The Game of 7
gifts of odd fruit, from Martine, left on our table in Uvita, Costa Rica
Dear Friends,
As a food blogger, I’ve not been one to participate in different games or give-aways. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. Those are fun methods to further connections via the ‘net.
However.
Not once but twice of late I have been invited by fellow writers (thank you Tracy and Anna) to play the game of 7: a list and link to 7 of what I consider to be noteworthy posts.
After a little consideration, I decided to jump in and play. Good Food Matters has been around for about 2 1/2 years, and that’s added up to a heap of recipes, stories, pictures, commentary. Sometimes it is worthwhile to cast a glance back over a body of work, see where you’ve been.
And then it’s time to move forward. I’m getting some beautiful melons tomorrow from Fresh Harvest Co-op, sure inspiration for a late summer recipe and story.
In the meantime, enjoy. Maybe one of the links will take you somewhere you haven’t visited before. Or take you back for another welcome look. Or maybe there’s a different post I should have put on the list? I invite your input.
And thank you, as always, for reading.
1. Most Popular Post
Ray’s Green Beans with bacon, corn, buttermilk, and dill
What I did with my “annual allotment” from neighbor Ray this past June resonated far and wide.
2.Most Beautiful Post
Mango-Tango, mango-filled white butter cake
I’m not sure that it’s my most beautiful post, but it is my most beautiful cake.
3.Most Helpful Post
Yes We Can Can
My step-by-step tutorial on canning tomatoes is one that even I keep revisiting!
4.Most Controversial Post
Red Snapper
My tale about a 1971 high school trip to Florida garnered one cautionary comment about over-fishing. The post was not intended for any controversy. I just really like this story.
5.The Post that surprised me by the amount of attention it received
Green Tomato Madness
Maggie and I played one afternoon last fall with a bucket of green tomatoes, with whacky, mixed results.
6. The Post that I felt deserved more attention
Figs, Unforeseen
Hard call. But this was indeed a pretty post about a favored fruit, not much seen–
7. The post of which I am most proud
Swirling Brownies Forever
Maybe because these brownies were key to the launch of my culinary career—maybe because I’ve made them more times than I can count—-I have to honor my fabulous marbled cream cheese brownies. They are my cooking legacy!
The game continues. I invite these food bloggers to join in, and I invite you all to read their marvelous blogs.
Food on Fifth
Darjeeling Dreams
My Little Expat Kitchen
Agri-Girl
Rachel Eats
Cheers!
Nancy
Comment on This Post:
AVAILABLE AT THESE ONLINE RETAILERS
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- Shrimp-Sweet Pea-Rice Croquettes
- One-Hour Cheese! review, recipes, and a giveaway
- Saltimbocca, sort of
- Ebinger’s Legendary Blackout Cake
- Asparagus Times Two
- Lemon Lemon Lemon Chicken
- Spring Supper: Fennel braised Pork, Beets-and-Blue Salad
- Fresh Starts: Sourdough and Spring
- Indonesian Bami Goreng and a giveaway
- Gastrique Mystique
Cooking programs for youth and teens.
- Feed a Child, Nourish a Mind
A Perfect Apple Tart, and a Peek into Luisa Weiss's Berlin Kitchen
A Place at the Table
Good Things to Come
Home Remedy
Interlude: Urban and Rural Delights
Lamb with Spinach, and The Honey Thief
Lemonade and the Literature of Food
Pura Vida
Ricotta-Making, Spiced Peach Salad and a Review
The Game of 7
Three Gratitudes
Welcome Volunteer
August 30th, 2011 at 3:52 pm
Your fig post! It did deserve my attention. I love your odd fruit photograph. A nice selection of posts here. Visiting your space is always a pleasure. I’m glad you do what you do.
August 30th, 2011 at 6:50 pm
Thank you, Denise! and thanks to Tracy for giving both of us the nudge to play the 7. Perhaps rachel will too, since you and I both have her on the list to prompt.
August 31st, 2011 at 2:20 am
I am going to give the canned tomatoes post some of my attention as I hope when our tomatoes eventually ripen *drum fingers impatiently* we will have enough to can. My favourite post of yours is the waffle one. But then every post of yours is a pleasure to read. I hope Rachel does it too.
August 31st, 2011 at 5:05 am
Kath, hope your tomato harvest is huge; the canning post really helps it go easily. thanks for noting your fave—I love the “buckwheat waffles for the birthday girl” post too.
August 31st, 2011 at 6:04 am
Love seeing all your links! You picked some fantastic ones to share but I think my favorite is the cake. I want to make it so bad!
August 31st, 2011 at 8:46 am
Loved the “swirling brownies” and revisiting those magical, quirky days at Goodies. And I was there when the infamous “brownie bowl” finally shattered, an event that became a sign for you to take your career in a new direction–a really good story you need to share with your readers—
August 31st, 2011 at 8:57 am
It was nice to see this post, I am relatively new to your blog and didn’t see most of these great posts. Those Swirling Brownies look amazing, and I am sure they are awesome to eat too
August 31st, 2011 at 9:19 am
Nance, I had the fun of going back and looking at all of your choices and what a fab collection of “7″. I thank you so much for putting Food on Fifth on your list of favorites as well and love a challenge as you know…so “7″ it is….next blog!
