37 Wolves and Counting Murdered

From the NRDC Action Fund:

A mere 30 days after the Bush Administration stripped Yellowstone's wolves of their Endangered Species protection, the Northern Rockies have been turned into a killing field.

Thirty-seven wolves are already dead. Hundreds more are being targeted by Wyoming, Idaho and Montana, which have waited years for this chance to put their plans for extermination into action...

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) -- and 11 other groups -- filed suit this week in federal court to stop the killing and restore the wolf's desperately needed Endangered Species protection.The court action comes not a moment too soon. Eyewitness reports of the latest wolf-killing rampage have been heartbreaking to people all over the world who care about wildlife.

On the very day that these wolves lost their Endangered Species protection, a crippled wolf named "Limpy," one of the most photographed wolves in Yellowstone's famous Druid Peak pack, was shot to death when he ventured outside the park.

Another wolf was stalked for over 35 miles by snowmobile before being overtaken and shot.

Another was found dead on the side of the highway, his still-warm body torn apart by bullets. And, tragically, at least four female wolves have been killed just prior to the denning season, which could doom some of the region's wolf pups...

You can help by telling Congress to ban the poisoning of gray wolves and other wildlife.

Random Fridays: This Week's Link Love

* Gary Francione on how just sitting next to someone and talking to them can change lives.

* I've been checking out some bloggers' Amazon stores. Here are my favorites so far:

The Urban Vegan's Corner Store features a plethora of cookbooks I've yet to check out, like Vegan Bites and You Won't Believe Its Vegan.

Elaine Vigneault In addition to vegan books, there is a list of books on writing, blogging, feminism, and fiction.

Compassionate Cooks' is incredibly extensive, with cookbooks, doggie treats, a Kitchen Aid Mixer, and much more.

* Listening to Ani Phyo on Vegan.com's VegTalk podcast makes me want to create and eat up some raw treats. Especially her Fresh Mango Cobbler, which also is one of Vegan.com's Top 10 Recipes.

* This weekend, Brian and I are meeting my friend, TJ (check out his band, Todd Carlstrom and the Clamor) for the Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival. Being Cinco de Mayo weekend, I best be eating some Mexican food and drinking a margarita at some point, too.

Mutual Menu is giving away one copy of Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero. To enter to win and for more details, please leave one comment here.

Inspiring Change

I really needed to read the post, "You Can Do It. Really, You Can," on Elaine Vigneault's awesome blog that acknowledges how challenging it can be for many people to stop consuming animal products:

Every now and then I have one of those moments where I realize what it must be like for meat-eaters to go vegetarian or vegan. The most recent moment was when I read Mary Martin’s suggestion a week ago:

Stop buying products made with corn. You may have already done that. I’d also add rice to the list of products not to buy. Even wheat."

My first reaction was: WHAT!? I CAN’T DO THAT!

I felt like she was telling me to cut out half my diet. What the hell would I eat...

And then I realized that’s what it feels like to meat-eaters when someone suggests they go vegetarian or vegan...

You can do it. Really, you can. It will get easier the longer you do it. There are just two ways to transform your diet: quickly or slowly. It’s your choice. Do whichever feels comfortable to you.

As I said in the comments to this post, I've come along way. I've gone from eating meat every day of my life--sometimes several times a day--to not touching the stuff and I've maintained that way of life for over a year. I've gone from saying, "I'll never be vegan. Need cheese too much," to saying, "OK, I really want to do this because it's right for me," and envisioning what I'd be like as a vegan. From saying, "Well, maybe I'll buy leather shoes because I don't live near Moo Shoes," to returning a pair of unworn, just purchased leather flats because, on second thought, the idea of wearing newly bought dead animal just out of convenience seemed unthinkable.

Lately I've really been struggling with whether or not I could be vegan, feeling like I'm missing some chromosome other vegans seem to have. Brian and I went into a fancy food shop in Princeton this past weekend and, though I didn't even glance at the meat counter and found its contents tragic, I looked longingly at all the pastries full of butter, eggs, and cheese. I felt self-pity at the thought of never being able to eat a grilled cheese sandwich or putting cow's milk in my Earl Grey tea again. But I know that there's an abundance of food for me to eat that doesn't involve animals suffering. I know that almost all the great changes in my life have taken time, dedication, and focus. I know that I usually get what I want and do what I feel is right in my heart. I may meander in getting to where I know I want to be. But I know I'll do it and look back and remember when I was scared and just smile, knowing there wasn't much to fear after all.

