else saw it).

To lighten my mood, I pictured a cartoon of a flesh-eating zombie, surrounded by human and non-human meat. And from his blood-stained mouth came the words “What! You don’t eat dead bodies? So where do you get your protein from?”

Merry Christmas and enjoy your Christmas lunch.

Peteronsax

Ⓥ The Great Vegusto No Moo "Cheese" Sauce Trial

Recently we were lucky enough to receive a couple of samples of Vegusto No Moo Sauce from Vegusto UK.

Now, I am a long time advocate of Engevita nutritional yeast flakes, which I use to make a great "cheese" sauce for one of my favourite dinners - Lasagna; so I was very interested to see how the No Moo Sauce compared.

The first obvious benefit from using No Moo Sauce rather than making an Engevita sauce was that all I had to do was open the packet and pour it out.




So, having already purchased some organic lasagna sheets, I made up a tomato sauce from some chopped garlic, onion, mushroom and pepper fried up with added tomato passata, frozen TVP mince and of course a good glug of vegan red wine.  After a quick layering of the two sauces and the pasta sheets, ending of course with some of the No Moo sauce, I bunged it into my oven and waited a long thirty minutes.  Gramondo has pointed out to me to mention that it did smell nice while cooking, and when I opened the oven I was pleasantly surprised to see that the No Moo sauce had bubbled and browned very nicely.

Now trying our best not to burn our mouths we tucked into the expertly made lasagna.  Our taste buds were not disappointed. Golden brown on the top and all melted and hot inside the sauce was very good indeed.  It was I must admit even tastier than my old friend Engevita.  Now not being an expert in conveying flavours of food into the written form, I feel as if all I can say from here is that I recommend you give the No Moo a go, and make sure you don't burn your mouth.

Ⓥ Banoffee Pie made with Soy Condensed Milk

I thought I would have a go at Banoffee Pie as it well within my cooking capabilities.  The ingredients needed are, soy condensed milk, bananas, box of vegan cream, digestives, margarine.

First, instead of being sensible and eco-friendly as my good friend from Brazil later suggested, and using a pressure cooker for 30 minutes, instead I simmered my precious can of soy condensed milk for four hours.

I left my cooked soy condensed milk in the fridge for a day and it thickened up quite a lot.  Then all you do is break the digestives up into crumbs, melt about 1oz of margarine and add the biscuit crumbs to it.  Put this mix into a flan dish and press down.  Then slice up bananas and layer them on top.  Then put a layer of condensed soy milk.  Then after whisking your soy cream blob that on top.

If you can resist eating it for 24 hours i would recommend doing this as it really does taste a lot nicer a day later. I would give it a big 8 out of 10 but if you don't like it please feel free to post it to me in an air tight container, first class mail preferred.

Soy Condensed Milk is currently available in the United Kingdom (last checked July 2013), through Ananda Foods.

Ⓥ Tesco advert banned by ASA

I received the letter below from the ASA regarding the butchers choice sausages. 

Tesco Stores Ltd	Case number:	A11-158670/DJW
Tesco House Delamare Road Cheshunt Hertfordshire EN8 9SL	Media:	Television
	Sector:	Retail
	Agency:
Number of complaints : 4

Ad

A TV ad, for sausages, viewed on 11 May 2011.  The voiceover stated “Why not try specially selected, British farmed, expertly produced, deliciously fresh butcher's choice bangers on your barbie?  Quality and freshness at Tesco ...”.  The ad contained a scene that showed pigs roaming in a field.  Three pigs were then shown in a hay barn and walking with a farmer down a lane.  A sign that displayed the name of the farm was also shown.

Issue

Four complainants challenged whether the ad was misleading, because they believed the meat used for Tesco branded sausages came from pigs that were bred and reared indoors.

Response

Tesco believed that the ad was not misleading. They stated that the ad showed pigs both indoors and outdoors. They also said that a combination of standard trim and outdoor bred trim had been used in the product. They explained that standard trim referred to meat produced by indoor bred pigs. They said that the pigs had been reared to Red Tractor standards and ensured world class standards of husbandry and welfare to nationally agreed levels.

Tesco stated that the farm shown in the ad was a supplier for the product. They explained that the farm farmed both outdoor sows and indoor finishers. They said that the outdoor sows did not supply the meat for the product and that the farm supplied meat from pigs which were born outdoors and finished indoors.

