Dinner Out this Saturday!

We've settled on a time and location for dinner Sat. night - 6:00 at Annie's Cambodian (across from Renner on 5th Street just before you head North out of Eureka). Those who will be attending, could you please give me one final RSVP so I can get a head count to the restaurant? Thanks!

Valerie's "Don't Be A Jerk" Black Bean Chili Recipe

Thanks so much to all who attended our second annual vegan chili cookoff last Sunday!

Here's the recipe for the chili that won the "best overall" prize. Enjoy, and thanks Valerie for sharing!

"Don't Be A Jerk" Black Bean Chili

4 large onions, finely chopped

1 large green or red bell pepper, seeded and chopped

3 Tbls olive oil

1 Tbls each mustard powder and chili powder

¼ tsp cumin

1- 15 oz can diced tomatoes

3- 15 oz cans low sodium black beans (drained and rinsed) and 1 cup veggie “chicken” broth

1 6 oz. can tomato paste

½ of a 13.5 oz can coconut milk

Jerk sauce mixture

3 tsp ground allspice

1 Tbls ground chipoltle peppers

3 Tbls tamari (or soy sauce)

3 large cloves garlic

2-3 green onions, chopped

1 ½ tsp dried thyme

2 tsp fresh ginger, chopped

2 tsp salt

2 tsp black pepper

¼ tsp nutmeg

½ tsp ground cinnamon

½ cup olive oil

¼ cup maple syrup(can also use raw cane or coconut sugar)

Flesh of 1 mango, chopped

In a 5 or 6 quart kettle, cook onions and green pepper in oil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally until the onions are golden and the green pepper is soft.

Add mustard powder and cook, stirring for one minute. Add chili powder, cumin, tomatoes with their liquid, beans, “chicken” broth and tomato paste . Stir until well blended.

Bring to a boil and then turn down heat to low and simmer, covered for about 15 minutes.

While chili is simmering, place all Jerk sauce ingredients in a blender and blend until completely smooth. Then carefully poor into chili mixture on the stove and stir until totally mixed in. Then add coconut milk and stir until completely incorporated. The color may seem a little odd at first. But it will darken after it cooks for a while.

Simmer with the pot partially, uncovered for about an hour. Stir often to keep it from scorching. Serve with your favorite chili toppings.

Note: Like most dishes of this nature, the longer it simmers, the more flavorful it becomes. If you have the day to spare, let this simmer on a very low temperature for several hours and it will be well worth it!

March Event: 2nd Annual Vegan Chili Cook-Off

It's time once again for our (now officially) annual chili cook-off! Prizes will be awarded in several categories.

Please bring either a pot of chili or a complimentary side dish. (cornbread, salad, etc.) or dessert.

Please make sure that anything you bring is vegan. ( no meat, dairy, eggs, honey, gelatin, etc.)

When: Sunday, March 20th. 2:30-5:30pm

Where: Humboldt Area Foundation, 373 Indianola Road, Bayside, CA

February Potluck

Hey everyone, Valerie here!

So my husband Marc and I are hosting the next potluck at our place next Saturday, February 19th, at 4pm.

We'll be having a discussion on the different motivations for animal rights and the vegetarian lifestyle from both the non-religious perspectives and those of the many world religions.

I'll show the short film, "Eating Mercifully", from the Humane Society as a kind of jumping off point for discussion. You can also watch a 7 minute trailer here:

http://www.humanesociety.org/about/departments/faith/tips/eating_mercifully_resources.html

This is a time of open sharing. Everyone's opinion is welcome and encouraged without judgment.

As always, please bring a tasty vegan dish to share. No meat, dairy, eggs, honey, etc.

Email me for directions. vsimone316@yahoo.com

Upcoming Events - January/February

Hello friends,

I hope you all had an excellent holiday season and are settling in nicely to the start of 2011! After a short hiatus, the Humboldt Vegetarian Society is back in full swing and ready to host some fun events...

On Friday, January 28th, some of us are going out to dinner (sans kids) - we haven't decided for sure yet where we're going but I think we have it narrowed down to either Bless My Soul or Restaurant Hana (both in Eureka). If you'd like to join us, let me know and I will keep you apprised of the details as they firm up next week.

And on Sunday, February 6th, we have a really cool event planned - it will be a free fair trade chocolate tasting and screening of the film 'The Dark Side of Chocolate', which investigates allegations of child slavery in chocolate production on the Ivory Coast. You don't need to bring anything - just your sweet tooth and an open mind - we'll provide fair trade chocolate snacks, coffee, and tea to enjoy while we watch the film, which I believe runs for about an hour. I'm also trying to line up a guest speaker from Sjaaks Chocolates, though that has not yet been confirmed (if it doesn't pan out you're just going to be stuck listening to me). The event will start at 2:00 in the afternoon and will, as usual, be held at the Humboldt Area Foundation Community Center at the intersection of Indianola Road and Indianola Cutoff in Bayside.

If you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions, please let me know, and I hope to see many of you at one or both of these upcoming events.

Take care.

Tamara

2011 Schedule of Events

Exact dates are yet to be determined, but we've put together a tentative outline of Humboldt Vegetarian Society events for 2011 -

January 2011

• Adults' dinner out
• Fair trade chocolate tasting and screening of 'The Dark Side of Chocolate' (late January or early February)
  

February 2011

• Potluck (and film screening?) hosted by Valerie in Eureka
  

March 2011

• Vegan chili cook-off at the HAF Community Center
  

April 2011

• Adults' dinner out
• Outreach event - distribute vegan hot chocolate and vegan literature in front of the Arcata Co-op
  

May 2011

• Potluck and film screening (possibly The Cove) at the HAF Community Center

June 2011

• Vegan picnic (possibly at the pump station East of Arcata)
  

July 2011

• Potluck and speaker at the HAF Community Center
  

August 2011

• Vegan ice cream party hosted by Tamara in Bayside
  

September 2011

• Local foods themed potluck at the HAF Community Center
  
• Possible cooking class with Jennifer Raymond, either in combination with the potluck or on a different day

October 2011

• Adults' dinner out
  
• Potluck hosted by Heather in Eureka
  

November 2011

• Vegan Thanksgiving at the HAF Community Center
  

December 2011

• ???

If anyone has ideas for additional projects or events, please feel free to organize something using either our Yahoo group and/or Facebook page.

Vegan Thanksgiving!

Please join us for a truly happy turkey day celebration!

Vegan Thanksgiving Potluck
Sunday, November 21st, 2:00
Humboldt Area Foundation Community Center
(Indianola Cutoff in Bayside, between Eureka and Arcata)

Questions? Email us.