What Will You Be Grilling This 4th of July? June 30, 2009

Posted by Marta at June 30, 2009 1:11 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 18 ) | TrackBack

I dream about BBQs. Seriously—there is absolutely no better way to spend a Saturday afternoon with friends and family! From chilling out on my parents' deck back in Cali with teriyaki-marinated veggie skewers on the grill to lounging in my friends' backyard here in VA with the delicious scent of veggie dogs and faux chicken burgers wafting at me from the grill, life just doesn't get any better.

Of course, things can sometimes get a tad uncomfortable with people scarfing down animals left and right around you—which is why I'm bringing you peta2's tips for surviving (and loving) 4th of July:

• Be prepared. Don't just sit around complaining that there's not going to be anything you can eat at your family's BBQ. Get off your butt and go to the store to get all your fave fixins.
• Sharing is caring. People love vegan food—most people just don't know how much they love it yet, so be sure to make enough of your deliciousness for others to devour too.
• Don't bring your fightin' face to the party. You may feel defensive and people might try to give you a hard time, but you are so much stronger than that. Show them that just because you don't eat meat doesn't mean you're an angry person who is going to snap at any minute.
• Eat until your heart's content. If you've got more sway with the menu, the possibilities are endless: grilled potatoes, veggie dogs & burgers, potato salad, vegan coleslaw, baked beans, huge chunks of watermelon, lots of chips and dip, black bean and corn salad, grilled garlic bread, and one of my personal favorites: grilled corn on the cob.

Corn on the cob and veggie burgers!

And if you're in the mood for something new, here are a few tasty recipes to try out:

• BBQ Tempeh Sandwiches Topped With Multicolor Slaw
• Grilled Portobello Mushroom Steaks
• Grilled Asparagus

Now lately, I've been thinking more and more about the best topping for veggie burgers. Some faves of mine include sautéed spinach and onions or BBQ sauce with onion rings. What's your preference? Let me know, so I can try it out!

Memorial Day Eats May 21, 2009

Posted by Marta at May 21, 2009 11:51 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 4 ) | TrackBack

Memorial Day is coming up quickly, and you know we like to make sure you're always prepared! Memorial Day and BBQs pretty much go hand-in-hand, and though for some people that means meat, I have a bunch of delicious, easy, vegan (and in my opinion, better) suggestions for you. Here are a few of my personal favorites to toss on the grill:

• Veggie dogs & faux chicken burgers
• BBQ sauce-marinated tofu
• Corn on the cob
• Kebabs with pineapple, orange bell peppers, tofu, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, red onions, and zucchini
• Asparagus or Potatoes

And a few other ideas of what to dish up:

• Vegetarian baked beans
• A giant bowl of fruit salad
• Chips with salsa, guacamole, hummus, or all three!
• Black bean and corn salad
• Cole slaw

Memorial Day just wouldn't be complete without potato salad though, so check out this recipe from PETA's Vegan College Cookbook!

German 'Tato Salad

Even if you can't get to the beer garden, you can be an honorary German year-round with this tasty concoction of 'taters and mustard.

2 lbs. red potatoes
1/2 cup chopped chives
1 cup vegan bacon bits (you can find this at basically any grocery store)
6 tablespoons vinegar
1/3 cup vegetable oil
3 tablespoons brown mustard
Salt and pepper, to taste

Wash the potatoes and stab them with a fork (to vent). Place in microwave for 5 minutes or until tender. You should be able to easily stick a fork in them, but they shouldn't fall apart. Cut into cubes. In a large bowl, mix together the bacon bits, chives, vinegar, oil, and mustard. Toss the potatoes into the bowl and mix until the potatoes are well-coated. Add salt and pepper.

Makes 4 servings.

What's your favorite food to eat at a BBQ?

Vegan Tailgating for Dummies! September 3, 2008

Posted by Ryan at September 3, 2008 4:28 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 ) | TrackBack

Tailgating: It's a tradition as old as sitting in the back of a truck 4 hours before kickoff.

Whether you're just hanging out with friends before the big game, or getting to the Rise Against show super-early to catch a glimpse of those oh-so-cool peta2 staffers setting up their booth, there's never been a better time to show people just how delicious and fun vegan BBQ's can be!

Typical tailgaters (compliments of Flickr/Creative Commons)
So what do you need to tailgate vegan style? Here are some must-have items:

• A solid grill (or an engine to cook on, if you're hardcore)


• Some BBQ-friendly mock meats (think Tofurky sausages, Gardenburger riblets, faux chicken sandwiches, etc.)


• Liquid Smoke! This single ingredient could make or break your BBQ, so don't forget it!


• A cooler full of your favorite drinks (for me, that means vegan root beer floats!)


• The new vegan Doritos!


