The holiday season is approaching and I’m not really sure how I’m going to do the present thing and complete my finals at the same time. In any case, I figured I’d share some cool things (sometimes loosely) related to veganism that I like in case you’re shopping for a vegan/yourself/are looking for a way to spend any Amazon.com giftcards from the holidays. Ready?! Go!

1.NEW 2009 Soymilk Maker – SoyQuick Premier Milk Maker 930P
Kitchen’s Best Manufacturing Group Ltd.

Okay, so I cannot afford this yet and I’m also not going to be in one country long enough to justify buying it (see: going to Prague when I graduate). I don’t think I can justify this taking up my precious luggage space either, but man do I want to be able to make my own soy, almond, oat, hazelnut, etc. milk! And you can even make your own tofu! That will pay off the price of this thing eventually…yeah! I mean, those little boxes of soymilk and tofu add up over time…
2.Nesco American Harvest FD-61WHC Snackmaster Express Food Dehydrator All-In-One Kit with Jerky Gun
Nesco American Harvest

I almost bought a used one of these off Craigslist for $20. Yet again, another impractical purchase since I’m leaving, but it’d be awesome to make my own fruit leather, vegan jerky, dried fruit, raw crackers, etc.
3.Mill Valley Tea Co. Russian Caravan
Mill Valley Tea Company

I had Russian Caravan tea once at this place called the Twilight Tea Lounge in Brattleboro, VT and it was SO GOOD. According to Amazon, it is “A subtle blend of Chineses teas with a distinct smoky flavor.” I think originally it caught the smoky flavor from people making fires at night to keep warm as it was traveling for trade…or something equally pretentious-sounding. Whatever, it is really good.
4. Tribest SB12 Tofu Maker Kit
Tribest

To go with said Soymilk Maker. Make your own tofu! Yes!
5. Cocoa Butter (100% Pure) – 7 oz.
NOW Foods

This is impossible for me to find in real life (see: not the internet), but it is food-grade cocoa butter so I can make VEGAN WHITE CHOCOLATE! Hell yes! I have great plans for this baby. Notably, chocolate vegan cookies with white chocolate bits and crushed peppermint sticks.
6. Frigoverre Pitcher with Frosted Cover by Bormioli Rocco – 40.5 oz.
Bormioli Rocco

To put homemade soymilk in! Or anything else, really. Pretty!
7. BREAK APART BAR All Occasions Candy Mold Chocolate
CybrTrayd FDA Approved

For said vegan white chocolate! Mmm! Also pretty…impressive-looking when it’s done.
8.Highwave Original Hotjo Travel Coffee Mug Lime Green 16 Oz
Highwave Inc

The little coffee shop down the road from me called the Elbow Room has a buy 10 with a reusable cup get one free deal, as does my campus Center Cafe. Thus, I should have picked one up awhile ago. I like that it’s ceramic, pretty and also has a cover.
9. Alternative Vegan: International Vegan Fare Straight From The Produce Aisle
Dino Sarma (Paperback – Jul 27, 2007)

I’ve heard really good things about this cookbook and I like that it accents other things besides soy and seitan as the main ingredients. I eat way too much of those things already and really need some new inspiration sometimes.
10.Bodum New Kenya 34-Ounce Coffee Press, Black
Bodum

Coffee press to free myself from gross dining hall coffee! The fuel of life!
11.Old Dutch 32 Oz. Mustard Cast Iron Clarity Teapot
Old Dutch

I bit pricey, but this looks so nice. Moths got into all my tea while I was abroad last year and birthed in it, it was actually really gross. Thus, I figured I’d get a nice tea pot for my replacement loose lead tea. I love tea!
12.The China Study: The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted and the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss and Long-term Health
T. Colin Campbell, Thomas M. Campbell II (Paperback – Jun 1, 2006)

I’ve heard really good things about this book at my internship last summer and plan to pick it up as soon as I have time to read for pleasure again (see: graduate from college).
13.The Food Revolution: How Your Diet Can Help Save Your Life and Our World
John Robbins (Paperback – Jul 11, 2001)

Same as above. Looks good, need more free time to read.
14.Eating Without Heating: Favorite Recipes from Teens Who Love Raw Food
Sergei Boutenko; Valya Boutenko (Paperback – Dec 15, 2002)

