Pumpkin, Caramels, and Vegan Pregnancy

 

The Date: Friday, September 30, 2011

The Delivery: Three pumpkin pies from Wholly Wholesome, Vegan Pregnancy Survival Guide by Sayward Rebhal, and Allison’s Gourmet new Salted Confections Gift Set with salted caramels and peanut brittle

Staff Pick: Wholly Wholesome's Dairy-Free Pumpkin Pies

The DL: Tis the season to start adding the best thing ever—pumpkin—to everything we eat, starting with these pies. For all the downsides associated with losing the sunshine and bounty of fresh produce available in the summer come fall, pumpkin truly is a worthy exchange. That, and the snuggly fall sweaters, like those found in Editorial Assistant Hilary Pollack’s recent piece on compassionate fashion. If you’re one of those crazy people who doesn’t enjoy a sipping a hot pumpkin soy latte with a crisp breeze blowing the fallen leaves into a whirlwind of color, consider a vacation instead—VegNews is heading to balmy Mexico in the nick of time, this November. There are only a few spots left, so get your ticket before it’s too late. Happy Friday!

 

Nut Milk Cheese and Skinny Bitch

The Date: Thursday, September 29, 2011
The Delivery: Four types of nut milk cheeses from Punk Rawk Labs and Skinny Bitch: Home, Beauty, & Style by Kim Barnouin

Staff Pick: Punk Rawk Labs’ Smoked Cashew Nut Milk Cheese

The DL: It’s official—this day is perfect. The weather is showcasing the best of Indian Summer, the weekend is within sight, and Punk Rawk Labs Nut Milk Cheese has just arrived. Considering yesterday’s massive shipment of bread, it looks like we’ve got a classy little party on our hands. Now who’s bringing the wine?

OK, so maybe we’re not going to lounge around all afternoon, sipping Chardonnay and noshing on gourmet bread and cheese. We’ve got a magazine to produce! But come this evening, you can find the VN staff winding down with some luscious libations at our monthly SF Vegan Drinks Night. Hope to see you there! 

A Boatload of Bread

The Date: Wednesday, September 28, 2011

The Delivery: Three huge boxes of bread from Dave’s Killer Bread

Staff Pick: Sin-O-Dawg cinnamon-sugar bread roll

The DL: See that picture up there of all that bread? Now, imagine that times three, and you’ll come close to understanding how much bread we have on our hands right now (and by “on our hands,” I really mean “already-in-our-mouths”). Thanks to Dave’s Killer Bread, we now have about a year’s supply of artisan baked goods, and we’re not complaining. If you’re as much of a fiend for baked goods as we are, join us for the VegNews Book Bash with Spork Foods, coming up October 21. Can you say Cinnaholic cinnamon bun bar? Until then, we'll just stuff ourselves silly with the Sin-O-Dawg rolls. Now back to that bread… 

Skincare Products, Cookies, and Books

The Date: Tuesday, September 27, 2011

The Delivery: Big Vegan by Robin Asbell, The Blue Zones by Dan Buettner, gluten-free oatmeal-raisin and peanut butter cookies from Tia’s Bakery, and an assortment of skin treatment products from Healing Waters

Staff Pick: Healing Waters’ Skin Treatment line

The DL: While we’re daydreaming in the office about the fabulous Thailand VegVacation that Publisher Joe Connelly and Associate Publisher Colleen Holland are hosting right now, we’ll just pamper ourselves pretty with Healing Waters’ skin treatment products. Even though it doesn’t solve our envy for their scheduled two-hour Thai massage, these products smell great and seem like they'll help take the edge off. But, if you’re like us and crave a little R&R before the holiday madness ensues, there’s still time to sign up for VegNews’ Vegan Yoga Retreat to Mexico, which kicks off on November 26. Bon voyage! 

 

Books and a Board Game

The Date: Monday, September 26
The Delivery: Healthy Eating Healthy World by J. Morris Hicks, EcoMind by Frances Moore Lappé, Sister Vegetarian’s 31 Days of Drama-Free Living by Donna M. Beaudoin, and Animal Matters’ Fur & Feathers board game
Staff Pick: Fur & Feathers

The DL: While all these books look informative, all we want to do is play games to ease the Monday madness. That's where Fur & Feathers comes in—Although Banangrams usually satisfies our need for competition, the game will provide a gentler lunchtime contest; it's rated ages six and up, after all. But, these books are perfect reading material for potential VegNews interns looking to participate in next spring's program here in San Francisco. Read up soon, though—applications are due October 1!

Candles and a Cookbook

The Date: Friday, September 23
The Delivery: Bake with Dates by Susan Lowenberg and holiday-themed soy candles and non-vegan lip balm from Aroma Naturals
Staff Pick: The Holiday Wish soy candle

The DL: It's not just that this candle smells like the holidays, it also reminds us of the fact that we sent our November+December issue to press Thursday, which is just as exciting to celebrate today as it was yesterday. We really can't wait for you to see holiday-themed recipes, our must-give gifts, and The Veggie Awards! Take a holiday of your own by joining us on one of our VegNews Vacations—the Bali, Thailand, and India trips are sold out, but spots are still left for our yoga retreat in Mexico. Book today!

