Ok, so you know you need to buy stuff for your vegan, eco-conscious, fair-trade-loving wackjob friend or relative, but you’re kinda not sure what they’ll find acceptable without discreetly placing your gift on the floor and ignoring it.  Or, you ARE one of those wackjobs (like me) and are looking for said alternatives to those general things everyone likes or needs.  If this is your holiday shopping predicament, then read on to absolve yourself of guilt (in the true spirit of the holidays) and replace it with ethical (and dare I say snazzy)!

Dog from The Playful World Photo By Planet Happy

1. Children’s: Let’s start with the babies and young’uns!  A company called Planet Happy sells just about everything, from blocks and toys to books and puzzles to musical instruments.  Check this cute, organic hand-puppet dog from The Playful World, a women’s artisan cooperative from Peru, or the Arctic Expedition Ship Set, both a toy and a puzzle.  Planet Happy has a conscience as well.  From their site: “… all of our products fall into at least one of the following categories: all natural, organic, fairly traded, green (environmental awareness), responsible (labor), and multi-use.”  You’ll want to bookmark this site for years to come.

Herbivore's Eat Like You Give a Damn from www.mooshoes.com

2. Apparel: Clothing is always fun to give and receive, so Herbivore Clothing is a great source for cool, conscious vegan apparel.  Their designs are all engaging, each with its own message of action, and will aesthetically please anyone, vegan or no.  See the Eat Like You Give a Damn tee or The Deathless Cardigan.  They also make nifty stickers and buttons and sell quite a few books and magazines on vegan issues and cooking.  This cornucopia of progressive fashion and information is just waiting for you to make someone’s holiday absolutely fabulous.  Waiting…

Ponci Peacock Handpainted Sneakers www.autonomieproject.com

3. Vegan Shoes: What better to complete a fashionable vegan ensemble than the perfect pair of rad shoes?  Look no further than MooShoes NYC.  Their homepage says it all: “We proudly offer the largest variety of vegan shoes and accessories in the world.”  The variety of accessories they offer is impressive, from wallets to books, and you simply won’t find a more comprehensive selection of vegan footwear anywhere on the interwebs.  Try, and fail.  Pay special attention to Autonomie Project’s Ethletic sneaker, the most ethically-made and good-looking shoe in commercial production on earth, available there or with a full selection of sizes and colors, including Children’s and Youth sizes on the AP website .

Veganopoly From Pangea www.vegan-store.com

4. Veganopoly: For the more light-hearted selection, like a $30-limit Secret Santa exchange, you might like the Veganopoly game from Pangea.  “Created by an animal rights activist, this unique board game puts players in the role of an animal trying to make it in the restaurant business rather becoming the main course. The winner is the player who ends up owning all the establishments on the board (such as Hummus Hut or Kentucky Fried Tempeh).”  Don’t tell me that doesn’t sound fun!  If you’ve played it before or are planning on it, leave a comment and let us know the deal!

5. Vegan Treats: Now that we’re on to food, one should always consider the sweeter side of being vegan.  Enter Cosmo’s Vegan Shoppe, certainly one of the most extensive online bazaars for vegan products, not least of which are their chocolates and candy.  Four whole pages, in fact!  Peanut butter truffles anyone?  Or how about some scrumptious-looking Lovely Oh’s?  Now I know what to ask for from every human being I know. If you don’t order online you can find many vegan options at your local Co-op or Natural Food Stores, just remember to read the ingredients or look for the VEGAN label.

6. Donations: Finally, as a less conventional but most noble option, making a donation or sponsorship to a vegan/vegetarian, environmental or socially progressive organization will always be appreciated by a loved one.  Cruise around Food For Life’s website, they do great things: “With volunteers serving more than 1,000,000 free vegetarian meals daily from free food restaurants, mobile kitchens, to schools and to disaster areas, FOOD FOR LIFE is the largest vegetarian/vegan food relief in the world.”  Buy someone a membership and gift package or sponsor a child in their name.  The Ching Farm Animal Rescue and Sanctuary rescues lucky farm animals of all kinds in the Salt Lake area. Donating in the various denominations listed helps keep the animals fed.  $17.00 will feed one pot-bellied pig for a month; $30.00 will feed four Ostriches for a week.  There are so many organizations and charities that need as much help as they can get; find one that’s right for the individual and honor them!

