We’ve been soooo incredibly busy for the past few months.  Took the kiddies to Legoland during the break.  They got to take a picture with President Barack Obama…the lego version.

Legoland was a blast.  It was so worth it, just to see the light in their little faces.  We’ll be back to our [...]]]>

We’ve been soooo incredibly busy for the past few months.  Took the kiddies to Legoland during the break.  They got to take a picture with President Barack Obama…the lego version.

Legoland was a blast.  It was so worth it, just to see the light in their little faces.  We’ll be back to our regularly scheduled programming shortly.

UPDATE: The contest has come to an end, stay tuned for our next giveaway. The winner will be posted shortly!

Because we’re doing a vegan food truck and because it’s Vegan MOFO, we are launching contest giveaway #1. Winner of this contest gets a vegan pecan pie!

The inspiration for this contest is: [...]]]>

UPDATE: The contest has come to an end, stay tuned for our next giveaway. The winner will be posted shortly!

Because we’re doing a vegan food truck and because it’s Vegan MOFO, we are launching contest giveaway #1. Winner of this contest gets a vegan pecan pie!

The inspiration for this contest is: Sandwiches!

We at Ste Martaen love sandwiches and we’ll smack anything in between two pieces of bread. (We’re also looking for any excuse to use Veganaise.)  We are looking for a sandwich to feature on the Food Truck.  So, not only will you win a vegan pecan pie, but your winning sandwich entry will be featured on the Food Truck Menu!

Instructions:

Post your sandwich concept/recipe and sandwich name in the comments section of this post.

Contest Rules:

1. All sandwich entries must include 100% vegan ingredients, if we are “veganizing” you must include a vegan substitute.
2. If you are suggesting a recipe from a cookbook, please be kind enough to list the title and author of the cookbook.
3. Your sandwich idea does not have to include a recipe, however your concept/idea must be clear enough for us to make a sandwich from it.
4. All entries must be submitted by midnight on Wednesday, November 10, 2010.

Domestic Shipping Only.

Ready. Set. Go!

This photo was taken over a year ago, when my daughter was just a wee one. I was sifting through the recipe folder, looking for a recipe to post and finding none, I came across this photo. So much has happened in this year. Our small business has grown and we have celebrated [...]]]>

This photo was taken over a year ago, when my daughter was just a wee one. I was sifting through the recipe folder, looking for a recipe to post and finding none, I came across this photo. So much has happened in this year. Our small business has grown and we have celebrated birthdays and cried over the passing of my beloved Grandpa. I want everyone who comes across this to be happy in knowing that love is such an infinite force. It cannot be contained, bottled or canned. I spent two weeks in Georgia with my grandma who had just lost her partner of 65 years. I am so amazed by her strength and her foresight. She was prepared to lose her husband, I wasn’t prepared to lose the man who had stepped in as my father for the past 30 years.

When my grandparents still lived in NYC, they took me everywhere with them. I went on countless road trips from NYC to Georgia. I remember my grandmother always making more food than we could eat and my grandfather always impeccably dressed. He was a proud man and he was always loving, affectionate and proud of me. I was their first grandchild and the only grandchild for ten years. My father being their only child, they welcomed me, an unexpected gift as their daughter. As I write this, the love and positive example that he showed me is engraved permanently in my heart and my soul.

Like my grandfather, I am quiet, choosy even with the folks that I share my life with. However, “I love you” should never be left unsaid. I am grateful that I have the loving memories of the times that I spent with my grandpa. He could always make me laugh. He didn’t miss much and often had colorful observations to share.

As you read this, you must know that love is a powerful choice and it feels so good to have it in your life. If you are out there seeking it, stop, for it is first found within. Everything is already there, just open your eyes. If you are going through a hard time, if there are troubles in your midst, remember to love. Give love freely in kindness to others and receive love through forgiveness.

I am just sharing with you a portion of my journey because I have found that love always wins, the spirit lives on and we are all magnificent beings with an amazing capacity for love.

This is just a ploy to get you to ignore the fact that this is not a recipe post. Don’t worry, we didn’t run out of vegan recipes that will make your inner thighs touch (unfortunately I know this as fact). This month went by so quickly. Where does the time go?

