Up for the (7 Links) Challenge

When I opened my email Friday morning from Sonia at The Healthy Foodie, I was absolutely tickled and honored that she nominated me as one of five fellow bloggers to keep the “7 Links Challenge” alive. It’s like a long email chain for the blogging realm – fun!

I’d like to start off by saying that this Thursday marks my 4th month of blogging, and I’ve loved every second of it. Thank you so much to those reading this blog, inspiring me to create new dishes, experiment (with definite flops) in the kitchen and rekindling my love for photography. I love you all!

Here are the Ground Rules:

Blogger is nominated to take the challenge
Blogger publishes his/her 7 links on his/her blog – 1 link for each category.
Blogger nominates up to 5 more bloggers to take part.
These bloggers publish their 7 links and nominate another 5 more bloggers

The categories are:

Your most beautiful post
Your most popular post
Your most controversial post
Your most helpful post
A post who’s success surprised you
A post you feel didn’t get the attention it deserved
The post you are most proud of

1. Most Beautiful
Hmmm, this is difficult one – the rules do not state what constitutes most beautiful but if I had to pick one based on the food alone, I’d have to say my Baked Beet Chips – nothing fancy but the beet themselves are the real star! I give the credit to the natural beauty of the root vegetable (not my photography), I love the circles and the deep, bright colors 🙂 A close second would be my ice cream cake ball bombes…but I already used that for #7.

2. Most Popular
The post that has received the most hits is the Banana Buddy Shake – I gotta give props to my mom, this is just proof that mom’s definitely know what they are talking about 🙂 It’s a simple but delicious smoothie recipe that appeals to a large crowd…and also proof that peanut butter and banana go sooo incredibly well together!

3. Most Controversial
I avoid controversy like the plague (okay that’s a little dramatic) but I am not one to start a conversation with the intention to create a heated discussion. That being said, the post that best fits this category would be the one that generated the most discussion/emails, which was my Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries – yes, crispy and there isn’t any oil needed!

4. Most Helpful

The post on how to build a balanced breakfast received positive feedback but my step-by-step instructions for my Easy Wild Rice Flatbread/Pizza Crust was the most help due to the photos. It’s an easy and delicious way to use up leftover rice. Does anyone else enjoy re-purposing leftovers? 🙂

5. Post Whose Success Surprised You

I’d have to say my Breakfast Banana Split. To my surprise and great honor, the recipe was featured online at Glamour. Although it includes simple ingredients, I received feedback that the idea of the a banana split for brekkie was fun and creative – not to mention incredibly adaptable. If you don’t like cottage cheese, switch it out for your favorite yogurt and then sprinkle and/or drizzle with your favorite toppings (fruit, jams, preserves, honey, nut/seed butter, chopped nuts, coconut, flax, dried fruit, chocolate, cacao nibs etc)

6. Not Enough Attention

As a blogger, I’d like the think every post is worth some sort of attention because I have a passion for the food and recipes I make…but sometimes this is not the case in the eyes of others. One summer salad recipe in particular I assume would generate interest was my Honeydew and Tomato Salad with Feta. Maybe the combination sounded a little too “out there” but if you tasted it, you would think otherwise – it really is super delicious, refreshing and healthy!

7. Post That You Are Most Proud Of

I remember dreaming up the idea of Ice Cream Cake Ball Bombes for a couple weeks, I was so excited to hit “publish” due to the fact I had mulled over the thought for so long. I guess I’m most proud of the creativity, but my rice flatbread would be a close second. My husband gave me rave reviews and said it looked too pretty to eat, “like a dessert sushi”! In my mind, the ice cream layer takes the fad for cake balls to another level…maybe it’s just me?

Thank you Sonia for challenging me!

Now to keep the 7 Links Challenge alive, I nominate the following bloggers to take the challenge 🙂

Lindsay at Pinch of Yum
Charissa at Colourful Palate
Claire at The Food ReFashionista
Carolyn at All Day I Dream About Food
Leanne at Healthful Pursuit

3 thoughts on “Up for the (7 Links) Challenge”

Sonia The Healthy Foodie

September 13, 2011 at 8:03 pm

WHAT??? You’ve only been blogging for 4 months? I can’t believe it. Your site looks so professional, so mature… I had never realized that it was still so young.

Your Honeydew Tomato Feta salad sure caught my attention. I get the feeling it will end up on my table some time in the very near future. If I can find a melon that won’t cost an arm and a leg, that is!

Hey, thanks for accepting the challenge, by the way. I’m the one who’s honored now!

- naturalnoshing
  
  September 14, 2011 at 11:28 am
  
  Aww thanks so much Sonia! Yep, I started blogging mid-May 🙂 You are too kind!
  If you hadn’t nominated me (and to say someone else ever nominated me), you would have been the first one on my list to carry on the challenge – I LOVE your blog, your photos and your writing!
  
  There are a bunch of melons on sale here in Colorado, I wish I could send some your way!
  
Pingback: 7 Links Challenge, the final chapter | The Healthy Foodie