Living Vegan magazine : Issue 05, 2013

It is back! After a long hiatus, this Australian vegan magazine is finally back! Inside, there is an apology for its lateness and a statement that one more issue will be coming out for 2013 and then back to 4 issues a year for 2014. 

So what is in this latest issue? Lets's see...the cover is related to the main article of this issue - the misleading 'free range' label and RSPCA approved pig farms and what a fraud they really are. Enough in there to open eyes and propel us to action. 

Then on the flipside is a piece about Australia's first ever vegan bnb BedandBroccoli, which we had the pleasure of staying at for a few days recently. (Stay tuned for a full review coming soon.)

The Vegan Cheatsheet is back and even bigger than before. Listed are food products and other items that are vegan suitable and where you can buy them, including mainstream shops and supermarkets. This cheatsheet is very useful to have on hand when grocery shopping because it helps cut back on time spent studying ingredients lists and directs you to products that you may have reject offhand in the past, as not being vegan. 

There are interviews with vegan cyclist Robin Tullett and Lee Coates from Cruelty Free Super, plus lots more, including a recipe section.

To get a copy, or a subscription, visit the Living Vegan Magazine website.

Magazine: Living Vegan (Spring 2012)

I am waaaaay overdue with my review of this issue. It came out months ago! Naughty me. But then, this is still the latest issue out there, so I am not the only one lagging behind. (Ahem. Would like to see another issue soon, Living Vegan!)

Anyway, this issue contains the contentious topic of  "Is palm oil vegan?". Both sides of that are argument are presented.

There is also an interview with Lindsay McDougall, former Frenzal Rhomb lead guitarist and current Triple J DJ, who talks about his veganism.

Following that, there is an feature on the "Animals are not ours" protest that happened in central Melbourne, complete with some pretty damn powerful photos taken on the day.

Another interview is included - this time with Lee Coates from Cruelty Free Super .

Towards the back is an article on cruelty free beauty, plus all the regular segments like the Recipes page, competitions, "Vegan Spy" page, and much more. The content is heavily Australian based, as are the advertisements, which is great.

If you wish to buy one issue or to subscribe for a year, you can do so via here.

Magazine: Living Vegan (Winter 2012)

This is the third issue of this Australian vegan magazine, and what a colourful one it is. Just check out the cover, which features the amazing rainbow cake that won in the 'sweet cakes category' of the Vegan Bake Off competition which was organized by Animal Liberation Victoria. An article and more photos of entries are featured in this issue of the magazine.

In this issue, you can also read an interview with Australian model, Amanda Rootsey who is not only a vegan but also one of the people behind the Vegan Card, which offers discounts from over 60 vegan friendly businesses around Australia.

There is also an interview with vegan photographer Jo-Anne McArthur, who is involved with the project "We Animals", and an article about the ALV's lockdown at a battery hen factory factory where cruelty and suffering was occurring.

There are brief articles on juicing and on durians (sorry, but yuck!), plus the regular features such as the Armchair Activist and the Recipe Corner (my partner wants to try out the Party Sausage Rolls).

There really is much more in this issue than what I have briefly covered here, so I strongly recommend that get yourself a subscription to this magazine. Check out their website on how to do that.

Recipe: Coconut Creme Brulee

Whilst reading cover-to-cover an issue of the excellent Australian magazine‘Living Vegan’ I came across this dessert recipe and thought I’d give it a go. The recipe originally featured in a cookbook called

“Vegan Cooking – Recipes for a Peaceful World” by Amanda Quinn and Diipali Lilburne.

 Now, I don’t own one of those hand held mini torches you need to melt sugar over the top of each serving, to give that golden, toffee effect, so I approach this recipe as if it were a pudding.  The results were mixed.  In regards to flavor, this recipe is on a winner. It is its texture where the problem lies. I found it too be a bit too firm. The word ‘rubbery’ comes to mind, when it was ‘creamy’ that I was hoping for.

So, the next time I give this one a go, I shall aim to perhaps reduce the amount of corn flour I use and for how long I cook it for.  Below, I have shared the original recipe (with a few minor changes) but if you feel your results are like mine, perhaps try the suggestions above next time you give it a go.

