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Heidi
Food Blog: Savory.TV 
Where do you live now and where did you grow up?
I am very blessed, I currently live in beautiful western Colorado.
I split my time between Durango and Telluride. I grew up in Ann
Arbor, Michigan.
How did you come up with your blog name and why did you start
blogging?
I've always loved the word savory! The domain Savory Tv was dropped
and I was lucky enough to grab it! I wanted to created a site of
chef videos and gourmet food education, so off I ran. In the future
we will have a complete site redesign and eventually film our own
videos, focusing on chefs in Colorado ski towns.
What do you do for a living?
I'm a nurse! I'm working currently in the ER and recovery room,
after 10 years of ICU experience.
Where do you get your cooking inspiration?
I was slightly forced into cooking! My siblings and I were latch
key kids raised by a single mom. I was the oldest, so I had to cook
for them. My chef friends have also inspired me a great deal.
What's your favorite recipe that you make? I make a killer
asparagus soup with white wine and three cheeses :)
What do you like most about blogging? I enjoy helping others
to not feel intimidated by gourmet cooking, and it's fun to explore
and write about culinary trivia. Most of I'll I've met some amazing
people through blogging, both foodies and otherwise.
What advice would you give to someone just starting their own
food blog?
Mine is a video blog, but if I had a traditional food blog, I would
say invest in a great camera and learn to take stellar photos. Use
social networking to your advantage, including communities like
Great Cooks, and Twitter. Be yourself and develop your own unique
writing style. Try to stay light with the advertisements if
possible. Remember longer posts do not always work to your
advantage, the average internet users attention span is very short.
If you are feeling burnt out, take a break until you feel
refreshed. Quality beats quantity by a long shot.
Aside from cooking, what is something you like to do in your
spare time? Winter is my favorite season, I alpine ski as well
as snowboard, and occasionally get onto the ice rink. My summer
sports are mountain biking and hiking. I enjoy watching independent
films, going out for sushi, and spending time with friends. I read,
and alternate great literature with complete trash :) When I can, I
visit my sister in Costa Rica, who is in the process of opening a
fishing resort with her husband, it's very exciting!
Your favorite recipes from your blog
These are not my recipes, they are from chef's on my blog, I
have made them and they are truly delicious!
Dawn
Food Blog: My Taste Space
Where do you live now and where did you grow up?
I grew up in Rhode Island, but live in New Hampshire.
How did you come up with your blog name and why did you start
blogging?
My main blog, Coming to a Nursery Near You, came from the fact that
I was newly pregnant. I started blogging there in order to deal
with all the emotional stuff that goes with pregnancy.
What do you do for a living?
I do freelance photography, graphics design, web & blog design
- from home.
Where do you get your cooking inspiration?
I get my inspiration from Food Network a lot.
What's your favorite recipe that you make? I really like the
foccacia that I make.
What do you like most about blogging? The community.
What advice would you give to someone just starting their own
food blog?
Blog what you enjoy - not what you think people are looking
for.
Aside from cooking, what is something you like to do in your
spare time? Reading, photography, design.
Your favorite recipes from your blog
Priya
Suresh
Food Blog: Priya Easy N Tasty Recipes
Where do you live now and where did you grow up?
I live in Paris, France with my husband n my cute kids...I was born
n brought up in South India exactly Pondicherry, ancient French
colony..
How did you come up with your blog name and why did you start
blogging?
I was always interested in cooking n trying different recipes, but
never thought to open a blog...coz its a hard task for me..Once
while browsing one of my orkut buddy showed me a Indian cooking
site, i started watching everyday n start posting recipes per
day..the owner of the site send me a mail proposing an idea to
start myself the blogging..i wasn't much prepared to start blog,
but a Sunday just was sitting and blinking to start myself the
blogging, with full energy i said myself get ready n started myself
the blogging, my blog name wasn't that much hard, i used to prepare
simply n quickly as well as tasty recipes..so i kept easily my blog
name...
What do you do for a living?
Am a part time job employee n part time home maker
Where do you get your cooking inspiration?
Its all from my mom, who's an awesome home maker, learned from her
as well as from grandma who was my great inspiration for cooking
original south indian recipes..baking is one of my favorite
activity and learned them through the Tv shows, also by reading
baking books...
What's your favorite recipe that you make? Chicken Spicy
gravy, chicken briyani, Chicken 65, Chocolate cake.
What do you like most about blogging? I love to go through
other foodie blogs n joining in their events...trying myself to
come up with something different, tasty n easy..moreover getting
new friends through blogging..
What advice would you give to someone just starting their own
food blog?
Already am a new blogger, what I can say is need to be very
patient,regular in posting recipes, being positive to the critic by
other bloggers, being original, being passionate for what we are
blogging for...
