16 August 2012

Your First Comment at Delightful Repast

Is this post about chicken and dumplings? No. So why the photo? Just 'cause I'm all about comfort food. (I will give you a link to the recipe.)

To all you wonderful people who visit Delightful Repast every month: Thank you. To those who visit every week (I post just once a week, as a rule): Thank you very much! However (and I don't mean to scold, merely to invite), most of you never leave a comment! Probably only 1/4 of 1 percent of those who visit ever comment. So I thought I should take a moment this week to invite you to comment on one of the posts you read. 

Don't get me wrong. If you want to read my blog and not comment, you are more than welcome. Please keep coming back. But if you are so inclined, perhaps you could take an extra minute or two to say Hello. Maybe introduce yourself and tell me what you like to cook or whether you have a picky eater in your family. What your specialty is or if the smoke alarm goes off every time you cook (like my sister!). 

Perhaps you'd like to comment on my new site design. Can't think why I waited 2 1/2 years to do it! I knew from Day One that I was in it for the long haul, but perhaps there was one little part of me having more of a 'wait and see' attitude--due to the fact, I suppose, that there are a gazillion food bloggers out there, leaving me feeling a bit like a snowflake in a snowstorm!

Had the makeover done this week while I took a holiday. More about that later. Maybe an afternoon tea review next week. You know I never go anywhere without finding a great tea spot! In the meantime, check out the Chicken and Dumplings. Thanks so much for stopping by!

36 comments:

Bonnie said...

Jean what a great post. How many blogger want to say exactly what you have stated. Your new design is lovely! And, I just love to cook, but find it challenging now that there are just two of us. Have a wonderful week. Bonnie

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Bonnie, thank you! Glad you like it. Cooking for two can be a challenge (precisely why I posted a galette for two last week - I've eaten way too much pie in my life simply because a whole 9-inch pie is too much for two people).

ZipZip said...

Good evening, Jean!
You're right, I haven't commented in awhile, but here you are; imagine me waving hello and thanking you once again for your recipes and recommendations.

By the way, we had chicken and dumplings tonight, my own recipe. It produces a thicker gravy. Next time I think I'll use larger carrot pieces, like you have done: the carrot flavor is so enhanced by the simplicity of the rest of the dish that it should be able to shine.

Very best,

natalie

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Natalie! Bet I'd like your recipe too. Sometimes I make a thicker gravy, depends on my mood and the weather. Either way, I say Fix me a plate!

Annie*s Granny said...

I never miss one of your posts, but I'm guilty of using the Google Reader rather than actually visiting the blog on many occasions. I like the new layout, it's bright and easy to read.

I'm also cooking for two, and appreciate scaled down recipes. I've made your angel food loaf cake several times now, it's become a favorite in this household. I also drizzle layers of my home made ice cream with chocolate sauce, thanks to the tip from you.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

You are sooo sweet! Thank you! I really appreciate that. Now you have me craving angel food cake. But I'd hate to have to finish a full-sized one.

Marina@Picnic at Marina said...

Jean, beautiful post! Do you have a new design? I am new to your blog so I didn't see "before" version... I like what I see now though...:) Beautiful photo of the soup, makes me want to grab a spoon...

Anonymous said...

Hello Jean!!! I just found your blog from your comment left on mine. Everything looks great here especially those chicken and dumplings. I work in an elementary school cafeteria and love cooking.
Now I'm going over to join your site so I'll know when there's something new going on!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Marina, thank you! Yes, I got a new header / logo - finally! And had a few gadgets added.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Vera! I appreciate it so much. You must have lots of interesting challenges working in an elementary school cafeteria. (Wondering if you've written about it on your blog?) I still remember some of the women who worked in the cafeterias of the schools I attended a llloooongg time ago! And, of course, being so into food, I remember well my favorite items on the menu--like the apple crisp at one school and the dinner rolls at another.

Anonymous said...

The new look is beautiful - clean and professional, yet the
nice 'flair' of the title. Very pretty! I looked at your 'Brit
Conversions' page. That was fun for me to read. I remember standing in a
grocery store outside York, wondering how any cream could be heavier
than 'single cream,' which I'd bought a few days before. I asked someone
in the grocery store about the difference between single and double
cream, but was still surprised at how VERY thick 'double cream' is. It
also brought back the memory of purchasing muesli there, which sounded
horrible but was SO good and the cheapest boxed cereal they had.

Enough reminiscing.
Will have to use your chicken and dumplings recipe when the weather is a
tad cooler - which should be any day now. It was only 68 degrees here
today. Fall is definitely in the air!

Judy
P.S. I wasn't kidding about Lionel. When it's after 10 PM he starts
beckoning me to come upstairs and go to bed. When I happen to go
upstairs in the afternoon, he starts meowing at me and running toward
the bed, thinking that it's time to snuggle. No kidding! :-)
Judy at Cranberry Morning
http://cranberrymorning.blogspot.com

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thank you, Judy! That cream IS amazing, isn't it? I'm so jealous I don't have Lionel to meow at me and cuddle. sniff sniff

Eileen H said...

