Veggie Bits
Adding to their Mix
Already known for their Chreese products, Road’s End Organics also offers three varieties of gluten-free gravy mixes. Their Golden Gravy, Savory Herb, and Shiitake Mushroom varieties are sure to add flavor to potatoes, biscuits, veggie turkey dishes, and many other items at your holiday feasts.
Contact Road’s End Organics, Inc., at 120 Pleasant Street, E-1, Morrisville, VT 05661, or at (877) 247-3373.
How Sweet It Is!
Pangea’s VeganSweets™ brand now offers several confections made from its creamy vegan white chocolates, including white chocolate chips, white chocolate non-pareils, white chocolate rice crisps, and white chocolate-covered almonds. The chocolate, made from pure cocoa butter and non-bone char processed sugar, is just as luscious as its dairy counterparts.
To order, call Pangea at (800) 340-2011, or visit veganstore.com. You may also write to them at 2381 Lewis Avenue, Rockville, MD 20851.
Hodgson Mill Introduces Whole Wheat Couscous
Hodgson Mill has long offered whole wheat flours, pastas, and other items. Now, the company is bringing three varieties of whole wheat couscous to store shelves—Original Whole Wheat Couscous, Whole Wheat Couscous with Milled Flaxseed & Soy, and the unique Garlic & Basil Whole Wheat Couscous with Milled Flaxseed & Soy. Made from 100 percent whole wheat durum flour, this North African staple cooks in as little as five minutes. Add some spices or vegetables, and you have an unexpected alternative to the usual rice or pasta dish for sides and entrées.
To learn more, contact Hodgson Mill at 1203 Niccum Avenue, Effingham, IL 62401, or at (217) 347-0105.
Thinking About Donating Your Vehicle to Charity?
It’s not too late to make charitable donations for the 2004 fiscal year. The Vegetarian Resource Group can accept vehicles nationwide through the Independent Charities of America’s donation system. Simply visit V-DAC or call (866) 332-2011 to find out how your used car, truck, boat, RV, or airplane can help The VRG continue to work towards a vegetarian world.
Thai One On!
We all know that coconut milk is often used in Southeast Asian, Caribbean, Indian, and African cuisines. Now, Thai Kitchen has introduced organic varieties of its Coconut Milk and Lite Coconut Milk in 14-ounce cans, which can add an exotic splash to many meals.
These products are widely available through grocery stores, natural foods stores, and other retail outlets. Visit www.thaikitchen.com to find a retailer near you. Or contact Thai Kitchen directly at Epicurean International, Inc., 1919 Market Street, Suite 100, Oakland, CA 94607. You may also call (800) 967-THAI or e-mail [email protected].
Tickle Your Tongue with Six Flavors of Sparkling Juices
Izze has introduced a line of caffeine-free, no-sugar-added Sparkling Juices made from only pure fruit juice and sparkling water. Available in 8.4-ounce cans and 12-ounce glass bottles, this product comes in delicious Blueberry, Clementine (similar to tangerine), Lemon, and Pear varieties, but The zesty Blackberry and tangy Grapefruit were the biggest hits at the VRG office.
Look for Sparkling Juices at 7-Eleven, Starbucks, Whole Foods, Wild Oats, and other retailers nationwide. You may contact Izze at 1105 Spruce Street, Boulder, CO 80302, or at (303) 247-0350.
Summer Staff Needed for Vegetarian Kitchen in International Teen Camp
The Global Youth Village, a residential, international leadership camp in the Blue Ridge foothills, is seeking seasonal food service staff. Their vegetarian kitchen serves 60 youths and 30 staff members sugar- and meat-free meals family-style. Housing, meals, and salary are provided. Seeking both experienced cooks and those who want to learn!
For 2005 summer dates and information on how to apply, please visit Legacy International. Or contact Leila Baz, Staff Director, Global Youth Village, 1020 Legacy Drive, Bedford, VA 24523. You may phone Leila at (540) 297-5982 or e-mail [email protected].
Crackers With All the Taste But None of the Trans Fats
Late July has introduced two varieties of organic crackers that are both vegan and free of trans fats. Their Round Saltines are basic flaky crackers that complement soups or dips well, while the Classic Rich has such a buttery flavor that you’ll want to eat them sans spreads.
