The main reason is the temperature which is rather hot in many countries during summer months. Hot temperature has a certain influence on our body whether we want and realize this or not. In particular it reflects on what we prefer eating and drinking in summer. Our body unconsciously gives us a hint of what is better for it. Thus many meat-lovers catch them on a thought that they don’t want to eat meat and even meat-containing meals which is really great.

Unfortunately not so many of them are able to value the advantages of this state and go back to eating meat when summer is over and it’s getting colder outside. Anyway the good thing is that after summer the circle of vegetarians gets bigger, and it happens every year. So, if you want help some of your friends become a vegetarian use this summer: invite then for a vegetarian picnic – you have about 80 days more.

Summer is a great time to arrange a vegetarian dinner somewhere on a roof, for instance, or in a small garden near your house.

Let’s think about some important things for this dinner except cooking itself. By the way you can use these ideas for breakfast as well which is often more romantic than anything.

So, think over the menu in advance. Try to be original, but not try too hard – the food should not take all of your attention.

Make sure that you won’t have to go back to kitchen for several times – this could make your date worry or nervous.

Arrange simple table appointments, don’t make the table be overloaded with table wares.

And don’t forget about flowers and nice music – not too loud, but loud enough to help you create a romantic atmosphere.

If you live in Western Europe, United States or Canada and you are vegetarian – no one is going to be surprised about that. Just like you are not going to ask your friend why he/she decided to become a vegetarian. It’s an absolutely normal thing at our time.

In Eastern Europe the situation is different. Its roots go deep into history, weather conditions (in some regions fruits and vegetables do not grow because it’s too cold there) and development of countries in this region.

Going back to our topic. Based on the said above we can say that it’s hardly possible to find old vegetarian Christmas traditions. But there are new ones and this can’t but makes us feel happy.

Let’s light a candle for all animals who die on Christmas…

Ingredients:

• 2 apples, peeled, cored and cut into 1/4 inch cubes
• 3/4 cup plus 2 Tablespoons packed brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• 1/4 cup chopped pecans
• egg re-placer – equivalent to 2 eggs
• 1 cup unsweetened apple sauce
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• baking spray
• 3/4 cup soy milk or soy cream
• 1 cup whole-wheat pasty flour

The rest of it you will find out from Jade who seems to be rather experienced in vegetarian meals and cooking in general.
It would be also useful for you if you are interested in cooking traditions of different nations.

Let it be a great, interesting, healthy, kind, and prosperous year full of positive events, good news, and support of close people.

According to Chinese calendar 2010 it’s a year of a Tiger. As you know tiger is an animal who eats other animals. Nevertheless it’s not a reason to give up your vegetarian believes. Don’t let anyone influence your life. Make your own choices. Stay a proud vegetarian.

Happy New vegetarian Year!

Ingredients:

• 1 c. pineapple, frozen
• 1/2 c. coconut water or 1/4 c. coconut milk
• 3 ice cubes
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/2 banana, frozen
• 1 c. milk or soymilk
• 1/2 c. yogurt or soy yogurt (optional)

Blend all ingredients together in a blender.

To make your smoothie sweeter, add 3 dried whole pitted dates.

If you want, use ice cubes made out of vanilla rooibos tea instead of ones made from just water.

Add more coconut if you wish. Coconut contains saturated fat so I was conservative on the quantity of coconut in the recipe. Young coconuts contain less fat and calories than mature coconuts.

Via

And have you noticed that vegetarians usually don’t have problems of this kind? Yes, they don’t. So, if you had a vegetarian Christmas table then you don’t have them either.

Most of uncomfortable feelings (especially in stomach) are caused by eating hard food such as meet and fats. These types of foods not only cause one-day bad feelings they also cause some changes that may have long-term negative effect for the whole body and different systems of organs.

This fact proves one more time that vegetarians are under less threat of having various diseases. We are what we eat, and if we eat healthy food then we are healthy!

• 3 “eggs” worth of egg replacer
• 1/2 cup canola oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 3/4 cup soy milk
• 2 cups sugar
• 2-1/2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 cup cocoa
• 2 cups grated zucchini
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 1/4 – 1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional)

Grate and press zucchini. Chop the walnuts and spray two 9″ x 5″ pans with cooking oil. Beat together the eggs, oil, vanilla, soy milk and sugar.

In a separate bowl, combine the flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and cocoa. Make a well in the dry ingredients, pour in the wet ingredients, and mix together. Stir in the zuke and walnuts.

Pour the batter into the prepared pans. Sprinkle chocolate chips on top (if desired). Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes. Cool for about 10 minutes before removing from the pan.

Makes 2 loaves (10 servings each).

More details fo this recipe here.

If this is the first year when you celebrate Thanksgiving Day as a vegetarian then it could be a bit difficult for you to decide what to cook, and most important what to replace the main dish – turkey – with. Why don’t you try deep fried Tofurky instead?

Ingredients:

• 1 Tofurky roast, thawed according to package directions
• 2 tbsp margarine, softened (optional)
• 1/4 cup cajun or creole seasoning (optional)
• peanut oil for frying

Heat oven to 300 degrees.

Cover tofurky roast in foil and bake for one hour. Remove from oven remove foil, and allow to cool for 3 minutes.

Rub with margarine and seasoning (optional). Fry in a deep fryer until golden brown, about 8 to 10 minutes.

Via

We have already mentioned and not once that being a vegetarian not only means refuse from eating meat – it’s a way of life. Truly vegetarians don’t eat meat and call the rest of the world follow their animal-friendly way of life. More over they support policy that prohibits killing animals even for fashion industry purposes. It means that they do not wear clothes and shoes that are made out of animals.

Vegan shoes are only a part of vegan fashion. Cruelty free shoes include boots, trainers, sandals, belts, jeans and para boots. All leather free, ethical, animal friendly, cruelty free. Vegan shoes are becoming popular as an alternative to leather.

Vegan shoes is not a small business any more. Thousands of people are interested in buying vegetarian shoes and clothes, and have only one problem – they don’t know where to find it. Now they can order it on the web, because casual shops of this kind are not that often met in our cities. To attract more and more customers vegan shoe-makers even involve celebrities into their advertising campaigns. And it works!