Category Archives: Veganism

Oyster mushroom fried chicken and jackfruit crab cakes may sound unusual, but that's the way vegan chef Nadira Jenkins-El does her version of soul food. Now, 101 of her creative recipes are availablein her new cookbook "Vegan Soul Food Cookbook: Plant-Based, No-Fuss Southern Favorites."

Jenkins-El, who is also a holistic nutritionist and the co-owner of The Cutting Board Bakery and Cafe in Mesa, wrote the cookbook to share quick vegan soul food recipes, similar to what she serves at her restaurant.

While the cookbook, which is widely available and can be purchased online from local booksellersincluding Changing Hands Bookstore ($15.99), is meant to provide an introduction to accessible vegan cooking, shes also interested in showing people there's diversity in the vegan community.

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There's not a lot of Black representation and that was the other reason for wanting to do my cookbook," Jenkins-El said."I want my people to know that you do have alternatives and can still have the delicious foods that you grew up with. .

Nadira Jenkins-El, the co-owner of The Cutting Board Bakery and Cafe in Mesa, released a new coobook: "Vegan Soul Food Cookbook: Plant Based No-Fuss Southern Favorites."(Photo: Nadira Jenkins-El)

Jenkins-El grew up in Maryland and California, and moved to Arizona eight years ago. Her first career was in nursing, and then she moved on to running an entrepreneurship program with inner city youth in Baltimore. She taught the students how to cook, so they were able to start a business catering meals.

This inspired her to followher dreams of running a restaurantand go to school again for culinary management. When she moved to Tucson, she started Global Fusion, a vegan bakery that specialized indesserts without refined sugar.

She sold her pastries and food at farmers markets in the Tucson area and then expanded into the Phoenix area. Shortly after, the opportunity arose to buy a restaurant, and she opened The Cutting Board Bakery and Cafein 2018 with her business partner Sabrina Metherell.

Her cookbook contains soul food recipes that are typically meat based, like ribs and jambalaya, but she has found creative ways to make these dishes completely animal-product-free with tofu, seitan, jackfruit and mushrooms.

She also features dishes like beans and rice from her time in the Caribbean. Jenkins-El moved to St. Croix for two years to learn more about cooking with fresh fruits and vegetables from the large vegan community there.

She said she learned a lot about creative uses of fruits and vegetables when she worked on a food truck that was all vegan and gluten free. I learned how to work and play with jackfruit while living on the island, because the farmers would bring them right to our trucks in the morning.

Jenkins-El has more food projects in the works and plans touse them to continue being vocal about including everyone in the plant-based community. Veganism is for everybody we can all be playing our part, making the world healthier and ending animal cruelty.

When: 11a.m.-4p.m. Monday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 11 a.m.- 7 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. Closed Tuesday.

Where: 2235 S.Power Road, #116, Mesa.

Details:thecuttingboardbakeryandcafe.com.

Reach the reporter at Shaena.Montanari@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @DrShaena.

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The reason this former nurse turned her passion for vegan soul food into a new cookbook - AZCentral

Linda Oaksford, Guest columnist Published 8:21 a.m. ET June 29, 2020

The Tallahassee Farmers Market was booming with business at its new location on the corner of Thomasville Road and Kerry Forest Parkway Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019.(Photo: Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat)

Many of us are committed to reducing our carbon footprints. We buy energy efficient appliances. We insulate our homes with the best materials. We purchase electric cars. We support renewable energy programs or put solar panels on our homes.

We walk or bike to work, carpool, or take public transportation. Many of us write letters to our legislators, urging them to address the climate crisis and pass legislation to bring our country on board with the Paris Agreement. We do more reducing, reusing, and recycling. And the list goes on.

While we realize that our individual impact is tiny, when we look at our children and grandchildren and contemplate their future and the continued beauty of our planet, we feel a strong obligation to do what we can and wonder: What else can I do?

Guess what?

