National Food Bloggers Bake Sale

Written Tuesday, March 30th, 2010 by Penny Hawkins

 This post is a challenge to each and every food blogger  out there to show the children of America how much we care!

Share Our Strength, the national organization whose mission is to eradicate childhood hunger in America, is having their Great American Bake Sale once again. This year, food bloggers are answering the challenge in a big way!

Food bloggers from across the country are uniting to support the Great American Bake Sale National Challenge by hosting bake sales in their states on April 17.  Efforts are being organized by Gaby Dalkin of WhatsGabyCooking.com.  Gaby's website has a list of all states with food bloggers who are coordinating the bake sale for their state. If you don't see your state, or if you have questions, please e-mail Gaby @ whatsgabycooking@gmail.com.

I urge each of you to find out if there is a bake sale in your area and help any way you can. If there is no sale in your area, then please click here to donate directly to the national bake sale that benefits Share Our Strength's efforts. I know that HHM food bloggers are the best, and I thank each and every one of you for your contribution on behalf of  the Great American Bake Sale!

Featured Community Member: TV Food and Drink

Written Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010 by Penny Hawkins

Half Hour Meals member Gary, a TV producer and writer who lives in Los Angeles, authors a cool blog laced with his own special brand of sarcastic wit, and dedicated to his three favorite things: television, food, and drink. From the moment you visit Gary’s blog, you are transported to another place…a land where groovy people are drinking Harvey Wallbangers and having witty conversations while Dean Martin plays on the hi-fi in the background. Meanwhile, there’s Gary in the center of things, effortlessly cooking something amazing to serve his guests. Read on to learn more about Gary’s world:

Your blog, TV Food and Drink, is a fun mix of food, drink and television. What inspired you to start a blog that combines your favorite things? Thank you! I had been looking for an angle for a while.  Then about a year ago, my doctor noticed my blood pressure had gone up quite a bit and suggested some diet changes.  My days of fast food were numbered, so I started cooking for the first time in my life.  I discovered I had a passion for it.   But my job keeps me pretty busy, and in order to keep content coming in, I wanted to widen out the theme of the blog.  I love experimenting with new cocktails, and I love television (my profession), and I’m often eating, drinking, and watching all at once.  Combine that with the fact that the domain name I wanted – tvfoodanddrink.com – was available, and I had everything I needed to get my blog up and running!

How long have you been cooking? What types of food do you like to cook best? I have only been cooking for about a year.  Prior to that, I could manage spaghetti and grilled cheese, and that was about it.  So everything I try is a challenge.  I don’t really have a preference for the type of food I like to cook, because I feel I have a lot of catching up to do.   I want to be able to make anything and everything.  I only have a few requirements: 1.) It should fill the halls of my complex with an aroma to make the neighbors jealous.  2.) It should be something my boyfriend will enjoy.  I want him to be proud of me, after all.  3.) It should be something I can post to HalfHourMeals.com, of course!

Do you have a signature dish? What is it and how did you come up with it? I don’t think I have a signature dish yet, but I will tell you my favorite meal to make for myself… roasted cherry tomatoes with Italian sausage, goat herb cheese and garlic, cooked for about an hour and served over toasted ciabatta bread.  I sleep like a baby after eating that.  And I am a sucker for homemade pizza, though I’m still having issues with pizza crust from scratch.   Can’t make my damn dough rise the way it should.  Doesn’t stop me, though.

There is a distinct retro vibe to the posts in your blog. Where does that come from? If you could live in any era you wanted, which would you choose? I think I was born in the wrong decade.  I certainly was obsessed with all things television as a kid.  I’m really fascinated by production, watching a show that aired fifty years ago and observing how they did it, what’s different now, what’s the same.  Any era?  I would have to say the fifties and sixties so I could have gotten myself hired as a producer on What’s My Line? Actually, I would really like to have been a panelist on the show, but I think I’m always destined to be behind the camera, try as I may.

I am a huge fan of the way you weave TV, food and drink together in your posts. The Milk Chocolate Cookies and Crystal Bowersox post was both delicious and laugh-out-loud funny. Are you this funny all the time?  First off, thank you very much.  And secondly… yes I actually AM that funny all the time.  But come on, I defy you to find someone who watches television with friends and DOESN’T come up with a ton of snarky, sarcastic things to say.  I can’t be the only person who loves to scream about what he sees on television.  P.S. GO CRYSTAL!

Surprise! One of the stars of All My Children (perhaps Susan Lucci?) is coming to dinner! What would you serve? But she’s so skinny.  Does she even eat?  I guess you have heard that All My Children just re-located from NYC to the stages right next door to ours.  Well first off, obviously I would give her a large martini in case she wanted to dramatically toss it in my face.  Stuffed mushrooms would follow (recipe to be found at HalfHourMeals.com).  An hour or so of conversation on the balcony, and if I didn’t have to worry about serving something that would jimmy up her waistline, I’d go with some fried chickpeas and chorizo with fresh spinach and breadcrumbs, because that’s my current fave.  Yes, when you come to Chez TV Food and Drink, you eat what I serve you, Emmy winner or not!

