A year ago, Bobby suggested that I start a food blog as an outlet for my many recipes.I fought the idea at first, but after a little research, saw that it was a darn good idea! So ten months ago I posted my first recipe and have been posting ever since. I’ve learned a lot during these past months and thanks to having been tagged in the Seven Links Project, I’ve taken some time to reflect on what I have learned and revisit some of my earlier posts. Stick around and you’ll get a look at the “early days”.
The Seven Links Project
A few weeks ago a dear friend and wonderful Italian chef – Giulia of Alterkitchen – tagged me for the Seven Links Project. The Seven Links Project is a joint endeavor by bloggers to share lessons learned and create a bank of past-but-not-forgotten blog posts that deserve to see the light of day again. In the project there is a list of seven descriptions to which you are to link seven of your posts. I’m going to start with the post I’m the most proud of and then go from there.
Post that I am the most proud of – Quick and Easy Strawberry Jam
Why am I the most proud of this post? First of all, it was my first post. I chose it as my first post because I’ve been making homemade jam as long as I can remember. Some of my first experiences in the kitchen were as a young girl helping my mother can jams and jellies. If you read the post I think you’ll understand why I am so proud of it.
The most popular post – Pumpkin and Chestnut Soup
This one was easy because the software tracks “popular posts”. However, it sure surprised me! This was one of those recipes that I really didn’t think about much, just threw it together and almost forgot to write it down. I was extremely pleased with the result and hope that anyone who does try it receives the same pleasure as we did. Lesson learned – trust your instincts in the kitchen and go for it!
Most beautiful post – Mafe’, A West African Stew
I can’t express how much I love all of the pictures in this post! The recipe is quite good, but the pictures are awesome. The beautiful blue bowls I borrowed from a friend were perfect for showcasing the Mafe’. When I showed Bobby the bowls and the food, he immediately expressed the desire to shoot outside in front of the vines that were starting to turn into their fall colors. So we carried the card table, food, and camera equipment outside and started shooting. For the third shot (you’ll have to visit the post to see it 🙂 ), we grabbed some pieces of a cedar fence we had taken down a few months earlier to create the surface. Everything just came together perfectly! Lesson learned – For the photography, check your surroundings and don’t be afraid to use what nature already provides you. Of course, Bobby already knew this.
The post with a success that surprised me – Red or Green? Series
This was actually a series of posts on New Mexico Red and Green chile. Its success came as quite a surprise! New Mexico chile is such a staple in my diet that I wanted to do a series that focused on it. When I started I thought it might be too regional to get worldwide appeal. Boy was I wrong! Chile lovers from all around the world came out of the woodwork! For each of the posts in the series, I received great comments most talking about one’s love of chile and all things hot. Lesson learned – people are interested in regional things and, as a cook, talk about what’s close to your heart and your stomach.
Most helpful post – How to Make Preserved Lemons
This post really brought out the educator in me. It is a “how to” post – specifically how to make preserved lemons using two different methods. It also presented the opportunity to do a video which was quite fun to do. I love the photographs that Bobby took and I think he did a great job working with amateur talent (me) in doing the video. This was actually a fun post for me to write because I have such a passion for preserved lemons and was thrilled to have the opportunity to share that passion with you. Lesson learned – my readers like instructional video and I should do more.
Most controversial post – ???
I racked my brain on this one, and the only thing I could come up with was my Thai Chicken and Vegetable Recipe. Some people may have found it “wrong” that I referred to a dish as “Thai” and then served it over penne pasta! So I justify it by saying I took “a typical chicken and vegetable pasta dish and added a twist – Thai red curry paste and fish sauce. ” That’s about as close to “controversial” as I can get. 🙂
Post(s) I feel didn’t get the attention it they deserved
When I went public with my website, I had already posted several recipes. Most of these recipes got lost as the website grew, so I’m bringing back a couple of my favorites. We were just beginning to experiment with food photography, so they aren’t my favorite pictures, but they are a couple of my favorite recipes!
Swiss Chard Calzone
Suppertime Pileup
During the early months of blogging I did some research on blogging etiquette. One of the sites I came upon said that it was poor etiquette to leave comments on older posts. Well…it doesn’t bother me a bit! Feel free to leave a comment on any post you read! In fact, I have found some real jewels on other sites by perusing the archives. I hope now that you have received a taste of what lies in the recesses of my website, that you will explore this site a little further.
I want to thank Giulia again for her friendship and for tagging me with the Seven Links. Getting to know Giulia is one of the really good things that has come from having this website. Please be sure to visit Alterkitchen for authentic Italian cuisine.
It was so much fun to look through the last 10 months of blogging, something I probably would not have done otherwise – not for a while anyway. Now it’s time to tag some other bloggers for their Seven Links. I know that these bloggers have some jewels in the recesses of their websites so I hope they all accept the challenge. Whether they do or not, you really need to check them out. Their recipes are great, their websites are fun places to visit, they have a lot of creative ideas, and they are just good people to know!
