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VRG-NEWS: The Vegetarian Resource Group Newsletter
Volume 1, Issue 13
December 1997

CONTENTS

  1.  Debra Wasserman speaks at NACUFS meeting
  2.  Last Minute Holiday Gift Ideas
  3.  January/February 1998 Vegetarian Journal Preview
  4.  VRG accomplishments in 1997
  5.  End of Year Donations
  6.  Veg River Fest '98
  7.  Recipe of the Month: Multi-Grain Croquettes with Sage-Onion Gravy
  8.  About The Vegetarian Resource Group
  9.  About VRG-NEWS


DEBRA WASSERMAN SPEAKS AT NACUFS MEETING

1) VRG Co-Coordinator Debra Wasserman spoke at the National Association of College and University Food Service (NACUFS) region II meeting in November. Debra spoke to a total of about 45 foodservice representatives on the topic of offering vegan foods to students. They were very interested in the subject and all had vegans to feed on campus as well as many vegetarians. They asked very concrete questions and said she really helped them a lot and gave them terrific ideas. Of course the students will be the ultimate beneficiaries of Debra's talk.


LAST MINUTE HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS

2) Give a gift subscription to the Vegetarian Journal for 25% off! Give your friends and relatives (or yourself) a gift subscription for only $15, 25% off the usual rate of $20 (contiguous US only. Canada and Mexico are the special price of $25, and other countries are the special price of $37).

The recipient of your gift will be reminded of your thoughtfulness six times over the course of the year. Offer expires on December 31, 1997. To order via our secure web site using your Mastercard or Visa, visit https://skyport.net/vrg/subscribegift.htm. To order via our standard site, visit http://www.vrg.org/journal/subscribegift.htm. Or call (410) 366-8343 or send your check to VRG, PO Box 1463, Baltimore, MD 21203. Be sure to include who the gift is for.

Would you rather give a book? We have a variety of books that make great gifts, such as Vegan Handbook which includes holiday recipes and much more. Conveniently Vegan will help people who need to prepare delicious vegan meals quickly. The Lowfat Jewish Vegetarian Cookbook contains over 150 lowfat international recipes. All these books have a nutritional analysis for each recipe. To learn more about these books, visit http://www.vrg.org/catalog/. You can order books as gifts on our secure web site at https://skyport.net/vrg/ordergift.htm. Or call (410) 366-8343 or send your check to VRG, PO Box 1463, Baltimore, MD 21203. Be sure to include who the gift is for and what you want to order. Thanks.


JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1998 VEGETARIAN JOURNAL PREVIEW

3) The January/February 1998 issue of the Vegetarian Journal contains:
  1. Cuernavaca's Spas (from Spas and Hot Springs of Mexico)
  2. Celebrating Citrus
  3. Wrapped in International Intrigue
  4. Vegan Comort Foods
  5. Vegan Menu Items at Fast Food and Family-Style Restaurants, Part II
  6. Product Review: Vegetarian Journal's Guide to Non-Dairy Milks g)
  7. Plus all the regular columns: Nutrition Hotline, Veggie Bits, Letters to the Editor, Vegetarian Action, Notes from the Scientific Department, and more!
If you are not currently a subscriber to the Vegetarian Journal, why not subscribe today? You can find subscription information online at http://www.vrg.org/journal/subscribe.htm. Join for $30 or more, and receive a FREE copy of the Vegan Handbook, a $19.95 value! (U.S. addresses only) (see http://www.vrg.org/catalog/veganhandbook.htm).

Or take advantage of our Holiday Gift Offer and give yourself a gift subscription to the Vegetarian Journal for only $15. To order via our secure web site using your Mastercard or Visa, visit https://skyport.net/vrg/subscribegift.htm. Or call the VRG Office at (410) 366-8343.


VRG ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN 1997

4) 1997 was a busy year for VRG once again.