Scrooge needed the help of three ghosts and time travel in order to learn a lesson in holiday ethics. Hopefully, none of you will need such theatrics to be nudged in the direction of celebrating the holiday in a conscientious manner.  First of all, my time machine is in the shop- too many trips back to the 1800’s to party with Abraham Lincoln burned out my flux capacitor.  Secondly, the Christmas spirits and I are on the outs, something about not inviting them to play poker with not-so-always- honest Abe.  So my friends, in reminding you to shop ethically this holiday season I will forgo the scare tactics and resist the urge to show you a vision of your grave in the distant future.  Instead, I will gently encourage you to do the right thing by providing a handy list of ethical presents to give your loved one’s this holiday season.

Vinyl Record Bracelet from Eco-Artware.com

 

Jewelry:  While it is very debatable that diamonds are a girl’s best friends, there is some merit to the idea that women appreciate a flashy bauble from time to time. This year, indulge the accessory crazed pal on your holiday shopping list by purchasing conscientious jewelry for them.  Check out online storefronts such as Ann Made Art, that features classy rings, bracelets, necklaces and earrings made from recycled goods! 

For your fashion savvy cousin who lives in Brooklyn and wouldn’t trade their vinyl collection for anything on earth, try these hip and eco-friendly bracelets made from old  records. Just be sure to reassure cousin Tabitha that none of her beloved records were harmed in the making of these bracelets.

Ethletic Sneakers from Autonomie Project

 

Clothing: Style over substance is now a thing of the past, thanks to fashionable fair trade companies such as Autonomie Project. Give the gift of adorable duds this holiday season, from our effortlessly cool sneakers to their lovely handbags and even our NEW line of witty organic children’s clothing. Buy Fair Trade and Eco-friendly for the whole family this season. Autonomie Project will satiate the fashion needs of the trendiest people on your holiday shopping list.  Through December 31^st, free ground shipping on domestic orders regardless of size!  

Electronics:  Go, go gadget gifts!  Catering to a gift recipient with a passion for technology does not mean that you have to break the bank or compromise your code of ethics. At twenty two dollars, these awesome fingerless gloves plug into your USB port and keep hands toasty while surfing the interweb. It is a gift that says, “Hey, I care about your internet addiction, your comfort and your fondness for tech inventiveness!”

One of your loved ones may be among the millions to develop an unhealthy fixation with their iPhone recently. Foster this addiction by giving them a gift custom made for hand-held best friend.  There may not yet be an app for solar charging, but Surge for iPhone is the next best thing - it allows its users to harness the sun’s awesome energy by charging the phone wherever there is a drop of sun to be had!

Food Fanatics:  When you are shopping for someone who has an appetite for destruction, you should consult Guns N Roses.When you are shopping for someone who has an appetite for everything else on earth, look no further than these tasty Fair Trade goodies. Equal Exchange has oodles of delicious treats that will make ethical mouths water.  Featuring coffee, chocolate, cocoa, nuts and berries, Equal Exchange products make the perfect stocking stuffer for loved ones who think with their stomach on a daily basis.

Playing Santa for your favorite chef is an easy task thanks to the organic products from Fiddlers Green Farm.  Organically certified cereals, flour and teas are just some of the yummy goodness that this company offers.  These are gifts that any aspiring Julia Child would appreciate. 

Animals and the People Who Love Them: Chances are you have at least one friend that has a photo of their pet as the wallpaper on their cell phone. This friend has a special knack for smoothly transitioning a conversation about Health Care Reform into a discussion about “the cutest thing ever “that “Mr. Sniffles did the other day”.  If you can’t think of anyone like this, you more than likely are that person. (No offense meant, I know Professor Puddles is the cutest feline this side of cat-opia.)

 For these furry little family members (the pets, silly, not your short, hairy uncle with the shoulder tufts) and the people who love them, try purchasing Fair Trade toys, collars and bedding. Purrfect Play has a great selection of organic and fair trade products for the dog or cat in your life. They also carry fun animal themed accessories for humans.

Another great fantastic gift for the animal lover on your shopping list is making a donation in their name that benefits animals that are in need. Whether you donate to a no kill shelter or a charity that benefits endangered species, this is a gift that will surely bring a smile to your loved ones face. Check Animal Charities of America to locate charities associated with your favorite four legged creatures.