Dee of Deelicious Sweets
Kelly of Inspired Edibles
Joanne of Fifteen Spatulas
Reem of Simply Reem
Sanjeeta of Lite Bites
What an awesome idea, I am envious that even your first post had such a beautiful photo, my first food photos were disastrous! I might have to do something like this for my 1 year blogiversary coming up!
Thank you so much for stopping by my website. You have a lovely site. Absolutely amazing photography.
I love 7 links posts. There are always treasures in the archives to explore and a glimpse into them is always fun
I am really looking forward to trying preserving lemons
All seven of your links are delightful! Beautiful recipes, delicious flavors… Looking forward to many more!
It was wonderful looking back on these posts with you! Only having recently discovered a love for swiss chard the calzone looks mighty good! As does the pumpkin soup.
All 7 sound and look so delicious!
Thanks for passing from my blog and it’s a pleasure to discover yours. Your blog is beautiful and shall discover more through all those tempting old posts you’ve linked to. Shall subscribe to your blog and hope to see you back at mine as well.
Great choice of links, MJ! I love reading this Seven Links post. It was so fun looking back at your posts that I’ve missed!
Lovely post! i have bookmarked the swiss chard calzone! I know it is something I like,
So fun to revisit some of your great recipes! I’ve made a few of them and am now inspired to make some more. Keep up the great work!
I love your seven links post…it is such fun to get to peak at some older posts. They are all beautiful but I just love your one on preserving lemons 🙂
I love this series, gives us newbie reader a chance to see your previous work. the quick jam is amazing and I love the preserved lemons!! thanks for sharing!
Wow, everything looks fantasic and there is so much to see. Newest follower here 🙂
MJ, i loved all 7 link of your post…
God I remember drooling over mafe… Really beautiful..
The preserved lemons, jam everything looks so delicious…
Also thanks for mentioning me; I am sorry I am a bit late on this, had guest over for the weekend so was not able to spend time online 🙁
Thanks once again my dear…
I’m so glad you all are enjoying my seven links! Since I put this post together I have been selecting a blog a night to surf, delving into site’s hidden jewels. So if you find a comment on a post from a year ago, you’ll know I’ve been there! 🙂 If you test out any of these recipes, no matter how old it is – please leave a comment!
What a fantastic 7 link post MJ! I loved seeing some new (to me) yummy recipes and re see some of my favourite posts like the Mafe’! I think we started blogging around the same time! 🙂
Beautiful posts! I love them all 🙂 the pictures are so gorgeous, they make my stomach growl!!!
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Beautiful photography. Wonderful recipes. And My Seven Links to showcase them all. What a great idea!
That mafe photo does look absolutely amazing!
Great roundup MJ! I love all your posts but my fave would have to the preserved lemons! 🙂
Fabulous 7 links! I loved reading this post because I’ve missed so many of your great recipes. And it’s great from the blogger’s standpoint to see the improvement from the earlier posts. Thanks for sharing!
I love seven links posts and have really enjoyed reading yours and discovering wonderful recipes and tips I’d missed! I can’t wait to check out the other people you’ve tagged.
I think “how to make lemon preserve” was my very first comment on your site, MJ. And yes, you really shot and captured the beauty of the “West African Stew.” Thanks to 7 Links because I got to see the other wonderful posts that I missed. Also, I get a chance to visit these wonderful foodies on your list.
Thank you for sharing this, MJ!
~ ray ~
Strawberry season is long gone but there is still a half quart of the last batch of jam I made, so thanks to your blog, berry season lives on. And, now, every time I see chiles in the market, not only do I think of your terrific green sauce, but how your blog has opened up a whole new realm of possibilities for me using an ingredient that I had seldom used before. As long as I have cooked it is fun sharing your blog and learning new things. Thank you MJ!
Such nice things to say! I’m so glad that even having known each other all of our lives that we are still finding out new things about each other! How fun is that!
Every single one of these looks incredible but that jam is knocking my socks off.
Why am I not surprised! Your sweet tooth is A LOT bigger than mine and mine is pretty big. 🙂
I loved your New Mexican chile series, that’s what first got me really interested in your site!
And I totally missed that etiquette about not commenting on older posts (cringe). I’m so guilty of that, I have so many blogs in my rss that I try to do the best I can catching up!
