Stepping Out with Elizabeth Olsen

On tonight's episode of Bravo's The Fashion Show, designer's will be challenged to create a vegan design inspired by, my personal favorites, OlsenHaus Pure Vegan.



After the show, airing tonight at 10:00 pm on Bravo, don't forget to go online for a chance to buy tonight's winning look.

The Power of SLAPP To Shut Quebecers Up

Last week, I wrote a story for Rush PR News that everyone, in and outside of Canada, needs to read: The Power of SLAPP To Shut Quebecers Up.

According to sources, former employees of the Quebec municipal pound Inspecteur Canin detailed the inhumane euthanization procedure--which entails gruesomly gassing dogs while still conscious, and storing them in refrigerator containers afterwards. On several occasions, dogs survived the whole procedure only to be incinerated.

These are "lost" dogs that have been picked up, and who weren't able to be resold.

If you don't know about the practice of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation, which are still perfectly legal in every province in Canada, I urge you to read on.

Please support those being dragged through the court system unjustly and demand that your Provincial or State governments to pass anti-SLAPP legislation.

A Mother's Day Mother-of- a- Feast

I just discovered a monthly blogging event--Tried and Tasted. I decided, in honor of Mother's Day, to take part.

Well, that's not entirely accurate. We were having a Mother's Day BBQ, and I, being the only vegan, was put in charge of bringing vegan-fare. Looking for the right excuse to try some of these new recipes out, as I haven't had much time for culinary experiments the last few weeks, I thought this was the opportunity I've been needing.

Tried and Tasted is the concept of Zuzana of Zlamushka's Spicy Kitchen. This month, it is being hosted by Vaishali of Holy Cow!, and the blog of choice is FatFree Vegan Kitchen. This being for a BBQ, and with main course and desert covered, I decided on side-dish recipes.

Both received rave reviews from everyone at the table, including my two-year old nephew who is a notoriously picky eater.

The Spicy Carrot Salad was such an easy, perfect springtime salad. I made a few adjustments, based solely on availabilities of ingredients. First, searching high and low, I was unsuccessful in locating my mandolin. I instead used two bags of shredded carrots. Second, I couldn't find flax seeds at my closest grocery-store, which is generally lacking, so added a small amount of olive oil to help emulsify the dressing. Third, I substituted pine nuts for the walnuts.

All in all, the salad was a nice mix of crunch, tang, and spice. This recipe has been added to my go-to roster, and I'm already imagining different variations--adding plump raisins, perhaps a lemon-dill vinaigrette. I might just have to plant a carrot garden.

The Asparagus Pesto Salad was delicious. I wouldn't change a thing and cannot wait to incorporate this pesto, and the ideas it is spawning, into my weekly round-up. In fact, I have a little pesto left over that's just calling my name. The only change I made was choosing a cavatappi instead of penne--a strange craving that I won't even try to understand.

My first foray into Susan's FatFree Vegan Kitchen recipe book was a great success! Next up, this incredible looking Coconut Chai Breakfast Cake.

European Union Bans Canadian Seal Product Imports

Big news today, especially in Quebec. The European Parliament announced the passing of a bill banning the imports of all seal products. This includes skins used for fur coats, meat, oil blubber, organs, and omega-3 pills made from seal oil.

One more reason to read labels.

Notably, the bill declared the Canadian seal hunt as "inherently inhumane". Individual European Union member governments still need to approve the bill, however, according to most reports, this is expected to be nothing more than a formality.

The Canadian commercial seal hunt industry vowed to seek out and open new markets for their products.

To learn more about the violence of commercial seal hunting and what you can do to stop it, visit the HSUS' ProtectSeals team.