Kitchen Conundrum

November and NaBloPoMo or What the H Was I Thinking?

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It’s November which means it’s National Blog Posting Month (NaBloPoMo), a commitment by participating bloggers to publish one post on their personal website or blog every day for the month (read more about it here). I chose to participate in this challenge which is sponsored by BlogHer. Yes, there are prizes involved, but I was more motivated by the challenge to cook, write and photograph much more than I have for the past year.  I spent much of this year (and last) away from home. There were many reasons for this, but I am here, now, for this month and for the foreseeable future. (I tend to hibernate in the cold months.) It is time to rest, regroup, and focus on all the new and different directions I want to take.  I am hoping this challenge will also help me focus on the right path to take.  Just being in the kitchen, my safe place, doing what I love to do- cooking, taking pictures and editing them (yes, editing-I’m geeky like that), writing and being creative- always helps take my mind off the other parts of my life that I am not too fond to deal with. And being in that space lets me cope with those things in the best way I know how. It provides a comfortable place for me to work through the things floating through my head while showing my love to those around me.

Of course, for me, November is also my busiest month. Thanksgiving is my most favorite holiday and whether I have just my small family or 12 others, I always go all out. I make everything- bread, soups, mains, sides and desserts all with multiple versions-read three kinds of stuffing and four types of pie. There is no cutting back on the menu either. That would be akin to blasphemy!  Plus, this year we have the honor of Hanukah coming early and coinciding with my favorite day- which means latkes will make an appearance as will the nightly gift ritual for the kids.

There are also science fair projects due and many, many invites for everyone to different events. I will definitely be going in all different directions this month. And despite the thought of “What the H@($ was I thinking by adding another thing to my list?”,  I am looking forward to spending time each night sharing what went on that day. I have to warn you though, I truly suck at these things. It’s true. I tried with great intentions to post each Friday for French Fridays with Dorie, but I ended up traveling early in the year and it got away from me. I also tried #photo365… I have the photos (simply because I do snap pics every day)  but do you think I posted each day? Nope. My Instagram and Flickr are barren.  That part got away from me too. But I am seriously going to make a valiant effort here. It’s only one month (it will go by fast!). If I can walk across Spain in a month, I CAN do this, too. (Oh wait! It took me 35 days!) Maybe there’s no hope for this- but at least I am going to try. Wish me luck!

BlogHer Food ’11 Recap, Ari in the ATL

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DSC_9079Having  just returned yesterday from spending the weekend at the Blogher Food conference in Atlanta I wanted to share some of my experiences and tips I learnt while there. First I have to say, it was so great seeing and hanging out with some newly met friends (Food Blog Camp ’11) and meeting many more new ones- you know who you are!  You really made my weekend and I thank you!

Secondly, there was so much to learn. By the end of all the different sessions our heads were spinning with all the useful information and great ideas, which we couldn’t wait to implement as soon as we got home. There were several sessions to choose from and while I wished there were a way to be in more than one session at a time, I participated in the ones covering writing, social networking, taking your blog mobile, branding, and photography. Happily, the others are actually transcribed on the BlogHer website, so I can go back and read the ones I missed!

Each presenter was really wonderful. They were knowledgeable and incredibly generous with their experiences and I learned a great deal of useful tips.

Here are just a few of the many I picked up-

When Writing:

– Dive right in, use literary devices

– Drop your reader into the middle of the story, but don’t keep it a mystery too long- get the reader involved right away

– Use good active verbs. Adjectives and adverbs can weaken a story; all of your action lay in the verbs.

– Be descriptive, use words that sound like the action; plunk, clatter, plop, whoosh

– Write well – Edit Well

– If you are facing writer’s block, lower your standards. Don’t become paralyzed by perfection.

– No echoes, don’t repeat descriptive words

When Using Social Media:

– Do something good and the people will come

– It’s about community and connection

– Don’t market. If you sound like an ad, it turns people off.

– Be personal and personable!

– An email newsletter is the most personal form of Social Media

– Authenticity is the key. Be who you are, not who your followers want you to be or who you think your followers want you to be.

Branding your Blog:

– Have a consistent voice. Brand = Voice = Identity

– Writing like someone else is unsustainable, find your own voice

– The most important part of your site is your voice, not the design or the font

– Design is not branding

– Don’t hire someone to find the brand for you, you have to know it yourself

– Start with your work, the brand will come

And finally, some Photo Tips:

– Get a tripod, even a cheap one will make a big difference in your shots

– Use a remote shutter release or a self timer for longer exposures when using a tripod to eliminate shakes

– If using studio lights, turn off the room lights

When the sessions were over we turned our sights to the food part of the conference. It was BlogHer Food, afterall.

We took a field trip to the Sweet Auburn Curb Market and experienced the local produce and Southern fare.

I would be remiss not to mention Mary Mac’s Tea Room and their Goodwill Ambassador, Jo Carter for the tasty classic southern food and the back rub.

At Holeman & Finch Public House we had an amazing dinner Saturday night, with special thanks to our waiter, Luke who guided us all through our culinary expedition.  I ate “parts” of animals I hadn’t tried before and while I was a bit hesitant, it was actually quite delicious. But for the record, fried rabbit liver still tastes like liver!

Thank you to Susan of DoughMesstic, Brandi of BranAppetit and Leslie of The Hungry Housewife for RockHer, the great Welcoming party at the Hard Rock Café Thursday night and to Tasty Kitchen for their fabulous party at the Ritz Carlton Friday night. They were both a lot of fun! And a huge thank you to all of the conferences sponsors who gave us lots of awesome products and samples and fed us well.  The deep fried turkey was a favorite!

The question I was asked most often over the weekend was what it was like being one of the few men at BlogHer.  All I can say is- what’s the problem being one of the very few men in a group of several hundred women?  I couldn’t find any, everyone  and everything was fantastic.