The food choices we make can help slow climate change by modifying what we eat.(Photo: Heart Foundation)

There is something we can do every day and it impacts the environment more than any other factor changing our diets. The food choices we make can help slow climate change by modifying what we eat.

As explained by Sharon Palmer, author of a Plant-Powered for Life, research consistently shows that drastically reducing animal protein and eating mainly a plant-based diet is one of the most powerful things you can do to reduce your impact on the planet over your lifetime, in terms of energy required, land used, greenhouse gas emissions, water used and pollutants produced (CNN, January 2, 2019)."

In 2017, after my husband took an OLLI course at FSU, given by Sally Sanders from the Educated Choices Program, on transitioning to a plant-based diet, we decided to go for it. My husband was interested in improving his health, but what we discovered was that in addition to being good for our bodies and good of the earth, it is imperative if we want our species to survive.

Linda Richards, also known as "the basket lady," buys fresh vegetables from Judy Burks at the Tallahassee Farmers Market. (Photo: Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat)

After we made the change, we began researching everything we could about plant-based diets.

The book, Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming, edited by Paul Hawken, convinced us that we had made the right decision. "Drawdown" describes the 100 most viable and researched solutions to reverse global warming. We were pleasantly surprised to find that the third and fourth ranked solutions are food related.

According to a 2016 study, business-as-usual emissions could be reduced by as much as 70 percent through adopting a vegan [plant-based] diet and 63 percent for a vegetarian diet, which includes cheese, milk, and eggs. $1 trillion in annual health-care costs and lost productivity would be saved. So, we decided that in addition to changing ourselves, we needed to convince others about the impact of transitioning to a plant-based diet.

First, we shared our new lifestyle with our friends and grown children by introducing them to new plant-based foods at family gatherings. In our third year of veganism we decided to broaden our circle of influence.

The Tallahassee Farmers Market was booming with business at its new location on the corner of Thomasville Road and Kerry Forest Parkway Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019.(Photo: Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat)

We discovered that our Unitarian Universalist Association had adopted a nationwide Ethical Eating initiative in 2011.I started writing articles and sharing recipes in our local UU churchs monthly newsletter, but realized we still needed to do more.

We decided to gather for Ethical Eating Evenings, where we would view videos about healthy eating and other topics related to diet and the environment. Of course, popcorn, a healthy vegan snack, was included.We would also invite guest speakers, share recipes, and have occasional plant-based potluck meals.

Now is especially the time to change to a plant-based diet.Research has shown that people with compromised immune systems and pre-existing health conditions are at a greater risk of dying from COVID-19 and other serious illnesses. Noncommunicable diseases, such as diabetes 2, heart disease and some cancers, to name just a few, can be prevented and, in some cases, even reversed by adopting a whole-food plant-based diet.

Greenhouse gas emissions by diet(Photo: Peter Scarborough, Oxford University)

Now is the time to make the transition.

At a minimum, consider Meatless Mondays there are amazing vegetarian cuisines out there that can make those Mondays a culinary adventure. Or just give up beef by far the worst environmental food culprit. You dont have to do it all at once and every little bit helps your health and the planet.

For more information, go to the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine website at pcrm.org or to Nutritionfacts.org. For local information, check out https://www.facebook.com/TalVegCommunity/.

Linda Oaksford(Photo: Special to the Democrat)

Linda Oaksford is a retired educator and a member of Sustainable Tallahassee. She can be reached at LLoaksford@gmail.com. This is a Greening Our Community article, an initiative of Sustainable Tallahassee. Learn more at http://www.SustainableTallahassee.org.

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Plant-based solutions: Going vegan for the planet's health - Tallahassee Democrat

It's time to get Amped Up, and we're talking healthy ways of eating. We're exploring veganism with Letoiya Jones.

MACON, Ga. I want people to know that vegan food is not just rabbit food or just salads, says self-proclaimed vegan Letoiya Jones.

Jones has been a practicing vegan for the past four years. She decided to try the lifestyle after having issues digesting food including meat and fish, and she says the changes shes made in the kitchen have paid off and the transition was pretty easy.

