Tag: food bloggers

Food Blog South Conference This Weekend and Teens

If you haven’t heard, this weekend is FoodBlog South, a great southern food blogging conference in my hometown, Birmingham, Alabama. Last year was the first ever FoodBlog South, and it was one of the best conferences of the year. This year has an incredible line-up of speakers and attendees, so check it out. And guess what?  I am so excited that this conference also has a teen blogging conference too.  “Teen FoodBlog South” is for students in grades 7th-12th. It’s a free half-day blogging conference teaching them tips and tricks of the trade. I’ll be there teaching “Recipe Development for food blogging,” so don’t miss out if you live near or around Birmingham.

My Favorite Comfort Food: Fall Pies and Tarts

Just coming off speaking at Food Blog Forum in Nashville this weekend, I woke up feeling so inspired. The talent of food bloggers across the globe truly amazes me. These are some of the hardest working people you’ll ever meet. If you’re not a food blogger, I can’t begin to describe the amount of time and effort it takes to put together just one post. Starting with the recipe concept, there is grocery shopping, cooking and testing, writing, photography, styling and then posting. Each post takes many, many hours. On that note, I wanted to start the week with comfort food at its best: Fall pies and Tarts. These selections have caught my eye in the last week, and I’m not sure which one to make first. This Pumpkin Pie Tart with Almond Crust (Gluten Free) comes from fellow blogger and friend, Marla Meridith of Family Fresh Cooking. I can’t wait to make this one with my kids. Hope you will enjoy looking at these recipes and photos as much as I have.

  

Fig Almond Tart from Gourmande in the Kitchen

Mini Apple Pies from Family Food Finds

Gingery Cranberry-Pear Pie with Oatmeal Streusel from Cooking Light

Tollhouse Pie from Completely Delicious

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie from How Sweet it Is

  

Maple Almond Tart from Better Homes and Gardens 

Off to Nashville for Food Blog Forum

I’m so excited to be heading to Nashville this Friday to attend and speak at Food Blog Forum. Nashville is one of my favorite cities, and what better place to host a hugely talented bunch of food experts, bloggers and brands. I am honored and thrilled to be speaking with Kelly Senyei, from Gourmet Live and Just a Taste, on a “Recipe Writing & Development” panel. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with and getting to know her over the last few months, and we have some great information to share. I am also speaking on an “Experts” Round Table on “Working with TV and Media”. I think this conference will be so much fun! Join us if you can.

So who else is going to be there? OMG, where do I start? Jaden Hair of Steamy Kitchen, Todd Porter and Diane Cu of White on Rice Couple, Amanda Bottoms from Kevin and Amanda, Jenny Flake of Picky Palate, Beth Sachan of Eat.Drink.Smile, Lindsay Landis of Love and Olive Oil, Tami Hardeman of Running with Tweezers and so many of my fabulous new (and not so new) blogger friends which I can’t wait to meet and see. Have a great weekend everyone!

Mini Valentines Treats: Cookie Dough Truffles

I read a lot of food blogs, and I mean a lot! Since I am a consultant for a few food magazines and PR firms, I get paid to keep my eye on talented bloggers to possibly feature, new ideas in recipes as well as food trends. Many times, I come across a blog which I subscribe to and look forward to every day. In December, I was so excited when Carrots and Chocolate featured several variations of truffle recipes for Christmas. The Cookie Dough Truffles caught my eye, and the next thing I knew I was in the kitchen tinkering with her recipe. Recently, I served my variation at a party, and my friend, Andy, said, “I didn’t think cookie dough could get any better!” I thought that was testimony enough. These are really fun to serve on Valentine’s Day, and I can’t wait to make them later this week in Nashville working with the talented crew from Newschannel 5 on “Talk of the Town”.