It’s hard to believe I’ve been writing these posts for a decade of my life! How did that happen? It started out simple, a way to share my recipes with family and friends and maybe engage in dialogue with other like-minded folks. Recipes that began life in the hearts and hands of my mother and other relatives and friends, but that have evolved through the years as our tastes and interests in food have changed. Along the way, I’ve harvested some gold.
Where it began
We all loved my mother’s cooking when I was growing up; it was simple New England fare with lots of butter and eggs, meats and lard, fresh veggies and more butter, pies and cakes, breads and biscuits. Bacon. Hearty food that satisfied us all, but food that doesn’t necessarily keep us healthy over the long term. So I lightened things when I could, added more whole grains, and moved away from the idea of a meat and potatoes every night, with token green and yellow vegetables on the side. Of course, some things I keep the same, and dessert is often offered as is because it is a special treat and nothing something in which to indulge every night. It’s a balancing act, especially if taking into consideration all the food allergies and dietary requirements we all seem to have these days.
Where it ended up
My own personal emphasis in cooking is to keep it as local as possible as much of the time as I can. This means a little gardening, a lot of trips to farm stands, CSAs, and making the large co-ops in the area my grocery stores of choice. Avoiding any food additives and processed foods are also extremely high on my list. Real food that one can pronounce without a science translator.
Surprise bonus
One of the wonderful bonuses to writing this blog has been the friendships I have made along the way. I always call them my modern-day penpals, and some I feel as though I have know for more than ten years, and have grown to love. I’ve been lucky to be able to meet up and spend time with a few of them for real, and believe me, the on-line rapport in all cases was just as strong, or even stronger, when we met up in person. We email, talk on the phone, and text, like we’d always been a part of each others lives. This is the gold. Thank you for being a part of my life Terrie (Comfort du Jour: Elevate your Happy) Laurie (Notes from the Hinterland) Judy (New England Garden and Thread) Nancy (The Elephant’s Trunk), Bernadette (New Classic Recipe), and Cheryl (Living in the Gap). You’ve all made this journey that much more rewarding and full of surprises. There are so many more of you that I enjoy often on a daily basis and engage in thoughtful discussions about food and life and everything else on our minds. I appreciate all your hard word, entertaining words, and insights into so much, and there are far too many of you to name individually.
The stats
So what has happened on this little site the last ten years? For one thing, I’ve written 685 posts which is a little more than one a week, erratically spread out. I have 1,506 subscribers, 196.3K visitors, 307.8K views, and 37,192 comments, from every part of our country and delightfully from all around the world. I’m not sure if the statistics are good or lacking, but it doesn’t matter to me since I’m not doing this to win any prizes in numbers, just share what I’ve learned along the way, and I sincerely hope I’ve helped others maneuver the kitchen puzzles. Most interesting, 49% of the visitors view my pages on the desk top, 48% on their mobiles, and just 3% on a tablet. Are tables completely passé at this point in time?
And now, in case you are wondering…
What are folks looking at the most? Drumroll please, for my top five posts in the last ten years, with my top post an article on Ruth Wakefield creator of, yes, those Toll House cookies, receiving almost three times the clicks than number two, 17,000 visitors. That’s a lot of cookies.
My Top Five Posts since January 2016
#1. Where was this Toll House and why did they make chocolate chip cookies? Posted March 1, 2023.
A little history of Ruth Wakefield, an amazing entrepreneur, whose accidental chocolate chip cookies put her little restaurant on the map and helped foster a chocolate chip empire. Of course, the world famous recipe that has changed little over the decades.
#2. New England Stewed Yellow-Eyed Beans. Mother made them first! Posted 27 March 2003.
Just a twist here and there on a Saturday night supper in our house when I was growing up.
#3. Conjuring Clarified Consumé Posted 30 October 2018.
A little kitchen magic with homemade chicken stock.
#4. Need to use up all those zucchini? Never fear, Catherine’s magic chocolate cake to the rescue! Posted in 2019 with a rerun this past year.
This clever cake uses up those zucchini you might find dropped on your door step. It has also proved to be my most popular in my newspaper column.
#5. What in the world is a Rumtum Diddy? Posted 16 July 2019.
My modern twist on a Depression-era classic that stretched pantry ingredients to feed hungry mouths with great delight.
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Finally, the temps were above freezing and the beautiful sun came out! The dogs had a blast in the snow, measuring time by the snowballs they caught!
Congratulations on ten years of blogging. I don’t usually follow food bloggers, but your posts contain practical tips, useful adaptations and sound seasonal advice. Anyone reading could not be inspired to better their kitchen outcomes and eat more nutritionally, tastefully and responsibly. I have learnt a lot from your blog posts. Well done, Dorothy.
