Nothing beats a creative salad dressing that’s quick to prepare and toss into your salad mixture. Chef Nancy Berkoff has a few suggestions including Indian Curried Grapefruit Dressing, Thai Peanut-Orange Dressing, Retro Green Goddess Dressing, Italian Sun-dried Tomato-Rosemary Vinaigrette, Chinese Sesame-Soy Dressing, Continental Shallot and Caper Dressing, Southwestern Chili Pepper Dressing, and more.

Read the entire article with recipes for these dressings here: vrg.org/journal/vj2014issue2/2014_issue2_QuickSaladDressings.php

Subscribe to Vegan Journal: vrg.org/member/2013sv.php

photo from Santa Cruz VegFest

April 6^th visit VRG’s booth at Santa Cruz VegFest in California: https://vegfestsantacruz.org/

April 6^th see Vegan Journal Senior Editor Hannah Kaminsky at Texas VegFest in Austin: https://www.texasvegfest.com/

April 21^st VRG volunteer Patricia Welty is distributing copies of Vegan Journal at Planet Virginia in Herndon, Virginia: https://planetseriesevents.org/virginia/

April 21^st visit VRG’s booth at Wilmington VegFest in North Carolina: https://vegfestexpos.com/wilmington-vegfest/

Chef Nancy Berkoff suggests the following:

Combine leftover white or brown rice with any of the following and then microwave or sauté with a small amount of vegetable oil spray:

Savory

• Chopped green bell peppers, chopped tomatoes, chopped parsley, and chopped walnuts
• Chopped parsley, bread crumbs, lemon juice, and minced smoked tofu or seitan
• Chopped green bell peppers, chopped onions, chopped celery, chopped mushrooms, pimentos, cayenne, and paprika
• Cooked wild rice, minced garlic, sautéed onions and mushrooms, and dry sherry
• Red bell peppers, Soyrizo or crumbled vegan sausage, paprika, oregano, and shallots
• Scallions, water chestnuts or jicama, cilantro, and soy sauce
• Chopped fresh parsley, minced garlic, curry powder, and soy margarine
• Forest blend mushrooms (a commercial mixture similar to mixed vegetables available in the produce, refrigerated, dried fruit and vegetable, or soup section in many supermarkets) and sherry

Sweet

• Pineapple and maple syrup
• Peanut, almond, hazelnut, apple, or soy butter, cinnamon, and ginger
• Minced dried apricots, raisins, and almonds
• Shredded coconut, maple syrup, nutmeg, and cloves

Read the entire article here: https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2006issue2/2006_issue2_tips.php

Subscribe to Vegan Journal by visiting https://www.vrg.org/member/2013sv.php

Vegan Journal is published by The Vegetarian Resource Group. Enjoy in-depth original research, product and book reviews, scientific updates on veggie nutrition, delicious vegan recipes with gorgeous photos, plus so much more. Both long-term vegans and those new to a vegan life-style will enjoy this magazine.

To subscribe in the USA only, see: https://www.vrg.org/member/2013sv.php

photo from Three Girls on Spring

The Vegetarian Resource Group maintains an online Guide to Vegan/Vegetarian Restaurants in the USA and Canada. Here are some recent vegan restaurant additions. The entire guide can be found here: http://www.vrg.org/restaurant/index.php

To support the updating of this online restaurant guide, please donate at: www.vrg.org/donate

Here are some new additions to VRG’s guide:

Botanical Plant-Based Fare, 421 E. Main St., Charlottesville, VA 22902

Looking for a vegan and peanut allergy friendly restaurant for any occasion? Botanical Plant-Based Fare is a restaurant you definitely need to try! Botanical has an extensive menu. From mouthwatering vegan chicken sandwiches to nourishing sweet potato bowls, Botanical has a plethora of veggie-filled and delicious meals for any time of the day. If you’re craving brunch food, Botanical has fluffy waffles, breakfast burritos, biscuits and gravy, and so much more. If you’re looking for a good cocktail, Botanical’s happy hour is the place to be! From spiked hot chocolate to a delicious winter mai tai, Botanical has exactly what you need.

Early Bird Vegan, 2152 E. Broadway Rd., Tempe, AZ 85282

Enjoy a wide variety of sandwiches such as Pesto Grilled Cheez and Avocado Toast. They also offer bowls including Nacho Taco Salad Bowl, Quinoa Birdie Bowl, and Southwest Bowl. You’ll also find daily specials, sides, and dessert items.

