Vegan time to celebrate

Vegetarianism is perhaps as old as mankind, veganism probably as well or perhaps even older. Both the religious and non-religious.

For those who follow the evolution theory: pre-historic man, who may have been a hunter (and gatherer of roots, fruits and nuts) didn’t cage, enslave, exploit, or mistreat the animals that he ate. And pre-historic man did not abandon eating fruits, nuts and herbs. Gathering fruits, nuts and herbs was presumably a woman’s task, who would likely have developed higher intelligence on the nutritious and healing capacities of plants. All needed in times when game was scarce. For those who subscribe to the theory of evolution, going vegan seems to be the next evolutionary step for humankind as it addresses the problems of global warming, environmental devastation, food scarcity and in particular the ethical call for ending exploitation and suffering.

For those who follow religion in their defense of a carnivorous diet: Judaism, Christianity and Islam do not teach to exploit, mistreat or enslave animals. Their scriptures and traditions highlight not only the rights of animals to have a peaceful life, but in particular that in paradise (or in heavenly spheres) there is only peace and no killing.

Religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism have such a clear and strong tradition in non-violence that, for now, I will not pursue that discussion (but will certainly get back to that).

The history of mankind and abstaining of meat-eating is an ancient one that goes back to at least Pythagoras (6^th century BC), thus showing that ethical veganism has a long history in Western civilization stretching back to antiquity. Following the long line from antiquity to the present, it becomes easier to understand the decision to the New Zealand government to recognize all animals as sentient beings, see https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/animals-are-now-legally-recognised-as-sentient-beings-in-new-zealand-10256006.html

And this is reason for celebration. To most vegans the protection of animals and the recognition of animals as sentient beings, the process may seem too slow in the western world. However, considering that in the 1840’s the term vegetarianism was coined and the first vegetarian society was formed in 1847 in Britain, it took only 170 years until the first recognition of all animals as sentient beings, while it had taken over 2500 years from the days of Greek antiquity to form the first vegetarian society in the Western world. 

Ethical veganism is clearly gaining momentum, a reason to celebrate!

Banana cake

Ingredients

300 gr. ripe or overripe bananas

160 gr. flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon baking soda

Pinch of salt

75 gr. sugar

75 gr. sunflower oil

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 teaspoons cinnamon

75 gr. chopped walnuts or pecan nuts

(to make it more festive:  100 gr. candied orange peel!)

Preheat over 180⁰C

Bake for 40 min at 180⁰C

Method 

Grease and line a small loaf tin.

Mash bananas, add cinnamon, vanilla, sugar, pinch of salt, mix well to a smooth mixture

Add sunflower oil, mix well.

Add flour, mix well

Add chopped walnuts (and orange peel), baking powder and baking soda, mix and pour immediately into the prepared tin.

Bake for 45 min at 180⁰C

The proof of the banana cake is in the eating…