The Great Vegan Staple

Hummus. Real original right? Maybe not, but the reason hummus is a staple is that vegans and omnis alike can enjoy it. There are a few things you can do to make hummus better though. First off, canned beans are for chumps. They have loads of sodium, are costly, and it's not that hard to prepare your beans from scratch anyway. Additionally, respect the traditional, but don't be afraid to make it your own. The inclusion of hot sauce, in this case Cholula, is our own touch and it serves the dual purpose of providing a bit of spice AND a little acid as well.

20 oz. cooked chickpeas

2 large garlic cloves

1/4 cup tahini (sesame paste)

1/2 cup olive oil

1/2 cup water

2 tsp. hot sauce (Cholula Original)

1/2 tbsp. salt

1 tsp. cumin

3 1/2 tbsp. lemon juice

Instructions: Just whiz it all up until smooth.

Serves: Bring friends.

Introduction

We're Amanda and Jereme. We're a married couple and life-long Mainers. We are also vegan. This can be a bit of a challenge living in Southern Maine, but in July of 2009 we decided that all the positive effects of a cruelty-free life would unmistakably make the challenges worth it.

Since then we've both experienced clearer consciences and better health. We've seen financial benefits, and we now life with lesser impact on our environment. Those of you who live in or visit Maine know just how important that last bit is.

What we didn't expect was the expansion of our palates. When eliminating meat, dairy, eggs, and honey from one's diet, surely that's limiting, yes? Just the opposite. The door to a whole new world of flavors, textures, and colors was opened. This is what we wish to share with you.

On So.ME.Vegans we'll examine some of the classic dishes of Maine and how to modernize and veganize our, and your, favorites. We'll tell you about our favorite local vegan products, which you'll see in the sidebar. We also plan to visit the local farmers markets to get the freshest seasonal produce and hopefully offer some you new preparations. Stick with us. We'll treat ya right. Any feedback is appreciated and we look forward to interacting with you all.