1,000 blog posts. Time to reminisce.
Since I started this blog several years ago (August 4, 2011, to be exact) I’ve shared with you everything from bike rides and camping trips to what we grow in our garden. You’ve seen Delores, the American Bobtail kitty and the sights, foods and lifestyles in and around Portland, Oregon. I have shared with you recipes and what has come out of my kitchen and the traditions we enjoy during the holidays. Rural Oregon and the pristine beauty of the Oregon coast have all appeared here on tango mango.
What I didn’t know when I began blogging was that I would learn so much from those I follow and the blogging community in general. I have seen pictures and stories on tumblr that have enhanced and changed my life. I’m humbled by the talent I see every day.
I also didn’t realize that over time this blog would not only become a diary of sorts for me but it would also become the electronic version of my cookbook. It’s better than the blue, loose leaf one I created throughout the years because this tango-mango version also has pictures! Now my tablet or laptop come into the kitchen with me.
To celebrate 1,000 original blog posts (no re-blogs on this site) I thought I would share with you a few of my favorite entries. It was hard to choose, and whittling down the list left dozens on the cutting room floor. I've included links to the original posts if you're interested in reading more about them.
Food photography is most of what you see on tango-mango, but not always. Here are some of my favorite food posts throughout the past couple of years.
The afternoon I took this shot of the raspberries with white chocolate chips was a huge day of learning for me. My Nikon D7000 was new and our daughter Jill was teaching me some ways to take advantage of the light. It's her hand that's placing that last berry on the pile.
Hands down, Halloween is my favorite holiday. I've been making finger cookies for years and years and the ones from last year turned out better than ever.
Almost all of my food shots, including this one of the spinach puffs, are taken in my garage. Year round, I can count on decent lighting there. I don't have a helper and I don't use props, other than a very cool old crate that I set things on. I'm sure pretty sure neighbors think I'm crazy when they walk by and see me on my belly snapping pictures.
Bramble Jell-O shots made it into tango-mango this past Father's Day when I was looking for a more creative way to toast the man of our house.
I've learned along the way that blogging is a fairly lonely experience. I post what I like and rarely get any feedback. This particular blog post of the recipe for chocolate chip cookies from the NY Times continues to be popular. I just checked and it currently has over 3,400 notes.
I'm adding this next picture because it brings back such great memories of camping this past summer over 4th of July. Our stove broke the second morning and making coffee became quite a chore. I decided coffee tastes better when you have to work so hard for it.
Gardening is such a big part of what we do I feel I have to include at least one picture here of our Sun Gold tomatoes. It's my husband's green thumb and hard work that make it happen. I work my magic in the kitchen.
I've been making enchiladas for decades but had never made anything like enchilada suizas before.
This is a fairly recent entry. I'm including it because I love the way the light reflects off the honey and the pattern inside the fig intrigues me. The fresh fig with blue cheese on honey was delicious. Also, it was a really difficult shot to take! If you like it I suggest you check out this post for some other cool photos (it was hard to pick just one).
These mini, crispy, buttery, Potatoes Anna blew me away they were so good. I loved the way the picture turned out.
Last Thanksgiving when my mother came to visit she and I stood side by side and made salted caramels. The caramels were sublime, but the opportunity to make these with her was priceless.
Some of my favorite non food-related posts
If you have a chance to visit flower farms and festivals, you never forget it. Tulips, iris, dahlias and lavender all thrive in the Willamette Valley. The day I took these shots of the lavender was surreal.
Our garden consumes a huge amount of time during the warmer months. This picture of a tomato cage with water droplets was taken early in the season when the plants were tiny.
I love to sew and I've sewn my whole life. I'm not quite sure I never post the quilts I make. This is my favorite pin cushion and I posted it at a time when I was going through a virtual sewing marathon.
I had originally hoped that I would post more of my lettering on tango-mango. Unfortunately I don't take the time these days to sit down and do it often enough. (It used to be my career.) I'm adding this because even though it's not my best work, it was what was on my mind that day. It continues to be a pretty popular entry! I guess we're all ready for a road trip from time to time.
For several years Delores lived with us. She's an adorable, intelligent American Bobtail cat who is very vocal and loves to play. This particular day she and I were playing with a styrofoam packing peanut. Delores is our daughter's cat and even though we miss her, we get to see her frequently.
And finally, I close this long post with a shot I took of the cottage we were staying at one night in Cannon Beach. Cannon Beach, Oregon is one of our favorite places in the world.
To all of my followers, thank you.
