Books and Mood-Boosting Essential Oils

The Delivery: 21 Drops essential oils, Wild About Greens by Nava Atlas, Animal Impact by Caryn Ginsberg, and Vicki's Vegan Kitchen by Vicki Chelf
Staff Pick: Vicki's Vegan Kitchen

The DL: Vicki Chelf's new book contains a plethora of delicious-sounding recipes, covering everything from simple sushi to faux Cheez Whiz. Though her desserts use healthy ingredients such as silken tofu, dates, and brown-rice syrup, from what we can tell, they don't skimp on the sweetness. Perhaps we'll whip up Chelf's Tofu-Carob Brownies or No-Bake Oatmeal Cookies later this month for the SF Vegan Bakesale. Swing by the VNHQ April 22 to find out!

Vegan Cookbook, Granola, and Pickles

The Delivery: Pickled veggies from Donovan's Cellar, granola and a T-shirt from Kind Healthy Grains, and Wild About Greens by Nava Atlas
Staff Pick: Nava Atlas' cookbook

The DL: It’s long been established that greens are a vital part of a plant-based diet—as Bianca Phillips points out in her feature 7 Steps to Becoming a Healthier Vegan, leafy vegetables such as kale and collards are a great source of calcium, and therefore crucial for optimum health. From what we can tell, Nava Atlas’ book seems to be a great jumping-off point for incorporating more greens into your diet. If getting healthy means munching on Atlas’ Tostadas with Chili-Spiced Greens and Potatoes and Cumin-Roasted Cauliflower and Kale, then we’re heading to the market ASAP to gather as many leafy greens as we can carry. In addition to Atlas’ book, which comes out this summer, there are tons of great vegan cookbooks on the horizon for 2012. Check out our picks here!

Vegan Candy, Tofu, Hummus, and Books

The Date: Thursday, March 24

The Delivery: Assorted vegan candies and caramels from Obsessive Confection Disorder, sprouted tofu and hummus from Nasoya, Soak Your Nuts by Karyn Calabrese, and The Literary Ladies' Guide to the Writing Life by Nava Atlas

Staff Pick: Obsessive Confection's Vegan Booty

The DL: Houston, we have a problem. If our weakness for sweets wasn't evident by our obsessions with candy bars, Chocolate Peanut Butter Mousse Bomb cake, and spiced banana pancakes, we're really in for it now. Obsessive Confection's line of creative sweets has us stoked, especially the Vegan Booty: a concoction of coconut toffee, dark chocolate, and orange peel. We better get all of our work done now, because after these incoming sugar highs pass, we're going to be useless. Looks like we're closing early, folks!

Snack Attack

Date: Wednesday, September 10

The Delivery: Sassy vegan books and snack cups

Staff Pick: Sweet fruits gel snacks by Cool Cups

The DL: If you were a JE**O-lover of yore, finally, there's a gelatin-free alternative for you! You won't find any nasty boiled-hoof parts in these vegan fruit gels.