The Vegetarian Resource Group Blog

Where to Purchase Vegan Chocolate and Candy for Easter

Posted on March 14, 2024 by The VRG Blog Editor

photo from Amanda’s Own Confections

Easter falls on March 31st in 2024; however, you might want to shop for vegan Easter treats now!

Here’s some online shops offering vegan Easter Chocolate and Candy:

Amanda’s Own Confections: https://amandasown.com/products/holidays/easter/

Divine Chocolate: https://shop.divinechocolateusa.com/Vegan-Easter-Gift-Set/p/DIV-EASTERVEGAN&c=DivineChocolate@Easter

Easter lollipop Collection from No Whey Chocolate

No Whey Chocolate: https://nowheychocolate.com/easter-chocolate/

Natural Candy Store: https://www.naturalcandystore.com/category/vegan-candy

Lake Champlain Chocolates: https://www.lakechamplainchocolates.com/seasonal-chocolates/vegan-easter-chocolate/

Quick and Easy Ideas for Preparing Seitan Dishes

Posted on March 14, 2024 by The VRG Blog Editor

In the most recent Vegan Journal, Chef Nancy Berkoff shares suggestions on how to prepare quick and easy seitan dishes.

Quick Seitan Serving Suggestions

  • Chop or grind seitan, sauté with onions and garlic, and add to tomato sauce for spaghetti sauce; or add to cooked beans with barbecue sauce for chili beans; or add to vegetable or tomato soup for extra flavor and texture; use as a pizza topping or a calzone filling; or add to a creamy mushroom sauce to create a stroganoff.
  • Cut seitan into small cubes and sauté with black or white pepper, a small amount of vegetable oil or spray, and chopped bell peppers or chilies of your choice. Add to a package of homemade curry sauce to create a green, yellow, or red curry; add to heated leftover mashed potatoes with sautéed onions and green cabbage to create an Irish-inspired colcannon or a shepherd’s pie; or use as a focaccia topping.

Read the entire Vegan Cooking Tips column here: https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2024issue1/2024_issue1_cooking_tips.php

Subscribe to Vegan Journal in the USA at https://www.vrg.org/member/

Review of Hiker’s Hummus

Posted on March 13, 2024 by The VRG Blog Editor

Whether you’re traveling by air, bicycle, car, or foot, Hiker’s Hummus is a terrific way to fuel your journey with no need for refrigeration. Available in several flavors.

Read the product review in Vegan Journal here: https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2024issue1/2024_issue1_veggie_bits.php

Subscribe to Vegan Journal in the USA at https://www.vrg.org/member/

Vegan Restaurants Added to The Vegetarian Resource Group’s Guide to Veggie Restaurants in the USA and Canada

Posted on March 13, 2024 by The VRG Blog Editor

photo from Whole Harvest Kitchen

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:

Community Vegan, 1124 E. 11th St., Austin, TX 78702

At Community Vegan, plant-based food can be comfort food! They aim to provide a convenient destination for great-tasting vegan food. From fries smothered in vegan chili cheese sauce to a variety of vegan sandwiches, including a fish filet sandwich, crispy fried vegan chicken, and a fried oyster sandwich, there’s a plethora of plant-based options for your taste buds to enjoy.

Fix and Repeat, 555 NW Arizona Ave., Ste. 50, Bend OR 97703

Looking for the perfect plant-based menu to fuel your healthy lifestyle? Then Fix and Repeat is the vegan restaurant for you! From fruit and veggie smoothies, including a “Super Berry” smoothie and nutrient-dense “macro bowls,” such as a sweet breakfast oat bowl and savory “fiesta bowl,” Fix and Repeat has food you can feel good about. They offer both indoor and outdoor seating, so you can enjoy their meals outside on a warm, sunny day or in the comfort of their modern-style restaurant. Fix and Repeat is also committed to fueling the community with healthy food beyond its plant-based menu through local outreach, non-profit donations, and partnerships.

Indian Vegan Café, 901 W. Royal Ln., #120, Irving, TX 75039

Serves vegan dishes like the “Veg Keema Paratha,” which has shredded paratha (a flatbread) mixed with veggies and spicy gravy. Also the “Vegan Feast Box,” which is a lunch combo meal with basmati rice, your choice of curry, and plain naan.

Rock N Roll Donut Bar, 685 Cannery Row, Ste. 101, Monterey, CA 93940 and 1335 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz, CA 95060

If you think all donuts are created equal—round, hole in the middle, maybe some sprinkles—you have clearly not been to Rock N Roll Donut Bar. Here is where you can find square donuts; donuts with frosting mustaches to celebrate Father’s Day; and a Cookie Monster donut, complete with googly-type eyes and an Oreo in its mouth. You can even order donuts in the shape of letters to send someone a special birthday message. With flavors that include Snicker Doodle Crumble, Strawberry Shortcake, and Coco Banana Cream Pie, I challenge you to find a more fun way to satisfy your vegan sweet tooth.

Thai Vegan Restaurant, 107 Middleton Way, Greer, SC 29650

Serves vegan dishes like the “Pineapple Fried Rice,” that has brown stir-fried rice in curry powder with pineapple, bell pepper, onion, carrot, and cashews. Also has the vegan “Glass Noodle Salad,” with mung bean noodles, tomato, onion and chili paste topped with a spicy lime dressing and served on a bed of salad, plus so much more.

