Many of you have been doing a year in review with the most popular posts and I was thinking all week about doing the same. In reflecting on this data and going back through my blog, I again realize how much your visits/comments mean to me. Thank you everyone for your kind words and your encouragement, you have certainly enriched my blog experience more than you can know. I did do a review post last year, but showed only b-o-r-i-n-g stats, so this year, I am going to learn a lesson from my fellow bloggers and review my fourth year of blogging with more interesting things, like photos; I may have to interject some stats too…:-)
This blog received an ‘amazing’ 20,000 hits in 2011 (WordPress said it was ‘amazing’!) which apparently is 7 sold-out performances in the Sydney Opera House! I did a total of 141 posts with 423 photos! The busiest day of the year on this blog was September 17th with 301 views; the most popular post that day was TIFF and a test Moroccan Dessert Sellou (Sfouf). I think it was because George Clooney was in Toronto and everyone was searching TIFF!
It seems that these photos were the most popular in 2011 (even though they were from past posts), I’ll bore you with only four of them (note that some of the photos were taken with a Nikon Cool Pix, not an SLR)!:
The Best Flourless Chocolate Cake
#1 Molten Chocolate Cake by Michael Smith
Tomato and Fresh Mozzarella Salad
#2 Tomato and Mozzarella Salad
Hungarian Cheese Sticks (Sajtos Rúd)
#3 Hungarian Cheese Sticks (Sajos Rud)
Old Fashioned Date Filled Oatmeal Cookies
#4 Old Fashioned Date Filled Oatmeal Cookies
My favourite photos from 2011 are :
Anzac Biscuits
Chewy and not as sweet as you would think
From left to right: Coconut Lemon Cake, Fig Tart and Sellou
Cheddar, Green Onion and Prosciutto Scones
Cheddar, Green Onion and Prosciutto Scones
Cauliflower and Celeriac Mashed “potatoes”
I usually don’t make resolutions, but this year I decided I would use fewer plastic zip lock bags. We’ve gone almost bagless, using reusable bags for everything else, even when I buy shoes, so why not ziplocks too? Wish me luck!
And with that, I bid you good day. I hope you enjoyed this little trip down memory lane as much as I did.
PS, I only really learned how to use my SLR this year; my previous photos really sucked!
Wonderfully delicious
year in photos, Eva. Happy New Year. Looking forward to your 2013 posts
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[…] you make any resolutions? I evaluated my resolution from last year and by George I did OK. I resolved to use fewer zip lock baggies and I DID! I am using reusable containers instead, mostly […]
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Answer to question 4 from here! Gosh that’s a lot of photos 😉
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My suggestion to keep your resolution is to re-use (think what would “Lee” do!) Buy good quality (ziploc brand) thick bags and reuse. I turn mine inside out, sterilize with super hot water and soap and let air dry before turning back and then putting them into the original box so you don’t really realize you are recycling. keep on blogging!
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Been there, done that, Pam! I remember being involved in a conversation with MC and she mentioned that her mother cleans zip locks and hangs them to dry. I was too embarrassed to say I did the same thing! You’re talking to an old pro! I just want to use fewer.
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Great round up and congratulations on your year. When I moved to DSLR I never looked back. In fact, I don’t even know where my point and shoots are these days. I feel like I’m taking real photos with my DSLR and I take more time to set up shots etc as a result.
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So true Genie! In fact, one of the photographers we’ve worked with is going to Nicaragua to teach photography and he’s asked a bunch of people to donate their old cameras! We had two (ridiculously old and expensive at that time, but not so much now). I’m so HAPPY that someone will use them!
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Great round up! I would love to try the Hungarian cheese sticks, I went to a Hungarian restaurant not long ago and I loved this cheese ball dish I had. The flourless chocolate cake looks fantastic too. 😀
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Thank you Jenny for your kind words. I’m not a fan of Hungarian food in restaurants, they cook with lard and I find it too greasy and heavy, but I am glad you enjoyed the cheese ball you had. My Aunt in Budapest makes a cheese ball from grated left over cheese but she mixes in 1:1 ratio of butter — again, too rich for me!
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Great round-up of recipes and shots Eva. I’d like to try your flourless chocolate cake….but not for a little while. The post-Christmas reality check really bites!
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You’re not kidding, Barb! I’m happy to say I am down 4.4lbs this week, a few more to go! Eating the Bern but not going there, I ran out of free weeks and it’s too $$$!
I can’t believe I haven’t made this for you guys yet, it’s been my go to dessert for years!
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I loved reading this post Eva and I’m so glad you posted some of your “older” recipes because I was unfamiliar with them and delighted to see them now ~ that flourless chocolate cake looks gorgeous and caprese salad is one of my very favourites ~ going to check them out! Congrats on the growth and success of your blog too. Mostly, it’s just so much fun, don’t you find? 🙂
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It certainly is, Kelly, and thank you for your kind words. Check out my post from earlier this year called the Humble tomato, it’s a new take on the old flavourite! https://kitcheninspirations.wordpress.com/2011/05/03/the-humble-tomato/
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Congratulations on your great year! It is always fun to see the favorite posts. I hope you will keep us updated on your resolution. I use zip lock bags for frozen food.
