There’s no picture for today but I assure you I didn’t compromise my Vegan standards even though it was only 24 hours until I could return to a dairy filled yet meat free life! I really appreciated taking 30 days to renounce my usual dietary protocol and challenge myself to try new ingredients, invent in the kitchen and resist usual cravings.

I learned that exerting self control over temptations is primarily a mental exercise instead of a physical one. I also came to value the power of the input of friends in keeping ones resolve. There were a couple of hairy moments this month where I { literally } screamed down the phone ‘I DON’T CARE WHAT YOU SAY I’M GOING TO EAT MAC N CHEESE NOW!!’ it wasn’t my proudest of moments. But my friends guilt tripped/ cajoled / encouraged me to not quit and it worked.

It would be a little far-fetched to say this experience made me feel I could ‘do anything’ but it certainly gave me a level of pride at fulfilling a personal accomplishment and made me feel I could accept more challenges in various aspects of my life. GOOD magazine’s challenge which coincided with mine explained the impact on the environment that their month of vegetarianism achieved. It truly is amazing and shows that such a challenge reaps more than just benefits to self.

So what’s going to happen to this special project blog? I have some ideas that will be revealed in the future. As for Veganism, I’m planning on another round of it in the autumn! I hope you will again join me for that adventure!

It was hot today, flamin’ hot. The highlight by far though was popping by a friend’s house and having a cool, refreshing glass of her home made Lavender Iced Tea. I actually hate lavender { ha! } and in my old olfactory days would immediately identify it in fragrances and describe it as a ‘sweaty body odour note’. Of course, lavender doesn’t smell of B.O, but my mental association of it with a past memory makes it so. However, this iced tea was stellar and B.O free! My friend grows her own lavender, mint and a wealth of other herbs and flowers - so it was a real treat to have something made nearly entirely of the fruits of her garden labour.

I don’t know if it’s because it’s getting hotter or if it’s because my schedule has been absolutely mental, but lately i’ve been snacking more than ‘eating’. So the above evidence is rather embarrassing, but such is life.

I’ve noticed how more and more it’s become a reflex to read the labels, google ingredients I don’t recognise and then decide to purchase or not purchase everything I pick up to buy for food. I never thought I’d say it, but I am getting comfortable in the life of a Vegan..I haven’t bought any leather goods, { did I mention I bought a Veg belt the other day?? } and the taste for goat’s milk yogurt, brie and ice creams have started to diminish. My Vegan friend rubs his little paws with glee when I tell him this, but I am not saying that I am ready for a completely Vegan life..yet. But as of now, I am quite resolved to do it again for another 30 days..later this year.

This was an exceptionally stressful day, how appropriate it is then that the only ‘meal’ I have to show for it is Ice Cream. A working lunch meant I couldn’t whip out my camera and start snapping my dish..in fact I even pondered on ‘cheating’ because I wouldn’t have to put the evidence of my eats on the webisphere. So you will have to trust me when I say that although I had Mexican for lunch - I didn’t have a lick of cheese or sour cream..in fact I found guacamole to be a rather satisfying texture and flavour to satiate my tastebuds.

As for the ice cream above..thank goodness for Purely Decadent dairy free products, for they gave me hope as I was invited to an ‘Ice Cream and Cake’ party for my friends 5 year old girl. Two of my most favourite vices in one place? I thought I would cave for sure and wake up in a daze of melted dairy ice cream and cake crumbs. But thanks to Purely Decadent, I took my OWN ice cream and everyone loved it. Day twenty seven, still Vegan and surprisingly loving it.

This weekend I learned that Vegan Ice cream exists. For some reason I assumed it didn’t..why? I have no idea. But I had decided to plug my way through this month without one of my favourite foods. A text message from a Vegan friend revealed not only that vegan ice cream exists but that an entire Ice cream parlor was a mere stones throw away from me. Needless to say I nearly crashed my car { don’t text and drive kids } going banana’s with elation.

And of course, I then proceeded to by ice cream. Lots and lots of ice cream…

I think I called, tweeted and texted everyone I knew when I made banana fritters for breakfast. I haven’t eaten fritters in at least 20 years..since my dad made them when I was a kid. My dad was the designated fritter maker in our house because, well, he made them very well.

Most recipes I found online called for an egg, but I eventually found one that suggested 1/2 cup of flour per banana and milk to create a texture similar to pancake batter. Unsweetened almond milk created a nice texture and flavour while a sprinkling or two of cinnamon added the spice that distracted you from the fritters not including sugar { I chose not to add sugar }.

I then proceeded to eat way too much rice throughout the day. Basmati and brown? Dear oh dear. However, this Veganism thing is becoming quite routine now and I feel that I might even be able to { gasp } do it again sometime for another month.

The list of things to eat come July 1st that I had been compiling, { consisting of such treats as hazelnut hot chocolate at Marie Belle’s and an almond croissant from Balthazar }, no longer seem as overly appealing as they were before. Am I losing my taste for all things dairy??