Hello, Jean,
I have visited and commented before but like Annie's Granny I use Google Reader so don't always visit your blog. Your new design is excellent and the Brit Conversion is so useful for me. Being in the UK I sometimes struggle with recipes. Judy's comment made me smile, I would never have known she wouldn't know what muesli is...and yes, double cream is so much thicker than single cream :-)

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Yes, of course, Eileen. I remember you - you're the "dark side of 50" woman! I got such a kick out of that the first time I read it. I'm glad you like my Brit Conversions page - if you ever think of something I need to add to the list, let me know.

Thomas "Sully" Sullivan said...

"Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow…" Well, you've proven that every snowflake is as distinct as a fingerprint. Or at least yours are. As is your newly styled website. Tres chic! Same elegance...more fluid flair!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Sully! Unlike you, I don't seem to embrace tech things until they've been around a while. Friends marvel that I have a gas stove, rather than wood or coal!

Phil in the Kitchen said...

Well I apologise for being so silent - it's just not right, I'll try harder. I do really like the new clean and crystal clear look. As to whether there's a picky eater around here, I couldn't possibly comment- I might get into a lot of trouble. Have a good weekend.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thank you, Phil, for breaking your silence! Hope you'll stop by again soon.

Angie's Recipes said...

Jean, love your new and professional header!
I look forward to your afternoon tea review next week.

Have a wonderful weekend!
Angie

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Angie! Should have done it long ago. Actually did take a stab at it once, but that designer's style was a little too "fluffy" for me. Took a while for me to get motivated to make another attempt. It turned out to be quite painless actually!

TONY said...

Jean, the picture of chicken soup looks delicious!!! Ah I am guessing now that that is what it is.In writing this comment I cannot see the post that my comment will be attached too. I've just got a memory of the beautiful photograph that goes with it. Anyway, the thing about people reading and not commenting. My blog, London Calling, has been going nearly three years now.I have written 123 posts, 61,000 plus people have visited but only 203 have commented.Actually not bad odds. I always feel, even if there is just one comment, that is enough for me.One person at least has felt it good enough to say something, and when you comment Jean it is even more special.

All the best,
Tony

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thank you, Tony! And I quite agree about the numbers; I'll take quality over quantity any day. It feels like a community, and I enjoy interacting with my readers in the comments.

Jan Fredrik Lockert said...

Congratulations with your new design. Very nice and clean. I remember when you started your blog back in 2010. You've come a long way. Yes, in for the long haul, but I knew you would make it! The chicken looks delicious. All the best, Jan F.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Jan, thank you! The time has really flown, hasn't it! So glad you stopped in. Hope all is well with you.

Mary said...

Your header is gorgeous, Jean!! I love the dough whisk. It made me grin, because I adore my own dough whisk and think it is highly under-rated as such an awesome tool!

Way to go on the new design. Have a blessed day!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thank you, Mary! I love yours too! I have foot problems, though, so I never go barefoot - especially not on my ceramic tile floor. (Of course, none of this will make sense to anyone who does not know your blog is called Barefeet in the Kitchen.)

Sippity Sup said...

Don't get me going on comments. I think they are a terrible barometer. I am soooooooooo guilty of checking out the talented folks like yourself and choosing to tweet or pin over comments. I think it's waaaaay more collegial. Besides it helps drive traffic. Comments are nice. But let's face it. Food blogs get the same folks going to most of them. If we merely comment on each others blogs we are creating a very small world. So that's my comment for this week. And for the record. I always visit this blog. Today I am pinning it. I bet it brings readers who won't leave a comment. But will leave satisfied. XOXOGREG

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Greg, thank you so much! I appreciate your visits, tweets and pins (and occasional comments). AND your insights on the business of blogging, something I'm still trying to figure out. (And gotta love a guy who uses the word 'collegial'!)

Emily said...

I found you from Greg's Pinterest, and I'm adding you to my RSS Reader, because your food looks great. :)

Yenta Mary said...

Oh, I hear your lament about the commenting - I love to hear from my friends! Your blog looks beautiful, the chicken and dumplings ... well, it is just consummate comfort food, isn't it? And I always love afternoon tea, so looking very forward to hearing about that ... :)

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Emily, thank you! I've got to take the time to learn more about Pinterest.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Mary! I think you're going to like the tea post. I agree - it's wonderful hearing from our friends. I try not to concern myself too much with numbers.

FamilySpice said...

ha! ha! Greg is right! I'm here from his pin! We food bloggers need the validation that we are doing something worthwhile. Perhaps the comments give that to us? And yes, the majority of my traffic does NOT leave comments. Does that make me unworthy?! I will be sure to visit you again and say hi! have a great week!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks so much! Yes, I guess we need a little validation every so often!

Anonymous said...

Hi Jean,

I LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! your new design. It is crisp and clean and everything we need is laid out in an organised, orderly fashion before we get started: mise en place!

Looking forward to the tea review.

x

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Denise, thank you! I'm glad you like it. It felt good to add a little color.