We have been blogging our food adventures for nearly four months now. It’s been an exciting experience and we have learned more than I ever expected. For instance, we know that a kumara is a sweet potato, that Russian pancakes are called blini and that pao de queijo is amazingly delicious! We have also learned that Mr. N likes to crack eggs, Miss A is an excellent whisker, that dad can stomach a sweet potato and that I like curry. However the thing that amazes us most of all about this adventure is the number of amazing bloggers with such creative content and wonderfully delicious recipes. Life is far too short for the amount of absolute goodness in this world.
In the past few weeks we have been humbled by and grateful to a few fellow bloggers that have highlighted and honored our site. Kay the creator of Pure Complex, a wonderfully creative, diverse and insightful blog passed along the Versatility Award. 
This honor means a lot considering that Kay keeps one of the most versatile blogs I read. She has the uncanny ability to find some of the most beautiful and thought-provoking concepts and images that I otherwise would never see; and she writes with both grace and honesty.
We were also featured on Happy Domesticity, a delicious food blog written by Alison. I love that Alison is such an optimistic, creative and honest blogger. Not only do her recipes make me drool on a daily basis, but her posts always make me smile. Her conversational style draws me in and her recipes keep me coming back!
So tonight we’d like to say thank you to Kay and Alison and pay their kindness forward. The rules are that we have to list seven facts that you don’t know about us and then share up to 15 of our favorite blogs. So here it goes:
- I’m not a fan of chocolate (*gasp*). I know…but I was allergic as a kid and while I’m not anymore, I never grew to really like it.
- Both Mr. N and Miss A are complete chocoholics. They more than make up for the fact that I don’t eat any.
- Dad loves to play broomball and has since his college days.
- We have moved 14 times in 10 years of marriage (8 of those times were in the first year – long story).
- Mr. N was born 8-1/2 weeks early and weighed only 3lbs.
- Miss A is not a morning person, and much like dad and I need our caffeine to get going, she needs her nutri-grain bar – every morning.
- We love road trips – the more miles the better. One of our favorite moments – when I got put in a straight-jacket by a magician at Niagara Falls (okay – that was one of dad and Mr. N’s favorite moments).
Now to name some of our favorite blogs. Between work, the kids, dating the hubby, cooking, blogging and life I don’t get too much extra time. Most of the blogs I read are work-related and well, they’re just not my favorites. That said, I have come across several in the past few months that I read (and we dine courtesy of) on a regular basis.
Manna & Quail – Laura’s blog was one of the very first that I started reading after beginning this blog, and I’m always excited to see what she’s cooking whether it’s Thai, Brazilian, or grilled goodies. She has beautiful food photography and recipes full of exciting flavors and creativity.
Bewitching Kitchen – Sally provided the recipe for our Brazilian pao de queijo for which I will forever be grateful – I could eat these little puffs daily for weeks on end (if they only lasted past the first day). Sally is a bread making maven and a real inspiration. She also has a variety of other recipes all of which feature fresh produce and delicious flavor combinations.
First Look, Then Cook – I first came across Dawn’s blog when she posted her Peanut Butter cupcakes. She is a fantastic baker with great recipes that not only sound delicious but look like they should be featured on the Food Network. I also love when she shares the challenges and success of feeding young kids – something we can relate to!
Rufus’ Food and Spirits Guide – What can I say about Greg (and his wife that occasionally provides equally delicious guest posts) other than I really wish they lived nearby because I’d constantly be inviting myself over for dinner. This blog provides some seriously dynamic flavor combinations and cooking methods. I mean come on – a Raspberry Cheesecake Martini and Orange Marmalade Pork with Fresh Sage?!
Food & Whine – Megan and her guests post recipes to please the pickiest of palates. They’ve shared recipes for everything from homemade ketchup to pumpkin oatmeal cookies. So far Mr. N and Miss A have enjoyed several of these recipes.