Aside from cooking, what is something you like to do in your
spare time? I love hand works, i have started a blog regarding
my hand works, love stitching, crochet, paintings, cross stitch n
others interesting stuffs for making fantasy jewels
Your favorite recipes from your blog
Priya
Balchand
Food Blog: spicysouthernfood.blogspot.com
Where do you live now and where did you grow up?
I grew up in a small town in southern part of India and moved
recently to Hyderabad city, India
How did you come up with your blog name and why did you start
blogging?
We moved to Hyderabad recently, leaving behind our parents and
relations for job sake. I was really bored up initially and wasted
my free time by watching television. I usually refer many blogs for
trying out different North Indian recipes. Then I planned to start
my own blog for South Indian recipes, because I saw people across
the world are trying out different cuisines everyday and why not I
contribute my own recipes... My mom and my Mom-in-law are my great
inspiration from where I learned all spicy recipes. So I came up
with the name "spicysouthernfood" which suited it well.
What do you do for a living?
I work as Quality Analyst in a Product company.
Where do you get your cooking inspiration?
My mom and also from my fellow bloggers.
What's your favorite recipe that you make? Vegetable
briyani
What do you like most about blogging? Learning new things
and meeting different people every day.
What advice would you give to someone just starting their own
food blog?
Make sure you do the best and with a pinch of love, you will come
out with delicious recipe :-)
Aside from cooking, what is something you like to do in your
spare time? Watch any good TV shows and movies.
Your favorite recipes from your blog
Susan Coggin
Food Blog: susancoggin.blogspot.com
Where do you live now and where did you grow up?
I'm a Georgia Girl, born and raised in Lindale and currently living
in Newnan.
How did you come up with your blog name and why did you start
blogging?
We call our home Quail Hollow. I started blogging to share
information with family and friends and before long, I realized
that I was cooking all the time. So my blog took on a life of its
own.
What do you do for a living?
I recently retired after 34 years in education. My "living" this
summer has been in the garden and the kitchen.
Where do you get your cooking inspiration?
My inspiration starts with my grandmother, moves to the garden and
is heavily influenced by cookbooks, cooking shows and the
Internet.
What's your favorite recipe that you make?
Anything with tomatoes!
What do you like most about blogging?
Blogging gives me the opportunity to work on my writing skills
while enjoying time in the kitchen.
What advice would you give to someone just starting their own
food blog?
Be prepared, it will become addictive! Just ask my granddaughter.
She is quick to tell you that we have to photography the food
before we eat!
Aside from cooking, what is something you like to do in your
spare time?
I love to be outside in the garden and spend time with my
family.
Your favorite recipes from your blog
- Panzanella
- Hot Pepper Jelly
- Tuscan Country Ribs
- Spicy Squash Cakes
- Panna Cotta
Shifali
Katyal
Food Blog: recipesandmore-shifali.blogspot.com/
Where do you live now and where did you grow
up?
I live in Columbia, MD now and I was born and brought in Mumbai,
India
How did you come up with your blog name and why did you
start blogging?
I love food and every thing related to
food. The name came Recipes and More came to me as I am always
looking for new recipes to try on and experiment with. The reason I
started blogging is to share what I have with me and it is a medium
for me to express my thoughts around Food.
What do you do for a living?
I work as a Vendor Analyst with a leading Staffing company.
Where do you get your cooking inspiration?
Food Shows ; tips and recipes from friends.
What's your favorite recipe that you make?
I make rajma pretty well.
What do you like most about blogging?
It's a cool medium to interact with people who have similar
interests like you.
What advice would you give to someone just starting
their own food blog?
Just go ahead and begin.
Aside from cooking, what is something you like to do in
your spare time?
I love reading and listening to
music.
Your favorite recipes from your blog:
Vegetable Burger Paneer Strudel Penne Pasta Salad.
Ramamoorthy S
Food Blog: dakshinspices.blogspot.com
Where do you live now and where did you grow
up?
Currently living in London; born &brought up at MADURAI (Temple
city of India)
How did you come up with your blog name and why did you
start blogging?
Dakshin means SOUTH & am from South India. Just to show the
world the regional Indian cuisine
What do you do for a living?
I'm a chef; working for a Marriott group as a Sous Chef
Where do you get your cooking inspiration? from
my Nanny & Mom.
What's your favorite recipe that you make?
CHUTNEYS are my favorite items..... not the regular one though
What do you like most about blogging? It opens
up for new ideas to share & develop the chances to know like
minded people.
What advice would you give to someone just starting
their own food blog? Be original & never feel shy
!
Aside from cooking, what is something you like to do in
your spare time?
Movies, especially Indian movies!
