During the holidays, it can be easy to find yourself in a time crunch. Between gift shopping, traveling, and preparing for holiday events, finding the time to cook healthy and delicious meals can be a challenge. With the holiday season right around the corner, the Vegan Microwave Cookbook is the perfect solution for preparing fast, easy, nutritious, and great-tasting meals!

The opening chapter includes tips for getting the best taste by using the most effective cookware, power levels, cook times, and methods specific to the meal. Most of the recipes in the Vegan Microwave Cookbook take less than 10 minutes to cook, and taste delicious. The recipe instructions feature nutrition facts, in addition to regular oven instructions too, in case you like the recipe but don’t want to microwave it!

Try savory recipes such as:
potato casseroles
mushroom balls
lasagna
creamy soups
hot beverages
and many more!

Dessert recipes include:
cinnamon coffee cake biscuits
pumpkin bread
ginger snap crust
and many more!

See sample recipe for Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie Bars below (perfect for holiday parties or distributing in gift bags!):

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie Bars (makes 20)

4 Tablespoons peanut butter
¼ cup vegan sugar
¼ cup vegan brown sugar
3 Tablespoons vegan margarine
2 Tablespoons soft tofu
½ teaspoon vanilla
½ cup flour
½ cup quick-cooking rolled oats
¼ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup vegan chocolate or carob chips
2 Tablespoons peanut butter

In a medium bowl, mix together 4 Tablespoons peanut butter, sugars, margarine, tofu, and vanilla until fluffy.
Stir together flour, oats, baking soda, and salt and add to peanut butter mixture. Beat for 3 minutes.
Spread batter in pan. Microwave on HIGH 3-5 minutes or until top is dry. Allow bars to cool.
In a small bowl, combine chips and 2 Tablespoons peanut butter. Microwave on MEDIUM until melted, stirring once during cooking.
Frost bars with mixture. Enjoy!

Total calories per bar: 106
Total fat % of DV: 9%
Protein: 2 g
Fat: 6 g
Carbohydrates: 12 g
Fiber: 1 g
Sodium: 56 mg
Iron: 1 mg
Calcium: 23 mg

Note: If using your oven instead of a microwave, preheat oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease baking pan. Spread batter in pan. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes. In a small saucepan, combine chips and peanut butter. Melt over low heat, stirring constantly. Frost bars and enjoy.

To order a copy of Vegan Microwave Cookbook visit http://www.vrg.org/catalog/ or send $23 (includes postage/handling) to Vegetarian Resource Group, PO Box 1463, Baltimore, MD 21203.

You may have participated in Black Friday or Cyber Monday, but how about Giving Tuesday? Giving Tuesday is a global day dedicated to giving back. On Tuesday, December 2, 2014, charities, families, businesses, community centers, and students will come together for one common purpose: to celebrate generosity and to give.

The Vegetarian Resource Group works year round to make it easier to live healthy vegan and vegetarian lives. Please consider making a donation to our group this Giving Tuesday.

To make a donation, please visit our Donate page.
For more information about Giving Tuesday, visit: http://www.givingtuesday.org/

We appreciate your support!

Finding waterproof winter boots that are non-leather can be difficult. Here are some suggestions:

For Women:

From Moo Shoes
Wide variety can be found here: http://www.mooshoes.com/women-s-shoes/boots.html#/page/1

From Pangea
http://www.veganstore.com/product/janet-boot/womens-vegan-shoes
http://www.veganstore.com/product/1193/womens-vegan-shoes

From LL Bean
http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/61955?feat=Winter%20Boots-SR0&page=women-s-snowfield-boots

From REI
http://www.rei.com/product/874730/kamik-baltimore-winter-boots-womens#tab-description

From Totes
Several of their winter boots sold in stores appear to be all synthetic. Read labels.

