Pass the Butter

As a new food blogger I am discovering the many questions/dilemmas/obstacles of creating a truly great blog: How often should I post? Do I hire a photographer ($$$) or finally give in and learn to use a great camera (they intimidate me and who wants to carry that around?!). How often do I send my subscribers a newsletter? How do I strike the perfect balance of entertaining my readers while providing useful information? How personal do I want to get and how many pictures of me eating is too many?

While I tackle these questions over the next year and try to build this blog into something I can be truly proud of, here is a list of blogs that I love, admire, and visit regularly. Is it a coincidence they are all run by women? I honestly don’t know, all I know is they are tops. The recipes are great, the photos are delightful and each has their own unique voice. So while I’m learning how to truly be worthy of subscribers, these sites have all earned your sign-ups. Enjoy!

I happened upon Clean Food Dirty City on Instagram and it made it onto my bookmarks bar after the first visit. True to the site’s name, blogger Lily keeps it clean. All her recipes are gluten and dairy free and presented in a simple, easy to follow layout with bright, crisp photographs.

Katie Quinn Davies of What Katie Ate has two books and provides great recipes on her blog but it’s the photographs that are responsible for more than one late night disappearing down a food-porn k-hole. One look at her photograph of a dish and I promise you’ll clear your night and get cooking.

I discovered The New Potato when they approached me for their “The Foodies” section and have since become an adoring fan of Danielle & Laura’s appreciation and excitement for the edible side of life. I check in regularly as they also have awesome posts about travel, fashion & lifestyle.

Rens Kroes seems to have found the secret to the healthy/yummy balance I’m always striving for. She makes the kind of health food I want more of in my life – “good for you” food you’ll actually crave. And it doesn’t hurt that her recipes are accompanied by airy, playful, colorful photographs.

Cup of Joe is full of practical, charming posts on everything from Nutella recipes to baby food. Joanna is fearless in her openness and as a result her tips and insights are both helpful and personal. Her posts are often short as if she’s saying, “I know you’re busy trying to do it all, thanks for stopping by.”

Jen Tilley’s “About Jen” post had me immediately awash in the girly feeling that we might someday be friends. On her How To: Simplify site Jen is unapologetically sweet. She’s equally as honest about her love of food as she is about missing her family over the holidays, and her recipes are delicious!

Health-consious recipes by someone who refers to my favorite food as Mr. Chocolate? Meet Christal of Nutritionist in the Kitch. With recipes like “Brazil Nut, Orange & Chocolate Fudge Cups” and “Sweet Chili Garlic Shrimp” you’ll feel nourished and want seconds!

Let me know about your favorite food blogs in the comments section!♥

Vintage flatware at Manifest.

Vintage. For me, the word evokes so many memories and images of the past. Pleasant times spent with loved ones, special occasions celebrating our parents, our children, our dear friends, the word is heavy with good feelings. It is this essence I want to capture when designing a celebration, special items I’ve had for many years get put lovingly together to delight my guests. Then we can pour the wine and reminisce about all the fun times in the “good ol’ days.”

My most favorite thing is my antique coin silver flatware collection. They are beautifully made, gathered together from relatives, antique stores and out of the way vintage shops. They don’t all match, but that makes it all the more fun! Like looking at old glass windows with their wavy glass patterns, the coin silver has a wonderful patina and handmade quality that spans the years. Oh, if they could talk!

Arrangement by Connie Lincoln.

I put together this example of my favorite place setting on an old rustic dining table I adore! It reminds me of my Grandmother’s home and all the fun parties we had. We would eat, drink, sing, laugh- those are my fondest memories. My Grandmother would make delicious pancakes dripping with syrup and serve them on her old table with her beautiful silver, believing in putting out the best as often as possible. Like those syrupy pancakes, my own vintage collection drips heavy with wonderful memories of times past.

Don’t be afraid to mix & match!

Buying tips for your next flea market visit or antiquing trip:

*When looking for sterling silver flat pieces you always have to flip the flatware over and read the stamp on the back of the handle or edge of the knife, it should always say sterling silver. If not, it is silver plated, which can wear off, or it might not be silver at all!

*When looking for coin silver, you will have to trust the person or store you are purchasing from. I can tell by looking at the flatware but I still always get it in writing that it is authentic coin silver. It has a special patina and a vintage “wavy” look to it, like handmade items often do. Like the vintage glass window panes you see in old buildings – you just know when you look at it!

Some interesting facts about Coin silver:

*The term Coin silver refers to American flatware that is not Sterling silver. The silver content of coin silver is slightly less than Sterling silver and is made with a copper alloy. It is usually 90% silver and can contain up to 10% copper- perhaps why the patina is so pretty. Then, as now, it is a precious metal and coveted by many.

*The namesake: Prior to the mid 1800’s there were no silver mines in the United States. All silver in the colonies came from Europe in the form of utensils, candlesticks, or as coin. An American silversmith wishing to make a silver piece would have to purchase bars of silver or melt down coins to achieve his finished product. He could literally reach into his pocket for coins that could be melted down to make his silver object. Hence the term: Coin silver.

Inspired by Connie I unpack my own family & flea market vintage flatware.

Due to the the scarcity of silver back then, coin silver is fairly rare. With the recent increase in silver prices it has become even more scarce. Once the Sterling standard was accepted around the world, Sterling replaced Coin silver. I for one always look for it and cherish the coin silver I do possess. It is wonderful to think someone from colonial times has actually used the pieces and has passed them down as I will pass them down to my children! I especially like the engraved pieces, they are a wonderful part of our American heritage and a unique, beautiful part of history.♥

Connie Lincoln is co-owner of Manifest Design shop in Wilmington, NC.
Manifest Design
200 N Front St
Wilmington, NC 28401
910.515.1333

Cooking, foodie adventures, restaurants, musings. Everything food.

BLOGS THAT ARE BETTER THAN MINE

A VINTAGE TABLE by Connie Lincoln