Your favorite recipes from your blog:
- Beetroot Halwa
- Sambhar
- Lemon Rice
- Chettinad Chicken
- Strawberry Chutney
Sudeshna
Banerjee
Food Blog: BengaliCuisine.wordpress.com
Where do you live now and where did you grow
up?
I am living in a small 1 bed-room flat in
Bangalore, in the southern parts of India. Because of my father's
job, I traveled a lot during my school days, so its almost all over
the Eastern parts of India that I grew up, with a little more time
towards Calcutta, the capital of West Bengal where I was born.
How did you come up with your blog name and why did you
start blogging?
After coming to Bangalore, I was now
the chef in my own kitchen ,mom not there to take care of that.
First I thought of writing all my recipes in a diary, then came up
with the idea of blogging so that I could interact with lot many
others like me and also get a platform to nurture my hobby of
cooking.
Being a Bengali by birth, of course I had am biased towards Bengali
cooking, with lots of spicies, vegetables, fishes and meat - you
just name it and I'll make that dish for you. So I chose the domain
as "bengalicuisine" and as its the place for me to cook , so the
blog name of inevitably "Here I Cook".
What do you do for a living?
I had been
working as a software engineer in an MNC in India after my
graduation, but now I have left the job and pursuing my Masters, so
you can call me a student.
Where do you get your cooking inspiration?
The one name that comes to mind when talking about cooking
inspiration is my mom. The greatest cook I have ever seen and
tasted. Her passion is to cook, and so she is almost always in the
kitchen experimenting something or the other. My blog is all
dedicated to my Mom and her love towards cooking.
What's your favorite recipe that you make?
My favorite recipe as to say are lot many , but to choose one, I
would say non- sp[icy fish curry is my favorite (http://bengalicuisine.wordpress.com/2008/05/20/macher-jhol/).
What do you like most about blogging?
I
love interacting with people, so even when nobody is at home I can
interact with people having the same taste for cooking through my
blog.
I love coming home and finding comments on my posts. It just
feels good to know that someone out there is reading what I'm
writing. I am proud to be a part of the greatestcook community too.
So, the blogosphere has really opened a whole new world in front of
me. I just feel intrigued and happy altogether to find so many
people having the same taste getting connected through blogs.
What advice would you give to someone just starting
their own food blog?
For those who are starting theirs
own food blogs I would say that its best that you write your own
recipes , thats the first criterion, your recipe should be original
and not copied from somewhere else.
Secondly, an image says a hundred words, so its better if you
attach a photo of your preparation along with your post.
Also, surf for more related blog , write comments so that they
inturn come back to your blog and your blog becomes popular. The
more you visit others blog the more will be your blog traffic.
Try writing regular posts to your blog.
And definitely when you write a post or page take out that passion
within you, and write the way so that everyone likes your
style.
Aside from cooking, what is something you like to do in
your spare time?
I used to learn Bharatnatyam (a
classical form of Indian dance) before coming here to Bangalore, so
on my spare time, I just try out some steps and try rejuvinating
those days of performing live on stage in front of hundreds of
audience and listening to their claps after the show is over.
Your favorite recipes from your blog
Hilsa with Steam
Chingrir Malaikari
Category Desserts
Chicken In Chilli Garlic
Sauce
Bhindi South Indian Style
Susan
Whetzel
Food Blog: DoughMesstic.com
Where do you live now and where did you grow
up?
I live with my husband and son in Pearisburg, VA. I grew up here as
well as across the border in WV. I have never lived more than 30
miles from where I was born.
How did you come up with your blog name and why did you
start blogging?
I started blogging after the birth of my son (now almost a year
old) so that his grandparents could watch him grow. Then I found
Foodies, and decided Hey?I can do that. So more and more pictures
of food statred showing up on my blog about the baby. Eventually
those pictures took over, forcing me to start a new blog just for
my adventures into the world of food. And thus, DoughMessTic was
born?as I can be a bit of a haphazard nut in the kitchen!
What do you do for a living?
I own a retail
store, and I also bake for a local Café. However, I consider myself
a Homemaker. That's the toughest job.
Where do you get your cooking inspiration?
Other Foodies. The community of food bloggers is so supportive, and
just FULL of great ideas.
What's your favorite recipe that you make?
That's tough. I have to say, the Danish Braids from July's Daring
Baker challenge are WAY up there on my favorites?other than that, I
am of course always looking for the perfect Chocolate Chip
recipe!
What do you like most about blogging?
The sense of community and the friends I have made. Plus, taking
pictures of food ROCKS!
What advice would you give to someone just starting
their own food blog?
Just do it. And join a group, such as Daring Bakers or Tuesdays
With Dorie?any group that challenges you to think outside your
comfort zone. You'll learn so much!
Aside from cooking, what is something you like to do in
your spare time?
I love photography, and traveling is something my husband and I
love to do. We are big into Europe- its hard to keep us away!
Your favorite recipes from your blog
Archive Featured
Bloggers - August 2008
Mark
Boxshus
Food Blog: BoscoeTheCookieDoctor.com
Where do you live now and where did you grow
up?
I live south of Boston in a sleepy oceanside community....Hull, MA.
I'm originally from Worcester, MA, and after a stint in NYC and
several years living and commuting from Boston, MA, I've settled on
the south shore.
How did you come up with your blog name and why did you
start blogging?
A good friend and recognized "Cookie Maven" named me "The Cookie
Doctor" after declaring my cookies the absolute best she had ever
tasted. "Bosco" was a nickname given to me 30 years ago by my best
friend's mother, since "stretch" and "bean pole" weren't original
or flattering...LOL. (I'm 6'5" ) The "e" was added when I
discovered my treasured nickname was also being used by many others
on the internet. Hence the name "Boscoe The Cookie Doctor"
What do you do for a living?
I'm a semi-retired food consultant and full time New England Group
Support Leader for the CMTA (Charcot Marie Tooth Association) CMT
is the most commonly "mis-diagnosed" neurological disease and
affects millions of people.
Where do you get your cooking inspiration?
Growing up in a family where my mother's cooking was bland led to
"outside" exploration and a zillion "Oh My God Moments" . I started
cooking in college and fell in love with food preparation and
baking. After college and a brief stint in the insurance industry
in NYC on Wall Street, I moved on to corporate positions in the
confectionary, nutmeat and spice industries. I didn't resume my
"true passion" again until 1999 and haven't looked back since.
What's your favorite recipe that you make?
That's a tough question to ask...LOL I have several favorites
ranging from simple macaroni and cheese to Chateau Briand, Beef
Bourguignone, Cassoulet, Meatloaf, Chocolate Chip Cookies,
Flourless Chocolate Cake Smothered With Dark Chocolate Ganache,
etc..........
What do you like most about blogging?
The sharing and learning experiences are undeniably the biggest
draw.
What advice would you give to someone just starting
their own food blog?
Study the most notable and recognized food blogs for their content,
writing style and formatting. Also make sure you have a clearly
defined "message" or reason for wanting to post and then go at it
with your heart and soul. Along the way you'll find your "comfort
zone" and will attract others who subscribe to your style and
content. Be patient........ It takes time to settle in and find an
audience.
Aside from cooking, what is something you like to do in
your spare time?
I love to fly, travel, physical fitness and puttering in my veggie
garden.
Your favorite recipes from your blog
Katie
Prange
Food Blog: CookKatie.blogspot.com
Where do you live now and where did you grow
up?
I live near St. Louis, and I grew up all over the country, living
in places like Minneapolis, Minn.; Ann Arbor, MI; Vail, CO; Green
Bay, WI; Charlotte, NC; and Lebanon, NY.
How did you come up with your blog name and why did you
start blogging?
I started blogging because I wanted to work on my writing and I
also wanted to do something with food. I used to work in the
restaurant industry, but have since left to raise a family. My blog
name just came out of my head. I always think about how we each
just take up one little corner of the world and that there is so
much more out there.
What do you do for a living?
I teach English and accounting in a local high school
Where do you get your cooking inspiration?
I get my inspiration from friends and family. I love to cook for
people. Cooking for people is one way I can express my feelings for
them.
What's your favorite recipe that you make?
I love to make linguini with clam sauce; however, I haven't made it
in a while.
What do you like most about blogging?
I like sharing with other people and letting them see a little bit
into my life.
What advice would you give to someone just starting
their own food blog?
I would just tell someone to write what they know and be true to
themselves.
Aside from cooking, what is something you like to do in
your spare time?
I like to swim, read, shop, play with my kids, and just hang
out.
Your favorite recipes from your blog
Cheryl
Dunkin
Food Blog: CookingDunkinStyle.blogspot.com/
Where do you live now and where did you grow
up?
I was born in Portland Oregon and have lived in
the great Pacific Northwest my entire life. Within 10 miles of
where I was born actually.
How did you come up with your blog name and why did you
start blogging?
I think my husband and I have our own
"style" of cooking and entertaining and decided "Cooking Dunkin
Style" fit us. We entertain quite a bit and have a casual style of
cooking. I have blogged for many years about my personal life. My
neighbor started a cooking blog and encouraged me to as she knows I
love to cook. I am so glad I took her advice I love my cooking blog
and we definitely are not in a cooking "rut" anymore!
What do you do for a living?
I retired last year and now am a stay at home dog mom and
housewife.
Where do you get your cooking inspiration?
Anywhere and everywhere. I see an ingredient and I get inspired to
use it in a recipe, or I may see something interesting on a cooking
show or magazine. I cook by taste mostly and like to use "in
season" ingredients.
What's your favorite recipe that you make?
That is a hard one, there are so many! I think it would have to be
my Enchiladas, I have been perfecting that recipe for 20 years!
What do you like most about blogging?
Meeting interesting people, sharing recipes and ideas and
supporting each other in the process.
What advice would you give to someone just starting
their own food blog?
Don't be discouraged, your traffic will pick up over time. Do it
for yourself and if people visit, even better! It's a great way to
keep your recipes at your fingertips and be able to share them with
others.
Aside from cooking, what is something you like to do in
your spare time?
I am working on a family cookbook which will be given out to
everyone at Christmas! It will include all our favorite family
recipes. I also entertain my dog and keep my busy husband on track
and well fed.
Favorite Recipes from my blog
Shubha
Ravikoti
Food Blog: Chutkibharpyar.blogspot.com
Where do you live now and where did you grow
up?
Presently I Live in Winnetka, California, USA. I
grew up in a city called Mumbai in India. I got married and moved
to USA along with my husband. Ohh how I miss home.
How did you come up with your blog name and why did you
start blogging?
Well, how I started blogging is a very
tricky question and I have written a whole post on it, which you
can check here. But just to cut the long story short... I would say
I started blogging due to Avacados. I had never seen Avacados
before I came to USA. So when I was given few avacados by a cousin
I was all confused what to do with them and I searched the world
wide web and discovered this amazing Food blogsphere. Well, thats
it.... My passion of cooking found a home... and I started my own
blog to blabber about my experience and cooking. I choose the name
"Chutki Bhar pyar" for my blog....which means "A pinch of love" in
hindi the national language of India. I started full fledge cooking
only after marriage and that too for the love of my life. So whats
best than cooking with the most beautiful ingredient called LOVE..
and hence the name.I add immense love in all that I make for my
sweet husband. We all do....don't we?
What do you do for a living?
I am a home
maker so my hubby worries about making a living. I just decorate my
house and cook. Rest all is taken care of....
Where do you get your cooking inspiration?
Basically my Mom...all her fantastic recipes and techniques. My was
a great cook...unfortunately is not with me anymore. Presently my
mom in law who is also a very good cook. She makes amazing south
indian recipes. And other sources would be the internet....for all
the different cuisines from all around the world.
What's your favorite recipe that you make?
We love any kind of rice recipe and Pasta. I love the authentic
pasta.... yummmmmm...I love experimenting with different varieties
of pasta. I try lots of fusion in pasta like adding chinese flavour
, thai flavour or even indian flavour to my pasta.
What do you like most about blogging?
The
interactivity... I get to interact with so many fellow bloggers who
share the same ideals , ideas and taste as mine. I can learn so
many things from other foodies all over the world.... The scope of
learning is no more restricted inside the kitchen... I learn every
minute I blog....Thats y I enjoy blogging...:)
What advice would you give to someone just starting
their own food blog?
Enjoy ur food. Love it...before u
blog about it.When u have the passion inside it shows on ur blog.
Always share your experiences. Even if its bad. You may be stopping
someone from doing the mistake u already committed...:) So be true
when u blog. BE patient and answer questions.. Be good and leave a
thank u note for someone who took time to comment on ur
recipes.
Aside from cooking, what is something you like to do in
your spare time?
I love painting, sketching, Crotchet,
embroidery.... yeah I do so many things.. I have started everything
But not completed any of them yet except for a sketch... I also
have a passion for henna/ mehendi art.. u can check out my designs
in my blog...:)
http://chutkibharpyar.blogspot.com/2007/08/my-mehendi-album-do-comment.html
http://chutkibharpyar.blogspot.com/2008/04/new-mehendi-designs.html
Your favorite recipes from your blog
Hmm
there are so many.....
Sangeeth
Raghunathan
Food Blog: LetUsAllCook.blogspot.com/
Where do you live now and where did you grow
up?
I currently live in Prospect Heights,IL. However, I was born and
brought up in India.
How did you come up with your blog name and why did you
start blogging?
When I was working for an IT company
in 2006, I wanted to do something creative. I had a lot of work
pressure and wanted to let it out in some way which makes me feel
happy about what I do. When I was goggling, I came across blogging.
Many blogs that time inspired me to start my own and now I am
blogging for more than 2 years. Though my first blog is not a food
blog, my blogging experience and my passion for cooking urged to me
start a food blog.
Initially, it was named 'Let us all cook' meaning that each and
everyone has a cook inside, it is up to us to reveal that side of
ours to the world. But, then when I was focusing more of Indian
foods and wanted to spread more Indian recipes to the world, I
decided to change the blog name as 'Art Of Cooking Indian
Food'.
What do you do for a living?