Vegan Deli and Butcher, 5003 Gravois Ave., St. Louis, MO 63116

The head chef and owner has put focus on creating a spin-off to East coast deli type foods, vegan-style. One of the items on the menu is a toasted bagel with cream cheese, lox, red onion, capers, and dill. The bagels are sourced from New York City, and they make homemade vegan lox by brining carrots with kelp powder for 48 hours! They also offer a variety of deli sandwiches including Italian Cold Cut and Philly Cheesesteak.

Whole Harvest Kitchen, Town Center Plaza, 4853 W. 117th St., Leawood, KS 66211

Adding no sugar, cooking with minimal salt and without oil whenever possible, Whole Harvest Kitchen invites you to enjoy food made from scratch with fresh ingredients and nothing artificial. Join them in culinary adventures inspired by health, sustainability and passionate creativity. For Starters there’s Panang Carrots with Sweet Pepper, Popped Amaranth, Lentil, Thai Basil, Cilantro, Sprouts, and Cashew and Smokey Dashi Tofu–charcoal grilled with garlic dashi, ginger, daikon, wakame and Kimchi to name a couple of choices. There are a few Salads too such as Immunity with Daily Greens, Mandarin, Apple, Fennel, Beet, Heirloom Beans, Super Seed, and Tamarind Dressing. You may add Smoked or Blackened Tofu to any salad. One of two Pizza choices is BBQ Mushroom with Myco Planet Mushroom, Red onion, Tangy BBQ, Pine nuts, and Cilantro. There’s also a 48-hour Local Grain Sourdough crust option and dips. Main events include: Thai Curry with Yam Noodle, Blackened Tofu, Turnip, Walnut, Greens, Chili, and Lemongrass-Coconut Broth, Cast Iron Cauliflower Steak with Lemon Hummus, Greens, Mint, and Pine Nut Gremolata, and Pulled BBQ Jackfruit Tacos with Black Beans, Avocado, Kale, Cabbage Slaw, and Radish, to name a few choices. Kids Bento Trays, available in Kids Hummus and House Pita or Kids Pasta with Marinara, along with Edamame, Veggie Sticks, Fruit & Ranch Dip. Dreaming of Dessert? Consider Dark Chocolate Truffle Bites crafted from Medjool Date, Dark Cocoa, and Sea Salt, or Maple Silken Yogurt with Apple, Orange, Smoked Maple, and Coconut Crunch.

Vegan Shelf-Stable Entrée Pouches: How Do They Compare?

Posted on March 12, 2024 by The VRG Blog Editor

The latest issue of Vegan Journal evaluates Shelf-Stable Vegan Entrée Pouches. Reed Mangels, PhD, RD, evaluates nutritional considerations including sodium content, high fiber products, and high calorie choices for hungry hikers.

Read this article here: https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2024issue1/2024_issue1_vegan-shelf-stable.php

Subscribe to Vegan Journal in the USA at https://www.vrg.org/member/

Maryland Vegan Restaurant Month scheduled for March 1-31, 2024

Posted on March 12, 2024 by The VRG Blog Editor

Sample all the delicious vegan food available in Maryland during Maryland Vegan Restaurant Month scheduled throughout March 2024. Here’s a partial list of some of the restaurants participating: Koshary Corner (Egyptian Street Food at RHouse in Remington, Baltimore), Land of Kush (Soul Food in Baltimore), Golden West Café (in Hampden, Baltimore), Harmony Bakery (gluten-free bakery in Hampden, Baltimore), Sweet27 (gluten-free restaurant in Remington, Baltimore), Applecore’s Bake Shoppe in Columbia, Planta in Columbia, Soul-Tarian in Suitland, etc.

More information can be found here:

https://www.facebook.com/mdveganeats

https://www.mdveganeats.com/

Spread the Vegan Message to a Spanish-Speaking Audience

Posted on March 11, 2024 by The VRG Blog Editor

The Vegetarian Resource Group has an extensive amount of vegan information as well as recipes on their website at https://www.vrg.org/nutshell/information_in_Spanish.htm Feel free to share these materials with friends and family members.

Review of Pitaya’s Freeze-Dried Acai Berry and Dragon Fruit Powders

Posted on March 11, 2024 by The VRG Blog Editor

Pitaya’s fruit powders are vivid additions to yogurt parfaits, homemade popsicles, fruit salad dressings, agua frescas and other drinks, chia pudding, oatmeal, and non-bake cookies.

Read the product review in Vegan Journal here: https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2024issue1/2024_issue1_veggie_bits.php

Subscribe to Vegan Journal in the USA at https://www.vrg.org/member/

Big Mountain Foods’ Soy-Free Tofu Product Review

Posted on March 08, 2024 by The VRG Blog Editor

By Noelle Merveilleux, VRG Intern

If you are looking for an alternative to soy-based tofu, this product might be for you. It is made with fava beans and comes pre-pressed, making the texture extra-firm. Also, it has a slightly nutty taste and pairs well with many dishes. To learn more, visit https://bigmountainfoods.com/products/soy-free-tofu

Vegetable Sushi Renaissance

Posted on March 08, 2024 by The VRG Blog Editor

Photo by Hannah Kaminsky

Have you ever wanted to prepare your own vegan sushi at home? In the latest issue of Vegan Journal, Hannah Kaminsky shares all you need to know from Basic Sushi Rice to Eggplant Unagi Nigiri; Spicy Tu-Not Temaki; Chia Caviar Gunkan; California Temmari; to Sweet Dragon Maki.

You can find these recipes and more here: https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2024issue1/2024_issue1_vegetable-sushi-renaissance.php

Subscribe to Vegan Journal in the USA at https://www.vrg.org/member/

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