I’d like to dedicate this post to Grow Kitchen & Cafe at White Oaks in Niagara-on-the-Lake A.K.A my second “home sweet home” — “It’s been a dream and a vision for about three years, and finally we’ve started developing it,” said Wakil of the restaurant and garden. “This project out here will be an ongoing project, this is just the beginning. I really foresee it taking on an even grander scope and design.”
I feel so grateful to be able to wake up early every morning and drive to a facility that caters to people who want more than just a good workout in their everyday lives. White Oaks really is my home away from home as I seem to be a regular “go-getter” with a really supportive mental state guiding me along with every passing day. I honestly, for the most part have very optimistic thoughts as soon as I awake, reminding me “to get up and move” so that I can experience the high of a good sweat, the pride that I’ve achieved, and of course the benefits of it all for my mental & physical state. This is a special power I have instilled in myself and I really truly am proud everyday for sticking to a regime that I believe will not only keep me feeling amazing now but also pay off in the future.
For the past 4 years of being a member at White Oaks I have gone through my own personal changes with diet & wellness as well as trying to find that perfect balance between eating right, working out enough, and giving my body what it needs and deserves. Listening to how I’m feeling both mentally and physically have definitely been my biggest challenge as I am a very determined, all-in, never give up, “give it all you got” kind of woman. This state of mind as much as it is a good thing needs to be controlled as your body is not an object! Today I can honestly say I have mentally & physically grown so strong, content, balanced, and most of all confident in my own skin. I am here to tell you all, you are beautiful just the way you are. Don’t you ever forget that.
I couldn’t think of a more balanced, beautiful, delicious recipe than this one I have created for you today! With the inspiration behind the growth of myself and White Oak’s new sustainable, fresh, organic cafe “GROW“, I decided to make up a special corn muffin recipe similar to what they have in house daily. Made with butternut squash, pure maple syrup, olive oil, yellow cornmeal, BOB’s 1 to 1 Gluten-free Flour, Shepherd Gourmet 0% SKYR Yogourt, So Delicious unsweetened coconut milk, free-run eggs, unrefined organic coconut oil, fresh sage, herb of oregano, steamed tempeh and melted gruyere cheese. Keeping in mind all of my vegan friends who want to enjoy these healthy, savoury, any-time of day muffins I made up an entire batch with “flax egg”, a vegan buttermilk and nutritional yeast instead of gruyere cheese! So both recipes are listed below!
Thank you to the entire staff at GROW Kitchen & Cafe for inspiring me to make these insanely delicious cornbread muffins. I look forward to enjoying many more of your fresh dishes and appreciate your attention to detail as you continue to cater to our dietary needs and healthy bodies!
(version is also listed below!)
Nutritional information calculated per muffin, all ingredients included.(both ways NON-VEGAN & VEGAN)
(non-vegan with gruyere cheese)
(vegan with nutritional yeast, flax eggs and vegan buttermilk – same as recipe)