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Hi Karen, I also use them for frozen foods and I’ll likely keep doing that; but I was also using one every day to take veggy sticks to work for my lunch and now I use a reusable container. As well, to store items in the refrigerator, from now on I will choose a reusable container with a lid over a ziplock baggy! I will also try to recycle the baggies when ever I can (with the exception of those that held any type of meat or cheese).
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Nice recap and I feel the same way about my early photos! I used to use flash when we went out. Not anymore! 😛
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It’s a life long learning experience Lorraine! I just heard that there is a camera out there that adds depth of field AFTER you shoot! How cool is that?
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Congratulations on your year of growth! I’m super happy for you and it’s been a GREAT year watching all the deliciousness going on in your kitchen!
I LOVE your resolution! I have reusable grocery bags and we no longer use paper napkins, paper plates or plastic cups in our house. ….but I don’t know if I could survive without my zip top bags! Best of luck with it and I know you’ll do GREAT!
Looking forward to 2012 and more amazing dishes!
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Thanks Ann; we’ve been using reusable bags for all kinds of shopping for about 10 years now! The zippies will be a challenge!
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Great round-up Eva! I think the cauli-celeriac “mashed” potato was the first time I discovered your wonderful blog! Just think, if I’d never found it, I’d have missed out on all your adventures and great posts! Here’s to many more years!
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Just to say, I’m back, in my hunt for giveaway answers 🙂
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WOO HOO, yay Charles, so glad you are participating! I particularly checked out postage to France to make sure I could post them to you should you win! Good luck!
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That molten chocolate cake has to be my favorite by far, but I certainly wouldn’t turn down any of your creations. 😉
It’s been a pleasure following/getting to know you in 2011 and I look forward everything 2012 brings on your site.
cheers!
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Thanks Jed, it’s been wonderful following your blog and getting to know you a bit as well. Thanks for all your comments and I too look forward to a year of endless possibilities for blogging in 2012!
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#4 and #3 caught my eye in order of interest. Your photos, and those of the other bloggers I subscribe to, are so well done that I am hesitant at trying my own hand at picture taking in the new year with the inexpensive digital camera I just bought myself.
Or at least I’ll be taking pictures as soon as I get the memory card mess-up cleared up and can actually USE the mini card I bought without spending too much money to get the proper adapter for it. (Darned companies who don’t have pictures and complete descriptions up on their web sites until AFTER you order and get delivery of a product.)
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How flattering, Thank you kindly Maria. Practice is how you get better! I can give you some tips but then there are hundreds of professional photographers who blog out there you could learn so much more from.
But because I like to talk (and I’m working in a design studio specializing in food), I will spill a couple of tips:
– simple props, plain white plates or solid coloured plates, pattern distracts from the focal point.
– remember the photography in 70’s and 80’s? We don’t want that look!
– natural light; a flash always turns the photo too cold (blue tinge) and you may get unnatural shadows.
– if you have a single lens reflex camera, practice shooting with depth of field (hero has focus and everything else is blurry). As well, you will have control over how much light entres the lens, the longer it is open, the lighter the shot becomes (some of my photos are done without natural light, but I increase the time the lens is open
– just a bit of food styling is all you need thanks to Donna Hay who started this au naturale photography many years ago. This means that you clean the plate (no unsightly drips if meat juice); if your ingredients (such as raisins or nuts) are hidden in sauce, bring out a couple, clean them off and place them back where you might really see them. Nothing fancy.
Hope that helps.
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Thank you for the tips. My camera is a simple digital camera with so many settings I’m gobsmacked. My last camera (> 25 yrs ago) was a Pentax ME-Super, so it’s going to take some getting used to.
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I hear you Maria, my hubby bought me me newest camera a couple of years ago and I’m still figuring it out!
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I think these photos look great and can see why those recipes were popular. Well except that gooey molten chocolate cake who goes for that. Oh wait, we all do!
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Thank you for your kind words Greg; sadly Kristy is not a big fan of chocolate so likely she would not! Leaves more for the rest of us.
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This is a great post, Eva, for it gives us a quick peak into your archives. Of those presented, that molten chocolate cake has my mouth watering, and I still have to try those cheddar-prosciutto scone of yours. Wishing you continued success, Eva!
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Thank you kindly John, you have certainly been instrumental in my success, and I really appreciate it!
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I love your round-up Eva! And your resolution for this year. You’ll have to let me know how that goes. We use way too many zip lock bags around here.
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So far so good, Kristy. I used to bring my celery sticks for lunch in a ziplock (new ever day) now I’ve been using a reusable plastic container (the one the new years restaurant gave me my leftovers in).
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Yeah, I find it AMAZING it too, and congratulations on such a wonderful achievement, although going through your blog and posts, I don’t wonder why at all 😀
Hahaha, aren’t we all still learning a thing or two about taking photos? :p
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That’s true Christy! Thanks for stopping by.
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I’ve only recently discovered your blog so I was so interested to hear how you have been going over the last four years. I hope you have as much (if not more) success in your next four years. Love the look of the flourless chocolate cake!
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Thank you Charlie Louie, I really love reading your blog and how you can wind stories about your lovely family into each recipe post! Keep on Blogging!
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