We Made It--Blogathon 2010 is officially Over

I didn't really think I'd keep it up. Not sure why, but...well, I am surprised. First I want to thank everyone who came, even if you only stopped by once. I sure hope a few of you will become regular visitors, and I hope I can always keep improving my blog.

More than a few of us are doing what we learned, and I think it's the most appropriate finishing post for the month.

• I learned that I could blog every day. Sounds simplistic, but as I said, I think I doubted myself.
• I learned I like writing every day. Some days freelance writing can get too...well, let's say some days I find myself far too easily distracted. I let everything else take the priority list. Writing is good for me. It's good for my soul, even if no one reads the particular post I make that day. And the blog is more of a creative outlet than anything else in my world right now, and for that I am grateful.
• I learned that the more I blogged, the more ideas I had to blog about. As with all things, the ideas are all around us. It just takes us to pause a  moment in this whirlwind called life and notice those ideas.
• I especially learned of a few new blogs that I intend to visit regularly. No names now, but in days to come, I'll definitely be mentioning them one place or another. They are too good not to share with the world.
• I hope I find myself--now that I don't feel I MUST post--taking time to write more essays here...food inspired or not. That's writing I love to read, and that's writing I would love to write.
• I learned that most bloggers are incredibly giving of their time--I asked a group of food writers if they would answer a few questions for my Thursday posts, and I was overwhelmed with the contributions my fellow writers, writers I consider friends even if we've never met, made to Babette Feasts just by answering those questions. 

Thanks again, everyone for visiting day after day. I appreciate you all.

Photo Sunday: The Curious Bees

 I had the immense pleasure of spending some time with the Mecklenburg (NC) Beekeepers Association recently. I was invited to field day at Bee School, a winter time course where experienced beekeepers teach and mentor wannbe beekeepers...when spring comes, the course ends with field day they get to work the hives of their mentors...

Jimmy Odom let me tag along and watch as he examined each frame in his supers (the boxes where bees actually make the hone). I helped by being the one to find the queen bee (they like to keep track of the queen in each hive)...Jimmy "works" his bees often and says they know him. They certainly were gentle...at one point, all these bees just lined up and were watching Jimmy. He was tickled and pointed it out to me--I crouched down and got this shot of the bees watching Jimmy, who was, by this point, watching them...

This may have been enough for me to want to try my hand at beekeeping. I've become quite the honey lover as I've written stories, including this one for VisitFlorida.com. The next story about bees comes out in Edible Piedmont sometime (I believe) in June...

In the meantime? I love this photo...

Picnic Plans...or not..

A picnic always sounds nice on Memorial Day weekend, right? Eh, maybe, maybe not. Me? I've never been a huge fan of eating out of doors unless the weather is perfect--65 degrees. Zero humidity. A light breeze...no ants. I don't mind a hike and sitting down for a sandwich and water on the way--but for me that's about the hike and not the meal.

So I don't think we'll be picnicking this weekend. But we might be headed to a street fair...where I declare fried foods good for one day. Real french fries...maybe a bite of a funnel cakes (those don't do it for me..)...those real lemonades? Those are so good I make real lemonade at home...who needs fake?

I think I don't have much to say today, Saturday, the final Saturday of the blogathon. I guess I'm worn out..Tomorrow, it's another Photo Sunday...and Monday will be my wrap-up--things I've learned by blogging every day.

And if you've read this far, tell me: do you picnic? Why? Don't those ants bug you?

MY Secrets...

As the blogathon winds down (how can that be?), I've decided to share some dirty secrets with you, my dear readers, that mark me as occasionally having extremely, and I do mean extremely, pedestrian tastes in some cases...so, in no particular order, things that I choose to share with you...

1. For a few years, one of the staples in my 3-kid, 20-activities household was a Banquet Chicken and Dumplings slow-cooker meal (from the freezer case). I put the stuff in. Maybe I added milk? (can't remember) and turned it on..it was simple. And beyond lazy. And my kids LOVED it...

2. I harbor fantasies of moving to some other country to work, cook, write, cook, have friends over, cook for friends, eat, shop for food, cook more. A lot of countries qualify for this...No one has done a food book from Argentina, right? Sign me up.