Vegan Condoms

The Date: Thursday, September 22
The Delivery: Vegan condoms from Sir Richard's Condom Company
Staff Pick: The classic pack

The DL: We know of  the existence of awesome one-for-one programs for shoes and glasses, and Sir Richard's participates too—for every condom the company sells, they give one to community organizations in developing countries. In addition, Sir Richard's is hitting colleges on the West Coast this fall to talk safe sex. Now that's some social responsibility! Today's been a crazy day here at VegNews—besides proofing our November+December issue and noshing on pizza and Champagne at lunch, we also just announced that tickets are now on sale for the VegNews Book Bash with Spork Foods! Want to meet the sisters behind Spork Foods, get their new cookbook, and enjoy Champagne and dessert? Buy a ticket today!

Cookbooks and DVDs

The Date: Wednesday, September 21
The Delivery: When Bachelor Meets Homemaker with Kerrie Saunders and John Pierre, The Tipsy Vegan by John Schlimm, a promotional video for Karyn's Inner Beauty Center, and Big Vegan by Robin Asbell
Staff Pick: The Tipsy Vegan

The DL: You would think a book called The Tipsy Vegan would be filled with cruelty-free White Russians and Bloody Marys, and we'd be perfectly OK with that. But you would be both wrong and pleasantly surprised, because although The Tipsy Vegan offers recipes for vegan cocktails, most of its pages contain some seriously delicious-sounding happy-hour appropriate eats! Tequila Seduces Guacamole? That sounds like both a tasty appetizer and a the headline of a news piece we'd like to see The Onion write.

Pomegranate Drinks and Soy Nog

The Date: Tuesday, September 20
The Delivery: Lite Pom drinks in pomegranate, pomegranate-blackberry, pomegranate-black currant, and pomegranate-dragonfruit from Pom Wonderful and soy nog from Earth Balance
Staff Pick: The soy nog!

The DL: Getting to try new vegan products before they hit the shelves—like this soy nog!—is most definitely one of the perks of working at VegNews. It's also pretty fitting that a festive, holiday-appropriate delivery came today. Why, do you ask? Well, just a little thing called sending our November+December issue to press! Tenth annual Veggie Awards, here we come. Savory waffles! Holiday gift guide! And oh, did we mention The Veggie Awards?

A New Book

The Date: Monday, September 19
The Delivery: Student's Vegetarian Cookbook for Dummies by Connie Sarros (not vegan)
Staff Pick: Student's Vegetarian Cookbook for Dummies

The DL: While Student's Vegetarian Cookbook for Dummies is not vegan (get out of there, eggs and dairy!), we are excited for anything that helps people (college students, in this case) reduce their meat intake. Plus, we could veganize the recipe for the Pesto Grilled Cheese Sandwich (plus sun-dried tomato!) with the greatest of ease. Perhaps we'll make a batch for lunch tomorrow to fuel ourselves for this month's VegNews Twitter Chat. The topic? Compassionate Fashion! Join us tomorrow at 6pm PT to learn about fall trends, the truth behind labeling laws, and more.

Zilch. Zippo. Nada.

The Date: Friday, September 16
The Delivery: Zero things
Staff Pick: Our coworkers!

The DL: So, we're going a little minimalist today it seems. Sometimes you're blessed with cheesesteaks and whoopie pies in the same day, and some days (like today) you are left wanting. But that's more than OK we say, because we here at VegNews are currently in the midst of finishing up our gorgeous, glamourous November+December issue! Does it include the 10th annual Veggie Awards? Check. Two-cheese lasagna? Sure does. More peanut butter cups than you can handle? You betcha. Have a great weekend!

Kale and Sweet Potato Chips

The Date: Thursday, September 15
The Delivery: Kale chips and sweet potato chips from Rhythm Superfoods
Staff Pick: The Kool Ranch kale chips

The DL: Our feelings for kale are constant, deep, and possibly alarming considering it's a plant. Needless to say, we love a good kale chip. These Kool Ranch chips sound delicious (who doesn't love ranch everything?), and if history is an indicator, the contents of this bag will be gone in the blink of an eye. They'd make a great road-trip snack, too. Check out our must-stop nosh sites across the country in The Ultimate Vegan Road Trip on VegNews.com! Better start expanding that stomach now.

A New Book

The Date: Wednesday, September 14
The Delivery: Extinction by John McCabe
Staff Pick: Extinction

The DL: The fact that our oceans are in danger is a very real problem, and McCabe's new book seeks to find the root causes, discovering that they are closely tied to a meat-eating diet. Extinction seems like a thought-provoking read, and we're interested to turn its pages. While we're taking a dip in the oceans, did you know that members of Congress are fighting against the human consumption of genetically engineered salmon? Read all about it (and even more interesting news) in our VegNews Dailies.

