Getting ready for a Vegan 4th of July?

If you are, you should take a look at the new section on VegWeb entitled Happy 4th of July. You'll find all sorts of grilling recipes from Black Bean Burgers to BBQ Ribs.

There's also a section for dealing with meat eaters at your 4th celebration... sure, we can all get along together.

As one of the articles listed says:

When the Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, they probably never imagined that someday Americans would celebrate their freedom by drinking Budweiser while grilling veggie burgers in their backyards—but hey, we’re not complaining. As with every holiday penciled into our planners, the Fourth of July offers the perfect chance to throw a fabulous, patriotic fête complete with vegan spare ribs, dairy-free ice cream sandwiches, and fantastic firework displays.

You will also find contributions from Fat Free Vegan Kitchen like a wonderful recipe for Red, White and Blue Fruit Terrine which I can't wait to try.

So, here at Panhandle Vegan we hope you all have a great holiday.

Yuan Fu Vegetarian Chinese Restaurant

When Elly and I are driving to Washington DC from Shepherdstown, Rockville, MD, is at the halfway point and, if it's lunch time, the place to stop is Yuan Fu.


It is located in a small strip mall at 798 Rockville Pike. If you are driving too fast and don't see the sign it is easy to miss.

There is plenty for vegans as well as vegetarians... I don't know another restaurant with so many choices for a vegan diner.  This from their promotional material:

Yuan Fu Vegetarian Serving Montgomery County Rockville City for 11 years.  For the most wholesome healthy delicious homemade Chinese-style Vegetarian and Vegan dishes.

Chef Tai has more than 30 years of experience in Vegetarian Cuisine & uses the freshest ingredients available to create entrees sure to please the most discriminating critic. We welcome you to come enjoy our fabulous and healthy Vegetarian and  Vegan Chinese cuisine. 

Take a look at their fantastic menu HERE.


Tel: 301.762.5937

Business Hours:
11:00 a.m to 10:00 p.m (Sun - Thurs)
11:00 a.m to 10:30 p.m (Fri - Sat)

No Checks Accepted
Credit Cards ($10 minimum order)

Not all organic food is "organic"

Here's a clip about food imported from China... Click on the pri.org address for more.

clipped from www.pri.org Think those "organic" strawberries from China are better for environment? Think again. The organic label is meant to signify that a food is relatively environmentally friendly: Organic producers are forbidden from using many synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. When that organic food comes from China, that label may not mean much. "When I see organic food from China, I question," environmental journalist Michael Pollan told PRI's The World, "how organic is it?" Organics are a $26 billion industry in the United States, and an increasing amount of that is coming from China. Pollan points out, "organic is a very big global business now. People don’t realize it." A Chinese grocery chain owner who spoke with Global Post estimated that "maybe 30 percent of farms that put the organic label on their food produce the real thing." Consumers should look beyond the label and consider the real environmental cost of their foods.

There's a lot you can do to make sure safe, organic food is available...

One of those things is to join the True Food Network / The Center for Food Safety.

Go to http://truefoodnow.org/category/organics and sign up. There is no charge. You'll just be expanding the number of people who are fighting Monsanto and the other chemical companies effecting our food.

Their National Headquarters is within our operating area and you have an excellent chance to get involved with things Vegans are really committed to.

National Headquarters
660 Pennsylvania Ave, SE, #302
Washington DC 20003
phone: (202)547-9359
fax: (202)547-9429

It's time to support Dennis Kucinich on GMOs

Four days ago, Congressman Kucinich came out with this statement as a response to the Supreme Court's 7-1 decision to allow the experimental planting of genetically modified alfalfa seed before an environmental review is completed:

"Why do we continue to throw precaution to the wind?"

"Today the Supreme Court ruled that when it comes to genetically modified organisms, we as consumers have to wait until the damage is done and obvious before we can act to protect health and the environment, even if that damage could be irreversible."

"Haven't we learned from the catastrophe in the Gulf of the dangers of technological arrogance, of proceeding ahead with technologies without worrying about the consequences? Why do we continue to throw precaution to the wind?

"Tomorrow I will introduce three bills that will provide a comprehensive regulatory framework for all Genetically Engineered (GE) plants, animals, bacteria, and other organisms. To ensure we can maximize benefits and minimize hazards, Congress must provide a comprehensive regulatory framework for all GE products. Structured as a common-sense precaution to ensure GE foods do no harm, these bills will ensure that consumers are protected, food safety measures are strengthened, farmers' rights are better protected and biotech companies are responsible for their products."

There's more information at the Organic Consumer's Association.

Watermelon Berry Banana Smoothie

I was experimenting with various smoothie recipes and ended up with this one... It was yummy.

