Turn to PETA's Vegan College Cookbook and take your pick of 275 delicious vegan recipes. No space, equipment, time, or kitchen skills? This cookbook squelches any and all excuses for sticking with that boring ramen routine!

Today marks the official release of PETA's Vegan College Cookbook, but over the weekend, peta2's own Starza Kolman and Marta Holmberg jump-started the hype by signing copies at the Norfolk, Virginia, Barnes & Noble.

Today is also Cinco de Mayo, so why not celebrate with a tasty, festive seven-layer dip? It's just one of the many delicioso recipes offered in the cookbook.

Seven-Layer Mexican Dip

1 8-oz. package vegan cream cheese

1 Tbsp. taco seasoning mix

1 15.5-oz. can vegetarian refried beans

1 cup guacamole

1 cup chunky salsa

1 cup shredded lettuce

1 cup shredded soy cheddar cheese

2 Tbsp. dried chives

1 small can sliced black olives

• Mix the "cream cheese" and taco seasoning. Spread onto the bottom of a 9-inch pie plate or other dish.
• Layer the beans, guacamole, salsa, lettuce, "cheddar cheese," chives, and olives over the "cream cheese" mixture.
• Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Serve with tortilla chips.

Makes 8 servings

Written by Karin Bennett

animals.nationalgeographic / CC

Seals around the world are throwing up their flippers in celebration—the European Parliament voted today to end the sale of seal products across the European Union (EU)!

This vote adds to the pressure on Canada to end the seal slaughter. It shows that the EU Parliament recognizes the inhumanity of the annual massacre. The ban will undoubtedly deal a strong blow to sealers' profits—and that, in turn, will result in less blood on the ice.

The EU's decision is in line with the wishes of the majority of European citizens and all good people across the globe, including, of course, all Canadian citizens who are ashamed that their country is party to the bloody seal slaughter. Eyes now turn to the Canadian government: It has threatened to challenge the EU ban on trade in seal products at the World Trade Organization. Instead, it should be using its own laws to ban the seal slaughter.

Written by Shawna Flavell

last.fm / CC

Drummer Brian Chase, of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, recently took to the band's blog to discuss a rather, ahem, meaty issue—his vegetarianism.

"Since becoming a vegetarian I've felt a new openness and lightness," he writes. He goes on to explain his objection to killing animals for food, saying, "Once a life is taken, that's it, it's over, it doesn't come back. To kill an animal is the end, the animal does not grow back and [he or she] is not replaced. There is no sense of gratitude that can equal the taking of a life." You can read the rest of Brian's vegetarian musings here.

Brian's not the only "veg-head" in the band, mind you! Guitarist Nick Zinner happens to be an outspoken vegan who provided the music for our infamous "Milk Gone Wild" commercial.

Everything I learn about the Yeah Yeah Yeahs makes me like them even more—and considering that I named my kitty companion, Dracula Mappington, partly after one of their songs, that's saying a lot.

Written by Amanda Schinke