PETA Global 2019 Issue 4

Holiday Roast: Nutmeg and Spice and Everything Nice

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v-dog photo: © Courtesy of v-dog

Makes 6 servings

• Wrap the dough in a piece of cheesecloth, twist the ends

Close Call Save Your Dog’s Life?

• T r y t o R e l a t e t o W h o ’ s o n Y o u r P l a t e • T r y t o R e l a t e t o W h o ’ s o n Y o u r P l a t e

YOU’LL NEED 1 /4 cup + 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil

tightly, then secure each end with cooking string. Place in a deep baking dish. Add the Roasting Mix and bake for 2 hours on the bottom rack, turning the roast halfway through. • Remove from the oven. Allow to cool then remove the cheesecloth. If making the roast in advance, keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. • An hour before serving, roll out the puff pastry to 1 /8-inch thickness.

1 onion, finely chopped 1 leek, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, crushed 1 tsp. salt 1 tsp. pepper Pinch cinnamon Pinch allspice Pinch paprika Pinch ground nutmeg 1 Tbsp. dried sage 2 tsp. dried rosemary

Zorro was miserable. His chronic Lyme disease was not responding to antibiotics, and his joints were inflamed and aching, sometimes swelling to the size of a golf ball. Unable to bear watching their beloved dog suffer, his guardians contemplated euthanasia. But before going that route, they got a second opinion from a veterinarian who “prescribed” a surprising remedy: a homemade vegan diet.

Just reading this probably makes you want to hide under the couch.

But is it really “natural” for dogs to go vegan? While the pet food companies that sell you 4-D products hawk meat-heavy, “grain-free” kibble and canned dog food, a recent study found that domesticated dogs have actually evolved to digest grains. As for their wild cousins, coyotes in California are renowned for snacking on apricots, peaches, plums, and other fruits. And foxes like to graze, too: When fruits are in season, they can account for more than half of a red fox’s diet. “For dogs, it is not only possible to eat much lower on the food chain, it’s a good idea.” – Richard H. Pitcairn, D.V.M. Researchers at the University of Winchester’s Centre for Animal Welfare note that “population studies and case reports have indicated that cats and dogs maintained on vegetarian diets … may experience a range of health benefits.” One of the world’s oldest dogs, a border collie named Bramble, lived to at least age 27 on homemade vegan food based on lentils and rice. Care about the environment? One study estimated that dogs and cats eat 25% of all animal-derived calories in the US and rank fifth in global meat consumption, and feeding them could account for up to 64 million tons of greenhouse-gas emissions annually. Care about other animals? Feeding our animal companions vegan meals means breaking our last link to a violent, destructive industry that abuses and slaughters billions of sentient beings every year, each one “as conscious, sensitive and emotional as that dog or cat sitting by our side,” as veterinarian Richard Pitcairn put it.

Place the roast in the center. On each side, cut 1 /4-inch-wide strips into the pastry at a 90-degree angle away from the roast. Spread the Cranberry and Orange Sauce over the roast. Lay each strip of puff pastry over the top of the roast, alternating sides, until the roast is completely covered, creating a lattice effect. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet. • Combine the maple syrup, nondairy milk, and remaining oil in a small bowl then brush over the top of the pastry. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown. • Remove from the oven and serve with vegan gravy.

1 /4 cup dried cranberries, finely chopped 1 /2 cup dried apricots, finely chopped 1 cup peeled and cooked chestnuts, finely chopped 1 cup apple cider 1 cup vegetable stock 1 Tbsp. miso paste 2 1 /4 cups wheat gluten 3 Tbsp. chickpea flour Spice Rub (recipe follows) Roasting Mix (recipe follows) 1 pkg. vegan puff pastry, thawed 1 /4 cup Cranberry and Orange Sauce (recipe follows) Vegan roast: © Simon Smith • Bubbles background: © iStock.com/Anselm Baumgart • Christmas hat: © iStock.com/ZaharovEvgeniy METHOD • Heat 2 tablespoonfuls of the oil in a nonstick frying pan. Add the onion, leek, garlic, seasonings, and dried herbs and cook over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes. • Add the cranberries, apricots, and chestnuts and cook for 3 to 4 more minutes. Pour in the cider and vegetable stock then add the miso paste. Stir well then simmer for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow to cool. • Combine the wheat gluten and chickpea flour in a large bowl. Add the mixture from the frying pan and stir until a soft dough forms. Add more chickpea flour if the dough is too wet. • Transfer the dough to a clean work surface and knead for 10 minutes. Set aside. • Preheat the oven to 340°F/170°C. Shape the dough into a log 4 inches in diameter. Sprinkle the Savory Spice Rub onto your work surface. Roll the dough in the rub until evenly coated. 3 Tbsp. maple syrup 3 Tbsp. nondairy milk

That’s when something amazing happened: Zorro got better!

1 Tbsp. miso paste 2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar 1 orange, sliced 1 onion, cut into quarters 2 cloves garlic 1 bay leaf Handful fresh thyme Handful rosemary sprigs

It should come as no surprise that eating wholesome vegan foods can improve dogs’ health. Most dog food is made from flesh and tissue in the 4-D bin (dead, dying, diseased, and disabled) marked “unfit for human consumption” at slaughterhouses. Even the rendered bodies of euthanized dogs and cats can wind up in pet food. And in addition to the hormones, pesticides, antibiotics, and disease-causing bacteria in animal-derived ingredients, supermarket pet foods are often full of artificial preservatives and colors.

PETA Business Friend v-dog makes a variety of vegan dog foods that are served up to animals helped by PETA’s fieldworkers.

Savory Spice Rub Makes about 1½ tablespoons

METHOD • Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl.

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YOU’LL NEED 1 tsp. cayenne pepper 1 tsp. allspice 1 tsp. dried sage 1 tsp. dried rosemary 1 tsp. dried tarragon

Who’s a Good Boy? Every dog deserves a little something special – check out the goodies at PETA.org/Store .

Cranberry and Orange Sauce Makes about 1½ cups

YOU’LL NEED 3 cups fresh cranberries 1 tsp. grated fresh ginger 1 cinnamon stick 1 apple, grated

METHOD • Combine all the ingredients in a small dish.

So, there you have it: Not only can dogs be vegan, they can even thrive as vegans while helping the planet and other inhabitants as well.

1 cup caster sugar 1 cup orange juice

Adapted from Vegan Christmas by Gaz Oakley, available at PETA.org/Store

Take Action Now Check out the vegan recipes for dog food, including one based on Bramble’s diet, in

Roasting Mix Makes about 3½ cups YOU’LL NEED 1 cup apple cider 2 cups vegetable stock

METHOD • Add all the ingredients to a saucepan and cook over low heat with the lid on for 15 minutes, stirring often. • Remove from the heat and allow to cool. Discard the cinnamon stick. Store in a sterilized glass jar in the refrigerator for up 4 weeks.

Dr. Pitcairn’s Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats. And find a list of vegan dog-food manufacturers and other tips on healthy vegan diets for dogs at PETA.org/VeganDogs .

Global 13

12 PEAS ON EARTH