I have to ask…what TV show(s) do you work on? Ever get tongue-tied when you meet someone famous? If so, who was it? Currently, I work at GSN Live on the Game Show Network.  Home viewers call or log on to be entered for free as contestants, and they can play live on the air for cash and prizes (here’s the plug… go to GSN.COM/LIVE to enter for your chance to win!).  We’ve had a parade of classic game show celebrities as guests: Vanna White, Monty Hall and Wink Martindale were three personal favorites of mine.  The closest I got to tongue-tied was Betty White for sure.  What a sweet woman!  She really is as kind and delightful as you could imagine.  And when I met Bob Barker a few weeks before his retirement… that was pretty incredible.  I spent my childhood re-creating the games on The Price is Right with playing cards and Legos, so it was a lifetime dream fulfilled.

If you could do your own TV show that combined your love of television, food, and drink, what would it be called and what would it be like? I think “TV Food and Drink” would be a good name, don’t you?  Wait!  Even better… “TV Food and Drink with your host… that inimitable personality… Gary Green!”  Cut to me coming out from behind a curtain in a tuxedo and thanking my sponsor, Stopette.  There’d be some cooking with a famed chef, lots of witty banter, an in-house band and an in-house bartender.  Sunday nights at nine.  I’d kill off those sniping Desperate Housewives for sure.

What are three things people don’t know about you?

1.)    If I get to know you at all, I’ll probably create a television show in my mind where you are the star.  I’ll even brain-write a couple episodes to see if it has the legs to run a minimum of five seasons.

2.)    I watch reruns of Match Game for fun when there’s cleaning to be done.

3.)    I hate cumin.  Absolutely despise it. Ugh!  You’ll find less resistance if you try stapling a beehive to my tongue.

Do you see yourself still blogging several years from now? How do you balance food blogging and life? I love to blog but to do it well takes time and thoughtfulness.  I don’t want to just blabber on about myself.  I want people to read and think, “YES!  That’s how I feel when trying a recipe that’s more complicated that my skill set!” or “YES!  I thought the same thing watching American Idol last night.”  It’s tempting to just post like crazy when you’ve taken a new picture or made a dish that makes you especially proud, but I like to construct a little story around it first.  I want my posts to be fun, but I also hope they’re smart.  Will I be blogging several years from now?  Oh, we’ll have something new by then, and I’ll be trying to grab my share of unique web hits with it, that’s for sure. 

If others were to ask you about Half Hour Meals, how would you describe the site to them? I’ve done my share of website design, and HHM does a great job of visually hooking a foodie and keeping them faithful.  So many great recipes I have never even heard of and would never have thought to make, always a new post or recipe to check out whenever you drop by.  And it’s completely driven by average chefs just like me.  HHM is doing a great job, and I’m happy to have found it.  And thanks for including me!

My deepest thanks to Gary for letting us into his world for just a bit. I hope you all will stop by and visit his page at Half Hour Meals, and be sure to check out his wonderful blog as well!

Blogging is Community

Written Friday, February 19th, 2010 by Penny Hawkins

Today's post is all about the idea of blogging as community. Through blogging, and especially here at Half Hour Meals, I have made some great friends and met some truly amazing people. These people and their friendships mean a great deal to me and I feel very blessed because of them. We may live at opposite ends of the country, or even the globe, but we are united in our love of food, cooking and fellowship. That, my friends, is community, and it's an incredible thing!

So why do we blog? I believe it's not just because we want to express our thoughts and feelings to whoever is "out there". That's part of it to be sure, but I believe there is something deeper that motivates us to blog. I think we are searching for community...to know that somewhere out there, someone has the same thoughts, feelings and interests as we do.  I know I often find myself wondering if anyone is reading my blog...does anybody care about what I'm writing? I don't know about ya'll but it just makes my day when I get a new follower or someone leaves a comment!

So let's reach out to each other and say "hello" ok? I would like to challenge each of you to reach out to other bloggers....give them a "follow", leave comments...let them know they really are part of the community! We bloggers are wonderful, caring and generous people...let's not forget to support one another! And to Anne, Theresa, Angie, Tony, Trish, Lady Catherine, Amy B., Chilly and Wanda, Marla, BJ, and all my other HHM family...love you all and thanks for the support!