Also one of my favorite ever of your blogs was on Sept. 8th, 2009, “Madeleine’s Mocha Fudge Torte” and I would nominate it for one of your most beautiful cakes/desserts ever. And of course your brownies are a legend here in Nashville which I can never get enough of..
Congrats on your wonderful, continuing and inspirational posts. T
August 31st, 2011 at 9:31 am
Oh no! Someone beat me to it…I wanted to nominate you! :-( But I’m glad you shared your game of 7 with us regardless. I’m not very keen on games and such myself, but Stevie invited me in the kindest of all ways, so I’ll be posting my seven shortly. By the way, I enjoy every one of your posts and always love stopping by to see the delicious dishes you’ve made.
August 31st, 2011 at 9:40 am
thanks, all!
Wendy–someday the story of that brownie bowl will be published, one way or another.
Terese-glad that you are going to take up the challenge. I suspect the Dutchman will be featured in at least one of those 7!
Karen–thanks for those kind words. I look forward to reading your 7—such great travels that you have had really made for compelling posts.
August 31st, 2011 at 3:18 pm
I do remember those brownies well.
Now, Nancy, I’ll have to go give a little love and attention to your fig post…not too hard for me to enjoy one of your recipes with a fruit I love ;o)
Ciao for now and flavourful wishes,
Claudia
August 31st, 2011 at 7:20 pm
my beautiful, beautiful birthday cake !!!! i loved seeing it again. will always be grateful. gxx
September 1st, 2011 at 7:54 am
I was proudest of you for “Swirling Brownies,” too. This piece was written from the heart.
September 1st, 2011 at 8:02 am
Nancy, I’m so glad you did this, I love the fig post! I have to admit, I LOVE that brownie post and they are my go-to brownie recipe since I first read that story. Every time I make the brownies I reread the story for inspiration. You do such great work: I want to read the brownie bowl story!!! xoxoxo –gg loyd
September 1st, 2011 at 8:15 am
Claudia, Cath, gigi—thank you so much.
gg–so glad to hear from you—I have been wondering how your new life (in pittsburgh??) is going. love to you.
September 1st, 2011 at 12:30 pm
I loved reading your choices. I must say that I’m envious of anyone with access to fresh figs. Lucky you!
September 1st, 2011 at 2:38 pm
Nancy, love the links…some I’ve seen before, and it was nice to see what I’ve missed…great choices.
Hope you have a great Labor Day weekend :-)
September 1st, 2011 at 7:23 pm
what a great post! i love your mango cake and your swirly brownies!:)
September 2nd, 2011 at 4:08 am
I will -despite my goulash and frankly sloppy attitude lately – not sure I would if it wasn’t you and Denise though. I hope you know I like to visit you here Nancy, even when I’m burying my head in the sand, it’s because your food and words are just so delicious, honest and real. x
September 2nd, 2011 at 12:59 pm
such lovely links you shared and that brownie and the canned tomatoes are awsm ones.
September 5th, 2011 at 6:50 am
I loved your mango cake and I’m with Denise on the figs. They certainly deserve attention.
I love coming to your space here Nancy and I always enjoy reading your words and seeing your beautiful food.
Thank you for inviting me to play!
September 5th, 2011 at 9:33 am
I am going to watch that canning tutorial; I have been avoiding those little can for so long, but I see jams in my future.
September 5th, 2011 at 10:04 am
So difficult to choose, but I’d love the fig post. They are fabulous right now. Going to check it out!
September 6th, 2011 at 2:34 pm
Nancy, thanks for the links…in spite of having seen most of them…it is always nice to see them again :-) Love them all, especially the decorated mango cake.
Hope you are having a great week :-)
September 8th, 2011 at 8:18 am
A really lovely round-up, Nancy! Looking back is fun, isn’t it? I remember that gorgeous white mango cake…and those green beans! I’m definitely craving a plate full of those green beans now. ;)
September 8th, 2011 at 1:41 pm
I just want to say that I’m happy that you took up the challenge. I have found so many new and very talented bloggers this way. Your choices are great and I look forward to visiting again. I too participated in the challenge and it was fun.
September 21st, 2011 at 8:46 pm
I remember many of these posts. I still have the swirling brownies bookmarked to make. I’m also looking forward to trying Ray’s Green Beans with bacon, corn, buttermilk, and dill. It looks so good!
October 28th, 2011 at 1:31 pm
Hey Nance, better late than never, to comment, that is! ALL of your posts are wonderful!! I’m so happy that some of our adventures made it into the Game of 7! It’s always a pleasure, and here’s looking forward to our next foray into food and fun!