Foodbuzz Next Blog Star Challenge #1

 

Excited. Nervous. Anxious. Wow!  I am feeling so many mixed emotions upon writing the first challenge for the Project Food Blog Contest.  Foodbuzz is having one huge contest to determine who is THE best food blogger from their Featured Publishers.  There are 2000 bloggers competing to be THE ONE standing after ten challenges.  This first challenge will only leave 400 moving on to the next challenge!!!  Check out my profile by clicking on my entry on the right side my blog.  To be amongst some truly awesome foodies with blogs one can dream and drool over and so many bloggers I admire and draw strength and inspiration from is beyond words. 

Having been a Caterer, Personal Chef and Culinary Director, I do have the knowledge and basic background for blogging. However, this alone does not make a well rounded blogger.  Does it really matter to the reader that their diced onion be 1/8" cubed (it doesn't make it taste differently so no need to stress over it) or that the majority of readers don't know the difference between a roasting chicken and a capon? (I know many would really rather not know what a capon is).   I draw upon memories of my family growing up and the strong influence they have had in my foodie world and thank them for the passion for food they have instilled in me.  I was exposed to so many different types of food growing up coming from a French, Irish and German background (and whatever else might be sprinkled in there) that I had no choice but to fall in love with every type of cuisine imaginable.  Every gathering was a need to celebrate food in every form!  I feel very privileged to have had such great food memories.  

Memere and Pepere

Mom Mom

  I loved to eat but never really had to cook because my great-grandmother, grandmother and mother did it all from scratch.  Even back then the kitchen was the hub of the house and my grandmother made it look so effortless with her grandiose dinner parties and holiday spreads.  While blogging I hope to invoke that warm, cozy feeling of family and good friends while opening up my home and memories.  I hope my readers will pull up a seat with their favorite beverage and cook along with me.

Loudenville Home

I remember coming home from school to homemade chocolate whoopie pies, which by the way were the bomb!  Everyday my mom had a "homemade with love" snack for me and my brother after stepping off the bus.  With all the great food surrounding me growing up it's no wonder I was a chubby child!

Fast forward through college and having my own family.  I had no more excuses, I had to learn how to feed the family!

Family circa 1934

Thank goodness my first child was a healthy eater as I was feeding him healthier versions of classics and very little meat.  Taking the classics (or not so classics) and putting a healthy twist on things is what helps me stand apart from many other bloggers.  I love to take my wonderful food memories and experiment with new ways to infuse that healthy twist and make it taste just as good, if not better, than the original.  I will also be the first to admit that I am the Queen of taking whatever is in the fridge, freezer and pantry and throwing together mind blowing meals!

Pleasurable reading to me involves cookbooks (the most recent is my family cookbook of five generations of recipes), cooking magazines, blogs and numerous recipe sites.  Not much is different in the entertainment realm either as the t.v. is always on some sort of reality cooking show or food channel!  Eat, Sleep and Live all things food IS my world. 

In short, I standout from other blogs because I stand tall and am proud of who I am and the passion I have for great food.  I am fearless in the kitchen and pair the most unusual things together.  How boring is it to be stuck in a food rut and never try new things???  I hope I convey the feeling and celebration of my family.  Being in the kitchen is not a chore for me, it's an escape to my happy place.
Food ~ Family ~ Memories = One passionate food blogger!