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Brought to you by VegNews Magazine
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In This Issue
**The November+December Issue: The Best of Everything
**2007 Veggie Awards
**V in the News
**Veggie Event Spotlights
**We Got Nominated!
**Recipe: Spicy Pumpkin Soup
**Announcing Café VegNews!
**Product Review: Silk Pumpkin Spice
**October VegNewsletter Giveaway Winner
**Green Festival Ticket Giveaway
**ProjectPromote Winner
**Call for Writers
**Give A Gift
**Vegan Holiday Gift Guide
**VegNews Seeks Office Space
**December VegNewsletter Preview
We're glad you've discovered VegNews, America's premier vegetarian lifestyle magazine. The VegNewsletter arrives in your e-mailbox just once a month and clues you in on vegetarian news, dining, recipes, products, activist alerts, reviews, culture, giveaways, and all the other good things in life. It's the perfect accompaniment to a VegNews subscription.
By now you've probably seen our gorgeous, mutli-image cover. The design was a totally new route for us, and what better way to hint at the plethora of awesome vegan goodies featured inside? Really, what more do we spoiled veggies want? Doughnuts? Check. Cute dog face? Check. Burgers, wine, and Natalie Portman? Check, check, and check. We know it's dazzling, but don't forget to open the magazine and read all about the great stuff we've been collecting all year to highlight in the 2007 Veggie Awards, the indespensible Holiday Gift Guide, and of course, all the top-notch content you'd expect to find in every issue of VegNews.
**The 2007 Veggie Awards: The Best of the Best
**The Holiday Gift Guide
**To Tree or Not to Tree?
**Tales of Paprika
**DIY Gift Giving
**Greg Cipes: Vegan Superhero
**Pet Projects: 10 Ways to Make a Difference for Animals
**Vegan Baking 101
**Plus... All the great reads you're used to, including the latest vegetarian news, book reviews, new products, health advice, hard-hitting features, celebrity buzz, and so much more. It's all in VegNews. Haven't subscribed? What are you waiting for?!?
Order this fabulous new issue now for just $5
Whew, ok. The excitement nearly killed us, the anticipation could have crushed us, and the results, well, they speak for themselves. It seems like our November+December issue took years in the making, between the time that we announced the Veggie Awards Survey all the way back in July, to the issue that we so proudly now have in our hot little hands. Not that we'd ever be able to really pick a favorite issue, but this one comes darn close as we get to talk about all things vegan. Fantastic food, yes. People with panache, of course. Destinations, details, and divine desserts? Don't doubt it. As we say, it's the best of everything.
It is such a privilege for us to be a showcase for the wonderful world of vegetarian people, products, and places, all of which just keep getting better year after year. A huge, veggie congratulations to all of our winners, you are (literally) the best!
What's that? You say you haven't seen the results yet? You don't know who makes the best vegan chocolate or which cookbook author is the leader of the pack? Well hie thee here and read all about it. Of course, if you're looking for the Holiday Gift Guide, the travel and recipe sections, or any of our other usual content, you'll want to pick up a copy of the magazine tout de suite!
The Yoots
It's basically impossible to think of the word "youths" without hearing Joe Pesci's voice turn it into "yoots" in his titular role in My Cousin Vinny. In news that may not shock anyone, the yoots are our future. What's interesting, though, is that according to a recent USA Today story, the future is becoming increasingly vegetarian. Despite that the article unearths the beaten-and-buried dead horse of a claim that vegan diets can be nutrient deficient (just like, oh let's see, ANY diet could be nutrient deficient, particularly if you don't eat enough nutrients!), it saves a little face by encouraging parents of young veggies to support their childrens' decision.
The Truth
Vegan desserts are delicious, finds a recent AP story. Well, you don't say. While this revelation may not so much count as "news" to us savvy vegan types, it's interesting to note that more and more of the omnivorous population is getting the tasty message. The article is a virtual who's who of veganism, with quotes from VN Personality of the Year Isa Chandra Moskowitz, VN Columnist Colleen Patrick-Goudreau, Allison Rivers Samson of Allison's Gourmet, and, oh, who's that at the very top? Oh that's right, it's VN Associate Publisher Colleen Holland. Way to make waves, dessert!
The Stinking Problem
Since Livestock's Long Shadow started making front pages, the national media has focused some more attention on the link between meat consumption and environmental degradation, and that's just fine. The Los Angeles Times had a recent article that raised the question of why more politicians don't bring up meat when they speak about environmental concerns. Though many of the accusations of government-subsidized meat bring a much-needed critical light on the problem, the article falls short in one little detail: Kucinich! There is a presidential candidate who's willing to publicly eschew the chewing of animals, and, you know, you heard it here first. (Check out our March+April 2007 issue for a scintillating interview with the first-ever vegan presidential candidate!)
