A New Journey
Hi, lovies! :-)
Did you have a good weekend? Do anything fun?
On Friday, after work, the whole team went to Happy Hour at a nearby restaurant. We had a lot of fun, talking and laughing — I’m hoping we do that again soon! After that, I went to a bar that wasn’t too far away where my dad was playing music. Greyson met me there later on in the night and we ate some dinner and just relaxed. It was a great time.
Saturday, we met with our officiant, Pastor Vernon. It was so awesome to meet up with him and discuss our ceremony and our relationship, and just get to know him. He is a family friend, and has been very close with my grandparents for about fifteen years, so I feel so blessed that he will be the one to marry us on November 12th.
After we met with Pastor Vernon, Greyson dropped me off at a shopping center nearby so that I could read a for a while. I walked into the bookstore, and was browsing the shelves upstairs, when all of a sudden a book was staring me in the face: The Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone. One of my bridesmaids, Avery, had told me about that book months ago when she and I were discussing her then-recent switch to a vegan diet. I decided that, at the very most, it would give me some insight on the vegan lifestyle and provide me with fun, new recipes to try. I bought the book!
Hours and hours later, I had finished reading it, and I was completely floored. The health benefits of a vegan diet were amazing, and I had the proof right in front of me — Avery! I have never met a more healthy-looking, healthy-feeling person in my entire life! After more research when I got home, I discovered that all of Alicia’s points were spot-on, and as if I wasn’t convinced right in that moment, the animal cruelty gave way to absolute certainty.
So, I made a shopping list. Alicia gives a list for beginners in her book, and I used that as a guide. Grey and I have a Sprouts in our area, and I took the drive and just started wandering around.
Smokey Tempeh Strips, Earth Balance “Butter”, Newman’s Own Newman O’s Dairy-Free Wheat-Free Chocolate Creme Cookies, Tofutti Cream Cheese, Purely Decadent Coconut Milk Ice Cream, St. Dalfour Strawberry jam, a bunch of different whole-grain rices, gluten-free rice pasta, oats, brown rice syrup, Organicville Marinara sauce, spelt granola (my favorite find!)…
Anyway, I picked up a lot of things, just to try them out. I left the grocery store feeling so excited! I also bought some organic fruit to try and see if I could tell the difference between that and regular fruit — and I could! The organic fruit was much sweeter and flavorful, and although it didn’t look as perfect as what you would find in your standard produce aisles, the taste was that of the fruit gods. ;-)
I will be honest with you — yesterday, I wasn’t feeling all that great. (This is quite normal — I read all about it on The Kind Life — an extension website of Alicia’s book!) My body is in the midst of detoxing, so it is having a rough time adjusting to the new and whole foods that I am putting into my body. I had plans last night but ended up having to cancel them because I just couldn’t leave my house. No fun. But I am feeling a little bit better this morning, and I know that after a couple of weeks on this diet, I am going to feel amazing!
I added a ton of wonderful vegan recipes from Oh She Glows yesterday while I was stuck at home, and I am in the market for some other great vegan recipe sites, so if you know of any, let me know!
Crispy Peanut Butter Treats with Chocolate Chips
From: The Kind Life
Yield: 9-12 squares
These treats are amazing. Like traditional rice crispy treats, but even better — a great snack or light dessert that you don’t have to feel guilty about. These are what started my vegan lifestyle on a sweet note.
INGREDIENTS
1 box brown rice crisps cereal
1 3/4 cups brown rice syrup
fine sea salt
3/4 cup peanut butter or almond butter (preferably unsweetened and unsalted)
1/2 cup grain-sweetened, nondairy chocolate or carob chips
DIRECTIONS
Pour the rice cereal into a large bowl. Heat the syrup with a pinch of salt in the saucepan over low heat. When the rice syrup liquefies, add the peanut butter and stir until well-combined. Pour over the rice cereal. Mix well with a wooden spoon.
Once thoroughly mixed and cooled to room temperature, stir in the chocolate chips. Make sure the mixture is cool, or you will end up with melted chocolate instead of chocolate chips in your treats.
Turn the mixture out into a 8x8- or 9x13-inch baking dish. Wet your wooden spoon lightly and press the mixture evenly into the pan. Let cool for 1 hour — if you can! — before cutting into squares or bars.
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My First Attempt at Vegan Overnight Oats
Serves: 1
I have heard a ton about overnight oats, so I thought I’d try to make some, just using what I had on hand. This ended up delicious and was super easy!
INGREDIENTS
3/4 cup rolled oats
1 cup soy milk
1 tablespoon 100% fruit strawberry jam (other jams would work, too!)
1 tiny splash vanilla extract
DIRECTIONS
Put all of the ingredients into a cereal bowl, and whisk gently. Once well-combined, cover and put into the refrigerator overnight! In the morning, serve cold, and enjoy!
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Have a wonderful day, my loves! I’ll catch ya later. ;-)
Xoxo, Mareah
Tagged as: a day in the life. vegan.