Featured Community Member: SimplySandi

Written Friday, January 22nd, 2010 by Penny Hawkins

Half Hour Meals member Sandi lives in Dallas, Texas, and authors a fun, sassy blog dedicated to sharing her thoughts on things she loves such as entertaining, shopping, cooking, reading, etc. From snack cakes to Rachel Ray recipes, with tidbits about her family mixed in, there is always something interesting on the menu at Sandi’s blog!  Read on to learn more about Sandi:

Your blog, Peel Me A Grape, is a fun place to read about your thoughts on things you love like books, cooking, and entertaining! What inspired you to start your blog and what’s the story behind the name? I love trying new recipes – especially enchiladas. Back in 2008, I sent a picture of my latest attempt to a friend.  She replied back stating that I really should start a blog. I had never even READ a blog much less knew how to START a blog.  For kicks, I Googled blogs, and within about 30 minutes – I was hooked. I changed the name of my blog from “simplysandi” to “Peel Me A Grape” about a year later. Peel Me A Grape is a song by my favorite jazz singer, Diana Krall. I was thinking of dieting at the time, and the idea of peeling grapes to lose weight struck me as funny. Then, I realized that this title represents me and all things I love – like romance, music, food, and wine. 

You live in the great state of Texas (also the home of Half Hour Meals!). What is your favorite recipe that reflects the unique regional flavors of Texas? Fajitas.  It combines Texans love of all types of meats from beef to seafood with all the spices that scream Texas – cumin, cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, onion powder, chili powder, garlic powder. It is a very versatile dish. Based on the seasoning, it can be mild or spicy.  I am constantly experimenting with different marinades to bring out the best flavor in the meat.  Just last night I used a Mango Ginger Haberno sauce.  The fajitas were awesome.

Do you have a signature dish? What is it and how did you come up with it? This is a hard one. The latest dish that I’ve been serving company is Shrimp Pasta in a Tomato Chile Sauce.  It’s an Emeril Lagasse recipe. It has all my favorite spices along with pepper jack cheese for that extra kick and creaminess. 

Name 5-10 ingredients you can’t live without. vanilla, unsalted butter, cinnamon, cumin, cayenne pepper, light sour cream, cheese (all flavors), Italian bread crumbs, extra virgin olive oil Interviewer’s note: I suspect Sandi was cheating a bit by naming cheese (all flavors), but we like her so much we’ll let her pass!

Surprise! Tony Romo, Quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys is coming to dinner! What would you serve? I’d pick the main course from “The Pioneer Woman Cooks” cookbook - either the rib-eye steak or chicken fried steak. I’d serve it with twice-baked potatoes, lettuce wedge with blue cheese, and banana pudding for dessert.

You have a 23-year-old son. When you make a special dinner for just for him, what do you make? How has being a mom influenced your cooking and your blog? My son has many favorites – mostly Italian, but his ultimate favorite dish is very simple - chicken tenders with mashed potatoes and peas.  I use mayo on the chicken then dip them in Italian bread crumbs and bake for 20 minutes. He loves them dipped in bbq sauce.  I didn’t cook much when my son was younger.  He was a picky eater. As he got older, I found that the more he appreciated good food, the more I liked learning to cook it. 

What is your favorite cookbook and why? The Pioneer Woman Cooks. I basically want to cook every recipe in the book.  She has updated the classics like “pot roast” or “chicken fried steak”. I recently made her “potato skins” – they were awesome, and it was like I went back in time to the 80’s.

Do you see yourself still blogging several years from now? How do you balance food blogging and life? I am hooked on blogging and really want to evolve my blog. I work full-time, so just keeping my blog up to date was a challenge at first.  I have learned to “schedule” postings so that my blog stays current, but the hardest part is finding the time to take advantage of the tools available.

If others were to ask you about Half Hour Meals, how would you describe the site to them? Half Hour Meals is a great site to get quick and easy recipes as well as share your own.  It’s appealing to look at and easy to navigate.  I do not feel overwhelmed at all when I go to it. So many sites have so much information, you do not know where to start. 

My deepest thanks to Sandi for letting into her world for just a bit. I hope you all will stop by and visit her page at Half Hour Meals, and be sure to check out her wonderful blog as well!

Featured Community Member: Love4coffee

Written Monday, January 18th, 2010 by Anne Coleman

The Coffee Shop,  is one of the most happy and positive food blogs I've come across in some time. Paloma (love4coffee) is all sunshine and sweetness with a side of seriously delicious recipes. Take a look at her blog, and her page here at Half Hour Meals, but first check out what she has to say on the subject of food blogging:

What was the inspiration for your blog, The Coffee Shop? You write about much more than coffee, it's almost like being in a coffee shop with your friends and discussing the day's events.

I love coffee and my husband does too, we drink it every night and our dates usually involve a coffee shop, so this blog actually started as “Coffee Lovers” because that’s what we are and I was sure there were more people like us who would like to read about coffee, see pictures and be able to just know more about this wonderful ingredient. I do not describe it as a drink because coffee is much more than that, it is a comfort, a help when you are studying and even a garden fertilizer! Later on, and because of my love for good cuisine, books and a nice conversation I thought about changing the name of the blog to “The Coffee Shop”, that way the blog would include many more topics and reach more people, everything of course inspired by the aroma of coffee.

How do you balance food blogging and life? Do you see your blog as an extension of yourself or more like a business?

