Filipino Food

Top Four Filipino Food Favorites – Veganized

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RecipesGiven the many cultural and culinary influences on the Philippines throughout history, Filipino cuisine is eclectic and can be difficult to succinctly describe. Traditional dishes range from meat- and seafood-heavy entrées reminiscent of Spanish cuisine to more fruit and vegetable centered options featuring the fresh produce available on the Philippines’ tropical islands.

As a second-generation Filipino American — and a vegan — I’ve been revisiting some of the dishes I grew up with and exploring some new recipes too. The exciting challenge has been taking foods traditionally made with meat, dairy, and eggs and creating delicious vegan versions that stay true to their original flavors. Here are my top four favorite Filipino recipes – veganized.

Antibiotics

When Drugs Become Dangerous: Antibiotics in Agriculture

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AntibioticsAlexander Fleming’s discovery of penicillin was a breakthrough in modern medicine, and who of us hasn’t relied on the effectiveness of antibiotics to cure an infection at some point in our lives? The overuse of antibiotics, however, is leading to an increase of drug-resistant “superbugs” which cause harder-to-treat and more-likely-to-be-lethal infections. Doctors across the country have recognized this threat, and have stopped the practice of over prescribing. Despite this effort, one industry gets away with unchecked and unregulated use of antibiotics: animal agriculture.

Industrial animal farms add low-level antibiotics (often without veterinary oversight) to animal feed to foster faster growth and mitigate the spread of disease caused by keeping thousands of animals in cramped, filthy factory farms.

beyond eggs

New Company Shells Out Innovation Taking Us Beyond Eggs

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Beyond EggsYou know you can bake at home without using eggs, so why don’t major food manufacturers cut the cruelty and go egg-free?

Enter Hampton Creek Foods, a one year-old company with about 20 staff all working to crack the code on eggs. This dedicated team of scientists, chefs, and food industry experts is developing an innovative egg-free egg product that is 100% plant-based: Beyond Eggs.

The goal is to create a healthier, more sustainable product that major foods companies and everyday consumers can use to ultimately replace eggs in everything – from omelets and mayonnaise to cookies and twinkies.

Horsemeat

Horsemeat Scandal Prompts UK Consumers to Eat Less Meat

smcdonaldAnimals, Interviews, Investigations, News, Veg Eating Leave a Comment

While factory farmers, food manufacturers, and retailers play the blame game in Europe over the discovery of horse DNA in various beef products, a significant number of British consumers are responding by not just avoiding the possibly tainted beef, but eating less meat overall.

Ellen Kanner

Q&A: Edgy Veggie Ellen Kanner on Life, Faith, and What to Eat for Dinner

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Ellen KannerEllen Kanner—award-winning food writer, Meatless Monday blogger for The Huffington Post, syndicated columnist Edgy Veggie, and now author of Feeding the Hungry Ghost: Life, Faith and What to Eat for Dinner—has invited you to share a meal. You, and the 7 billion other people on this planet (or as she calls it, her “ideal dinner party guest list”), as she wants nothing more than for “everyone to be fed, nourished, and celebrated.”

With that desire, this ardent advocate for organic, sustainable, and accessible food has penned a glorious memoir/cookbook to satiate both our souls and our appetites. Because we so often resemble the hungry ghosts of Taoist lore—eating mindlessly, wandering aimlessly, and wanting more than food itself can provide—Ellen, with warmth, humor, empathy, and insight, offers that recognizing our relationship to food (how it’s grown, a recipe’s cultural and spiritual underpinnings) gives it as much depth and flavor as fresh ingredients or lavish spices, and ultimately provides the real sustenance we’re craving: meaning, emotional fulfillment, community. According to Ellen, “Saffron, tarragon, cardamom, and cumin make food taste better. Culture, connection, and faith do the same thing for our lives.”

Climate Change Rally

This Weekend: Largest Climate Change Rally in History – What about the Carbon Footprint of the Ralliers?

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People are catching buses from all over the country to come to the nation’s capital this weekend for the largest climate change rally in history — a rally against the construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline. This pipeline, which has been called a “game over for the environment,” would connect the tar sands extraction project in Alberta, Canada with various points across the US, allowing Alberta to ramp up oil extraction. It’s widely considered a major threat to our environment — but what about the carbon footprint of the rally?

Chloe Coscarelli

Q&A: Chef Chloe Coscarelli on Vegan Dessert Cookbook

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Chef ChloeIn honor of Valentine’s Day, we’ve got some sweet news: Chloe Coscarelli, the first vegan winner of the Food Network’s Cupcake Wars and darling of The New York Times, has published a new cookbook. An all-dessert book.

That’s right. Available on February 19 or for pre-order now, Chloe’s Vegan Desserts boasts more than 100 recipes for cookies and pies, tarts and cobblers, cupcakes and cakes, ice cream and puddings, and more. We’re talking Salted Caramel Cupcakes, Chocolate Hazelnut Gelato, Animal Cookies (the pink and white kind from elementary school) and an entire section called “Dessert for Breakfast.”

With gorgeous photos accompanying nearly every recipe, this book will please your eyes in addition to your palate. And we’ve even shared a recipe below so you can immediately indulge while waiting for the book to arrive in your mailbox.

Vegetarian

This Valentine’s Day Have a Heart for Animals, Your Health, and the Environment

smcdonaldEnvironment, Health, Outreach Leave a Comment

Every year on Valentine’s Day, we’re inclined to buy candies, cards, flowers, and stuffed animals to show our loved ones, friends, and family just how much we care. Why not, however, go beyond these small displays of affection and make choices that truly have a positive impact for animals, for your health, and the environment? It’s as simple as choosing to leave animals off our plate this Valentine’s Day.

oscars

Vegan Foods Take Center Stage at Post-Oscars Ball

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Oscars Last month, we were excited to announce that vegan actors dominate the nominations for the prestigious 85th Academy Awards. And now we’ve got even more good news to share: it’s not just beautiful vegan people, such as actresses Anne Hathaway and Jessica Chastain, who will be celebrated that evening — vegan food is taking center stage at the annual post-Oscars Governor’s Ball!

This event has been catered by vegetarian-friendly master chef Wolfgang Puck for the last 19 years. With approximately 1,500 guests attending, including many A-list stars, it’s the ultimate opportunity to demonstrate to Hollywood’s elite just how delicious and decadent vegan eating can be.