Back in April 2009 in a fit of boredom and naive optimism I started this blog. Here we are two years, 480 posts, and 46,000 visitors later.
While the focus of the blog has changed (like I actually decided on one), I’m happy with how far it has come. I’ve made some wonderful blogging and Twitter friends, started on a new career path, and eaten a lot of food.
The occasion seems like a good time to set some blogging goals for myself.
- Post regularly again. While I needed to cut myself a lot of slack in the last few months, I miss having more content and interaction. That starts this week!
- Focus on vegetarianism. I try not to be a preachy vegetarian, but I get a lot of questions about eating less meat, vegetarian nutrition, and budget cooking. I’m working on some “vegetarian basics” posts that I hope you’ll find helpful.
- Feature some basics. While I know some of the recipes here are more complex than others, I’ve had some readers say that they’re not confident about some of the steps that I consider staple techniques in my kitchen. I’ll try to change that.
I also want your suggestions and requests. But first, a quick look back.
By popularity, here are the top 5 posts in the last year:
5.) Caramel Pecan Sticky Buns
4.) Julia Child’s Apple Tart
3.) Peter Reinhart’s 100% Whole Wheat Sandwich Bread
2.) Lovely Lemon Bundt Cake
1.) Spicy Jalapeno Black Bean Burgers
If you haven’t tried the black bean burgers yet, you’re missing out. I make them all the time and they’re fantastic. Just saying. The rest of them are good, too.
The next year’s recipes I hope will inspire you to try something new, whether that’s a new food, a new technique, or a new commitment to healthy home cooking. My favorite part of writing this blog is hearing from you, your comments and emails, telling me that you tried something you saw here and loved it.
My second favorite part of this blog is how it pushes me to try new things so I can post them for you. Look for some new dishes coming up by request — my first foray into Korean food.
To help motivate you — and me — I also wanted to kick off my third year of blogging with a little giveaway. After my recent post from the sneak peek version, I decided to start by offering up a copy of Heidi Swanson’s new cookbook, Super Natural Every Day: Well-loved Recipes from My Natural Foods Kitchen.
No freebies in sight, I just want to show my appreciation for your readership by buying you a shiny new cookbook paid out of my own pocket and the goodness of my heart. I might even order myself a copy at the same time.
THE RULES
- U.S. residents only, please (sorry, I have to pay shipping!)
- Entry period ends Saturday, April 30, 2011 at 11:59pm PST — GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED
- Winner will be announced Sunday, May 1
THREE WAYS TO WIN
- Leave a comment on this post telling me what you want to see on Little Blue Hen this year
- Tweet about the giveaway using: Win a copy of Super Natural Cooking Every Day from @stacyblue http://ow.ly/4G53i #giveaway
- “Like” Little Blue Hen on Facebook, then leave a comment here telling me you did. Sorry, early-adopters, new likes only.
Thank you again for visiting me here! I’m looking forward to your feedback, and to the next year of this blog.
{ 47 comments… read them below or add one }
Congrats on two great years! I love that you’re going to have some Korean food talk soon, and I would LOVE to see more asian / indian recipes. Also, one of my food goals this year is to cook more seasonally. I know you live in CA where everything seems to be in season all year long (jealous here), but I’m always looking for recipes that will encourage us to cook what is in harvest.
Thank you, Kate! I can’t believe you’ve been along the whole time — but I appreciate it so much.
I hope to have some fun developments in the Indian recipe front, and you know I love my seasonal produce. How’s your new CSA going?
Hi Stacy! I first found your blog through the post about banh mi. I actually live about 3 blocks from Jasmine Deli, but my kitchen was full of carrots and daikon so I was looking for a way to make those at home one day. Delicious! What I love about this blog is how you seem to stay connected to the midwest even while you explore your new region. I have just accepted a new job and will be leaving my beloved Minneapolis for the east coast, so I’d love to see more about keeping yourself in touch with an old home while you develop a new one!
If you weren’t about to move away from Jasmine Deli I would say you’re just taunting me. And now I want a banh mi.
Good luck with your move and thank you for stopping by and leaving feedback!
I love your CSA posts – I would love to see more!
Lindsay recently posted..Recipe of The Week- Sweet & Spicy Kale Chips
Thank you, Lindsay!
I tweeted! @cookveganlover
Lindsay recently posted..Recipe of The Week- Sweet & Spicy Kale Chips
And I liked you on facebook!
Congrats!! I really enjoy your blog! I would love to see more recipes for tempeh and seitan.
Thank you! That’s really good to know. Tempeh is delicious, but I often get too lazy to style it and it’s not a naturally attractive food. It will be a good challenge for me.
I would like to learn how to fry tofu, but you’ve already told me how you do it and I still fail… I’m not sure there’s hope for me on the tofu-frying-front.