Mutual Menu is giving away one copy of Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero. To enter to win and for more details, please leave one comment here.

Guest Post from Down Under by Jessie

This is a guest post by my friend, Jessie. She is, among many things, smart, thoughtful, gorgeous and she always remembers my birthday--even from all the way in Australia, which is why I've chosen a picture of an Australian water lily for her post.

My name is Jessie, I'm 26 and I've just started my graduate job. I started thinking about being vegetarian when I saw a documentary on pig-farming when I was in my teens. It had a profound effect on me and I found it difficult to justify eating meat after that. Soon after that I made the transition into not eating meat over a period of 3 years. I started out at 15 by cutting out pork products. It was easy for me to do this. I didn't miss ham or bacon at all. Then at 18 I decided I didn't want to be a part of the meat production cycle at all. Again it was pretty easy. I have however, always eaten crustaceans, although I stopped eating large fish, like tuna, a few years ago. I don't really buy into the politics of vegetarianism. I acknowledge that seafood is flesh and experiences pain when it is killed. If people have a problem with me calling myself vegetarian I don't mind. I'm not particularly attached to the label, and as long as people know that I don't eat meat when they're serving me food I am a happy camper.

I love vegetables and do enjoy cooking alone, and for myself. When I eat with my parents I usually cook for us. They're very flexible and relaxed about eating meals with no meat. Luckily my live-in partner has recently “converted” to not eating meat (but still eating seafood including big fish). I don't really know why he's done it or if my diet has had any effect on his decision to do that. I think he has done it for environmental reasons, such as the carbon dioxide and methane produced in meat farming. Having a partner with similar dietary requirements as your own is really convenient and I don't feel like so much of a weirdo now at friends' parties and at restaurants. I doubt his conversion will be long-term, but he might surprise me. He told me he still occasionally hankers for steak and sometimes sausages.

In terms of my diet, I try and eat tofu when it's on the menu at restaurants. At home I like to use firm tofu in Vietnamese cold rolls, salads and stir fries. I think tofu is good for you, as it contains lots of vegetable protein. As a typical vegetarian, I am quite fond of pasta. It's easy to cook and many non-vegetarians don't have a problem with eating vegetarian pasta. Ever since we started going out my partner has been very sensitive to me being vego. He always cooks vegetarian meals for me and we eat together. However, when his son is staying with us (2-3 nights per week) he cooks meat or fish for his son. This doesn't impact on me at all. I do sometimes wonder what my own child would eat, and if he/she would be raised vegetarian.

Even when my partner did eat meat it didn't impact on my life. If he was eating a sausage and salad for dinner, I could always eat a vegie sausage or chickpea burger and salad. I think he was OK with eating mostly vegetarian. He's pretty happy-go-lucky when it comes to food and will always eat what's put in front of him.

My best friend is also vegetarian so I feel I am pretty lucky in terms of being accepted as a vegetarian. Being vegetarian is normal in my day-to-day life. Even in my immediate work place I am not alone in my dietary choices. Three of the 5 people in my team are vegetarian. I still field a lot of questions about my diet but it's a nice feeling when you're not alone :)

If you would like to share your story or tips on how you navigate being a vegan, vegetarian, or ominvore who navigates "interdietary" relationships, please leave a comment or send an e-mail to mutualmenu@gmail.com. We would love to hear from you and possibly share your story. Thank you!

Mutual Menu is giving away one copy of Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero. To enter to win and for more details, please leave one comment here.

My New Favorite Quick and Easy Weeknight Supper Bowl

Quinoa Buy a package. I like the red Inca variety. Cook 4 servings according to directions, adding ½ to a whole vegetable bouillon cube to the pot. Add 1 cup of frozen peas to the mix when the quinoa is about 5 minutes from being done cooking.

Seitan Buy a package at your local health food store/co-op, Whole Foods, or Wegmans (or, if you’re truly hardcore, pick up a cookbook and make your own). Put seitan into a large bowl with 2 teaspoons olive oil, a few drops of tamari, freshly ground pepper to taste, a drizzling of agave nectar, and 2 chopped garlic cloves. Marinate while you prep the following.

Beans Buy a can of Goya pink beans and sauce. Pour can into a small saucepan and heat. You can also add a package of Badia Sazon for extra seasoning and a pleasantly neon orange color. You can find Goya and Badia products at any major grocery or Latin food market.

