One year and one day ago on a cold and rainy Saturday afternoon I set up an account in Typepad and wrote my first blog entry.
My reasons for blogging were pretty standard ones: I wanted to improve my writing by writing more often; I wanted to improve my cooking by cooking new things more often; and I wanted to build a repertoire of recipes, particularly recipes for things that were "healthy" yet big in taste.
A blog seemed like the perfect place to give structure to this plan.
My introduction to blogs had begun the previous year when my sister started a blog. After I began reading her blog I began reading other (non-food) blogs. I was influenced by their style. I too wanted to start sentences with "dude" (who knows what i was thinking -- "Dude, this béchamel rocks!"?) and refer to myself in the third person ("The Kitchenographer and her canine assistants...). I feel lucky that the urge passed before I had a chance to act on it.
I kicked around various blog names. I'm a person who likes hanging out in kitchens and I like hearing what other people do in their kitchens. Something to do with kitchens struck me as the way to go. Kitchenista seemed like a good choice but Typepad wouldn't give it to me. The Kitchenist Manifesto struck my fancy for awhile, but then Kitchenography occurred to me. Kitchenography -- you know, the study of kitchens? How perfect! Of course sometime after I'd happily adopted the name I realized that it might be misinterpreted as a reference to food photography. This is ironic because my food photography skills took a long time to come around and are sometimes still in question.
A year and a day later I've achieved many of my original objectives. I think I'm a better writer and a better cook. I've been more adventurous in my cooking and I've added to my repertoire of recipes and techniques. On the other hand the "healthy" cooking thing has often been relegated to the back burner. Sure, they're have been a couple of recipes I've discovered; however, I've also discovered and begun using ingredients like mascarpone and creme fraiché, and overcome my fear of frying at home. But I still have high hopes that I will start discovering and writing about delicious yet healthy things any day now.
One of the other things I enjoy so much about food blogging was something I didn't anticipate at all when I started my blog. Little neighborhoods form around blogs. You receive comments with encouragement and ideas; as a good neighbor you read other blogs and also offer comments with encouragement and ideas. The other blogs you read are full of inspiration -- other bloggers have made things you'd never considered making, cooked with ingredients you never knew existed, made recipes from cookbooks you own although somehow you've never noticed the recipe and can't figure out why it didn't leap off the page at you because look at how wonderful it looks! You're inspired, your horizons are broadened, you go further in your own efforts.
A blogiversary, like any other celebration, needs a cake.
A while back I had planned to make Tish Boyle's Banana Cake with Caramel Espresso Frosting for my father's birthday but because of time constraints (translation: poor time management on my part) I ended up buying a bakery cake. However after my father's birthday I had the ingredients and because I had been smitten with the idea of the cake since I first saw it in The Cake Book, I made it for no particular occasion. I'm borrowing the picture for my blogiversary.
By the way, this cake has also caught the attention of other bloggers. Lindy of Toast has written about it here, and Ivonne of Cream Puffs in Venice has written about it here.
Banana Cake
2 1/2 cups cake flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups pureed or well mashed very ripe bananas (about 3 large bananas)
1/2 cup sour cream
11 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
6 tablespoons safflower or other neutral vegetable oil
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
3 large eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup coarsely chopped pecans
1. Grease and flour two 9-inch round (2-inch high) cake pans. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Sift together the cake flour, baking soda salt, cinnamon, and cardamom into a medium bowl. Whisk to combine and set aside.
3. Combine the bananas with the sour cream and set aside.
4. Using an electric mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the butter at medium-high speed until creamy, about 30 seconds. Add the safflower oil, granulated sugar, and brown sugar and beat at high speed until creamy and light, about 3 minutes. At medium speed, add the eggs one at a time beating well after each addition and scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Beat in the vanilla extract. At low speed, add the flour mixture in three additions, alternating it with the banana mixture in two additions and mixing just until blended.
5. Stir in the pecans by hand. Pour the batter into the pans, dividing it evenly.
6. Bake the cake for 25 to 30 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool the cakes in the pans on wire racks for 10 minutes.