Congrats to you, friend!
I would definitely love to see more techniques demonstrated, so I can stop pretending I know what I’m doing and actually know what I’m doing.
I would love to see more recipes for tempeh.
I tweeted the giveaway.
Congrats on two years, wow!!! I would love to see more ethnic recipes! And, I need to make that black bean burger…yum!!
Jackie V recently posted..Spring Time Swiss Chard with Mushrooms
Thanks, Jackie! Ethnic recipes are a popular request, it looks like, and I will do what I can. Do make the burgers, they’re awesome.
Hi Stacy! Great giveaway. I’d like to see you post more consistently. I like everything about your blog, but I would love to see more of it!
Thanks, Chrissy! I don’t have your writing chops, but I’m trying to produce both quantity and quality. =)
Ha, I think it’s funny that 3 of the 5 most popular posts from last year are sugar-laden goodness – but you’re trying to give up sugar!
I’m not good at suggesting stuff for next year; I like the content on your blog! That’s why I read it. 😉
Bridget recently posted..semolina bread
Mm, sugar-laden goodness.
Thanks so much, Bridget. That really means a lot coming from you. =)
Congrats! I love that your blogoversary and my blog launch are so close! I love your thoughts on cooking for a busy lifestyle, I think the idea of long hours in the kitchen scares people off sometimes, so hearing about delightful things you can make in a jiffy are always welcome.
Starting your blog on Earth Day was lovely, I thought, and I can’t wait to see how it continues to develop and grow! Quick meals can be challenging for me to blog even though I eat that way a lot, but maybe I just need to figure out a better process for myself.
I liked you on facebook! Not sure how I missed that before, but kinda glad that I did (because I want a free cookbook?) 😉 Miss you, and so happy for all that you have done since you left us in ‘Sota.
Thanks, lovely! I miss you too!
congrats! We are excited to try some of the recipes now that we are back in the US!
You could have tried them before, but now you can see what they’re supposed to look like!
If I may, I suggest starting with popovers which are not only easy, but most of your relatives have tested the recipe already.
Can’t wait to see the Korean recipes – I’m really curious! You’ve already encouraged me to try many new things through your posts, but most of all I just like that we can still be connected despite living on opposite coasts now
AWWWWW. Anyway, I got Heidi Swanson’s Super Natural Foods a few years ago. I love the recipes in it, but sadly my food budget doesn’t allow many opportunities to pull it out.
You always make my heart smile, Kimberly.
I also have her first cookbook, and while I don’t cook out of it (or many cookbooks) often, I think it definitely gave me a lot of ideas that I never would have considered before.
hi Stacy
I would love to see more of your blog posts on quick throw together meals, as well as your longer desert projects…. I am most inclined towards those… but I also just like to see your awesome pictures and read about your life.
Hope you are healthy and living well in CA.
K
Thank you, Katya. It looked like your hubby was baking up a storm! Hope you’re settling into your new city.
2 years! Congrats! I also vote for more technique posts. I like to pretend that I’m a good cook, maybe you can help me actually be a good cook.
You’re a good friend and a good person.* I think that qualifies for Wu Chen’s 2-out-of-3 rule even if you don’t think you’re a good cook — yet.
*good = awesome
Keep the CSA posts coming! I love hearing about what dishes you incorporate each veggie into! It inspires me to try new things with my own CSA share.
So glad to know you find it helpful, Jennifer!
Yay for 2 years!! Congratulations!! Um, I would like to see…..I don’t know, I love everything. But more vegetarian recipes would be great, we’re going for the Meatless Mondays goal this summer.
I’m so excited for you guys to do Meatless Mondays! I’ve also been trying to rotate more dairy-free recipes in, so I hope that helps.
Congrats on two years! Your blog is fab. I think more of the same! Oh, and I LOVE the CSA shares. Especially because I’m also in LA and what’s in season in your shares is precisely what’s in season for me as well. Ha.
Thank you so much, Lindsey! I’m glad someone else has the same seasons as me. =)
You have been ‘liked’ on FB!
Thank you, Cathy!
Mmmmm. I would like to see lots of yummy things that can be made in large-ish quantites and tossed in the freezer! Because I am lazy.
Or, perhaps we can start a series of posts tagged “Matrimonial Cupcake Test Kitchen.” Because wedding cake is the only cake I don’t like.
Lady, start sending me ideas. Project: MCTK is go.
Congrats! You know I just love reading & knowing you and your work.
And I hope you know how much I appreciate your support!
Happy annual! so exciting! I would love to see more reader interaction on your blog
Thanks, Katherine, I appreciate the feedback.
Congrats Stacy! I’ve been using your recipes a lot lately, and enjoying it. As a vegan, it’s nice to see people incorporating dairy/egg free options and if you could put up more vegan recipes, I would love it!
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