Ingredients :

    1 frozen banana, break into 4 chunks
    1 heaping cup mini seedless watermelon, chopped up
    2 or 3 frozen strawberries, or 1/2 cup frozen blueberries
    10 drops of Sweet Leaf liquid stevia (I used the Berry flavor)
    Water if needed (keep a cup of cold water next to the blender)

Directions:

Basically throw all your ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Add a little water if it seems necessary, but you want your smoothie to be thick.


Makes: 1 Serving in about three minutes.

MOM's - My Organic Market

I just got back from Frederick where I was doing Wednesday grocery shopping (there's a 5% discount for people over 60 on Wednesdays at Common Market)... and the things I couldn't find at my first stop, I got at my second: 

MOM's - My Organic Market

5273 Buckeystown Pike

Frederick, MD 21704  

(240) 566-1444

MOM's is a very good grocery... a chain that is turning up all over he place (boy, I wish they would open a branch in Shepherdstown, Hagerstown, Martinsburg or Charles Town... I'd spend a fortune there.) Their prices are very good, there is a good fresh fruit and vegetable section and you don't have to worry about "is it organic or not" like you do in the "health" sections of the regular groceries. 

I used to shop at a MOM's outside of Greenbelt, MD, and I found it a good place five years ago. It only seems to get better.

Searching Charles Town for a Vegan or Vegetarian Lunch...

Charles Town, WV, with the track and the slots and (soon, I guess) table games, is loaded with fast food and meat, meat, MEAT restaurants. Finding a place there to have lunch is something that I spent a while researching.

What did I come up with? Jumpin Java at 109 West Washington Street was the winner.
You can check out the lunch menu HERE (Breakfast menu, too... they are not open for Dinner). Salads, wraps, other sandwiches all fall into place.

Why is it that the coffee shops in our small towns are the first to appeal to vegans and vegetarians? More power to 'em.

-BT

Bill's Vegetable Soup Recipe

I've been making a fresh vegetable soup once a week using organic vegetables and storebought vegetable broth. It takes under an hour and it tastes great. Serves two to four people (depending on how much you eat... I can't resist a second bowl.)

Ingredients:

1. package of liquid vegetable broth (comes in quarts)

2. Small can of tomato paste

3. Frozen organic peas (1 or 2 cups)

4. three carrots cut up

5. three green onions chopped

6. 1/2 dozen shitake mushrooms (or brown mushrooms) chopped up

7. 1 small sweet potato peeled and cubed

8. 1 cup of brown pasta (or 1/2 cup of brown rice)

9. seasonal vegetables (I love things like teeny baby corn ears, fresh green beans, etc.)

10. 1/2 cup of shredded fresh cabbage

11. Spices: basil, oregano, salt, black pepper, sage

12. 2 cups water.

Chop and prepare the vegetables. Pour about 1/2 of the quart of vegetable broth into a saucepan and set burner to high.

Add the vegetables, spices, tomato paste and water. Stir until the tomato paste is blended in. By this time the broth will have come to a boil.

Add the pasta or rice.

Add the spices, turn the burner down to low, cover and simmer for 45 minutes to an hour.

That's it. You can refrigerate what you don't eat right away. It will get sort of thick in the refrigerator, but if you pour in a cup or so of the vegetable broth left in the package you will thin it right out again.

E-Mail from Friends

From Liz Gallery at Stone Soup Bistro:   Hi Bill- That is awesome.  Thanks so much.  Vegan's will save the world.   Thanks-Liz _______________________ From Blue Moon Cafe:

Bill,

Thank you so much for including the Blue Moon in your blog.  We strive to appeal to all diets and are currently switching to organic when possible.  We have switched from Basmati rice to organic brown rice and looking forward to more transitions in that direction.

Charmaine Landers, owner

 

________________________

The Common Market CoOp in Frederick has a neat Deli

When I'm in Frederick and shopping for organic foods, I love it when I'm there at lunchtime. The Common Market is a great grocery with a wonderful "mostly vegetarian" Deli that has a half-dozen or so vegan selections.

 Here's the information you need:

Address: 5813 Buckeystown Pike (Rt 85)
Phone: 301-663-3416
email: host@commonmarket.com
Web site: www.commonmarket.com

Hours: Monday to Saturday 9 am to 9 pm; Sunday 11 am to 5 pm; closed on major holidays.

Natural Food Store and mainly Vegetarian Deli. Organic produce. Vegan options. Not pure vegetarian.

 Menu has salads, wraps, burritos, baked goods, soups and sandwiches. Fresh juices.

Comments: Local organic produce used when possible. Large selection of organic herbs. One of the best natural food stores in the Baltimore area. Has a good selection of bulk goods, teas, herbs, etc. Has a bulletin board to exchange information.


