Shirataki Miracle Noodles: Are They Worth Trying?

If you’ve ever wished for a noodle with zero calories, zero carbs, zero gluten and a neutral flavor profile ready to absorb spices, you’ll understand why shirataki noodles are called a miracle. Also known as shirataki miracle noodles, miracle noodles or keto noodles, these slippery, watery, initially fishy noodles are similar to the ones you find in Asian stir-fries, soups or curries. Some people use them like pasta. Are they worth trying? Do they taste good? In the following post, I find out.

Shirataki miracle noodles, also known as konjac pasta, made by the Miracle Noodles brand
Two bags of Miracle Noodles brand shirataki noodles in the fettucine cut, two for $5 at Whole Foods Market in Nashville

In January 2017, I wrote an article for Vitamix about how miracle noodles were becoming mainstream. Nonetheless, almost two years later, 73% of you polled on Instagram said you still haven’t tried them. And, despite researching that blog post two winters ago, I’ll admit I’m with you. Read More

St. Louis Sourdough Is on the Rise

Move over, San Francisco, there’s another sourdough city in the game. Located right in the heart of the Midwest, St. Louis, Missouri is a location booming with bakeries that offer naturally leavened bread. Distinguished by their short ingredient lists and long fermentation times, these loaves of St. Louis sourdough make a great case for bread bakers (or anyone!) to schedule a road trip to Missouri sometime soon.

st louis sourdough - a weekend sampling
Road trip idea in middle America: spend a weekend in St. Louis, sampling all the sourdough bread

When most people think St. Louis, they think Cardinals, the Arch, maybe the award-winning zoo. For bread lovers, however, there’s an even more exciting claim to fame, and it’s gaining momentum. In the last 12 months, not one, not two, but four different bread bakeries have opened, all with one thing in common: they specialize in naturally leavened goods.

St. Louis Sourdough: this town is loaded with naturally leavened eateries!

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One Week with an Instapot 6qt Multi-Cooker

For the 77% of you who, recently polled on Instagram, said you wanted faster ways to make dinner, the Instapot is intriguing. Would it save you time? Should you buy one? To investigate, I borrowed an Instapot 6qt model from a friend for a week. After three dinners, one breakfast, a dessert and some extras, here’s what I found.

one week with the instapot 6qt
Savings tip: While the Instapot 6qt retails for about $80, dented (but perfectly working) models like the one pictured go for a discount.

Advertised as a 7-in-1 kitchen appliance, the Instapot is supposed to be the cooking device that does it all: pressure cooking, slow cooking, making rice, making yogurt, sautéing or searing, steaming and warming food. For most people, though, Instapot means pressure cooker, the task the device is most famous for and the one that puts the “insta” in its name. Read More

Do You Buy All Organic Produce or Do You Follow the Dirty Dozen/Clean 15?

In an informal Instagram survey, a reader recently wanted to know more about grocery sources. Her question: “Do you buy all fruits/vegetables organic, or do you follow Dirty Dozen/Clean 15?” So here’s a look at these labels, which get updated each year, and how you might use them when you grocery shop.

dirty dozen/clean 15 2018
Photo by Sylvie Tittel on Unsplash

In 2018, most Americans know about pesticides, those substances used to kill pests, such as weeds or insects, on plants, as well as the associated risks of using them. Read More