Here is a sample of a few of the things we did:

  1. Suzanne Havala, M.S., R.D. completed a four week vegetarian meal plan for the national Meals on Wheels Foundation.
  2. Suzanne gave a very well received talk on vegetarianism at a state W.I.C. (Women's Infants Children) meeting.
  3. We distributed (over a two year period) 40,000 copies of I Love Animals and Broccoli Coloring Book and Shopping Basket Activity Book. Think of how many kids and teachers we reached! We now have to print more.
  4. We published Debra Wasserman's newest book, Conveniently Vegan.
  5. We had seven 4-H interns in the VRG office for two days. This was a great experience to educate and interact with teens from farming communities around the country.
  6. VRG conducted a national Roper Poll on the number of vegetarians in the United States and distributed the results to the media.
  7. Researcher Jeanne Bartas created Vegetarian Journal's Guide to Food Ingredients, listing the source and description of those mysterious food ingredients, including whether or not they are vegetarian or vegan.
  8. We presented at professional conferences around the country including the American Dietetic Association and the Rhode Island and Maryland Dietetic Associations.
  9. We distributed tens of thousands of our handouts: Heart Healthy Eating Tips, Vegan Diets in a Nutshell, Vegetarianism in a Nutshell, and Vegetarian Nutrition for Teens.


END OF YEAR DONATIONS

5) When making your year end donations, please remember The Vegetarian Resource Group. Your financial support helps us to promote vegetarianism to doctors and dietitians at conferences, keep the media informed, and create new handouts and publications for the general public. Your financial support also helps us answer the hundreds of questions generated by our web site. Many volunteers donate countless hours to make the money go as far as possible. For example, this newsletter is written and distributed using volunteer labor. So please do what you can to help VRG advance vegetarianism in your community and throughout America in 1998 and beyond. Thanks.

If you have questions on the tax advantages of donating appreciated stocks see your tax advisor or contact Brad Scott at [email protected]. All contributions to The Vegetarian Resource Group are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law. VRG is a qualified 501c(3)organization.


VEG RIVER FEST '98

6) Raft down the Potomac River with the Vegetarian Society of D.C. on June 6, 1998 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The price is $48 per person and includes a vegan lunch.

Looking for more rafting? On June 19-21 1998 you can spend two nights camping and one day rafting down the New River in West Virginia. The cost is $134 and includes a full day on the New River, 2 full vegan breakfasts, 1 vegan BBQ dinner, and 2 nights camping (you'll need your own camping gear).

For more information on either of these trips or any other vegetarian travel, contact Donna Zeigfinger (a Vegetarian Travel specialist) at 1-888 2GO-VEGE, 301-571-4603, or via email at [email protected].

RECIPE OF THE MONTH: Multi-Grain Croquettes with Sage-Onion Gravy

7) Here's a tasty winter recipe, suitable for the holiday table, from Mary Clifford, R.D. A reprint of her article, "Meating of the Minds--Vegetarian Meals Even Carnivores Can Enjoy," appears in the Vegan Handbook. The book, edited by Debra Wasserman and Reed Mangels, Ph.D., R.D., is published by the VRG. For more information about the book, visit http://www.vrg.org/catalog/veganhandbook.htm

Multi-Grain Croquettes with Sage-Onion Gravy

(Serves 4)

Multi-Grain Croquettes

These savory croquettes can easily be made ahead of time and reheated before serving, but be sure to form them into thick patties so that they remain moist and aromatic when reheated.

1 tablespoon oil
1/4 cup onion, finely chopped
1/4 cup carrot, finely chopped
1/4 cup celery, finely chopped
3 cups well-cooked brown rice
1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats, raw
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin powder
1 cup vegetable broth
1 tablespoon vegetarian Worchestershire sauce
10.5 ounces firm lite, tofu, crumbled

In a large non-stick skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Saute onion, carrot, and celery until vegetables are well browned.

Stir in remaining ingredients except tofu. Simmer over low heat until broth is absorbed but mixture is still moist. Remove to a large mixing bowl and let cool. Do not wash skillet.

With potato masher or clean hands, add tofu to cooled grain mixture. Mash until well combined. Form into 8 patties.

Coat skillet with vegetable cooking spray, or brush lightly with pastry brush dipped in oil to help prevent sticking. Fry croquettes, turning once, until lightly browned. Repeat until all are fried, adding additional coats of oil spray to prevent sticking. Serve immediately.

Note: These may also be baked, but will not get as crispy or brown outside. To bake, place on greased pan in 400 degree oven 20 to 25 minutes, turning once.

