Baking Vegan

I remember years and years ago, I was at an event that happened to have a vegan baked goods stand. They were giving out samples, and I tried a cookie. I thought it was the most disgusting thing I'd ever tried. So when I first considered doing the vegan thing, I had to face my fears that cookies would never be the same again. Or cakes. Or pies. Or buttermilk biscuits for that matter.

I've learned a thing or two since then, and by life as defined by baked goods is rich and abundant. I've mastered the art of vegan "buttermilk" biscuits complete with some down south gravy. The cakes and cookies actually taste better than their animal killing counterparts.

The key is finding the right substitutions. My favorite tricks are easy. To make "buttermilk," place 1 tsp lemon juice or apple cider vinegar in 1 cup of soy milk and let sit about 10 minutes. That's it. Add it like you would buttermilk, and the effect is the same.

To substitute eggs, the options are endless. In sweet baked goods, I use about 1 1/2 Tablespoons applesauce for 1 egg. In others, I use cornstarch, soy flour, flax meal, or any of these awesome subs.

And the best of the best, are these two vegan products that help me make everything I want in the kitchen.

Spectrum Naturals Organic Shortening



All Vegetable, Non-hydrogenated

I use it for pie crusts, biscuits, frosting, pizza dough, and some cookies. It's so great- and it's non-hydrogenated AND organic, so it beats all those other vegetable shortenings by a long shot.

Also, on my list of things that save me is this

Earth Balance Natural Buttery Spread

It's also free of hydrogenated oils, and it's made from non-GMO soybeans. It's also one of the very few margarines that are actually vegan. Many contain casein and whey, but this is animal free. I use this in biscuits, frostings, spreads, and just like butter on toast, potatoes, rolls, etc.

So get in the kitchen, and make some cookies, for Vegan's sake!!!

Vegan Vino

It's the weekend, and for me that typically involves a delicious and relaxing glass of wine. I love sitting on the porch, listening to our plants rustle in the evening breeze, watching the sunset over the mountains, and sipping a glass of grigio.

So, of course, embarking upon this vegan journey has led me to find out that lots and lots and lots of wines (and beers as well) are not vegan. Much like the sugar from a previous post, the products, in their final state, do not necessarily contain animal products, but animal products were used in their production. Some wines are filtered through things like fish bladders. You can check with companies to find out how they filter their wines (there are many mechanical alternatives to animal tissues).

Also, check out these great sites:
Barnivore- this includes both beer and wine
and
Vegan Wine Guide- which is a more extensive wine guide.



And for all you budget wine drinkers, I've tried to research Two Buck Chuck. Apparently, the reds are vegan friendly.

So, sit back and sip.
Salut!

Herbal Body Cream (vegan, and hand-made)

It can be hard to find vegan body care products, and even if you do find them, the ingredients may be unpronounceable. We should care as much about what we put on our bodies as what we put in them.

It's so easy to make most products yourself, why not do it? With a little help from Mountain Rose, you can have the ingredients at your front door in a couple of days. This is a great place to find herbs, spices, teas, medicinal supplements, and other great body care products. Their products are mostly organic, fair trade, and kosher certified. I definitely trust them for quality ingredients.

Here's my favorite herbal body cream. I make it all the time. I'm submitting this recipe in the Mountain Rose Herbs Recipe Contest as well. I use this for face and body, and it works especially well for dry or sensitive skin. I've even had a friend use it as diaper rash ointment. You can change the consistency (i.e. more lotion-like or more body butter like) by decreasing or increasing (respectively) the amount of cocoa butter.



Equipment you will need:

a blender or mixer
a non-plastic bowl
a stainless steel saucepan
non-plastic measuring cups
glass jars
cotton cloth or unbleached coffee filers

Igredients:

Infused oils: in order to make these, place dried herbs in the bottom of a glass jar, add organic cold-pressed olive oil until the herb matter is covered. Place a cloth or coffee filter on top of the jar and secure with string. Let sit in a sunny window for 2 or 3 weeks. Strain herbs out of oil. You can put the herb matter in your compost. The oil you have is now infused oil.