Sushi Vegan, 2400 Main St., Ste. B1, Santa Monica, CA 90405

Have you ever wondered if your favorite sushi rolls could be vegan? Well, they sure can! At Sushi Vegan you can try all your favorite mouthwatering vegan sushi including Spicy Salmon rolls, Tuna Rolls, Eel, and more. The freshness in every plant-based bite are unbeatable. Vegan Sushi also has a plethora of appetizers and salads to try, such as Japanese pizza, a garden salad with ginger dressing, and garlic edamame.

Three Girls on Spring, 121 Spring St., Charleston, SC 29403

Three Girls on Spring aims to create delicious vegan fare while offering hospitality, welcoming and connecting with each guest. Many choices are gluten-free. Some Hot Dishes include Lasagna with four fresh, house-made vegan cheeses–Mozzarella, Ricotta, Parmesan, and Romano, two “Crabcake” choices, both crafted from artichokes—-one with Horseradish Dill Sauce, the other with Spicy Remoulade on a Toasted Pretzel Roll. Besides “Chicken” Parmigiana and Meatball Pesto sandwiches, there’s their special Belissimo Sandwich featuring a Cutlet, Mozzarella, Fire Roasted Red Pepper and Pesto on Fried Dough, as well as Sausage Pesto Flatbread or Sausage and Peppers Flatbread made with organic portobello mushroom, onion and spices. Cold Offerings feature To Go heated or Heat at Home items such as Spicy ‘Pepperoni’ made with organic Apples, and spices, 2 Mac and Cheese Balls with Buffalo Sauce and Coconut Bacon Dust, or Scalloped Potatoes–a creamy, combo of their four house made cheeses. There are also Pestos, various house made cheeses blocks and Assorted Aged Cheese Wheels in flavors like Cranberry, Pumpkin Seed, Pistachio & Thyme, Black Peppercorn or Vegan Maple Bacon Pecan Herb. You might grab a 10″ To Go Apizza–possible options are Mashed Potato, BBQ ‘Chicken’, Neapolitan, Heirloom Tomato and more. All feature their Mozzarella, Parmesan and Romano cheeses. Desserts rotate but usually include their house made Ricotta based Cannoli Dip with vegan chocolate chips, assorted Gluten Free Brownies, Cream Cheese Frosted Chocolate Cake, and many more.

Vegan Sun, 225 W. Center St., Provo, UT 84601

Serves vegan “Eggplant Tofu & Basil Leaves Rice” and offers gluten-free options. Also serves “Stir-Fry Ramen” with a variety of protein options such as Chick-Free slices, Soy Ham, Beef-Free Bites, Bean curd, or Shrimp-Free Crescents.

Vegan Thyme Café, 2247 Michael Dr., Newbury Park, CA 91320

They have wonderfully sounding Asian style dishes as well as vegan burgers! They even make their own homemade hibiscus flower juice. For dessert you can try their coconut ice cream or their mango sticky rlce, which is seasonal. They also have six different types of curries. Vegan Thyme is available for special and private events upon request!

Viet Family Vegan, 1414 Commercial Dr., Vancouver, BC V5L 3X9 Canada

Vietfamily Vegan is a family run business that prides their selves in the food they serve. They want to show how your mind, body, and soul are all connected through the food you eat. Some of the dishes they offer include summer rolls, papaya salad, pho, eggplant chick’n, coconut udon, as well as a vegan and gluten-free pad Thai.

Chef Nancy Berkoff offers these ideas for adding nuts in your menus:

• Add to salad dressings: Creations include a basil walnut vinaigrette or creamy salad dressing with almonds, mustard, and dill with added chopped pine nuts.
• Add to sandwiches: Chopped walnuts, almonds, peanuts, and pecans add a toasty flavor and extra texture to grilled vegetable sandwiches, falafel, and hummus. Or add chopped nuts to smooth peanut, almond, or soy butters to make a crunchy sandwich.
• Use as garnish: Increase protein, flavor, and texture by adding to bean and rice casseroles, baked potatoes, hot and cold cereal, baking batters, puddings, or vegan ice cream sundaes.
• Add to pasta: Top tomato-sauced pasta with chopped almonds or pine nuts, creamy-sauced pastas with walnuts or pecans, or toss pasta with olive oil, sautéed garlic, and chopped almonds.
• Add to sauces: Stir peanut butter or soy butter into mushroom sauces for a Thai effect; add ground almonds or pine nuts to creamy sauces and pecans or pistachios to fruit sauces.
• Add to breakfast: Baked apples, oatmeal, hot cereals, cold cereals, and muffins can all benefit from a variety of chopped nuts.