3. I like hot dogs. But I like GOOD hot dogs (Bests. Nathan's.)..and if you are worried about cooking for me, fear not...most cooks/chefs I know just LOVE it when someone cooks for them.

4. I like Rachael Ray. I wish I WERE Rachael Ray. There, I said it. At least she's not faking it.

5. If Martha Stewart offered me a job tomorrow (hint hint, Ms S.), I would chuck it all and be on the next plane to NYC...

6. Ditto Gourmet. Oh, wait. Someone thought that wasn't worthy...WTF?

7. I have some happy places. Dean and Deluca. Sur La Table. Wms. Sonoma. Okay, any kitchen goods store, even the commercial ones...HARDWARE STORES--amazing things found there!

8. I think I could eat eggs for breakfast every day of the week.

9. I am always on the lookout for great CHEAP bottles of wine. And I'm not offended by the screwtop (although I prefer the romance of the REAL cork...)

10. My family is made up of a few picky eaters, Mr. Babette especially, and it drives. me. nuts. Bones in chicken? Hard work, getting that chicken off those bones... Anything but white meat? No thanks, I'm not hungry...Grass fed beef? Tastes weird, says he...

11. I LOVE...love, love, love McD's hash browns. There. I said it. Starch. Grease. Salt. Crunch. (what's a trifecta with four things? A quadfecta? Then that is what this is for me...)...No, I don't get them, but if someone offers me a bite? I'm not saying no.

12. I hate fake flavors--grape? Blech. Fake banana? Double blech. But. I LOVE Jolly Ranchers Fake Watermelon-Flavored hard candies..

Okay, I've asked my visiting bloggers about their secrets...some love candy. Some didn't share...but now it's your turn...go on, I'll keep it between you and me...

Day 27/May 27: TWD Make Up: Banana Coconut Ice Cream Pie

See why I got kicked out of TWD? (Oh, okay, they don't "kick" anyone out, but you just quietly roll off the list if you don't make the 2x per month posts...I wasn't even close!)...Anyway, welcome to Thursday with Dorie!

There is quite sad news about the Banana Coconut Ice Cream Pie. I didn't like it. I think I should have thought harder about making this, because I'm the one who doesn't like banana splits. I love love LOVE the crust--melt butter, add coconut and crushed shortbread cookies then freeze. Trust me, you'll see that somewhere soon.

But the overwhelming banana flavor (umm. What did I THINK it would taste like?) just smacked me in the face...I love banana straight up. I love it in a peanut butter/honey/banana sandwich. I love half of a banana blended up with fruit and yogurt if I'm making a smoothie, but this just didn't ...go.

That said, I think there are legions who would LOVE this pie...can you come over? I've got some leftovers.

Head over to Tuesdays With Dorie to check out the blog roll and see how others felt about the pie; you can find the recipe reprinted (with Dorie's permission!!) at Spike Bakes. She agrees that the crust is the star and she did amazing things with her pie (maybe I would have liked it better with chocolate/peanut butter cup ice cream)...and points out that there's no baking involved here, making this THE perfect hot-weather dessert. And to top it all off? She got GREAT photos, and you know how I love a food photo!

Wednesday: 5 Second Rule Answers Penetrating Questions from Babette

I met Cheryl Sternman Rule at the Greenbrier Writers' Symposium two years ago (can that be?!) She is funny, witty, smart. Everything I could want in a blogging friend. She's also worked hard at her photography and has succeeded in posting lovely photos with every post. I love checking out what she has to write. Her posts make me laugh and sometimes are poignant. 5 Second Rule, Cheryl's blog, is a regular stop for me as I catch up on blog reading. It should be a regular stop for you too.

1. What pushed you to food or wine blogging?
Not what, in my case, but who.  My husband had been pushing me to start a blog for a long time before I finally bit the bullet, two years ago.  I loved writing for magazines and other websites (and still do), but I also wanted desperately to drive my own content -- highlighting people, stories, and recipes I felt a connection to -- and to do it in my own authentic (quirky?) voice.  I also wanted an excuse to spend more time stroking my camera.

