World Farm Animals Day, part 3: for the Pigs!!

Protecting the Pigs by Julia Feliz

Vegans make a choice to refrain from as much exploitation as they can in a world that is not so kind to animals. These days making that choice is incredibly easy - with the never ending supply of recipes and products readily available to suit any palate.

However, it is important to recognize that vegans do it for non-human animals, who would otherwise live horribly short lives as “things” to be sold to uneducated consumers. Consumers have a choice each and every time they make a purchase. These choices greatly affect the lives of non-humans, such as pigs; by choosing vegan we reduce demand for animal products and ultimately spare lives.

Why should you care? Here are a few good reasons:

• With their extreme intelligence, pigs can respond to verbal communication. (C. Croney, Oregon State University)
• Pigs don’t just give up; they persist until they achieve the results they have set out to accomplish. (S. Held, Bristol University)
• Although pigs have small brains, they are incredibly fast, “one-trial learners” - which means they can learn something from doing it a single time without any practice. (Held)
• Pigs can also communicate their preferences and choices. (S. Curtis, University of Illinois)

These are just a few of many examples that demonstrate how alike non-humans are to humans, regardless of their physical appearance or inability to speak our language. Vegans choose to care and to live as cruelty-free as possible because non-humans, like pigs, are not so different to us.

We consider this kinship each time we make a meal. We hope that this Baked Barbeque Tofu recipe will inspire you to think about your choices and moral code. It is so simple to forgo that “pork” and spare so many lives - here’s your chance to learn how and get started!

Baked Barbeque Tofu by Neva Davis

Ingredients:
• 1/4 onion, chopped
• 2 Tbs olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic crushed
• 2 tsps chopped fresh rosemary
• 2 tsps chopped fresh parsley
• 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
• 1 8oz can crushed tomatoes in sauce
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1 cup water
• 2 Tbs smoked sea salt (you can add more or less salt according to your taste)
• 1 tsp mustard powder
• 1/2 tsp cracked red pepper
• 1/2 tsp fresh ground black pepper
• 1 Tbs corn starch
• 2 lbs Extra firm tofu, drained and cut into squares

Method:
• First, make your sauce. Brown onions in olive oil over medium heat in a saucepan, then add crushed garlic and rosemary. Saute lightly and add crushed tomatoes, maple syrup, salt, red and black pepper and mustard powder. Mix and simmer.
• In a measuring cup, mix water and vinegar. Then whisk in the cornstarch until it's dissolved. Slowly pour the mixture into your sauce and stir.
• Simmer until it starts to get thick. Add parsley.
• Turn off heat and allow to cool.
• Pour over tofu squares in a refrigerator container with a lid. Seal and allow to marinate over night.
• Place tofu and sauce in a baking dish and bake at 350 for approximately one hour. Check periodically to make sure it's not burning.

Serve with corn bread and steamed collard greens for an authentic southern-style meal!

To learn more about the amazing world of pigs, please check out Pigs Peace Sanctuary.