• Friends (hey, that's what message boards are for!)

So remember, even if you can't tell the difference between a football and a falafel, doesn't mean you can't pre-game with the best of 'em.

Go local sports team go!

- Ryan!

Free Stuff Friday - Limited Edition Veggie Dog T-Shirt! July 4, 2008

Posted by Ryan at July 4, 2008 1:19 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 190 ) | TrackBack

Leave it to the remarkably unique city of Austin to host a massive veggie dog eating contest deep in the heart of Texas. This is the same legendary town that boasts a team of vegan firefighters, student groups that table dressed as zombies, and even hosted a peta2 Take Action Conference.

I guess it shouldn't be surprising then that in this oasis of veganism, nearly 300 locals showed up to chow down on LightLife Tofu Pups and vegan ice cream from a local company called NadaMoo!

This year's winner? Spencer "Tree" Lockwood, who proudly consumed 21 veggie dogs!

Pictures taken by Ann Harkness



So to celebrate this tremendous accomplishment, and in recognition of the 4th of July, how about a contest??

Comment below with your favorite veggie dog toppings. The person with the most delicious-sounding toppings will earn a limited edition t-shirt from the contest.



I'll start! I would make a Hawaiian veggie dog, covering it in pineapple, veggie "ham", and BBQ sauce! Go ahead, try to beat that!

- Ryan!

P.S. - This contest ends July 18, 2008 and the winner will be chosen and notified by July 25, 2008!

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It's Almost Father's Day! June 10, 2008

Posted by Ryan at June 10, 2008 6:34 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 2 ) | TrackBack

It's the most wonderful time of the year! No, I haven't lost my marbles and fallen into the Christmas spirit 6 months early (unlike some peta2 staffers). Father's Day is this Sunday!

Now's the time to fire up the grill, carve out Dad's favorite groove in the couch, and to celebrate the man who helped you exist! For me, that would be this guy:

So what are you going to do with the Pops this Sunday? Here are some tips from your favorite sons and daughters in peta2:

1. Send him PETA's "Happy Father's Day" e-card!



2. Hold a vegan BBQ in his honor, with veggie burgers and Gardenburger riblets for all!



3. Build a bird house for the backyard!



4. Spend the day outdoors, canoeing, hiking, or camping (just watch out for the crazy hunters and fisherman!)

Remember: This is the time to redeem yourself for all of those awful parent-teacher conferences Dad's been forced to attend throughout the year, and those countless years of giving him hammers and screwdrivers for his birthday, so you had better make this one count!

- Ryan!

BBQ and Baseball July 3, 2007

Posted by Marta at July 3, 2007 1:34 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 2 ) | TrackBack

With the 4th of July almost upon us, the smell of grilled flesh can be found everywhere and let's face it—it's downright nasty for vegetarians. However, if you're as lucky as I am, you'll be spending tomorrow at all all-vegan BBQ. Okay, so I totally realize that not that many people are as lucky as I am, so that's why you gotta show those meat-eaters just how delectable veggie food can be. If you're going to a cook-out tomorrow, make sure to bring along some Gardenburger Riblets, a few Boca burgers, or some Tofurky 'Foot Long' Veggie Dogs for all to enjoy. Or try whipping up some veggie kebabs with zucchini, tomatoes, onions, pineapple, eggplant, mushrooms, potatoes, and peppers, slathered up in a juicy marinade.

If you're feeling fancy, throw on your 'Kiss the Cook' apron and get started on some other summer grilling recipes here. Yum, yum. My stomach is rumbling just thinking about the delicious food I will be consuming tomorrow.

Speaking of delicious cook-out food, guess what?! I ate my first-ever veggie dog at a Norfolk Tides baseball game last weekend! I know, I was totally behind-the-times, but I was very, very apprehensive about trying one after I found a bone in a real hot dog when I was little. So gross! Needless to say, after the rave reviews from all of my friends, I bought a veggie dog and piled on the ketchup, mustard, onions, relish, and sauerkraut, and it was absolutely delicious! Here's a shot of me at the game with just a bite left (and in case you're wondering—yes, I did manage to get mustard all over my ring):


There are tons of veg-friendly ball parks out there—PETA even compiles a list every year of the Top 10 Veg-Friendly Ball Parks. Check out last year's list here, and if you live near one of the ball parks, then you need to buy some tickets, chow down on veggie dogs and vegetarian sushi (yeah, so random!), and thank me later for your day of fun.

Happy 4th of July (or Happy Tomorrow, for the many of you not in the US!), and keep your eye on the blog—cause I just might post some mouth-watering post-BBQ photos for you on Thursday!

♥ Marta

PS - There are rumors flying about that the Stars and Stripes Starkiss Bar from Dairy Queen is non-dairy and yummy. Has anyone tried it?