| eLifelines February 2011 - Non-Stop Action in February |
| Sunday, 09 January 2011 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Talk about spreading the love this month! Clearly, Valentine's Day isn't just for couples. Just take a look at all the sweet action happening in the veg community this February. L.A.B Restaurant will be opening as a vegetarian restaurant for one night in honour of Meatless Mondays on February 14th with a vegetarian pre-fixed menu. But if you prefer dining in, Amy Symington's ready to teach you how to make seductive food on February 27th at her cooking class as part of the Health Starts Here Cooking Series. If you are looking for a cruelty-free gift this Valentine's Day, or if you want to pamper yourself, make sure to check out the Reader's Corner section for information about vegan cosmetics and links to plant-based Valentine's gift ideas. Or, stop by the Arbonne Information Session at the end of the month. Sticking with the theme of love, we've also got a review of the new location for Loving Hut, which offers 10% off with the TVA discount card! Don't Miss These Upcoming Events!Make your reservation for the Veggie Valentine's Dinner at L.A.B Restaurant before it sells out! The Health Starts Here Cooking Series continues on February 27th with Little Light Loving: Cooking Seductively Healthful for Two and an Arbonne Info Session raising funds for TVA will take place February 26th. Find out more in the TVA in Action section or on Facebook. P.SIt's Veguary! Veguary is an initiative asking people to challenge themselves to eat a diet based on whole grains, root vegetables, oils, legumes, nuts and vegetables. Depending on where your diet sits at the moment, you might choose to take this month and aim to eat vegetarian, vegan, or just even a few meat-free meals per week to improve your health, the health of the planet, and the lives of farm animals. Already totally vegan? Tell your friends and family about Veguary and get them to challenge themselves in some way this month! Check out the Facebook event for more information.
This Month...
TVA in Action - Veggie Valentine's Dinner at L.A.B Restaurant, Little Light Love Cooking Class, Arbonne Information Session, Vegan Rock, Directory Updates In the News - Upcoming Animal Conference at Brock University, PCRM Victories in Canada Animal Advocacy Profile - Political Advocacy for Pigs: Nigel Osborne Nutritious Food of the Month - Fun with Flax Seeds Recipe - Flax Pumpkin Cookies Discount Spotlight - A Visit to Loving Hut: 10% off Reader's Corner - How to Celebrate Valentine's Day Vegan Style, Your Chance to Help a New Animal Sanctuary in Vaughan, Vegan Cosmetics, Calendar Sale
TVA In ActionUpcoming Events
Veggie Valentine's Dinner at L.A.B Restaurant In support of Canada’s Meatless Mondays campaign, award-winning vegetarian chef Howard Dubrovsky has announced that L.A.B (Live and Breathe) restaurant, which is normally closed Mondays, will open as a vegetarian restaurant this Valentine’s Day only. With a special all-vegetarian menu created by chef Dubrovsky, couples can put their money where their heart is this Valentine’s and show a little love for their health and the environment. When? Monday, February 14th. Seatings still available at 9 pm only. Where? L.A.B Restaurant (651 College Street) How Much? Dinner is $35, plus tax and tip, and includes your choice each of appetizer, main course and dessert. Click here to see the full menu. Please note: Seating is limited. Please phone the TVA office (416-544-9800) to make a reservation no later than February 10th.
