6 Vegan Noodle Dishes (and my return to China)
6 Vegan Noodle Dishes (and my return to China) is a post about just that. First, food. These noodles range from garlicky to peanut-based recipes. All of them are easy, healthy, kid-friendly, and delicious. You won’t be rummaging the grocery store aisles looking for unknown and hard-to-find ingredients. They are my most popular noodle dishes, especially on Pinterest and Foodgawker. Click on the name of the noodle dish below and it will bring you directly to the recipe link. 🙂
China? The Corona Virus (poorly named as I associate it with either the beer or a crown, but hey, at least it’s memorable – haven’t actually heard anyone call it COVID 19 outside of news articles)? Why would you go back? What about your family, your friends? What about your kid? And these are just some of the many questions that I am asked daily. Well, I shall answer them now for all who care to hear.
One. THE VIRUS! Seriously? It’s everywhere and most people who are infected by it have mild symptoms and manage just fine. There are two cases in my county in Oregon and loads more up North in my neighboring state of Washington.
Two. I’m going back because when I lived in Beijing, China, three and a half years ago, I was living my best life ever in comparison to those I had experienced post-college (with the exception of one year when my friends and I all moved back to Northport, NY. That was pretty dope, too). What did both of those times have in common? I had money, I had time, I had loads of friends, and I had freedom. Sounds simple enough, until you have kids, buy a house, work in a public school (or two), can’t work out, have no money, have no time, and your friends are now scattered everywhere. Adulthood totally fucking blows. At least, in my humble opinion. In Beijing, before having a kid and after, my life was still free. Expatriates (expats) are tight-knit. We all live amongst one another, travel together, and do awesome China-city activities together over the weekends. I had almost zero outgoings, saved loads of money, traveled ALL of the time (filled up my passport in less than five years), etc. Expat life was pimpin’. However, Beijing? The air was crazy bad and now that I had a kiddo, I didn’t want to raise him in the insane pollution. I also thought that I truly wanted my childhood dream. A family, with a beautiful home, a child with strong roots in a beautiful place like Oregon, a nice car, and a cushy cloud that held up this facade of warmth that I deemed to be the perfect place. The place that I used to live in via imaginary play when I was young, but this time, for real. That’s when the record skips, screeches, and goes tits up, my friends! My life here has been stained by the wretched stench of exhaustion and tribulations. If you’re reading this and your life resembles that beautiful fairytale, well, fuck you! Haha… just kidding. 😉 I either call bullshit or envy the ever-loving shit out of you. That dream was unraveling as it was being built for me. When I left for China, I was single. Life was all about me. Then came the kid. I ran with the assumption that life with a child in the US would far surpass life with a child as an expat in China. WRONG! Life as an expat in China with a child was FAR superior to my life here with a child – in almost every single way possible. Maybe not for everyone, but most certainly, for me.
Three. I have no family here. My sister recently moved to Portland but our lives are so crazy we don’t see one another all too often. Plus, my family and I have never been close. My friends? Sure, I’ll miss them, but I’ll have new and no doubt familial relationships with a great crew of expats in China.
Four. My kid? Well, he wants to be there like, yesterday. He is fully bilingual and will receive the best education money can buy – for free. We will be at the same school/campus, and he will hopefully graduate from this amazing institution. The air? We are going south, baby! Beijing is in the north and is littered with polluted air. In Shenzhen, on the border of Hong Kong, the air is clean and warm. There are beaches, palm trees, HK, and more than a shitload of activities for adults and kids alike. The city is HUGE! If you can’t tell, I’m crazy excited about this change.
Five. My blog! I can’t wait to start posting my frequent trips to Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Shanghai to see my China bestie, etc. I’ll post my favorite vegan restaurants, and my life in general, too. Of course, I’ll keep creating recipes. Being that time will be something that will once again become part of my life, I’ll actually have time to cook beautiful food and photograph, edit, and post my recipes.
Lastly, if you know me, visit me! If not, and you’re traveling to Shenzhen or China in general, message me for advice. Until then, onwards and upwards! Peace out. 😉
PS- Currently loving this song. Heard it in Sleepy Monk Coffee House in Cannon Beach and had to find out who it was! ZHU – an amazing Chinese/American musician.
Spicy Garlic Asian Noodles (Vegan)
*THE FEATURED IMAGE OF THIS POST
Creamy Peanut Thai Noodles
Sesame Soba Soy Scallion Noodles
*I NEVER TOOK PICS OF THIS AS A BLOGGER. THIS SHITTY PIC IS BOTH THE SOBA SOY NOODLES AND THE PHO BELOW. DESPITE THE FILTERED AND ANTIQUATED HIPSTOMATIC APP PIC, THEY’RE BOTH FUCKING DELICIOUS.
