The deal with veal

Every person should be able to make their own choices of what they eat and know how it came to their plate. It is irresponsible when people say, I'd rather not know where my food comes from. If you're one who chooses to eat veal these days over the unlimited amount of food choices, you should understand what you are supporting.

Veal comes mostly from the unwanted male dairy calves. The Dairy Association has done a great job selling their illusion of how a liquid fat "milk" is good for you to consume. The "Milk Does a Body Good" and the "Got Milk" campaigns, with promotions from celebrities, helped to increase dairy sales. Keeping dairy cows pregnant and producing milk is the dairy farmers goal. Fifty percent of the babies born are females who go back into the dairy production business until they are no longer needed. The other half are males sold off to veal farms for the appeal of tender meat, all fat and no muscle. To accomplish this the baby calves are taken from their mothers at birth and chained to a veal crate. Some farms tether the calves so tight to the crate that they can hardly move.The only thing the calve can do over the rest of it's life is eat. Walking or grazing on grass could produce muscle build up that would ruin the tender meat. The usual veal calf will be slaughtered at 22 weeks old, a little over 5 months, unless its Bob Veal where the calves are slaughtered only a few days after birth.

When you choose to eat veal you are supporting this process. All animals should have a chance to live a cruelty free life. People can vote with their grocery or dining money to support this animal cruelty or to send a message that this is unacceptable.

Banning Veal Crates:

The UK banned the use of veal crates in 1990

In the Unites States:
Maine- ban by 2011
Arizona- ban by 2012
Colorado- ban by 2012
California- ban by 2013
Michigan- ban by 2013


To help:
Say No To Veal - A Farm Sanctuary Campaign

Vegan Cinco De Mayo

Black bean enchiladas with pepper jack Daiya cheese and spanish rice. Oh and of course a couple of margaritas. The only thing I forgot was the guacamole.

Let me know your favorite Cinco De Mayo dishes.

 

Forks Over Knives to open May 6th

Forks Over Knives, a new documentary that examines the claim that it is possible to control and even reverse most modern diseases through a plant based diet, is scheduled to open on May 6th.  The film highlights two highly established researchers, Dr. T Colin Campbell, a nutritional scientist at Cornell University and author of The China Study and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, a top surgeon and head of the Breast Cancer Task Force at the Cleveland Clinic. Both Dr. Campbell and Dr. Esselstyn have been pioneers in promoting the healing powers of a whole food, plant based diet.
In the film the idea of food as medicine is put to the test. Cameras follow real patients who suffer from chronic conditions such as heart disease & diabetes. The doctors teach these patients how to change to a plant based diet in an attempt to treat their conditions. The film reveals their challenges and triumphs throughout the process.


The film premiers May 6th. For special group pricing on tickets please contact: Jackie@ForksOverKnives.com.


Locations

MAY 6

LOS ANGELES, CA

Sunset 5 (Laemmle), 8000 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90046

Regent (Landmark), 1045 Broxton Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024

Monica 4 (Laemmle), 1332 2nd Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Playhouse 7 (Laemmle), 673 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91101

Edwards University Town Center 6 (Regal), 4245 Campus Drive, Irvine, CA 92612

NEW YORK, NY
Sunshine Cinema (Landmark), 143 East Houston Street, New York, NY 10002

MAY 13

ATLANTA, GA
Midtown Art Cinema (Landmark), 931 Monroe Drive, Atlanta, GA 30308

AUSTIN, TX
Arbor Cinema (Regal), 9828 Great Hills Trail, Austin, TX 78759

BOSTON, MA
Kendall Square Cinema (Landmark), 1 Kendall Square, Cambridge, MA 02139

CHICAGO, IL
Webster Place 11 (Regal), 1471 W. Webster Ave., Chicago, IL 60614

Century Theaters (Cinemark), 1715 Maple Ave., Evanston, IL 6021

DALLAS, TX
The Magnolia (Landmark), 3699 McKinney Ave., Dallas, TX 75204

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL
Sunrise Cinema at Sunrise 11, 4321 Northwest 88th Avenue, Sunrise, FL 33351

HOUSTON, TX
Edwards Greenway Palace 24 (Regal), 3839 Weslayan, Houston, TX 77027

MIAMI BEACH, FL
South Beach Cinema 18 (Regal), 1120 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach, FL 33139

SAN FRANCISCO, CA
Bridge (Landmark), 3010 Geary Boulevard at Blake, San Francisco, CA 94118

Shattuck Cinemas (Landmark), 2230 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, CA 94704

Santana Row (Cinemark), 3088 Olsen Drive, San Jose, CA 95128

SEATTLE, WA
Varsity Theater (Landmark), 4329 University Way, N.E., Seattle, WA 98104

PHOENIX, AZ
Camelview 5, 7001 E. Highland Ave., Scottsdale, AZ 85251

WASHINGTON DC

E Street Cinema (Landmark), 555 11th St NW. Washington, DC 20004

Shirlington 7 (AMC), 2772 South Randolph St., Arlington, VA 22206

MAY 20

DENVER, CO
Chez Artiste (Landmark) 2800 South Colorado Blvd., Denver, CO 80222

DETROIT, MI
Main Art Theater (Landmark), 118 N. Main St., Royal Oak, MI 48067

MINNEAPOLIS, MN
Lagoon Cinema (Landmark), 1320 Lagoon Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55408