I love the 7 links posts. It’s fun to go back and look at how you started and where you are now. I also had a hard time finding a “most controversial”. I think I could have listed so many more that “didn’t get the attention it deserved” too. 🙂 I love your strawberry jam and your preserved lemons! I have been wanting to do a Moroccan inspired dish and I need preserved lemons. So off I go to check out those posts. Thanks for sharing this wonderful list of recipes. I need to go back through your blog and looks at all your gems. 🙂 Have a wonderful weekend! ~ Ramona
Thanks MJ for tagging and making me feel so proud of having such a wonderful foodies friend! Love all your 7 mentions, esp the recipes which deserved the least attention..they are worth a try.
Thanks again for the blog love, hugs.
Hi MJ! I enjoyed reading your 7 links and this game by far is my favorite because I get to know the old recipes and it’s extremely fun when I am still new to the site – great roundup!
Pretty simple but grand idea! I recently cleaned out my blogger site and moved it onto WP so I could better control my categories and tags (having both food AND travel stories). In the process I found so much joy in reading old posts and looking at the pictures of food I’d eaten in the past. This is a great idea and I’m glad to see all your fav posts summarised here!
Great site i love your articles and pics too.
Great round-up MJ – I found what you wrote about the controversial post hilarious. I have an image of some indignant foodie purist sitting at home sputtering with rage at his keyboard being all like “omg, how dare she, she calls *this* Thai? Who does she think she is?!?!?!!!!!11111one”. I’m sure it wasn’t like that though 😀 I’ve done this challenge before and it’s indeed hard to find a controversial post usually… especially on something so benign as a food blog 😀
I love the preserving lemons post, I’m going to check it out now, didn’t see this one before!
I’m curious on the “etiquette” bit. Why would leaving comments on old posts be considered bad form? By the time I’ve cooked, photographed, edited and written my posts I’m looking at several hours of work, for one post. I don’t want to feel like it disappears into the ether as soon as I publish something new…. I love it when people randomly post on something I pushed out months ago… Makes me glad that someone is still reading my stuff! 🙂
Charles, That’s EXACTLY what I was thinking in reflecting on the Thai chicken post! 🙂 Yes, the whole blog etiquette comment was weird and something I really haven’t followed. We all know how much work goes into a post, so comment away everyone! Please do check out the preserved lemon post. I threw a few into a simple pasta dish last night. Yummy!
Oh, what a nice surprise! Thank you so much for thinking of me MJ and what a terrific roundup! I enjoyed reading about how you got started blogging and completely agree that the first year offers many learning opportunities… (not to mention challenges – lol). It sounds like we started our blogs right around the same time too – how fun.
I love that you chose your very first post as the one you’re most proud of; as it should be. Food photography is a whole world unto itself, isn’t it? You’ve created and shared so many beautiful recipes over the past 10 months MJ… keep up the great work. I really enjoy visiting and thank you again for your kind words about Inspired Edibles; much appreciated ;0
Kelly, Thanks for the nice comments! That is fun that we started about the same time! It took us a while to find each other but I’m glad we did! If you do this game, I think you’ll have a lot of fun. I learned a lot by reflecting back to how it all started and where I am now. Bobby is now teaching me photography, something I never thought I would be interested enough to learn. I guess one just needs to find the right subject and for me it’s FOOD! 🙂
MJ, I’m so glad you liked this little “game”.. it’s always nice looking over our shoulders 😉
And thanks a lot for your kind words… your friendship is one of the most amazing thing my blog brought me 🙂
Thanks again Giulia! You’re the greatest!
I think all the pictures shown here are lovely but have to agree with you that the West African Stew picture is stunning! I don’t think leaving comments on older posts is poor etiquette. In fact, I think many of us would appreciate comments on those earlier posts that were never quite seen 🙂
Thanks Biren! O.K. – I’ll be checking out those older posts on your site, so don’t be surprised if you see comments come in on something from months ago! 🙂
HAHAHA I was just about to tell you that I’m going to tag myself in this but scrolled to see that you already tagged me. Thank you! It’s such a great post! I can’t wait to do it too.
I was surprised to read that blogging etiquette you mentioned…I like getting comments on old posts because it means someone was really scrolling through. I agree with you!
I will do this for next Wednesday’s post!
Joanne – That’s so funny! It was fun to do and I think you’re going to have a blast! I can’t wait to see what you come up with.
MJ…it was great going down memory lane with you…..it’s great to bring back some of the much earlier posts. (I did a lot of talking to myself when I first started and so I feel like some of the good stuff got missed!). You know…I don’t mind when someone comments on anything on my post. Sometimes someone uses a search engine and ends up on an older post on your blog….and I welcome those comments! Two of your 7 links caught my eye…..preserved lemons and strawberry jam. Never tried preserving lemons before ….and I also love your jelly jars! Great choices for your seven links and I’m so happy to have found your site! : )
Anne, Thanks so much for your wonderful comments! I hope you try the lemons and the jam. They are both awesome! Also, thanks for finding me because it took me to your fun site! I’ll be heading over to check out what lies in the recesses of your website. 🙂