Holiday Meals: Dinner and Dessert
In search of the perfect centerpiece for a holiday meal? In years past we’ve done both Vegetable Pot Pie and Lentil Shepherd’s Pie for Thanksgiving at our house, each with great success. Other staples of our holiday tables each year include David’s outrageous cranberry sauce, dinner rolls, garlic brussel sprouts, greens, mashed potatoes with rich brown gravy and stuffing. 
For a complete gourmet holiday menu all in one place and with plenty of options, look no further than the VegNews Holiday eCookbook with everything from pumpkin soup to crispy latkes and my own special Roasted Vegetable Pastries. You’ll find delicious and festive recipes here to feed the whole family in scrumptious style. Planning holiday meals for the people you love can be stressful, but with so many decadent and delicious compassionate choices, it doesn’t have to be.
Finish off a big family meal with your favorite decadent dessert whether it’s a tray of organic brownies, a platter of gourmet cookies, or something more involved like a coconut ice cream and double chocolate chunk brownie Sundae topped with caramel sauce and vegan toffee. 
Complement your dessert with a perfect cup of organic fair-trade tea or fair-trade organic coffee. For holiday-inspired sipping, we like Peppermint Drinking Chocolate or Coconut Nog.
Now, for the other nights of the holiday week, or if you have kids who won’t eat anything green, these “VeganizeIt!” versions of classic pasta favorites (like amazing Mac ‘n’ Cheese) 
are cholesterol-free and even include some hidden veggies, but still have the rich and creamy flavors that everybody loves. For Italian-style family meals try Baked Ziti or Lasagna (available in the current issue of VegNews). Or, for an easy meal for kids or kids at heart, whip up some Alfredo sauce, pour over your favorite pasta and serve with a side of steamed veggies.
For those loved one too far distant to share a holiday meal, consider our many elegant and delectable holiday gifts for the season. Happy Compassionate Thanksgiving!
Friday with Friends: Chloé Jo Davis
Beyond being named one of the “Hottest Jews in the World,” by HEEB Magazine, Chloé Jo Davis is a bona fide green, vegan vixen. The editor-in-chief of The GirlieGirl Army, a green guide to glamazon living that boasts 12 years of archives and a fan base that includes major celebrities and many thousands of readers, you may also have seen Chloé as celebrity dirt’s host on RiverWired and in an Errol Morris-directed national commercial for Silk Soy Milk. An activist, writer, green expert, animal rescue warrior, radio host, online personality and ethical fashion expert, she’s also one of the celebrity judges for our Tee and Tote Design Contest happening right now. Chloé told all about motherhood (her son, Panther Britain, was born April 15th, 2010), glamazon living and her favorite vegan foods in a recent interview with Allison’s Gourmet.
Allison’s Gourmet: What items are always on your grocery shopping list aka the foods you could NEVER live without? And has anything food-wise changed since the birth of your vegan son, Panther?
Chloé Jo Davis: I was mainly raw prior to having Panther. Post birthing (and attachment parenting parents who breastfeed will totally get this) we still haven’t slept, so carbs are how I get through the day. I wish I could say I was exclusively green juice and kale chips… but I’m more like green juice, kale chips, roasted potatoes, corn, fresh coconut waters, kombuchas, 
Israeli pickles, cous cous, vegan jerky, vegan sushi, guac, roasted chestnuts, really well marinated tempeh or tofu, white sweet potatoes, avocados, hummus (homemade, of course! hint: a spice called za’atar changes the game), and obsessed with all fresh fruits and veggies, particularly those on the more exotic side. I live on jicama, and I’m mainly a salty gal. I love crackers and a good pretzel! I just love food. I could (and often do) eat 24 hours a day. Plus I cook a lot and I live in NYC, home to a billion vegan restaurants! I don’t stop with the eating. Goddess bless my appetite (shouldn’t we all applaud women who can EAT more? I’m so done applauding women who are proud to have eaten nothing but a side salad all day!)
AG: Your web site, www.GirlieGirlArmy.com spans the gamut with content, covering everything from travel to shopping. Which veg-friendly city is next on your list? What would you pack for the trip?
CJD: We just missed a family gathering in Israel, which I’m bummed about because the produce in Israel is next level, just the best. Between that and the falafel, do you really need anything else?! But Panther is too wild for long plane rides right now. The kid is a daredevil… he never ever stop! We’re planning on visiting our friends at Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary and Farm Sanctuary in September… but those aren’t exactly in large cities!
