Thankful... now with links!

I've seen a lot of bloggers in the past doing "what I'm thankful for" style posts on Thanksgiving, and I thought this would be a good opportunity for me to give "props" to some of the food bloggers I read and am thankful for. I haven't had much of a chance lately to keep current with my favourite blogs, but these are those that I've always come back to in the past. So Happy Thanksgiving to those of you who celebrate it, and Happy Thursday to those who don't!

Yes, I know everyone knows about Clotilde, now. But she has been my number one foodblogging crush ever since I started reading food blogs, and darnit, her recipes are good too! Chocolate & Zucchini is by far the best blog I know for really getting into a recipe and explaining things. Anytime I'm stumped by a French ingredient, I'll hop over to C&Z to see what Clotilde has to say about it, and there's usually something. Also, she's fun, funny, and her cooking experiences are wonderful to read about.

Number two on the foodblog crush list comes from Not Eating Out in New York. This girl always impresses me with her ability to resist the temptations of delicious NYC restaurants, and I love her health and price indexes on all the recipes. Also fabulous are the interviews, including one that convinced me to buy the awesome cookbook, Alone in the Kitchen with an Eggplant.

Next we have another all-time favourite, the bilingual blog La Tartine Gourmande. These photos are spectacular, as is the food. The desserts always make my mouth water – bring on the sugar!

Amy of Cooking with Amy has been on my favourites list nearly as long as Clotilde. She's more narrative than some other bloggers, and I love reading about her cooking adventures.

Joanna, aka The Passionate Cook, is just out of this world. I love the way she lights her photos, and she is a blogger that admittedly has me actually craving her meat dishes. Normally when I see photographs of meat these days I feel a little ill, but not from this lady. She just posted about a Foie Gras and Gingerbread Sandwich with Pear Chutney and Mulled Wine Reduction and I can honestly say I've never considered "cheating" so strongly as at this moment. Oh God. Resist the urge!

Nicisme at Cherrapeno is a British food blogger and another whose photos I just drool over. I especially liked the recent post on roasted smoked garlic, with photos from the Chunnel and in France itself. Oh, how I miss Europe!

Speaking of Europe, Zarah Maria is the Danish blogger who brings us Food & Thoughts, with fantastic photos and recipes from Denmark. I really want to try her bran muffins, and I like that she includes some Danish recipes, since I'm learning Danish and want to go there some day.

I'll admit that the reason I first started reading Beau à la Louche is that the blogger, Loukoum, is just so adorable, but once I got over my little crush I noticed that she also makes some amazing recipes, with great photographs. She also has a ton of cool reference items, from "La petite lecon de cheesecake" to a handy linked cooking converter (in English) that actually asks you what you're measuring to be more accurate.

The Happy Sorceress over at Dispensing Happiness is one of my favourites, just because she's so darned nice! She was super-welcoming when I decided to come to her "Blog Party" event, and I'm bummed that I didn't have time to participate in this month's "Fusion" theme. I looove fusion. Oh, well – next time!

Café Fernando is a blog that has a fantastically easy to navigate layout, absolutely amazing food, and beautiful photographs. Another personal plus is the occasional appearance of a Turkish recipe, as I am a big… turkophile? Is that a word? Anyway, I'll be taking Intensive Turkish in the spring and I really love Turkish culture. I can't wait to go to Istanbul one day.

Though Tartelette doesn't only make mini-tarts, I really do appreciate her miniature desserts, as they're perfect for single people and often rather gourmet and amazing. Also, a fellow Carolinian! South, okay, but I spent enough time in Charleston to count, right?

Peabody of Culinary Concoctions by Peabody is a fabulous Canadian blogger whose sweet treats always make my mouth water. Recently she made Gingerbread Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting that look amazing, and I can't wait to try for a holiday treat. I also really want to try her Pumpkin Brioche, and Funfetti Flan. Funfetti? In flan? That's my idea of a good dessert!

Mele Cotte is another fantastic blog for baking ideas, but the most recent recipe really perks up my tastebuds as well. I love acorn squash, and this simple preparation (roasted with a honey glaze) makes my mouth water.

Cupcake, My Love by Steph may not be as fancy as some of the baking blogs, but boy does she post some tasty entries, and what's more they're the kind of things I can actually make!

Yet another amazing dessert blog is Amuses Bouche. Admittedly I get a lot of my recipes here and don't actually attempt them, but one of these days, damnit, I'm going to! Le Royal ou Trianon looks very tasty – if only I could get pralinoise and crêpes dentelles in the States!

A Veggie Venture is a blog by Alanna that gives me so many great ideas for vegetables that I both love and am a little wary of. The Boozy Baked Celery kind of makes me scratch my head, and so I know I have to try it (and if Alanna can get me to like celery, she really has done something special).

Okay, so maybe the photos aren't as fancy, but the Porcini Chronicles always impress me with interesting ingredients and unexpected recipes. Quince Chutney? Fantastic!


And remember, there's still time to pass on your Thanksgiving posts for A Vegetarian Feast!