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This podcast started with a bang, or should I say, a ‘bean’ as we discovered that Hot Beans’ TVP filling recipe is available on the Canadian Parents website. If you feel so inclined, you can cook the filling up for yourself, or, if you are feeling lazy, you can just head to Hot Beans and have them make it for you.  Speaking of lazy, The Laziest Vegans in the World blog posts regularly about vegan convenience foods and easy-to-make vegan recipes. Isa Chandra Moskowitz’s boyfriend is the blog’s author, and it looks like it has some delicious and interesting ideas.

There are also many updates to the Vegetarian Directory,, including mention of a new vegan protein imported from Italy, soy and rice whipped cream in a can from Panacea, and chocolate bars modeled after childhood favourites, like peanut butter cups.  Bring on the nostalgia!  Also, now available in assorted grocery shops is a new flavour of Daiya cheese: Captain “Pepper” Jack Sparrow, also known as pepperjack.  If I were a pirate, I would definitely say “yarrr.”  If you have the appetite of a pirate, feel free to check out an all you can eat salad and pizza deal at the Magic Oven at Queen and Parliament on Wednesdays after 5pm (for $14.95).

We are heading into a whirlwind of great events, including a variety of “1st annuals”.  May 28 is the 1st annual TARVE (Toronto Animal Rights & Vegan Expo) and June 11 is the 1st annual Toronto Raw Vegan Festival .  If that weren’t enough, Compassion Week this year runs June 6-12.  Saturday June 11 features some great marketplace events at Wychward Barns, as well as a talk by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau, who is an author of numerous cookbooks and an inspired and motivating speaker.  She’s also got great hair, so there you go.

In terms of worldwide adventures, Liam was in New York recently, and had some amazing food, including vegan milkshakes.  Determined to keep the trip alive, even on the way home, he discovered a great restaurant in Syracuse (not the one Shakespeare wrote about, but we won’t hold that against it) called Strong Hearts Cafe , where, would you believe it, they ALSO had amazing food and more vegan milkshakes.

Finally, some celebrity gossip to close the podcast. Alicia Silverstone, author of The Kind Diet, has had a baby boy.  She and her husband will be raising their new baby as a vegan, and given her knowledge of food and nutrition choices, I think they’ll set a great example.  Ginnifer Goodwin (a B-list celebrity according to Liam, primarily because he can’t think of who she is), who has been very active in the animal rights scene, has gone from vegan to vegetarian, for nutritional reasons.  While one can’t help but find it a bit disconcerting that someone of such financial means can’t make proper eating happen, as Liam said, “to each their own.”  Everyone has to find what works for them, while hopefully continuing to make as many humane choices as possible. 

That’s all for now, folks.  This week’s podcast was a creamy milkshake 29 minutes.