Adventure Seekers : Shopping for someone who lives their life in such as x-treme manner that their typical weekend activities would make for a perfect montage of a Mountain Dew commercial can be a challenge for most of us mere mortals. Luckily, there are some amazing ethical products that will appease the adventure lovers on your gift list.

Does your Aunt Jill never miss an opportunity to hang 10? Then surprise her this holiday season with this wetsuit by Matuse that forgoes the use of traditional petroleum-based rubber and uses a sustainable rubber-like material sourced from limestone called “Yamamoto Geoprene”. 

Home Gifts: Home is what the holidays are all about,  just ask a 3 out 5 classic holiday songs.  By purchasing these ethical home goods, you will not only help your loved ones spiffy up the old homestead but you will affirm your commitment to conscientious living and gift giving. Ten Thousand Villages carries unique Fair Trade frames  made of natural materials, including bamboo. An elegant present for your classiest of friends and relatives, this vase  is made with sustainable harvested mango tree limbs.

Charities: The holiday season at its best is a magical period of time that brings out the best in people. At its worst, it is a flash of days racing by spent rushing around.  When the season starts to get you down, and your teeth no longer feel like they can not unclench, remember those that are less fortunate than you. Charity is one of the most meaningful gifts you can give this holiday season. Make a donation in the name of a hard to shop for friend.  Find a charity that is reputable and meaningful to you as well as the person on your gift list. 

Holiday gift giving does not have to mean you choose between sacrificing your beliefs or the quality of the gifts you purchase. Minimal effort is needed to make all of your presents both magical and ethical.Surely, Tiny Tim and Scrooge alike would happily reflect, “God bless us, every one” after receiving any of these thoughtful presents.

As International citizens we all remember the atrocities of World War II and the lessons to be learned. However, its events like those which are vital to keep in our minds to prevent such injustices from occurring again. Which is exactly why the United Nations created Human Rights Day on December 10th. Human Rights Day has been recognized since 1950 to mark the anniversary of all participating nations in Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Although, this day is often overshadowed by December holidays, it is of grave importance to our world and should be recognized.

Sadly the world has not quite learned the lessons from World War II. Violations of human rights still exist in many parts of the world today. Unfortunately, there are still people involved in genocide, slave labor, human trafficking, sexual slavery, and torture. These are alarming acts that should not even exist in this world, yet sadly for many in the world they are a harsh reality. Its days like December 10th that we should look somber upon but also let it inspire us to take action.

How does one get involved? Well you can start with acknowledging the events are existing and to commemorate December 10th. But if you want to attend an event for Human Rights Day, check out the panel discussion Race, Poverty, and Power at the UN headquarters in New York. However, if New York is out of the question, consider volunteering or donating to a number of different Human Rights Organizations such as Human Rights Watch, Human Rights First, Amnesty International, MADRE, Save Darfur, and  Not For Sale. Lastly, stay informed! Do your research and pay attention to world events going on.

Most holidays call for celebration but not Human Rights Day. Because the world is still seeing extreme violations of human rights, there just isn’t much to celebrate. Here’s where you and I and the international community have to step in. We can not continue to stand by while these atrocities occur. After all, we are all in this together.

At the end of this week the Jewish Festival of Lights, Hanukkah begins. The Eight days of Hanukkah will entail gifts, time spent with loved ones, prayer, and the lighting of candles.  But on top of all this celebration, there are of course delicious traditional meals. For many on Hanukkah, there is a tradition of eating fried foods, especially in Olive Oil. For this week’s recipe we have put together a great vegan version of latkes or potato pancakes, which are often served at Hanukkah dinners. This way you can make your holiday meal ethical as well as suitable for your vegan/vegetarian family members. For some Ethical Hanukkah gifts, check out these great Eco-Friendly, Fair Trade, and other Ethical Gift Guides. Happy Hanukkah from AP!!

