Is it really the end of August already? Wow!

I didn't even manage to post any new recipes in August, which makes me feel like the lamest food blogger on the planet. But don't worry, dear readers, because you didn't actually miss anything exciting. I lived August without a working stove, so I really just ate a lot of salads and almond butter sandwiches, for the most part. It was good food, but not very exciting.

The good news is that I'm cooking again, and I'll have some new stuff up for you soon. In the meanwhile, it's  Vegan Food Swap  time again! I've been hosting the US Vegan Food Swap for 5 months now and it's been a blast. Membership has been growing a little each month, and a lot of folks seem to be having a great time with it, so I'm thrilled to make it all happen.

This month, my box of goodies came from Kim S. in Charlotte, NC, who doesn't currently have a blog. Maybe if she decides to keep swapping, she'll start one. (Let the peer pressure begin!)

Kim went with a "Southern Foods" theme for this box and sent me a unique collection of "accidentally vegan" items that represent Southern food culture.

She sent some *very* Southern things, like grits and canned greens, hoppin' john, and boiled peanuts.


As well as tea bags and lemonade, so I can make my own Arnold Palmers:


And then she went off-theme a bit and included a package of spinach channa (an Indian spinach and chickpea stew):


And a collection of tea, including a couple different varieties of green tea and chai, plus some instant black coffee:


Thanks, Kim! My Southern mom would be very happy - and perhaps a bit surprised - to see all these goodies in my house!

If you're itching to be a part of the food-swapping good times, sign up for the September Vegan Food Swap by September 4! Instructions will go out the following day for Month #6 of the Vegan Food Swap!

For those who swapped in August, please link up your reveal posts below:

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This month, as part of the Vegan Food Swap, I was matched up to send a box to Kyleigh of The Only Vegan I Know. I hope she won't be calling herself that for very long, because she lives just north of Seattle and I know a lot of my Pacific Northwest vegan peoples would be happy to make a new friend! Kyleigh was kind enough to do a little write up on the goodies I sent to her this month, and I'm sharing that here.

Photo courtesy Kyleigh

I was lucky enough to be receiving a gift from the gal that puts this whole amazing vegan shin dig together! And I sure got some yummy new pantry additions! I came home from an extended weekend vacation on the beach and saw this waiting for me on my porch. 


Of course, I dropped everything (okay, so I didn't have to drop anything because my boyfriend did all the hard unpacking work) and opened my package from Cat! And lucky enough, I had never tried any of the items she sent me! So this was a completely amazing box of unknown goodies! 


I have never really had Larabars, so I opened up the Coconut Cream Pie (coconut is my favorite thing ever!) and munched on that while looking over everything and reading my sweet card Cat sent! I'm in love with the Bragg's Organic Sprinkle seasoning and have used it at multiple times since I received it. The were delicious and are on my weekly grocery list. Cat also included some [harissa] chili paste that I had never ever tried before. I love that she sent this because this makes me venture out for recipes that this can be used. This package was amazing and had a little bit of everything, which is what I LOVE!

Thank you so much Cat, you really outdid yourself with putting together yummy treats that I had never gotten to try until now! I can't wait till August!


If you're interested in signing up for the August Vegan Food Swap, you can still do so until Sunday, August 5 11:59pm EST. Click here for details and to register. 

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