7. Invert the cakes onto the racks and let cool completely.
Note: The cake in the picture is frosted with Caramel Espresso Buttercream, a recipe for which also appears in The Cake Book. It was delicious but I'm not going to make it again. It uses 1 1/2 cups of heavy cream plus four sticks of butter which just seems like an exercise in excessive excess. Next time I'll use a more austere buttercream -- for instance, one that only has four sticks of butter but no heavy cream.
So to anyone who has read, everyone who has commented, and everyone who has linked to me, a big thank you. And just this once, let me say: Dude, it's been a great year!
happy blogiversary - that cake looks amazing...I was blown away by the cooperative/communityesque nature of the foodblog world and I'm glad I'm here...and really glad you're here.
Here's to filling the decade with reasons to love food and kitchens...I think you need some champagne today!
Posted by: Nicola | February 05, 2007 at 05:30 PM
Congratulations! You must be so pleased with your stellar efforts. I don't really cook, but I love reading about cooking.
Posted by: FAIRFAX | February 05, 2007 at 06:45 PM
Kitchenography. I have been thinking of it like geography, a map of the kitchen, a map of a personal kind of miniature or expansive space that is real and imaginary and sensory and that moves back and forth through history.
Posted by: zp | February 05, 2007 at 07:04 PM
Happy blogiversary! I want some of that cake.
Posted by: Leah | February 05, 2007 at 07:18 PM
Happy Blogaversary!!! When I opened your site and saw that cake, I gasped in admiration (and food lust). Now that's food porn! I love your description of blog neighborhoods. That's so accurate, a great way to sum it up. I've enjoyed meeting you, neighbor. Any time I see Baltimore mentioned, I think of you! And the name of your blog is terrific.
Posted by: sher | February 05, 2007 at 08:18 PM
Happy Birthday kitchenography!! So glad to have you in the neighborhood. Great thoughts on how it is a neighborhood. It seems striking how so many of us find that aspect so good and yet unexpected.
Great cake. That's a good book!
Posted by: Tanna | February 05, 2007 at 10:29 PM
Happy Blogiversary! I'm new to the food-blog gig, but I'm loving it (in addition to my life blogging, which I'm NOT so new at.)
Food bloggers are definitely the nicest kind!
Posted by: Abby | February 06, 2007 at 12:12 AM
Happy Anniversary !!!
We so enjoy your column. You forgot to mention your very witty readers that post comments.
I have also expanded my horizons in cooking thanks to you .
It is cold this week . I want someone to cook for me and then feed me from a spoon. I am feeling a little lethargic. Anyone else?
Posted by: the bee | February 06, 2007 at 12:40 AM
And thank you. I've enjoyed your writing and your cooking very much. I've made a few of your recipes, and have been very pleased with each one of them. Happy Blogiversary!
Posted by: Jules | February 06, 2007 at 11:10 AM
happy blog bday and please oh please save me a piece of that cake. you know i can't bake!
Posted by: Linda, The Village Vegetable | February 06, 2007 at 11:54 AM
Yay!
Also, thank god you skipped the whole referring to yourself in the third person idea because that would make my brain sad.
Posted by: Kristen | February 06, 2007 at 01:34 PM
Aw, blog anniversaries also bring out my sentimental side. Congratulations! That looks like a delicious cake.
Posted by: Natalia | February 06, 2007 at 05:48 PM
Dude! Happy anniversary!
Posted by: Miz S | February 06, 2007 at 06:03 PM
It's gorgeous ... wish I could have a slice!
Posted by: Ivonne | February 06, 2007 at 07:50 PM
Dudette, this blog rocks.
So does that photo.
Congratulations!
Posted by: Mimi | February 06, 2007 at 09:19 PM
Happpy B-day! I love reading your blog and I especially love that I can ask you for recipes and you will direct me in the right direction.
Posted by: angela | February 07, 2007 at 06:03 AM
So does this mean starting sentences with "Dawg" is out too?
Happy blogiversary, Julie! I've loved visiting Kitchenography since the first time I clicked on it! Wishing you many more years of blogging(for your sake and for ours!)
Posted by: Susan from Food "Blogga" | February 07, 2007 at 01:18 PM
I've never cared much for bananas. BUT, stick them with ice cream, with chocolate, or in a cake and I'll hungrily slurp them up. Sugar makes nearly anything wonderful.