In this recipe, I use lavender infused oil, calendula infused oil, and red clover infused oil. These are all great skin soothers. You can substitute other herbs as well.

1/4 cup calendula infused oil
1/4 cup red clover infused oil
1/8 cup lavender infused oil
1/8 cup grapeseed oil
1 tsp vitamin E oil
1 T candellila wax
2/3 - 1 cup cocoa butter (more if you want a thicker consistency)
2/3 cup rose hydrosol water
1/4 cup aloe vera gel
1/8 cup witch hazel
2 T vegetable glycerin
8-10 drops essential oil (I like combining orange and clove- it goes great with the chocolate smell of cocoa butter, but you can use others as well. Lavender is also nice.)

1 In a stainless steel saucepan, heat the oils, the wax, and the cocoa butter over medium low heat until melted.

2 In a non-plastic bowl, mix rose water, aloe vera, witch hazel, and glycerin together.

3 Add the contents of the bowl to the oils and stir.

4 Add essential oil.

5 Let mixture cool. You can place the pan in a sink of cold water, or in the fridge. Let cool until mixture thickens.

6 Pour mixture into a blender, and blend and blend and blend until you can't possibly blend anymore. This is key because it will make the mixture stay together longer (you know, oil vs. water). You will see that it starts to get thicker and looks less like it has a layer of liquid floating on top. Keep blending!!

note If you don't have a blender, you can use a mixer. Just mix the cream in a bowl for a really long time.

7 Spoon into glass jars and label.

This will stay good for several months as long as it is kept in a cool, dry place. You can refrigerate it for longer keeping.

Slather on skin, and be happy!!!

For Vegans with a Sweet Tooth

Let's talk about sugar. I don't think I could live without my sweets. It's one of those little things that makes life so great. When I started going vegan, I happened upon several different articles about sugar not being vegan. So, here's the scoop (or two, if you like).

Refined sugar is often processed with animal bone char. The char is the filter through which the sugar goes in order to remove color and impurities (and also minerals). So while the sugar doesn't actually contain animal bone char, it is processed with it. So, you can check with your sugar company to find out how they refine their sugar. Some companies that do not use bone char are Florida Crystals and Supreme Sugar Company.

Further, you can use raw sugar, turbinado sugar, succanat (non-refined cane sugar) or even sugar substitutes. My favorite substitute is agave nectar. I use it in baked goods, tea, smoothies, and oatmeal. I also love molasses, maple syrup, and brown rice syrup. You can also try beet sugar, date sugar, corn syrup, or barley malt. Get creative! There are so many delicious options.

So, get out there and satisfy your sweet tooth, and rest assured that no animals were harmed in the process.

Spotting Animal Products

It can be a little overwhelming when you are trying to go vegan grocery store. You will become a label checking fanatic. This is actually really great because in checking for animal products, you will become more conscious of all the other chemicals, preservatives, and artificial colors and flavors in so many products. Hopefully, you will also adapt another of my favorite things: buying organic. But whether or not you change other habits is another blog entirely.

Today, I want to put together a list of commonly used animal products that might be lurking in the most unassuming places. If you see these things in the ingredients list, steer clear!