For Men:

From Moo Shoes
Wide variety can be found here: http://www.mooshoes.com/men-s-shoes/boots.html

From Blair
Totes insulated boots: http://www.blair.com

From Bogs
Many of their winter boots are non-leather: http://www.bogsfootwear.com

For Kids:

From REI
http://www.rei.com/product/857890/kamik-grandslam-winter-boots-kids

From Chooze
http://www.choozeshoes.com

From LL Bean
Kids’ and Toddler’s Snow Tread boots found here: http://www.llbean.com

From Bogs
Many of their winter boots are non-leather: http://www.bogsfootwear.com

By Dina Gharib
VRG Intern

After The Vegetarian Resource Group sent out a press release about our upcoming Pre-Thanksgiving Potluck, we were contacted by a local newspaper to present our story, and promote our annual event. The Journalist along with a photographer stopped by the home of our Outreach Coordinator Nina Casalena to discuss our 33rd annual upcoming vegan potluck dinner. In preparation for our feature, Nina and I did research to find tasty meals that would also be photogenic and delicious. We wanted to create dishes that would appeal to the reader’s eye, but we also wanted to imply that vegans can eat a hearty thanksgiving meal. With that in mind, we decided to steer clear from our favorite dishes that would photograph as “mushy” and unappetizing.

Larry Pearl interviewing Dina Gharib

After hours roaming the internet, we opted to make a colorful salad along with a golden puff pastry dish and snicker doodles (cookies). To split up the load, Nina decided to make vegan snicker doodles while I opted to make a vegan kale, mushroom, and seitan Wellington along with a mixed green salad topped with pomegranate, avocado, apple, carrot, tomato, and a raspberry vinaigrette drizzle.

Brian Krista photographing Nina Casalena in her home in Baltimore, MD.

We started off the afternoon with a quick 15 minute interview about The Vegetarian Resource Group, veganism in general, and the Pre-Thanksgiving potluck. While Nina and I were nervous at first, the journalist put us at ease with his kind disposition. Questions that were asked include: “Why did you decide to go vegan?”, “What does VRG do?” and “How many people are you expecting at the potluck?” Nina was able to answer all of their questions thoroughly and in a relaxed professional demeanor.

After baking, plating, and garnishing our wellington and cookies, it was time to make the salad. The photographer shot Nina preparing the salad, and plating it beautifully. Once all the food was prepared Nina and I, along with our dishes, had a mini photo shoot. When we were finished, we answered some quick last minute questions, served the reporter and photographer some snicker doodles, and deemed it a job well done.

Please support The Vegetarian Resource Group and join our efforts to broaden awareness, educate, and instill values of ethical and environmental responsibility through vegan research and outreach.

Here are a few ways your gift helps further vegetarian outreach:

• $22 Buys 200 brochures for outreach to students
• $100 Pays for registration and a table at a community festival.
• $250 Buys 20 T-shirts for VRG volunteers who staff VRG booths at events around the country.
• $750 Prints 5,000 vegan stickers
• $10,000 Enrolls donor as a VRG Patron and supports long term programming and research.

The Vegetarian Resource Group works year round to make it easier to live healthy vegan and vegetarian lives. Thank you so much for your support.

-Nina C
The Vegetarian Resource Group Volunteer Coordinator

To donate visit www.vrg.org./donate
http://www.vrg.org/catalog/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=4

Call (410) 366-8343

Write: The Vegetarian Resource Group, P.O. Box 1463, Baltimore, MD 21203.