Vegan Latkes (Potato Pancakes)

Prep Time: 15 minutes    Cook Time: 15 Minutes

6 Peeled and Grated Potatoes (any kind)

1/2 Cup Unbleached Flour or Vegan Matzo Meal

2/3 Cup Oatmeal 

1/4 Cup Olive Oil

1 Chopped Medium Yellow Onion

1/2 Tsp Salt

1/4 Tsp Pepper

1/4 Tsp Baking Powder

Peel the potatoes and finely grate them. Also, finely chop the onions and place both ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Add the flour/matzo meal, salt, pepper, and baking powder into the bowl. In a separate bowl combine the oatmeal and hot water until soft enough to eat. Once the oatmeal is soft enough, mix it into the other bowl. In a large frying pan, heat up the oil at a medium heat. Form the mixture into small patties and fry in the olive oil until golden brown on both sides. You can soak up some of the excess oil with a towel if you choose and now they are ready to serve with Vegan Sour Cream or applesauce. If you want to add a little more flavor to your latkes, try adding in some carrots, spinach, or broccoli. Or if you are feeling even more adventurous, try making them with sweet potatoes instead!

Being an eco-friendly Santa Clause will not result in drowning in a sea of your child’s tears of disappointment come Christmas morning. Ecological is not synonymous with lame, as these ethical and fun gift ideas more than prove. Unless you make the ill-advised choice of giving the gift of Fair Trade socks- nothing, not even wish giving abilities, can make socks an exciting present to a child – you will be a holiday hero this December!

Solar Powered Robots:  If there is something that both child and adult alike can agree on, it is that robots are totally awesome.  Are you an Aunt or Uncle looking to obtain favorite status, or a grandfather desperately seeking a “World’s Best Grandpa” mug from your grandkids in the near future? Then this may be the gift to seal the proverbial deal. Reasonably priced and available at numerous online retailers, the 6 in 1 Robot Kit can transform into 6 different solar-powered robots. These transformations include an airboat, a windmill, a puppy and two separate planes! Other variations of solar robots are available and found easily through a simple Google search. Your favorite child will be too busy being blown away by the Fonzerelli -like proportions of the robot’s coolness to notice that this gift is oozing with educational opportunities!

Wooden Trains: A train circling a Christmas tree is a classic holiday image. Perhaps more so than a Red Ryder BB gun or the old school present staple of an Etch a Sketch, trains are the gift that most accurately encompass the full spirit of the holidays.  Companies such as Mesko Toys offer trains and train tracks made primarily from tree-cycled wood.

Stuffed Animals:  Holidays are a time to consider those who are less fortunate than ourselves. Make your holiday gifts count for more than the smile on your child’s face by supporting compassionate Fair Trade companies that benefit entire communities this holiday season. One World Projects, a company that imports and distributes fair trade products, features these adorable plush monkeys. In addition to being cute and cuddly, a purchase of these fair trade stuffed creatures helps return illegally trafficked Colombian monkeys back to their natural habitats as well as giving a  number of Colombian women- many of whom are single mothers-  a source of income. A gift that will bring joy to children, monkeys and hardworking single mothers alike will be sure to make even the Grinchiest of hearts grow to three times their normal size.

Fair Trade Sports Balls: For the young athlete on your holiday shopping list, there are Fair Trade Sports Balls. Fair Trade Sports offers balls for various sports including soccer and basketball.  What’s that noise? Oh, that is just the sound of your beloved child cheering your name in appreciation of a gift well bought. Way to take ethical holiday gift- giving to the hoop!

Fair Trade Fashion: A passion for fashion can develop at a very young age. For all the future Vera Wangs and Calvin Clines of the world, looking good is not just an option, it is a necessity.  Your child will not have to sacrifice style in the name of ethics this holiday season; Autonomie Project now features fashionable sneakers, t-shirts, and sweatshirts for children. Your little fashion bug will be the envy of the playground with these stylish fair trade duds. You can also satisfy your frugal side by taking advantage of the free ground shipping, regardless of order size, through December 31^st. Affordable, fashionable and ethical, talk about a winning combination! No, seriously, talk about it amongst yourselves. Go on…now don’t you feel better that you gotten that off your chest!

Recycled Tea Set: Enjoying a spot of imaginary tea is a divine way to spend an afternoon. When the guest list for this gathering includes the likes of the Queen of England and Dora the Explorer, only the finest China should be used.  Recycled Tea sets, such as this one offered by Green Toys,  are made almost entirely of recycled milk cartons. This environmentally friendly purchase will surely impress your young host and their guests alike.