Accepts AMEX, MC, VISA.

Directions: From I-270, take Market Street exit (#31) and go north on Route 85 and this place is 1 mile down on the right in the Point Plaza shopping center. This place is located on the left end of the shopping plaza. From Rte 70, take South Market Street exit (#54) and go south onto Rte 85 and when you get to fork in road, stay right and go a half-mile, then turn left at the first traffic light into Point Plaza shopping Center.

BTW: there is a 5% discount for shoppers over 60 on Wednesdays... and it includes the Deli.

Almond creamy soup base for 100 soups

...from Living Tree Community Foods (a great shopping site for Vegans)

This is a fantastic Soup base that can be used to create numerous wonderful soups.

Ingredients:

 

1 1/2 cups sprouted almonds
2 cups filtered water
2 lemons, juiced
1 garlic clove
1 tbsp. flaxseed oil
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. Celtic sea salt

Put all ingredients above into a blender and blend very well. This is your Almond Creamy Soup Base.

Try the variations below:

Lemon Zucchini Bisque:
2 small zucchini, grated
1/2 cup finely minced shallot (or onion)

Corn-Off-The-Cob:
1 corn, cut off the cob
1/4 cup finely minced shallot
1/4 red bell pepper, finely chopped
2 mushrooms, finely chopped

Almond-Beet Borscht:
1/2 beet, grated
1/2 cup chopped cucumber
1/4 cup finely minced chives
sprinkle of chopped dill

Here's an article from Vegan Bits if you are selecting a cow's milk substitute...

The start of the article is here... at the end of the clip just click on READ MORE and it will take you to the whole piece.
- Bill

clipped from veganbits.com Got Milk? If you're new to the vegan thing, or considering switching to a vegan diet, the idea of replacing dairy can be quite daunting.  In reality, replacing milk isn't an issue.  There are a wide variety of replacements that are conveniently available in almost any supermarket.  In addition to that, you can go ahead and make your own nut and oat milks.  (Jane makes almond milk religiously.)  However, soy and tree nuts can be allergens for some people, so if you have questions,  check with your doctor or nutritionist. We've pretty much tried them all over the time we've been vegan, and here's how we typically use the various vegan milk products. Almond milk -  We have a Soyabella Milk Maker, and Jane uses that to make our almond milk.  I use that as the base for my morning shake, and she uses it for hot cereals, in her baking, and some soups. Hazelnut milk - Jane likes to use hazelnut milk in the same manner as almond milk.  - READ MORE

Blue Moon Cafe in Shepherdstown (WV)

The Blue Moon has been one of our favorite places to go before attending an evening performance at CATF... mainly because they serve a few things that vegans can eat (lots more for cheese-eating vegetarians) and because the service is pretty quick... you get out in plenty of time to see the show. The other advantage of the Blue Moon is that the prices are not as high as many local restaurants.

You have to look at their menu pretty closely (although the Sandwiches section has its own series of vegetarian listings, two of which are cheese-less and fall into a vegan category) to make sure you are getting food that will meet the vegan agenda.

You can check out their menu HERE.

Blue Moon is located on the corner Princess & High Streets.

Restaurant is open Monday - Thursday 11-9. Friday & Saturday 11-10. Sunday 12-3.  Pub is open Thursday - Saturday 9-12.

Call them at 304.876.1920

Stone Soup Bistro in Shepherdstown, WV

One of several restaurants in our town that serve vegans intentionally (they list vegan and vegetarian items on their menus) is Stone Soup Bistro at 112 W. German Street.

Check out it's Lunch Menu HERE and the Dinner menu HERE.

Closed Tuesday
Open Wednesday through Monday
Lunch 11am–3:30 pm
Dinner 5 pm–9 pm,
5–10 pm on Friday & Saturday

For Reservations Call 304.876.8477

This is a new blog for Vegans and Vegetarians in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia...

... and nearby locations. I'm starting it because of the difficulty my wife and I have found in locating Vegan cuisine in restaurants and general grocery stores in the 75-mile-or-so radius of where we live in Shepherdstown (WV).

I hope you will bookmark this location and come back here when you are looking for places to dine with friends in Frederick, MD, say... or in Hagerstown... or in Charles Town, WV. Over the next few months I'll be building up the lists, linking to on-line menus, passing on shopping hints and many other things. Right now there is not much here... but give it time and I think you will find it a useful accessory to your lifestyle.

Feel free to comment or to pass on tips and locations related to the subject. I review everything several times a day and will endeavor to get everything but spam and unauthorized advertising to get put right up. (BTW, if you are interested in advertising, drop me a note at btchakir@mac.com. I'll get back to you right away.)

Regards,

Bill Tchakirides