The last thing I do at night before I hit the proverbial hay is plug in my energy depleted iPad. One of the first things I do in the morning after swinging my legs out of bed is unplug my re energized iPad. I will admit, it usually is within reach wherever I am in the house during the day.
So, it sounds like I have a “staying connected” addiction. But this is not really so. My iPad does not have 4G capabilities, so I don’t have internet everywhere I go. I don’t have a Smartphone. I have a little Samsung that lays mostly in the bottom of my purse, either closed or out of juice. My family will tell you that it annoys them that I don’t answer my cell phone when I am out and about. It is not because I am trying to stay out of touch. Most of the time I don’t even hear it ring. The odd time that I do , I spend too much time scrambling to find it and to open it (flip phone) and to click the answer button. By that time, the caller is usually long gone-probably a family member, annoyed at me once again.
But I do use my IPad to check my e-mail, to keep track of my appointments, to research topics and websites that interest me and most importantly, to network on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+ and Pinterest. I network for 3 reasons. One is to create interest in my website and to encourage people to read, to comment and to pass it along and another is to connect with family and friends who may live far away. Lastly, I like to connect with the online vegan community and exchange ideas about what being vegan means to all of us.
So, this morning was no different. I headed into the office to unplug my iPad and start my morning routine. Alas, the iPad was not plugged in its usual place. It was sitting on the printer, beeping weakly with 6% charge. Bummer, there will be no sitting comfortably on the sofa with a cup of coffee and foamy almond milk, perusing and choosing what to pay attention to. Why not? Because there is no electrical outlet close to my chosen place of comfort. Gotta do something else until I can revive my iPad. My husband is still asleep, so there will be no sitting and chatting, even though I think that would be nice. And unlike my daughter when she was a little girl, I am not sure that prying up his eyelid to get his attention is really all that nice or appropriate LOL!!!!
After thinking about some of my options and scanning the kitchen while I was feeding the cats and perking some coffee, my eyes landed on a never been perused Vegetarian Times magazine. It comes in the mail once a month and I almost never look at it. Why?-because there isn’t that much in there for me. I have a subscription only because my granddaughter’s school was having a Magazine Selling Fundraiser.
It is a food magazine in which the recipes rely heavily on chicken’s eggs, cow’s milk and plant based oils. The first two I reject for ethical reasons and the third for health reasons. But, I thought, what the heck, let’s give it a go. There were no surprises in the recipe department except for some interesting and no added fat suggestions for serving butternut squash and a tasty looking plant based vanilla pudding, both of which I may try.
But what surprised and interested little old vegan me were some of the articles and adverts. I would like to pass my vegan surprise and interest along to you in case you may find it helpful.
1) How to buy Vegan Wine:
Betcha some of us don’t know that wine is not always plant based.
Many wine producers use filters to clarify wine for our viewing pleasure while we are indulging our imbibing pleasure. These include gelatin, isinglass (fish bladders), chitin (crustacean shells), egg whites, and milk proteins. The winemakers are not required to list these “ingredients” on the label even though there may be nonhuman animal residue in the wine itself.
Up and coming plant based filtering agents are bentonite clay and carbon.
Wines labelled “natural” are naturally suitable for vegans, while those labelled organic are not necessarily so.
Frey Vineyards has an advert in the magazine for their organic wines, many of which are vegan friendly. They are available online in the States and may be available in Canada and Europe thru Frey’s distributors. Check Frey’s website for details.
I get the skinny on vegan friendly wines from Barnivore, a great online site which covers beer and liquor as well. If it isn’t 100%plant based, I don’t buy it for my home or drink it when I am out. Yellow Tail Red Wine by Casella Winery is a suitable choice.
2) Mango Coconut Bread Pudding:
My hubby loves bread pudding, but it is filled with chicken’s eggs. This is a plant based, vegan friendly recipe for bread pudding. Yep, it is high in fat and has Earth Balance in it, which I don’t use anymore, but I think oil could be substituted or omitted entirely. Could be fun for a special treat. Let me know what you think if you do try it out.
3) What’s in Store for the Future of Mock Meats and Vegan Cheese?, by Greg Dollarhyde (Chief Energizing Officer of Veggie Grill Restaurants)
Mock Meats (their term, not mine): …”stable demand, but the growth is in whole foods with short ingredients lists and creative, fresh preparations. Mock meats are attractive since they can emulate flavor and textures pretty well. However, if you are an old hand at vegetarian eating, your path will probably be taking you toward fresh preparations of veggies, beans and supergrains.”
Vegetarian times, November 2014, page 62
I was so happy to read this because we rarely buy plant based meats, and never those that remind me of a chicken’s breast, or a cow’s leg. We do eat lots of veggies, beans, grains and fruit.