I am a stay at home mom and food blogging is part of my daily life, I have been taking pictures of food and coffee years before the blog started, so I had some material to start with. I do not make any money from it right now but I have been planning on doing something to generate some income from it when the time is right, basically to be able to offer more to the coffee lovers who follow my blog. Blogging for me is just something that I enjoy I do not see it as work. It has been fascinating to also get to know other bloggers and take a peek at their lives (and what they eat).

What are five ingredients that you can't live without?

I do not even need to give it too much thought to answer: chicken, cilantro, rice, onion and tomato. There are of course many others that are BASIC for me to have but I just can’t live without those 5, I would say that lime is just as important, though.

If the president of any country were to stop by for dinner, what would you make for him/her?

I would definitely make “chiles en nogada”, it is a very traditional dish from Mexico and it was “created” by some nuns in a convent in the city of Puebla to entertain an emperor on his birthday. It is basically a poblano chili pepper stuffed with a a mixture usually containing chopped beef and pork, aromatics, different types of fruits, nuts and spices, topped with a walnut-based cream sauce and pomegranate seeds. I know it sounds “very exotic” and you would never be able to imagine how that tastes you just need to try it, trust me, there is no “overpowering flavor”, it is just the perfect balance of heat, sweet and salty ingredients which create the most perfect harmony in taste. This goes perfect with cold hibiscus tea (agua de Jamaica) which is very popular in Mexico, too and an authentic Mexican flan for dessert, the star of this meal would definitely be the chili.

You've had The Coffee Shop up and running for 8 months, do you see it still going in a year? What are your plans and hopes for your blog?

Definitely! I see it going for many more years, we are now on Facebook too and some of the plans I have is to include more giveaways, make reviews of different coffee brands and coffee shops (locally and in other cities) and soon create my own brand of coffee mugs. I want people to be able to see my blog as their favorite “Coffee Shop”, where they look forward to be and see what is the topic of the day, where they can always find familiar faces and things that they can relate to in their everyday life. I basically want them to see it as a “treat” they deserve as they enjoy a cup of coffee, hot chocolate or their favorite drink.

Where does Half Hour Meals fit in to your food life? When did you join and how are you liking it so far?

I love Half Hour Meals, I recently joined (just in December) and I am so happy I did, I have found wonderful people and great recipes and tips that have made my cooking experience more fun! I really enjoy the interviews and the community section is phenomenal!

Walk us through a day in your kitchen. What would we be eating from breakfast through dinner?

As simple as it can be with a 16mo. girl running around, playing with my pans, pots and measuring tools! The way I cook has had to adapt since she was born. I try to keep it quick and nothing too elaborate! There is always cereal for breakfast, for lunch we always have what people here in the USA call “Mexican food”, but for me it’s just what I’ve been eating since I was born. It can be either chicken with rice and vegetables, meatballs or beef with potatoes and salad. I always try to include fresh vegetables with lunch (which is the main meal in Mexico) but I must always have "salsa verde" (green hot sauce) to go with it. For dinner we have eggs, a sandwich or tacos made with the leftovers of whatever we had for lunch with some little touches here and there like onions, tomatoes and cilantro, those 3 make such a great difference, nothing too fancy, everything affordable and easy to make. Later in the evening my husband is in charge of coffee, he brews the coffee as I get some cookies I previously baked from scratch (usually) ready, that is a common day in my kitchen.

Thank you so much, Paloma, for sharing yourself with us!

Featured Community Members: Chilly and Wanda

Written Friday, December 18th, 2009 by Penny Hawkins

Half Hour Meals members Wanda and Chilly are a husband and wife team who live in Georgia and co-author a friendly, home-spun blog dedicated to sharing their favorite recipes. Home cooking is always on the menu at Wanda and Chilly’s, and this dynamic duo makes you feel right at home from the minute you arrive on their page. Read on to learn more about Wanda and Chilly:

Your blog, 1 Blog and 2 Sides, has a great down-home, friendly feel and makes me want to sit down with a cup of coffee and have a chat! What inspired you to start your blog? Thank you for the compliment on our blog.  Please feel free to chat anytime you want.  We would both enjoy it.  :-)  Both Chilly and I enjoy cooking, trying new recipes, and learning new recipes from friends and family.  We enjoy sharing our recipes with others. 

What inspires you in the kitchen? Smells, smiles, and satisfaction.  We enjoy experimenting with different flavors in unexpected dishes.

Name your favorite southern ingredient and tell us how you like to use it. This is a hard question to answer.  There are many foods of the south we enjoy. Chilly  -- Cracklins used in corn bread. Wanda -- I can't say a particular southern ingredient but a southern food would be collards or turnip greens along with some of that corn bread.

Tell us what your signature dish is and how you came up with it. Chilly -- Sausage Squares and was passed on to him by his grandmother. Wanda -- Fried Chicken and it was with a lot of trial and error.