Clearcast said that prior to filming the ad, Tesco had given an assurance that the footage would be shot at a farm from which the pigs were slaughtered to create their Butcher’s Choice sausages.

Assessment

Upheld

The ASA acknowledged that the pigs were shown in both indoor and outdoor environments. We also acknowledged that the farm shown in the ad supplied meat for the product from pigs which were outdoor bred. We understood that the term outdoor bred had an industry-wide, recognised meaning: that pigs were born in fields, where they were kept until weaning, and then they were moved indoors. We understood that the Butcher’s Choice Sausages were made from a mixture of both indoor and outdoor bred trim.

We noted that in all scenes the pigs were shown to be in a spacious and free environment. In particular, we noted that the pigs were shown wandering unrestricted outside and, within the indoor barn scene, the barn door was shown to be open and the pigs’ movement unrestricted. In that context, we considered that consumers were likely to interpret the ad to mean that the pigs used to make the Butcher’s Choice sausages were reared in an unrestricted environment and had access to outdoor pasture. Since we understood that that was not the case, we concluded that the ad was misleading.

The ad breached BCAP Code rule 3.1 (Misleading advertising).

Action

The ad must not be broadcast again in its current form.

Ⓥ Complain against Tesco advert for butchers choice sausages.

Please take the time to complain to the Advertising standards authority about the new Tesco advert for butchers choice sausages. This cons the public into the idea that their pork is from free range pigs when in reality it is from factory farmed pigs. Don't let them get away with it.

Just to help you when you fill out the complaints form here are the details of when i saw the advert.

8th September at 17.25 on ITV3 during a broadcast of "Terry and June"

Below is link to the advertising standards agency and a link to a you tube showing of the advert.

.youtube. Tesco butchers choice advert

http://www.asa.org.uk/

Ⓥ Free vegan ice cream tasting

Ice Cream Sunday: free vegan ice cream tasting at The Beached Lamb Cafe, Fore St, Newquay, Cornwall tomorrow (Sun 14th) 11:00 - 15:00.

Organiised by Cornwall Animal Action, Truro Vegans and Cornish Cool Cats.

cornwallanimalaction

Ⓥ Foie Gras Petition

Dean & DeLuca—a U.S.-based gourmet grocery chain are using foie gras in doughnuts. PETA have put together a petition to send to them letting them know how cruel foie gras is and asking them to stop selling it. Please take a moment to sign their petition.

PETA foie gras petition

Foie Gras doughnuts spark protests

Ⓥ Open day at Oakcroft Organic Gardens in Cross o'th Hill, Malpas, Cheshire

Yesterday we went to an open day at Oakcroft organic gardens. They gave us a tremendous vegan feast and then we were taken on a tour of the gardens including two move able greenhouses from the 60's (to move them you just slide them along on their own runners). One is filled with a variety of tomatoes the other has beetroot, chard, elephant garlic and more that have slipped out of my memory.

They also have a large area of unprotected crops (see pic) such as fennel, salad leaves, carrots, potatoes, onions, cavolo nero (see pic), a really good selection, all protected with a rabbit proof fence. After the tour we were then lucky enough to have a lesson in how to make the most effective quick acting compost, by making sure you have the correct balance of carbon and nitrogen (see pic).  A very enjoyable and informative day out. Oakcroft are members of Stockfree organics www.stockfreeorganic.net

Cross o’th Hill, Malpas, Cheshire, SY14 8DH
Contacts: Tim Carey 07726 266501 Mehr Fardoonji (01948) 860213
Website: www.oakcroft.org.uk

Oakcroft is the home of Mehr Fardoonji, who established the organic market garden in 1962.  Mehr has now retired and has gifted the land to the Soil Association Land Trust, which aims to provide opportunities for prospective growers and farmers, and to fulfil an educational function.  As from 2009 the gardens will become stockfree organic, having been taken on by Tim Carey, along with Lloyd English, both beneficiaries of VON’s stockfree bursary scheme as students at the Welsh College of Horticulture.

The growing area is 2.5 acres and includes two original moveable greenhouses. The aim is to develop the project according to a sustainable, vegan-organic model, growing as wide a range of produce through the year as possible, to be sold locally.  Plans include the adoption of no-dig principles for vegetable, herb and salad production, planting more fruit/nut trees and berries, and extending measures to enhance biodiversity.