While I’m not raw and probably never will be, I’m pretty interested in making raw food and do think that it would be healthier to incorporate more raw things into my diet. However, some of the recipes out there are SO complicated and require lots of fancy equipment that I don’t have like super-expensive blenders and dehydrators. This looks pretty straight-forward and practical and has recipes for cultured cashew cheese like Dr. Cow’s! I actually just bought this for $6 used off Amazon (with a $10 gift card to boot!) so you may be seeing items from this soon.
15.The Medicinal Garden: How to Grow and Use Your Own Medicinal Herbs
Anne McIntyre (Paperback – Apr 15, 1997)

I took a class called Economic Botany and have been interested in these kinds of things ever since. Yay herbs!
16.The Ultimate Uncheese Cookbook: Delicious Dairy-Free Cheeses and Classic “Uncheese” Dishes
Jo Stepaniak (Paperback – Dec 2003)

This is for the vegan or lactose-intolerant person. I love this book so much. Every “cheese” sauce I’ve made from here has been awesome. All summer I made all types of “cheese” sauces for nachos and quesadillas out of this and they were delicious. . I plan on making some of the block uncheeses soon. I love how this cookbook is set up as it gives lots of alternate versions to try of each recipe, so whatever you’re in the mood for you can adjust accordingly! Also, there’s lots of easy recipes for stuff like vegan parmeasan that you’d normally buy pre-made in a much more expensive and chemical laden form.
17.Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World: 75 Dairy-Free Recipes for Cupcakes that Rule
Isa Chandra Moskowitz, Terry Hope Romero (Paperback – Oct 16, 2006)

Need I say more? Everything from this cookbook is amazing and who doesn’t love cupcakes?! I don’t care if you’re vegan, this is still the best cupcake book out there. Everything I’ve made from here has been really tasty and impressive and you can turn them all into delicious cakes easily for any impromptu birthday parties! Almost all of the recipes have pictures, too, which is always a good thing.
18.The Teen’s Vegetarian Cookbook
Judy Krizmanic (Paperback – May 1, 1999)

I bought this in 7th grade from one of those Scholastic pamphlets and lived out of this book in high school even though I wasn’t even vegetarian then. Almost everything in here is vegan and while the recipes aren’t mind-blowing, they give lots of good ideas and practical suggestions for leftovers and the like, including a list of things you could make sandwiches with, if you happen to be stuck in a sandwich-rut. Good for the new vegan or vegetarian in your life.
19.Peanut Butter & Co. Cinnamon Raisin Swirl, 16-Ounce Jar (Pack of 4)
Peanut Butter & Co.

I want this so badly, but my grocery store doesn’t have it. I mean, Cinnamon Raisin Swirl peanut butter?! YES PLEASE. It also contains no hydrogenated oils and all US grown peanuts. Nomnomnomnom. Does want. I will buy this eventually and it will be awesome.

Isa Chandra Moskowitz, Terry Hope Romero (Hardcover – Oct 31, 2007)

Again, I don’t care who you are, you need this cookbook. I make something from here for almost every event I hold or attend. And for dinner of course. Home of the infamous Chickpea Cutlets, it’s probably one of the most-used cookbooks I own.
21.How It All Vegan!: Irresistible Recipes for an Animal-Free Diet
Sarah Kramer, Tanya Barnard (Paperback – Jul 1, 2002)

This was my first vegan cookbook so it holds a special place in my heart. It’s not only cute, but has a lot of useful and tasty recipes. I usually use it for pie crusts, pizza crust and the like. Liz loves this and steals it from me all the time. It even has lots of recipes for toiletries in the back. I’ve heard the other 2 in this series are great and the second one, The Garden of Vegan is on my wishlist for sure.
22.Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life (P.S.)
Barbara Kingsolver, Camille Kingsolver, Steven L. Hopp (Paperback – May 1, 2008)

Not specifically vegan, but definitely interesting. I got my Mom this last year for her Christmas and I plan on reading it next time I’m at their house for more than 5 seconds. Did I mention I’m excited to graduate so I can read for pleasure again? I have a list of books to read upon graduation.
23.Bialetti Moka Express 3 Cup Espresso Maker 06799
Bialetti (May 25, 2006)

This saved me endless amounts of money on coffee last year while I was abroad at the University of Sussex. Our campus didn’t have soymilk in their cafes and so every time I went into town I’d drop lots of ££’s to feed my caffeine withdrawal, haha. I bought the tiny 1-cup one so I could fit it in my suitcase to bring home, but I think the 3-cup is more practical if you want more espresso or are making drinks for friends.Amazon.com WidgetsWhat cool vegan-related things do you have/want?