Learn how to create the perfect vegetable side dish with only a few simple ingredients in a few precious minutes.

borders / CC

What’s the only thing better than the most soyous time of year? Vegan chocolate. Every day.

This year, we’ve found a gift that really does keep on giving. With the Advent calendar from Amanda’s Own Confections, each day of December offers a new door and a small wonder behind it: a piece of scrumptious, cruelty-free chocolate. And it culminates in the best Christmas miracle ever: a big dairy-free chocolate Santa.

You can win the sweetest calendar ever—simply post a comment with your funniest holiday greeting.

We’ve got two Advent calendars to give away to the commenters who make us laugh the hardest. The contest ends on November 23, 2009, and we’ll pick the winner on November 25, 2009. Be sure to read our privacy policy and terms and conditions, as you’re agreeing to both by commenting. Good luck!

Posted by Logan Scherer

rockinontheblog / CC

Well, we tried—but our permit to set up a factory farm display on the steps of the U.S. Capitol has been denied. Apparently, the Capitol Police thought that such a display posed “significant public health concerns about the possible spread of the H1N1 virus.”

Hmm. That just might have been our point.

So, it’s not safe to allow members of congress and lobbyists to be exposed to factory farms, but it looks like tough luck for the millions of Americans in rural areas who have to live amidst the poisonous waste of factory farms. And although the president has declared swine flu a national emergency, the government continues to prop up the industry that caused the crisis (to the tune of $62.6 million in one year alone—with the possibility of $250 million more in the coming fiscal year).

What do you think?

If factory farms are banned from the U.S. Capitol, should they be banned everywhere?(polls)

Posted by Amanda Schinke

When I was in high school, I took a peanut butter sandwich with me for lunch every day. Every. Single. Day. For four long years. My mother probably thought I was being stubborn just to annoy her, but the truth is that even before I stopped eating animals, I couldn’t stomach the cafeteria’s nauseating (and cholesterol-laden) options, such as greasy chicken nuggets and grayish-greenish Salisbury steak.

For lucky students at one Florida charter school, “mystery meat” is something they’ll never have to suffer through. That’s because the Alachua Learning Center only serves delicious vegetarian food, all of which is made daily from scratch. Not only is vegetarian food yummy, it’s also healthy and is often cheaper than greasy, artery-clogging meat. More and more schools now serve vegetarian and vegan food—which is great news for kids and animals.

metrokids / CC

It can be tough to get kids to eat healthy meals, but I think black beans with corn and rice sounds way more appetizing than ground-up cow noses on a bun.

Posted by Heather Drennan