Spoiled Little Vegan

This weekend, I was lucky enough to be a spoiled little vegan. My first surprise was a replenishment of my fruit supply (costco size -- wahoo!) ... and MORE! Not only did my mom and her fiancee get me my usual strawberries and blackberries, but they also got me more blueberries (still such a luxury), some fresh mango (I haven't had fresh in a very, very long time) and kiwi (which I don't get often but enjoy so much). I definitely want to take this opportunity to say thank you to them again. I was more than happy. Naturally, I incorporated my new lovlies into my eats quickly.

First, traditional fruit mixes...

Yummy bowl of fruit (all the goods minus the not-ready-yet-kiwi)

Strawberry&&Blueberry Brown-Rice Protein Smoothie

Then came chocolately oatmeal conncoctions (for some reason chocolate oats works better with oatmeal than oatbran so I naturally I had to experiment this weekend)...

with blackberries...

up close and personal

An oatmeal creation I've been working on: mint chocolate (aka Girl Scout Thin Mint) with bloobs

the microwave swirled the golden flax so beautifully, I just couldn't resist

With all this fruit, I noticed I was lacking in the veggies. Can you believe they read my mind again? The following day I woke up early to go to the farmer's market downtown with them. I haven't been to this specific farmer's market since I was very young. Back then, I didn't exactly have quite this much appreciation for my leafy green friends. Since it's winter, the market is a lot smaller but it is still so wonderful. I was in vegan paradise.

Veggie wraps and sammies were in abundance...

Garlic, rosemary, thyme, paprika and Braggs roasted chickpeas (though another day I used roasted cannellini), with steamed asparagus, zucchini, and yellow squash

...deconstructed

Roasted chickpeas (roasted as above) with an abundance of spinach and carrots

Homemade seitan&bean bacon, tomato, spinach, and baby cucumbers

...grilled up panini style (so the veggies get all warm -- yumm)

And my kabocha prayers were answered...

roast it realllllllll good

match made in heaven (discovered today)

Well that's about it lovies. I'll leave you with the much over-due sweets part of the "Sweet Treats and Vegan Eats"

chocolate chip oatmeal cookies

from The Joy of Vegan Baking (one of my first vegan cook books)

made for my friends at school, with love and almost all vegan ingredients (didn't have enough vegan chocolate chips or earth balance on hand so i used non-vegan choco chips and smart balance (which is almost vegan but has whey))

Have a lovely day!

xox,

Mandiee

p.s. snackface is having an absolutely insane giveaway. check it out noww (&&you'll be glad you did). also, here's a larabar giveaway. two giveaways in one post, how exciting!