Little Light Loving: Cooking Seductively Healthiful for Two Chef Amy Symington's "Health Starts Here" cooking series continues in February, with a demonstration of a meal to serve to your loved ones this month. Every attendee will get to sample everything made in class as well as take home a copy of each recipe demoed. Recipes for this class include: Fennel and apple over arugula with an apple cider and ginger vinagrette, creamy cashew “béchamel” sauce with homemade whole wheat pasta and fresh herbs, and dark chocolate covered strawberries (coated in pistachios or coconut). When? Sunday, February 27th from 2 to 4 pm Where? Whole Foods teaching kitchen, located at 87 Avenue Rd. Cost: $30, including samples of all dishes and copies of recipes used (or $100 for all four winter/spring 2011 classes - see veg.ca/healthyeating for details on all four classes). Registration? Please call 416.944.0500 for more information or to register. Unless otherwise stated, please register in person at the customer service desk or by phone. Space is limited to 14 students so don't delay. Visit veg.ca/healthyeating for full details on Amy's Health Starts Here Cooking Series running from January to April, 2011. Arbonne Information Session Arbonne is a health and wellness company that sells all herbal based products that are paraben-free, but best of all, they are vegan certified and their formulas are never tested on animals. Want to learn more and get your hands on some Arbonne products? Here's your chance to do just that and support TVA at the same time! When? Saturday, February 26th, 10:30 am to 12:30 pm Where? Central Eglinton Community Centre, 160 Eglinton Avenue East, in Toronto (enter through the east set of doors with the "Central Eglinton Community Centre" written above) Please RSVP on Facebook. Vegan Rock! Vegan Rock is back again! Come hear some great live music and sample some tasty vegan treats at this benefit concert for the Toronto Vegetarian Association. The concert will feature local veg artists Dream Awake, More Than Breathing and Hush Money, plus there will be a pay-what-you-can vegan bake sale. When? Thursday, March 31st Where? The Boat (158 Augusta Avenue, in Kensington Market) How much? $10 Find other veg-related event listings at veg.ca/events. TVA Group EventsTVA Reads will meet on February 21st at 6:30 pm. For more information on their next book or to join the group contact Shân at tvareads@veg.ca. The Dinner Social Group will hold their next meeting at King's Cafe (192 Augusta Avenue) on Thursday, February 17th at 7 pm. Please RSVP by the Wednesday before the event to 416-544-9800 or tvadinner@veg.ca. The Durham Lakeside Vegetarian Group will be hosting a lecture by Nimisha Raja titled "Intro to Vegetarianism" on Thursday, March 3rd from 7 to 8:30 pm. The talk will be at the Petticoat Branch of the Pickering Public Library (470 Kingston Road in Pickering). Directory UpdatesLast month's theme of expansion and enhancement of Toronto's already amazing lineup of veg-friendly places continues again! Urban Herbivore has opened a second location at College and Dovercourt, and Teatree Cafe and Live have both expanded their menus with spectacular brunch options. Plus, we've heard of some new veg-friendly finds such as Mylk Uncookies and Chaska. Find more details about these and other updates on our directory updates page. In the NewsAnimal Rights Conference Coming to Brock UniversityThe Department of Sociology at Brock University will be holding a conference on “Thinking About Animals” to be held March 31 and April 1 at Brock University, in St. Catharines. This two-day conference will explore a variety of issues concerning the current and historical situation of nonhuman animals and interactions with humans. Click here for the Facebook page to learn more. PCRM Wins Victory for Pigs in CanadaThe Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine was successful at ending the use of rabbits and pigs in trauma training courses at two Canadian medical facilities, one in Hamilton and one in St. John's. They argued that there was no need for such cruel testing, as both hospitals can teach these crucial lifesaving procedures with medical simulators modeled on the human body. Click here for full details from the PCRM. Animal Advocacy ProfileKnow someone you want to nominate for the Animal Advocacy Profile? Tell us about someone in the community doing inspiring work for animals. DND Vs. Nigel OsborneIf you're skeptical about whether or not getting in touch with politicians can have an impact, you'll want to read Nigel Osborne's story of the advocacy he's doing on behalf of pigs used in trauma training. Nigel got in touch with Defense Minister Peter McKay, and much to his surprise, he's now in the process of arranging a meeting to present evidence against the cruel use of pigs in this manner. Click here to read Nigel's story of the steps he took to make his case and where his work on this issue is headed next. Nutritious Food of the MonthFun with Flax Seeds |
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Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup whole-wheat flour
- 3/4 cup all-purpose white flour
- 2 tbsp flax seeds
- 2 tsp allspice
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp ginger
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/8 tsp sea salt
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 2/3 cup coconut oil
- 1/2 cup canned pumpkin puree
- 1/4 cup ground flax
- 1/3 cup water
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup raisins
Directions: Preheat oven to 350 °F (180 °C). In a large bowl, whisk together whole-wheat flour, all-purpose white flour, flax seeds, allspice, cinnamon, ginger, baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg and sea salt.
