Writing a blog for me is just a hobby. Something to keep my active mind busy in retirement and to encourage my hobbies of cooking, gardening and photography but … those who know me know that I am a little bit intense and a wee bit obsessive.
I do worry when more than a few days have passed and I have nothing about which to write a post. I regularly check out my cookbooks and magazines for something new to make. I photograph everything I make, just in case it’s a winner.
But some days, I just can’t be bothered. Some days, we have leftovers and some days the meal is not something to write home a post about.
When a meal tastes great, I just hope there is one photo from those I took that is good enough for a lead photo. Curries are a blogger’s nightmare. They invariably taste great but are bloody hard to photograph. Worse still is a fab photo and an ever-so-disappointing meal. You can always do a post with a not-so-good photo but a great photo and a not-so-good recipe is another thing altogether.
I do not know what I was thinking when I decided to try a recipe for Thai Fish Cakes that had Arborio rice, cheddar and parmesan cheese in them. In my defence, I don’t think I got as far as the parmesan cheese. I saw the Arborio rice and thought, “Why not, rice is rice”, but ⅔ cup of tasty cheddar and freshly grated parmesan is just ridiculous when combined with coconut cream, lemongrass, sweet chilli sauce, etc. I just want to know where the chef went to school?
And then there was the Golden Cheese and Ham Puff. I have guests coming to lunch on Friday and I was trying to decide what to make them. I remembered making this dish years ago and someone, somewhere, being very impressed with my prowess so I went searching through my cookbooks to locate the recipe. Eventually, I found it (with the help of Eat Your Books) but then I had this nagging feeling that I had made it a second time and it wasn’t quite so impressive. I decided against making it for my guests. I thought I would try it out (after so many years) on Maus and me. Let’s just say that I am glad I did. My friends will be getting a tried and true recipe instead.
And then there was Jamie Oliver’s Mighty Meaty Stifado. Nothing wrong with the photo here and it sure tasted good but then I realised I have already posted a Stifado recipe and it is not a particularly popular post. Clearly, my readers are not in need of another stifado recipe.
And then there was my success at tempering milk chocolate. Photo OK, taste good, (bloody good, really) but how many times can I tell you I am a smarty pantz because I can now temper chocolate? Not too often, I think …. that was the end of that prospective post.
So, alas, I have nothing to write about and it is irking me a wee bit. But don’t worry, the tried and true recipe we are making for our friends later in the week may prove a worthwhile subject. I will endeavour to get a good photo. In the mean time, have a good week.
Passion Fruit Garden 
I likes this post! I think generally speaking its good to read things that simply come from the heart, even though they can be about a small thing.. I also liked Celia’s answer to you and loved your tempered milk chocolate… have you [posted one yet? I keep reading and re reading Celia’s tempering notes and i am too nervous to give a go…
Hi Lara, My tempering has been hit and miss but we have loved eating the results. I am still trying different techniques to work out what method suits me the best and I can handle 😦 I am having another vacant week at the moment. Life is just getting in the way of a good post!!
Darling, blogging for you and I is a HOBBY. That means it has to stay fun – we all occasionally run out of things to say, but that’s because we’re all trying to write meaningful posts. I gave up on that a few years back – when I’ve got something on my mind, the posts write themselves, but other times I just post about whatever it is that excites me. Sometimes that’s a lemon (literally, not figuratively), or a plant, or a Doctor Who exhibit. Ages ago when I started blogging, someone told me that “as a blogger”, I needed to “figure out what my focus was and stick to it”. Well, that’s true I guess if you’re a blogger who wants to “monetize” their blog. But I just like writing about whatever makes me happy!
And can I just add, your chocolate looks absolutely fabulous – where’s the blogpost for that one? 😉
Hi Celia, I am sure there will be many chocolate posts to come. I do have 10 kgs of it 🙂
I’ve a file of photos of pics that will never make it to the blog. The problem is that the associated recipes have to be re-made in order to try another photo shoot. And none are curries. Those are near impossible to photograph. On the other hand, I do agree with Lisa. You can post all of the photos of chocolate that you like. You won’t even need to provide commentary. I doubt I’d read it anyway, my eyes being focused on the chocolate. 🙂
Hi John, more photos of chocolate to come 🙂
Living Life and enjoying it is all that matters really. Love the chocolate 🙂
Tandy, you are so right.
I won’t tire of hearing you gloat about tempering chocolate, promise! 😉
You are on, Lisa!!
Glenda, I’d be very happy if you just put up a photo of chocolate when you lack inspiration. Interesting that you don’t want to make out you’re a smarty pantz because you can temper chocolate as I often worry that’s how blogging comes over – look at me, look how clever I am. Sometimes, it’s just best not to think too hard about it.
Oh Anne, the pros and cons of blogging …. I think there must be two criteria, to entertain and to inform …
I’m really with you on the curries |~ in fact any stew, really. A bowl of brownish bits is difficult to make look attractive, however good it may taste.
The other thing that throws me off my stride is when I cook something, photograph it and start to write it up and then . . . . . . The next morning a hundred other bloggers are posting the same dish. Perhaps that’s an exaggeration but it doesn’t feel like it at the time.
Thanks for posting your feelings, I sometimes feel I’m the only one with nothing to say.
Hi Pat, it is amazing how you can have a post ready and then someone in your close circle has done a very similar post. I have to remind myself that my post is primarily read by friends and relies who do not frequent other blogs and, in any event, it doesn’t matter.
I enjoyed this post… making something out of nothing is a great talent 🙂 And, I empathise… blogging is a hobby for me also, and I love good food – I see your comments on Fig Jam & Lime Cordial’s blog… but I try to write posts about life and end up resorting to posts about food because sometimes in my mundane 9-5 existence food is the only interesting thing going on. And of course I didn’t intend my blog to be a food blog, as it’s certainly not an area of expertise although via others’ blogs I’m improving. It seems what inspires me to write is anything I feel I shouldn’t. I also only use my own photos, and some for posts it takes longer to sort that than the words.
Hi Ella, thanks for stopping by and commenting. It really is the trials and trials … of a blogger.
See, that’s where you and I differ – when I would go days without inspiration for a new post, I’d just assume it was god’s way of giving me a day or so off my blogging duties! Don’t worry about it.
Hi Doc, Of course, it doesn’t matter but it is a bit annoying …