First Blogiversary and the Seven Links Game

One year ago today I started my blog.  I had been wanting to have a blog for several years and finally one day I just did it!  I am impressed with myself for posting pretty regularly throughout the course of the year.  It has been a lot of fun sharing my cooking (and other) adventures with you and discovering new blogs and bloggers along the way.

To celebrate the first anniversary of my blog I have unveiled a new header and made a few minor cosmetic changes.  What do you think?  (If you are reading this via email or a blog reader, please click through to see the changes!)

A couple of months ago Elaine from California Living invited me to play a game called “Seven Links”.  I have been meaning to get to it for a while now, and decided that sharing my links on my first blogiversary would be a fun way to reflect back on the year and help some of my newer readers “catch up”.  I have to admit I stole this idea from Theresa at One Wet Foot, as she also played the “Seven Links Game” on the first anniversary of her blog.

Let’s get started!

1) Most Beautiful Post

Isn’t this quiche beautiful?  Spinach and Bacon Quiche

I was very happy with the photos I got for this post.  The lighting was great and the subject attractive.  I had a lot of fun with this one!

2) Most Popular Post

I am defining most popular as “most views”.  The clear winner is Basic Rice Pilaf.

This post got a big boost after it was first published when Mark Bittman tweeted about it!  Check out the post comments to see his Tweet.  But even if you take away the views resulting from that Tweet this post still has the most views.  I get at least one hit every day from someone searching for “rice pilaf” or “basic rice pilaf”.

3) Most Controversial Post

There’s nothing very controversial about me or my blog, so I am redefining this one to be “Most Commented Post”:  Bread and Chowder.

Something about the combination of Dorie Greenspan’s Savory Cheese and Chive Bread and this fish ch0wder is very appealing.  Re-reading this post makes me want to recreate the meal!

4) Most Helpful Post

My first and only tutorial:  Cooking en Papillote – A Tutorial.

I hope readers find this helpful!

5) Most Surprisingly Successful Post

This is a tough one, but I choose Tourteau de Chèvre.

I chose this post as most surprisingly successful because I wasn’t sure about even making the dessert and then I ended up LOVING IT!

6) Post That Did Not Get the Attention it Deserved

This family recipe needs some loving: Macaroon Cake.

This cake is quick and easy and delicious!  It didn’t get the attention it deserved because I posted it so early in my blog’s history.  I hardly had any readers when I posted it, so go check it out now!

7) The Post I’m Proudest Of

I learned a new technique:  Adventures in Puff Pastry.

Not only did I try my hand at making puff pastry, but I made whole wheat puff pastry and it actually puffed!

A big THANK YOU to all my readers out there – thanks for reading!