One thing an aspiring blogger quickly realizes is that there are a lot of folks out there doing an amaaaazing job at this blogging thing. Many are very well-known, and rightfully so. Wonderful writing, beautiful photos, creativity I can only dream of - and no lack of sheer perseverance, I'm sure. I'm so often in awe when I poke around on some of my favorite blogs.
So I thought I'd try recipes from three of my favorites, and share a bit about each with you. And on the off chance you haven't yet heard of these bloggers, even better - because you're in for a treat when you check out their sites.
Creamy Caramels from La Fuji Mama
Not only does she have the catchiest name ever, La Fuji Mama has a food blog that's packed with a terrific variety of recipes. She posts step-by-step photos that helped me make one of my most popular treats to date - her Creamy Caramels.
People laughed, they wept, they prayed, they swore their lives had changed forever after they took a bite of one of these caramels. Okay, okay, I exaggerate. But they were universally loved by the folks at work and my sister's family (I pawned them off on everyone to save myself - they were so good and the recipe made so many that I was in serious trouble having these around the house).
I even got a special text from my 19 year old niece about them:
"You made the best caramels I've ever had in my life, dude! ;o)"
An absolute keeper recipe, thanks to La Fuji Mama.
Paprika Cheddar Drop Biscuits by Joy the Baker
Other than the fact that she was obviously trying to outdo me the other day, I love Joy the Baker. And by trying to outdo me, I'm talking about how I posted a lovely little story about simple guacamole, and then suddenly this crazy, awesome, buzz-worthy, impressive Avocado Pound Cake turned up on her site. I mash up a few avocados with garlic and lemon, she shows her way with avocados by making this amazing green-hued pound cake. Coincidence? I think not. (Ha, ha.)
I overlooked that little incident, though, and tried her Paprika Cheddar Drop Biscuits the other day. Oh, yum! Smoky paprika, zingy sharp cheddar, and no rolling and cutting - winner!
Thanks, Joy the Baker. You may have won the avocado challenge hands-down but just wait 'til you see what I can do with a pomegranate, missy! (Now I need to come up with something, fast.)
Lemon Ricotta Pancakes with Sauteed Apples from the Smitten Kitchen
Deb of the Smitten Kitchen does this food blogging thing perfectly. Simple, easy-to-navigate site, a gazillion wonderful recipes, and her writing and food photography are top-notch. You've undoubtedly already visited her site, but just in case you haven't, run over to Smitten Kitchen, get your pointer over the Surprise Me! button and prepare for lots of mouth-watering reading.
Heck, I even saw Keri Russell cite Smitten Kitchen as her favorite website in a magazine recently. How cool is that?!
I recently tried the Lemon Ricotta Pancakes with Sauteed Apples on her site, and as expected, they were scrumptious. The ricotta pancake are interesting, in a good way - not your typical pancake. The lemon and apples raise it all to the next level.
Yum.
And so, thanks to all the fabulous food bloggers out there, and especially to La Fuji Mama, Joy the Baker, and Smitten Kitchen for making the Internet tubes so much more mouthwateringly, well... tubular.
