10 things I’ve learned from food blogging (a year in review)

Homemade Hostess Cupcakes



1. There is a point at which I get tired of baking. It takes awhile, but this past month, I think I hit it.

2. When in doubt, always throw an extra package of butter into your grocery cart.  I’ve gone through more butter this past year than I thought physically possible.



3. Good friends will not think it’s strange when they show up for dinner and you’re photographing a plate of food instead of setting the table.

4. Likewise, close family won’t care if you bring a dessert to a family dinner with a piece cut out of the middle because you had to take a picture of it.

Layered Brownies
5. Even if Mike claims he doesn’t like something, if I don’t tell him what’s in it and force him to try it, chances are he’ll happily eat it.

6. Eating oatmeal and pancakes for dinner during the week so that you can spend extra money to eat (and photograph) a good dinner on the weekend is totally worth it.

Orecchiette with Mini Chicken Meatballs

7. I really need to learn to make half recipes of things, especially cookies.

8. If I forget the previous point, my coworkers are great for helping get rid of any leftover treats.


Cinnamon Roll Cookies

 9. More vegetables. I need more recipes for vegetables.

10. I absolutely love to cook, bake, and blog about it! I’m excited for another great year!! 
Cranberry Tea
Happy New Year!!
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31 comments

  1. Happy New Year!! I hear ya on the butter… I have gone through more butter since blogging than I thought was possible.

  2. Girl, I can help you on the vegetable recipes! So glad I met you this year – can't wait to see what the New Year brings us!

  3. I can totally relate to so many of the things on your list, especially #1, 3, 7, and 10. Can't wait to see all the things you come up with next year and I'm definitely glad I found your blog this year.

  4. Yay- it's been another great year following you! Thanks for all the wonderful recipes!

  5. Happy New Year!! I can definitely agree with all ten items on your list. I have been there…and it's fun, all fun. Do you think we should invest in a butter company? For real!!

  6. I found your blog in the last few months and have to say that I have found more recipes I've enjoyed trying here than on most blogs I read through. Looking forward to what you will bring to the table in 2011!

  7. Hahaha, my boyfriend is the same way about trying things. He always looks at food warily and says, “What's in it?” And I tell him to take a bit and then I will tell him. 99% of the time he is like, “I love it!” and I'm like, “Spinach!”
    🙂

  8. My husband finds it utterly ridiculous when I buy a couple bags of chocolate chips and a couple of packages of butter EVERY TIME we go to the store… but I always use it and he's always pleasantly surprised. A couple of weeks ago I made some cookies for my parents-in-law, and they ate a few and sent the rest home with me. *gasp* The nerve! So, I trotted the delightfully made care package to work with me the next day and my co-workers were forever grateful 🙂 Happy New Year!!

  9. Awesome things you've learned, Megan. I'm with you on the photos — good friends (and family too) don't mind. In fact, my family will ask me if I want a photo before they dig in 🙂 Frog Prince has even started reaching for the camera a time or two as well. Happy new Year!

  10. I love this post:-) Happy New year!! I think I'll be taking your advice on half batches of cookies.

  11. I can really relate to all of those, we usually have a ton of butter in the fridge! Or at least a million uneaten cookies. Cutting the recipe in half would help a lot! Happy new year!(:

  12. Hi Megan,
    I just might mail you and OLD vegetable cook book. It has been tried and true, and I think that you will like it.

    Happy New Year.
    Jennifer Miller

  13. Happy New Year! Such a funny reflection of a blogger's life!

  14. Happy new year! I agree with everything but definitely the first point. I am so with you there… hit a point this past month where I didn't want to see another sweet.

  15. It's fun to read your blog and try new things to cook. Hope you have a wonderful new year! Hudsonville Schools are doing an Eagle Fit program in all of the schools starting on Monday, in which we need to get 5 fruits or vegies in a day, so I'm hoping to find new recipes in that area…I'll start with your spinach smoothie!

    Happy New Year!

  16. I made the Orecchiette with Mini Chicken Meatballs once and we loved it.
    Happy New Year, Megan. Here's to a sweet 2011!!

  17. Love the post Megan! I think I've learned a few of those lessons this year too while blogging!!
    Happy New Year!! Looking forward to what you will be posting in 2011!!

  18. I also go through butter like it's nobody's business! I bought a 12 pack at BJ's in early December as my husband claimed there was no way I'd use all of it. I'm kind of concerned to say that I did go through that and more for holiday baking!

  19. Great post! My husband loved your comments about photography! My resolution for this year is to develop my food photography skills which are now pretty much nil. Your photography is amazing. Do you mind my asking if you have any tips to share with me? what kind of camera and lens do you use? I have a good Dslr camera (canon) but my lenses and skills are better suited for outdoor pix of my kids and scenery. Food photography is just a whole new thing for me. Any tips or recommended reading? Thanks so much and have a great year. Hope you accomplish everything you set out to do!

  20. I can relate to so many of these things! Love it!

  21. I'm definitely learning these things–and some of them will come in extra-handy for this year's baking challenge! 🙂 The butter thing made me laugh…that's something I've come to realize just recently!

  22. Hi Megan-
    #1 and #3 had me cracking up! I can totally relate. Happy new year!

    Also, I wanted to make sure you saw that you won the giveaway on my blog for a free design board. Nothing like starting the new year with a win. 🙂

    Keep the great recipes coming!!
    abby

  23. Happy New Year Megan! Very cute year-in-review! 🙂

  24. I guess you won't be posting a new recipe every day in 2011.

  25. Happy New Year Megan…this is a beautiful post!!

  26. Ahaha I so agree on #2 :)) there's a supermarket right next to our house and I buy butter every other day I think 😮 and of course I can relate to #3 and #4. The cupcake in the first picture looks gorgeous!!!

  27. So funny… so true! You got me on virtually every single point! Have a Happy New Year!

  28. I'm a little late to your party, but I am loving your blog. Everything looks sooooo yummy!

  29. These are awesome lessons! I totally agree with the butter and the husband thing. Always throw in a pack or 2 of butter and NEVER tell the man what's in the food! Congrats on a great year of lessons!

  30. #4 made me smile 🙂

    I'm off to find those cinnamon roll cookies you mentioned!

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