Thursday, January 27, 2011

A slow return to normalcy....

I am attempting to return to blogging in way that works for me. Why did JennyMac disappear into the blogosphere?

1. People send you suggestions saying you should do this or that...the occasional rude anonymous commenter who feels the need to put you in your place...makes you say to yourself at times..."who's page is this?"

2. Taking pictures is NOT the easiest thing to do at times and sometimes you end up eating the evidence. I am not one of those who snap a gazillion pix (how does Pioneer Woman do it?). One before, a few after....served with garnish maybe....OK, now let's eat. Either the recipe is NOT to my liking to post about or something isn't right with the pictures. NOW, the food is gone so retaking pix are impossible.

3. Sometimes lighting is not your friend. Let's be for real. Many of my meals are dinner and it's NIGHT. Natural sunlight is ideal, if my pic doesn't look appealing enough to eat....I don't wanna post something that looks like the cat coughed it up!

4. Then I got into Facebook, I was learning how to use it....finding old friends....getting addicted to some stupid games (first Cafe World then Frontierville....sigh).

5. Being timely....many blogs post about upcoming holidays/events BEFORE it happens. Halloween foods during the first week of October. Thanksgiving dishes two weeks before T-day. Christmas-y cookies and treats after T-day and two weeks after. Let's be for real here. I want my food and gifts to be fresh. I don't make Halloween treats in my classes Oct 1, the kids want it on Oct 31. I give out my holiday food treats a few days before the 25th not Dec 1. I am not into 'trial runs', practice, saving pix to post early for next year, etc.

6. The intimidation of the wonderfully popular and successful blogs out there. The more and more blogs I read or subscribed to, the more and more I felt unworthy. Also, I so envied my fellow bloggers successes. I see all these giveaways they have from companies contacting them, how lucky of them....I don't get that....I had a few here and there....but nothing like those popular bloggers. Bloggers talking about being invited to conferences, meeting up with other bloggers, guest blogging....posts about appearances on TV, etc. It's all so great for them, sucks for me.

After not posting for a bit, no one said anything. No emails, no inquiries....no one seemed to notice I was not posting. I said to myself "well no one saying anything or asking where I went, so don't bother posting anything because no one is reading my blog obviously...." What a vicious cycle I created for myself in my own little blogging world.

Then something snaps you out of it(hopefully?). You FINALLY get one email from a person who says they appreciate and miss your posts. A co-worker tells you they enjoy your blog and suggests a neat tool I should check out and share with my followers.

Bottom Line: I must do my blog because I enjoy it. I am who I am, I do what I do because it's me. No one else matters and I shouldn't set myself up for failure by comparing my blog to others. How many times did we get that lecture about "being yourself" growing up? Clearly I needed a booster shot. So I am going to share what I share only because it's something that works for me, not something that I think would impress the 'public'. BAH!


I made this and it's absolutely easy and so yummy. WHIR in the processor. I was apprehensive to try this for I am not a huge fan of cilantro but the combo intrigued me and POOF! I think perhaps I've turned a corner.....

Jalapeno Pesto1

Jalapeno Pesto
by JennyMac Lipsmack

1 cup fresh Cilantro
3 Jalapeno Peppers
2 Garlic Cloves
1/2 cup walnuts
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, Shredded
juice of 1/2 lemon
1/4 tsp Kosher Salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 cup Olive Oil

1. Chop and toast walnuts for a few minutes in 350 oven until kitchen is fragrant (about 5-7 minutes). Set aside to cool.
2. In a food processor put a cup of washed cilantro.
3. Using gloves to cover your hands, slice in half the jalapenos, seed and devein. Remember the heat is from the veins, so do what you need to to do to make it hot or not; be careful or haphazard when removing those veins. Roughly chop and place peppers in food processor.
4. Peel garlic and add it in with the walnuts, lemon juice, Parmesan, salt, pepper in the food processor.
5. Pulse until combined and you don't see big chunks of garlic or whole cilantro leaves.
6. Slowly stream in the olive oil until incorporated.
7. Taste....add more salt, pepper or lemon if needed. Add more olive oil to make it consistency you want. Warm water can be done to keep the fat content lower and yet 'loosen' the mixture up.

THUD, this was beyond my expectations....We ate this during a football game with crackers and cheese but the tortilla chips tasted best. You can use instead of mayo on a sandwich. Top on an enchilada or taco....Add some plain rice vinegar or warm water to make it into a salad dressing. We loved this! I can't wait to try this on grilled chicken. I want to spread this on a roast beef sandwich. I am growing tons of cilantro this summer!

Jalapeno Pesto


Enjoy!

7 comments:

Rachelle S said...

I'm here Jenny! I was just thinking about ya as a matter of fact!
I hear ya on so many of those levels and question my blog(s) sometimes. But if you want to do reviews too, I can point in a few directions! Let me know. =)

Julie said...

I'm glad you're posting again! I always love seeing a new post for JennyMac in my Google Reader. Keep going!!!

The Cutting Edge of Ordinary said...

I gave up "keepin up with the Joneses" a long time ago. I blog for me. No one else. If others enjoy it, then great, if not, that's ok too. I know I will never be a Pioneer Woman or a Cakespy, but I'm with that, cause none of them will ever be me.

Glad to see you back!

Anonymous said...

So funny! I just started my blog back in October, but I totally relate to everything you said. The funny thing is that my sister and I both got you on our radar at the same time a while back. We both separately decided to look for a Jalapeno Cheese Bread and came to each other with your recipe. :) What I find frustrating is that people don't technically "follow," so you hear feedback from people and know they're reading along, but if they don't show up as "followers" you feel like nobody cares. LOL Keep it up - I'm with ya anyhow! ;)

Shelby said...

Well I kind of disappeared myself with all the change that happened with our life - but of course, I don't forget you! I still have you in my reader :) Welcome back!

Rocquie said...

Your blog. Your way. I am very happy to see you again. I understand what you are saying, especially about the anonymous rude comments. As far as not being "concerned" about you. . .I didn't want to be nosy or interfering. But I surely did wonder what had happened to you.

Welcome back, Jenny Mac, your pesto looks and sounds delicious!

Susan Parran said...

Funny-we both have the same concerns. Are SO many blogs out there that are SO much better than the one I haven't even STARTED yet! It's intimidating that people can be not only great writers, but so darn dependable with their posts! I console myself knowing that most food blogs are just the bloggers' adaptation of another blogger's recipe... who got it from someone else, and so on... Ultimately you have to show up here just for you, no one else. I tried two of your "Jennymac creations" - both turned out great! Keep at it- you're an original girlfriend! I see a cookbook in your future!