Name the 5 ingredients you can’t live without. Chilly -- Sugar, tea, ground pepper, flour, and olive oil. Wanda -- Sugar, tea, flour, salt, and butter

Walk us through a typical day in your kitchen. Some days there is nothing going on in our kitchen.  Other days there are vegetables prepared to cook throughout the day or meats that take longer.  Since we are both diabetics, we have simple snacks and less complicated meals.

Since you both cook, how do you divide meal preparation responsibilities at your house? Do each of you have a specialty? I prepare the majority of meals but Chilly does do a lot of the prep. work with cutting up vegetables or shredding cheese, stirring, etc.

Your friend Catherine’s recipe for Pumpkin Crunch Cake looks tempting and delicious. What is your absolute favorite dessert recipe? My friend Catherine's recipe is delicious and very simple.  I hope you will try it.  I'm going to make the same recipe with sweet potatoes instead of the pumpkin. Chilly -- Favorite dessert is any kind of fudge. Wanda -- Favorite dessert is German Chocolate Cake

Do you see yourself still blogging several years from now? We both love the computer and cooking so I believe we both will be blogging years from now.  We've met lots of wonderful friends thru blogs and hope to meet more. 

Why did you join Half Hour Meals? We were looking for some different recipes and something to make quick when we found Half Hour Meals. 

What's your favorite thing about the site? Half Hour Meals is laid out very well and very easy to use.  The administrators are very helpful when there is a problem.

Have you tried others' recipes from Half Hour Meals? Yes, I've just recently tried the pork chops and cooked apples.  We both enjoyed the recipe.

If others were to ask you about Half Hour Meals, how would you describe the site to them? Half Hour Meals is very easy to use with a wide variety of choices to pick from.  The administration is very helpful if needed.

Thanks for sharing with us, Wanda and Chilly! I hope you all will stop by and visit their pages at Half Hour Meals, and be sure to check out their wonderful blog as well!

Featured Community Member: Married to Chocolate

Written Friday, December 4th, 2009 by Penny Hawkins

Half Hour Meals Member Kris lives in New York and writes a fun, flirty, blog dedicated to her all-consuming love for chocolate. One look at this fun and lighthearted blog is enough to convince you that this lady is serious….she really loves chocolate! In fact, her blog profile states that her first love is chocolate and her second is words, which explains why she lists her profession as “journalist/chocoholic”. Read on to learn more about Kris and perhaps join her in her devotion to chocolate:

Your blog, Married to Chocolate, is dedicated to your intense love of chocolate as well as your passion for journalism. What inspired you to start a blog that combines your two passions? Married to Chocolate was part of a grad school project at Syracuse University where I got my MA in Magazine, Newspaper and Online Journalism. We launched a magazine and web site targeted at divorced women (get it? Married to Chocolate!) That's the long answer. The short answer--I followed my heart!

What is your earliest chocolate memory and how did it spark your lifelong love affair with chocolate? Lucky for me, I grew up in a house where my grandparents baked cakes on a regular basis. I remember our kitchen table being a constant mess of flour, eggs, and cocoa powder. And chocolate cake was my grandfather's specialty! He would make an extra batch of fudgy chocolate icing for me, and a tub of homemade caramel for my sister. Come dessert time we would each grab a spoon and dig in. How we didn't grow up to be morbidly obese, I don't know.

If you could eat your favorite chocolate anywhere in the world with anyone you wanted, where would you go, who would you take, and what would you eat? That's a loaded question! Eating chocolate is such a normal occurrence to me that I can't really isolate it into this single momentous event.. but I'm dying to go to Tuscany to meet chocolatiers Alessio and Cecilia Tessieri of Amedei. I've been salivating over their pralines for some time now. And I would probably take my favorite guy in the whole wide world with me-my three-year old nephew Logan. He's a little chocolate-lover too!

You obviously love chocolate in pretty much any forms and flavor. If you could have only one thing that is chocolate from now on, what would it be and why? One thing? Wow. I'm actually not a fan of all flavors of chocolate--I appreciate the creativity but I'm not crazy about the spicy ones.  I also tend to favor chocolate I can chew (hot chocolate is purely a Christmas indulgence for me). That said, if this nightmare were to come true, I would have to choose dark chocolate truffles--the soft ones--dusted with cocoa please.

White chocolate. Is it really chocolate or not? No it's not and that's exactly why I don't like it! I take my cocoa content seriously. I like my chocolate deep and dark.

So what’s your obsession with Red Velvet Cupcakes all about?  The reason why I love Red Velvet Cupcakes--and this I found out after I fell in love with them--is because they have cocoa in them. Figures! And hello, cream cheese frosting? What's not to love? To me, it's just one of those flavors that works. Pure genius.

I just love your “No-Bake Mondays” posts…each one featuring a delightful way to enjoy a no-bake chocolate treat! Where do you get the inspiration for your no-bake recipes? I once lived in a studio apartment with a tiny kitchen. I had a toaster oven but it couldn't do hardcore baking so I had to be creative.. I was also a student then and I couldn't exactly splurge on Callebaut chocolates and whatnot.

