It's Almost A to Z Time!

Image Credit: Blogging from A to Z Challenge

As I look out the window, sun beams down on quarter-size, sparkling snowflakes. But, I'm still dreaming of warmer weather. Thankfully, one of my favorite spring blogging traditions is just around the corner.

Yep, it's almost time for the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge.

Motivated bloggers have the opportunity to connect with writers, learn about new websites, build their email lists, make new friends and learn a little something along the way.

I'm thinking of sharing a month's worth of healthy, whole foods living snack ideas. Sounds tasty, right?

This will be my third year participating in the month-long challenge. You can learn more about the challenge and sign up with your blog on the official website HERE.

Do you plan on participating this year? Have you signed up or chosen a theme for your April posts? I have two blogs participating this year: Whole Foods Living and Web Writing Advice.

I hope to 'see' you online in April!

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!
Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

Wrapping Up the A to Z Challenge 2013

Whew, another April is in the books! The Blogging from A to Z Challenge was a wild ride this year. I really enjoyed discovering new blogs and seeing some old friends from last year's challenge stop by for a visit as well.

I know I'm a little late on writing this wrap-up, but I was on vacation the first week of May and didn't exactly have Internet access in our remote little cabin in the woods. (It was wonderful!)

This was my second year of both attempting and completing the blog challenge. The first year I wrote the bulk of my posts ahead of time so I could spend the month reading and commenting on other blogs. 

This year I wrote a post each day, and I actually think I enjoyed that better. I didn't feel like I had to get  bunch of work ready ahead of time. This challenge had a more go-with-the-flow feel. Plus, I could customize the next day's post to answer any questions related to previous posts.

During the challenge I was also nominated for a Liebster Award from Joy over at "It's a Joy!". Thanks a bunch, Joy!

Although I'm sad to see the challenge come to an end, it's nice to still see bloggers visiting and networking. I've even come across a few ambitious writers who are starting up their own monthly blog challenges to keep the momentum going. Way to go!

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

4 Ways to Eat Cabbage and Like it!

Hear me out: cabbage isn't all that bad.

I know it's probably not the first veggie you reach for at the grocery store, but it's soooo good for you. Cabbage boasts high levels of vitamins C and K, can reduce cholesterol levels and has even been labeled as a food to eat for cancer prevention according to the World's Healthiest Foods website.

Cabbage! Photo: SXC.HU

So, let's serve it up!

If the only time you nosh on this cruciferous vegetable is on St. Patrick's Day with a side of corned beef, it's time to add cabbage to your weekly menu planning.

Here's four ways to eat cabbage:

1. Shred red or green cabbage and make a delicious spring salad. I cheat and use pre-shredded coleslaw mix (a blend of green cabbage and carrots) to make a springy salad flavored with apples and almonds.
2. Steam wedges of cabbage with baby red potatoes and carrots for a vegetable medley side dish that pairs well with beef, ham or chicken.
3. Stir fresh, raw cabbage shreds into homemade mashed potatoes. You'll eat fewer of the starchy potatoes, and boost your vitamin intake.
4. Be naughty and bake cabbage in a creamy white sauce such as bechamel. This isn't the healthiest of options, but it's tasty! (Hey, I'm human!)

So, how do you like to eat cabbage?

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

PS: This post is part of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. Each day during April (excluding Sundays) I will be posting a blog related to a specific letter of the alphabet. Stop back tomorrow, join this site with Google friend connect, or sign up for email reminders on the top, left side of this page to keep up with what I've got cooking!

Learning to Love Asparagus

Fresh asparagus and tomatoes. Photo: SXC.HU

I love all vegetables. Well, almost all vegetables.

There are those few that linger at the bottom of the list, and I usually only eat them if they're covered in a creamy sauce or swimming in so much butter they're no longer considered a vegetable.

Asparagus fits in this group.  I know I'm not alone when it comes to being a little shy around this stalky vegetable.

So, to kick off the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, I'm going to try to learn to love asparagus. I encourage my readers to be healthier and eat whole foods, so I need to practice what I preach!

I bought a fresh bunch of asparagus at the store and have committed to finding a way to make it tasty. After browsing my stacks of cookbooks, I decided to try preparing the veggie two ways: roasted in a hot oven and sauteed in olive oil.

The roasted asparagus had a wonderful, earthy flavor but was limp and kind of soggy. Maybe my oven wasn't hot enough or I used too much olive oil. The sauteed asparagus was much better. I lightly tossed it with fresh sliced mushrooms and onions before mixing it with pasta. The asparagus was still firm and reminded me of eating fresh green beans from the garden. Yum!

So, how do you like your asparagus? Please make my mouth water by leaving your ideas in the comments below!

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living


PS: This post is part of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. Each day during April (excluding Sundays) my posts will relate to a specific letter of the alphabet. Stop back tomorrow, join this site with Google Friend Connect, or sign up for email reminders on the top, left side of this page to keep up with what I've got cooking! Thank you!

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The 2013 Blogging from A to Z Challenge Starts Tomorrow

Are you in? The worldwide Blogging from A to Z Challenge starts in less than 24 hours!

Bloggers from around the world will get busy and update their blogs each day during the month of April. The idea is to write posts that highlight one letter of the alphabet each day, excluding Sundays. Why do we do this?

• We're a little crazy.
• We love to write.
• We support other writers.
• It's fun to gain new readers.
• We like finding new blogs to read.

Are you ready? I am! Join me here at Whole Foods Living each day in April to learn how to make eating healthier easier and FUN! I promise! Now, get back to the holiday weekend and enjoy yourself! Happy Easter!

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

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Blogging from A to Z Challenge: Are You Participating?

Last week the gurus at the Blogging from A to Z Challenge opened the flood gates. Yep, it's time to sign up for the annual April blog challenge. If you've never participated, here's why you should:

• You get to explore new blogs.
• You gain new readers and followers.
• You're challenged to post to your blog each day for a month.
• It's a great way to reboot your creative juices.

Here's a recap of my posts from the 2012 challenge.

I'm not sure what direction or theme I will follow this year. I've been tossing round the idea of raiding the produce department and trying a new whole food each day. Or maybe highlighting a favorite recipe each day. The key is to blog from A to Z, highlighting one letter of the alphabet each day, excluding Sundays.

Want to know more? Visit the official Blogging from A to Z Challenge website HERE.

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

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