I’ve been watching Don (my husband) compile recipes for our Christmas dinner (a mere 11 people for this one) and it made me grateful there are so many great food blogs and recipes at our fingertips when we want to cook. Food blogs are one of the largest categories of blogs on the Internet. Some are straightforward, posting recipes and not much more. But most have a personality and vary wildly in their readability and of course, the quality of the recipes.
Here are my top ten favorite food blogs, in no particular order, and a yummy recipe from each site…
Homesick Texan – Great writing, great recipes. Author Lisa Fain is a Texan transplanted to New York City. Several of her recipes have made their way into my weekly cooking. The recipe for her mom’s pinto beans are out of this world.
Foodgawker - This is a blog where anyone can post a photo of food and a recipe. Some people who post are more into photography than cooking because here are a lot of gorgeous pictures of food. When you click on a photo, you are taken to the person who posted the picture’s blog or website, so it’s a great place to discover other food sites as well.
Bitten – From Mark Bittman, cookbook writer/TV cooking host/frequent Today show guest chef, and all around good guy. Posts from a variety of other people as well. His roasted sweet potato salad is now a “go to” recipe for me.
Orangette - Molly Wizenberg creator of this extremely popular food blog, recently opened a restaurant with her husband so the posting is spotty right now. She’s a fabulous writer and you could spend hours reading her archives. Her vinegar roasted shallots are crazy good.
Lottie + Doof – Tim Mazurek is a Chicago based writer who shares his love of entertaining and great food through this blog. Love his crostini recipes for a party. And check out his 12 Days of Cookies for some unique ideas you can use all year round.
In Praise of Leftovers – What’s not to like about a name like this, especially when the blog byline is “Read. Scrounge. Cook. Connect?” Blogger Sarah Murphy-Kangas lives in Seattle, is raising two young children and eating lots of leftovers. Try these cinnamon rolls so good they will make you cry.
The Kitchen Sink – Another Chicago based food blogger, Kristin Silverman, does an amazing job photographing her recipes as they develop. If you like to see what your food is supposed to look like as you cook you’ll love this site. As for a recipe, four words – brownie in a skillet.
Eat Make Read – Two of my favorite past times, eating and reading come together in New York writer, Kelly Carambula’s blog. Her hot pepper candied walnuts are very, very yummy.
Smitten Kitchen – Deb Perelman probably wins the award for creating great food out of the tiniest kitchen. Another New York City writer, I love her zucchini saute recipe. So good and so simple it is ridiculous.
The Food Network – The Godfather (mother?) of all food sites. Not a blog, but a compilation of EVERY recipe ever cooked on the Food Network. Being a die-hard Ina Garten fan, I swoon over her mac and cheese.
Bon appétit!
