Hello readers!  It’s been just over a year since I started this blog and I’m still trying to get my footing.  Blogging has been quite an adventure and I’ve learned a few lessons (accompanied by a lot of ‘duh’ moments):

– Duh #1: It’s not easy to maintain consisting posting.  Even without a job, I find it hard to post consistently.  The added pressure of having to write a recipe and take good photos doesn’t help.

– Duh #2: Pictures are hard work!  Since our main meals are in the evening, lighting and general late-in-the-day family craziness makes taking photos of the cooking process and final dishes a challenge.  After a couple of months, I finally discovered the perfect spot for natural light in our kitchen–though that’s not entirely helpful when daylight disappears at 4:00 pm in New England.  And I joke that if one could ever pan out from my photos, you’d see a messy kitchen, toys strewn everywhere, and a toddler clinging to my leg.

– Duh #3: I have no idea what my “voice” is or supposed to be.  The focus of the blog is Vietnamese cooking, but how much can I deviate from that and still maintain a common thread?

– Duh #4: Vietnamese cooking is not easy, and it’s not easy to write the recipes and explain techniques.  The written word can only do so much and pictures are helpful, but I think I’m going to have to upgrade to add videos to demonstrate some of the harder techniques, such as making caramel sauce (without burning it!).

As I move forward with this blogging thing, I would love some feedback from my readers.   How is the format working for you?  Do you find the topics interesting?  Should I only post about Vietnamese food or would you welcome other recipes? Have the recipes worked?  Are there things I could do to make the recipes better?  And are there other dishes for which you would like me to post a recipe?  Anything else?  All thoughts and suggestions welcome!