Albumen/Albumin- in eggs and milk among other things. It's a coagulating agent.
Beeswax, Bee Pollen, and other bee products- I've heard people try and claim that bees are not animals or that they are not harmed in the acquisition of these products. But, insects are just as living as animals to me... we'll look into this argument in more detail later
Bone char- often used to make sugar white... check with your sugar company or switch to evaporated cane sugar, turbinado sugar, or another sweetener like agave nectar.
Bone meal- often used in vitamins or toothpastes.
Carmine- red pigment from the crushed hulls of cochineal beetles. Used in many, many red colored foods, and also makeups.
Carotene- found in animal tissues and plants. Used in making vitamin A. Make sure it is plant derived.
Casein- milk protein. Careful because many soy cheeses contain this.
Gelatin- made by boiling skin and bones of cows and pigs. Found in jello, pudding, marshmallows, and many other foods. Also used on photograph film.
Glycerin- usually from animal fat. In food, gum, soap, medicines. Find products that use vegetable glycerin.
Insinglass- a gelatin from fish bladders used in filtering some wines and food. Find vegan wine.
Keratin- ground up horns, hooves,c of animals. Found in hair care products.
Lactic Acid- from blood tissue. In many products that require fermentation.
Lactose- milk sugar. In many foods.
Lanolin- from sheep wool. In many beauty products.
Lard- hog fat. Many restaurants fry food in lard. Also in beauty products.
Lecithin- most typically obtained from eggs or soybeans. Find products made with soy lecithin
Lenoleic Acid- fatty acid from calves. Used in cheeses.
Rennet- enzyme from the stomach of baby cows. Used in cheese making- especially softer cheeses.
Stearic Acid- fat from cows and other animals. In gum and food flavorings.
Tallow- beef fat. In crayons, margarines, paintslipsticks, etc.
Vinegar (distilled white)-uses animal charcoal for filtering.
Vitamins- (A) can come from fish liver or egg yolk, (B12) usually animal source, (D) can come from milk, egg yolk, fish liver. Find vegan or plant derived vitamins.
Whey- serum from milk. Careful... this is slipped into all sorts of things.. breads, seasoning mixes, and even some veggie burgers.

That is just the beginning of the list. If we start talking about cleaners, cleansers, and personal care products, the list would be tripled. There are many sources to help you find vegan products, like shopping at places like Vegan Essentials where you know the products are ALL vegan. Also, you can visit PETA for a list of vegan products.

For more detailed and extensive lists of animal ingredients, check here and here.

And don't be discouraged. It's getting easier and easier to find vegan products. Many companies are even marking vegan on the labels thanks to the Vegan Certification Symbol.



So, let's keep affirming life and being conscious, compassionate people. It's really not hard.

Sunscreen Vegan Style

Who would think that sunscreen could be packed full of animal products? But, much of it is (not to mention those nasty chemicals). So, since it's getting bright and hot out here in the desert, I've been looking for a vegan sunscreen.




Today, I tried Burt's Bee's Chemical-Free Sunscreen with hemp seed oil. This particular product has no animal products , no animal testing, no sulfates, parabens, pthalates, or petrochemicals. I realize that many vegans do not use Burt's Bees products because of the honey and beeswax sometimes used. This sunscreen has neither. It has a really good feel, but I still got sunburned. My skin is very sensitive, and the desert sun is intense, so I'll try it once more before I determine how well it protects.


I've read some great reviews about Kiss My Face sun screen with oat protein complex. I plan on trying it out this week. You can order it directly from Kiss My Face or check the site to find stores near you that sell their products.



For other sun screens, sunless tanners, and sun blocks, check out PETA's amazing list of vegan sun care products!!!

Remember, we need the vitamin D the sun gives us, so don't be afraid to enjoy the sunshine... just use a little common sense.

Now, go outside.

Vegan 411

The following are my favorite resources for vegan-related things.

First of all, if you want to know what, exactly, vegan means, try here.

Great starting places are Vegan.com and Vegan.net (they are not related). You can find recipes, books, F&Q about veganism, starting guides for interested people, info about what veganism is, means, and entails, articles about health and a vegan lifestyle, and even articles about animal rights.

Want to find vegan restaurants where you live or somewhere you are planning to travel? Visit Happy Cow for a global directory of vegan/vegetarian restaurants and food stores. Super useful.

Need a delicious vegan recipe quick? Search Veg Web for many, many options. I've tried so many recipes from here, with much success! They all have reviews, too.

