I Won Cookies!

I was smack dab in the middle of my 21-day Vegan Kickstart cleanse in January when I received an exciting email from Annie at Meet the Shannons. She informed me that I'd won a VegNews-sponsored giveaway on her blog.

I wasn't sure exactly what the prize was, but I knew it involved a year-long subscription to my favorite vegan glossy mag. My old subscription was about the lapse, so perfect timing. When the surprise box arrived, it also included a giant reusable tote that I've since used several times for hauling groceries home from the Whole Foods:

But the best part of the gift package? Cookies!!! Six giant vegan cookies from Alternative Baking Company, to be precise:

Unfortunately, these cookies arrived about a week and a half before I could get back on the sugar. I had to resolve to wait and eat them when the Kickstart plan was through. Y'all, those cookies almost broke my will ... several times. But I held firm and held out until January 22nd.

On that first day off the cleanse, after downing Daiya-covered Mellow Mushroom pizza and vegan peanut butter cups, I ate a whole big ole Alternative Baking Company Simply Vanilla Bean Cookie. I'd never had that flavor before, and it was truly delicious. Strong, real vanilla flavor with just the right amount of softness and chewiness.

The other flavors in my surprise box: Double Chocolate Decadence, Colossal Chocolate Chip, Phenomenal Pumpkin Spice, Outrageous Oatmeal Raisin with Walnuts, and Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip. Most of these are stored in my freezer, but I've also finished off the PB Chocolate Chip.

Oh, by the way, don't forget about the Vegan Cooking Retreat at the Farm in Summertown, Tennessee from February 25th-27th. I'll be leading a cooking demo, along with some awesome vegan cookbook authors like Louise Hagler and Alan Roettinger! Click here to register.

What are your favorite store-bought vegan cookies?