The Big 100 & THE PRIZED PUMPKIN GIVEAWAY

Well, this is post # 100.

When I started this blog in January, I never thought I'd have written 100 short and long rants and raves on various topics, all revolving loosely around food. This blog has done a lot to confirm my somewhat crazed obsession with food, but has also fostered new friendships (real ones, not "via computer" ones), has allowed me to practice my writing skills, has been a place to document my quest for local, and has helped me develop my professional path: where I see myself now, and maybe later. Of course, it's only been 10 months, but there are still goals that I set out with when this blog was started, that I have not achieved yet. Stay tuned.

My Best Top 10 Posts

1. My first post! I still love this one... "You're Invited"...

2. Favorite Restaurant Post: Baracka Cafe's-Inspired Couscous

3. Favorite Recipe Post: Pizza - Can it be Healthy?

4. Favorite Travel Post: Any from my WWOOFing experience, but this one especially

5. Favorite Informative Post: Nuts about Nut (and not-so-nut) Butters!

6. Favorite Photo Post: A Lovely Tomato!

7. Favorite Local Food Post: CSA and Local Food Challenge

8. Strangest Local Food Adventure Post: Food Gone Wild

9. Most Popular Post: My Half Marathon!

10. Favorite Overall: The meaning of food

Where I Can Be Found Lately... Check me out!

1. I recently wrote a guest post on my good friend Jae's blog. This post is all about eating pizza and loving it. Seriously, I'm not crazy. Go check it out and see for yourself. I actually posted a similar rant a while back. I've been on a homemade pizza kick lately. Like, for example, this weekend I made a delicious one with whole wheat crust, eggplant, garlic (lots), parmesan cheese, sauce, peppers, tomatoes, and onions.

2. Caitlin, the blogger of Operation Beautiful who recently got a book deal to write about post-it notes chose ME as one of her stories to feature in the book! (Okay, the premise is more along the lines of stopping negative self-talk, especially that of the fat nature, and celebrating the beauty you have, via post-its). I'm so honored. I met Caitlin at the Healthy Living Summit in August and think this work she's doing is so meaningful.

3. Ms. Don't White Sugar Coat It and I hit the town two nights in a row for blogtastic foodie events. Wednesday, we checked out Arts for Humanity, where Green Mountain Coffee was sponsoring an Iron Chef-like competition called Eat, Drink and Be Fair. Here, I haphazardly sampled what I thought was some sort of milky vanilla coffee, and ended up being sea urchin soup. Not what I expected. I was stoked later, though, because Chef Peter McCarthy of EVOO was there. You've got to check out EVOO in Cambridge. The local options are excellent and the delicate crunchy breadsticks are enough to make you want to kiss the chef.

(This is the shell of a sea urchin, filled with the meat/soup mixture the chefs made!)

4. On Thursday, Ms. Don't White Sugar Coat It, Ms. Green Grapes Blog, and I headed to 28 degrees for Blogtoberfest. There were bloggers from all disciplines; of course, we were there for the food. We munched on some really non-healthy appetizers and chatted about everything from gravitars to google reader. Wow, as I write this I realize how much of a DORK/GEEK/NERD I sound like! :-)

Other random things to share:

I recently was "nominated" by Ms. Don't White Sugar Coat It for the Over The Top Award! Here are my one word answers to share with you all:

1. Where is your cell phone? handbag
2. Your hair? curly
3. Your mother? FABULOUS
4. Your father? loving
5. Your favorite food? vegchili
6. Your dream last night? none
7. Your favorite drink? coffee
8. Your dream/goal? happiness
9. What room are you in? living room
10. Your hobby? BLOGGING!
11. Your fear? tsunamis
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? pregnant?
13. Where were you last night? home
14. Something you aren’t? unmotivated
15. Muffins? lemonpoppyseed
16. Wish list item? French press
17. Where did you grow up? Mass
18. Last thing you did? furnitureshop
19. What are you wearing? scarf
20. Your TV? what TV?
21. Your pets? Spicy
22. Your friends? lovely
23. Your life? beautiful
24. Your mood? jazzed
25. Missing someone? yes
26. Vehicle? matrix
27. Something you’re not wearing? socks
28. Your favorite store? JCrew
29. Your favorite color? orange
30. When was the last time you laughed? today
31. Last time you cried? lastnight
32. Your best friend? T
33. One place that I go over and over? office
34. One person who emails me regularly? MDA
35. Favorite place to eat? Crepes on Cole

I'd like to pass this award onto Ms. Green Grapes Blog, Ms. Silly Tater Tot, Ms. Healthy Blog Snack, Ms. Elizabeth in SLO, Ms. Fannetastic Food, and Ms. FitBlogr!

Other blogkeeping details:

If you like coffee, you should check out Coffee Amnesty and admit your worst coffee dirt. I admitted that sometimes, instead of grinding our own locally-brewed coffee and taking it in reusable mugs, Tim and I hit up Dunkin' Donuts for the large styrofoam cup kind with cream and sugar! What's your coffee-related dirty laundry?

Now, if you're still with me, I have a GIVEAWAY for you!

Since it's the end of harvest time and Halloween is upon us, I'd like to give away some delicious products with an autumnal theme...

This time of year, I love carving pumpkins and eating pumpkin soup...

And since pumpkins are local and seasonal...

I'm giving away a great pumpkin package!

This package includes some of my favorite products this time of year: Trader Joe's pumpkin butter, which goes great on crackers or in oatmeal, Trader Joes Pumpkin Bread mix, and Trader Joes canned pumpkin. I'm not sure if it's possible to send a pumpkin in the mail, so the pumpkin will not be included. :-)

Here's your assignment: In order to be eligible for this prize, you must submit a story to me about how you define your food culture pride.

For example:

What recipes or traditions have been passed down to you that represent you and your family?

What recipe has your mom given you that is priceless?

How have you made less-than-healthy family traditions or recipes more healthful?

Or even, what food habit/tradition have you picked up from your food blog family?

This story can be posted as a comment for this post or Where I'm From.... You can also email it to afeteforfood@gmail.com if it's longer. If you've already done so, you've been entered into the giveaway! I'll be posting the interesting stories and recipes that you've shared with me! Please enter by Halloween to be eligible for this pumpkin prize!

Also, spread the word on Twitter that this awesome autumnal prize is up for grabs by RT'ing: Sign up for @eatittweetit 's PRIZED PUMPKIN GIVEAWAY at www.afeteforfood.com by 10/31

Good luck!