Bay Area Vegetarians

This class will feature holiday favorites pumpkin, apple, and pecan pies plus fruit & nut filled holiday cookies. With Dr. Christine Dickson, learn the secret tips for making perfect pie crust and take time to network and share ideas with others. Each dessert featured in this class makes a great gift for friends and family!

Space is limited and the classes typically fill-up fairly quickly, so please reserve your space today.

Date: Saturday, Nov 6th
Time: 1:00pm – 3:30pm
Location: Whole Foods Market, 1010 Park Place, San Mateo
Cost: $25/person *
Registration | Event Listing

When asked “What did you like most about the baking class?“, class participants replied:

“The taste and texture of the baked goods was very impressive. Very tasty.”

“It gave me confidence that you can make vegan dessert items that taste every bit as good as baked items with animal products.”

“Being with other vegetarians/vegans and learning how to make healthy desserts.”

“Learning all the tips/techniques you can’t get from just a recipe.”

“To meet an actual vegan baker — we need many more of these to progress the “cause” and get/perfect more options.”

“Christine has some good baking humor – she made me laugh”

To learn more about the Secrets of Vegan Baking classes, visit the SecretsOfVeganBaking.com website

For registration, please visit the Bay Area Vegetarians website – http://bayareaveg.org/cooking/

* Thank you to Christine for volunteering her time and expertise; all proceeds benefit Bay Area Vegetarians. In the spirit of promoting vegan baking, these classes are offered below market rate.

Wanted to share a sneak preview of the new banners we ordered for BAVeg Outreach. We will be using these for the first time at the SF LGBT Pride Celebration on 6/26-6/27 at the SF Civic Center.

Please come by and visit us, and get a free Veg Starter Kit for you and a friend!

The goal of the Bay Area Vegetarians is to share information promoting veganism, and connect/support the veg and animal rights community. What happens or doesn’t happens depends on each one of us, and in the long-run, determines how well we eat because most events should involve lots of vegan food (well, at least the ones that I’m involved with do!)

Does anyone have a special BAVeg event they’ve been thinking of organizing, but uncertain about how to get started?

Well, the first step is to email us with the date/time and let us know what you want to do. Just about any type of event (as long as all the food is vegan) and it’s open to everyone can be a BAVeg event.

Here are some ideas

• vegan cheese tasting party
• leaflet at a concert or summer fair
• Mission food trek (Cafe Gratitude/Cha Ya/Herbivore/Udupi)
• organize a dinner at your favorite veg restaurant
• organize a Vegan Food Party at your favorite park or home
• DIY skill share: have something to say or something to show related to veganism/animal rights? Let me know, we will be having regular Vegan Food Parties at the ocean-view community room at the Pacifica Library.
• movie night: screen a movie related to veg/AR. either at your home, or community room

We look forward to hearing about the events you’d like to help make happen. Thank you!

Looking for help with discounted or, even better, free printing for an outdoor vinyl banner for Bay Area Vegetarians outreach at the forthcoming SF LGBT Pride.

Please let us know if you can help.

Bay Area Vegetarians is returning to the 2010 SF Pride Celebration — this will be our 8th consecutive year with outreach at San Francisco PRIDE!

Once again, BAVeg will have an information booth in front of the Asian Art Museum, giving out thousands of pieces of literature promoting a more compassionate and cruelty-free lifestyle:  veganism!  We will also be leafleting during the Festival.  [ Volunteer Sign-Up ]

Nora has been part of our outreach at Pride since the first year in 2003. She recounted one of her experiences about Pride leafleting:

One older man stopped after taking my brochure, looked at it for maybe 15 seconds, and said, “Wow. Thanks for ruining my day!” I started to reply, saying, “I’m sorry to ruin your day–I know this is upsetting–but thanks for caring so much about animals that it ruined your day to know how they are suffering.”

He said, “Actually, though it does kind of ruin my day to see this, I was being serious in thanking you. We need people like you out doing the dirty work of making people aware of this issue. Thank you for being here.”

This is what we are providing when we leaflet. Aren’t you glad you know about how the animals are treated so that you can choose to do something about it? Give others that opportunity to make a difference, as well! And give the animals an opportunity for people to consider their plight.

Please use this sign-up form if you’re interested in helping to make a more veg*n world by:

– staffing the BAVeg booth [ Saturday 10 am-7pm, Sunday 10 am-6 pm ]
– leafleting outside the booth [same time as above]
– leafleting the parade crowd before the parade starts [ Sun 9 am – 10:15 am]
– behind the scenes help [ booth set-up, or cart wrangler on Sunday AM]

While previous outreach experience is helpful, it’s not necessary. We just ask that you’re a friendly person, already vegan, or vegetarian transitioning towards vegan, who can reliably show up at the event. If you have questions, you’re welcome to email us directly or post a comment in the blog.

