Taking a cue from the lovely Casey at Good. Food. Stories., I thought I would ask you all what you want to see more of here. I’m in the middle of a redesign, and while I’m making changes to the site’s visuals, I also want to tune up the underpinnings that make this here blog do what it does best: get you into the kitchen.
So, dear readers, what would you like to see more of on the site? Is anything broken? Annoying? Amazing, and should be replicated to the ends of the earth? I’d love to hear your feedback. Below are some polls, and I’d also like you to please answer two questions in the comments. And scroll down for a giveaway – my way of saying thanks.
Please answer in the comments:
- What do you like best about this site?
- What would you change to make it better?
- What are your other favorite cooking blogs? What make them your favorites?
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The Incentive! AKA, I’m giving away free stuff.
If you take the time to respond to these polls and leave a comment to answer the questions I ask above, you’ll be entered to win a copy of the Culinary Boot Camp: Five Days of Basic Training at The Culinary Institute of America, a great book for filling those gaps in your cooking knowledge. Just click through the polls and comment here. That’s all you have to do. Easy! 
I’ll draw a winner at random on July 24th.
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I really like the posts that tell your story, like the dough sealed chicken. Great post!!! Hmmm, can’t think of anything I’d change. Love you!
Another reader who is totally satisfied, I’m afraid. I marked savory, but love the sweet recipes, too.
I really like your recipes/blog content as is! I can’t wait to see the new/revamped one though! I would also love that cookbook!
Ha, nothing like a little customer feedback, right? Obviously I love when you really inject your opinions into the story (see: emo chicken salad, roasting chestnuts), and would love to see more of YOUR photos on the site!
I really enjoy your blog. I am in the process of changing my cooking and eating style so I appreciate the healthy recipes you offer. Since I enjoying trying new foods I would like to see a little more of education regarding new and interesting ingredients. Just my opinion. Thanks for providing this great site.
I really like the narrative posts — the roasting chestnuts one stands out for me too, as do your posts from your time on Cape Cod and your travels in Europe. I enjoy stories which link food to a sense of place — be it your backyard or some place far away
favorite food blogs: LettuceEatKale, MyKidsEatSquid, GoodFood Stories, and A Life Divided (which isn’t always about food but has great food posts)
narrative, place, focus, individual voice,and a sense of humor combined with fine writing about food are what they all do in different ways
So, I simply love your blog, and frankly wouldn’t change a thing. It’s visually pleasing and I really enjoy the breadth of subjects you tackle.
Hi Stephanie! Great idea to poll your readers. Will be interesting to see if you elect to make any changes, or if the polls validate to keep a great thing going ; )
xoxo
What do you like best about this site?–Broad spectrum of recipes.
What would you change to make it better? Add a small side-bar section that shows, for example: 1 year ago it was this recipe…
It is amazing how much that end up with me going through a site looking at recipes (and making them) that I would not really otherwise discovery.
What are your other favorite cooking blogs? What make them your favorites?
BitttenWord–they really explain what they are doing and talk of their “failures” with possible cures;
VietWorld–bringing different ideas into the kitchen without being too “exotic” to require substantial $$ outlays for one-off attempts on my part (or infrequent attempts with such ingredients); and
Debbi does HealthyDinner: Just a fun way to approach it and keep health in mind too.
As others above have said, the best posts are where a recipe is interwoven with a personal narrative.
I agree with Nick that adding links either next to or below a current post highlighting similar, or recent, or last year’s recipes would really improve engagement with the site.
Favorite food blogs: Serious Eats, Kitchn, Pioneer Woman, Smitten Kitchen, Simply Recipes, Food Wishes, Joy the Baker, Stone Soup, Roost … they don’t all have that much in common, but great photography, and a personal relationship with food are pretty universal in there …
I think this is a great, informative blog. Thanks so much!
What do you like best about this site?
The new ideas I get, the photos, and the recipes.
What would you change to make it better?
Often a few of the ingredients are things that would take some doing to get (since we live in a somewhat rural location and only “go into town” 1-2 times a week).
So, if you can suggest substitutes from some of the harder-to-find ingredients, that would be great.
What are your other favorite cooking blogs? What make them your favorites?
I’d be afraid I might leave someone out, but I read at least 5-6 other food blogs.
My favorite thing about the blog is how easy it is to find a recipe based on keywords. I love reading the posts and can’t say I’d want you change anything! Some of my other favorite foodie blogs are White on Rice, Joy the Baker, Gluten Free Goddess
I really love–first of all–your intimate tone. I feel like I know you and I know I trust your opinions on food, taste and cooking. Secondly, I love your photography which is exceptional–you must know how to light because the food always looks appetizing.
I wouldn’t change much–maybe have a forum where readers could ask questions that you–and we–could chime in on.
I read Tea & Cookies, Christie’s Corner and food writing in the NY Times and Gabrielle Hamilton. But I really like your blog.
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