4) What Are Need-to-Know Findings About Animals, by Jane Goodall, PHD
Jane talks about the intelligence, personalities and emotions of other species. While I don’t believe that we need to prove their intelligence in order to grant them the right to agency over their own lives, I do admire Dr. Goodall for her work and commend Vegetarian Times for including this article in their magazine.
Annie’s Vegan View
I prefer to support magazines and cookbooks that are nonhuman animal friendly in perspective and in deed.
I will not be renewing my subscription, but I will check out their website from time to time.
Please see my Other Voices tab in the menu to check out my favorite websites and books.
May all beings be happy and free.
I like your blog! I was linked to it by http://www.havegonevegan.com/ Keep up the good work and keep spreading the truth! I hadn’t even realized that vegetarian times does rely heavily on dairy and eggs! That is crazy, I really want to find a great vegan magazine so any suggestions you have would be great.
Hi Ben,
Welcome to my website! Have Gone Vegan is one of my fave websites and I check it out very time there is a new post.
Thank you for your words of encouragement.
Many vegetarians include eggs, dairy and sometimes fish in their diets. I am vegan so I don’t and that is why I don’t find the magazine all that helpful, even though it is very well written and includes a wide variety of topics.
I have heard that Veg World Magazine is about all things vegan, but I have never checked it out. I believe that Steve Prussak is the editor.
If you click on the Other Voices in my menu at the top of the home Page, you will see a list of resources that I recommend.
I look forward to hearing from you again.
Many thanks,
Anne
Hi, Anne! I was wandering around WordPress and stumbled upon this post. Your review of the 4th article really piqued my interest and I will proceed to head over to their website. I totally agree that nonhuman beings shouldn’t have to have their intelligence proved in order to have rights. Good job and keep up the good work!
Hi Valentina,
The less we interfere in the lives of the other beings with whom we share this earth, the better everything will be. No need to test anyone’s intelligence at all. Let’s concentrate on the problems we have within our own species and help others where needed.
Many thanks for your encouragement. I really appreciate it.
Anne
This is my first time commenting, but I found your blog recently through Have Gone Vegan and I just want to let you know how much I enjoy what I’ve read of your blog so far. I bookmarked you and look forward to reading more!
Hi Krissa,
Welcome to my website and thank you for your kind comments. I recognize you from HaveGoneVegan, which, by the way, is one of my favorite sites. I read the insightful comments that you post there.
I look forward to dialoguing with you.
Many thanks,
Anne
Hi Anne!
Finally getting into catch-up mode, and was delighted to see some familiar names here. So, do I get like a commission fee or something? 😉
I don’t have a Smartphone either, and sometimes not even a Dumbphone, as the construction crew next door has cut through my Bell line at least four times this year. Maddening, especially when Bell always asks me for my mobile number when I call them. Um, I DON’T have a mobile #, as I tell them, otherwise I wouldn’t be so frantic to get things fixed already. And I do get into a bit of a panic, especially as I tend to get messages from potential customers in my online shop WHEN I’m down. Oh well.
As for networking, I’m pleased that there are other vegans who do this, as it’s one of the things I’ve had to let go. Just don’t have time for it all anymore (should probably put a MIA note on Twitter), so I’m gonna leave it in capable hands such as yours! 🙂
Oh, but I do have a post in draft mode (I enjoy writing, so really don’t want THAT to go), and am anticipating publishing it this week. It’s kind of related to my last post, but that’s all I’m gonna tell ya. 😉
p.s. thanks for the compliment on my website — it encourages me to keep at it…
Hi Friend,
You definitely deserve a commission. Have to think about what would be appropriate. LOL!
Gotta love Bell. I just love it when I have to deal with big companies.
I hear you about the time commitment required for networking. Sitting here in my PJ’s trying to some of it now, before the day gets too busy!
Thanks for your continued support and I look forward to tour new post!
Anne
Hey Anne!
I used to get the Vegetarian Times before I was vegan but it’s probably not that relevant to me now. Sometimes I get, “Vegan Food” magazine which has lots of recipes in it which I like but I don’t get it every month. I also use the “Barnivore” website for alcohol. It is excellent and if I am out and about and not sure about something I can always check their website on my phone.
I like Yellowtail red wine too. I like their shiraz and merlot and also their white wine. When I go out I tend to stick to gins and vodkas as I know they are usually okay. The only lagers I drink now are Budweiser, Corona, Sol and Stella. The co-operative supermarkets actually have quite a variety of their own make wines now that are labelled as vegan which I really welcome. There are probably lots of others which are vegan but not labelled as so and this really frustrates me. Things are changing slowly though. Hopefully soon everything will be labelled and make life so much easier.
Rachel
Thank you! I searched “what do vegan’s think of vegetarian times magazine” and this article came up. Just what I wanted to know. If it has anything about parts of nonhumans being used for food for humans being OK it isn’t for me. Have a great day!
Hey Meg,
Welcome to my website and thank you for your insight. It is much appreciated,
Take care.
Anne