November 28 is Fur-Free Friday and one of the biggest shopping days of the year in the USA. The Vegetarian Resource Group makes it easier for you to find gifts that do not contain fur and leather. Our Vegan Guide to Leather Alternatives lists both stores and online stores that sell vegan shoes, boots, jackets, faux fur coats, gloves, purses, luggage, computer cases, iPhone cases, ballet shoes, guitar straps, musical instrument cases, watch bands, and much more! Listings are primarily for the USA, Canada, and Europe. See: http://www.vrg.org/nutshell/leather.php

Between now and December 15th, 2014 we are offering a holiday discount on multiple copies of Vegans Know How To Party, written by Chef Nancy Berkoff and published by The Vegetarian Resource Group. You can order 2 copies of this book for $35 (30% off) or 4 copies of this book for $50 (50% off). One copy of this book retails at $25. Place your order here and indicate in the comments section what your are ordering and the number of copies: www.vrg.org/donate

Vegans Know How to Party is a 384-page book with color photos. It would be a wonderful gift during the holiday season. Not only will you find incredible recipes for baked goods such as pies, tarts, cakes, muffins, cookies, and other desserts, you’ll also enjoy recipes for appetizers, soups, salads, main dishes, and more. In addition, there are chapters on basic party planning, entertaining children, cooking for a crowd, working with a caterer, and party planning for people with diabetes.

Vegetarian Thanksgiving meals and VRG’s Pre-Thanksgiving Vegan Potluck was recently featured in the Baltimore Messenger! You can find the full article at the following link: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-city/north-baltimore/ph-ms-vegetarian-thanksgiving-1120-20141119-story.html#page=1

*Please note some of the poll information was cited incorrectly, you can find the true numbers at the following link: http://www.vrg.org/nutshell/faq.htm#poll

For more information about veggie Thanksgiving meals, see:
http://www.vrg.org/recipes/vegan_thanksgiving.php
For more information about VRG’s Pre-Thanksgiving Vegan Potluck, see: http://www.vrg.org/local/201410local.php#s5

Everyone here at The Vegetarian Resource Group was pleased to see Kristina of fullyrawkristina showing off our Be Kind to Animals bumper sticker at this years Texas Veggie Fair. If you would like to purchase one yourself, visit our online catalog or send payment to The Vegetarian Resource Group, PO Box 1463, Baltimore, MD 21203.

We would like to thank our amazing volunteer, Whitney Blomquist, for bringing this photo to our attention.

Check out these VRG holiday events you will not want to miss this month!

VRG’s Pre-Thanksgiving Vegan Potluck: Baltimore, MD
Sunday, November 23; 5pm-8pm

Please join us at our 33rd Annual Pre-Thanksgiving Vegan Potluck co-hosted by our friends at Bmore Vegan Drinks.The event will be held at the cozy North Baltimore Mennonite Church (4615 Roland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21210). We welcome vegans, vegetarians and the veg-curious alike to join us for an evening of delicious food and company!

Admission is $4 per adult; children are admitted free. Please bring a vegan dish – made without meat, fish, fowl, milk, cheese, eggs, honey, or other animal-derived ingredients – that serves four as a contribution from each member of your party. If you are unable to cook, you may bring a prepared vegan dish for four from a local natural foods store or restaurant.

To reduce waste, we encourage you to please bring cutlery and your own plate to fill up with tasty vegan dishes! Don’t worry, we will have disposable ones available for those who forget. We also welcome you to bring a non-perishable vegetarian canned food item to donate to the church, who will distribute it to those in need.

“GREEN is the New BLACK Friday” Shop, Spa and Benefit Day at Shankara Vegan Restaurant: Bethlehem, PA
Friday, November 28; 10am-4pm

Please join VRG at the “GREEN is the New BLACK Friday” Shop, Spa and Benefit Day at Shankara Vegan Restaurant (201 East 3rd Street Bethlehem, PA, 18015). The Lemongrass Spa and Origami Owl will be featured vendors. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the VRG so don’t miss your chance to get some of your holiday shopping done while also supporting a good cause!

If you have any questions about these events or would like to discuss opportunities to volunteer, please contact Nina at [email protected].

We are looking forward to having you join us!

You may also be interested in the following veggie Thanksgiving resources:
Veggie Thanksgiving Events in the US
Restaurants Serving Veggie Meals on Thanksgiving Day
Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes