A week from today is my one-year blogiversary. A year ago, I took a summer blogging class at Stanford, knowing that without hard deadlines I might never find the time or overcome my trepidation. At the end of the six weeks, I hesitantly tapped this tiny stake with its makeshift flag into internet-land, hoping to post bits of information here that might make someone’s day somehow better.
A year later, I’m happily attached to my little spot here in cyberspace, but I treasure most of all those of you who have come by to share it with me. It’s so very comforting to have friends here.
Won’t you help me celebrate? I’d love it if you would take a minute to share a favorite post or recipe from this year in the comment form below. To make it more fun I thought I’d do a little giveaway – comment below with your favorite post(s) from this year, and at the end of the week I’ll pick a random commenter’s name out of a hat.
Winner picks a prize from this exciting list:
- a butter bell! (choice of all white or painted floral)
- a cast iron skillet! (choice of 12-inch – wonderfully big but heavy, or 10-1/4-inch – the size I use daily)
- a $20 Amazon.com gift card!
Your comments will also help me out by giving me a little inspiration. A few weeks ago I thought my blogiversary would align neatly with my 100th post. But time’s been scarce this summer, and this is only #96.
So I suppose it’s fitting to end my year the way it began: with a friendly deadline. I hope you’ll be hearing from me three times this week before we celebrate my one-year blogiversary, 100th post and winner of our giveaway next weekend.
I’d better get cracking. Off I go…
(And if you are reading this in an email or rss reader, please come to the blog to post your comment! The comment form is at the end of the post. Use your real name, initials, or any moniker you like. Winner will be notified by email, so make sure that’s correct.)
I have enjoyed all the chinesegrandma posts but one in particular stays with me. When your little daughter asked you about death and you had to come up with an answer a child might understand- I thought your answer was thoughtful and inspired. I told my daughters in law and my daughter about it too, as it will be asked of them in time.
My fav recipe: the Blueberry Sour Cream pie- easy and delicious! I used lite sour cream and you were right, it was tasty! 🙂
Keep up the good work- I enjoy your blog very much!
Happy Summer to you and your family!
thanks, ellen…i love that you are such a dedicated reader! means a lot to me. =)
I do not follow any other blog but yours and have found it indispensable when it comes to knowing what young children are “into”. Your christmas stocking list was the best for me as I just went right down the list and ordered it all from Amazon and sent it on to my grandchildren so my daughter didn’t have to think about it at the last minute. She is a mother of 2,4,6,and 8 year old and so this was the best thing I could do for her. Best wishes on your one year anniversary and please keep it going. You keep us “oldies” in the 21st century. Connie
thanks, connie – i love thinking about your grandchildren getting gifts from the list! christmas is always such a huge project, and it makes me happy that my many hours of gift research can make others’ holiday shopping easier. too bad your daughter doesn’t live close to us – our four would have a great time with her four.
Congratulations on oyour milestone! We love your chicken and green bean stir fry.
http://www.chinesegrandma.com/recipes/chicken-green-bean-stir-fry/
thanks for sharing, heather! that recipe turned out to be one of the most popular, which is especially sweet since it’s one i made up! fun having the blog so i can write this stuff down instead of having to re-invent it every time. the stir fry is super versatile, and i use it all the time with different combinations of meat/seafood and veggies.
I love your blog! It’s how I follow your family too. best recipe ever: baked bacon. that is the only way to perfect bacon and I thank you. congrats on your one year anniversary and I look forward to many more. love AK
thanks, aunt kristy! not that we all need to cook a pound of bacon at a time, but it is so very handy… =)
Oh, wow. I have to tell you that your “Dream kitchen”post remains a favorite. I followed you here after seeing your kitchen (and loving it!) on GW. We are trying to sell this house in order to buy a fixer and allow me to do MY dream kitchen and garden. Congrats on the milestone!
thanks, pattie! i am so grateful for GW – i lived in that community when we were building the house. good luck on your own endeavor, i’m sure it will be great! ping me if i can help with any info along the way. =)
Love to read your blog. We made the cinnamon rolls that you posted. Super yummy!!!!
thanks, meera! i’m getting hungry thinking about those cinnamon rolls – made them a ton in the winter and had to take a break. but it may be time to break them out again, they are such a huge family favorite.
Happy one year Lil !
I love all your posts but I especially love the gift ideas posts because I’m always on the hunt for educational toys for the kids – classic items that they can share and learn with and remember playing with years from now.
thanks, shiva! i love knowing you are always reading – appreciate it so much.
happy one year! your chocolate cake recipe has become my only cake recipe–period. i stroll right past those mixes anymore. another post that has stuck with me is a more recent one, entitled along the lines of “it’s not about you” (?). i was a bit disappointed in myself that it was an eyeopener for me, but alas, it was, and it was a good thing. i also loved the post about your parents visiting. it’s stuck with me to the point that every time i load my dishwasher, i think of your dad loading yours! it was such a wonderful post.
ha, i’m just like you, molly – a one-cake wonder! i have a good yellow cake recipe i need to get around to posting sometime. my mom and dad don’t like chocolate (?!), so i have to have an alternative for their birthdays.
