~ Culinary Q&A & Kitchen Therapy Too (12/30/11) ~

'Tis the last Friday of 2011, which means it is our last Culinary Q&A of the year together... and what a year it has been!

Last year at this time, I was relatively new to blogging.  Kitchen Encounters was 4 1/2 months old and had 102 posts on it.  One year later, you have 308 recipes to choose from, plus, 20 of my WHVL-TV cooking segments to watch!

To reiterate what I said last year:

I set out to create a blog for my family, friends and students that would be informative, educational and fun.  I wanted to give you more than just one pretty picture and a list of ingredients, and, every recipe had to be prepared and tested by me.  I did what I always do:  set the standards higher than I think I as one person can reach, then drive my OCD self crazy until I attain them.  Based upon all of your comments, interest, and, tens of thousands of "hits" to Kitchen Encounters, while there is always room for improvement, I must be doing something right, so, simply and humbly stated:  "thank-you"!

I received two of the most lovely comments this week, which, left me almost (I said almost) speechless, and, with a great sense of accomplishment and pride:

C.  Carol says:  Loved the pirogi presentation with mouthwatering photos.  My sister and I used to help mom and grandmom make them for Easter.  I learned how to "braid" the edges, which I guess was in keeping with my artistic talents.  I have loved reading all of your recipes this year and the photos are incredible.  It is not impossible to make them into posters and have them decorate--anyplace!

C.  Jeanne says:  It was a Kitchen Encounters eating extravaganza this past weekend!  Spicy Eastern Shore Crab Cakes and Shrimp Cocktail for Christmas Eve cocktail hours; Crabmeat Quiche, Oven-Roasted Bacon and Stan's "Hail Mary" Bloody Mary's for our Christmas morning family breakfast, and; Mrs. DiCindio's Lasagna for Christmas Dinner!  You made me look good this weekend Melanie! Thank you!  And, thank you for this wonderful blog with its beautiful pictures and detailed instructions of every recipe.  Your recipes work. They are truly, "tried and true".  Looking forward to the new year with more fabulous recipes and video's of your Kitchen Encounters cooking segments!

A.  Kitchen Encounters:  It is indeed these types of comments and feedback that make the long days all of us food bloggers lovingly put in worth it.  I am really looking forward to cooking and blogging my way through 2012 with all of you fellow friends and foodies!

Here's wishing each and every one of you a VERY HAPPY, HEALTHY & PROSPEROUS New Year!  Enjoy your holiday, along with the rest of your weekend, and once again:  To leave a comment or ask a question, simply click on the blue title of any post, scroll to the end of it and type away!

"We are all in this food world together." ~ Melanie Preschutti

(Commentary and Photos courtesy of Melanie's Kitchen/Copyright 2011)