Read the entire article here: https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2021issue1/2021_issue1_cooking_tips.php

Subscribe to Vegan Journal by visiting https://www.vrg.org/member/2013sv.php

By Carolyn Stoller & Danielle Choma; Interns at The Vegetarian Resource Group

What is Environmental Law?

Environmental law is a crucial legal practice governing how humans interact with the environment. Environmental lawyers contribute to the process of creating regulations and agreements that protect, preserve, and conserve our environment and the use of natural resources (Georgetown Law). Within this practice area, one can practice private law, work for Federal agencies, public interest groups, non-profit organizations, community groups, or environmental justice coalitions. In addition, there are a plethora of sub fields in environmental law, including energy law and policy, natural resources law, land use law, food and agricultural law, and much more. The opportunities for an environmental lawyer are endless with the countless environmental issues our planet has.

How Do I Become an Environmental Lawyer?

After speaking with a previous Vegetarian Resource Group intern from 2016, Heather Francis, here are some personalized tips and tidbits from a current environmental lawyer. Originally going to school to become a nutritionist, this environmental lawyer’s mind was swayed after interning at The Vegetarian Resource Group. After changing their major to international justice, with a focus on sustainability, Heather knew she wanted to pursue a career in environmental law.

While becoming a lawyer is considered a prestigious career path, you need to assess whether or not this profession is good for you and curate your skills. To be a successful lawyer, you must be willing to conduct a lot of research and writing every single day. If this isn’t your strong suit, law might not be for you.

Get into Law School: 

If you want to become a lawyer, you have to first get into law school. To get into law school, you must complete an undergraduate degree in good standing, score well on the LSAT, and create a spectacular personal statement and resume.

For any aspiring lawyer, you need to make sure you are willing to enter a competitive atmosphere where involvement matters. Law school is an intense 3-year journey where you are constantly competing against your fellow students for the best grades. Most law schools grade a student’s performance in classes using a bell curve. This means that your grades directly depend on how the rest of the class performs. To be successful in law school, you must plan ahead and work efficiently.

What Law Schools to Attend for Environmental Law

When considering what law school to attend, it is also best to research schools that have environmental law clinics, and schools where the professors have been or currently work in the environmental law field. Following her undergraduate degree, Heather applied to law schools that were known for their excellence in helping future lawyers pursue a degree in environmental law. She suggested several law schools that are focused on environmental law, including Pace University, University of Vermont, Lewis & Clark, and Georgetown.

If you’re specifically interested in animal rights law, The Sturm College of Law at the University of Denver has an Animal Law program, dedicated towards educating the future generations of animal advocates to protect the non-human animals in the USA. This program focuses on the issues surrounding the use of animals for food, entertainment, experimentation, and fashion (Sturm College of Law). This type of law falls in the category of environmental law, as lawyers in this field are protecting a natural entity that cannot speak for itself.

Finally, do not just focus on the name of the university. The weight or ranking of the name of a certain law school will not ultimately determine your future. Only you can control your future through hard work and dedication.

After Law School

After graduating law school and passing the Bar Exam, prospective environmental lawyers must land a job. Since environmental law is primarily public interest focused, environmental attorneys often work for public interest organizations that files lawsuits against companies that violate environmental protection regulations. Other environmental lawyers represent regulated companies to help them understand how to achieve compliance with environmental standards while also making a profit (US News). At the beginning of her law career, Heather has clerked for Federal judges in their environmental law committees. Moreover, Heather has also interned for Conservation Law Foundation and a Washington, D.C. internship focused on environmental litigation. For aspiring environmental lawyers, there are plenty of job opportunities to pursue a career in this particular legal field.

Veganism and Environmental Law

Animals are a part of the natural Earth’s ecosystem, as each individual animal plays a vital role in our world. Land animals and animals living in water are a part of a larger natural system. One of the biggest environmental hazards in regards to animal life is animal factory farm pollution. Maintaining a vegan diet is one way individuals can promote and uphold protecting the natural integrity of animals. In your law career, you can work on related regulations, laws, court cases, business law, nonprofit law, contracts, rights of non-human animals, animal welfare issues, religious rights, and even trusts and wills. From the vegan point of view, food, health, ethics, and environment are all intertwined and can involve the law.

