2012 Blogging from A to Z April Challenge

Each April, bloggers around the globe participate in the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge. Since every blogger interprets the rules differently, here are my personal goals for this blog, Whole Foods Living:

• Provide valuable information about nutrition
• Share recipe ideas and menu plans
• Explain that Whole Foods Living extends beyond the kitchen
• Post at least once a day in April, excluding the last four Sundays
• Focus on one letter of the alphabet for 26 days 

Follow the blog challenge by signing up with a Google account or email address in the left margin of this page.

Are you also blogging for the A to Z April Challenge? Please share your blog's URL in the comments below so I can check out your progress!

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

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Gluten-Free Brown Rice Tortilla Recipes

Recently I discovered that Fareway on the northside of Sioux City stocks Food for Life Brown Rice Tortillas. I've been experimenting with the whole grain brown rice tortillas, and here are my three favorite ways to eat these tasty gluten-free tortillas.

Brown Rice. (Photo by Fir0002, Wikimedia Commons)

Cheesy Quesadilla
I like keeping the tortillas flat since they tear easily. Since I was craving Mexican food, making a quesadilla was a no-brainer. I lightly oiled a hot skillet, placed one brown rice tortilla in the pan and topped it with shredded cheddar cheese. If you like spicy quesadillas, try adding pepper jack cheese.

Then, I added another tortilla and let the quesadilla cook on each side for a minute or two. Unlike wheat flour-based tortillas, rice tortillas get an extra crispy crust which made this treat very easy to hold and dip. Try serving with a side of salsa, sour cream or guacamole for a delicious Mexican appetizer.

Panini-Style Sandwich
Recently, I stuffed cheese and vegetables between two rice tortillas to create a panini-style sandwich. This is a great way to get rid of leftovers or add extra hidden vegetables to a meal. Since I'm a vegetarian, I kept the sandwich simple by layering mozzarella cheese, spinach and fresh sliced tomatoes on my panini. After five minutes in the oven, the sandwich melted and toasted. Other toppings to try include sliced deli turkey or a mixture of ham and cheese.

Gluten-Free Tortilla Pizza
This is my personal favorite recipe using rice tortillas. Making gluten-free pizza from a boxed mix is simple, but costly. Using brown rice tortillas is much easier and adds a serving of whole grains to my diet.

To make a substantial crust, I use two tortillas separated by a sprinkling of shredded mozzarella cheese. Then, top the pizza with tomato sauce, more cheese and favorite pizza toppings. After five minutes in a 400 degree oven, the cheese was melted and the tortilla crust was crispy and golden. This tortilla creation reminds me of crispy, thin crust pizza.

Are you looking to add more whole grains to your diet? Brown rice tortillas are a great way to start! Let me know how you enjoy preparing tortillas!


Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague


PS: Want to read more about going gluten-free?

Gluten-Free Diet Traps: Avoiding High-Calorie Foods
Gluten-Free Pasta: Mung Bean Noodles Prepared Three Ways
Starting a Gluten-Free Diet
5 Naturally Gluten-Free Desserts

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Gluten-Free Soy Sauce Alternative: Liquid Amino Acids

Whether you have celiac disease or a gluten sensitivity, you may be surprised to find out soy sauce is no longer on your menu. Thickeners made from wheat and barley often taint the Chinese condiment. Since I'm a lover of whole grain brown rice and fresh sauteed veggies, I was thrilled to learn about liquid aminos. The savory sauce with a salty kick is gluten-free and a close cousin in flavor to soy sauce.

Add liquid aminos to a fresh, whole foods stir fry.

 

                 Photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons.

Made from soybeans, liquid aminos also pack a powerful healthy punch. The brand that I have been using, Bragg Liquid Aminos, contains 16 essential amino acids needed for organ and tissue growth.


The list includes Alanine, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Glutamic Acid, Glycine, Histidine, Isoleucine, Leucine, Methionine, Phenylalanine, Proline, Serine, Threonine, Tyrosine, Valine and Lysine.

Plus, the Bragg brand is free of preservatives, artificial dyes, alcohol, chemicals and genetically modified ingredients. Basically, it's soybeans and water.

According to the Bragg website, 1/2 tsp of liquid aminos contains 310mg of protein, zero calories and 160mg of sodium. So, use the liquid sparingly if you're on a low-sodium diet. I enjoy drizzling the liquid over a stir fry, adding it to soups in place of salt and using it as a base in homemade salad dressing.

Have you used liquid aminos? Let me know!

Until next time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela
Whole Foods Living

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$1 Off Organic Eggs

Organic food can be pricey -- unless you have a coupon!

If you shop in the HealthMarket at HyVee on Hamilton Blvd. in Sioux City, Iowa, stop by the end caps and grab the current sale ad. Tucked inside is a coupon for $1 off one dozen (any brand) organic eggs.

Photo courtesy Morguefile.com

Or, head to the HyVee website to download and print the coupon. This whole foods offer is good February 22-29, 2012.

Until next time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela
Whole Foods Living