2. What do you hope to share with readers through your blog?  
Hmm, how much time do you have?  I'll break it down: I hope to share 1)  my love for cooking, storytelling, and photography; 2) my interest in parsing out and discussing complicated and controversial food issues; and 3) my network of fellow food professionals, who have their fingers on the pulse of the industry, whether they're journalists, cookbook authors, policymakers, or academics.

3. Is there one post that stands out from others as one that generated a lot of commentary or maybe made you wish you hadn't posted it?
Um, crazypants?  I'm not highlighting the ones I wish I hadn't posted!  BUT one that generated a lot of commentary was this one, which discussed my struggles with a recent NYT article by Peggy Orenstein, in which she wrote about The Femivore's Dilemma.  I often wonder if I practice what I preach, and with this one, I threw it all out there and really valued the discussion that ensued.

4. Do you cook yourself? Well?  What is your go-to dish?
Yes, I do.  I cook all the time.  If it's just for me, my go-to dish is probably this: saute onions and too much garlic in a thick slick of evoo,  add cumin, sea salt, and pepper, then dump in a can of drained and rinsed black beans.  I shmoosh the beans with a potato masher until they're kind of pathetic looking, then eat the whole mess over brown rice.  Hot, quick, comforting.  In warm weather, maybe a romaine salad with red onion, cherry tomatoes (in season, please), white beans, olive-oil packed tuna, and a shocking amount of lemon juice.  (I have a lemon tree and am not afraid to denude it.)

5. Forget your favorite go-to dish; what is your idea of a perfect meal?
Something light, simple, and colorful.  If you'd asked me 20 years ago the answer would have been something with a lot of cheese (lasagna, macaroni and cheese, etc.)  Now, though, I crave food that makes me feel energized, and this generally means a ton of fresh produce, beans, and something sharp, like a highly acidic vinaigrette.  And dessert.  Because what you really need after a salad is a cookie chaser.
Bonus question if you feel like it: Do you have a dirty little secret
in your kitchen?

Secret?  This is the internet, Barb!

Day 25, May 25...Can We Make It? Yes, We Can...Today is Daughter Day..

Well, the ingredients for my Tuesdays with Dorie are ready to go...now I have to mix and freeze--It's Coconut Banana Ice Cream Pie, and I'll be back to blog it, but here's an interim post.

One of the results of me cooking professionally has been that my kids have been exposed to a lot more ...unusual, shall we say, foods than many of their friends. That's not to say we don't have some scrounging nights, when Cheerios seem to be the best choice of all. But there's always something new to think about.

And they've been curious. My daughter has sat with me for meals at bars in NYC (Oh, do check out this post about lunch at The Modern at MoMA in NYC. I confess to letting her be mildly mislead about sweetbreads. This year when we visited she thoroughly enjoyed wild mushroom soup...) and she's been to some disastrous PR dinners as my date, too (those shall go unnamed)...My son made a video for Bobby Flay's Grill It (I was so certain he'd get on! He's adorable--but I can't find the link. Rats..)..and now and then my daughter takes over the kitchen.

Her skills have produced wild onion soup from my (organic) back yard when we lived in Kentucky--she pulled up every chive she could find, added water, heated it the microwave and...I ate it...Mmmmm. Then when I became food editor at Florida Table,  getting home after she did now and then, I once came home to a full dinner, elegantly plated (she had been to a food photo shoot or two by then), table set, water poured into a lovely wine glass AND homemade chocolate ice cream (she made chocolate milk and froze it in the Cuisinart Ice cream maker, the insert of which is always ready to go in the freezer).

So it was no surprise when she got home yesterday determined to make churros for her Spanish class at school. She found the recipe. She mixed it up, scalding the milk, adding butter, eggs, flour. Getting out the little Fry Daddy I have, heating it, experimenting with the pastry bag and star tips (we didn't have one big enough), finally deciding to spoon the batter into the oil. She even decided simple cinnamon sugar wasn't enough. She had cinnamon nutmeg sugar...And off to school she went. (She even cleaned up pretty well...Not great, but she's getting there..)

So Bryn? If she doesn't make it big as a singer? Her fallback plan is to be a chef. Not a bad plan.