While financial donations to support the cost of outreach at Pride are gratefully accepted, as a small, grassroots all-volunteer organization, we depend even more on your volunteer support of your time and compassion to make our outreach at Pride successful this year.   Last year, as in previous years, we were the only veg group distributing information at this progressive two-day event. Please sign up to help today to spread the veg message. Donations are welcome via check to Bay Area Vegetarians, P.O. Box 371215, Montara, CA 94037-1215.

Thank you to everyone who has supported our efforts in the past, and to everyone who will help us this year.  Thank you to East Bay Animal Advocates for sponsoring/organizing the marching contingent in the Pride Parade this year.  So be sure to mark your calendars for that weekend, and reserve your spot today!

Where: San Francisco Civic Center
When: Sat Jun 26th – Sun Jun 27th
What: Making a difference – Making new Veg*ns!

Volunteer Sign-Up

Dr. Christine Dickson, Secrets of Vegan Baking

Dr. Christine Dickson relaunched the Secrets of Vegan Baking Classes with theme class of “The Chocolate Trio” on March 27th at the San Mateo Whole Foods.

The class was sold-out, and unfortunately for those anxiously waiting for a cancellation, we had a full house.

Christine started the class with a bonus — sampling her delightful fudgie brownie bites.

Then the class officially began with the featured vegan desserts, Chocolate Cream-Cheese Bundt Cake, Chocolate Chip Cookies, and then the Chocolate Hazelnut Torte.  Christine had prepared samples of each dessert (pictured above at the beginning of the class).

During the class, Christine and volunteer assistants from the audience prepared each vegan delight.  Both the Chocolate Chip Cookies  and Chocolate Cream-Cheese Bundt Cake in class were also baked fresh in class and available for more sampling.

Vegan Baking Class, March 2010

If you love chocolate, visit Christine’s website to watch how to make fudge brownie bites.

Upcoming Secrets of Vegan Baking Class

The next vegan baking class is “Berry Sweets” on Saturday, April 24th, at San Mateo Whole Foods.

Christine will share her secrets of baking delicious old-fashioned strawberry shortcake, raspberry tart, and blueberry muffins.  Cost is $25 per person, and registrations are now being accepted.  [ more info ]

Thank you to Christine for sharing her time and talents for creating egg- and dairy-free desserts.  Most attendees at the class were new to vegan baking, and we look forward to our continued partnership with Christine and the Secrets of Vegan Baking to promote compassionate and cruelty-free baking in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Class participant made vegan cupcakes for a bakesale

We will once again be offering the popular Secrets of Vegan Baking Classes with Bay Area Vegetarians!  In 2007, many of you will remember the Secrets of Vegan Baking classes held at Sur La Table in SF’s Union Square.   This class is now being held at Whole Foods in San Mateo.

Upcoming Secrets of Vegan Baking Classes include:

03/27 Secrets of Vegan Baking: The Chocolate Trio – San Mateo
04/24 Secrets of Vegan Baking: Berry Sweets – San Mateo

The instructor has also created the Secrets of Vegan Baking website with Video Demonstration, Free Sample Recipes, and Baking Tips.

We will be giving a free presentation during our 2/28 Vegan Food Party, and we’ll be giving away one of her vegan cookie mixes!

Class at Sur La Table in SF

Thank you to our volunteer instructor for once again offering these classes, and to Whole Foods for underwriting this class with space and ingredients.  The San Mateo Whole Foods is also offering a vegan raw foods class on 3/9 with Patti Searle ($35 , more info )

Just a reminder that Vegan Drinks is tonite at Martuni’s (Valencia @ Market). Not only is this a fantastic chance to mingle with other vegans while enjoying drinks specials and super-sized martinis (along with a host of non-alcoholic beverage options), you can support Bay Area Vegetarians as well!

This month, we’re introducing a brand-new giveaway for a gift certificate to a San Francisco veg restaurant (this month, it’s a $50 certificate to Herbivore). Raffle tickets are $1, and all money goes to Bay Area Vegetarians! That’s right, enter to win a fabulous meal at Herbivore, and help a great local non-profit at the same time.

Here’s the lowdown:

Thursday, July 30
6pm to 8pm @ Martuni’s

Details at sfvegandrinks.com

The Pride parade is today, Sunday, 28th, starting at 10 am.  It will be broadcast on KRON 4, Comcast Digital Channel 99, Clear Channel Radio on  SFPrideLive.com Live & Uncensored from 10:00 a.m, KOFY TV 20/Cable 13, starting at 8:00 p.m and  Comcast Channel 1 On Demand/Local Events starting June 29th at 7:00 p.m. until July 31st

Look for the rainbow contingent – that’ll be us!!

Bay Area Vegetarians is a local group that gives free vegetarian info, support and recipes from Sacramento to Santa Rosa to Santa Cruz! We have volunteers wearing lettuce bikinis to show off their healthy veggie bodies. We have nurses handing out “prescriptions” to Go Veg to avoid heart disease and obesity. We have animals to represent all the animals who don’t want to end up in a slaughterhouse.

