One year ago today I started this blog and wrote my very first post. I didn’t post again until July, when I posted my first recipe:
Chip Dip
I learned to make this recipe by observing my family. It seemed fitting as a first recipe post because it is one of the earliest recipes I remember learning to make on my own.
The posts were a bit sporadic. I posted every second week at best. I was a bit nervous about posting. I didn’t really know what to post. I was being very selective about the things I posted. Only sharing my very favourite recipes, such as:
Curried Goat
New Mexican Style Chicken Tacos
I had forgotten my original intention, to share affordable everyday foods.
I had a few pep talks from Jeanette over at This Dusty House / This Dusty Kitchen. She encouraged me to write. Not to worry that what I had to say might be boring and uninteresting. Blogging would come with practice. She was right!
I started using social media to follow other cooking blogs. This helped me to actively participate in the food blogging community instead of neing a more passive reader.
I bought a tripod and took my camera off the automatic setting. I think my photos have been getting better! (I hope you think so too!)
I went to a few cooking workshops, including:
Raw Food with Chef Renee Shaidle
We learned to prepare Raw Zucchini Pasta and Raw Chocolate Truffles with Cashew Kreme Sauce.
Raw Desserts with Chef Renee Shaidle
We learned to prepare Raw Banana Coconut Cream Cake, Chocolate Power Balls, and Raw Apple Pie in Cupcake Tins.
Culinary Tour of Thailand at Relish Cooking Studio
We learned to prepare goog kratiem (garlic shrimp), tom yum (hot and sour) soup, som tam (green papaya salad with peanuts and chilies), pad thai, and coconut lime sorbet.
Sustainable Seafood at Relish Cooking Studio
I will tell you more about this workshop later this week!
What a year! I’ve enjoyed food blogging as a hobby after getting past the initial writer’s block. My photography skills had improved. My cooking skills have improved. I’ve learned to budget our meals a bit better (blogging regularly has helped me keep on track).
Thank you to everyone who has been reading and I hope you continue to do so!
In the next year, I hope to keep blogging, learn to find more creative ways of presenting food (and thus further improving the pictures), attend a few more workshops, participate in a few more foodie blog hops/challenges, and feature a few guest posts (please contact me if you’re interested!).
The Cook's Sister 
Jeanette @ This Dusty Kitchen
/ June 4, 2012Wow… a year, already! Congratulations on reaching the first big milestone! I’m glad I could give you a push or two – I love reading your blog! Makes me feel at least somewhat connected, despite the fact that we live in different cities now. Keep going and don’t forget – you can always come to me if you need advice or a little pep talk!
Amber
/ June 4, 2012Thanks Jeanette! The first year kind of crept up on me… I was lucky not to miss the occasion. 🙂 Thanks for reading, I follow your blog for the same reason! I’m sure I’ll be contacting you for advice again soon!
saltandserenity
/ June 28, 2012Congratulations on your one year blogiversary! Your photos are lovely. It is a real leap of faith to take the camera off auto so kudos for you for doing so.
Amber
/ June 28, 2012Thanks Cindy! I’m hoping to get better at staging my photos over the next year as well as becoming a bit more proficient with the camera in manual mode!