I’ve always loved animals, and I’ve always loved food.

A collective vegan Mémoire and cookbook

created by Sarah Duff

I've been a vegetarian my entire life, and a

vegan for almost ten years. My mom, my dad, and two of my

three sister are vegetarians, and it always just made sense to

me. While I was growing up in Texas, our house was always

full of rescued animals. We would stop to move turtles safely

across the road, and the years were marked by the annual

our house. It wasn't a big stretch for me to transfer my love for

our pets to the owls, barn-swallows, horses and chickens that

surrounded me.

I decided to become a vegan when I was 14, after I saw

footage of laying hens in a factory farm. I saw cages stacked

on top of cages full of birds crammed together and

miserable, and something just clicked inside my head.

I thought, If I don't believe it's ethical to kill an animal, why

I decided that I wanted to live in a way

that did the least amount of harm to animals as possible. If

we have the ability to survive and thrive without exploiting

animals, why can't we?

I didn't make this book to make anyone feel guilty about

eating meat. It is my hope to open up a discussion around

food and the animals that we share the world with. Diet is an

extremely personal choice, but also one that has enormous

effects and merits great consideration.

I've asked my contributors to send me their stories- why they

are vegan, and their views on the subject, as well as one of

their favorite recipes. I believe in the power of a good meal,

and I hope that you try some of these delicious

recipes. I think if you followed this book

through "a day of vegan meals" you

would have a pretty great day.

Laurie -Breakfast

“I stopped eating animals when I was 14.”

In high school we grew fertile chicken eggs in our biology

class in an incubator, and on the day mine hatched I went

home and there was chicken for dinner. I didn’t eat it and

never ate meat again. The door was kicked open in my mind

and I never looked back. That was in 1967 when health stores

only sold vitamins and the only vegetarian cookbook was Diet After being a vegetarian for 37 years and

raising four daughters as vegetarians, I became vegan 9

years ago.

It has been easy; being a moral issue makes it impossible to

go back. I have a tattoo on my arm (in vegan ink of course)

that says . I share my small farm with two bulls,

two llamas and two alpacas. Being Vegan is not a diet; it is a

lifestyle. It is taking the stand that no sentient being should be

used for any purpose and they have the same birthright that

humans also share- the right to be free.

Pancakes

2 tbsp. sugar

2 tsp baking powder

½ tsp. salt

2 tbsp. oil

½ cup soymilk

¾ cup water

Sift the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Make a hole

in the middle, and pour in the oil, soymilk and water. Don’t stir

the batter too much. Mix it only until it’s just blended (It should

it. Pour out the pancakes, add fruit or chocolate chips, and

Kristen -Lunch

“I became vegan

when I was 15” as a

logical progression of my

morals regarding animal

raising, slaughter, and

consumption as well as my

interest in environmentalism.

Becoming vegan opened up

the door for me to really get

involved with cooking.

Veganism has also helped

me learn to stand up, little

by little, for those things which I believe would create a better

way of living. I think living vegan (in 99% of circumstances) is

integral to living a fully compassionate life and for that reason

Quick Pita Hummus Pizzas

- Pita bread

- Tofu, tempeh, or meat substitute

- Vegetables of choice

- Oil to sauté

Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Chop vegetables into

small chunks and crumble tofu/tempeh/meat substitute and

lightly cook in oil. Prepare pitas by slathering with hummus on

top, as if the pita were pizza crust. Top hummus with sautéed

veggies and tofu/tempeh/meat substitutes and place on

cooking sheet. Place pitas in oven and bake for 10-15 minutes,

I became vegan after realizing that being

vegetarian still supported animal

agriculture and all of its nasty side

effects. There are so many great reasons to be vegan

(environment and ethics are my favorites). I think it makes

you more aware of what you are eating and how you are

affecting the food system.

Alex with his biodiesel- powered car

Alex - Dinner

Garlicky Tofu and Kale Pie

(Makes one 9X13 pan)

Crust:

3c AP Flour

1-2tsp salt

3/4c shortening

1c icy cold water divided

incorporated with a few bean size lumps hear and there. Mix

in water a few tablespoons at a time until the dough forms

feathery leaves. Try pressing them together. If it doesn't work

add another tablespoon or two, mix, and try again. Divide

dough into a 1/3 and a 2/3 piece. Roll out between wax paper

and throw it in the fridge. Preheat the oven to 400F.

Filling:

Nice olive oil

1-2 medium yellow onions, diced

One large bunch of kale (Russian Red is wonderful for this)

One container of fresh tofu (I like medium) or two vacuum

packed ones

Salt, nutritional yeast, and pepper to taste

Millionaire's variation: 1/4 toasted pine nuts

Sauté the garlic and onions in oil over medium high

heat until the the onions begin to get a little clear around the

edges and the garlic is a little soft. Add kale (and more oil if

you want) then sir and cook for a minute. Add the tofu,

breaking it up with your hands as you do. Season with salt

pepper and nooch. Stir and cook until the kale is wilted. Take

off heat and leave uncovered so it cools.

Line a 9X13 pan with the larger piece of dough. The dough

may be too hard to work with so let it warm up a bit if it needs

liquid. Fold the edges towards the center of the pie. Place top

sheet to cover remaining open spots. Trim or fold excess

press the whole top of the pie, especially the edges to pack

the top crust. Bake until the crust is golden.

Adrienne - Dessert

When I was ten years old my mom cooked

a ham around the holidays. I sat at the table and

watched my mom pick up slices of the ham and serve it to my

family, and I saw the blood from the meat pooling up on the

connection between animal and food. I was repulsed by the

blood and fully realized that a pig was killed to make that

food. I didn't know anything about slaughterhouses then, but I

night I decide to not to eat meat ever again.

I grew up in a small city and it wasn't until I was in high school

"vegan" in a local food co-op. I tried one of the cookies and

was so impressed by how good it was that I was convinced

that being vegan wasn't "extreme" as I had heard it called

before, but just a different way of cooking and eating.

The more I thought about where the milk and eggs that I ate

came from, the more veganism made sense to me. By being

vegan you are able to break away from this system of killing

animals.

didn't mean giving up delicious food. As a vegan I don't feel

for almost seven years now, and have never looked back. I

believe that every life is precious. No animal should be

exploited and killed for their bodies or bodily products.

Double Chocolate Pudding Pie(makes one 9 inch pie)

Ingredients:

25 chocolate sandwich cookies

1/4 C melted vegan margarine (like Earth Balance)

10 onces of vegan chocolate chips

16 once package of silken tofu

1 tsp of vanilla or almond extract, or your favorite liqueur

To make the crust:

Place 20 of the cookies into the food processor and pulse

until they are ground. Add the melted margarine and pulse

again until they are all sticky.

Take a 9 inch pie pan and press the cookie mixture into the

Rinse out your food processor.

Melt your chocolate chips in a double boiler or microwave.

Take your food processor and place your silken tofu inside.

Pulse the tofu until smooth. Add the melted chocolate and

extract of your choice and process until the tofu and

chocolate incorporate.

Take your pie shell out of the freezer and pour your chocolate

pudding inside. Chill the pie until the pudding sets, about 4

hours. After that you can garnish it with your 5 remaining

oreo cookies. Cut the cookies in pieces and place around

the outside and put one piece in the center.