Lately I’ve been in a strange place. I can’t quite name what’s been bothering me, but I’ve told friends—many of whom are fellow bloggers—that I feel like I’ve lost my voice.
Not literally, of course. More that writing about food, something that used to come easily, has become harder. I started this blog three and a half years ago and it has changed me in ways I didn’t expect. When I began I was a fairly new mom, at home with two little ones who needed constant care—feeding, changing, playing—and I was grateful to be there for all of it. Still, as many parents can attest, motherhood can feel isolating at times. I needed something beyond “mommy” tasks, and blogging about food opened a new world.
It’s funny: when you first blog you never know who, if anyone, is reading. Over time people do find you, and the readers I gained early on have become real-life friends I cherish. Those connections have been meaningful and sustaining.
I’m sharing this not to ramble, but to process what I’ve been feeling. Part of losing my voice is being in a cooking rut. It happens to all of us; I’ll get through it—today, even. Once I have food to write about, the creative spark returns. I’ve also been too focused on perfection, especially with photos. The cycle of taking pictures, uploading them, sifting through dozens of shots to pick the “best” one can drain my energy. Sometimes the simplest phone photo, tweaked quickly with an app, captures the moment perfectly. That kind of spontaneous blogging suits me best, and I’m reminding myself to let go of the pressure to be perfect.
To me, the spirit of blogging is sharing—ideas, recipes, photos, and pieces of ourselves. I love visiting other blogs and seeing what people share. Lately I’ve been distracted by social media and haven’t visited as often, so I’m recommitting to getting back to the basics: reading, connecting, and talking about food.
This week a few blogging friends shared posts that resonated with me, and I wanted to pass those recommendations along. Sandy sent a thoughtful piece on perfectionism that encouraged contentment in the home and life you have. Kim shared an interview full of practical tips for getting organized before the holidays—one takeaway for me was to start meal planning a few days at a time for sanity’s sake. Julie pointed me to a touching post about the beauty of simple moments, and it stayed with me.
Of course, after all this talking I can’t leave you without something to eat. I haven’t made a sweet treat in ages, so my kitchen—and perhaps this blog—may be a little shocked. I’m bringing a Sea Salted Chocolate Crunch snack mix to a chili party tonight, which seems perfect for the cool spell we Floridians are enjoying. It’s a simple, salty-sweet mix that travels well and is always a crowd-pleaser.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Sea Salted Chocolate Crunch Snack Mix
Recipe adapted from Eating Well
Ingredients:
3 cups wheat cereal (such as Chex)
3 cups pretzels, broken into pieces
2 cups roasted almonds
1/2 cup roasted pumpkin seeds (optional)
1 bar bittersweet chocolate (I used Ghirardelli)
2–3 generous pinches of sea salt
Instructions:
Combine the cereal, pretzels, almonds and pumpkin seeds in a large bowl. Place broken chocolate pieces in a heatproof bowl and microwave for 20–30 seconds, then stir. Continue heating in short bursts, stirring between each, until the chocolate is fully melted.
Pour the melted chocolate over the snack mix and stir gently until everything is coated. Spread the chocolate-coated mix onto parchment paper or a baking sheet. While the chocolate is still soft, sprinkle 2–3 pinches of sea salt evenly over the mix. Let it set until the chocolate hardens, about 30 minutes. Break into clusters and serve.