women's bean project golden cornbread

last night i baked delicious golden cornbread with help from a woman named michelle. the women’s bean project is a denver-based nonprofit that “employs women who have experienced chronic unemployment, poverty, or difficult life situations.” they put together pre-measured mixes to make soup, cornbread, brownies, dips, and lots of other comestibles; each package is signed by the woman who assembled it.

of course it would be simple enough (and extremely cheap) to whip up a batch of cornbread from scratch, or to put together a bean soup; but like their website says, “it’s not about the beans.” i think it’s a great cause. and many of the mixes are vegan--they might call for eggs or milk to be added, which can easily be substituted, but the mix itself often has no animal products. as far as i know they’re not organic, though, which might be a problem for some people, especially these days when it’s safe to assume any wheat you buy that isn’t labeled organic is genetically modified.

in boise, a variety of women’s bean project items are available at dunia marketplace (formerly ten thousand villages) in hyde park. you can also order from their website.