Happy National Noodle Month...The Shirataki Noodle Edition!

Blogger of the Day: Lyn at Wholly Freak!

Shiratakis are the newest noodles on the block...superpopular in springtime because they're low- or no-calorie so they fit into anyone's get-your-beach-body-on plan. Yes, you can eat noodles and be stunningly healthy too!  ;)

Some notes on these noodles...
• They're made from a yam-like root veggie known as konjac, alone or with tofu.
• They have no taste. Bury them under a delicious stir fry, sauce, soup or veggies. 
• They smell a bit seaweedy...ignore this. It goes away once you rinse and cook them.
• Experienced shiratakians offer tips like marinating overnight to plump them up with flavor.
• Shiratakis may seem light and innocent but they satisfyingly fill you up with noodlehappy fiber!  :)

Noodlespinner Lyn splits her time between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur with her sweetly charming red toy poodle Poppy who happens to love vegan treats too! Lyn's also new on the block...her blog isn't even a year old and she's got a faithful following of avid vegan fans! Her recipes are simple and creative and feature many Asian dishes so go check 'em out and wish her a happy blogiversary on April 23rd!  :)

Shirataki Sukiyaki

Bimbimbap

Rice-free Sushi Rice

Mushroom Miso Laver Noodle Soup

Best Chinese Dumplings Ever

Malaysian Indian Dal

Lightened-Up Peanut Butter Oat Bran Spread

Lazy Apple Pie

Black Sesame Chocolate Truffles

Raw Chocolate Fudge Cake

Take a trip to Lyn's Instagram for more Wholly feasts!

Shirataki on the market...
House Foods Shirataki...Vegan, Gluten-free, Certified Kosher and Verified Non-GMO
Miracle Noodle...Soy-free, Gluten-free, Wheat-free, Certified Kosher, Verified Non-GMO and Certified Vegan
Wildwood Pasta Slim...Vegan and Certified Gluten-free

Have you tried shirataki noodles? Do you have any shirataki tips to share? How do you like your sukiyaki? This wraps up National Noodle Month...which noodle is #1 for you?  :)

Find more feasts in our 2014 Daily Food Holiday and Featured Blogger Series!

Happy Black Bean Day!

Blogger of the Day: Erin at The Forest Feast
Pubs: Erin's squealingly cool The Forest Feast comes out April 15th!

Black beans in brief...
They're also known as Turtle Beans.
They have a mild sweet earthymushroomy taste.
They may look black but they're really superdark purple.
A half cup has about 115 calories, 2 grams of iron and 8 grams of protein!
Beans are easy to store and easy to freeze too!  :)

Erin grew up in an art-appreciating vegan family in gorgeous California, MFA'd in photography in NYC, interned with the James Beard Foundation, then moved back to CA to live, eat and work deep in the misty green enchanted forest. Her foods are vibrantly vegheavy and her "photographic recipe illustrations" are dreamycrazybeautiful! Her first cookbook is coming out soon and it's at the top of my bday wishlist.  ;)

Kale Tacos with Green Garlic and Black Beans

Stuffed Sweet Peppers

Shaved Rainbow Carrot Salad

Persimmon Salad

Orange Avocado Salad

Spring Kohlrabi Salad

Zatar Flat Bread

Grapefruit Edamame Salad

Farro Beet Salad

Wheatberry Kale Salad

Beet Haroset

Tabbouleh in Endive Boats

What's your fave black bean meal? Have you made black bean brownies? Do you groove on big city living or being out of touch in the countryside? Where's your ideal place to live?  :)

Check out the rest of our 2014 Daily Food Holiday and Featured Blogger Series!

Happy National Noodle Month...The Udon Noodle Edition!