Jones says, I had mentally been preparing myself for months, so once I decided to do it, I was OK, and when I did it four years ago, there werent as many substitutions like they have now. I still eat vegan junk, but mainly, I eat fruits and vegetables.

Processed vegan foods like Oreo cookies are Jones' favorite, but as a true vegan, that means she doesnt eat any animal flesh or byproducts like milk, cheese, or eggs, so shes decided to take things into her own hands -- literally, creating delicious and nutritious meals via her business, Southern Garden Kitchen.

Im excited about continuing to cook and continuing to change the stigma of veganism that everything is so restricted, explains Jones. I like to think of it as, 'Think of what you can eat and not what you cant eat,' and its a lifestyle and not a diet. It's truly a lifestyle, so I look forward to changing peoples minds.

Jones says her new way of eating gives her more energy and has helped her lose more than 100 pounds along her journey. If youre interested in giving veganism a try,hop on over to Facebook and check out Southern Garden Kitchen with Letoiya Jones to get you started.

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AMPED UP: Veganism a healthy eating option - 13WMAZ.com

How about rose, lavender and juniper?

With the band's iconic thunderbolt on the packaging, the deodorant comes in five different scents: Skull & Roses (lavender, rose), Sunshine (blood orange, bergamot), Workingman's (cedarwood, juniper), Timber (Douglas fir, sage) and Unscented.

All are handmade in small batches, using 100% natural, vegan, edible ingredients, according to a news release.

"I have been a Dead Head since 1999," North Coast Organics CEO Nathan Morin said in a statement. "The music and spirit of the Grateful Dead have influenced my company's core principles of service, veganism, and organic agriculture."

"The Grateful Dead have inspired us to stay true to our main mission of social responsibility. We took care in creating special oil blends that reference the Grateful Dead's music," Morin said.

The band's legacy manager and archivist David Lemiuex said the line of deodorant aligns with the Deadheads' "love of the world around us."

"North Coast Organics lives and functions as we do, with an awareness that the future's here, we are it, and we need to take care of the planet and ourselves," Lemiuex said.

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The Grateful Dead have released a line of vegan deodorant - CNN

Amazon Prime has a new vegan Jamaican-inspired cooking show.

Kirly-Sues Global Kitchen debuted earlier this month in the US and the UK. It is hosted by vegan YouTuber and cookbook author Sussane Kirlew, who goes by the name Kirly-Sue.

The three-part series aims to show viewers how easy it is to cook vegan meals. It follows Kirlew, who also serves as the shows executive producer, on her travels to Jamaica to see how food is grown and cooked locally. She then makes her own vegan version of the dish in her UK kitchen and allows non-vegans to try it.

Kirlew told LIVEKINDLY incorporating Jamaica into the show was important to her.

My country of origin is Jamaica, my parents are from Jamaica. So I thought to actually film therebecause I have family there and I have contacts thereis not going to be too difficult, she said.I also obviously wanted to film here in the UK where I live. We often think if you want to learn something you have to go to somebody in a Western country. And we have everything here. And to some extent, that is true. But what Im showing in the show is we can learn something from non-western countries, she added.

Kirlew says she went vegetarian at the age of 18 and then vegan in 2012. She now spends her time trying to encourage others to incorporate plant-based foods into their diets, especially younger generations.

In addition to her newly-released vegan cookbook for kids, called Cooking With Kids, Kirlew hosts a weekly Instagram Live in which she does a cook-along with kids. So I have kids who join me for half an hour to do a really good plant-based meal every week. And its been going really well, she said.

A lot of the time people are not aware of all the information surrounding veganism. And I think its important for us to teach the next generation what options there are for them, she explained.

She added: Because this generation of adults didnt have that opportunity in terms of information and choice with regards to a plant-based diet. But I think the children of this generation today, there is an opportunity to show them look, you can actually cook plant-based.

Kirlew says that with good reviews and ratings, she hopes the show may potentially move to Netflix.

