Spatulas, Corkscrews & Suitcases

BlogHer Ticket Winner Announced

Congratulations are in order! I sure wish I were going to the BlogHer Food Blog Conference in San Francisco this weekend, but since I can't go, I'm so glad a fellow food blogger can use my ticket. The odds were real good for anyone entering the giveaway. Only nine entrants...now don't you wish you joined in the fun too?

Anyway... Cheryl, AKA The Twitter Queen of The Daily Blonde, did the honors and picked the winning number using a Random Generator. I gave her the nine numbers, and she entered them in without my input (just so it's fair and all!).

Guess who won? Oh OK, I'll just come out and tell you it was Kris Mulkey from What's Cooking? Kris lives in Mill Valley, California is is soooo happy to be going to the conference!

Here's Kris' Comment:
Hi! I would love your ticket. I'm a relatively new blogger (since March) I have a lot to learn still. I live in SF so I'm right here! I registered for the conference but I'm on the very long wait list. My fingers are crossed!!!!

Posted by: Kris | September 18, 2009 at 04:01 PM

Although it's not a requirement, I would love it if Kris would take some notes and a few photos at the conference for my article later next week for the National Food Blog Examiner post. What do you say Kris? Interested in an interview?

Again, congratulations to Kris! Psssst, Kris, say hello to everyone for me, eat whatever you can, and have a blast!

Julie & Julia Movie & Recipe Round-ups

Blueberry Recipes, Cherry Recipes, Peach Recipes & Strawberry Recipes
I recently did an article round-up called Summer Dessert Recipes with 24 recipe links to my favorite and most popular fruit desserts. It's nice and neat and keeps everything together on one page. Some you've seen before, but there's new recipes too, like Cherry Clafouti and Fresh Strawberry Pie. Take a look, print it off, or email it to yourself so you can go back and look at it whenever you need inspiration!

Banana Bread Recipe - Easy quick bread recipe for banana bread is moist with mashed ripe bananas, nuts, cinnamon & nutmeg and very easy to make with ingredients already in your pantry. Make extra and freeze the rest. Or make Banana Nut Muffins instead!

Chocolate Mousse Recipe - Forget the phony pudding mix, this is the real deal! Silky smooth and decadently rich chocolate mousse, layered in pretty parfait glasses or Oreo Cookie crust, and piled high with fresh whipped cream. Top it all off with chocolate curls for an elegant presentation!

Transformers 2 Optimus Prime cake by Wilton - Have you seen the new Transformers 2 movie yet? If your kids have, they're gonna want an Optimus Prime cake for their next birthday party. Find out how to get your Transformers cake pan, and stay tuned for the next giveaway! There's a cool YouTube Transformers trailer at the end too!

Julie & Julia Movie - I can't wait to see this movie! I was so excited to enter a contest given last week by Steamy Kitchen. She couldn't go to the exclusive screening, so she announced a giveaway to Los Angeles to take her place. Kelly from Sounding My Barbaric Gulp won, and I followed her around virtually, got an interview and did 3 spots on her including a trailer of the new movie Julia & Julia. I actually found the book at Sam's today and grabbed it. I've only read the first chapter so far, but I find I can't put it down. I want to finish it before the movie comes out in the theaters next month.

Part 2: 'Julie & Julia' movie winner Kelly from Sounding My Barbaric Gulp

Part 3: Julie & Julia & Kelly: Movie updates from LA

If you don't know what it's all about, it's the story of food blogger Julie Powell, who decides to cook her way through Julia Child's cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking in one year. Her blog was an instant hit, it was made into a book and now a movie with Meryl Streep as Julia Child. How cool is that? Take a look at the trailer and tell me you can't wait to see as well!

RECIPE ROUND-UP & FOOD BLOG INTERVIEWS

Spring & Summer Recipes
Summer is here! Yes, I know it's not the official Summer Solstice June 21st date yet, but it feels like summer in my bones. I don't know about you, but I'd rather be cooking and eating outside than slaving away in a hot galley. Plus, if you're like us, we always have LOTS of company in the summer. And there's NO way I want to miss any of the fun stuck inside cooking. So with that in mind, I'm focusing on easy recipes this season. Lots of salads, fruits & veggies, and grillin' & chillin' grub! You'll probably still see some long HOT recipes too, because I love desserts, and just because I can!