In a second bowl, whisk together brown sugar, coconut oil, pumpkin puree, flax meal, water and vanilla. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until combined. Stir in raisins.
Using your hands, form into balls and flatten on prepared baking sheets. Bake until cookies are firm and lightly golden (about 10 minutes). Makes about 30 cookies.
Find links to more recipes at veg.ca/recipes.
Discount Spotlight
A Visit to Loving Hut: 10 % Off
Care of Jason Doucette, Vegetarian Directory Coordinator
Been somewhere on the discount card list lately? Tell us a story about your visit and the delicious food you tried and it could be featured as the next Discount Spotlight.
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| Fried wontons from Loving Hut |
Veg Status? Vegetarian
Savings with TVA Discount Card: 10% off
Location: 953 Eglinton Avenue West (west of Bathurst) or 140 Spadina Ave (at Richmond)
The TVA Discount Card is available to members of the Toronto Vegetarian Association. Find a full listing of participating locations here. To join TVA and/or purchase a discount card, make a tax-deductible, online donation or phone the TVA office at 416-544-9800.
Reader's Corner
Reader's Classifieds
Big Sky Ranch (Kemptville) and The Regenesis Project are partnering to open a new no-kill animal sanctuary. They currently expect that the sanctuary will be in Vaughan. They are looking for a property, perhaps a few acres, with a building or two on it. If anyone knows of a property, or is interested in volunteering to help with this project, please contact Cynthia@theregenesisproject.com.
Looking for cruelty-free cosmetics? Check out Pretty Funky Cosmetics and Beauty Products. Animal, people and earth-friendly cosmetics with a conscience. To find out more visit www.prettyfunkycosmetics.blogspot.com.
We have also gotten word that the World in Your Kitchen Calendar, featuring a different vegetarian recipe each month, is on "deep discount" from the New Internationalist. Click here for more info.
Reader's Tips
Celebrate Valentine's Day Vegan Style
Looking for ideas of sweet treats that won't harm animals? Did you know that Nestle's 70% dark Aero and 70% dark Kit Kat are both dairy free, as is Lindt's 70% dark chocolate bar? If it's something more elegant like truffles you're looking for, try Boardwalk Chocolates, sold at Panacea at Bloor and Bathurst. For more Valentine's ideas, check out our Veggie Valentine's page. You'll find links to Valentine's recipes, gift ideas, e-cards and more.
Join the Toronto Vegetarian Association today!
What Our Members Have to Say | |
| “Going veg is the only intervention we can make as individuals that has purely positive impact, with no negative side effects. Since its inception, TVA has done a superlative job of promoting vegetarianism/veganism. Providing a monthly donation, however small or large, greatly helps TVA plan and budget for activities that continue this critical mission.” -- Dinesh Parakh |
Founded in 1945, the Toronto Vegetarian Association is a volunteer-driven charitable organization devoted to providing information and support to people who are interested in making healthier, greener, more peaceful food choices.
By becoming a member of TVA, you'll support vital programs such as the largest annual vegetarian food fair in North America, the vegetarian directory, a volunteer-run vegetarian resource centre and the Veggie Challenge. You'll also receive our quarterly print newsletter Lifelines, and be entitled to a free, customized subscription to VegE-News. Plus, you'll have the option to purchase our Discount Card, offering savings at over 80 veg-friendly businesses in the GTA. All donations of $20 or more are tax-deductible.
Join the Toronto Vegetarian Association today and help us inspire people to choose a healthier, greener, more peaceful lifestyle.