The Candidate
Speaking of the good Congressman, Democracy for America conducted a poll at the beginning of the month posing the question, "If the election were held today..." and allowing online voters to select their top three favorite candidates. In what may come as something of a surprise, especially to the other candidates, Kucinich was way ahead during the voting. Click here for full results.
The Marathon
Okay, maybe pounding 26.2 miles of pavement doesn't sound like the world's most amusing way to spend time to everyone. And yet every year there are plenty of stories of people running marathons, besting their personal times, overcoming adversity (and the allure of the couch), and overall having a nice, long time to take a thorough look at themselves. This year at the New York City Marathon, Satya magazine and Lantern Books co-founder Martin Rowe hoofed it all over the city, and, according to his blog, felt pretty darn good throughout. Coming in under four hours is a major accomplishment for anyone, but even more importantly is what Martin accomplished for Woodstock Animal Sanctuary. Donations came pouring in, and $11,500 later, the sanctuary will be able to offset the expensive treatment for Albie, a goat who came to them in awful condition. Great job Martin and Woodstock!
It's Turkey Time!
 That's right, everyone's favorite time of year to celebrate turkeys in all their gobbley glory is here again. Here are a couple of events being held later this month that are happy-turkey-centric:
Of course, the easiest way to celebrate our feathered friends is to not eat them. How better, then, to get in the holiday spirit than by going vegan? To start the month off right, November 1 was World Vegan Day. Vegans of the world, unite!
Farm Sanctuary will host their annual Celebration FOR the Turkeys at both their New York and California sanctuaries on November 17. At what is sure to be a sweet relief from the serving platter for all the birds involved, our feathered friends will be the guests of honor, dining on delicacies like cranberries and pumpkin pie.
Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary is joining the fun with their ThanksLiving Banquet on November 18. While, of course, the turkeys will be the main attraction, there will also be a number of notable human-type bipeds. VN Personality of the Year Isa Chandra Moskowitz will be whipping up a delectable dinner, VN columnist and professional smart-ass Dan Piraro will provide entertainment, and VN columnist Colleen Patrick-Goudreau will speak. Wait, did we mention there will also be turkeys? Because there will be.
VegNews is incredibly proud to announce that we have been nominated for the 2007 Utne Independent Press Award for Best Health/Wellness Coverage. The job of selecting nominees is no walk in the park, and we don't envy the responsibility!Here's what they had to say about the selection process:
"We began by upending the orderly shelves of our library, corralling some 1,300 magazines, newsletters, journals, alt weeklies, and zines into wobbly stacks. Then we dug in to read articles that we might have missed during the year and to reread our favorites—everything from gritty newsprint publications to polished perfect-bound journals. After much deliberation, debate, and a bit of teeth-gnashing, we whittled it all down to 111 standouts."
It's an honor to make the cut, so thank you, Utne!
Click here for Utne's website
 VegNews Launches Our First Blog!
Yes, it's true, we are dipping our toes into the tepid pool called "The 21st Century." Café VegNews is our first-ever blog, and there is just no way that we could be more excited about it. Here's why:
Item One: It's about food. We have an undying, ever-hungry passion for food. Also, since, you know, as humans we need to consume food for survival, it kind of makes sense to be stoked about it. In what may truly be the greatest "team-building" activity of all time, our entire staff sits down to lunch together every day and eats a meal prepared by that day's designated chef. Only one person on staff has ever been to culinary school, so while we may not be running a gourmet operation here, we definitely enjoy some daily, delicious vegan eats!
Item Two: There are pictures (of said food). As long as the internet is standing, we'll have immortalized our lunches. If this doesn't excite you, well, it's possible that nothing will.
Item Three: You can leave comments, and we want to hear from you! Do you like the blog? Do you hate it? Do you wish it contained more or less of anything? What's your favorite lunch? Since this is our first blog effort, it's a pretty big deal to us to get it just right, which of course means knowing whether or not anyone (VN staff excluded, as we may be prone to an ever-so-slight bias) likes it.
Click here for Café VegNews!
Robin Robertson, VN columnist and prolific cookbook author, is at it again. This time, she tackles all varieties of international cooking, provided they've got a spicy side. Her new book, Vegan Fire & Spice, will be out in January to give the new year some pep. Perfect for warming up during the cooler months, here's an exclusive preview.
Here's what Robin has to say about this, spicy little number: "Inspired by a soup served during late autumn at my favorite Thai restaurant, this creamy soup, redolent of coconut milk, ginger, and peanuts, is a great way to add excitement to the usual Thanksgiving menu. The chiles may be omitted for a mild yet flavorful version."
What You Need:
1 tablespoon cold-pressed canola oil
1 small yellow onion, chopped
2 teaspoons chopped ginger
2 red Thai chiles, split lengthwise or 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
2 teaspoons chopped fresh lemongrass (white part only) or 1 teaspoon lemon zest
3 cups vegetable broth
3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
1 16-ounce can pureed pumpkin
1 13.5-ounce can unsweetened coconut milk
1/3 cup peanut butter
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon light brown sugar or a natural sweetener
Salt to taste
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro or Thai basil
2 tablespoons crushed roasted peanuts
What You Do:
1. Heat the oil in a pot over medium heat. Add the onion, ginger, and chiles. Cover and cook until softened, about 3 minutes.
2. Stir in the lemongrass, broth, and soy sauce and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium and simmer for 10 minutes. Strain the broth into another pot and discard the solids.
3. Over low heat, whisk in the pumpkin, coconut milk, peanut butter, lime juice, and sugar, and season to taste with salt. Cook, stirring, until smooth and hot, about 10 minutes, without boiling. Serve hot, garnished with cilantro and peanuts.
Click here for Robin's website
Hello the Holidays. When the weather turns cold, the drinks turn warm, and that's just the way we like it. Imagine our thrill, then, when we tried and loved a newcomer to the steady bevy of trustworthy, holiday-party-appropriate beverages. We're not saying that there isn't still room in our stein for hot cocoa or Aunt Barbara's Favorite Schmeg-nog (see our November+December issue for the recipe!), but it's always nice to get a little new blood flowing through the veins of the holiday beast. Or, you know, a more vegan analogy...
But back to the point, our new favorite warm drink is Silk Pumpkin Spice. It's true that it comes in the refrigerated section of the grocery store, but you know what? There's bound to be an empty burner on the stove that can be used to heat this puppy up. Once warmed, this sweet, lightly pumpkin-y delight is the perfect accompaniment to any plate of holiday cookies. While the pumpkin flavor isn't incredibly strong, it is just notable enough to tide you over until your next full-on pumpkin meal. Definitely take the second to grate a little fresh nutmeg over the top—it's the finishing touch on an already classy mug.
For all you Silk Soy Nog lovers, rejoice! This favorite seasonal libation is also available in stores everywhere.
As you may remember, last month we sent out a call to all our vegan Y-chromosomes, asking about their favorite aspect of the veggie lifestyle. While the responses ranged from the healthy—like losing more than 70 pounds and gaining newfound energy—to the decidedly sweet—"My girlfriend loves me more!"—one respondent stood clearly above the rest. Brad Marshall gave us not one reason he loves being vegan, but his own, David Letterman-style top ten list, complete with humor to boot. We hope you enjoy his musings as much as we did, and Brad, enjoy your Livity Fedora!
Vegan Lifestyle: What I love Most (top ten)
1) Fewer apologies. Being vegan means never having to say you’re sorry—to any animal.
2) The meal on the floss. Dental flossing is so much easier. No fleshy gobs (which could add up to a meal by themselves) flying out from the spaces between the molars as minted waxed string does its dirty work. No more shreds of barbecued meats spending too much time at the gum line. A big loss here is that the stylish “toothpick-in-the-mouth” look may have to be left by the wayside.
3) I’m cheap. Restaurant bills are always lower for vegans, because we don’t order refrigeration-dependent, high-heat-required meats. Money-saving hint: it’s also cheaper to tip your waiters and waitresses with coupons. Just kidding. Also, remember that vegans will never pay $100 or more for an ounce of fish eggs.
4) Who needs Mapquest? I can state publicly, with a high degree of confidence, that Tempeh is not a city in Arizona.
5) Ahimsa. The Sanskrit word for non-violence. Anybody who has a pet they love knows that they have a soul, same as us. I doubt they would kill ‘em and eat ‘em, so why is it okay with animals you haven’t met?
6) The confused look on others’ faces. Telling people you’re a vegan and having them direct you to the nearest sci-fi convention. Or, they ask great questions, like, “Oh, but you eat ostrich, right?”
7)A much easier time in Purgatory. What if, after you enter the afterlife, all the animals that you ever took a bite from, got to take a bite out of you? Wouldn’t be much left to plead your case for getting to some of Heaven’s better real estate.
8) Past the ‘cow tipping’ point of no return. The dictionary defines “consume” as “to use up, waste, or destroy”. Meat production is incredibly wasteful, consuming large amounts of resources. We’re past the “cow tipping” point now, in terms of land and water resources; therefore, the more animals currently bred for food will hasten the time when fewer animals can be bred for food in the future.
9) No hand-me-downs. Vegans wear clothes that were never part of anyone else’s living apparel, like fur or leather.
