Clean Slate: What I neglected to mention last year

I'm cleaning blog house this month.  Here's several odds and ends that I forgot to mention.  

Russian Kale:  I am no gardener, but I tucked six little seedlings into a tiny flower and herb bed in the backyard just before Desmond's birthday party in October.  The leaves are gorgeous and now we never run out of vegetables.  Any time I need some greens I head to the backyard and cut a few leaves.  The plants are hearty and grow quickly.  I love them.

A New Veggie Burger: Quorn has a new vegan burger.  (The rest of their products are not vegan.)  I like it because it doesn't taste like a Boca Burger or a Garden Burger.  Variety is nice.  It has a lighter color - it doesn't feel like it's trying to replicate beef - and chewy texture.  (As your mom, I do have to tell you that some people have had an adverse reaction to the protein that Quorn uses in its products.  We didn't.) 

Vegan Carnitas-Style Jackfruit Street Taco:  The best thing I ate this year may have been the jackfruit taco from Plant Food For People.  I cannot wait until they actually open.  In the meantime follow them on twitter and facebook for (not nearly) frequent (enough) taco-eating opportunities.   

Deli Sandwich Dinner Picnics: On more summer evenings then I remember we picked up sandwiches from Figueroa Produce and took them to the park.  I love a good deli sandwich and the existence of a vegan one in my neighborhood makes me very happy.    

Fiore Market Cafe: Oh, and speaking of my neighborhood, Fiore Market Cafe opened this year in South Pasadena.  I love it, love it, love it.  It has a patio that will make you want to linger all day.  They make their own bread.  They serve a totally respectable tempeh blt, and a white bean-soyrizo wrap, and perhaps the best peanut butter and jelly sandwich ever.  I just wish it came with a little side of fruit so that I could more often justify it as a meal for my two dudes.  Oh, and they have vegan chocolate cupcakes and apple juice and glasses of crayons on the tables so it's the perfect place to celebrate all sorts of kid milestones, like a preschool graduation for example.  

The China Study: I didn't read it.  Again.  I meant to last year.  Or really it might have even been the year before.  But I didn't.  The publishers even sent me two copies so I could give one to you.  I'm going to do that now (see below).  Anybody interested in writing a brief book report?  

Giveaway: I have coupons and cookbooks (and a copy of The China Study) and chocolate sitting on my desk that I'm sending someone.  I'm going to fill up a box.  I'm not entirely sure what's going to be in it. But it will be a win - win.  I clean off my desk and you get a surprise in the mail.  To enter, leave a comment with one of the edible highlights of your year.  What did you forget to mention?  

(Oh, here's two more things I forgot to mention - as far as the contest goes, U.S. residents only.  And I haven't really decided when it closes, but definitely before the end of the month.)