Macka B - Wha me eat

Ⓥ Animal-Derived Agents in Disposable Systems

Recently i was told that beef fat was used in plastics as a "slip agent". Richard from "Volentia"posted this link which confirms that "stearic acid a derivative from beef fat is indeed used in a large percentage of plastics.
As well as the obvious horrendous idea of plastics not being vegan there is also the risk of prion diseases from using animal ingredients in plastics. The stupidity of human beings knows no bounds.

animal-derived-agents-in-disposable-systems

Ⓥ 10,000 visitor to the vegan chat room

As the 10,000 visitor to the vegan chat room prepares unknowingly to log on lets take a minute to interview the creator of the chat room, Gramondo.






When did go go vegan Gramondo?

I went vegan, oh God, erm, must be about 1994, how many years is that 17 years, 19 years at least.

When did you create the vegan chat room?

2008, do you want the exact month, October, as I did not know any other vegans I thought it would be a good way to meet some vegan girls "laughs", thumbs up so far.

How many hours have you spent working on the chat room do you think?

Christ, I do not know, I update it daily, I still have a few hundred vegan websites to add.

We have heard a lot about the prize for the 10,000 visitor, will you be presenting the prize personally?

"Thinks" that would depend on if the winner lives in outer Mongolia or some where like that. If its somewhere warm then I might consider it, with a beach, as its p*****g down here.

How many regular visitors do you have in the chat room?

We have some regular users from around the world and some quite irregular ones as well. Originally there were only one or two, but since version two of the chat room, with increased number of pages and sections this has lead to increased number of regular visitors which is increasing each week.

Are you a vegan problem solver, whats the strangest question you have been asked?

Someone came in wanting to know how to help her sons cheese addiction, but unfortunately I don't know of a cheese addiction rehab clinics, she was not impressed with my inability to help and stormed off never to be seen again.

What percentage of the visitors are vegan?

According to the vegan chat room poll, currently about 75% call them selves vegan. 

Do you think the vegan chat room helps new vegans stay on course?

Yes, because it contains links to products and advice. Quite a few of the regular visitors to the chat room are recently vegan so its good for them to have somewhere to talk about vegan issues. Quite often visitors to the vegan chat room have mentioned how isolated they are and quite a few do not even know any other vegans so coming here they can find new vegan friends and some one they can talk to about the vegan life style.

Finally, have you let this all go to your head, do you see yourself as the vegan chat room supreme master?

"laughs" whats the answer to that, erm, "coughs" yes I think I'm turning into a vegan Dr No, I'm currently sourcing islands round the world to start up a vegan kingdom. I currently have enough vegan funds to stand on a piece of land with one foot.

So, there you have it, Gramondo uncovered, well partially uncovered, as uncovered as much as we would like him to be anyway.

Ⓥ Home made vegan dog treats

Here is a recipe that "Dee" gave me earlier on the vegan chat room. She told me that her dogs loved them.

BANANA DOGGIE TREATS

200g Gram flour
100g Porridge oats
2 Carrots
1 Banana
2 1/2 tablespoon Sunflower oil
Water

Mash the banana and grate carrot. Mix all the ingredients together adding enough water to make a dough. Roll out the dough and cut into shapes, let it dry out over night. Bake for 25 minutes on 180 degrees.

Ⓥ Soy Condensed milk update

Update on condensed soy milk arrival in UK.

I emailed Mike at Central supplies (the UK distributer) today to check on the progress of the condensed soy milk.

Bad news, this is what Mike said

"Unfortunately the Olvebra products have been delayed due to red tape at customs.Because this is the first shipment of product in English text it has had to be checked by customs ,we are hoping to have product available late next week to pass on to customers such as Amazon UK

and health food stores."  

 

Ⓥ Home Cooking by Vegan artist Sam H. Waghar

  Home Cooking   by Sam H. Waghar

Sam H. Waghar - Online gallery

Ⓥ The evolution of man

      Found this artwork showing the evolution of man (no images showing the evolution of woman, sorry).

Ⓥ Coalition attacked over wild animal circus ban failure

The Coalition was attacked by politicians from all three main parties in an emergency Commons debate yesterday over its failure to ban wild animals in circuses.

