Food Blog Spotlight: Tofu is the New Black on Tumblr

So glad such a thing as a spotlight was invented. The concept or idea of shining a light on something or someone worthy of being noticed comes in handy when you find a fantabulous food blog like “Tofu is the New Black”. 

My foodie adventures around the web often either begin here at this blog or on Tumblr. I was scanning the posts stream and came across this amazing blog. Fortunately, the publisher, “Irene”, introduces herself in both Italian and English. (No problem if she didn't. I keep my Google translator at the ready! ☺ ) 



Irene is a vegan, and not only does she share great vegan recipes, but the food images at her blog show off some of the prettiest food I've ever seen!  She scours the web and recycles recipes, cooking tips, healthcare tips, charts displaying food alternatives or substitutes, infographics, and other food finds.  She is PRO-Green and extremely environmentally conscious (as we all should be).  Her posts date back to August 2015. Got so excited just browsing January 2017, decided her food/foodie adventures needed to be shared with others.

Are you a tofu lover?
Do you have a favorite tofu recipe?

Please comment below. 

Pretty food!

http://happy-tofu.tumblr.com/post/135333234655/httphappy-tofutumblrcom

Healthcare Tips!

http://happy-tofu.tumblr.com/post/135333574570/httphappy-tofutumblrcom

Cheese Lovers!

http://happy-tofu.tumblr.com/post/135134167665/lemon-cranberry-pistachio-cashew-cheese-ball

Healthy Ways to Satisfy the Munchies!

http://happy-tofu.tumblr.com/post/125921885985/10-vegan-snacks-for-your-desk

The Joys of Making Dishes and Drinks with Edible Flowers

The first issue of Southern Living Magazine appeared in February 1966. Since then, the magazine has only grown in its popularity and not just for the people who live in the South (Southern United States). The magazine has published wonderful articles about the home, travel, and food for over 50 years. I found this wonderful article in Southern Living Magazine. It starts off with the statement “Cooking with edible flowers is back.”

I thought to myself: “What do you mean back? I have never cooked with edible flowers!”

When I was a kid growing up in Miami, Florida, we had hibiscus flowers in our front yard. We would pick them, rip them apart, and I enjoyed sucking the nectar from the stem. I never ate the petals because I didn't know they were edible. They are not just edible; you can brew a tea with them and drink it!

In the SL article, hibiscus is on the list of the 10 Best Edible Flowers.

What have I missed? LOL.

For me, the thing is ... flowers are so pretty you don't really want to eat them. Do you?

But it's good that you can. It's one of those things you need to know if you ever get stranded on a desert island and you're not that good at catching fish or hunting for your food (like me).

It's just a personal thing, but I think edible flowers should only be used for weddings.

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FUN FOOD TRIVIA AND FACT:

The image is a photo of a marigold calendula. Calendula is known as the “poor man’s saffron,” and it can be used in the recipe for deviled eggs. Who knew?

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Related Links:

10 Best Edible Flowers | Southern Living

10 Edible Flower Salads That Are Way Too Pretty to Eat | Spoon University

Recipe Box: Edible Flower Popsicles - Lauren Conrad

The Ten Best Edible Flowers to Grow in Your Garden

30 Edible Flowers You Can Eat Right Out Of Your Garden

Garden Guides | The History of Edible Flowers

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Have you ever prepared a dish or a drink with edible flowers?

Original Source

What Are the 3 Obvious Reasons Why People Love Herbs and Spices?

Several years back, I started looking for ways to earn income working from home. Affiliate marketing was suggested, and since eating is one of my favorite things, I decided to kill two birds with one stone.    Watching a lot of cooking shows on television inspired me, and I wanted to learn how to use different herbs and spices in my cooking.

I signed up to become an affiliate marketer for various companies that sell cooking ingredients. In order to market the products, I learned about them: how to use the ingredients in various recipes, the medicinal benefits, etc. There are three awesome things about herbs and spices that I already knew, but my knowledge and understanding have been reinforced. They are the 3 obvious reasons why people love herbs and spices.

• Number One: Spices and herbs can turn everyday meals into a sumptuous fare and make dining with family and friends a very enjoyable and memorable event. Not that sitting down at the table with friends or family and partaking of a bland meal doesn’t have its positives. I mean … you can have great fun with relatives and friends at the table – telling jokes, talking about sports, the weather, etc. Everything but the food! Oh, there won’t be any insults. But there won’t be any compliments dished up either. They probably won’t look forward to coming over for another meal and will likely make polite excuses about why they can’t attend the next time they’re invited.

• Number Two: Spices and herbs help you to develop a healthy respect and appreciation not just for various cuisines but for different cultures. One of my favorite TV cooking shows is “East Meets West” because the aim of the program is to blend the cooking techniques and ingredients of eastern and western dishes to make a fusion cuisine. My interest in learning more about herbs and spices started because I wanted to use more than just salt, black pepper, and garlic powder to season my food, and also wanted to make dietary changes for health reasons without having to eat tasteless food. Mind you, there was no excuse for my limiting myself to what one well-known American chef referred to as “house seasoning” (salt, black pepper, and garlic powder). In the house I grew up in, my mother used oregano, bay leaf, thyme, allspice, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, Italian herb blend, peppercorns, red pepper flakes, etc. There were all kinds of herbs and spices in our kitchen cabinet. All used – whenever my mom was doing the cooking. When you have to do your own cooking, you look for easy street. Now that I’m older and wiser and there are lots of cooking shows on television all the time, there’s no lack of inspiration.

• Number Three: Spices have a fascinating history. At one time, they were considered such a highly valued commodity that nations fought wars over them. Indonesia was proclaimed a republic in 1945, and the islands, which were formerly known as the Spice Islands, are known today as the Moluccas Islands. Discovering these islands was quite an adventure for the explorers. As a result of their efforts and sacrifice, we can experience the joys of many flavorful and exotic herbs and spices every day because they can be easily purchased online or at our local grocery store. Even though obtaining them is now very convenient, their availability, not just for cooking but for medicinal purposes, should never be taken for granted.

Simply Ming: Easy Techniques for East-Meets-West Meals

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Source: Virily

* Spices and Herbs - Harvesting and Storing Spices and Herbs in the Freezer