Oh, thank you so much Amanda! I enjoy all the philosophical meanderings after reading your posts! Always a thoughtful exercise for the grey cells!
I think you will enjoy my new series coming up “It all begins in your kitchen” Stay tuned, you’re the first I’ve told!
Looking forward!!
Congratulations Dorothy, 10 years is quite an achievement! I have enjoyed your blog for many years now and you have enlightened me on so many recipes. Our cultures are different and I find myself learning about vegetables that we don’t often find here in NM. I love your creativity with recipes and the stories behind them. Here’s to many more years of recipes and friendship!
Thank you so much Jan! Yours is certainly one of my friendships I cherish!
Don’t you just love to get your hands on an old hand written recipe folder?! I can spend hours going through it and these recipes above capture my imagination. My mother used to make a Tollhouse chocolate chip biscuit (cookie). I wonder where she got it down here in NZ?? But they were so nice and I still use her recipe ….. with a few changes, like chopped up dark bar chocolate and no nuts. I like to chomp on chunks of dark chocolate!
Thank you Dorothy for your memories and recipes. :))
Thank you Mary! I appreciate very much your loyal commenting! I know Ruth Wakefield’s recipe travelled the globe after she came up with them. You should take a look at the recipe and see if they are close to your mom’s biscuits.
Bravo! I’m so glad to have found you so I can follow along on your food adventures – cheers!
And likewise to you my friend! One who is perpetually full of surprises, and so many wonderful adventures!
Yours has been a blog I look forward to reading. I know I’ll be entertained by your life stories, which are heart felt and sincere. Then there’s the recipes and foods, many of which are new to me – sending me on yet another google or supermarket search. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed your writings, Dorothy. May you continue to enlighten and expand our culinary (and more) knowledge.
Oh, thank you my dear friend of light and love! I look forward to your posts as well, always something to ponder!
Happy Blog Anniversary, my friend!!! 🥳
I’m so thankful to know you, and to be invited into your kitchen (virtually and really) for some of the most incredible food! I love all the tidbits of wisdom you share, and the stories are my favorite part. I’d love one of those cookies if you have any left over! 😉
Thank you my sister! I have saved you a boxful of cookie, but I need one of your cocktails to wash them down!
Happy, happy anniversary! I feel so lucky to have not only been a penpal but also I consider you, Laurie, and I great New England friends holding down the top part of the map. 🙂 Looking forward to our 2026 meeting! Now, do you have a good recipe for lemon bars because my last batch didn’t turn out all that great.
I do! I’ll send it to you tomorrow, so funny I haven’t posted it yet, especially since cookies seem to be my most popular posts!
Congratulations!
Thank you Mimi!
All the way across land and sea from Australia I somehow managed to find you years ago . . . loved where you lived, loved and still do that your recipes combined a same/same with excitingly different, loved learning some NE Stateside views and seeing how similar at times our thoughts and tastes . . . thank you for the privilege of coming into a real American home, sharing, enjoying and learning with a smile! Huge congratulations for all you have managed to do!
I feel so lucky to have found you and so many others here, so far away and yet so close and likeminded! I especially enjoy that we’re experiencing the seasons completely opposite, so I can bask in your sunshine and strawberries while I’m shoveling snow!
Uhuh! have just called my genie over for a big basket of strawberries and blueberries and bananas and mangoes for you – the latter are just beautiful at the moment. . .,
Thank you!!! I’ll enjoy every bite!
It is such a privilege to know you Dorothy. I have learned so much through your posts. Carry On to the next decade!!!! 💜🧡🩷
Thank you so much my dear friend! I look forward to your tasty posts every day, and I too have learned much from you. That’s what it’s all about!
🩷💕🩷
It works both ways. That is the joy of staying in touch. Happy Blogging! 🪴
Congratulations! I always enjoy reading your stories and recipes.
Thank you so much Amie, it’s been so much fun!
Congratulations my dear friend! What a tasty nibble this was! 💕🩷💕
Thank you sis! I’ll save you a cookie!
Congratulations on your 10 year blog anniversary! I am so happy I stumbled onto your site!
Thank you Julia! And I feel the same way, so lucky to have my online friends!
Congratulations for your 10 years of blogging and wonderful recipes! Wow, that’s a wonderful milestone! Being able to make friends with fellow bloggers is lovely. The dogs don’t mind the cold 😍😉
They love the cold, and even the snow. It was a perfect snowball snow yesterday, so they were delighted!
Many congratulations, Dorothy on 10 years of blogging and wonderful recipes…when I first started cooking all those years ago when there was no internet I never dreamt that I would have friends who cook and share wonderful recipes from all around world the internet has some good points and this is one of them 🙂 x
Yes, it is amazing for me to connect with all you wonderful cooks, storytellers, poets, philosophers, artists, and all over genuinely fun and interesting people!
