Vegan MoFo Day 4: Reading & Shopping & Preparing, Oh My

A little bit of extra excitement this morning when I spied my blog on the official 2011 Vegan MoFo blogroll!

You might be wondering why yesterday- Monday- wasn't Cleanse Day 1.  Actually, there are a few excuses reasons:

1) Amazon inexplicably took forever to ship my book.  Apparently the holdup was the bargain book that I ironically bought only to attain super-saver shipping status.  Foiled again by frugality!  Don't worry; I've powered through it cover to cover already and will re-read to refresh as I go.

2) I was really busy over the weekend.  I wanted to be prepared when I began, and I knew I wouldn't be able to sufficiently shop, organize, and psyche myself up for a Monday start.  Now I'm ready as I'll ever be.

3) VM says it's a good idea to embark upon a "diet" on a Tuesday (yes, today!).  I'm not completely sure why, but I'm going with it.

4) I'm quite the procrastinator.

Crazy Sexy Diet contains tons of information and I am definitely impressed.  Even though my intention was to begin by focusing solely on the cleanse in Chapter 10, it's clear that much of the nutritional information included in the rest of the text is necessary to have in your subconscious arsenal (or bookmarked on your counter) in order to succeed.  Check me out; I'm learning and stuff!  I look forward to re-reading the more detailed/scientific chapters whilst cleansing; I anticipate it will give me something to do other than daydream about Lula's (Note to self: un-like them on Facebook so I don't have to read their daily flavors).  But my first instinct is that I can definitely do this.

So, I shopped...in a totally different way.  What a change.  One day my shopping list consisted of Vegenaise, Tofutti cream cheese, and almond bites.  Really.

actual A. Bean shopping list

The next, things like almond butter, romaine, and- shudder- apples. 

Ok, I also ate.  Last day before the cleanse!  There was a bagel.  Some with cream cheese and sun-dried tomatoes.

And some with fresh jalapenos from my own topsy turvy garden!

These suckers were spicy.  About an hour and 25 hand-washes later I rubbed my eye and was out of commission for ten minutes.

Salt & vinegar potato chips (sue me!)

Leftover stuffed cabbage.

 

And peanut butter cups too (what !?).  Note: store your vegan cups at room temperature to prevent your PB from becoming powdery.

I may not be showing much pre-cleanse restraint, but I have been studiously preparing for the change in lifestyle.  However, I would like to point out that the universe doesn't seem to be on my side here.  While diligently shopping for healthy convenience items like these swanky green bags,

I was visually accosted by this adorable manipulative, insulting, prohibitive item.  What is with all of the cupcake propaganda!?

Oh, oops ;-)

Remember! Tomorrow isn't Wednesday, it's Cleanseday (recap).  Yep, while you're reading this I will have already began the 21-day cleanse and will report back if that I've survived.

Fingers crossed.

Vegan MoFo Day 3: The Snail Before the Cleanse

Thank you to everyone for your excitement over my Day 2 post; I'm really thrilled that I was able to surprise so many of you (as well as myself).

That being said, as promised, yesterday was filled with Cinnamon Snail goodies!  
 

So, I give you...the pre-cleanse Snail round-up:

One truck, so many tantalizing options.

I chose to go with the Al Pastor Seitan sandwich: "With beer battered jalapenos [!], grilled pineapple, greens, and chipotle mayonnaise on a grilled baguette."  Sweet, spicy, and hearty: Chef Adam knocked it out of the park again.  I cannot stress how fresh and flavorful every single ingredient is- without exception.

The beer battered jalapenos were particularly incredible!

Also, fresh strawberry lemonade:

Real seeds, peeps.

VM blazed her own lunch path- starting with the basic idea of the maple mustard tempeh sandwich, but then letting Chef Adam take the reigns and fancy it up for her minus the tempeh.  What can I say?  They're tight.  Grilled tomato, luscious avocado, caramelized onions, greens...VM was swooning.

A thank you, as always, to Tommy's Coal-Fired Pizza, for graciously allowing us to sit in their outdoor seating area to civilly nosh whilst I photographically documented our meal.

Dessert time!  Some of our take-home booty:

Man claw was something that I hadn't noticed on the menu, perhaps it's seasonal? 

Check out the faux zebra-flavored donuts!  Question: by eating faux zebra, are we thereby perpetuating the notion that it is appropriate- nay, fashionable- to eat zebra in general?  Just a little vegan humor, folks.

You might recall the Mexican chocolate twists I raved about recently.  Well, I'd like to introduce you to a close relative: cinnamon glazed twist!

I did buy two, but my tupperware was no match for the behemoth donuts.  What's a girl to do but bite it down to size and then some?

Of course it's not a trip to The Cinnamon Snail without VM's favorite apple cider donuts.

And the maple toasted coconut is not to be missed.

Today there was a cookie special, Wild Man Ned Stevens Marshmallow Pecan Gutter Cleaner Cookies, featuring Sweet and Sara marshmallows!  I haven't had a Snail cookie in ages; this one showed me the error of my ways.  Even VM was absolutely smitten with the crunchy gem.

I snagged the last chocolate chocolate chip peanut butter cupcake.

And also a pumpkin danish (hello Fall).

Finally, the Vendy award-winning vanilla bourbon creme brulee donut was mine.  My goodness!  I haven't had creme brulee in a looong time and just like that, there it was- in a donut!  With the authentic crispy sugar on top!  The Snail never ceases to amaze.

A few smiles from another booth at the Red Bank Farmer's Market...

and we were on our way.

Until next time, Cinnamon Snail (no sooner than 21 days).

Note: please allow me to take a moment to make something abundantly clear.  I will be basing my upcoming 21-day cleanse mainly on the one outlined in Crazy Sexy Diet.  But I am the first one to admit that I am also doing my own thing in many respects.  For one (if you're squeamish- look away), no enemas or colonics for me.  Two, I'm not exactly- ahem- easing into the cleanse as suggested.  Clearly, I am neither a spokesperson for the book/cleanse, nor any kind of doctor, nutritionist, or life coach!  I'm just a vegan making my way- and going out in a blaze of glory!  This is me simply doing my best; and, I appreciate you coming along for the ride.  The logistical preparation begins tomorrow!