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2023! What a yr!
I believed it could be enjoyable to place collectively a spotlight of 2023 month-by-month. What was occurring on Mel’s Kitchen Cafe…and what was occurring in actual life, too!
Thanks for being right here each step of the way in which. Through all of the recipes, life updates, bizarre jokes, attention-grabbing remark threads, and extra.
January
Blog:
I posted this consolation soup recipe, and it was immediately one of the vital common recipes of all time! So lots of you made it, liked it, raved about it, and then made it once more.
Life:
Sick with Covid, I used to be flat in mattress for a whole week and used the time to lastly watch Crash Landing on You. I’d find yourself watching this best-ever sequence 3 times in 2023, which isn’t any small feat for somebody that doesn’t watch a complete lot of TV. (Turns out, this was simply the start of my Okay-drama obsession.)
February
Blog/Instagram:
I made an Instagram reel for this epic twisted croissant French bread and it hit a million views. Here is why everybody ought to make this bread: a) you get to pound the center out of a butter packet and b) you additionally get to get pleasure from twisty, buttery croissant-like layers with out having to spend three days of your life making precise croissants.
Life:
I had a birthday and turned the whopping 4-5. I additionally fell in love with these dill pickle pretzels. (Still in love with them nearly a yr later.) We had been hit with surprising information when Brian’s place at work was eradicated.
March
Blog/Business:
March would show to be an enormous month that will influence my total yr: I made a decision to jot down and publish a cookbook! I had been interested by this for years, however lastly took the plunge based mostly on life circumstances that meant Brian could possibly be round to assist out a bit extra whereas I took on writing a manuscript, testing and photographing tons of of recipes, and navigating deadlines, bi-weekly design and enhancing calls and extra.
Life:
See above. 🙂
April
Blog:
I solely posted two new recipes this month, which I believe is the least quantity of latest recipes to hit the weblog in a given month because the onset of my weblog in 2007 (even after I had a brand new baby!). Lots of you reached out to ask if I used to be okay (thanks! the cookbook course of was hitting full drive and I used to be buried!). Also, Gladys the hen and her no nonsense side-eye made their debut on Instagram. (Gladys is now not with us, so I’m glad she had a second in the highlight.)
Life:
Two household birthdays, center college tennis meets, and stunning spring climate rounded out this month. I started consuming Athletic Greens/AG1 after a bunch of influencers instructed me I ought to (hoping it could assist with hair thinning and magically treatment all my illnesses). It was gross. I ended. Upon additional reflection, I spotted all my illnesses are seemingly as a result of age, life decisions, and my consumption of darkish chocolate. #worthit
May
Blog:
I made up for April and posted six new posts this month, together with these copycat Texas Roadhouse Rolls, which you went CRAZY for.
Life:
School bought out for the summer time, my dad and mom came visiting from Montana (which doesn’t occur fairly often, so we liked each minute), and my second kiddo headed off to the Dominican Republic for a 2 1/2 week humanitarian journey with HXP (this program is superb and has been extremely impactful for my two sons who’ve gone on journeys).
June
Blog:
My son, Ty, satisfied me to lastly put up the recipe that has turn out to be his signature bake. Mini banana chocolate chip muffins. That was a very good resolution since you guys have liked them, too! Fun reality: he made the muffins which are pictured in that recipe put up (and even took a number of of the images!).
Life:
We bought away for a number of days to one in every of my favourite locations on the planet (Redfish Lake) and it was simply the reset my thoughts and soul and body wanted after one of many busiest spring seasons of my life. I additionally wore crocs nearly day-after-day this month with zero regrets. Apparently, based mostly on this image, so did my youngsters. 🙂
July
Blog:
Ok, OKKKK, the second month this yr I posted solely two new recipes. 🤪🤪🤪 #sendhelp 😂 In my slacking, nonetheless, I DID provide you with these Hawaiian Chicken and Veggie Teriyaki Bowls and they had been (and are) spectacular.
Life:
Celebrated my twenty first wedding ceremony anniversary with huckleberry milkshakes on the again porch, gratefully bought information that dominated out a serious medical emergency with one in every of my youngsters, and helped out two good pals with food for his or her youngsters’ weddings. Also, Boise is HOTTTTT in July and August, and I hate it. I’m a high-60’s type of lady.
August
Blog:
Chocolate Oreo Crumbl Cookies. Need I say extra?
I additionally made some adjustments with a number of areas of focus for my weblog (video, electronic mail, and so forth). That’s in all probability not terribly thrilling to anybody else, however there are huge adjustments looming on the horizon for bloggers and the way in which they’re able to earn income (spoiler alert: it’s not nice information), and I’m making an attempt to transition and keep up with the altering tides in order to have the ability to proceed doing what I like right here on the weblog.
