Vegan MoFo + Food Swap [Plus Scat! Bar Giveaway Winners]

Last year, on September 30th, I grilled my very first steak.*

*In the oven. Don’t judge.

Then, I lied and said I ate a steak and egg sandwich the next day for lunch.*

*I actually ate it for dinner. Which worked because I grilled the steak in the middle of the afternoon for lighting purposes.

the steak doesn't tempt me...but that runny yolk does...

I couldn’t have eaten a steak and egg sandwich for lunch the next day.

Why?

On October 1, 2011, Miss Smart went vegan.

And I’m doing it again.

On Thursday I stumble upon the announcement that the deadline to sign up for this year’s Vegan MoFo was that day. Spontaneously I decided–as with so many things in my life–that I wanted to participate again this year.

Granted, it won’t be much of a challenge as far as food goes, considering I’ve now been a ‘vegan with benefits’ for a whole year as of tomorrow, and my recipes are all vegan nowadays anyway. It will just mean more vegan, less benefits.

I’m a bit nervous that I won’t be able to post 20 times about vegan food, as I’ve fallen quite nicely into this blog reduction pattern of every other day, or every three days…but I’ll do the best I can.

Also, this year, I might not be as ‘hardcore vegan’ as I was last year. I have some yogurt in the fridge I’ve been using to ‘test my intolerance’ that I refuse to let go to waste, and although the challenge prohibits photos of non-vegan food on the blog, so you might catch me indulging in a Chobani bowl or a drizzle of honey in my Nutty Butter via Instagram.

But once the yogurt’s gone, it’s gone.

I’m kind of excited about refocusing on vegan food, because it was such a boon for my culinary creativity last year.

Luckily, I will have some help in the vegan food product department.

This was my first month  participating in the Vegan Food Swap organized by The Verdant Life, and I must say I was overjoyedwith the result!

this is obviously headed for some 'proats' or an oatshake...

Kim–a non-blogger–made sure everything was exactly to my tastes and interests–right down to my new obsession with protein powders and love for running.

i need to get one of those running hip contraption things to carry this gel...one day i'll get around to using it...one day...

I grabbed the Vega Whole Food Energy Bar just yesterday as I was running out the door (late, of course). I only managed half of it, and am still uncertain about if I like it or not–tasted like a Fig Newton initially, then left a weird, chalky aftertaste–but it DID give me energy to get through prep and demo at the Charlottesville Vegetarian Festival.The Kaia Foods Sea Salt + Vinegar Kale Chips are ‘uh oh’ addictive.I was a little skeptical about a food that contains the type of fresh pack you find in a new book bag or shoebox, but the chiplet possibilities are astounding (and delicious)!I am super excited to be participating again in October! If you want to ‘play’ Vegan Food Swap, head over to The Verdant Life and sign up. Maybe you’ll be matched with me?

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In addition to maling out next month’s Vegan Food Swap package, I’ll be shipping some VERY lucky Smart Kitchen Smartypants* their very own Scat! Bar sample packs to try.

*See how I just made up a fan club following nickname? See how I did that? 

You only had to wait over a week to find out if you’d won… 

Danielle, Dolce, and Debbie–wow, now that is a weird alliterative coincidence–please contact me so I can send you your Scat!

All winners were chosen using a random number generator..and in case you don’t believe the oddity of my dear friend through blogging, Debbie, winning…here is the proof. I couldn’t believe it either.

If you didn’t win Scat! Bars, there’s still time to win some Caramel Apple Nutty Butter!!!! How much time? Oh, I don’t know…considering the rate at which I remember to pick winners, it could be next month. [Probably Wednesday or so...]