Need vegan food, attire, personal care items or other vegan related things but can't find them in your area? Check Vegan Essentials for almost anything you may need.

PETA has a website that lists popular and readily available food in familiar brands that are accidentally vegan. A good places to start if you're trying to change your habits.

Also, there are a couple books I'd highly recommend.

This is a great introduction to the why and the how of becoming vegan. It's not preachy at all.

Vegan: The New Ethics of Eating
by Erik Marcus

This one gets really detailed in terms of health and nutrition. Like which vitamins and nutrients come from where and what should you be eating every day to make sure you have no deficiencies. It's really informative and helpful in learning how to plan your meals.

Becoming Vegan: The Complete Guide to Adopting a Healthy Plant-Based Diet
by Brenda Davis and Besanto Melina

The title speaks for itself. It's pretty comprehensive, and even gets into vegan pregnancies and raising vegan children.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Vegan Living

And this is the ultimate vegan cookbook. I use it for everything. Also check out the second one they came out with called The Garden of Vegan.

How it All Vegan
By Tanya Barnard and Sarah Kramer

If you can't find what your looking for, you can always ask the people at your local vegan restaurant or health food store. Also yahoo groups usually has a vegan forum where you can find other vegans in your area.

And if you have a question about whether or not a product is vegan, you can always contact the manufacturers. They are usually glad to help you out because they definitely want your business.

Vegan Ink

I've recently been in the market for a tattoo, and as a new-ish vegan, I wasn't sure where they fell in the whole scheme of animal ingredients. I did some research, and I've learned a little. All tattoo inks contain two things: pigments and a carrier solution. Pigments (the color) can be made from metals, plant derivatives, or in some cases animal derivatives. Some blacks, for example, are created using charred animal bones. The carrier is a combination of ethyl alcohol, purified water, witch hazel, listerine, propylene glycol and glycerin. Glycerin is a neutral thick liquid that absorbs moisture. The majority of glycerin is obtained through animal fat. Some glycerin, however, is obtained from vegetables. So, when looking for ink, you want a pigment that doesn't use charred animal bones for color, and a carrier that uses vegetable glycerin.

Some popular brands of tattoo ink that are also vegan are Stable Color Inks, Skin Candy, Starbrite, and Eternal. You can contact the companies, or check the MSGS reports on their websites to verify.

The best thing to do is contact the tattoo parlors in your area to find out if they use any of those inks (or any others that may be vegan). If you happen to live in the Pacific Northwest (which I don't), check out Scapegoat Tattoo. I keep bumping into them searching for vegan ink information. They're a 100% vegan tattoo shop in Portland.

If you find a place with the right ink, you still have to think about the after care products. Most aftercare products contain animal fat or beeswax. You can use Dr. Bronner's soap for a gentle animal-free cleanse. And you can now order other vegan aftercare products online, like the liquid serum found here at Rose Tattoo or the hemp oil tattoo balm from Vegan Essentials.

Just be alert and aware, and you can get your fix of beautiful cruelty free ink.

Check out this blog about vegan ink, too.

Vegan Kicks

The choice to go vegan changes every aspect of life, in the sense that it makes you a more conscious consumer. In my personal transition to consuming/ using zero animal products, I made some decisions based also on my love of the environment. So, instead of going through my closet and getting rid of all my leather shoes and wool sweaters, I decided to keep them. I will not buy products made from these materials again, but I will wear them until they are done. I've already done the damage. Other than lacking the funds to replenish my closet, I also find it unnecessary to use all that energy to make new things for me, when the old ones work just fine. So I silently thank the animals who sacrificed themselves for me so long ago, and vow to ask it of them never again. But I will wear my boots until they take me no farther.

When that happens, I'll certainly be checking out Moo Shoes for some cruelty-free, no animal kicks. They also have some cute accessories. So rest easy, fashionistas- you can look great without being cruel.

I love these Dune Shoes from Moo Shoes.