Total calories per serving: 255; Total fat as % of daily value: 10%; Fat: 7 gm; Protein: 10 gm; Carbohydrates: 41 gm; Calcium: 52 mg; Iron: 2 mg; Sodium: 170 mg; Dietary Fiber: 3 gm

Sage-Onion Gravy

A healthy dose of caramelized onions adds a great deal of substance to this condiment, making it a cross between a relish and a gravy. It's best made just before serving, although you can saute the onions the day before and start from step two when you're ready to serve.

2 teaspoons oil
1/2 pound onions, sliced thinly into rings
1 bay leaf
1/8 teaspoon sage
1-1/3 cups chilled vegetable broth
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon soy sauce
3 tablespoons flour

In a large, non-stick skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onions, bay leaf, and sage. Saute, stirring occasionally, until very well browned.

In a cup or a small bowl, whisk together the broth, vinegar, soy sauce, and flour. Be sure the broth is cooled to prevent the flour from lumping.

Stir broth mixture into onions and heat to boiling, stirring constantly until mixture is thickened and bubbly. Remove bay leaf and serve immediately.

Total calories per serving: 72; Total fat as % of daily value: 5%; Fat: 3 gm; Protein: 1 gm; Carbohydrates: 11 gm; Calcium: 13 mg; Iron: less than 1 mg; Sodium: 157 mg; Dietary fiber: 1 gm.


ABOUT THE VEGETARIAN RESOURCE GROUP

8) Our health professionals, activists, and educators work with businesses and individuals to bring about healthy changes in your school, workplace, and community. Registered dietitians and physicians aid in the development of nutrition-related publications and answer member and media questions about vegetarian diets.

The Vegetarian Resource Group is a non-profit organization. Financial support comes primarily from memberships, donations, and book sales.

The Vegetarian Journal, a bi-monthly print magazine, is a benefit of membership in The VRG. The Journal features informational and recipe articles, product and book reviews, news for vegetarian activists, and up to date information about vegetarian health and nutrition. Membership in the VRG costs $20/year in the US, $30/year in Canada and Mexico, or $42/year for the rest of the world. Accepted forms of payment, all in US funds, are Visa, Mastercard, checks drawn on US banks, and postal orders. When joining, please send us your name, address, phone number, and e-mail address. If paying by credit card, please include the card number and expiration date. Membership requests should be directed to:

The Vegetarian Resource Group
PO Box 1463
Baltimore, MD 21203
Phone: (410) 366-8343
Fax: (410) 366-8804
E-mail: [email protected]

Or you can subscribe online at http://www.vrg.org/journal/subscribe.htm


ABOUT VRG-NEWS

9) VRG-NEWS is distributed as a volunteer service of Vegetarians Online, the forum for vegetarians on America Online. Vegetarians Online offers message boards, live chats, downloadable files, informational content, quick links to vegetarian websites and USENET newsgroups, and an interactive store which features products from The VRG. AOL members can use keyword VEGAN to visit Vegetarians Online. Whether or not you are an AOL member, you may subscribe to the VEGUPDATE newsletter. To do so, send an e-mail message to [email protected]. Your message should read SUB VEGUPDATE followed by your first and last names. For more information, please contact Vegetarians Online host Bobbi Pasternak at [email protected].

If you wish to cancel your subscription to VRG-NEWS, send an e-mail message to [email protected] with the following message:
SIGNOFF VRG-NEWS

If you wish to subscribe to VRG-NEWS, send an e-mail message to [email protected] with the following message:
SUB VRG-NEWS {your first and last name}

Do not include the {} when you enter your name. The newsletter will be sent to the email address you are subscribing from.

Contents of VRG-NEWS are copyright 1997 by The Vegetarian Resource Group. The newsletter may be freely distributed in electronic or print form provided its contents are not altered.




VRG Home | About VRG | Vegetarian Journal | Books | Vegetarian Nutrition
Subscribe to Journal | Vegetarian Game | Vegetarian Family | Nutshell | VRG-News
Vegan Recipes | Travel | What's New | Bulletin Board | Search www.vrg.org | Links


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PO Box 1463, Baltimore, MD 21203
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Last Updated
April 8, 1998

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