What you will need:

Quarter cup soy or rice milk

Quarter cup corn flour/starch

2 cans coconut milk

Half cup sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

Half tsp ground ginger

Half tsp ground nutmeg

Seeds scraped from 1 vanilla bean (Or a drop of two of vanilla essence – that is what I used.)

Method:

Mix together soy/rice milk and corn flour/starch. Use fork and be thorough.

In a saucepan, whisk together coconut milk, sugar, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg, and  heat over medium heat until boiling. Reduce heat and slowly add corn flour/starch mixture. Whisk continuously as mixture cooks and thickens. This should take no more than 5 minutes. Turn off heat and mix in vanilla.

Place into serving dishes/glasses and let cool for about 15 minutes.  Then place in refrigerator for 8 hours or overnight before serving.

If you are going to do the torching step, read on:

One hour before serving, remove from fridge. Sprinkle small amount of sugar onto each serving and give a little shake so the sugar grains spread evenly. (About 2 tsp for each dish should do.)

Hold torch 5-7 cms away from surface and melt sugar until it bubbles and turns slightly golden in colour. Move torch back and forth continuously so that brulee does not burn.  Let cool for a few minutes and then serve.

Magazine: Living Vegan (Autumn 2012)

Back last November, I got my hands on the very first issue of this Australian publication. Since then, my partner purchased a subscription to it and the second issue arrived in the mail.

Like the first issue, I read this cover to cover and studied all the ads carefully to see what was new. I read about vegan athletes (yes, including body builders) and was very impressed. Talk about blowing the lank vegan weakling image out of the water! "Where do you get your protein?" - has never before been a dumber question to ask a vegan!

I also read about vegan tattoos - not designs, but the actual issue of inks and after care being vegan. Turns out quite a bit out there is NOT vegan, so you need to do your homework first. Although I have no future plans to get inked, at least now I am informed, in case I do want to be!

I got a little thrill from seeing a photo of some of my friends in the nationwide wrap up of the vegan festivals that happened around Australia late last year. So good to see so much going on!

The helpful Vegan Cheat Sheet was back, with some new additions. The Recipe Corner had my mouth watering (especially the 'Coconut Creme Brulee' - will have to give that one a go!)

Also in this issue is an article written by a participant in the opposition of the opening of duck shooting season in Victoria. Sad, dangerous and harrowing at times. The article gives the reader a first hand perspective of what goes on there, year after year, and an appreciation of what these brave people are up against.

Of course, there is much more in this issue. If you are interested in getting your hands on a copy, check out Living Vegan Magazine online for subscription details or, if you are in Western Australia, you can become a member of member of Animal Rights Advocates and receive a subscription as part of your membership.

I can't wait for the next issue!

Living Vegan - Magazine Review

There is a new Australian vegan magazine out called  Living vegan and I have to say that I loved the first issue. For once, I read a magazine from cover to cover and actually found the ads just as interesting! I don't think there was one word in this magazine that I did not read. And all the content is relevant to Australians.

In this first issue are interviews with vegans, information of vegan businesses and organizations, a related movie review, an animal rescue story, general articles, product reviews, recipes, and lots of gorgeous photography of animals, food and vegans. By far, my favourite part of this issue is the 'Vegan Cheat Sheet', which is a double sided sheet you photocopy and tuck into your wallet. It lists a whole lot of products from food to cleaning to hygiene products,  that are vegan, including a list of those dreaded 'E numbers'. My partner and i have already been using this list whilst shopping in supermarkets and it has made life a lot easier by reducing the amount of time we have to spend peering at ingredients lists and wonder what was what. Word is that this cheat sheet will be expanded upon in the next issue.

The magazine is a quarterly and if you are a member of ALV, ARA, Uproar or Vegan Society of NSW, you will get it as part of your membership. Otherwise you can subscribe directly via the magazine's webpage.

Whether you are an Australian long term or new vegan, a vegetarian or just mildly curious, I would definitely recommend this magazine! I can't wait for the next issue.