Monday, November 12, 2007

What's Cooking, Good Looking?

DMBLGIT07Blue DMBLGIT07Green DMBLGIT07Orange

Baked Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Mushrooms and Tomato Sauce

Where has Jen been?
(a) abducted by aliens
(b) living in a monastery at the foot of the Himalayas
(c) joined the army
(d) nursing a hangover
(e) none of the above

The answer is... well mostly E, but for a few days it was D

In case you were wondering, I am alive and I'm all right. I just haven't been blogging. I know. Shock, horror! What do you mean, there couldn't possibly be a life outside of the blogosphere? That's ludicrous!

It seems that real life has been getting in the way of blogging, and even though I haven't been posting at the prodigious rate of my blogging youth (meaning a year ago- 1 blogging year is probably equal to dog years) I have been eating and cooking at pretty much the same rate I was before. It has just been a crazy few weeks with work, helping plan a friend's wedding, planning a friend's birthday, planning my own birthday, Christmas looming and my grandfather passing away a few days ago.

And in case you were wondering the hangovers came from the birthday and the Melbourne Cup drinks we had, I didn't win anything.

So you can imagine I've just been through the whole gamut of emotional states in a mere couple of weeks, and haven't had the time to get my fingers typing on a computer until now. I guess that you cannot really complain when life gets in the way of blogging, it only makes for more blogging fodder later on. But I have been doing okay, and although finding out about my grandfather's death from a stroke was very sudden and unforeseen, I am in good spirits. He lived a great life and I couldn't be any prouder.

Another thing I am pretty proud of is being one of the finalists, for DMBLGIT October. The photograph of my baked gnocchi was one of the picks made by the host her self, the very lovely Jennifer of Bake of Break. So thank you to all the judges and to Jennifer for allowing to me to be part of the illustrious few that get to flaunt the Good Looking Blog badges. So flaunt I will.


Related post: Gnocchi, Two Ways

23 comments:

Kelly Innes said...

Congratulations- 'tis a very good looking blog. I drool at it in the way I drool over beautiful shoes....

Kat said...

I'm sorry to hear about your grandfather, but it's good to know you're doing well.

You food pictures are, as usual, spectacular. (I am often heard muttering, "Why don't my pictures look like that???")

Anonymous said...

Hi Jen - I think sometime one should have a break from blogging, like any other things. I'm sorry to hear about your grandad, but at least you are still in a good spirit. Have fun with all the parties, drinking etc. etc. :)

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

Congratulations! That picture is awesome!

Cheers,

Rosa

BlondeJustice said...

Congrats on your blog as well. I love looking at your blog, it just makes me happy! :)

Abby said...

I saw your pic over at Bake or Break - but I wasn't suprised! Your photos are always fantastic.

I understand how life can get in the way, and I'm so sorry to hear about your grandfather. Thanks for offering to us what you HAVE been able to create! Lovely as always.

Anita said...

Congrats Jen! I thought your picture was beautiful!

Real life and blog life always seem to collide, don't they? I struggle to post more than once a week. Regardless, I think it's great all the things you have going on in your life outside the blogosphere!

Suganya said...

Congratulations on your win!

LizNoVeggieGirl said...

so glad to see you blogging!! I miss your frequent posts, but I completely understand how busy life gets - as a college student with exams almost every single day (I'm not exaggerating either), I can definitely relate to not having ample time to blog.

and congratulations on being a finalist for DMBLGIT October!! how exciting!! :0D

Inne said...

Sorry to hear about your grandfather, Jen. But dying is part of life, and I'm glad you say he had a great life.

Congrats on being a DMBLGIT finalist - flaunt those badges with pride, you certainly deserve it!

marias23 said...

What an honor to be a finalist! Great job, dear! I must say that I concur with that vote because every time I read your blog, I almost always end up hungry :)

Aimée said...

Huge congrats, Jen! I wouldn't even know how to narrow all your beautiful photos down to one, but the gnocci IS splendid!

Anonymous said...

hi jen!you totally deserve to win the award....I predict you will!;)

La maga delle spezie said...

Congratulations on your win!
I love your blog!

Anonymous said...

So very happy to hear about your good looking finalist! :o)
Heartfelt condolences for the passing of your grandfather.

Love your blog and the stories you share with you.

Best wishes in your journies

Jen said...

Thank You everyone for your well wishes and condolences. I know that every encouraging word made my day even better. I always makes a difference knowing that people care : )

Anonymous said...

Congratulations! You deserve it :) So sorry to hear about your grandfather...but nice to hear you are in good spirits :)

Lyra said...

Congratulations on the award-you definitely deserve it! I'm sorry to hear about your Grandfather's passing. Did he have any favorite foods to immortalize on the blog?

Hilda said...

Congratulations on DMBLGIT! You totally deserve it.
But I am very sorry to read about your grandfather. That's great that you're feeling ok about it because you're so proud of him.

Anonymous said...

Haha, a little bit of D. Awesome! I like it.

teresa said...

Your blog looks wonderful,as your recipes of course..and great name,too!!ciao dall'italia..teresa

Anonymous said...

Congrats and VERY well deserved Jen!

Anonymous said...

Congrats on your photo and all my sympathies to you for your grandfather. Sorry about the Melb Cup and not winning anything. For the first time this year I a work sweep that someone else entered me in. What a race it was! Good to have you back.