A Vegan Cookbook

The Date: Tuesday, September 13
The Delivery: Rabbit Food Cookbook by Beth A. Barnett
Staff Pick: Rabbit Food Cookbook

The DL: We here at VN don't usually call cookbooks "cute" (that word is reserved almost exclusively for puppies and unlikely animal friends), but this one totally is. With fun illustrations (by the author herself!), easy tips, and yummy recipes (the Tex-Mex Tofu Fajitas and Zucchini Bread look delectable), Rabbit Food Cookbook could be one of those tomes we often hop to for a yummy vegan meal. Check out more delicious rabbit food—the five best places to get a veggie burger, to be exact—in our new food feature.

Veg Cookbooks

The Date: Monday, September 12

The Delivery: 50 Simple Soups for the Slow Cooker by Lynn Alley (not vegan), Raw Food for Everyone by Alissa Cohen, and The Vegan Slow Cooker by Kathy Hester

Staff Pick: The Vegan Slow Cooker

The DL: In this day and age, everyone is looking for a quick fix, some instant gratification, and a one-stop shop. Well, slow cooker meals are sort of like that, in the sense that you throw food in a pot and turn it on, and then not at all, because the meals take hours to cook. Here's to half-winning! With recipes like Thai Coconut Pumpkin Soup, Savory Cheddar Sausage Bread, and Earl Grey Poached Pears, we think this new cookbook could be a full-on winner. 

Sweet & Sara Treats

The Date: Friday, September 9
The Delivery: Rocky Road Bark and mini s'mores from Sweet & Sara
Staff Pick: The bark!

The DL: A very happy Friday to everyone! We feel supremely lucky to be celebrating the end of this short week (thank you, Labor Day) with some goodies from one of our favorite vegan bakeries, Sweet & Sara. This weekend, VN staffers are going to concerts, plays, and more all around the San Francisco area. For your next trip to the City by the Bay, make sure to stop by some of our 11 favorite staycation spots from our Local Vegan Guide to San Francisco.

New Books

The Date: Thursday, September 8
The Delivery: The Protein Myth by David Gerow Irving, Healthy Eating Healthy World by J. Morris Hicks, and Pure Pleasures Cupcake Heaven by NataliaKW
Staff Pick: Healthy Eating Healthy World

The DL: We all know the myriad reasons why a vegan diet is good for the animals, the planet, and you, but what about poverty and energy costs? Healthy Eating Healthy World covers those topics and more, and we can't wait to read it. We also can't stop reading Lonny, Coco Eco, and eight other online mags that are distracting us from our jobs on an hourly basis. Read about all 10 in our new planet feature.

Chocolate and Vegan Goodies

The Date: Tuesday, September 6
The Delivery: Chocolate bars and bark from Tumbador Chocolate, chocolate bark and a smoky corn chocolate bar from Lagusta's Luscious, and vegan cheese steaks and whoopie pies from Café Indigo
Staff Pick: The whoopie pies!

The DL: We are back from a wonderful holiday weekend filled with sunshine, grilled sweet corn, and the Vaute Couture Pop-Up Show, and we must say, a haul like this is a good way to be welcomed back. One look at these whoopie pies and we were hooked—all we need now is a glass of almond milk to go with them. And maybe some chocolate bark, too. Today marks the second to last day to order a subscription to VegNews in time to get the November+December issue: Order today and get it delivered to your door just in time for holiday fun!

Vaute Couture Pop-Up Shop!

The Date: Friday, September 2
The Delivery: The Vaute Couture Pop-Up Shop at VegNews Headquarters
Staff Pick: All of it!

The DL: We are just getting started on the two-day long Vaute Couture Pop-Up Shop here at VNHQ, and we're officially in love. It's a little weird trying on winter coats when it's almost 80 degrees and sunny here in SF, but we are definitely, definitely not complaining. Take a look at Vautue Couture's fall lookbook, and order a coat or two for yourself on Vaute's site. While you have that credit card out, make sure you're the first to get our November+December issue (Veggie Awards, people!) by ordering a subscription today! The deadline is Monday, September 5. Have a fantastic Labor Day weekend! We will see you on Tuesday.

The VNHQ reception area, complete with

Vaute Couture Founder Leanne Mai-ly Hilgart's cover!

Yes We Can(ada)!

The Date: Thursday, September 1
The Delivery: A gift of Canadian goodies: garam masala from Arvinda's, dark chocolate from Theobroma Chocolat, organic maple butter from Canadian Heritage Organics, quinoa crisps from Your Fitness Dish, and tea from The Algonquin Tea Co.
Staff Pick: The organic maple butter!

The DL: This gift of Candian-made treats came from Lisa of Vegan Culinary Crusade and Nicole of A Dash of Compassion—both vegan, both wonderful, and both Canadian! We enjoyed their visit to the VNHQ yesterday, and will hopefully enjoy eating this maple butter. We're imagining it on pancakes, waffles, toast, apples...the world is our maple butter-covered vegan oyster! Wait, that sounds kind of gross.