My Dad was visiting last week, and it seems all we did was go out and eat. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE to go out and eat as much as he does, and we always find the best Rhode Island foodie joints. Add to that all the cribbage and visiting we did, and well, I didn't get much done. But I did have fun with my Dad, especially surprising him with his 80th birthday party!

I also mentioned in my last post, that I'm the new National Food Blog Examiner for Examiner.com. It's taking me a little while to adjust, so I haven't posted a lot anywhere the last week or two. If you're an active food blogger with amazing photos, I'll be looking for an interview from you!

Salads, Cobblers, Pies, Crisps & more!

Spinach Salad with Strawberries & Raspberry Vinaigrette - Just made this last night for supper. I wasn't sure I'd like the flavor combination, but it was awesome! The sweet and sour flavors, totally different textures between the crunchy pecans, juicy strawberries, and the spinach was a refreshing treat in every mouthful! Super easy to throw together too, but looks like you've been arranging the salad all day! 

Red White & Blue Recipes for 4th of July - Not just for the upcoming holiday, this list of Star Spangled recipes from Strawberry & Blueberry Shortcake to Patriotic Bomb Pops, are sure to inspire you any day of the summer!

Fresh Fruit Pie Recipes - A collection of all my favorite spring and summer fruit pies. Choose from Blueberry Pie, Cherry Pie, Peach Pie, Blackberry Pie, Lemon Meringue Pie and Fruit Galettes - the easiest pie of them all! OK, I threw in the Homemade Apple Pie too, because it really is the All-American Pie, perfect for a patriotic holiday!

How to Make a Fresh Fruit Cobbler - Basic mixed fruit cobbler recipe with fresh seasonal peaches, apples, rhubarb, cherries & berries, all nestled under a sweet biscuit topping. Serve with ice cream!

Rhubarb Cobbler with Fresh Peaches & Cherries - How to use fresh rhubarb, what fruits go good with rhubarb, and finally a fantastic Mixed Rhubarb Cobbler recipe to serve with ice cream. Make good use of this abundant, tart but tasty fruit this season!

Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp Recipe - Sometimes tart rhubarb needs a little help. Sweet juicy strawberries are all that's needed to tame the tartness, and transform an otherwise boring fruit into a thing of beauty and deliciousness! Easy recipe!

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Recipe - Garden fresh rhubarb and sweet ripe strawberries start to ripen in the spring in many locations. By summer, the garden is full of these two complimentary fruits that seem so suited to each other.

Food Blog Interviews

Brown Eyed Baker: Interview with Michelle Norris

Wicked Good Dinner: Interview with Dawn Viola

So, that's it for now. Back to baking, cooking and writing before the weather gets too hot. And just to rub it in a little to all you landlubbers out there...There's nothing quite like sitting in the cockpit with my feet up, sipping on a cold drink and gazing at a million dollar view with my laptop! It's a tough life, but someone has to live it, and it might as well be me! 

NEW TOPIC: NATIONAL FOOD BLOG EXAMINER

Would You Like To Be Interviewed?
The BIG news is, I recently became the new National Food Blog Examiner. That means I'll be doing features on blogging conferences, food blog news, interviews with food bloggers and anything related to food blogging. If you would like to be interviewed by the "National Food Blog Examiner" (that would be me!), leave me a note, email me, or comment on one of my Examiner Interviews, and I'll get back to you with my criteria and questions. 

Here's a few interviews for you to check out!

Brown Eyed Baker: Interview with Michelle Norris

Wicked Good Dinner: Interview with Dawn Viola


Interview  Features
Some of the questions are generic, but I really try to dig into your blog and catch some very personal and creative aspects of who you are and what you're doing. I have room for 10 beautiful, glossy, finger-licking photos in the slide show at the end of each article. This is an especially attractive feature as it lures readers in, and compels them to link directly to your blog for the corresponding recipes. I'm hoping for big page views for both your blog and my topic.

Please, take a look at my new page and see what you think. Open up the slide show at the bottom of each interview and gawk at the gorgeous photos. Get a feel for what I'm looking for.

I've contacted some of you already, don't worry, I haven't forgotten you, the questions are coming. I've got a list a mile long of prospective food bloggers. If I haven't gotten to you yet, rest assured I will come knocking! It's a win-win for all of us! Contact me, we'll do lunch!