Being Green this holiday gift giving season does not mean stealing Christmas from the Cindy Lou Who in your life. With a little research and minimal effort you can make your child’s holiday wishes come true without compromising your ethics.  As an added bonus, the children in your life will learn that being a conscientious citizen of planet earth does not mean abandoning fun traditions.

Most importantly this holiday season, remember to not to lose sight of what is most valuable this time of year-spending time with the ones you love. Second most importantly, remember, for the love of children, no socks.

C’mon, let’s face it: in many ways, this time of year really boils down to the food. There’s a lot of it going around. Which, in turn, makes being conscientious of what you buy and eat even more important. ARE YOU AN ECO-FRIENDLY EATER?! There are ways to discover this scathing truth about yourself . . . fun ways. Planet Green has come up with several quick, insightful quizzes that give a few general pointers on how to keep our consumption of food earth-friendly in the industrial gauntlet of our modern world. I say throw down that gauntlet, in your kitchen.

Try “What’s the Footprint of Your Food?” Some of the numbers associated with the destructive qualities of food production are simply embarrassing.  Without wanting to spoil the answers (kind of), I’ll say that it requires far more water to manufacture bottled water than the amount that actually ends up in the bottle, and the mass-amount of carbon emissions saved by switching to a vegetarian or vegan diet is heavier than I’ll ever hope to bench-press with free weights, this year.

One of the quizzes, which title happens to be the same as the all-caps exclamation above (Are you an Eco-Friendly Eater?) shines some light on even the most basic, every-day aspects of our dining habits.  Do you know which season is most eco-friendly to eat apples?  Or if hand-washing dishes saves more water than a dishwasher? Or how about defining the “100-mile” diet? You’re wrong if you think it involves power-walking for two straight days while chain-drinking packet-shakes.  Or are you?

On top of these two we featured, there are a whole set of Eco-friendly quizzes from food to weddings to fashion to test your knowledge! The most interesting aspect of these Planet Green teasers is that each question and quiz provides informative explanations on the issues and is surrounded by links to other interesting resources on the interwebs for more in-depth research.  I say do that research, and in feeding yourselves and loved ones over the holidays, help try to give the earth a little more good news before 2010.  There are only two years left, after all…

-Jeremy Pearson

“I’ll be home for Christmas…if I only in my dreams,” croons Bing Crosby on this classic holiday song staple.For many of us getting home for the holidays may be more of nightmare than a dream,  often times including headache-inducing travel.  Whether you take to the sky, the rails or the highway to get to your loved ones, there is no denying that the holiday season can send the ‘ol carbon footprint soaring higher than Santa Clause on Christmas Eve.

While one could make the environmentally friendly choice of forgoing the trip home altogether, that would likely result in enduring an avalanche of guilt brought on by e-mails and phone calls from a disappointed mom for weeks and months to come.  Trust me, “I am worried about my carbon emissions” is not an adequate excuse for skipping out on the holiday festivities unless your Dad happens to be Captain Planet.

So, you suck it up, and travel the hours and miles that it will take to make your family happy, and if you are lucky, you are glad to do so. So what can one do to assuage the gnawing green guilt over the amount of fossil fuels your holiday trek will release into the environment?

One option to easing this guilty conscious is purchasing a Carbon Offset, which is a financial instrument aimed at a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. In simpler terms,  you  give money towards projects whose aim is to reduce Green House Emissions. At first glance this practice appears to be the perfect solution to the sometimes unavoidable toll our day-to-day actions, such as that cross-country flight home for the holidays, take on the environment.

Critics and cynics alike, however, are quick to point out the flaws to this seemingly positive system. While regulations for this field do exist, some say they are not strenuous enough, allowing certain greedy individuals the opportunity to scam money off well-meaning environmentally minded individuals. It is also argued that a program that allows people to feel better about their less-than environmentally friendly habits only encourages people to continue to make poor choices.

It seems clear that this industry, like many, is far from perfect.  And although it is not without its faults, one could argue that any money put towards a thoroughly investigated Carbon Offset is money well spent.  As long as you, as with any purchase, know who you are buying from- check credentials and check how funds are allocated towards benefiting the environment. It is also important for people to remember that while it is nearly impossible to keep your carbon footprint at zero, one should try to make as many environmentally responsible choices as you can possibly make.