Best Veggie Inspired Pho Ever!
Vegan Green Creamy Peanut Udon Noodles
Veggie Miso Ramen Soup (Vegan)
Vegetable Gyoza Recipe – Vegan
I am officially back from my month long vacation and hiatus from all things blog! This past school year, I taught 52 classes per week, finished getting two books edited, and published a cookbook. This is on top of a bit of a roller coaster in my own life. I desperately needed time away from everything. I went to Long Island, NY (my hometown) and was a literal recluse. I only left my mom’s house for the beach (daily), the arboretum, Teddy Roosevelt’s house, my friend’s house in Queens (one time), and the city for an evening. That might sound like a lot, but remember, I was there for an entire month! I finally began working out again – thanks Jillian Michael’s for kicking my ass daily! My mom gave me a Fitbit so I’m now watching my steps, and I’m on the road to less boozing and carbs (insert the BIGGEST sigh ever here). I have a long way to go but made some progress this past month. That all being said, I’m back and ready to get to blogging twice a week! I’ve missed my cyber home and creating daily deliciousness!
Vegetable Gyoza Recipe – Vegan is an awesome recipe that stemmed from some serious disappointment. If you follow my blog, you know that I am practically the best advertisement ever for Trader Joe’s. Alas, the time has finally come when I just can’t get down with one of their meals: Thai Vegetable Gyoza. I decided I’d have a go at making my own recipe for a flavor palette better suited to me. For an even better flavor explosion, I fried these vegetable dough filled delights in tamari sauce. So freakin’ delish! Hope you love them as much as I did! Enjoy! -FGG
- 1 package gyoza/dumpling skins
- 1 C shredded white cabbage
- 1 C diced mushrooms (I used shiitake)
- 1/4 C chopped white radish
- 1 C shredded carrot
- 1 C finely diced chives or green onions
- 1 Tbl minced ginger
- 1/2 C chopped cilantro
- 2 tsp sesame oil
- 2 Tbl low sodium soy sauce or Bragg's Liquid Aminos
- 1/4- 1/3 C water
- Cooking oil (I used canola)
- Tamari to taste
- In a pan (or wok if you have) add sesame oil and heat on medium-high
- Add the mushrooms and stir well - about 3 minutes
- Add the cabbage, radish, carrots, ginger, soy sauce, and stir well - about 3 minutes
- Add the chives or green onions - stir occasionally for 1 minute
- Remove from heat and stir in the cilantro - let sit for about 1 minute
- Drain the mixture
- Evenly distribute the mixture into the center of each gyoza skin
- To fold, I simply squeeze the top together, pinching along the way, to create a half moon
- Heat pan on high and add cooking oil and tamari
- Place the bottom of the gyoza on the bottom of the pan - leave room to turn them onto their sides
- When the bottom of the pan begins to brown, add water and cover
- Check occasionally to see the progress of the browning and using tongs, turn to brown each side
- When all liquid evaporates and the 3 sides of the gyoza are browned, they are done!
- Serve with gyoza sauce (soy sauce, rice vinegar, chili paste or red pepper flakes, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, and chives or green onions)
- Done!
- Riesling, Bourgogne, or sparkling wine
- White ale or pilsner
5 Easy & Delicious Vegan Asian Inspired Meals
5 Easy & Delicious Vegan Asian Inspired Meals is a compilation of recipes from my blog that I totally love! Going vegan from veg-head a few months ago has been amazing for me. I have loads of energy (pumpin’ my B12’s of course) and a lot less belly bloat. I remember, many moons ago, this being the case when I was vegan for 2 years. Asian food is a fabulous foundation for vegans because there is rarely any dairy (Indian food aside and sans meat of course) involved. So many flavors and veggies to play around and experiment with. I often do ‘inspired’ meals. For example, my Mexican Sushi Rolls. I am definitely not a ‘by the book’ kind of gal. I like to mix it up and use whatever ingredients are in my fridge. When you read my recipes, I encourage you to take your own creative license with them as well.
Get some chopsticks out, prepare to make yourself a hot and saucy mess, get together with friends, chow down with the fam, drink well, chat well, eat well, and appreciate the amazing conversations and moments that come from the kitchen to the table. Life is short. A recent and heavy loss reminded me of this, and she lived a beautiful 93 years. I’ll always have our family meals… politics, humor, tales from the times etc. In many Asian cultures, food is a time to be together. Click on the light green title of the recipe below the pic for the link to the recipe, and serve up your own good times and traditions… let the memories begin!
RIP, grandma. You’re my woman amongst all women. I’ll carry you with me forever and always. XOXO
