Project Food Blog, a competition that will use 10 challenges to slowly whittle down almost 1847 food bloggers to one lucky winner, has begun. Readers get to vote 1 blogger through and a panel of distinguished judges will decide who else goes through each round. The first round challenged participants to define themselves as food bloggers, what makes them unique and explain why they are the next food blog stars.
To start, I like to think 52 Kitchen Adventures is pretty unique, since what we do is explore unique ingredients.
Like flan made with mushrooms:
and (gluten & dairy free) banana bread made with teff flour:
and pork belly (and another time, feet!):
and papaya seed dressing:
and, of course, the ultimate bacon chocolate cupcakes:
I try to keep the text short in my posts, as I find myself skimming wordy blogs and just admiring pretty photos. But I’ll add in a little more, since I’ve never given the real story behind 52 Kitchen Adventures, and to understand what defines me as a food blogger, that’s where you need to start.
The reason I started this blog at the beginning of the year was to have a productive project, force myself into the kitchen (to cook, not just bake), and share my love of food with the world. I have always lived by the motto “try anything once” and thought it would be fun to put that to the test. 37 kitchen adventures later and I’ve tried many things I’d never heard of before, things I never thought I would eat, and learned a lot about random foods.
While I have been a baker all my life, I never really felt like a cook. Cooking always stressed me out for some reason. I’m slowly getting there, but I admit to Googling simple cooking techniques and teaching myself everything from scratch. I often turn to Russ with basic cooking questions and for recipe ideas and innovations. He is a great cook and one of those people who makes things up as he goes, rarely needing to consult a recipe. I, on the other hand, usually need a recipe to at least guide me.
This blog has become an outlet where I learn to cook new things, and a fun place to share my discoveries, adventures, and meet other great food bloggers. I love sharing my experiences here and if I can do it, anyone can! I hope this blog continues to inspire people to try new things and think outside of the box. Next time you see something new at the market, try it!
Check out my Project Food Blog profile here and vote for me on Monday (I’ll post a link on here that day).
Dani
September 17, 2010 at 1:41 pm (14 years ago)Yay go Steph!!
For what it’s worth, I write those little cookbooks every week and I STILL am like “hold on, let me google how you braise something.”
Dani
September 17, 2010 at 1:44 pm (14 years ago)OH MY GOD! Bread and Jam for Frances was MY favorite book when I was little too!!! Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs was pretty high up there when I got a little older, but nothing beats Gloria playing with that string bean to practice. Plus also, before you were born I had an imaginary little sister named Gloria. *blush*
Stephanie
September 18, 2010 at 2:26 pm (14 years ago)I must have inherited your hand-me-down books. I hope I lived up to your imaginary sister!
Ashlee
September 17, 2010 at 1:47 pm (14 years ago)Thank you for sharing your life. I look forward to reading more. I will be posting my project food buzz entry tomorrow. Check it out and let me know what you think.
Ashlee
http://www.ashandlewplus2.com
Stephanie
September 18, 2010 at 2:32 pm (14 years ago)Thanks for stopping by Ashlee! Good luck in the contest 🙂
Lisa Orgler
September 20, 2010 at 8:29 am (14 years ago)You have such a lovely food blog. Your photos are fantastic!
Stephanie
September 20, 2010 at 12:32 pm (14 years ago)Thank you Lisa!
Lindsay
September 20, 2010 at 11:16 am (14 years ago)Oh I love it! Totally giving you a vote!!! You can check my entry out here: http://tinyurl.com/2ec2hlq Thanks!! Good Luck!
Stephanie
September 20, 2010 at 12:31 pm (14 years ago)Thank you! I will go check yours out!
angi
September 20, 2010 at 2:29 pm (14 years ago)Wow Stephanie, your recipes do look very unique – you’ve got my vote for sure! I’m loving that PFB is letting me discover all these blogs I might never have found otherwise. Best of luck to you in the competition!
Stephanie
September 20, 2010 at 2:52 pm (14 years ago)Thanks Angi! I’ve been having fun reading through all the entries and discovering new blogs too! Good luck to you too 🙂
stephchows
September 20, 2010 at 6:06 pm (14 years ago)Hooray to another stephanie!! Love the idea behind your blog too! so glad you found me so I could find you. Voted!
Stephanie
September 20, 2010 at 7:11 pm (14 years ago)Awesome, thanks Stephanie!
Daydreamer Desserts
September 20, 2010 at 7:43 pm (14 years ago)Just sent one vote your way, best of luck in the challenge! 🙂
Stephanie
September 20, 2010 at 8:04 pm (14 years ago)Thank you! 🙂
oc2seattle
September 21, 2010 at 11:12 am (14 years ago)This contest is so great for discoveing bloggers and hearing their stories! Totally identify with you on the baker not a cook feeling and on the recipe consult. Depending on how far we progress, this contest will definitely push our boundaries! Good luck to you, you have my vote!
Stephanie
September 21, 2010 at 5:23 pm (14 years ago)Thank you! Good luck you to you too!
The Cilantropist
September 21, 2010 at 12:37 pm (14 years ago)Your adventures with all these exotic ingredients is what I love most about your blog! You are inspiring! 🙂 Just voted!
Stephanie
September 21, 2010 at 5:23 pm (14 years ago)Thanks!
Mansi
September 21, 2010 at 3:07 pm (14 years ago)Loved your mushroom flan:) I’m a fellow PFB contestant too:)
it was great to read your story, and to discover your unique recipes, you have my vote:) good luck ahead!:)
Stephanie
September 21, 2010 at 5:24 pm (14 years ago)Thanks! Good luck to you too!
The Duo Dishes
September 21, 2010 at 6:43 pm (14 years ago)The best part about us voting for PFB folks is finding new people. Going through all of these posts is so interesting! Can\’t wait to see what else you have in store.
Magic of Spice-Alisha
September 22, 2010 at 2:13 pm (14 years ago)Wonderful entry and great looking dishes 🙂 Good luck with PFB and look forward to seeing more from you 🙂
Stephanie
September 22, 2010 at 2:38 pm (14 years ago)Thanks Alisha! Just checked out your site and voted for you 🙂
Lick My Spoon
September 22, 2010 at 4:20 pm (14 years ago)Your recipes are so inventive! I love it! Just voted for you, excited to see what you’ve got in store.
Lick My Spoon
Dan Clapson
September 22, 2010 at 8:06 pm (14 years ago)Flan made with mushrooms? Your an adventurous cook after my own heart! Got my vote!
Butter
September 23, 2010 at 10:09 am (14 years ago)I just came a cross your blog and your photos are absolutly beautiful. I really like your motto and live life this way as well – isn’t it wonderful! You definitely get a vote from me….Thanks!
-Butter
(from runningonbutter)