I am a full
time homemaker now and I do Crocheting, sewing, knitting, blogging
not for living, but as a hobby. I do freelancing, but major money
for living is contributed by my husband.
Where do you get your cooking inspiration?
Like most of the foodies I am not going to say it is my MOM. Of
course she is one of my inspirations, but not in cooking. I watch
food network, read cookbooks, but mu major inspiration is 'Vah chef
Sanjay' of Vahrehvah.com and also my fellow foodie bloggers whose
recipes are adding on my 'to cook' list.
What's your favorite recipe that you make?
I love my cooking. Pongal, Panner Tikka Masala, vegetable cutlet
are few among many.
What do you like most about blogging?
It
sure is a learning tool to improve your creativity. It helps us to
interact with many people/foodies and their success stories which
inspire us to move further. It is a 2 way process where you can
critic and will be criticized by your fellow bloggers in a positive
way.
What advice would you give to someone just starting
their own food blog?
The key words are:
- Be Passionate
- Be Patient
- Be Regular in posting
- Be willing to learn and teach
- Be honest
- The most important of all, Be original!
Aside from cooking, what is something you like to do in
your spare time?
Crocheting, Knitting, Reading,
Travelling, listening to songs and dancing
Your favorite recipes from your blog
Archive Featured
Bloggers - July 2008
Maggie
DogHillKitchen.blogspot.com
Where
do you live now and where did you grow up?
I grew up in Detroit, Michigan and currently live in a outer suburb
of Detroit. We're in the middle of building a new home and moving
to northern Michigan. We hope to move by the end of this
year.
How
did you come up with your blog name and why did you start
blogging?
When we purchased the land we're building on my husband and I were
talking about coming up with a name for the property. Our land is a
beautiful 16 acres of rolling forest and meadows. My husband has
plans to add a new puppy to our pack of two dogs and I said that we
should call the new home Dog Hill. When I decided I'd like to start
a collection of recipes and chronicle the move Dog Hill Kitchen was
the name that stuck for the food blog.
What
do you do for a living?
I'm primarily a stay at home mom. My husband is the owner of
Raptisoft Games and I do most of our bookkeeping and a LOT of game
testing. Chuzzle is my favorite game of all time.
Where
do you get your cooking inspiration?
I really believe in whole foods cooking and I've always loved
making things from scratch. My son Alex is allergic to dairy,
peanuts and lentils so I do a lot of dairy-free baking for him. I'm
always looking for ways to make favorites of ours tastier or
healthier, sometimes tastier wins over healthier.
What's your favorite recipe
that you make?
I love making chocolate chip cookies. There are so many ways I make
them: crunchy, chewy, with eggs, without eggs (flaxseed meal
instead), with oatmeal, double chocolate, with date sugar, with
icing, different flours, etc. I haven't posted a chocolate chip
cookie recipe yet because I'm always in the mood for something
different and never make them the same.
What
do you like most about blogging?
I love finding new blog events and challenging myself to come up
with something I've really enjoyed to submit.
What
advice would you give to someone just starting their own food
blog?
Just get started. There are some intimidatingly experienced cooks
out there with awe-inspiring photography but it's so much fun to
add your two cents to the pool. The variety is what makes it
fun.
Aside
from cooking, what is something you like to do in your spare
time?
I read a lot. I love books about food and cooking. I also love
fantasy, science fiction and mysteries. I exercise (to burn off
those cookies) and do yoga regularly. I love to garden but had to
downscale my garden with our current house. I hope to be gardening
a lot more when we move. We'll be living in Michigan's wine country
directly across from a cherry orchard and the farmer's markets up
there are awesome!
Your
favorite recipes from your blog
Mansi
Desai
FunnFud.blogspot.com
Where do you live now and where did you grow
up?
I was born and raised in India. I came to US to complete my
Masters, and currently live and work in sunny California.
How
did you come up with your blog name and why did you start
blogging?
I was always interested in cooking, and trying different flavors
and recipes was a favorite activity. Slowly, the love grew into a
passion, and my husband convinced me to start a blog about my
recipes and all the things I loved. I did not know about the
food-blogging world before I actually started my blog! Named after
a small road-side cafe in my hometown, my blog is called Fun and
Food, and reflects my thoughts, ideas and opinions about having
loads of fun while cooking! Cooking should not be a boring chore,
and that's precisely why I started blogging - to help home-cooks
discover the chef inside them and enjoy cooking good food to share
with friends and family!
What
do you do for a living?
I'm a software engineer in a technology company.
Where do you get your cooking inspiration?
Initially, it was my mom who inspired me to learn about flavors,
aromas and tastes. Now cookbooks, food shows and food celebrities
inspire me everyday to try something new and create simple or
exquisite meals in my kitchen. Baking is one of my favorite cooking
activities, and I'd love to have a restaurant of my own
someday!