So, next real trip will be in October to the World Peace Yoga Jubilee which I have to say, is one of the most special, wonderful events I’ve ever been to. It’s held outside of Cincinnati and it’s the only all-vegan yoga conference that I’ve ever heard of… but it’s so beyond that. The food is sensational, the people beautiful (in and out) and the energy just quite magical. I highly recommend it! Oh, and me and my gf Alex Jamieson will be speaking again on a panel with some genius ethical icons. Lucky us! What will I pack? Probably a bunch of yoga clothes and a few good outfits that I’ll end up getting from one of my legendary clothing swaps. And I never leave home without a pair of OlsenHaus and Cri de Coeur heels.
AG: What’s your favorite summer recipe to share?
CJD: I don’t think you can beat a massive summer salad with fresh corn, chickpeas, berries, dandelion and spinach greens and tons of good olives and a really fresh crusty ciabatta (clearly, I’m not gluten-free though I find it an interesting next potential step!) and then a homemade sorbet (two minutes to make!) in your blender. 
I also grill tons of vegan sausages and make big stir fries with whatever is fresh and organic. You can’t beat Bragg Liquid Aminos, nutritional yeast, and some cracked pepper with ANY veg.
AG: What other vegan sites do you visit on a regular basis?
CJD: Yours, because it’s beautiful and I heart you. I have too many favorites to list, but the gist is – if I write about them on GGA, I mostly likely regularly visit them!
AG: You’ve been featured as an eco-beauty expert. What are some of your favorite finds?
CJD: Oy vey… too much pressure! It’s my job to discover the green and fabulous, so I’m up to my shnozz in favorites. But here are a few:
- Soy nail polish remover
– non toxic, vegan – and perfect to byor (bring your own remover) when hitting up the mani-pedi spot. - Heart of Darkness Shoes – love that my girls at Cri De Coeur launched a sub line which is more affordable for those of us on a budget, but still kept the amazingly cool and gorgeous design that we go to them for.
- Sugar-based Hairspray – it’s a revolution. It works and it doesn’t stink or give you cancer. Halle-fricking-lullah!
- Dalia Gowns – it’s not easy to find black tie worthy gowns that aren’t made from silk. Dalia MacPhee designs gorgeous and vegan gowns for us silk-free ladies.
- Tata Harper skin care line – the face oils are special. You notice a difference in your skin immediately.
AG: What’s your favorite Allison’s Gourmet product? Any product suggestions?
CJD: I’m not a big chocolate gal, though my husband Jeremy is. I tend to buy him your organic brownies, while your vegan toffee and peanut brittle blow me away. Seriously, how dare you. Generally though, I’m more of a tart tartin kinda gal, what about some more fruity confections – maybe with less white sugars and more dates for sweetness? Dare to dream! 
I’m loving baking with puréed dates lately!
Want to hear more from Chloé Jo? Check her out on Twitter and Facebook and at her blog: GirlieGirlArmy.com.
Providing the “How” in Living Vegan
You may have noticed that we stay mostly on the positive side of veganism around here. You don’t hear much from us about the torture and abuse of farm animals or the horrors of the dairy, leather and fur industries. 
We’re not, however, trying to gloss-over or ignore these issues. We care very deeply about animal welfare and a compassionate lifestyle, which is why we put most of our time and energy into providing the “how” to being vegan.
There are many amazing resources out there providing the “why” of vegan living from VegNews and Mercy for Animals, to PETA, The Humane Society of the United States and Farm Animal Sanctuaries around the country. They give you the reasons and facts behind veganism, from ending factory farming to the health benefits of animal-free eating. Then, when you’ve decided that you want to live an animal-free lifestyle but don’t feel like baking, or think that veganism means complete deprivation from all the foods you love, that’s where we come in. 
We’re here to offer you solutions, the answers to all your cravings from vegan toffee and gourmet cookies to veganized comfort food recipes. We’re also a great gift-giving resource for vegans and non-vegans alike. Families and friends of vegan enjoy giving delicious, high-quality desserts to their plant-eating loved ones and vegans themselves give Allison’s Gourmet treats when they want delectable, compassionate and fair-trade gifts that even a carnivore will love.
We love providing vegan lifestyle answers to everyday dilemmas, and, although we’re all about the food, we’re happy to be able to connect our customers to other vegan choices too, like donating and volunteering at animal shelters, purchasing animal-friendly attire, and reading the latest vegan books and blogs. We’re here to help. Have a vegan lifestyle question? Looking for vegan inspiration in some area of your life? Ask your questions here and we’ll see if we can dig up the answers.