While a trip home for the holidays may be good for the soul and for a mother’s happiness, it does end up costing a little more than the plane ticket or gas for your car. Try making environmentally responsible choices in your day-to-day life,  choose to travel for only one holiday- spend Thanksgiving locally and Christmas with the folks, or vice versa.

Nothing clears a guilty conscience as much as living well, and if you try your hardest, you can keep both your mother and Mother  Nature happy as clams.

-Meghan Hurley

Thanksgiving can sometimes seem gluttonous and maybe you don’t want to spend your day overeating and drinking. Never fret, however there are great and charitable events you could attend instead. In case you want a break from the loud family chatter, the mounds of food, and the holiday shopping sales, you might want to take look at this list. There other ways to celebrate the holiday that reminds us of our gratitude for all we have. 

Turkey Trots: All over the country, in most cities there are marathons on Thanksgiving Day and many of them are to raise awareness or money for a charitable causes. For instance Boston has its annual 5K Road Race to benefit the  Central New England Chapter of the MS Society. There are hundreds of these Trots all over the country. Find one near you on this helpful Turkey Trot website, which lists local races as well as helpful running tips. 

Turkey Day Rides: If running is just not your style, there are also hundreds of Turkey Day Bike Rides. Before feasting upon a meal, burn some extra calories while promoting alternative transportation and raising money! For example, Milwaukee hosts its annual 2 hour ride which is free to the public. Sacramento, CA also hosts a huge Turkey Day Ride, it is in its 23rd year. It’s a family event and people of all ages are welcome and is followed by a feast. The ride is really underground and grassroots and proceeds go to local and national charities. Guaranteed your town has a local ride as well and you can find many on your local bicycle associations. 

Charity Yoga: Maybe runs and bike rides have a little too much cardio action. If you are looking for a little something more relaxing and soul soothing way to spend your holiday check out charity Yoga. Tacoma, WA hosts such an event. The yoga classes are free Thanksgiving Day with a suggested donation of $25 and all proceeds go to the Tacoma Rescue Mission. Other cities have similar events and check your local listings for Thanksgiving yoga. 

We want to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving and no matter how you spend it. And it makes total sense to kick back and enjoy your family or to get involved in charity events. Either way use the holiday as a time for reflection and to give thanks to those who came before us and for what we have today.

What better way to get into the holiday spirit than to bake?! This week’s vegan recipe is the delectable dessert: Pecan Pie. A perfect autumn pie that works at the end of an meal or feast you may be celebrating. This traditional fall dish can be served with Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas dinner, or just to add some sweet to the end of any dinner. It is also a simple recipe to convert vegan and you will surprise your guests with how close it tastes to the “real thing.” So put your aprons on and start your baking. Happy Holidays!

Vegan Pecan Pie

Prep Time: 20 minutes   Bake Time: 1 hour

Pie Crust:
2 Cups Organic Unbleached Flour
1 tsp of Salt
2/3 Cup, plus 1 Tbls of Soy Margarine (we suggest Earth Balance)
1/4 Cup Ice Water (more may be needed)

Filling:

1 Cup Organic Pecans

Equivalent to 2 Eggs with Ener-G Egg Replacer

1/2 Cup of Organic Evaporated Cane Juice (or other sweetner)

1/2 Cup Organic Vegan Brown Sugar

4 Tbls Organic Soy Milk (or other non dairy milk)

2 Tbls Organic Flour

1 Stick of Organic Earth Balance Margarine 

1 Tsp of Organic Vanilla

Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare the pie crust by combining the flour and salt. Blend in 2/3 cup soy margarine until the mixture is crumbly. Add in the water until mixture starts to hold together (you may not need all the water or you may need more-play it by ear!). Next roll out the crust with a rolling pin (or in times of need a washed wine bottle can substitute). Place the crust in a 9 inch pan and use your fingers to make even patterns in the dough.

In a large bowl beat the Ener-G Egg Replacer until it is frothy much like eggs. Add in the soy milk, water, and vanilla into a bowl. Add in evaporated cane juice and brown sugar into the bowl. Next mix in the margarine and flour and finally the pecans. Bake the pie in the oven for 4o minutes, reduce the temperature to 275 and bake for another 10-20 minutes. Check with a fork to see if cooked.  Let the pie cool and refrigerate for 4-6 hours and serve with vegan ice cream.