What's your favorite recipe that you make?
Tandoori Paneer Tikka, Batata Vada(Potato vadas), Khandvi, and all
kinds of Cakes :)
What do you like most about blogging?
The ability to meet other chefs, know their stories, and learn from
them! Plus, blog recipes are tried-and-tested, unlike other sites
which just list them from somewhere else! A blog also reflects
one's honest opinions, most of the times, whihc helps when you are
trying to find relevant and useful information. And though its
addictive, I like how blogging is just an outlet for my creativity,
rather than a full-time job!
What advice would you give to someone just starting their
own food blog?
Be passionate, and believe in what you do! do not start a food blog
simply to earn money, but only to cater to your culinary passions
and learn more by sharing with others! be patient, and be truthful;
fame, friends and fortune will follow on their own:)
Aside from cooking, what is something you like to do in
your spare time?
Travelling, Reading, Singing and Adventure sports
Your
favorite recipes from your blog
Ivy
Liacopoulou
Kopiaste.blogspot.com
Where
do you live now and where did you grow up?
I grew up in Cyprus and now I live in Athens, Greece.
How
did you come up with your blog name and why did you start
blogging?
I started copying three old note books I had with recipes on the
computer. Last August I was feeling so bored after our vacations
late June ? early July that my son, who knew how much I love
cooking saw this situation and gave me the idea to interact with
people, through a cooking blog.
What
do you do for a living?
I used to have a bookstore but business wasn't going well, so I had
to shut it down. After several months of resting and blogging I
decided that I had to do something about it and now I am a
Tupperware consultant.
At first I
didn't know how to name it and gave it a very descriptive name:
Ivy's household Recipes and advice, where I used to write my
recipes in Greek and translate them into English. Later on, I kept
this name for my Greek blog and made a new one to record my recipes
in English. As I explain in my profile, "Kopiaste" is the word we
use to invite people we want to share our food with or when we open
our house to friends and invite them to come and make themselves at
home. So in my way I am inviting you in my kitchen to share with
you all my recipes and all my "little" secrets.
Where
do you get your cooking inspiration?
Before having the blog I never used to miss a cooking show on T.V.
I used to make quick notes of what I remembered of the recipe but I
have a bad habit. I don't like copying recipes and apart from some
traditional dishes where I stick to what I have learned from my
mother, I rarely make the same recipe twice.
What's your favorite recipe
that you make?
My favourite recipe is a Cypriot
traditional recipe: Sheftalia
http://kopiaste.blogspot.com/2008/04/sheftalia-in-cyprus-pita.html
What
do you like most about blogging?
I like interacting with people and I am so happy I have met and
made so many good friends. They are like a second family to
me.
What
advice would you give to someone just starting their own food
blog?
I would tell them that their readers are intelligent people so be
honest with them, be friendly and when someone visits you and
leaves a message, go back and show your appreciation by leaving a
message. I would also advice them to join Food
Communities.
Aside
from cooking, what is something you like to do in your spare
time?
I used to read a lot but it seems that I don't have much free time
now as I have found something I couldn't even dream of a year and
so ago, when I shut the bookstore. I attended some painting lessons
to fill in my free time and this has become my second passion after
cooking. Apart from free style painting, I also do
Iconography.
http://ivy-artistic.blogspot.com/
Your
favorite recipes from your blog
My favourite recipes are those which I created by
myself:
Archive Featured
Bloggers - June 2008
Ben Herrera
WhatsCooking.us
Where do you live now and where did you grow
up?
I grew up in Mexico City, but I live
now in Columbus, Ohio.
How did you come up with your blog name and why did you
start blogging?
I was chatting online with a
friend from Spain and I mentioned I wanted to start a food blog. He
immediately suggested What's cooking? for the title of the blog. He
was so excited about it that I thought it would be a good idea to
start a food blog. I started blogging because I wanted to write
about the food I grew up with in Mexico and challenge myself to
make it. It's very difficult to find authentic Mexican food in
Ohio.
What do you do for a living?
I have a
small bakery and are a Tupperware consultant. Blogging has also
become a source of income.
Where do you get your cooking inspiration?
From other blogs, cookbooks, novels
but mainly from my memories of the food my mom used to
cook.
What's your favorite recipe that you
make?
I have several favorite recipes, but
I would say that the one I like the most is my Mexican Chicken
Lasagna.
What do you like most about
blogging?
The people you meet and the friends
you make on the blogosphere. We might be different in many ways,
but food brings us together.
What advice would you give
to someone just starting their own food blog?
Keep it simple. Keep it real. Keep
it fresh. The best recipes are the ones that come from the
heart.
Aside from cooking, what is
something you like do in your spare time?
Read a lot, watch movies and
exercise.