McClendon’s Select – This blog is written by Kate, a wonderfully gracious person, friend and mentor. Kate, and her husband Sean, are true inspirations. They traded the corporate life for the farming life, and now run a very successful organic farm in Arizona whose produce is featured in many of the area’s top restaurants. Their blog features fresh recipes, farming updates and one of my favorite resources – how to store and keep organic produce.
I could keep going with this list…there are several others that we enjoy, and we’re finding new ones each day. It’s bound to be a never-ending diversion! So thank you again to Kay and Alison, and to all the other wonderfully creative minds that offer such delicious content for the rest of us to both enjoy and drool over.
For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson
Eat, Play, Love 
Thanks so much for including me in your list, I’m honoured! I love reading about your adventures cooking food from around the world, it’s inspiring.
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My pleasure Megan! Thanks for reading. I love the whole concept behind your blog. The title alone makes me smile every time. 😉 It’s perfect!
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Thank you so much! I am so glad you posted those Brazilian recipes (which is how I found your blog, even though I still have to make the pao de queijo!) because I have really enjoyed reading about your family’s culinary journeys. I think the idea behind your blog is so creative and I am always impressed how cooking is something that brings your family together. I have made an extra effort to have my daughter help me in the kitchen because I can see how important it is for kids to have that experience. Congratulations on your awards – they are much deserved!
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Thanks Laura! I’m so glad that your daughter is enjoying being in the kitchen with you too. You know, sometimes the kids participate, sometimes they don’t, but they’re always around. And what I love now is even on nights that we’re not “cooking around the world” they sometimes come in and ask to help. And you have to try the pao de queijo – soooooo good. If you like bread they’re absolutely deadly. 😉
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Aaack, I have to follow Kay, she’s the nicest person on the planet. I want to thank you for mentioning the Rufus blog and mentioning me in particular. I sometimes tease Greg that he shows affection through food, but I know I’m so lucky to have someone who loves to cook, who does so even when he’s had a long day and comes up with so many wonderful ideas because he wants to share something special with me. Plus, he’s quite cute! I am a very blessed woman. I enjoy reading your blog too, I second Kay you’re teaching your children such valuable lessons. And extra help around the kitchen is always good.
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Thanks for reading Katherine. I loved your posts on London. I need to get back there one of these days. And it sounds like you also made some delicious recipes for your anniversary! It’s funny…I never really associated affection with food until I had kids. Now it’s a daily mission. 🙂 (Well, ate least 4-5 times a week mission.)
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I feel so honored reading what you said about me and about my blog. I truly appreciate it and you deserve the award from me and I know you deserved the award from Alison. Your blog is wonderful. You give us insight into your life and you create lasting memories with your family that I know they will remember forever. You are wonderful and your blog reflects how wonderful and great you and your family are 🙂
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Thanks Kay! I do hope the kiddos remember this when they’re older – they are growing-up so darned fast! Glad we found each other! I enjoy reading your insights every day. Have a great night.
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Thank you so much. We wished our foodie blogger friends lived closer too! (All our friends seem too intimidated to have us over for dinner anymore.) Thanks for mentioning my wife’s posts too. She’ll be quite happy. Great picks, we’re always over at HD, M&Q and PC too.:) Can’t wait to check out the others.
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I might be a little intimidated too. I’m still thinking about that ham. 😉
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Well, I just learned what broomball was – had never heard of it 🙂 Don’t really know anything on that subject but 8.5 weeks premature is a heck of a lot, right? I remember being told I was premature and had to be taken away and put into one of those incubator box things – although I don’t think it was as early as that!
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It’s an interesting sport to watch. Running on ice with shoes…Yes, 8.5 weeks is fairly premature. Like you Mr. N was whisked away and had to stay in an incubator for a while. He was so darned tiny! Modern medicine is amazing!
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This is so sweet of you. I love reading your blog and getting to share in your family’s adventures with food. Thank you for your kind words. 🙂
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Have a great day Alison!
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