vegansaurus!

Beer koozies are out, queso koozies are in. Plus, everyone loves cookies! The last minute vegan gift guide.  »

Crystal and Chris Tate, the geniuses behind Food for Lovers vegan queso (you’ve had it right? It’s available at Whole Foods throughout this country!) have teamed up with  etsy artists to bring you…

Koozies for your queso! Or…

a chili ornament! Or… a Texas state ornament!

Since I know you are buying one of these for me, I prefer the koozie [Ed. note: I thought it was “cozy,” because, like, now your queso will be cozy! Which is it?! Is this an east coast/west coast thing?]. How else will my queso keep warm in the chilly city of San Francisco?
If you want one of these precious “Don’t Mess With Texas“ handcrafted gifts, you have to act fast. They are only available for two more days! For $20 (shipping included) you get a jar of queso, a piece of handmade artistry and a card with a personalized message for the recipient (no one has to know it’s you, buying and receiving said gift. Hey! You gotta do you).

Fat Bottom Bakery, based out of Oakland, is also offering a special holiday gift for you! Fifteen dollars will get you an assortment of a dozen delicious cookies! How do they do it? So many flavors: sweet snickerdoodles, festive spiced molasses, ginger-glazed cranberry, AND shortbread swirls with chocolate ganche. Send them to me. I will enjoy them thoroughly. Or get them for the office party! Or the family thing, then don’t tell anyone they’re vegan and watch everyone chow down! (Or eat them alone while watching netflix, whatever!)

So many cookies! This is truly a winter wonderland!

Again, $15 a dozen, which you can pick up at their bakery; or for $20, they will deliver these delectable items to you! Within Berkeley or Oakland, of course. What do you think this day and age is? A time in which we can teleport ourselves over the Bay Bridge? (I hope that time is soon)

Eat Pastry, alive and well on the east coast!  »

I meant to post this last month but I been busy looking for an apartment! But I totes found one and I’m back in action! SO, I heard from Jessie at Eat Pastry and I am happy to inform you that Eat Pastry is now available in Pennsylvania! And New Jersey! And some other eastern places! VERY EXCITING. I’ll have to check the Whole Foods in Philly but Jessie says it’s available at Whole Foods and Big Bear Natural Foods in PA. I’ve never been to this Big Bear place but it looks adorbs and there are several locations.

Actually, several Whole Foods have picked them up: Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Washington D.C., Virginia, Kentucky, and the cities on the border of New Jersey (including Princeton! We can go and buy records and eat cookie dough!). She said she’ll be in NY this month to try and convince the NY Whole Foods to get with the program. GENIUS IDEA: You New Yorkers should totally request Eat Pastry any time you’re in a Whole Foods! Then we could eat cookie dough all the time! And be happy in the way only food makes you happy!

Some other places that have picked up this yummy dough include Dean’s Natural Food Market in Jersey, Mustard Seed Market in Ohio, Roots Market in Maryland, Yes! Organic Market in DC (say “hi” to my DC friends!), and really, just a bunch of places. Huzzah!

New vegan gelato coming to Whole Foods!  »

It’s called Genuto (cause it’s made with nuts GET IT) and I tried it at last weekend’s World Veg Fest in San Francisco and wrote about it (and an entire World Veg Fest breakdown, with awesome photography by my phone!) over at the wonderful Bay Area Bites. Go read it and learn about this delicious new vegan gelato that’s about to take over your life! It’ll be in Whole Foods and local natural grocery stores staring very soon. Like, in a month. Or less. Anyway: Learn lt, love it, live it. 

Vegan Fourth of July!  »

Did any of you take pics of your feast? I did! Being vegan during the holidays is so much fun! Actually every day (eating is great)—but during holidays with my family I can rest assured they will help me stock up on vegan food at Whole Foods so I have things to eat/don’t feel left out. I’m so lucky! Thanks, fam!

Potato salad (yay Veganaise!), citrus spare rib cutlets, fruit salad, corn on the cob (yay Earth Balance!), Great White, and a green salad. What did you have? Send us pics!

Interview: raw vegan superstar Lydia Kindheart!  »

If you haven’t heard of Lydia’s Organics, Loving Foods or Kitchen, then (a) you must not live in the SF Bay Area or (b) you live under a rock. If it’s the latter of the two, get yourself to Rainbow or your nearest Whole Foods, stat! I recommend her raw nori crackers, mint chocolate truffle, a slice of raw cheesecake and some kale chips— you won’t be disappointed! Every time I scout the raw and prepared-meal sections of those stores I see more of Lydia’s products! She’s taking the Bay Area vegan scene over with her amazing vegan, raw, gluten-free and organic snacks, meals, soups, spreads, appetizers and desserts! I am so jealous of those of you living in Marin County—you can just shimmy into her cafe! That’s it, road trip to Fairfax!

