I was so grateful that I had managed to fly under the radar and hadn't been asked to try and pick and choose from my writing. Until Ramona at Curry and Comfort remembered me and sent the request that I put my thinking cap on. If it wasn't for the fact that I love, love, love the foods that she makes, I might have sent a nasty-gram her way. Now I have to think, doggonit.
Since my photography skills leave a lot to be desired, my choices for each category are more about the whole theme of the dish; writing, difficulty of preparation, how it turned out, and how I felt about it in general (warm fuzzies, etc.). You'll see what I mean if you continue reading (and I hope you will). These are the things that I consider to be The Mom Chef's:
1. Most Beautiful Post
What does one use as the criteria for the most beautiful post? Is it the one that looked the prettiest when you were done making it or the one that was accepted by one of those food porn sites? Is it one that people commented on a lot?
If I'm using the food porn sites, I have to share the egg dish since it's the only one they've ever accepted. If I'm using my own criteria, the post I did for both my dad and husband on Father's Day, 2010 wins hands down. The picture of me and my dad is special, but even more so is the amount of love I have for both men. I've known one for fifty years and the other for almost twenty now. I am very, very fortunate.
2. Most Popular Post
Not surprisingly, this amazing pound cake won out. In fact, just about any pound cake has done very well. This one may have done so well because of those magic two words; cream cheese. There's just something about that, no? Apparently, writing this while Hubby is watching was a mistake because now he wants me to make another one.
3. Most Controversial Post
When No One Wins A Giveaway But We Give Anyway
I don't really have controversial posts because I mostly review magazines. And, when I'm not, I try to be upbeat, not stir the waters. There's enough of that at every turn. If people want controversy, they can turn on the television. This post came about as the result of my trying to find a woman who won a giveaway. At the end of my search, I discovered that she had cancer and had stopped blogging. I have no idea what happened to her and it broke my heart. No controversy; but a lot of empathy, which I like much more.
Of course, if you want to talk about who I've made mad, I'd have to say that the porn site that starts with an "F" has probably written up stringent guidelines for any staff they may have just to be sure I'm not ever "approved" again. I haven't been too kind to them. There's something very wrong about people thinking that getting on their site is the thing to do, just for a momentary bump, when all it does is put money in F's pockets. Why do we judge our photography by the whim of someone who may have gotten up and stepped in their dog's pee puddle that morning? I won't go any further or this will end up being my most controversial post. Wouldn't that be something.
4. Most Helpful Post
There are only two dishes I've used with which I've included step-by-step instructions. One was my Mom's booze-marinated turkey and the second was this paella. Hopefully the post was helpful to anyone who read it, but it was mainly helpful to me. Spending hours watching over Jim's shoulder as he put this incredible paella together was a once in a lifetime experience. Since Jim is Spanish and learned this recipe from his mother, it's the real deal. It definitely beat reading a recipe and just trying to mimic what it said to do.
5. Post Which Success Has Surprised You
I don't know why this one surprised me so much, but it received a lot of comments (at least for me). I think it's because the banana slices on top look so much like bacon. I thought so and so did twelve others who mentioned bacon in their comment. I guess it's not the fact that a banana bread with the word caramelized in the title got noticed, but more so that people clicked on the link even though they thought it included bacon (or maybe it was because they thought that?).
6. Post That Didn’t get the Attention It Deserved
The main reason that this didn't get any attention is because it was the third recipe I made when I started this back in early 2009. It was also the most difficult and I had no idea what I was doing. I burned the heck out of my nose when I handled ancho peppers and then rubbed my nose. I tried putting aloe gel on it and everything. Not only was the dish challenging to make, I thought that my writing about the experience was pretty funny. Most importantly, though, the ribs were amazing and still stand out today as one of the best beef recipes I've made. This definitely deserved more than it received (especially in the photography realm).
7. Post You are Most Proud Of
Not a single dish I've ever cooked has challenged me more than this icebox cake. After I was done with it I told Hubby that I would never attempt that dessert again. Then we ate it. I changed my mind. It is heaven on earth. The home made angel food cake is like no other I've had before. How a cake that is so light can be so moist and full of flavor is beyond me. And that lemon filling. Oh my gosh. I can't even describe it. When I think of the 600+ dishes I've made for this little place on the Internet, this one is the one that I can't believe I did and did right.
There, I've done it. It took a few days, but here you have my 7 links. Anything you disagree with? I'd love to know. If you do anything for me, give the Chile-Spiced Ribs some love. It was the third food photo I ever took so I know it's bad. But the ribs; the ribs are fantastic, I promise.
The last bit of business is for me to pass along the joy of the 7 Links to some of the friends that I'l like to have hate me the most for doing this.
- Janis at Bite me New England because she made me look at a pig's head.
- Patricia at ButterYum because she posted pictures of fireworks in August (and they're beautiful.
- Sara at CaffeIna because I just want her to come back.
- Kisha at In Through The Out Door because she's brassy, sassy and has nothing to do with food.
- Kate at Kate's Kitchen because it's her fault I bought a bottle of St-Germain liqueur.
- Robin at Pink Dryer Lint because she's my hero and I hope I turn out like her when I grow up.
- Meghan at Scratch-Made Wife because she makes her poor husband have meatless Mondays and he lets her.