I look at recipes, strip them down to the basic ingredients, and play mix and match. I like recycling leftovers (leftover Halloween candy or cranberry sauce) and turning them into quick and easy desserts. No-Bake recipes have limitations (like no eggs, usually), but once you know how to work around them, there is so much you can do with ingredients that are probably already in your cupboard. I really believe no-baking is an underrated art- you just have to use your imagination!

Your recipe for No-Bake Microwave Chocolate Chip Bran Muffins looks amazing, quick, and oh-so easy. What is your absolute favorite no-bake treat? I'm a HUGE fan of fridge cakes! Graham crackers and vanilla yogurt can go a really long way if you're creative. My favorite to-date is the bastardized Nigella recipe I made--vanilla yogurt, whipped cream, dried mangoes, graham crackers--I swear by it! The Frozen Smores Bars were not too bad either.

Do you see yourself still blogging several years from now? I would like to think that as long as there is chocolate in the world, Married To Chocolate would be around. In the future though I do want to develop this into a full-blown chocolate extravaganza with a full editorial team of chocolate-obsessed people like me. I need someone to split the calories with.

Why did you join Half Hour Meals? It was a pleasure to be invited by TonyB!

When did you join Half Hour Meals? Pretty sure I joined the site in October.

What's your favorite thing about the site? I'm a huge fan of quick and easy stuff. Who has more than half an hour to cook anyway??

Have you tried others' recipes from Half Hour Meals? Unfortunately, not yet, but I do hope to try the desserts soon. I saw a No-Bake CHocolate Fudge Tart recipe on there that looks very, very tempting. 

If others were to ask you about Half Hour Meals, how would you describe the site to them? The go-to web site for people who don't want to slave away in the kitchen all day and still come up with pretty amazing stuff! If you want to spend more time on the dining table than in the kitchen, this web site is for you!

Thanks for sharing with us, Kris! I hope you all will stop by and visit Kris’s page at Half Hour Meals, and be sure to check out her wonderful blog as well!

Featured Community Member: Billie Jean (beejay72)

Written Friday, November 27th, 2009 by Penny Hawkins

Half Hour Meals Member Billie Jean (“BJ”) writes a playfully informative blog about breathing life and love into the daily necessity of eating. With a focus on teaching and inspiring her readers, BJ’s passion and enthusiasm shine through in her posts and recipes, and convey her desire to bring people together around the table. Read on to learn more about BJ and be inspired by her wonderful blog:

Your blog, Cook. Eat. Love, is dedicated to cooking, learning and inspiring. What inspired you to start a this blog?  I decided to start this blog because cooking is a real passion of mine.  Cook-Eat-Love is a way to direct my food-loving and creative energy.  I talk about food all the time, I might as well write about it.

What is your earliest food memory and how did it spark your lifelong love affair with food? My mother was a great cook.  She is the kind of cook who never used recipes but could pull together cabbage rolls, meat pie, curry etc and it tasted excellent.  My first real food "experience" happened when I was living in Belgium and I got invited to a Christmas Eve Dinner.  I journaled about it later because it was one of the most magical evenings ever.  The dinner was the main event and we ate from 7pm until mid-night, each course prepared with excellence.  I could go on but I should stop myself.

The recipes on your blog are an eclectic mix of International cuisines. Do you have a favorite?  I do not have any particular favorite cuisine.  I find them all interesting and tasty.  I appreciate how each culture expresses itself through food.

You mention your love of kitchen tools. If you could only keep one, what would it be and why? Only one eh?  It would have to be my kitchen aid stand mixer.  I am not sure if that counts as a tool or not but the mixer could not go.  I also need good knives...

How long have you been blogging and how has blogging changed your daily life? I have been blogging for 1 year.  My daily life has changed in that I am more dedicated to the art of what I cook.  Photographing food has become very important to me.  When I plan my menu, I always want to stretch myself to do something new.

I really like the way you provide information, background and anecdotes in your articles and recipes. Your blog entry “About Pye” is a wonderful primer on the art of making a perfect pie crust, and is informative for both beginners and experienced cooks. Do you have experience as a teacher? Have you ever considered conducting cooking classes? I do not have any experience as a teacher and have not thought about cooking classes.

Your recipe for Belgian Waffles looked delicious and made me want to grab the maple syrup! What is your favorite breakfast recipe? My favorite breakfast recipe would have to be home-made granola.  There is nothing like created and baking your own granola.  It makes all the difference in the world.

Do you see yourself still blogging several years from now? I will continue blogging as long as it continues to be a passion of mine.  I don't doubt that it ever won't be.  Cooking is such a huge part of who I am and I hope to continue to make art of it.

Why did you join Half Hour Meals? I really enjoyed looking at all the different recipes and blogs.  I appreciate any cooking style so it is great to be able to check so many out

When did you join Half Hour Meals? I joined HHM in September or October.

What's your favorite thing about the site? I really enjoy seeing the daily features, it catches my attention.