Blogger of the Day: Zita at Zizi’s Adventures

Most people would agree that Udon rules the Noodle World. It's a simple thick wheat noodle, happy at home in hot soups, cold salads, smothered in veggies or topped with toasted mochi cakes...whatever your noodley noggin can dream up!  ;)

You can find oodles of udon in the heart of bountiful Budapest...just visit Zita's veg-friendly kitchen with your noodle bowl and say hi!  :)

Spicy Udon Noodles with Cabbage and Shiitake

Soba Noodles With Roasted Broccoli, Tofu and Sesame Seeds

Herby French Bean Noodle Salad

Roasted Tofu Sandwich with Peanut Sauce

Bean-Oat Veggie Burger

Lemon Quinoa with Zucchini and Chickpeas

Roasted Eggplant With Tahini Yoghurt Sauce

Lángos, The Hungarian Street Food

World’s Best Raw Chocolate Ganache Cake

Chocolate Popsicles with Roasted Almonds

Noodles to use...
Eden Foods...several udon varieties!
Hakubaku Udon Noodles
KA-ME Udon Stir-Fry Noodles
Ohana House Japanese Udon Noodles
Organic Planet Traditional Whole Wheat Udon

What's your fave way to eat udon? Have you been to Budapest? What are your five favorite places to eat in your city?  :)

Celebrate some more with our 2014 Daily Food Holiday and Featured Blogger Series!

Happy National Noodle Month...The Soba Noodle Edition!

Blogger of the Day: Sandy at Chow Vegan

Slurpity sobas are a bowlful of bliss! Scrumptilicious soba noodles are commonly made from buckwheat in combination with other grains like wheat or kamut, or veggies like yams, or even with green tea. (Buckwheat isn't really wheat at all and it's gluten-free so people that are sensitive to wheat or gluten can often eat buckwheat without a problem.) In Japan soba gets served in salads in spring and summer, and in hot soups or with sauces as the weather gets colder...best thing on earth when you come in from a flusteryblustery day! To enjoy them properly use your chopsticks. And yes you can slurp...tradition says you should!  ;)

When my uncle decided to resume his vegan diet a few years ago, first I cheered (yay!) then I started emailing him links to my favorite vegan websites...Sandy's Chow Vegan was one of the first. Sandy has me hooked, partly because the recipes are elegantly simple and healthy and creative, and partly because I just really love noodles.  :)

Cold Soba Noodle Salad

Strawberry Spring Rolls with Brown Rice Paper Wrappers

Chinese Noodle Soup

Cantonese-Style Vegetable Chow Mein

Asian Lentil Loaf

DIY Vegan Pressed Sushi

King Oyster Mushroom “Pappardelle Noodles” and Tomato Sauce

Super Easy DIY Pockets

Baked Falafel

Crispy Baked Tofu

Savory Brownies

Bonus holiday...it's also Food On A Stick Day!  ;)

Roasted Tofu Lollipops With Pesto

Do you eat soba noodles? Hot or cold? What's your favorite stick-stuck food? Have you ever tried frying noodles on a stick?  ;)

Find more feasts in our 2014 Daily Food Holiday and Featured Blogger Series!

Happy National Spanish Paella Day!

Blogger of the Day: Emily at Fig and Basil

Paella is an exuberantly colorful and flavorful dish arising from the spinningly gorgeous Valencia region of Spain on the Mediterranean coast. Often a part of community celebrations and food-driven festivals, it is traditionally prepared with all sorts of local fare including little innocent snails and shrimp. Emily kindly replaces these snatched-from-the-sea beings with ground sea vegetables to achieve that briny vibe...so smart! She grinds her own but you can buy an easy seasoning mix like seaweed gomasio, or you can use any flavored salt you wish  (or just skip it). She also serves her Spicy Paella Soup with Lemon Saffron Rice (recipe provided at the link) but you can serve it with any type of rice that you like.  :)

Emily is a Holistic Nutritionist/Brilliant Designer by trade...her blog is just dripping with going-to-make-you-hungry vegan lusciousness. She shows off fabulous photos, step-by-step instructions and helpful healthy info. And a true love for Spain, so she has not one but two versions of Paella!  :)

Spicy Paella Soup

Artichoke Paella

Cheezy Mexican Noodles

Indian Dahl Stew

Coconut Curry Bisque with Mushrooms

Smoked Tofu Rice Wraps with Spicy Peanut Ginger Dip

Mushroom & Asparagus Quinoa Risotto

Hummus Burgers

Portobello Tacos

Ultimate Pancakes

Homemade Dairy-free Ice Cream

Where was the best paella you've ever eaten? What veggies and extras would you put in it? Have you visited the sunny coast of Spain? Who would you share your paella pan with?  ;)

Check out the rest of our 2014 Daily Food Holiday and Featured Blogger Series!