Your favorite recipes from
your own blog
Mimi
Witherington
AllThingsMimi.blogspot.com
Where do you live now and
where did you grow up?
I live in a crappy little apartment in Alamosa, CO, but I was born
and raised in Savannah, GA (not in a crappy little
apartment).
How did you come up with
your blog name and why did you start blogging?
I came up with my blog name (All Things Mimi) because I was sitting
in front of the blinking cursor at blogger.com, and needed a name
(and characteristically had not planned ahead). But it really suits
the blog, because I started it to maintain contact with my friends
and family back in GA. I figured rather than send a weekly email
(or use expensive cell phone minutes), why not start a kind of
on-line diary? Soon enough, however, my natural passion for cooking
kind of took over the blog, and now it's a food blog with
intermittent interjections from other parts of my brain.
What do you do for a
living? I herd cats (otherwise known as teaching
kindergarteners). Back in GA I taught middle school for almost 10
years. When I ended up out here in CO, I needed to get my foot in
the door of the local school district, and this job came open. I
would have to say that although I miss my middle schoolers, I have
found that working with the little guys is equally
rewarding.
Where do you get your
cooking inspiration?
I read about a million other food blogs. I get inspiration from
them on a daily basis. My "to try soon" list of recipes would take
me a decade of constant cooking to get through.
I also subscribe to a few cooking magazines that I couldn't live
without: "Cooks Illustrated," "Cooks Country" and "Everyday with
Rachael Ray," (stop rolling your eyes- reading her is tons easier
than watching her)
I used to watch a lot of food network, but recently I feel like
some of the shows have run their course. I still have my favorites-
Alton Brown (a fellow Georgian) and Tyler Florence (close to GA-
SC).
I really get more inspired by other foodies, slogging their way
through their normal lives, just like me. Watching a celebrity with
a production staff to do the cleaning, a research staff to do the
recipe writing, and a seemingly unlimited food budget just doesn't
seem realistic to create in my kitchen at home.
And, of course, I was raised in a house with two outrageously good
cooks- my parents. So although I don't pretend to be as good as
they are, I suppose I come by some of my curiosity
genetically.
What's your favorite recipe
that you make?
My go-to dish for busy weeknights is a roasted veggie/pasta recipe.
I can chunk whatever veggies I have in the fridge or freezer on a
roasting pan, then toss the results with a few tablespoons of pesto
and some cooked pasta. My all time favorite version of this recipe
involves slow roasting tomatoes, garlic and mushrooms. I don't
always have the time for that, however! I also fall back on
breakfast for dinner quite frequently.
What do you like most about
blogging?
I love coming home and finding comments on my posts. It just feels
good to know that someone out there is reading what I'm writing
(other than my mom- actually, she doesn't even read the blog!).
I also love being a part of the food blogging community. I'm a
new-comer to this world, but everyone has been so willing to help
and offer advice!
When you start reading lots of food blogs, you notice the
comraderie and support between blogs. Of course there are contests
and round-ups (my faves- I get TONS of good ideas from these) but
there are also yummie looking pictures and stories of successes and
failures. It's nice to know I'm not the only one who has total
brain farts in the kitchen!!
What advice would you give to
someone just starting their own food
blog?
Me? Give advice? Really- I should be getting advice from everyone I
can. But here is a list of things I try to do regularly, that I
think are good habits to make.
- Read as many other food blogs as you
can.
- Don't be afraid to ask
questions.
- Get involved in sites like Great
Cooks Community (both for the sheer fun, the info and the
exposure).
- Don't try to write like someone you
aren't. Be honest with your readers.
- Post regularly!
Aside from cooking, what is
something you like to do in your spare time?
I love to read. Recently, I've picked up the hobbies of knitting
and beading. I can't wait for school to be out so I can devote more
time to my blog, my new projects and my favorite hobby- sleeping
late!
Your favorite recipes from your
blog
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Send your
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Your
Name:
Your Blog
Address:
Where do you live now and
where did you grow up?
How did you come up with your blog name and why did you
start blogging?
What do you do for a living?
Where do you get your
cooking inspiration?
What's your favorite recipe
that you make?
What do you like most about
blogging?
What advice would you give
to someone just starting their own food blog?
Aside from cooking, what is
something you like to do in your spare time?
Your favorite recipes from your
blog (Maximum 5 Entries)
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Comment by Vani on June 3, 2008 at 6:31pm 
Comment by Shubha on June 4, 2008 at 12:58pm 
Comment by Tenina on June 24, 2008 at 6:44am 
Comment by Ivy on June 30, 2008 at 10:33am 
Comment by Mansi on July 7, 2008 at 1:46pm 
Comment by Jill McKeever on July 8, 2008 at 10:04am 
Loved to know more about Ben and Mimi..