In a bruising 20-minute session, the Animal Welfare Minister Jim Paice admitted that he and Caroline Spelman, the Environment Secretary, had misled MPs last week by suggesting there was a live legal challenge to a ban in Austria. 

For full article  coalition-attacked-over-wild-animal-circus-ban-failure-

Soy condensed milk recipe for English toffee

Just looking through to find any recipes that include the soy condensed milk to see if its any good or not. Found this one on the cruelty free shop based in Australia. Looks like its just as good as the dairy condensed milk without the added cruelty. Can't wait to get hold of it. Mmm I think I'm starting to obsess about this condensed soy milk.

English Toffee

Robbie and I made this and the recipe works perfectly, the resulting toffee is just like I remember from childhood, absolutely delicious! It's brittle when you break it but turns super chewy in your mouth - yum!

Ingredients

1 can soy sweetened condensed milk

225g margarine

1 cup of golden syrup

2 cups of brown sugar

Method

Put all ingredients in a medium sized saucepan and mix well

Bring to the boil and boil for 40 minutes, stirring constantly

After 40 minutes drop a small amount into a glass of water, if it goes hard then toffee is ready

Pour into a large greased baking tray

Mark off pieces before it sets

Leave in tray until cool and then leave in fridge until solid (only an hour or two)

This toffee is hard and brittle to start with then melts into chewy deliciousness in your mouth.

crueltyfreeshop

Ⓥ Pepe la poo and her new vegan cat food from "Ami"

On Wednesday we went to Lembas in Sheffield and spotted some vegan cat food produced by an Italian company called "Ami". It was just over £12 for 2 kilos, so similare to ordinary dry cat food. Pepe la poo was quite impressed with the vegan nibbles, even though to begin with they were mixed in with her usual food. You are advised to gradually suppliment the food until you replace the meat food altogether. I think that she has been well and truly conned into thinking that the cat food is meat. It has brewers yeast in the ingredients so i think that helps.

amipetfood

League against cruel sports anti hunting film

National Association of Burglars film shown to MPs
A film launched on wednesday night at the League's Summer Reception at the House of Commons hosted by Chris Williamson MP exposes the nonsense of the hunters' arguments for repeal of the Hunting Act. Our burglars claim that the Theft Act is unfair, breaches human rights, criminalises a traditional activity, and was passed by MPs who'd never been burgling; sound familiar?

 Spoof burglars film exposes hunters' arguments

Breaking news - Condensed soy milk arriving in the UK 31st May 2011

At long last, soy condensed milk is nearly on our UK doorsteps, well your local wholefood shop at least. Not only one but two varieties, plain and caramel flavour. Its produced by a company called Olvebra.

Olvebra Industrial is a Brazilian company based in Eldorado do Sul, a county of the city of Porto Alegre.

It says on their website that they have made a commitment to Greenpeace not to purchase soy from the Amazons. It also guarantees the use of non GMO soy beans. It is of course 100% vegan. I'm told by Central supplies, the UK distributors that it has the same consistency and colour as dairy condensed milk. They also told me that it will be arriving into the UK on 31st May 2011. They have spoken with Holland and Barrett, Lembas, Suma and other wholesalers and there is a lot of interest to stock the product.

www.olvebra.com

Soymilke Condensado is 100 % vegetable-made. Lactose free, cholesterol free, and trans fat free.

Packaging features:

Soymilke Condensado is sold in 10.58 oz containers

 

 The one and only Soy Caramel in the world! Soymilke Doce de Soja is made with non-GMO soybeans. Lactose free, cholesterol free, gluten free, and trans fat free.

Packaging features:

Soymilke Doce de Soja is sold in 11.64 oz containers

Adopt a Turkey Project

Thanksgiving's toll on turkeys

A red-meat-eater in a Prius is probably hurting the environment more than a vegan in a Hummer.“

save-the-cows-save-the-world

Im a veggie, your a vegan song. Very catchy.

LETS EAT SOYA

Shop £e$$ live more

buynothingday

Cell phone signals killing bees, study shows

cellphonessignalsreallyarekillingthebeesstudyshows

Vegan Police T Shirt

More police abuse

cop-pepper-sprays-baby-squirrel

Welcome to the Vegan Chat Room Blog

This is the Blog for the Vegan Chat Room website which can be found at http://www.veganchatroom.co.uk ...it has hundreds of links to vegan-related websites.