Posted by: Michelle | February 07, 2007 at 03:22 PM
Happy Blog anniversary! That cake looks so decadent. I just ordered the Tish boyle's cake book and I'm excited to try my first recipe !
Posted by: veron | February 07, 2007 at 04:01 PM
Congratulations on the blogiversary (did I spell that right). I've always admired the name of your blog, and I've always liked seeing what you're up to over in Baltimore. (side note: my brother moved to Baltimore a while ago, so I really appreciate your city photos; I had no idea what Baltimore lookied like before.)
The cake sound awesome. I always have spare bananas, but I end up wasting them in unsatisfying muffins (lately I am cursed by muffins). When I saw the pic, I thought it was a brown sugar frosting, and I just about swooned at the thought. I wouldn't go for coffee and bananas, but I might have to try this and see if there's such a thing as brown sugar buttercream.
I do wish I had more justification for baking cakes (or at least more people to feed them to). Reading other bloggers, I always wonder what they do with all the cakes they get to make. I'd love to have that book, but I just can't rationalize it.
Posted by: Renata | February 07, 2007 at 06:24 PM
damn! that looks delicious. banana cake is so yummy, and caramel espresso butter cream...WOW!
Posted by: aria | February 07, 2007 at 06:37 PM
Dude, it's been a year already? Happy Anniversary. I love your site and think you have not only a talent for cooking, but for writing. Keep up the good work! (And I adore your blogging sister!!!)
Posted by: Vanessa | February 07, 2007 at 08:54 PM
omg, Happy Blogday Julie!! It's been a wonderful year reading your posts and recipes! may you have many, many more!
Posted by: ann | February 08, 2007 at 09:04 AM
happy anniversary, Julie. one year is a long time of blogging, and I look forward to a lot more.
Posted by: lobstersquad | February 08, 2007 at 01:19 PM
Happy Anniversary. Yea! You go, girl! And dude, your banana cake rocks! ; ) Blue Plate
Posted by: blue plate | February 08, 2007 at 05:55 PM
Yes, a happy Blogiversary to you. Who ever would've thought that we'd be using a word like "Blogiversary" and have it make sense?
Thanks for such a great year of recipes and andecdotes. And for refraining from writing in the third person.
Posted by: Anne | February 09, 2007 at 02:20 PM
Happy blogiversary! Your first year [and a day] journey has been much like my first three+ months. Full of excitement and discovery. The biggest discovery to me has been one you talk about: An amazing community of fellow bloggers. And thanks to the Internet, it's an international one! I recently had Brazilian blogger Patricia [of Technicolor Kitchen] post a recipe on my blog, and I will soon post one on hers.
Again, Happy blogiversary. What a fun, exciting place we've found, er, dude.
Posted by: Terry B | February 09, 2007 at 11:01 PM
Happy happy Blogday! I love your blog and am so glad to have "found" you on the vast internets.
Posted by: Luisa | February 11, 2007 at 09:21 PM
Just found your blog, will visit again. I have just started a food blog a few months ago - do drop by!
Posted by: hungry girl | February 12, 2007 at 07:00 AM
Happy blogiversary! I like to use a very similarly-colored chocolate buttercream frosting recipe that I get from the Domino's Sugar box. I love that the frosting gets hard, because of the milk in the recipe. Maybe I'll try cream next time to see how it turns out. Sometimes I get all sciency and adventurous, like Alton Brown.
Posted by: Baltimore Snacker | February 12, 2007 at 11:08 PM
Happy b-day JUJUbee! Is this cake a b-day cake also ? I am inviting you and the sister to lunch or dinner at fabulous Black's Bar and Kitchen. Let me know when. the bee
Posted by: the bee | February 13, 2007 at 03:33 AM
Happy blogiversary.I'm so glad you decided to do it-I look forward to reading your blog, for the writing and for the ideas- and most of all, for the distinctive voice. And so, I hope there will be many happy returns.For my own sake.
Posted by: lindy | February 14, 2007 at 05:05 PM
Nicola, thanks and I think champagne would be perfect.
Fairfax, well, thanks for reading! I’m happy to continue cooking!
zp, I like your definition of kitchenography MUCH better.
Leah, I’m sending virtual cake your way!
sher, thanks, and you get one of the foodblogland good neighbor awards.
