In This Issue
Jolly Holidays
V in the News
What's Hot on VegNews.com
Event Showcase
Hot Gift Ideas!
Coconut Drops
Product Review
VegNewsletter Preview

Veggie Awards
All the winners in depth, plus all-star holiday recipes and the perfect gingerbread house.

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Ah, the holidays. Lights are twinkling all around town, temperatures are plummeting, and homes and hearths warmed with cheer. Oh, and maybe 25 people will be stopping by for dinner, and you still need to find gifts for your neighbors, and there's no end in sight to your list of to-dos. From hot news (that can at least momentarily take your mind off the tasks at hand) to stellar recipes that will wow your friends, to great gift ideas for absolutely everyone on your list, VN has you covered.

European Sentience
As of December 1, all 27 nations of the European Union will officially recognize animals as sentient beings. The Lisbon Treaty, originally signed in 2007 to go into effect this year, mandates that since animals are legally recognized as sentient, their welfare must be taken into consideration.

Meet Your In Vitro Meat
Scientists in Holland have created a viable lab-grown meat, and project that it may be ready for the consumer market by as early as 2014. The in vitro meat requires only a few cells from a living animal, which are then incubated to form meat fit for consumption, without killing the animal.

You know what's hip? The internets. Here are our top five picks for hot VegNews.com stories you should probably check out right about now.

1. Season's Eatings Our list of favorite seasonal goodies, from nog to nibbles!

2. Perfect Gingerbread When was the last time you made a gingerbread house? Too long ago, we're sure!

3. Dream Jobs Come True Finding a job that matches your compassionate life? No problem with these tips!

4. Holiday Gift Guide Finally! An online version of our popular gift guide, just in case you need an idea or two.

5. Killer Giveaways Do you want Chocolate Almond Toffee? For free? Yeah, that's what we thought.

SF Vegan Bakesale
So far, vegan bake sales in San Francisco have raised thousands of dollars for animal charities. At the next installment on December 5, come by and grab a goodie for a great cause.

Celebrate Compassion
Join Mercy For Animals in celebrating the past year of protecting animals in Chicago on December 4 or in Columbus, Ohio, on December 5. Glitz, great food, and fellow activists? What more could a year-end bash boast?

Holiday Party
If you happen to be in our nation's capital this weekend, join Compassion Over Killing's team for their annual Holiday Party. This year, the evening will be emceed by VN's own Dan Piraro, and is sure to be a blast!

Baketacular
San Francisco isn't the only sweet city this month. On December 12, head to The Bye and Bye (Portland, Ore.'s famous all-vegan bar) with baked goods to raise money for Lighthouse Farm Sanctuary.

OK, there's a small chance that we're a little bit biased, but the VN store is pretty much a one-stop shop for all your holiday needs. Of course, throughout the holidays we're offering discounted gift subscriptions ($15! For a year!) for all your friends and family who need just a touch more encouragement to go veg. Other than subs, we've got sweet (literally) deals on vegan candy bars, gift certificates, and gift packs. And, for the first time ever, VN is offering the cutest holiday cards on the planet. No really, they are adorable. Don't believe us? See for yourself, then send them to everyone you know.

Coconut Drops

What You Need:
1-1/2 cups unsweetened coconut flakes
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup light agave syrup
1/4 cup non-hydrogenated margarine, melted

What You Do:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large, dry skillet over medium heat, add coconut and stir constantly until flakes are golden brown. Immediately place in a large bowl, and allow to cool completely. Once coconut has cooled, whisk in flour, baking powder, and salt.

2. In a medium bowl, combine sugar, agave syrup, and melted margarine. Stir well, then add wet mixture into the dry mixture. Mix until just combined, being careful not to over-beat. Use a 3-ounce ice-cream scoop to portion out cookies, and place at least 1 inche apart on prepared baking sheet, fitting about nine cookies on one sheet.

3. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until barely browned around the edges and no longer shiny on top. Let cookies rest on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Candy Cane Joe-Joe's

Candy canes. There's nothing that captures the brisk winter air quite like the fresh, pepperminty taste of candy canes, and we could pretty much eat them all day, every day, especially this time of year. By far, the favorite method of candy cane consumption here at the VNHQ is via Trader Joe's Candy Cane Joe-Joe's—which are basically like Oreos with candy canes crushed inside. Chocolate, peppermint, and a satisfying cookie crunch? That's pretty much the best way ever to combat holiday fatigue. These are a seasonal item, so be sure to pick up a box (or seven) while they last.

Satisfy your between-issues cravings with this complimentary supplement, featuring exclusive product reviews, musician, artist and event spotlights, slammin’ recipes, giveaways, plus the lowdown on how vegetarianism is bettering the world—one delicious bite at a time.

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