Life:
Took a very spontaneous journey (18 hours spherical journey 😜) with Camryn, the one keen household participant, to go sleep in a tent and decide huckleberries with good pals who willingly shared their secret choosing spot. Best three days of my life (aside from the sleeping in a tent half).
Also, college started up once more, which meant I might cease pulling all-nighters to get issues finished and depend on the quiet(er) college day to knock issues off my to-do record in this superior, bizarre world of being a stay-at-home-but-also-work-at-home-mom.
September
Blog/Instagram:
Strayed from actual recipes for a sizzling second and posted an Instagram reel for my go-to “recipe” for window washing. It shortly hit a million views and landed me on the Yahoo information web page, which subsequently had me regretting my harmless try and share one thing useful and enjoyable as I instructed my youngsters that going viral is very overrated when it means folks ship you vicious hate feedback about the way you wash your home windows. 😂
Life:
Started a serious kitchen rework (!!). Also felt overwhelmed by some private/household challenges and took quite a lot of night prayer-walks on my own to attempt to determine life. Spoiler alert: by no means bought any huge solutions, however I positive did see some stunning sunsets and really feel God’s acknowledgement and love.
October
Blog:
Mini pumpkin donut muffins and homestyle rooster noodle soup got here from this month (each had been a few of the hottest recipes I posted this yr), nonetheless, probably the most thrilling factor to occur this month was after I was lastly capable of reveal the key I had been maintaining since March and I introduced my cookbook. Your response was OVERWHELMING. I nonetheless get teary-eyed remembering how your feedback of assist and pleasure simply saved pouring in.
Life:
Got the stitches out from one other pores and skin most cancers surgical procedure and started the facial scar therapeutic course of. Had not less than 6 1/2 post-it notes flying round with unproductive lists written beneath the heading: Things Stressing Me Out.
Avoided each occasion of Bulgarian cut up squats on my exercise app (no regrets). And someway managed to make it by way of one other month with no kitchen.
Also witnessed some candy pals face unimaginable trials this month. 💗
November
Blog:
I instructed you the best way to make the perfect gravy of your life, and wow, DID YOU EVER. The reviews again on how this gravy saved Thanksgiving made the entire yr of running a blog value it. This recipe put up someway made google very completely happy, and I had thousands and thousands of additional guests to my weblog this month.
You additionally confirmed up huge time and helped provide the objects wanted to place collectively over 1,600 winter kits for refugees (my aim was 100!). This was an enormous mission that consumed a number of weeks this month, and it was one of many highlights of the yr for me and my household. It wouldn’t have been doable with out your assist!
Life:
The majority of the kitchen rework completed up simply in time to host nearly 50 folks for Thanksgiving! I bought misty-eyed after I lastly noticed double ovens in my kitchen (waited 22 years for this) – I’ll put up some earlier than and after photos quickly.
My 16-year previous son, Cade, traded social media for a brand new pet. Hi, Walter. And my 19-year previous son, Jackson, moved type of far-off to New Mexico, which elicited a lot of tears from this mother.
December
Blog:
Cookbook pre-orders went live this month, and once more, you blew me away together with your assist. Seriously: THANK YOU.
Also, these chocolate crinkle cookies stole the present this month. I made them six instances this month for various events (and twice simply because), and they is likely to be one in every of my favourite cookies ever.
But wait! There’s extra! You got here collectively AGAIN (over on Instagram) to boost over $50,000 for a household buddy whose mother is battling pancreatic most cancers. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen such an outpouring of generosity and love in such a brief period of time. I used to be humbled (and delivered to tears a number of instances), and it made a huge effect on this candy household.
Life:
Brian started his lengthy anticipated aim of small enterprise possession. With the craziness of non-public and work life (for each me and Brian), some heartbreaking challenges close to and far, and two of my high schoolers in the center of their wrestling season, I simply couldn’t accomplish every thing I wished to this month, however regardless of the angst of getting to desert some traditions, I’ve appreciated the time I’ve needed to simplify and spend with household.
I additionally bought Legos in my stocking for Christmas, which mainly made my life full.
Well, that’s a wrap on the highlights of this yr! I recognize you greater than you understand. And I like while you share your highlights (and even the “lowlights”) with me.
This little area has been a brilliant spot for me in 2023. Thank you for making recipes, commenting on recipes, and reaching out in all of the methods you do. 💗
Disclaimer: I’m a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate promoting program designed to supply a method for me to earn charges by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated websites. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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