Bozeman Magazine

We can vegan-ize that! Everyone loves pizza, ice cream, mac & cheese, tacos, sushi, lasagna, meatloaf, and chocolate. Some people assume vegans give up tasty favorites like these, but the truth is they enjoy all of these and more; they just use different ingredients! Vegan food is the opposite of restrictive. When folks go vegan they enjoy old favorites and discover new foods and flavors they were never aware of before their alleged “restriction”! These days, it’s easier than ever to make any recipe 100% plant-based because all grocery stores carry delicious plant-based milks, cheeses, and ice creams (vegan Ben and Jerry’s? Yes, please!!), and flesh-free meats. The monthly Live and Let Livingston Vegan Food Potluck will take place at the Park County Senior Center, 206 South Main Street, on Sunday, May 14 at 4:30pm. Everyone is welcome; attendees don’t have to be vegan - but the food does. The (always optional) theme this month will be YOUR FAVORITE, and the recipe demo this time will be 5-minute chickpea salad by health coach Karen O'Connor! Potluck attendees don’t have to be vegan, but the food does. They are asked to bring a 100% plant-based dish free of flesh, eggs, animal-derived dairy, honey, and gelatin. People are also asked to bring their recipe or a list of all ingredients used, (for the benefit of those with food allergies). The theme is always optional, and those who don't want to cook can bring something to drink. Following this potluck, there will be a presentation called Compassion into Action by author and speaker Anthony Marr! This presentation is just one stop in Anthony and Shannon's 48-States-in-7-Months speaking tour “Honeymoon of HOPE” (Heal Our Planet Earth). The two recently wed in Lake Tahoe and are now traveling the country, to make the world a better place for people and for animals. Live and Let Livingston meets on the second Sunday of every month, at 4:30pm. Delicious food, educational resources, and recipes are shared with those who care about their health, the planet, and most of all, the animals. Plates, cups, utensils, napkins, and warming trays are provided, along with hot tea, coffee, and non-dairy cream. Anywhere from 2-4 dozen people attend and there are usually several gluten-free and raw dishes offered, along with the inevitable… cupcakes! For more information or cruelty-free recipes, join Live and Let Livingston and Plant-Powered 406 on Facebook, Vegans Rock Montana on MeetUp.com, or call Bonnie Goodman at 222-0321 to be added to the monthly recipe/evite list.