Ringin' In the Spring

In case you were wondering who won the giveaway for the Skinny Bitch: Book of Vegan Swaps, that would be Dr. L. She was lucky commenter number 65. I forgot to announce that last night. Congrats Dr. L!

Today was the first day of spring (and Great American Meatout Day), and my friend Leslie, her kid Toya, and I celebrated in style. We held a little ritual honoring the Vernal Equinox (also known as Ostara) at Overton Park. We packed some candles, incense, sage, and a basket of picnic foods. We picked a little spot in a fairy-like circle of trees and spread out some blankets. Here's our little makeshift altar:

After a brief lighting of the candles (which wouldn't stay lit in the strong wind) and a meditation on the new season, we pulled out the picnic foods — Vegan Pimento Cheese Sandwiches, Tofu Deviled Eggy Bites, Cucumbers & Agave, and Strawberries:

The pimento cheese spread and the deviled eggs are both recipes from my cookbook. Eggs are traditionally associated with both Ostara and the Christian Easter, so we had tofu eggs instead. Leslie suggested the cucumbers drizzled with agave. Although she's vegetarian, she eats honey, and she said she loves cucumbers with honey. So we tried it with agave so I could eat it. Really fresh and tasty! The agave was also good with the strawberries.

Leslie made Earth Cakes, a crumble-topped muffin symbolizing the awakening of Mother Earth:

They weren't very sweet, but the bread was soft and the crumble topping was really yummy. They're traditionally served with ice cream to symbolize the melting snow that leads to spring, but we were afraid ice cream would melt in the 80-plus degree weather.

Here's Leslie and Toya!

And here I am with my cute little Earth Cake!

Happy Spring, y'all!