I was extremely eager to pick Parisian-turned-Californian/creative vegan force in the Bay Area/successful business owner Lydia Kindheart’s brain.

Lydia’s daughter Sonya—who’s 20 and never eaten meat!—and Lydia Kindheart at a festival

Vegansaurus: How long have you been vegan?
Lydia Kindheart: Off and on. On for mostly 30 years.

What inspired the lifestyle?
Girlfriends in high school, reading lots of books, asking questions and experimenting on myself. I started fasting at a young age and saw the direct effect of foods and well being.

Are you raw? How did you make the transition from cooked foods to raw foods? What do you see as the benefits of a raw food diet?
[I am] 98 percent [raw], mas o menos. I turned vegetarian at 16, then raw very quickly by 17. Raw foods are simpler, closer to their source, holding their vitality and life itself. Raw foods are alive, cooked foods are not. They use less resources, fossil fuels, etc.

How do organic foods play a role?
I am into health and well being for myself, all people, animals and life forms. Organic is the only way to work with the Earth, as opposed to poisoning life itself.

Do you have any advice for the beginning raw foodist?
Focus on your intake of greens and water; watch your sugar and nut intake. Use dehydrated crackers to help with transitioning—for that ‘bulk’ that one is used to.

What are the the most important tools?
A Vitamix, one’s teeth.

What are some raw foods to live by?
Kale, herbs, seaweed, sunflower seeds, lemon, watermelon and figs.

Your raw foods are absolutely amazing and taking the Bay Area by storm! What goes into your creative process for recipes/products?
Spending lots of time in nature, being in my heart, caring for people to serve them healthful alternatives.

Can you tell us the story behind Lydia’s Organics?
Since I was a little girl, I have always loved making food for people. As I learned about what foods can do and how they can affect people, it stirred up a passion and way to care for people and connect with the Earth through simple living. I had the opportunity to take over a smoothie shop in Fairfax and opened a raw food cafe—it then continued on this journey. I had never thought of creating a a business like this, it has led me to where it is now—to nourish as many people as I can with healthful, loving foods. My daughter, Sonya, and mother, Jacquie, have been integrative parts and support to this creation. Were were all three serving food at the first raw food event in San Francisco.

As a small, vegan, business owner, do you have any advice for budding vegan entrepreneurs?
Get some professional advice for logistics and unknowns. There is heart, dedication and hard work, but it takes practical logistics to implement our dreams.

Any favorite raw recipes you’d like to share with the Vegansaurus readers?
Pâté—Equal parts carrots and soaked almonds. Some celery, lemon, green onions, dulse seaweed and dash of salt. Grind until semi coarse in a food processor. It’s great in rolls and as a spread, especially with avocado. I’m not very good at recipes, I just kind of make dishes up, but it’s about playing and experimenting and creating what you personally like!

Thank you, Lydia!

The best vegan fun-in-the-sun products! It’s sunsational!  »

Here in Portland people tend to get really excited when we have sun, and as a result get sunburned very easily. So I put together a fancy list of a few vegan sunscreens to keep your skin as healthy as your insides! Bam!

This sunless tanner from Nature’s Gate is the perfect way to add a little glow to your skin during the winter if tanning beds aren’t your thing. I’m a huge fan of their unscented lotion, making this lotion great to use whenever I’m not nursing a new tattoo. Just remember to wash your hands after application! They will turn orange, and no one likes that.

As a rock climber this Aqua block, also from Nature’s Gate, is exactly what I need in the summer. When climbing at places like Smith rock, it’s necessary to wear the strongest protection you can find so you don’t burn to a crisp. The water-resistance is a big plus for anyone who does summer sports or spends a lot of time in the water, nothing worse than sweating off that spendy sun block.

Food Fight grocery carries this sport sunscreen by Alba Botanica. Other local stores that carry vegan sunscreens are New Seasons and Whole Foods.

It’s always important to take care of your skin after being in the sun as well, because everyone forgets sunscreen sometimes! Aloe vera is always a good option or you could try an after-sun lotion like After Sun Face & Body Moisturizer by Aubrey Organics. 

For those of us who like indoor tanning, I am sad to report that I haven’t been able to find an indoor tanning lotion suitable for vegans. If anyone knows of such a thing please contact me! I miss my tanning salon. Even though I have been known to use indoor tanning, I don’t promote indoor tanning because I know that it can cause cancer. And that’s just not right!

This guest post was brought to you by Chelsea Catchpole, a vegan who hails from the mystical land of Portland, Oregon. She is a barista by day and a blogger, climber, and “chef” by night. You can normally find her wandering the isles of New Seasons or The People’s co-op, spending way too much money on new foods. The rest of her free time is spent cuddling with her two cats, Sushi and Mojo-Jojo. You can read her other musings at Stumpy Vegan.