For articles about other careers related to veganism and vegetarianism, see

https://www.vrg.org/links/JobSearch.htm

Works Cited

https://www.law.du.edu/animal-law

https://www.law.georgetown.edu/your-life-career/career-exploration-professional-development/for-jd-students/explore-legal-careers/practice-areas/environmental-law/#:~:text=Environmental%20law%20provides%20frameworks%20and,the%20environment%20and%20natural%20resources.

https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2015issue1/2015_issue1_food_technologist.php

https://www.usnews.com/education/best-graduate-schools/top-law-schools/articles/2018-01-09/7-considerations-for-pursuing-an-environmental-law-career

Here are some eggplant ideas from Chef Nancy Berkoff…

• Roast an eggplant whole, in the oven or on the grill, until soft enough to mash with a fork. Scoop out pulp and add oil and vinegar, garlic, and black pepper to use as a dip or salad dressing. This dish is sometimes called “eggplant caviar.”
• For homemade baba ganoush, purée roasted eggplant and mix with garlic, tahini (sesame paste), lemon juice, chopped parsley, and olive oil. Use it as a dip for vegetables or as a sandwich filling.
• Mix diced, grilled eggplant with grilled peppers, lentils, onions, and garlic. Serve cold, topped with balsamic vinaigrette, or hot, atop grains, pasta, or pizza.
• Skip-the-Frying Baked Eggplant: Peel eggplant and cut into ½-inch slices. Create a breading with your favorite crumbs (bread, cornmeal, etc.) and dried Italian herbs (garlic powder, oregano, parsley, red pepper flakes, etc.). Spray eggplant slices with vegetable oil, coat with breading, place on non-stick pan, and bake until soft. Layer baked eggplant into a deep baking dish, alternating layers with thick tomato sauce; drained, diced, canned tomatoes; sliced mushrooms (if desired); and either shredded vegan cheese or thinly sliced extra-firm tofu. Cover and bake until bubbly.
• Mini Japanese or Thai eggplant stuffed with a mixture of diced smoked tofu, tempeh, or veggie crumbles; pine nuts; and roasted peppers. Wrap in foil and bake.
• Make Eggplant Frisbees: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place slices of unpeeled eggplant (about ½-inch thick) individually on a non-stick baking sheet. Sprinkle with grated vegan cheese, minced onions, sunflower seeds, and nutritional yeast. Bake until bubbly and the eggplant is slightly soft. The Frisbees may also be used as eggplant burgers served on a hearty roll with fixins.

Read the entire article here: https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2021issue4/2021_issue4_cooking_tips.php

Subscribe to Vegan Journal by visiting https://www.vrg.org/member/2013sv.php

Chef Nancy Berkoff shares these Easter egg recipes:

SPRINGTIME CHOCOLATE EGGS

(Makes approximately 24 pieces)

• 1 cup softened vegan cream cheese
• 3 cups vegan powdered sugar*
• 1½ cups melted, cooled chocolate or carob chips
• 1½ teaspoons vanilla
• Cocoa powder, chopped nuts, or shredded coconut for decoration

Place the cream cheese in the bowl of an electric mixer. Beat until cream cheese is pliable and airy. This can be done with a fork, but it will take some time.

Gradually mix in sugar, beating until well combined. Add chocolate or carob and vanilla and mix until well combined.

Refrigerate for 1 hour or until stiff enough to shape. Roll into small balls, approximately 1 teaspoon, and coat with selected decoration. Place on parchment or waxed paper and refrigerate until ready to serve.

*Note: If vegan powdered sugar is not available, granulated sugar can be processed in a food processor until powdered.

FAST CRISPED RICE EGGS

(Makes 8-10 small eggs)

• ¼ cup vegan chocolate or carob chips
• 2 cups puffed rice cereal

Melt chocolate in a microwave or on the stove. Remove from heat, mix in cereal, and very quickly form into shapes. Store on a parchment- or waxed paper-lined tray.

Recent topics brought up include:

– Article on Vegan Vitamin D drops for Babies

– Are there any homeopathic companies that provide vegan-friendly homeopathic medicine? For example, many of the medicines use lactose as an inactive ingredient, which is not vegan. Thanks for any help.

– Shared an article on protein for kids.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/VRGparentsandkids is intended to be a group that offers support for families raising children on vegan diets and for vegan kids around the world. We envision it as a place to get advice about a wide-variety of topics: pregnancy, birthday parties, school lunches, Halloween, non-leather apparel, cruelty-free products, summer camps, and more. Please use it as a place to share your wisdom, seek advice, or just find a sympathetic ear. The goal is to offer support.

Consequently, any profane, defamatory, offensive, or violent language will be removed. Feel free to disagree, but do so respectfully. Hateful or discriminatory comments regarding race, ethnicity, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, or political beliefs will not be tolerated. We expect that posts should relate to vegan diets and lifestyles. The Vegetarian Resource Group reserves the right to monitor all content and ban any user who posts in violation of the above rules, any law or regulation, SPAM, or anything otherwise off topic.

Please share this information with any veggie families that you know! Thanks.