One member, Alex Bury, wearing nothing but cabbage and lettuce leaves, used to be a professional chef. She cooked and ate meat every day. But now she’s a proud member of Bay Area Vegetarians and PETA, and only cooks vegan food! Parade marcher Jeff Hoffman did the same thing—he graduated from the California Culinary Academy, but now specializes in scrumptious veg food. His cupcakes are famous. Jeff’s vegetarian husband, Drew, is training for a marathon and having fun in a lettuce bikini today! Speaking of running, vegan Michelle just ran her first ultra marathon—12 hours—a month ago to raise funds for animals. She sure did recover quickly! Their professional coach and personal trainer, Darren Middlesworth, is vegan and representing his field in a some fine lettuce shorts. Member Kathy Buckley comes all the way from Iowa and Markush Madurai came from Calgary to march with the veggies in Pride!

Bay Area Vegetarians has had a booth here for years, but this is the first time we’ve been in the parade. It’s something we’ve wanted to do for many years. Today we are marching with members of many local groups, including East Bay Animal Advocates, PCRM, PETA, the LGBT community and local animal rescue specialists.

We’re proud to live in the Bay Area, where Pride is celebrated in such a big way. We’re proud vegetarians. Today we march to share our compassion and love for all: Love and Let Live.

If you want more of the free recipeswe’ll be handing out, just call 1-888-VEG-FOOD or visit GOVEG.com. Eating meat hurts animals, and veg foods are a yummy way to be compassionate and healthy! Happy Pride from Bay Area Vegetarians!

Roasted Potato Salad

In support of the big veg outreach effort happening at SF Pride this year, Drew and Jeff hosted a Pride Veg Outreach Party at their home last month.

Chef Jeff made some fabulous food, including bruchettas, roasted potato salad, pasta with pesto and sun-dried tomatoes, quinoa artichoke salad, Moroccan couscous salad, cupcakes, cookies, and dips.

After eating, we all wanted his secret recipes.  He modestly said there wasn’t any secret at all, that he just found them on the web. Ah, but that is the secret, isn’t it — finding a good recipe out of the gazillions that exist.

Drew and Chef Jeff

Chef Jeff was gracious enough to share a couple of these recipes with us.  He also added that the roasted potato salad is just mixed potatoes roasted with onions and bell peppers with fresh herbs.

We hope you enjoy these dishes as much as we did, and thanks again to Drew and Jeff and their co-hosts, canines Reggie, Mindy, and Theo, for hosting the fabulous party for Pride outreach volunteers.

Even if you missed the party, there’s still time to get involved with veg outreach at Pride.  Remember, love and let live.

Quinoa Artichoke Salad

Quinoa Artichoke Salad

This recipe is very flexible and forgiving; feel free to add other ingredients you like or leave things out that you don’t care for.

1 cup quinoa
½ cup red quinoa
2 Tbsp. tahini
2 Tbsp. almond butter
2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
2 Tbsp. white balsamic vinegar
4 large artichoke hearts in oil (chopped into small pieces)
1 small red onion
4 green onions, chopped finely
1 red bell pepper, seeded and cut into ¼” pieces
½ cup pitted kalmata or other olives, chopped finely
1 Fuji  apple (seeded and core removed, and cut into ¼” chunks)
2 Roma tomatoes (seeded and cut into ¼” pieces)
handful of chopped cashew nuts
Salt and pepper to taste

Cook both types of quinoa in approx. 2 cups water.  Allow to cool slightly.  Mix tahini, almond butter, and balsamic vinegars.  Dilute with a bit of warm water if very thick.  Stir this mixture into the warm quinoa.  Add artichoke hearts, onion, green onion, red bell pepper, olives, apple and tomato.  Check seasoning and add salt and pepper as needed.  Sprinkle cashews over salad when ready to serve.

Adapted from recipe “Quinoa Artichoke “Special Mix” from vegweb.com.

Moroccan Couscous Salad

Moroccan Cous Cous Salad

3 cups cooked Couscous.
I medium yellow or white onion, chopped finely
4 Tbsp. olive oil
½ tsp. cinnamon
½ tsp. ground coriander
Pinch of saffron (optional)
¾ cup white wine
¾ cup dried currants
4 chopped green onions
½ cup toasted blanched almond pieces

To make couscous: Bring 1 2/3 cup water to boil in wide pan with ½ tsp. salt.  Add 1 1/3 cup dry couscous. Immediately turn off heat.  Allow to sit for 5 minutes.  Fluff with fork.

Heat olive oil in sauté pan over medium high heat.  Add onion and cook approximately 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Lower heat to medium if onions start to scorch.  Add cinnamon and coriander; stir approximately one additional minute.  Add white wine and saffron; cook over medium high heat until wine is reduced by half.  Add currants and cook an additional minute.  Add this mixture to the warm couscous.  Add green onions and almonds.  Serve at room temperature.