Vegan Cornbread

[onyx]

I'm trying to change my diet & eliminate animal products from my food (not cause i'm a weirdo, rather because i am concerned for my health).. So I've been doing a lot of looking around for vegan/vegetarian recipes & stuff & here's one that I thought was pretty cool. I'm from Oklahoma, and we like southern food out here, so I was all excited when I found a recipe for vegan cornbread! Vegan, if you are unfamiliar with the term is someone that doesn't eat or wear anything from an animal, including wool, leather, any kind of egg, dairy products, fish, seafood, fresh water creatures, land animals, or basically anything with a nervous system. lol They only eat plants.

Vegan Cornbread

I particularly like the addition of whole corn kernels or jalapenos, but you can eliminate them if you want.

Ingredients

1-1/2 cups (355 ml) nondairy milk
1-1/2 tablespoons (23 ml) distilled white vinegar
1 cup (140 g) cornmeal (it may be sold as coarse cornmeal, cornmeal, or polenta)
1 cup (125 g) unbleached all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons (39 g) granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 tablespoons (30 ml) canola oil
1/2-1 cup (80-155 g) whole corn kernels (optional)
Preheat oven to 425° F (220° C or gas mark 7). Lightly oil a 9 x 9-inch (23 x 23-inch) baking dish.

In a small bowl, combine the milk and vinegar, and set aside.

Mix the cornmeal, flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and baking soda in a large bowl. Add the milk and vinegar mixture as well as the oil. If adding the corn kernels, now is the time to do so. Stir until just blended. Spread the batter evenly in the prepared baking dish. Bake until the top is golden brown, 25-30 minutes. You may serve it at room temperature, but itís most delectable hot out of the oven.

Yield: Serves 9

Serving Suggestions and Variations: Serve it as breakfast, with various soups, or with spicy dishes such as chili. Instead of corn kernals, add jalapenos for extra spice! It's wonderful with a little nondairy butter, particularly when it's hot. Add fresh or frozen blueberries.

Food Lore: We have the Native Americans to thank for this simple dish that is as appropriate as a meal, snack, or dessert. Because different varieties of corn grew throughout North America, the cornbread of early days differed by region. Blue corn was popular in the southwest, yellow corn was favored in the northern regions, and white corn was preferred throughout the south. Early cornbread was made from a simple mixture of water, salt, and cornmeal and resembled a flat cake that traveled well on long trips. Because of some of the natural components in the corn, there was never a need to use yeast to get the bread to rise, so this American staple was "vegan" long before the word was even created!

Recipe from: http://www.joyofveganbaking.com/

i have this lady's cook book, by the way! it's great & has LOTS of recipes!!