Guest guest Posted November 20, 2007 Report Share Posted November 20, 2007 Courtesy of SFVS, Veggie Jews, " Pete Cohon " , and SF Gate. Vegan Vixens flash some skin in fight against meat! Thanksgiving morning: Slip from between the sheets and into an organic cotton string bikini of your own design. Slide your toes into a sexy pair of non-leather, kitten-heeled mules. Enter the kitchen. Take a deep bowl and drizzle a cup of sweet agave nectar over 1 pound of firm, silken tofu. Knead, gently, before adding nondairy cream cheese and organic pumpkin puree. Pour into a fluted vegan piecrust and bake in a hot, hot oven. " Serves six big pieces, " says Sky Valencia, founder of Vegan Vixens, of her Pumpkin Cheesecake Delight. " It's delicious, guilt-free and full of protein. " Even with vegetarianism on the rise in America, the Vegan Vixens' sexy, over-the-top style stands out. A 2003 Harris Interactive poll found that 2.8 percent of the U.S. adult population is vegetarian, representing a nearly .5 percent increase in three years when compared with 2000 U.S. Census statistics. Vegans are strict vegetarians who don't eat eggs or dairy products or wear leather. And if that sounds drab, that's exactly the image the Vixens intend to dispel. " We said, 'Let's be trendy and fun and show we're not a bunch of bark- eating girls,' " said Valencia, 43, a vivacious blonde who looks half her age. " We're fun, we like to party. " She and the other Vegan Vixens also want to show young women that it's possible to be slim and fit without purging. The present Vixen lineup includes: Kimmy Somers, 33, who works with disabled children; Sunny Subramanian, 26, a model; Jenae Noonan, 24, a schoolteacher. All are single, except for Somers, whose husband is a lawyer and a vegan. A fifth Vixen will be cast this month. The group is the brainchild of Valencia, a former Frederick's of Hollywood lingerie model who hails from Phoenix. Twenty years ago, she came west and joined Shock Baby, an all-girl heavy metal band that played the Sunset Strip club circuit. In 2004, Valencia launched the Vegan Vixens as a cable TV show specializing in vegan cooking tips and a zooming cleavage-cam. " At first, we were a little over-the-top with the sexpot image, " Valencia said with a laugh. The 10 original episodes, which still turn up on cable stations, also featured interviews with role-model vegans - basketball star John Salley, Poison drummer Rikki Rockett - animal rights activists and environmentalists, including Paul Watson of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. Watson now calls on the Vixens to attend local environmental-awareness events. " Vegan Vixens are kind of the activist sweethearts, " Valencia said. " We make it fun. We draw a crowd. " Most recently, they joined Watson, Martin Sheen and Ed Begley Jr. in a protest against harp seal hunting, held in front of the Canadian Consulate in Los Angeles. They are often guests at the Playboy Mansion West, where they went to Hugh Hefner's 80th birthday bash last spring. (Despite their efforts, Valencia reported, Hef has yet to adopt a vegan diet.) The Vixens are not preaching to the choir. Their mission is to educate the folks listening to Howard Stern, whose provocative show they've appeared on. " OK, we're sexy. Big deal, " Valencia said. " The people we're trying to reach aren't paying attention " to animal-rights issues. " If that means I have to run down the street naked to keep animals from being abused and boiled alive, I'll do it, " she said. " We're making a difference and that's all that matters to me. " Their contribution has been noted in official vegetarian circles. " I think they're great! " said Christine Vitale of the San Francisco Vegetarian Society. " They're appealing to the younger generation. They are getting attention; and that's good for the cause of vegetarianism, good for animal welfare and good for the planet. " It's more productive than a dull lecture on the perils of meat- eating, " she added. " People would rather hear about it from these hot young girls. " The Vixens hope to attract even more converts during the holiday season. " Thanksgiving is a great time for families and friends to get together, count our blessings and give thanks for this beautiful planet, " Valencia said. " Why celebrate by killing tens of thousands of turkeys? " The California Poultry Federation has not yet noticed the ire of the Vixens. " They sound funny - and they're not harming anybody, " said President Bill Mattos, who noted that turkey sales are up this year. That could change. With a handful of new projects in the works, the Vegan Vixens have