If others were to ask you about Half Hour Meals, how would you describe the site to them? It is a great site for recipes and community.

Thanks for sharing with us, Billie Jean! I hope you all will stop by and visit BJ’s page at Half Hour Meals, and be sure to check out her wonderful blog as well!

Featured Community Member:Debbie (Gourmet Traveler)

Written Friday, November 20th, 2009 by Penny Hawkins

Half Hour Meals Member Debbie lives in London and authors a fabulous blog that combines her love of travel, food and wine. A true adventurer in the kitchen, Debbie tackles recipes from every corner of the globe. She creates sushi from Japan, eggs en cocotte from France, or Portobello mushroom and gorgonzola spaghetti from Italy, and takes her readers with her through her recipes and beautiful photos. Read on to learn more about Debbie and go along with her on her culinary journeys:

Your blog, Gourmet Traveller, takes us along on your culinary journeys with “tasty morsels from both home and abroad”. What is the inspiration behind your blog? I have been lucky enough to travel to many countries and sample various cuisines – these travels, as well as my love of food inspire my cooking at home. My blog is where I document all my culinary adventures, be it in a faraway exotic location, or just at home in my humble kitchen.

Do you take the photos yourself? Any tips for making our blog photos look as great as yours? Yes, I do take them all with my trusty little Leica C-Lux 2. I think the best tip really is good, and natural lighting - take photos of your food in daylight where possible. Make sure your food looks presentable – use your best crockery and wipe your plates clean and try to take photos from an angle – that normally comes out better than a direct overhead shot. Also take lots of photos so you have a higher chance of getting that perfect shot!

What is your earliest food memory and how did it spark your lifelong love affair with food? It would be watching my grandmother making  “dan-san” – a delicious sweet deep-fried fritter/pastry dusted with icing sugar. I have a very large extended family and we would often meet at our grandmother’s for dinner or dim sum lunch at a restaurant (we would take up 2-3 tables of 12!) – food was always the center of family gatherings. My husband’s family is in the food and wine business, so we have a very happy marriage of food and wine in our household!

The recipes on your blog are simple yet elegant at the same time. How do you find such a great balance of sophistication and simplicity in your cooking? Thank you! To be honest I don’t make a conscious effort to, I just cook what I enjoy eating at home – food with clean, simple flavours using seasonal organic (where possible) produce. Although we do attempt more complicated dishes especially when entertaining, we tend to leave the really intricate stuff to the professionals and just eat out!

What is your favorite restaurant in the world and what do you eat there? That is a difficult question – there are so many! But one restaurant that does stand out is French Laundry – we had an amazing meal there earlier this year and what amazed me was how they manage to bring out the best in the ingredients without over-complicating things. Their vegetable dishes are stellar.

How long have you been blogging and how has blogging changed your daily life? I’m quite new to blogging, having only started about 4 months ago. It has made food an even bigger focus in my life than before – I’m constantly looking for recipes to try and cooking up my own creations so I can share them with my readers (I update my blog almost daily). My husband is always looking forward to coming home to see what new treat awaits him!

If you could choose the cuisine of only one country to cook and eat from this day forward, what country would it be and why? No question, it would be Japan. I love the clean flavours and impeccable ingredients. Also there is such diversity in the cuisine, from healthy raw fish and clear broths, to fantastic noodle and rice dishes, and also more sinful deep-fried delicacies. I definitely would not tire of it!

Do you see yourself still blogging several years from now? Definitely – I’m hooked!

Your recipe for oeufs en meurette adapted from Rick Stein, made my mouth water! Do you have any other favorite egg recipes you want to share? Thanks! Oeufs en Meurette really is such a wonderful dish. I have a couple of other egg recipes such as Eggs en Cocotte (an easy but sophisticated breakfast option) as well as my take on Huevos Rancheros on my blog. I’m sure many more will feature in the near future as I adore eggs…I am currently trying to perfect the soufflé, so maybe that will be next!  
 
Why did you join Half Hour Meals? Although I love spending hours in the kitchen on the occasional weekend, for weekday meals you want something that is easy and no-fuss but still tastes great. Half Hour Meals is full of recipes that offer just that!

When did you join Half Hour Meals? Just over a month ago.

What's your favorite thing about the site? The recipes of course, and also the easy navigation and community feel of the site.

Have you tried others' recipes from Half Hour Meals? No, but I have earmarked a few that I’m wanting to try real soon!

If others were to ask you about Half Hour Meals, how would you describe the site to them? It’s a one-stop site full of recipes for people who love to cook and eat well, but don’t want to spend hours slaving away in the kitchen. It’s also a place for you to exchange recipes and ideas with the rest of the foodie community.

Thank you so much for sharing with us, Debbie! I hope you all will stop by and visit Debbie’s page at Half Hour Meals, and be sure to check out her wonderful blog as well!

