Though Tofulicious! has been wrought out some boredom's whimsical fancy in a short moment's spur, I am a serious fan of soy products: soy milk, soy nuts, soynut butter, edamame, tofu, bean curds, konyaku, soy mayonnaise, soy flour, soy cheese, soy burgers, miso, etc.--you name it, woot!  (I have yet to try tempeh, though.)

Although there is some controversy over the health benefits of soy, there is a large body of scientific evidence to suggest that this versatile bean can reduce the risk of heart disease, promote strong bones, boost the immune system, and prevent numerous cancers, especially those of the colon and prostate. Like regular meats, soy is a complete protein: a nutritional powerhouse containing all the muscle-building, essential amino acids. However, it has none of the saturated fats and LDL "bad" cholesterol that many non-lean meats have. And while soy by and large is pretty bland, it will pick up any wonderful flavors you decide to give it! So it's a fun ingredient to work with in the kitchen, and with an open mind, you may just forget about that greasy quarter-pounder double-double burger! :P

In honor of the recent meatless Lenten Fridays, I've made four new tofu dishes (pictures in gallery), all adapted from the April 2008 issue of EatingWell Magazine. I suppose they have inspired the creation of this group.

I'm not a vegetarian, but I do enjoy cooking and eating healthful foods. So regardless of whether or not you're a fan of soy, feel free to join Tofulicious! if you're mindful of sound nutrition. I'm not sure what the premise will be behind this group just yet, but it'll go where we take it.

C'mon...don't leave me here all by my lonesome, lol. It took a good two hours to put all of this together!

But if nothing more, thanks for at least visiting this welcome page. Feel free to check out the pictures!