Summary

Article Name

Vegan Jamaican-Inspired Cooking Show Now on Amazon Prime

Description

Cooking show "Kirly-Sues Global Kitchen" has debuted in the US and the UK on Amazon Prime. It's hosted by vegan cookbook author Kirly-Sue.

Author

Audrey Enjoli

Publisher Name

LIVEKINDLY

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Vegan Jamaican-Inspired Cooking Show Now on Amazon Prime - LIVEKINDLY

So, what makes it a plant-based potato chip? Pinky Coleman revealed that many potato chips contain dairy and milk derivatives.

ATLANTA Pinky Coleman, the owner of Atlantas popular vegan eatery Slutty Vegan ATL, is taking her career to new heights by creating the first plant-based potato chip with Rap Snacks, a food brand inspired by hip hop culture.

Since December 2019, the chips have made its way into 100,000 locations across the U.S, according to rep for Rap Snacks.

Both brand names, founded by African-American entrepreneurs, are enthusiastic about the success of this vegan potato chip line as it aims to spread awareness around healthier lifestyle choices to a community who may experience less access to vegan options otherwise.

It's unheard of to put two Black-owned businesses together in this way so that we could grow and be successful together, Coleman said. It just feels good to be able to represent that through my restaurant to my brand voice. I'm just happy about the sales and the support.

In an interview with 11Alive, Coleman said the collaboration is a dream come true as she was already a fan of the Rap Snacks brand and creating her own spin on barbecue-flavored chips was the perfect pairing for Slutty Vegans popular burgers.

It's a total blessing to be able to see my face, on chips in different stores. I always said when I was a little girl, that I'm gonna be a household name, and I didn't know that it would take on this meaning, Coleman said. But I'm excited and I'm humbled about it. And I'm just grateful for the people who support me every single day, especially in the city of Atlanta.

Rap Snacks CEO and founder James Lindsey is equally as excited to join forces with Coleman.

Slutty Vegan has been immensely influential in introducing veganism to the culturally rich community of Atlanta and beyond. Its always exciting to join forces with a brand that shares the same underlying mission as we do here at Rap Snacks - to push culture forward through food. This partnership will create limitless possibilities across both the Rap Snacks and Slutty Vegan brands; more importantly, providing communities across the country who have limited access to vegan options, a health-conscious, alternative snack, Lindsay tells 11Alive in a statement.

So, what makes it a plant-based potato chip? Coleman revealed that many potato chips contain dairy and milk derivatives.

This doesn't have any animal or animal byproducts in the chip, and I wanted to spread that narrative, especially in our communities that you can be vegan. You can be plant-based, and you don't have to compromise animals, even if it starts at potato chips. even if this starts and vegan comfort food, Coleman said.

Slutty Vegan ATL has become a celeb-magnet, as many actors, musicians, and athletes have praised the restaurants healthy spin on fast food.

I think Slutty Vegan does a great job introducing that lifestyle to communities around the world. Because its just not Atlanta. We got people coming from Kenya, London, and we do that. And now we get to really do that with the Rap Snacks vegan chips, Coleman said.

At the start of the stay-at-home orders during the pandemic, Coleman closed her business for two weeks to create a safe operating environment for employees and customers.

it's unfortunate how many people we have lost toCOVID-19. What I will say is, it showed me that Slutty Vegan can be a weatherproof business, as an entrepreneur, it's never easy to make like quick, vast decisions, especially when you have a business, Coleman said. Thinking about what the new normal is going to be is never easy for any entrepreneur. But we're doing it with style and grace.

Coleman, has come a long way since starting her business in a ghost kitchen. The business owner anticipates her rapidly moving company will have a total of 13 locations within the next two years.

We are expanding our operational executives and just really bringing in people who have expertise to help us grow and scale this company. It's not about the money for me, It's about creating something so that we could tell a story on how we have helped people to re-imagine food. And we do that every single day, Coleman said.

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Slutty Vegan owner dishes on Rap Snacks potato chip, weather-proofing business during pandemic - 11Alive.com WXIA