For more information, contact Late July Organic Snacks at 105 Ferndoc Street, Hyannis, MA 02601, or at (508) 775-2011.
If the Shoe Fits...
Earth Vegan has reinvented the Earth Shoe Brand, which was popular in the ’70s, with comfortable and contemporary footwear made without animal products or byproducts. Women’s styles include sandals, funky or traditional casuals, and boots ranging from sizes 5-12, depending on the style. Men may choose from sandals and classic lace-ups in sizes 7-13.
These products are available at specialty stores and natural health stores worldwide. To request an Earth Vegan catalog, write 151 Newton Street, Waltham, MA 02453. You may also call (877) 746-3364 or send an e-mail to [email protected]. Visit the company’s website at www.earth.us for international orders.
About Little Debbie Donuts
A reader asked us to investigate the rumor that Little Debbie’s donuts are vegan and that the company is Seventh-day Adventist.
We strolled over to Rite Aid (a major drug store chain) and found a Little Debbie Glazed Cake Donut for $.50. Ingredients included: vegetable shortening, sugar, enriched bleached flour, water, dextrose, soy flour, cornstarch, mono- and diglycerides, sodium stearoyl lactylate, soy lecithin, salt, natural and artificial flavors, modified wheat starch, baking soda, sodium acid pyrophospate, monocalcium phosphate, sodium propionate, potassium sorbate, beta-carotene, fumaric acid, and agar.
In response to our inquiry, Little Debbie’s supplier reported that their single-serve Glazed Cake Donut does not contain any animal byproducts. The natural flavors and mono- and diglycerides are from non-animal sources. They use a milkless, eggless donut base and vegetable shortenings.
As it turns out, Little Debbie is distributed by McKee Foods Corporation, which is owned by a Seventh-day Adventist family. However, they gave no indication that this belief system is the reason that the donut does not contain animal products.
One Little Debbie Donut weighs 3.5 ounces (99 grams) and has 450 calories, 26 grams of fat, and 6 grams of saturated fat. As a comparison, Nutrilicious, which promotes itself as a natural bakery with many vegan products, sells a Cake Donut that weighs 2.75 ounces (78 grams) and provides 310 calories, 16 grams of fat, and 1 gram of saturated fat. (Adjusting for weight, 3.5 ounces of the Nutrilicious Cake Donuts would yield approximately 395 calories, approximately 20 grams of fat, and just over 1 gram of saturated fat.)
Frozen Lasagne, Manicotti, and Stuffed Shells Go Organic
Celentano Vegetarian has always made Italian entrées a convenient meal option, and now, the company has added three certified organic products to this predominately vegan line. The next time you pass a freezer case, consider picking up their Lasagne Primavera, Spinach & Broccoli Manicotti, or Spinach & Broccoli Stuffed Shells. You won’t be sorry!
Contact Celentano Food Products at 170 French Road, Buffalo, NY 14227, or at (888) 767-4621.
For Winter-Weathered Lips
Tea Body’s has branched beyond its herbal beverage lines to offer a collection of lip and cuticle balms made without animal products or testing. These products are available in eight varieties—Cranberry Mint, Happy Hippie, Lemon Spice, Morning Rain, Northern Lights, Orange Sunshine, Sunny Day, and Tropical Peach. Plus, each one comes in a fun, recyclable “Push-Top-Tin” that pops loudly when it locks into place.
To learn more about Tea Body’s lip balms, visit Tea Body’s. Contact the company at 3419 Westminster Avenue, Suite 275, Dallas, TX 75205, or at (888) 904-4TEA.
Enjoy Caribbean Black Beans, Without the Security Checks!
If you’re longing for a taste of the tropics without the lengthy flight and lost luggage, Organic Caribbean Black Beans are for you! These black turtle beans from Eden Foods have been cooked in mild organic spices, such as paprika, cayenne, cumin, cinnamon, and black pepper. Just heat and serve, and you’ll have a hearty addition to any meal every time you open one of these 15-ounce cans.
Contact Eden Foods at 701 Tecumseh Road, Clinton, MI 49236, or at (517) 456-7424.