Congratulations with the anniversary🥳
So hard to believe it’s been ten years of posts!
Happy anniversary !
Many thanks to you my friend!
Happy 10th Anniversary!! Looking forward to even more deliciousness!!!
Thank you Jama!
WHOOOOO HOOOOOO!!!!!! Congrats. Keep up the good work. 🙂
Thank you so much! It’s been a pleasure sharing my stories and recipes with everyone!
We are like one big, happy family. 🙂
It’s true isn’t it! I feel like I have sisters everywhere around the world, food and books and art and gardens seem to be the common threads for our family!
Very true. 🙂
Congratulations on your 10th anniversary!!
Thank you so much! It doesn’t seem possible it is ten years!
Love that Zebrowski quotation! (Have you read the Bone Clocks by David Mitchell?) In fact so much to love about this post. Congrats, congrats on your 10th anniversary. Your blog is an absolute delight. And speaking of delights, what a pleasure it was to meet you. Thanks for the mention. As for food…I could have one of those cookies Right Now. Finally, so fun to see dogs frolicking in the snow. Our dear departed dog Liam, a Sheltie, used to love the snow, and catching snowballs was one of his favorite things to do.
Yesterday was the perfect snowball day and we threw dozens at the dogs. Riley really loves to catch them, Bailey gets bored, even though he catches better than Riley, but I think he believes in his heart there’s going to be a doggie treat imbedded in the snowball!
I haven’t read Bone Clocks but I looked it up and it sounds really good! I’ll have to see if the library has it.
Thank you for stopping by, and I’ll save you a cookie, or two or three!
Congrats on this milestone! Keep it up! 🙂
Thanks Ronit! You too! You’ve been at it a long time too!
Congratulations! Looking forward to more recipes and pictures!
Thank you so much! I enjoy our connection greatly!
Same here!
This warms my heart, “I’m not doing this to win any prizes in numbers, just share what I’ve learned along the way, and I sincerely hope I’ve helped others maneuver the kitchen puzzles.” Indeed, you have inspired us with your delightful recipes and beautiful images! Congratulations on 10 fabulous years of sharing culinary wonders and I do hope you continue to share your expertise! 💖💖💖💖💖
Thank you Nary! I’ll keep cooking and writing as long as I have something to say, and seldom at a loss for words!
Happy Anniversary. Thanks for sharing your top five.
Thanks Peggy! It’s been a great time, and I’ve virtually met so many wonderful people!
Wow! 10+…. Cheers for many more!☕️☕️
Many thanks my friend!
Hi Dorothy, congratulations on 10 years of blogging.
Thanks Robbie!
Happy l0 year anniversary Dorothy. I’ve enjoyed following you and love how creative you are with your meals.
Thank you so much Karen! It’s bee a wonderful time.
Congratulations on ten years–and all the great memories and recipes!
Thank you so much! It’s been a great ride!
Congratulations Dorothy! I’m suddenly craving a chocolate chip cookie. I had one at a Christmas potluck, my first in years, and it was marvelous, and I’ve been craving them ever since.
Well, it’s a tried and true recipe! And they freeze well.
Thank you for your kind words!
Congratulations on your 10 years of blogging!
Thank you so much! It’s been a lot of fun.
Congratulations on the anniversary of your outstanding blog, Dorothy. I’m delighted to know you and appreciate your recipes.
Thank you so much Mary! The delight certainly goes both ways!
Congratulations dear Dorothy! Your energy and sweetness are perfectly inline with your yummy looking full-course meal. Cheers to your 10 year, the New Year and vibrant week ahead.
Thank you so much!
Congratulations on your 10 years of blogging! Love how you put a healthy spin on your recipes and they always look so delicious! 🙂
Thank you so much Nancy! That means a lot!
Congratulations on ten years of blogging Dorothy! That is wonderful the friends you have made and talk to or have gotten together with. I love reading your blog and so happy to follow you!
Thanks Diane! It’s been so much fun!
Congrats! It’s been great getting to know you over the years, and have learned so much from you about food blogging. I enjoyed visiting (or re-visting) some of your most popular posts. And, thank you for sharing a few of your wonderful stats. It’s a major accomplishment to do a high-quality blog like this.
Oh, thank you so much for your kind words! The feeling is mutual, I have learned a great deal from your blog as well, and look forward to all your posts! It’s certainly been a great 10 years.
I’m so happy to have found your blog. I just love your photos and your storytelling. The handwriting on the recipe cards look just like my grandmother’s and your recipe box is an absolute treasure!
Thanks JM! It’s my treasure box. Since my mom, my daughter, and me too, all collected paper dolls, I had great fun color copying some of our vintage favorites and decoupaging them on a box. It always makes me smile.
My mom’s handwriting is definitely of her time!