Another review thread: books, food and other stuff I've tried of late.

[LeftyMom]

Food first:

-Yves deli slices (I tried the smoked "chicken" and the better than roast beef.)

:puke:

Thank goodness I got these cheap, because they were horrible and I binned them after one bite, which I spat in the sink. They were that bad. As far as fake deli meat goes, the only one I've tried that was worth eating was Tofurkey. That and some Smart Bacon makes for a good sandwich, when I get bored with veggies or hummus.

-Trader Joes Candy Cane Joe-Joes.

Like oreos. But with no hydrogenated oils and with little bits of candy cane in them. They're very good, especially dunked in some hot soy cocoa. The other flavors are all good too.

-Trader Joes Roasted Veggie Pizza

Just like the Amy's one, but for $4 and change instead of $7 or $8. Still a bit much for a frozen pizza, but certainly a bargain by comparison.

-Soy Delicious Purely Decadent Purely Vanilla chocolate-dipped ice cream bars.
OMFG, these were sooo good. The ice cream was rich and velvety, the chocolate perfectly smooth and the combination was just delightful.

Books:

- http://www.amazon.com/Ethics-What-We-Eat-Choices/dp/1594866872/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1199643242&sr=8-2
I read this one for school, so that I could do a Philosophy paper on it. I wasn't real impressed, the argument seems to get lost in details without really communicating the bigger picture to the reader. Also, it sort of tries to make the argument that veganism is most ethical at the end, but the bulk of the book is a Pollanesque ode to the joys of happy meat, and the two aren't really reconciled well. Oh yeah, and Singer and Mason spent a day inseminating turkeys, y'know, so they could tell us that factory farming is bad. :eyes:

- http://www.amazon.com/Making-Killing-Political-Economy-Animal/dp/1904859674/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1199643561&sr=8-1
A very accessible and easily followed, but still not dumbed-down, look at the commodification of animals in our society. The author raises some objections to current AR approaches, but that's really less of the focus than I expected, the main points being about the relationship between exploitation of animals and other abuses of capitalism from an anarchist perspective (if that sounds daunting, don't worry, the tone is very conversational and it's all explained painlessly.)

- http://www.amazon.com/Joy-Vegan-Baking-Compassionate-Traditional/dp/1592332803/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1199644064&sr=8-1
Other vegan baking books I've looked at have either been too health-foody or relied on strange ingredients that nobody I know has lying around. This has neither problem, the deserts strike a good balance between decadence and health concerns, and very few of the ingredients are obscure, unusual or unexpected. The real strength of this book is that the explanations of the hows and whys of baking are superb, and this is the sort of book that will teach those with a lot of kitchen experience new things while also bringing the novice baker up to speed. The lush, mouth watering photos are a nice bonus.

[flamingyouth]

1. Ugh, I am with you on the Yves deli slices.

:scared: :puke:

And on the Soy Delicious Purely Decadent Purely Vanilla chocolate-dipped ice cream bars! :9 :thumbsup:

Books: "Aftershock: Confronting Trauma in a Violent World: A Guide For Activists and Their Allies," by Pattrice Jones.
http://aftershock.pattricejones.info/
I've only read about half of it but it's great and I highly recommend it to this group.

[blondie58]

2. I wish that we had a TJ here in CO, but alas, they have not come this way YET

but for frozen pizza's, California Pizza Kitchen has a white pizza, just cheeses and spinach on a thin crust. I don't think that the ingredients are too bad- for a frozen pizza.

I also love Nick N'Willies Aegean pizza- a white pizza brushed with olive oil and feta cheese, sundried tomatoes and spinach for a take and bake sort of pizza. They now give you the option of having it as a thin crust, if you want to avoid so much bread.

[peacebuzzard]

3. Vegan parmesan.

cheese and milk products in general was hard for me to ditch. I did it though and some of my subs of late include the above vegan parmesan which I enjoy on pasta, popcorn, and salads.

I love the soy ice creams too much. If I buy a pint or box, I just can't stop. I try to just walk on by that section. Instead, I attempt to content myself with organic blueberry smoothies I mix up myself with the soymilk and organic blueberry juice. It is sweet and filling. And, I don't crave it as much as the ice cream.

Thanks for the tip on the books.

[Ignis]

4. Yves makes one goodie: Canadian Bacon slices.

I haven't found another edible alternative to these, so I fry them up in 1-2T of oil, chop, and add to pizza or salads. I wouldn't try eating them without the fry step, though.

[calico1]

5. I thought the Ives baloney slices were good.

To me they tasted just like real baloney. However, the ham, turkey, roast beef, salami were all horrible. I only get the baloney ones.

[Flaxbee]

6. have you read "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" by Barbara Kingsolver?

She's not vegan, or even vegetarian, but it is a very interesting look at the way food is produced/marketed/etc., in this country. She and her family move from Arizona to a farm in Virginia and decide to 'eat locally' for a year; planting everything they can, canning, buying only local, in-season produce. Buying milk from local, well-managed dairies, etc., making their own cheese, raising turkeys and chickens (and killing them themselves - discussing the complexities of "turkey sex" because most turkeys are killed before they ever reproduce naturally).

Her main discussion points include humane treatment of animals, but also the cost (in many ways - dollars, health, environment, etc.) of commercially growing and transporting food.

It has changed the way I think about a lot of things - I have alway eaten a largely vegetable/fruit/legume diet, and I haven't been able to kick the banana habit (the fuel cost to get bananas to market in the US is staggering) - but I'm looking to plant a relatively extensive garden as soon as practicable.

[vireo]

7. Tofurkey sausages are pretty good

I've avoided Yves due to the amount of non-organic content.

The TJ pizza is a bit high in sugar for my liking, but it is a good buy.

[LostinVA]

8. I have to agree with you on two of those things

The Candy Cane Jo-Jos and the Trader Joe's Roasted Veggie Pizza. Haruka likes to go "haha, you're eating vegan pizza" whenever we make it.