Watch out, Fido, you could be next.

So again begins another one of my little tantrums about a New York Times article.  It's a love-hate thing we have going on.  The front of this Wednesday's Dining section depicted someone holding up a white rabbit by the scruff of its neck, with the title "Don't Tell the Kids" and a caption reading, "Some may feel squeamish about eating it, but rabbit has a fan base that is growing as cooks discover how good the meat tastes."  A little voice is telling me that writing this now probably isn't the best idea, but I'm going to have at it anyway.  WHAT THE FUCK???  There is a living, breathing (and rather cute, I might add) rabbit on the cover being discussed as though it is already on someone's plate.  I used to think that it was the disconnect between animals and food that kept people confused about the cruelties of eating meat, that if cows and pigs were as cute as baby seals and kittens we would refuse to cause them the least bit of suffering (I am aware, however, that there are, unfortunately, people who would wish harm on these animals as well, but I'm just going to assume that you are NOT one of those people).

Rabbits, cute as they are, are growing in in popularity in the pet industry, and are now number 3 behind dogs and cats.  Now, I'm not happy about this, as an increase in popularity inevitably means the rise of pet mills and unethical breeding that must meet the rising demand.  Of course, slaughtering a pig to satisfy your taste for sausage is just as wrong.  But, for some reason, it just seems even more disturbing to want to kill and eat the same animal that your neighbor cherishes as a member of the family. "For people learning to butcher at home, a rabbit is less daunting to cut up than a pig or a goat.  And those who are truly obsessed with knowing where their food comes from can raise it themselves."  "Butcher at home"?  Who do they think they are, fucking Jack Lalaine with his new and improved Power Juicer?  What, is there a do-it-yourself slaughter kit that comes with it too?  A couple of scalpels, a bone saw, and a skinner's all you need to serve up a romantic dinner for two. For only 6 easy payments of $39.99!  Act now and we'll throw in two adorable rabbits for your dismembering pleasure.  

And let me guess, when someone "accidentally" discovers the scrumptious pleasure of dog liver pate, every restaurant in Manhattan is going to be serving up braised Beagle n' Biscuits.  I'm sorry, but since when is the slaughtering of animals in vogue?.....excluding of course mink coats, sheep skin boots, leather shoes and bags, belts, wallets and gloves, python handbags, and fox tail scarves.....................

9 Reasons to go Vegan

Reason #1: It's the number 1 most effective action you can take against animal cruelty. Over 50 billion animals are slaughtered every year in the world (excluding seafood) in order to serve the public meat and animal products. But what's the harm in drinking milk and eating eggs? These animals are treated as nothing more than expendable economic commodities, and are discarded (i.e. slaughtered) as soon as their production values start to dip.

Reason #2: It's better for your health. No, let me rephrase that: It's a LOT better for your health. Numerous medical studies have come to the conclusion that a adopting a plant-based diet is one of the best things you can do to avoid a myriad of diseases later in life, including heart disease, diabetes, and obesity, among others. Meat, dairy, and eggs are loaded with saturated animal fat and cholesterol, neither of which you should have even in moderation. All the essential nutrients you need can be found in plant foods. By making the switch to vegan, you are taking a big step to living a longer and healthier life.

Reason #3: Going vegan means going green. If helping the environment is your thing, look no further. Factory farming is by far the leading contributor to CO2 emissions, which is the leading contributor to global warming. In addition, over 70% of grains grown in the U.S., such as corn, wheat, oats, and soy, are fed to livestock. That's a huge waste of resources. "Fun" fact: One acre of land can produce 20,000 pounds of potatoes. Pounds of beef? 165.

Reason #4: Help feed the hungry. As mentioned above, using most of our land to grow food for livestock is wasteful. But you can also make the argument that it's cruel as well. If we took even a fraction of the land grown for animal feed, we could adequately feed over a hundred million starving human beings.

Reason #5: Tofu is a lot cheaper than steak.

Reason #6: Slim down while improving energy. A low-fat vegan diet is proven to help you lose weight, and veggies are, on average, about 20 pounds lighter than their meat-eating counterparts.

Reason #7: The food is delicious! Really, it is. If you're sad because you think you'll have to give up hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, and mac and cheese, you should know that the demand for vegan substitutes is exploding. From soy chocolate ice cream to swiss "cheese", truly the options are endless.

Reason #8: Save time. Don't like to cook? No problem. Vegan meals take much quicker to prepare and cook. Most meals can be made and eaten in less than 30 minutes, and you never need to worry about undercooking your vegetables.

Reason #9: Do you love being the butt of ridicule? Well here's your chance to be the best of the best! To turn any fun, relaxing dinner party into a full-on attack on your values and lifestyle choices, simply announce that you're a vegan. Haha, ok, I'm only kidding about this one. Well, half kidding. : )

Veganism FAQ #2

2. But animals are not the same as humans.  They don't think and feel as we do, so we have a right to use them for food.
True, we are not the same, but we are similar in many ways.  All mammals are similar in that we evolved to be highly intelligent, emotional creatures.  Unlike reptiles, mammals care for their young far past the time of birth, and rely on the intensely strong bong between parent and offspring for the survival of their species.  Many mammals are also social, which means they must utilize communicative skills to work together and resolve conflicts, just like humans.  Animals such as wolves, deer, elephants, and cows, pigs, and chickens all have these capabilities, and are thinking, feeling, sentient beings.  Therefore, they have a right to be included in the moral community.

Veganism and The Great Loss

The topic of veganism tends to strike a very personal chord with people, which I understand and often empathize with.  The idea of giving up turkey at Thanksgiving, and ham and Christmas, or the warm, comforting blanket-like feeling a bowl of hot chicken noodle soup can offer on a bad day, can be painful.  Giving up these foods feels like wrenching ourselves from the last grasp we have of childhood, and for some that grip is so strong that the possibility of loosening it is not even an option.  I went vegan right after last Christmas, because at the time I could not bear to spend that night without the traditional Swiss cheese fondue we had every year that was my favorite meal of all time.  And calling this my favorite food is saying something, believe me.  It was a dish I have had every Christmas since I can remember; it reminds me of my favorite night of the year, of special times of family and love that I didn't feel at any other time.  The recipe, like those in so many families, has been handed down to me from several generations, and is part of a deeper piece of myself, of my heritage; and that, I think, is where the true loss stems from.   But I can honestly say, having been a vegan for over a year now, that what little I've lost is nothing compared to what I've gained; a new perspective on life and love that I will cherish the rest of my life.

Shoulder Chops

No copyright infringement intended. All rights belong to the artist, Gary Larson.

Vegan Mac n "cheese"

My most recent (and now perfected!) batch of Mac n "cheese". It's made from a ground cashew and non-dairy bechamel base, with onion, garlic, and mustard powder, paprika, salt, and pepper to season. Yum yum!

Dicks are hard. Vegan isn't.

10 things harder than going vegan:

1. Marriage
2. Unwrapping a new CD
3. Taking the flash off your new digital camera
4. Entertaining a toddler for three and a half hours
5. Adolescence
6. Finishing Friday's New York Times crossword
7. Texting when you're driving
8. Answering the question, "do you want fries with that?"
9. Sitting through an entire episode of Are you Smarter than a 5th Grader
10. Picturing Sarah Palin as VP

And yet, when doing the above things, no one asks you, "What, are you crazy? You're going to kill yourself!"

Well, except for maybe #10.

( Oh, and btw, my new Canon Powershot kicks ass!! )