I made waffles. It’s serious… I’ve made waffles before, but they were never good. They were blah. I knew I could do better, I just didn’t know how. Sue Gregg has entered into my life and I am a changed woman. She has shown me the way. I was kind of skeptical at [...]]]>

I made waffles. It’s serious… I’ve made waffles before, but they were never good. They were blah. I knew I could do better, I just didn’t know how. Sue Gregg has entered into my life and I am a changed woman. She has shown me the way. I was kind of skeptical at first. But, blender waffles are the ONLY way to do waffles. They must be done the Sue Gregg way and you will become a believer too!

Yes, what you see above will create waffles, I promise.

Start with dumping 2 cups of brown rice in the blender. Yes, I said brown rice.

Dump in 2.5 cups of vegan kefir yogurt OR 2.5 cups vegan yogurt thinned with vegan milk of your choice OR 2.5 cups of vegan milk with 1 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar (this makes vegan buttermilk).

Add 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract.

Add 2 tablespoons of coconut oil.

Blend. Let everything get all incorporated and then go to bed. Well, you don’t have to go to bed, just leave the waffle batter in the blender covered, on the counter overnight. Sue Gregg explains this as the two step process. I just call it planning ahead. The grains get to soak and get all softened up and break down from the acid in the yogurt OR buttermilk. So in the morning, all you have to do is add some last minute ingredients…

Add 2 tablespoons of flax seeds and blend.

Add a enough milk to open up your vortex. Once that hole is open, dump in 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 teaspoon of baking soda. Quickly turn off blender. You don’t want to overwork the batter once the baking soda has been added.

Make sure you have plugged in your waffle iron and coated it with oil.

You might want to hurry up and make these before she chews off her fingers.

Drool. Moan. Repeat.

It’s more than okay to top these with So Delicious coconut yogurt, maple syrup and nuts or nothing or jelly or berries. It’s up to you.

Even toothless babies can eat these nutritious delicious whole grain waffles.

Awww. She wants to share. Not really.

Disclaimer: I did this in a Vitamix with double the recipe of what Sue Gregg has on her website for blender waffles. She states that a regular Oster with the glass container will do. I have a Vitamix and I have four children. Doubling the recipe was necessary.

Make it right, you’re a star. Make it wrong, the whole meal is ruined. So much rides on this seemingly basic bread. There’s just something about cornbread that just makes or breaks a meal. And it’s amazing how many variations there are. I’m not talking about adding this or that, onions, cheese, or [...]]]>

Make it right, you’re a star. Make it wrong, the whole meal is ruined. So much rides on this seemingly basic bread. There’s just something about cornbread that just makes or breaks a meal. And it’s amazing how many variations there are. I’m not talking about adding this or that, onions, cheese, or jalapenos; just different formulas for plain cornbread. Then I solved the puzzle. I figured out a perfect recipe for cornbread just this year. And when you have great cornbread, your meal is skyrocketed to another taste dimension. Now, my wife won’t attempt to make it because “it doesn’t compare” to mine. Nice compliment, but I think it is part of her continual plan to stay out of the kitchen as much as possible. I’m on to you love! With great cornbread, you can serve Army slop and guests will rave about you all year long. In fact, when serving cornbread, the cornbread is really the main dish and what ever else is served becomes the compliment. I’ll stop rambling and let you give it a taste test. This cornbread goes great with any beans and really well with the Thai Curry Orange Lentil soup I recently made.

First, preheat your oven to 400 degrees.

Add two sticks (or 1 cup) of vegan margarine to a 9″ x 13″ baking dish. Throw the dish in the oven while it is preheating to melt the margarine.

The dry ingredients:

2 cups cornmeal
1 cup all purpose flour
1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon baking powder
4 tablespoons turbinado or raw sugar

Add dry ingredients to a large mixing bowl.

Check on your margarine. Once melted, take out of the oven and pour over the dry ingredients.

Also add 2 cups of soy milk.

Mix it all together with whisk.

Pour your mix into your baking dish.

Scrape all the glory out. Like momma said: “It’s not good to waste.”

Bake in the oven for 25 minutes. Now you have to wait. Always the hardest part.

It’s always fun to have the children do some chores while you wait. In our family, the boys must work for food. No freebies around here. Especially when they eat like grown men! My boys can demolish some food. I have no idea how their stomachs fit it all. Then, after 3 servings, they ask for dessert. Yeah right, you’re lucky you don’t get a check.

DING!!! The best sound ever. Take out your cornbread.

Let it cool for about 5 minutes. Then serve it up.

Add another pat of margarine ’cause there wasn’t quite enough in the recipe and get to smackin’!!!

And if your mouth winds up looking like his…don’t worry, I understand.