PHILADELPHIA, PA
Ritz at the Bourse (Landmark), 400 Ranstead Street. Philadelphia, PA 19106

Ritz Center, 900 Haddonfield-Berlin Road, Voorhees, NJ 08043

SAN DIEGO, CA
Hillcrest Cinemas (Landmark), 3965 5th Avenue, San Diego, CA 92103

GMO foods still are not labeled

GMO's, Genetically Modified Organisms, either in plant form or animal form are on the rise. GMO agriculture started with experimental planting in the 1980's and was first approved for large scale consumer consumption in the mid 1990's. The process involves the insertion or deletion of genes within the organism.

Monsanto, an agricultural biotechnology company, has genetically altered seeds that could survive being sprayed with their product Roundup, killing the weeds and leaving the crops unharmed. GMO fish have been altered to increase the rate and size of which they grow. As of today GMO foods have not been proven to be safe for consumption for humans or animals. There is a lack of testing and what data there is comes from the companies that promote and benefit from GMO's.

Knowing this it should be obvious that GMO foods are labeled right? Well they are not. This is an incredible injustice to consumers who unknowingly consume these products on a daily basis. Again, the companies that promote and reap the benefits of the GMO foods have deep pockets and have lobbied against labeling. They say this will add cost to the consumer and create unnecessary concern.

I believe this an injustice being forced onto the citizens of the United States. We have the right to know where our food comes from and how it was made. The government has to start protecting people over the practice of protecting big business. Please sign the petition and speak out against this injustice.

Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary "Run for Animals"

The 8th Annual "Run for the Animals" hosted by Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary is on Sunday, May 15th.  Sign up now for this 5K run and be a part of "Team VSDC" (Vegetarian Society of DC) to help us win the coveted Pigasus trophy.  Runners of all levels are encouraged -- only the top two or three times for men and women count, so no need to worry about holding the team back, the more the merrier! 


Join hundreds of runners, or participate in the 1-mile fun walk. An assortment of delicious vegan refreshments will be provided. Although dogs cannot participate in the run, they are more than welcome to come out and join the walk. 

WHEN: May 15 at 8:30 am (actual race start time)
WHERE: Wheaton Regional Park, 2000 Shorefield Road, Wheaton, MD 20902
PRICE: Before Apr 18: $25.00; then it's $28.00; $30 on race day - registration fees benefit Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary 

Easy tofu scramble

There was a time when I was hesitant to try this dish. Now it has become a weekend staple. The taste and consistency is "scrambled eggs" and I would even say it taste better.


Servings 2


Ingredients:
1/2 Onion
1/3 Red Bell Pepper
10 oz. Firm Tofo
2 tbsp Olive Oil or Grape Seed Oil
1 tbsp Nutritional Yeast
2 Kale Leaves
2 Green Onions
1 tsp Turmeric
1/2 tsp Cumin
1/4 tsp Curry Powder
1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
1/2 tsp pepper
2 tbsp Braggs Liquid Aminos 


-In a frying pan heat finally chopped onions and red peppers in 2 tbsp of olive oil for about 5 mins on medium, until they soften.


-Rinse and dry the tofu then crumble it into the frying pan, tossing the pieces with the veggies & oil.


-Let the tofu cook for about 10 mins, moving it around with a spoon, until it starts to darken.


-Add 1 tbsp of nutritional yeast, after 30 seconds mix it in.


-Add the tumeric, cumin, garlic powder, curry, and pepper. Stir it in well.


-Add the chopped kale & green onions


-Add the Braggs Liquid Aminos


- Turn the heat off and keep slowly mixing together all the ingredients for 2 mins.


Total cook time is about 18 mins.




Once you make this you can customize it with other vegetables and spices.


Let me know your feedback if you tried this or have a similar recipe. 

The Artichoke

I admit, the artichoke looks quite challenging compared to the neatly packaged artichoke hearts sold in the grocery store. This should not stop you from enjoying the vegetable that is one the highest in antioxidants.  

The artichoke, which originated in North Africa and still grow in the wild there, comes from the Arabic term Ardi-Shoki meaning "ground thorny". They are grown in warm areas in a hardiness zone 7 and above. Once harvested they can stay fresh for 2 weeks or longer. 

Whole artichoke preparation is easy.

• The stem is trimmed off to the artichoke can sit flush
• Some outer thorny leaves are removed
• About an inch off the top is cut off with a sharp knife or kitchen scissors
• The artichokes then steam for 50 to 60 minutes in water with cut up garlic

Once they are steamed the leaves easily peel off. You drag the leaves between your teeth eating the pulpy flesh. You can prepare vegan hollandaise or lemon dipping sauces to add flavors. This is done until you reach the center. Carefully cutting away the base stem you pull out the center of the artichoke, or the artichoke heart and this is eaten entirely.

I hope you will give the artichoke a try if you havent. Besides from being so tasty they are packed with healthy antioxidants which we all need on a daily basis.