I always threatened to start a blog as a way of cataloging recipes prepared for and with friends & family. Finally, in August 2008, I took the plunge. The blog evolved into stories of fellowship at the table. While the food remains at the center of each post, the heart of each story is the people with whom I share my little part of the world.
I am a college athletic administrator by profession, but cooking has been a lifelong passion. The blog is a hobby. I try to post two or three times a week, the challenge being making each post interesting not just for the dish but the background story as well.
People have always told me I should open a restaurant or a catering business. I’ve toyed with the idea, but feared cooking would become a chore rather than a joy. A blog seemed a safe outlet for sharing stories, recipes and the pleasure I get out of cooking for others.
Almost two years.
I average about 25 visitors per day on my blog.
I promised myself I would never permit ads on my blog. I do it for fun, not for income. That isn’t to say I wouldn’t entertain a book offer or a cooking show of my own!
Foodies love the blog. Friends and family like hearing about themselves and re-living great times and meals together. I think the stories bring the blog to life for anyone who has ever prepared a meal for someone else.
On a good week, I average about 8-16 hours blogging. Most of that is spent selecting eye-catching photos, and finding a voice for the prose. The actual cooking is the easy part.
I try to capture a moment where the meal transcends just cooking and eating, and conveys to the reader the importance of sharing a task, and sitting down & eating together.
Keep at it. The more you write, the better you’ll get. Find a writing style and a voice that reflects your passion, one that the reader will come to identify as your own. Post regularly. Use topical words in the labels box. Solicit advice from other bloggers. Read other blogs. Read good books. Practice good grammer and punctuation. Do all the things your junior high English teacher taught you!
This blog can be visited at http://outtathepan.blogspot.com