momentum. The pilot of a brand-new reality TV show is being " shopped " to the networks. A rock video, soon up on YouTube, previews their forthcoming album of original tunes, including " Real Men Don't Hunt " and " Fishnets. " A pinup cookbook is planned, which will feature: " sexy photos with recipes, tips on the environment and how to be kind to animals. " A line of bikini bathing suits - made of organic cotton-and-bamboo fabric - is set to be launched and soon may be followed by a line of cruelty-free cosmetics. Early this month, the Vixens came to San Francisco to soak up inspiration at the Green Festival, a joint project of Global Exchange and Co-Op America. They brought copies of their new anti-dogfighting poster, in which they pose with adorable pit bull puppies. Valencia was inspired to reach out to kids who look up to sports stars after Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick pleaded guilty in August to federal dogfighting charges. " We want it to be in every man's locker room, in car garages and in teenagers' bedrooms, " Valencia said. The poster is available through their Web site - www.veganvixens.com - along with useful links and tips for identifying and anonymously reporting dog-fighting rings. Valencia has been committed to animal rights for decades. " I'm an only child, " she said, " so growing up, my dogs were my siblings. " In 1998, she and her mother, Mimi Valencia, started a nonprofit, St. Martin's Animal Foundation, north of Los Angeles, that is going strong today. " It's a sanctuary for homeless pit bulls and other abused animals who can live out their lives here, " she added. " A lot of them have been taught to be aggressive or they've been neglected, left on a chain in a yard over years. We rehabilitate the ones we can and adopt them out. " Puppies are fed a vegetarian diet, and at 6 months, they go vegan. When they're adopted, the new owners sign a contract promising to continue feeding the dog a vegan diet. " Our dogs rarely get sick, and their coats look great, " Valencia said. The foundation is named for Saint Martin de Porres, the Peruvian saint. " I spent my early years - from 1 to 5 - in Lima, Peru, with my grandmother. She told me about the saint who cared for animals. St. Martin was a kind soul. Everything that I want to be. " Resources To keep up with the Vegan Vixens - and to hear their theme song - go to www.veganvixens.com. The Vixens recommend -- Fabulous Furs: faux-fur coats ( www.fabulousfurs.com). -- Mink Shoes: non-leather shoes hand-made in Italy ( www.minkshoes.com). -- Moo Shoes: vegetarian shoes ( www.mooshoes.com). Vegetarian organizations -- San Francisco Vegetarian Society. Call (415) 273-5481 or go to www.sfvs.org. -- The Vegetarian Resource Group: www.vrg.org. -- Vegan Action: www.vegan.org. Anti-fur event Fur Free Friday 2007, an anti-fur exhibition and outreach event. Noon- 3 p.m. Friday, Union Square in San Francisco. For details, www.furkills.org; or call In Defense of Animals, (415) 388-9641. www.idausa.org. Vixens' Thanksgiving recipes Sky's Pumpkin Cheesecake Delight 1 cup canned organic pumpkin 12 ounces firm silken tofu 3 teaspoons flour 1 cup agave syrup 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg 8 ounces non-dairy cream cheese 1/8 teaspoon baking soda Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Blend the mixture well and pour into a ready-made vegan pie crust. Bake 45-50 minutes. Allow to cool. (Cover and refrigerate overnight.) Kim's Groovy Gravy 1/2 cup mushrooms, chopped. 1/2 cup onion, chopped 2 tablespoons flour 1 cup organic veggie broth 1 teaspoon garlic powder Sea salt to taste 1 1/2 tablespoons margarine Saute onions and mushrooms until lightly brown. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir with a wooden spoon until it thickens. Sunny's Muffin Madness 1 1/2 cup yellow corn meal 1/4 cup vegetable oil (not olive) 1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour 1 tablespoon baking powder (non-aluminum) 1 cup agave or maple syrup 1/2 teaspoon sea salt 1 1/4 cup organic soy milk Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix liquid and dry ingredients in separate bowls. Combine and pour into muffin pan (greased with a little oil). Bake 20 minutes. Jenae's Smashing Mashed Potatoes 5-6 large potatoes, peeled, boiled and cooled 1 cup vegetarian mayonnaise 2 tablespoons vegetarian whipped margarine Sea salt to taste 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon rosemary Mash everything together and reheat until warm and ready to serve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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