Vegan MoFo: Vegan Pet Food

Hey! It's Vegan MoFo Day 9!! I want to take a break from talking about vegan people and their foods, and talk about vegan pet food. I really want this to be more of a feedback kind of thing, because I don't yet have a very strong opinion on the topic, but I haven't really done a lot of research on it either.

I currently do not buy vegan cat food for my kitty cats. From what I understand, cats and dogs are omnivores by nature. I am not sure if it would be right for me to "force" my cats to be vegan. But, then again, I guess I am "forcing" my cats to live indoors with me in my apartment. So, I guess I'm torn. On one hand, I don't want to support the factory farming industry and companies that have unethical, unsustainable practices. I currently buy a natural pet food that is made with no fillers or factory farm meat products. But I must admit, every time I buy the food for my cats, I feel guilty about buying animal products. I know I don't necessarily need to feel guilt, since cats are not vegan by nature, but I just can't help it!

There are lots of articles and forums, including the PPK, on the internet that discuss this issue, and both pro- and anti-vegan pet food sides make good points. Both this Huffington Post article
and this IVU article got me really thinking a lot about this issue. What better place to discuss it than on my blog during Vegan MoFo?

My kitty cat companion, Stewie.

So what do you all think: should companion animals/pets be given vegan pet food?

Do you feed your pets vegan pet food?

I wanna hear your opinions!

Vegan MoFo: Pumpkin Bread!

It's already Day 8 of Vegan MoFo...I can't believe it! With such an awesome, rainy fall day like today, it was perfect weather for baking, drinking tea, and cuddling up with a nice book. Here's my recipe for pumpkin bread; I love love love it and I think you will too! I used pumpkin from a local pumpkin I roasted and pureed, as well as local whole wheat flour, but you could use canned pumpkin or regular all-purpose flour as well. I'm sure it would be great any way you try it!
Pumpkin Bread (makes 1 loaf)
Egg replacer for 2 eggs
1/4 cup sugar
2 Tbs canola oil
1/2 cup soymilk + 2 Tbs apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 1/2 cups pumpkin puree ( or 1 can of pumpkin)
3 cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 pinch each: nutmeg, allspice, cloves
1 Tbs baking soda
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350 F. Lightly oil a loaf pan and set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together the egg replacer, sugar, applesauce, soymilk mixture, and canola oil. Whisk vigorously until well mixed. Fold in the pumpkin puree. Sift in the dry ingredients and stir until just combined, being careful to not overmix. Fold in 3/4 c of the chopped pecans.
Pour the batter into the loaf pan, then sprinkle 1/4 cup pecans over the top. Bake for 1 hour, until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
Let rest in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out loaf onto a cooling rack to allow to cool completely.


So this pumpkin bread is super moist and flavorful and tasty. But it is even better when schmeared with this:PB and Co. Mighty Maple Peanut Butter!! It's like autumn in a nice little jar, ready to be eaten up! Of course, the PB is good on bananas, apples, toast, or a spoon, but believe me, these two are made for each other! Throw in a warm blanket and a mug of hot apple cider, and your fall dreams have come true!Not food-related, but here's a gratuitous shot of my kitties, Petey and Stewie! They're friends! Aren't they just soooo cute?!