Asparagus Clean and snap the ends off of half a bunch of asparagus. Pat dry and line asparagus on foil or oven-safe platter. Drizzle with 1 teaspoon olive oil and a generous amount of kosher salt, freshly ground pepper, and 1 chopped garlic clove. Place in an oven preheated to around 450 degrees (I use a toaster oven on the broiler setting). Roast for around 5 minutes or until slightly browned and crisp.

At this point, your quinoa should be ready (it will take 15 to 25 minutes to cook). Dump into a large bowl or Tupperware container so you can use the same pot to cook the seitan in. Place all of the seitan mix in pot, cook over medium-high flame—stirring often—until browned.

Scoop about 1 cup of the quinoa and peas into another bowl. Top with ½ cup of beans, ½ of cooked seitan, and all the asparagus. Lightly sprinkle with sea salt—just a touch to brighten it since there is already plenty of salt in everything. I also splash some hot sauce atop the bowl. Eat. Save the leftover quinoa, beans, and seitan for a very satisfying, filling, and delicious lunch for the next day. Just add a salad to the mix for more veggies.

How easy was that?

Mutual Menu is giving away one copy of Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero. To enter to win and for more details, please leave one comment here.

Marion Nestle answers the question: Are veganism and vegetarianism healthier?

In a word: "Absolutely."

In more words: "They are probably healthier."

In her complete words.

As I said to my mother this weekend, no diet is perfect. Because humans are not perfect. And the world is imperfect. But certain diets are certainly more optimal than others. Very few sane people will reason that fruits and vegetables are bad for you. Eating them in abundance and in conjunction with whole grains, nuts, seeds, and some fun stuff every once in a while is, of course, healthful.

You can't go wrong eating lots of fresh, whole foods and minimizing the amount of food that comes in wrapping you have to open before you can eat it...you know, unless it's a banana or something.

Usually when people question the health of a plant-based diet, they are not concerned about health at all. They are concerned with tripping you up. Just like the person who questioned Brian's veganism and my vegetarianism even though they were on, I later found out, two cholesterol and blood pressure medication. In their thirties. And they hunted innocent animals too. 'Nuff said.

Baseball's Vegetarian Prince

From a New York Times article, "Meat Is Out at Fielder’s Plate," on Prince Fielder of the Milwaukee Brewers. Originally linked by Vegan.com. Emphasis is mine:

Fielder, 23, decided to make the switch over the winter after
reading how cattle and chickens were treated and “was totally grossed
out,” he said. His wife, Chanel, preferred a no-meat diet as it was, so
he embraced a new approach.

Fielder had been as carnivorous as your average puma — pushing 200 pounds
since he was 12, he scarfed down a 48-ounce porterhouse as a teenager and had
barely slowed down since. (He played last year with 270 pounds on his 5-foot-11
frame, not all of it muscle.) But he figured he could get his protein from beans and shakes instead of meat and fish, leading to conversations since the beginning of spring training that have grown quite tiresome...

"Yeah, I’m a vegetarian — but still, some things are just nasty,” Fielder
said. “I like salads. But sometimes, they get too creative. I like
regular food, just no meat in it.”

Muscles cannot tell the difference between the protein found in soy
burgers and poultry, [Leslie Bonci, the Brewer's nutritional
consultant] said, so eating one or the other should not affect something
even as timing-sensitive as hitting a baseball...

Less than 24 hours later, Fielder stood in the batter’s box against one of
baseball’s best young left-handers, Cole Hamels of the Philadelphia
Phillies. Fielder smoked two home runs in the Brewers’ 5-4 win. Less
filling, tasted great.

The article also makes mention of Tony Gonzalez of the Kansas City Chiefs, who is vegan. It's so great to see mainstream media coverage of vegetarian and vegan diets from people who don't fit the supposed veg mold--athletes, black men, Hispanic men, former Porterhouse steak devourers. I find articles like this inspiring. Although I have no problem walking right past the meat counter without looking (in fact, I try not to look), I do still look longingly at the cheese and pastry aisles. Knowing so many people easily eat, move, and live well without meat, eggs and dairy gives me motivation to keep at what has been the biggest and most exciting life changes I've ever made.

Mutual Menu is giving away one copy of Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero. To enter to win and for more details, please leave one comment here.