10) The aroma. Don’t meat-and-dairy people know what they smell like? No, they’re used to it, and they’re in the majority. There’s very little dairy in most Asian cooking, so over there, consumers of the SAD (Standard American Diet) can be easily ID’d by the nose, sometimes at great distances, sometimes on elevators.
2008 ProjectPromote Winner
On behalf of the entire VegNews team, we're thrilled to announce the very first recipient of our ProjectPromote program. We were inundated with applications from highly qualified non-profit organizations, each hoping to receive a one-year ad campaign in the pages of VegNews Magazine. We are launching the program to assist groups who work tirelessly to promote a vegetarian lifestyle, but don't have the budget for national advertising. We realize the importance of marketing and promotion, so we want to help these well-deserving organizations go to the next level.
And, drum roll please, just who is our 2008 ProjectPromote recipient? After a staff-wide meeting to cull through all the applications, we've selected Mercy for Animals as our very first partner. With a mission of promoting animal welfare and a vegan diet, MFA was founded in 1999 and is one of today's most effective advocacy groups. Their campaign menu includes television ads on MTV, displays at local libraries, vegan food tastings, and free vegetarian starter kits. Throughout 2008, look for their ads in VegNews, and support the great work this group is doing.
Click here to visit Mercy for Animals' website!
Green Festival Ticket Giveaway
Planning to hit the Green Festival this weekend in San Francisco? If you're in or around the city by the Bay, we highly suggest you make a stop at this über-progressive, highly energizing, party for the planet this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. VegNews has been a sponsor since its inception five years ago, and all the food sold at the event is 100 percent vegetarian. We like that!
As a gift to you, dear readers, we're giving away a pair of tickets to the first 15 VegNews subscribers who respond to this annoucement. Simply send us an email with your name and mailing address, and we'll get the tickets to you pronto. Beware: these tickets will be gone in no time. Good luck!
Oh, and if you need a place to stay, we highly recommend San Francisco's first green hotel, the Orchard Garden Hotel. Tucked between Union Square and Chinatown, the boutique inn features an in-room recycling system, compact flourescent lightbulbs, Aveda bath products, and the use of chemical-free cleaning products. Check 'em out!
Click here to check out more about the Green Festival!
So, you like us, right? We certainly hope so, considering that you are receiving our newsletter. Well, we'd very much like the chance to like you too, and on an even more intimate level than our regular magazine-reader relationship. That's right, we're ready to move to the next step: we want you to write for us!
If you're a serious freelance writer, or even if you've just got a really phenomenal idea but no clips to show for it, pitch us your most amazing, brilliant, veg-angled story. It's very important to us that the magazine stay as fresh, fun, and intelligent as possible, and that means we love discovering new writing talent at every opporunity. Make sure to read over our submission guidelines, and then submit away! We're totally ready for it.
Click here for our submission guidelines
This holiday season, all things VegNews make the perfect holiday gift. Your recipient will appreciate receiving a fresh copy hot off the press every two months of the magazine everyone's talking about. We'll also send an attractive gift note announcing the subscription. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
VegNews Holiday Gift Subs just $20
For just $20, we'll send your recipient a year of VegNews plus an attractive gift note. At this price, you can afford to send them to all of your friends, family, local library, doctor, chiropractor, masseuse, etc.
VegNews Gift Packages just $50
Also available are wonderful gift packages filled with our signature oversized tote bag, an organic cotton t-shirt, a one-year subscription to the magazine, the current edition, an attractive gift note, and six jumbo vegan cookies from Alternative Baking Company. The box of goodies will be delivered to your recipient just in time for the holidays and is only $50 (includes FREE shipping). Oh, and we won't tell if you send the gift to yourself.
Back Issues Galore just $5
At just 5 bucks each (includes FREE shipping), you can put together an unforgettable package of our back issue collection which includes an attractive gift note. Take this opportunity to complete your own collection!
Order your holiday gifts NOW to ensure timely delivery!
Some of us love the holidays, others could do without the season of mass consumerism. We like to take the opportunity to spread a little cheer, veggie style, and show friends and family just how enjoyable vegetarian living can be. From scrumptious organic chocolates by Rose City Chocolatier to chic and cruelty-free handbags from Helen E Riegle to animal sanctuary adoptions, we've got some ideas that will make shopping fun. All gifts can be ordered online and shipped directly to your recipient's door, and most even come with a gift note. This holiday season, give great gifts while supporting vegetarian businesses!
Click here to peruse our entire vegan gift guide!
Preview of the December VegNewsletter
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.
Share the VegNewsletter with your friends. Or, if it was forwarded to you, sign up yourself at vegnews.com to join the thousands of readers who are tuning in to America's hottest vegetarian publication. Can't get enough? Read up on past editions FREE by clicking on "See our past VegNewsletters" at vegnews.com. Because you are what you read, and don't forget it.
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