Blogs That Make Us Hungry: Circle B Kitchen

Rachel here: Maybe it's because it's been a while since I spent some quality time cooking, but blogs are making me seriously hungry these days and Circle B Kitchen is no exception. I discovered Patrice's blog through Apartment Therapy's The Kitchn (an excellent site in case you've never visited it) and am so delighted that I did. Patrice not only is a family-oriented cook, but she also has recently started doing her own Meatless Monday feature (yes!). Her blog is humble and enthusiastic and features a mouth-watering variety of recipes. She's currently obsessed with avocados--an obsession I am in FULL support of. Also, she featured an upside-down cake this past week which seems like a combination of the Plum Upside-Down Cake we featured yesterday and the Caramelized Apple Skillet Cake I made several weeks ago. Since these two cakes of mine are two of my favorites that I make, I'm excited to try Patrice's Cherry Cornmeal Upside-Down Cake.

Anyway, I'm excited about Circle B Kitchen for all sorts of reasons and--hopefully!--this will be reason enough to get you to click on over to Patrice's site. Let us know what you think!

Blogs That Make Us Hungry: Not Quite Nigella

Rachel here: Ok, so bear with me if this post stops (ok, possibly never quite starts) making sense. I've slept about 3 hours out of the last 36 and they haven't been consecutive. The lovely M has become quite the alert and curious little baby which is delightful and, well, exhausting. But anyway, that's really neither here nor there right now. The direction I am headed in, however, is a blog called Not Quite Nigella.

Before I go any further, I should give a nod to Ian, John's friend whose Stanton St. Farms blog we featured a few weeks back. Thanks for directing our attention towards Not Quite Nigella and, for those of you readers who haven't checked out Ian's blog, I'd highly recommend you do so.

Anyway, Not Quite Nigella is awesome. Lorraine Elliot is NQN and her blog is filled with food adventures, both in her own kitchen and in restaurants. My only lament is that she's based out of Australia (though she gets props for putting her recipes in both metric and non-metric terms), so while her restaurant reviews left my mouth watering, I don't think I'll be popping into any of her recommendations any time soon. The good news, though, is that there are plenty of recipes to try at home as well. And, to boot, Nigella herself has visited Elliot's site. Ooh la la! When I get back into the kitchen I am going to try her salt-crusted chicken recipe because John finds food shaped like animals amusing...oh, and because it sounds delicious, too. What will you try?

Blogs That Make Us Hungry: Pictures and Pancakes

Rachel here: We make so many decisions about things visually before we engage our other senses and food is no exception. I can't tell you how many meals I've decided I love based simply on how pleasing they look on the plate before me. Sure, they don't always quite measure up once my taste buds get involved, but I remain confident that I still enjoy these foods more thanI would if they didn't delight my eyes first. It is this visual enticement that has inspired us to start revamping our own presentation of this blog during the past few days. We would love feedback from you guys about the changes we've made and suggestions for others that would whet your appetite.

But anyway, I have a point in here somewhere. My point, I suppose, is the pictures and pancakes blog. The work of the Purcells--a food stylist and photographer duo--this site looks nothing short of delicious. Stark and modern, the vibe this blog emanates is still somehow yummy and inviting. I love their choice to feature dual photographs (I'm sure there's a technical name for this...) and there are several recipes I've bookmarked to try my hand at sometime soon.

Anyway, take a look. Your eyes will be pleased and your appetite is sure to swell accordingly.

Blogs That Make Us Hungry: the Passion Fruits

Rachel here: Ok, so assuming that you can judge people by their blogs, Luke and Joe of The Passion Fruits are nothing short of fabulous. When I read their blog I am so busy salivating that I forget to feel completely and utterly inferior in the kitchen. I mean, these two can cook. And by cook I don't mean they occasionally go all out in the kitchen, but rather that these two seem to give thought and energy to every meal, be it scrambled eggs (which, to my taste, they seem to make to perfection) or a cake. Like my mom and I, Luke and Joe often embark on little challenges/duels to incorporate the same ingredient into a meal and there is certainly plenty of banter and commentary on their fellow cooking buddy along the way. They can write as well and the end result of perusing their blog for me is usually both a sudden increase in appetite along with a desire to figure out a way to get invited over for one of their fantastic looking and sounding dinner menus.

Janet here: Rachel pretty much summed it up except I will add this: Their Easter cook-off is hysterical, complete with bunny peeps. I wish these guys lived near me. I would want to eat with them all the time.

Blogs That Make Us Hungry: Honey & Jam

Rachel here: If you feel good about yourself, it's probably because you haven't visited Honey & Jam (I say this with all of the admiration and well-wishes in the world). Nineteen year old Hannah does this site all on her own and it is one of the most professional looking and down-to-earth sounding blogs I have ever had the pleasure of reading. Seriously, this girl both makes my inferiority complex swell (so driven! so talented! so unimpressed by herself!) and reminds me of all of the reasons that the kitchen is a great place to be. Her recipes cover an impressive range, her instructions are thorough AND she takes her own photographs (something I grapple with for every post...any tips would be welcome on how to improve!). Check her out. You'll be amazed, inspired and hungry within seconds of opening her page.

Janet here: Although Rachel gave me the heads-up about how great Honey & Jam was when she advocated we highlight this blog on Blogs That Make Us Hungry, I was still unprepared for the simple beauty of this lovely blog about food. The photos are just stunning and the simplicity of the writing, the complete lack of ego, is just so refreshing. Plus she makes homemade donuts that look absolutely killer and carrot cupcakes that make me want to grab one right off my computer screen — and I don't even like coconut! If you're a foodie, you'll love this blog.