Featured Community Member: Marjorie (CreativeOnion)

Written Friday, November 13th, 2009 by Penny Hawkins

Half Hour Meals Member Marjorie lives in Michigan and authors a creative new blog with original recipes that are geared towards “the beginner, the curious, and the obsessive foodie.” Indeed, when you look at her recipes, they are so well-written and thorough that you can see where beginners will be able to achieve success, and those with more experience won’t be able to resist trying them! Accompanied by colorful photos to satisfy even the most obsessive foodie, these recipes make you want to get in the kitchen and cook!  Read on to learn more about Marjorie and her wonderful recipes:

Your blog, Caramel Onion, contains “Original recipes and miscellaneous for the beginner, the curious and the obsessive foodie”. What is the inspiration behind your blog? Ultimately, my inspiration is my family. The only thing I love more than eating food is watching my friends and family enjoy my concoctions, and I sometimes go to great lengths to get my friends and my food together in my house at the same time. My husband in particular is a huge inspiration; he’s enormously fun to feed and a fantastic cook himself, albeit Southeast Asian style cooking (he’s a Pilipino). I learn a lot of unique techniques from him - like using coconut milk and ginger in dishes like “Hot Harvest Curry” - and he’s a wonderful sounding board.

Also, I think cooking is easier than most cookbooks make it out to be, yet it’s so important to our health. With a little knowledge and confidence, I believe anyone can improvise in the kitchen to make easier, more healthful meals. Caramel Onion is kind of my mission to share easy tips and substitution tricks with fellow cooks and beginners, in the hope that newbies will read by blog and say “hey, I can do that!”.

I love where you say that making recipes is taking control of your destiny. When you’ve had a really bad day, what is your favorite thing to make in order to turn things around? For some reason, there’s nothing more relaxing to me than making layered cakes from scratch. There’s no pressure to innovate a new savory dish for a hungry audience - cakes are just for sheer pleasure, aesthetically and edibly. I get to control the shape of the cake rounds and the consistency of the frosting, and when I’m done I have something beautiful and tasty to show for my work.

What is the one ingredient you can’t live without? Maple syrup. My family lives on a 40 acre sugarbush in rural Michigan, so we’re spoiled with a surplus of the real stuff. For sugar substitutions in pastries and sweet-and-sour dishes, there’s nothing quite like it. Plus, it’s incredibly nutritious!

Where does your inspiration in the kitchen come from? She will disagree with me, but definitely my mother. She comes from a long line of matriarchs who grew and cooked their own food for their families. My grandmother grew up farming through the depression here in Michigan, and I wouldn’t know anything if it weren’t for my mom’s training in practical, healthful Midwestern cooking.

Your Caramelized Onions look so amazing and I love how you include so many ideas for using them. What is your favorite way to use caramelized onions? Tarts! Puff pastry wrapped around cream cheese, basil leaves and caramelized onions baked until crispy - perfect.

Your Hot Harvest Curry is a seasonal feast for the eyes and palate! Any other seasonal recipes you want to share? Do you create your own recipes often? For seasonal recipes, you’ll have to visit my blog throughout the holidays! I posted my favorite pumpkin pie recipe last month, and I can promise recipes for cranberry stuffing, winter squash stew and old-world noodles in the upcoming season.

I often end up creating my own recipes by default, because I never follow a recipe exactly. There’s always something I want to add or enhance, although I definitely have some old family recipes that I never mess with. The rhubarb custard pie recipe on my blog is one of them.

How long have you been blogging and how has blogging changed your daily life? The Caramel Onion has only existed in its current form for about four months, but it’s definitely gotten into my system. Whenever I make a meal or dessert that turns out well, I won’t let anyone touch it until I take a picture. Sometimes my friends help my food pose for pictures, which I think is funny. It encourages me to make more frequent experiments in the kitchen than I might otherwise - which is great.

Do you see yourself still blogging several years from now? Hopefully. I’d like to see Caramel Onion build and appeal to a broad audience; but mostly, I enjoy it and see myself blogging for as long as I continue cooking.

Why did you join Half Hour Meals? When I was looking for recipe communities to connect with, Half Hour Meals struck me as an innovative and well-organized site. A smaller, friendlier version of AllRecipes.com.

When did you join Half Hour Meals? As soon as I found your site, which was about two months ago.

What's your favorite thing about the site? I love how easy the site makes it for its users to engage in a community - and the quality of the content. Everyone here has something valuable to offer, whether it’s a great recipe, a useful review or a seasonal tip.

Have you tried others' recipes from Half Hour Meals? Actually, I made Georgia’s Cheesecake (by Sarah) for my birthday party tonight. I’ll post a review as soon as I get feedback, but it looks beautiful. Thanks, Sarah!

If others were to ask you about Half Hour Meals, how would you describe the site to them? I would say it’s a great community for cooks of all experience levels - particularly those of us without a surplus of time on our hands. Five stars!

Thanks for sharing with us, Marjorie! I hope you all will stop by and visit Marjorie’s page at Half Hour Meals, and be sure to check out her wonderful blog as well!