Tanna, that is a good book! I’ve really enjoyed it.
Abby, food bloggers are the nicest. They’re a civilized bunch.
Bets, you’re right! I do have some witty commenters. (Yes, I’m talking to you, Bets!)
Jules, thanks! And you were one of the first people who linked to me and I still remember how completely exciting that was. A link!
Linda, you definitely get a piece of cake. You deserve it after eating all those nice healthy vegetables!
Kristen, yep, it really was a good thing. It would have made my brain sad too. And possibly embarrassed.
Natalia, thanks! It was a pretty delicious cake.
Miz S, dude! (Just wanted to say it again.)
Ivonne, thanks! I’m sending you a virtual piece too.
Mimi, right on! (And thanks!)
Angela, ask away, I’m always happy to help!
Susan, I think dawg is another one I just can’t make work for me. Sigh.
Michelle, sugar makes nearly anything wonderful could be one of my mottoes.
Veron, it’s a wonderful book. You’re going to love it.
Little bouffe, a brown sugar buttercream sounds delicious. Actually though, the coffee flavor works pretty well with bananas. (And I had no idea your brother was in Baltimore – small world!)
Aria – the buttercream was especially delicious. But a pound of butter and a cup and a half of cream -- yikes!
Vanessa, you were also one of the first people to link to me. Thank you again and thanks for reading.
ann, thank you for the blogday wishes!
lobstersquad, one year is a long time. On the other hand, it’s gone by so fast!
blue plate, thanks for the kind words!
Anne, just consider my refraining from writing in the third person one of the things I do in order to be a good citizen of the blogosphere (another of those words it’s hard to believe we use.)
Terry B., that cross posting is a great idea. Makes it even more of a neighborhood.
Luisa, thanks! Yours was the first food blog I read regularly and commented on. Glad I found you too.
hungry girl, thanks. I’ll check out your blog!
Baltimore snacker, sciency and adventurous is the way to go.
Lindy, thanks for the kind words! Your blog was the second food blog I read regularly and commented on. (I’m feeling very sentimental.)
Posted by: Julie | February 14, 2007 at 11:45 PM
Happy blog birthday, Julie--I hadn't realized you were as new to blogging as I am; you are such a pro!
I'm not fond of bananas but the frosting on your cake sounds divine. What's a little heavy cream and butter between friends?!
Posted by: Rebecca | February 15, 2007 at 09:02 AM
I'm late, I'm sorry! Happy Anniversary/ Blogday Kitchenography!! (Btw, I love that name, it's what attracted me and had me clicking into your blog in the first place). And can I just say, you are a terrific writer, story teller, blogger. :) That's why I keep coming back for more.
Posted by: Christine | February 16, 2007 at 10:34 AM
Another late arrival but happy blog-birthday! I hope there's a slice of cake left ...
Posted by: Alanna | February 19, 2007 at 10:31 AM
Christine, you're so sweet! Many thanks.
Alanna, thanks. And I'm happy to share my cake with you.
Posted by: Julie | February 20, 2007 at 09:41 PM
Congrats on a year! I'm continuously surprised by the sense of community that bloggers create. I've also tried making lots of things that I never would have otherwise, it's been a really good experience.
Posted by: Brilynn | February 23, 2007 at 11:17 AM
Congrats to on your Blogiversary! I recently discovered your blog and enjoy checking in to see "what's cooking"? :) I am new to the blogging world. My Blog, A Couple of Cooks, is all of four weeks old and I hope I can keep the momentum going and continue to grow and expand my little blog. Keep up the good work!
Posted by: Butters | June 07, 2007 at 05:12 PM
Hi there! Looks yummy! I just posted about Classic Banana Layer Cake at dishingup.wordpress.com. Check it out if you can!
Posted by: Nancy | September 14, 2008 at 11:02 PM
I guess none of the people commenting here actually attempted to make this cake. Step # 2 says to sift together several ingredients, including cinnamon and cardomon, and neither of them is given an amount in the main recipe. I sure hope this cake comes out all right. I have it in the oven, but lost faith after I saw the two eliminated ingredients.
Posted by: cbross | January 17, 2009 at 12:21 PM
It looks so delicious i like this so much thank you for sharing your recipe. :)
winnie
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