Friday with Friends: Ari Solomon
This week we’re very pleased to welcome blogger and activist Ari Solomon to our Friday with Friends feature. Ari blogs at Ari on the Daily and is co-owner of the amazing vegan candle company A Scent of Scandal with his sister, Heather.
Allison’s Gourmet: The names of your candles creatively match their scents (ONE NIGHT STAND smells like margaritas, for example). When creating a new candle, which comes first, the scent or the name? And how do you come up with them?
Ari Solomon: Well, it starts with a bottle of wine! Joking! No, sometimes it’s the name. Like we knew we had to do a REHAB candle a couple years ago when it seemed like every celebrity was either checking in or checking out. 
But then sometimes we’ll get in a fragrance oil that just smells incredible and I know I’ll have to come up with a fun name to include it in the line.
AG: Does your working relationship with your sister ever extend into the kitchen? If so, what’s a favorite recipe the two of you enjoy making together? Do you and your husband Mikko enjoy playing in the kitchen together?
AS: My sister lives in New Jersey and I live in Los Angeles, so unfortunately, we don’t get much kitchen time. My husband and I, however, are constantly cooking and having dinner parties. We do a lot of middle-eastern inspired recipes. 
I’m half Syrian and a lot of the delicious Syrian recipes I grew up with happen to be vegan by default: homemade hummus, baba ghanouj, lentils with rice and caramelized onions. Yum! I’m also a huge kale enthusiast and prepare kale at least once a day either raw in a salad or slightly steamed.
AG: From FM radio host to animal- and gay-rights activist, you have had a varied and prolific career. How did you get involved in writing for animal and human rights? Is your family supportive of you on both those fronts?
AS: After learning about how animals are abused and tortured for “food” and other various commodities, I felt compelled to speak out. So, I started my own blog and began writing about these issues. From there I got asked to guest blog for other websites and that eventually landed me a spot writing for The Huffington Post. I only hope that what I write starts a conversation with people who have never considered animals before. Don’t get me wrong, the support from the choir feels great, but my goal is to reach the fur-wearing, meat-eating, circus-going crowd. As for my parents, they’re pretty supportive these days. But when I told them I was vegan, it was a hot mess! Gay, great! Vegan… not so much. It was definitely rough at first but they’re coming around. My mom has now read Skinny Bitch and The China Study and she’s watched Earthlings. She gets it.
AG: What’s next for A Scent of Scandal in terms of products, fragrances, and events?
AS: We have our summer fragrances coming up called The Boys of Summer: THE CABANA BOY smells like mojito, THE LIFEGUARD smells like dreamsicle, and THE POOL BOY smells like suntan lotion. They’re amazing!
AG: What are some of your favorite vegan sites to peruse?
AS: Oh! There are SO many!! OK, my favorites: Food Fight! Grocery is genius for vegan candy and hard-to-find vegan food items. I also LOVE Alternative Outfitters to find the most amazing gifts. Also, GirlieGirl Army. It’s SO much more than fashion. Chloe (the founder) takes no prisoners. Another fantastic website is Our Hen House — I appear on their podcast! And, of course, A Scent of Scandal!
AG: What’s your favorite Allison’s Gourmet product?
AS: The vegan toffee!! Hands-down the best thing you’ll ever eat in your life! Last year, my friend bought a bunch of it and took it to the movie theater with us. We were in heaven! I want that recipe! If I got to play with Allison in the kitchen, I’m not sure what we would create, but I know it would involve chocolate and lots of peanut butter!
Sounds great, Ari! If you like chocolate and peanut butter, have you tried out vegan peanut butter cups?
Upgrade Your Party with Allison’s Gourmet
If you’ve planned a party, you know the prep work involves much more than simply announcing a date and waiting for the guests to arrive. You’ve got to consider decorations, music, invitations, and most important of all – menu! To help, we’ve compiled a list of time-saving suggestions featuring our favorite Allison’s Gourmet goodies to help make an elegant and memorable impression.
Coffee Talk: Whether you’re hosting a bridal brunch or a late night fête, coffee is a must. Our blends are organic, fair-trade, shade grown (for wildlife habitat preservation), freshly roasted, packaged in a one-way valve bag and delicious. Try our Organic Coffee Sampler to offer your guests a variety.
Bag, You’re It: Send guests home with a sweet send-off. Prepare little goodie bags with a few of our fair-trade chocolates tossed in to thank them for their attendance.
Sundae Funday: Try a sophisticated take on the make-your-own trend with a tray of our organic brownies. Let guests customize their treats with a variety of sauces, ice creams, and candy toppings, like our vegan toffee (hint: crush it up!) and peanut brittle.
Tell us: what do you like to eat at parties?