Congratulations! What an accomplishment to persist and achieve something you dream of. Well I think my favorite post is Phantom Life. I love that the writing comes from the soul, such honesty and vulnerability. And a great reminder that we constantly learn to let go and live in the present. It’s beautiful.
Love,
edie
thanks, edie! that was one of my first posts. =)
I really enjoy your blog.
The recipe for the hamentashen was great- super easy and my kids loved it.
hi karen, thanks for sharing and for reading! i love that hamentashen recipe too…perfect for an afternoon tea/coffee break.
I cannot think of a single post that I have not enjoyed immensely!
They all are a very “bright spot” in my day. As far as recipes I love the chocolate cake, candied walnuts, egg strata, penne with sausage, and many more. Most of all, I have loved being with you in your kitchen watching you cook while the children are either busy helping you or just busy being kids. And then…….I get to sample all the goodies!!!
Congratulations on a great 1st year! Keep it coming.
Love,
P.
marie, you are too sweet! i love having all your friends as readers – so much fun, thanks for being my #1 fan. =)
Congrats, Lilian! Love your blog – hard to pick a favorite. The chicken adobo is a great easy meal. Love the ones with the kids and also your dream kitchen. What’s next – a cook book?
Love,
Sue
hi sue – thanks for sharing! you and your sisters all commented on the same morning. you guys are so related! =)
Lilian, I have really enjoyed your blog. The recipes are great and the pictures make it very easy to follow the directions. I thought your holiday shopping suggestions were great! As a grandparent, it helps me keep up with excellent child-tested and mother-approved gift ideas. Keep up the good work!!
thanks, mary jo! i love that janie has joined the world of blogging too, very fun.
I started reading when someone linked to your kitchen post on twitter. We are getting ready to build a new house and your pantry will be the inspiration that solves our age old rice-cooker-on-the-kitchen-counter dilemma. When we build, I am leaning toward a similar pantry, but with a prep sink in it so I can do my rice-making and coffee in there without any countertop clutter. Congrats on one year of blogging!
rice cooker in the pantry – you will love it! love having counter space as well as shelves in the pantry for that very reason. good luck with your own project! let me know if i can help with any info. =)
The avocado fennel salad was the perfect anecdote to the never ending winter this year. It was exactly what I wanted to eat over and over again. Thank you CG and congratulations on your anniversary!
thanks for sharing – once i discovered that salad, i couldn’t stop eating it either!
CG-
I have you on my favorites list. You and Rhome (from GW) are two blogs I check daily to see what’s going on. what yummy things you are fixing that might inspire me. One blog I enjoyed was the one on chocolate creme pie. It reminded me of my mother’s recipe that she would make special for me 🙂 Also your kitchen! What a gorgeous place to be. Love my soapstone too, thanks for answering my questions! Congratulations on a year, and keep on blogging, I do enjoy.
Puppeez
thanks, puppeez – i love my GW friends here! thanks for hanging out in my virtual kitchen here. =)
Love your blog, writing style, photos, food, and the cg community that has enjoyed and supported your efforts. Many have already mentioned great posts. The posts about your parents as visitors (especially on the heels of the “Tiger Mother” article) and your mom’s garden really stick with me. And, of course, the chocolate pie recipe makes my mouth water every time (my stomach just grumbled and I am not kidding). I smile every time I see your little cg character in my inbox.
thanks, bk!
After reading your blog, I now make pancakes only with whole wheat pastry flour. Really yummy! I also now own not one, but two cast iron pans! I’m so glad you started the blog… it’s fun being able to keep up with what you’re up to and so great to benefit from all your knowledge and research.
ah, but do you make snoopy waffles with whole wheat flour? =P
Thanks for the giveaway 🙂 I love the candied walnuts recipe.
hi aubreylaine – those walnuts are my mom’s favorite too! =)
Wow, congrats! Not sure where to start, love so many of your posts… More than any particular article, I love how your writing is so honest, balanced, personal, eloquent and funny! I can’t think of one post that I didn’t thoroughly enjoy 🙂 Seems like we have very similar backgrounds and sensibilities and this may sound weird, but I think of you as I see myself in a couple of years (I’ve only got 2 kids so far! ;)).
Some of my faves, if I *had* to pick: All your practical advice about kid’s gifts (got a play tent for my 3-yr old’s bday and he looves it!), the most balanced view on Tiger Mothers I’ve read anywhere, the appreciation you have for your parents, your TED experience, the beautifully photographed and practical recipes (chocolate cake and banana muffins are our favorites)… I could go on and on! Even though I don’t always have a chance to comment on every article, they always provide inspiration in some way or another. So thank you for that and keep it up! 🙂
thanks, cc, you made my day! big time. =)