A year ago today, I hit publish on my first post on Pickles & Honey: a simple recipe for vegan cornbread. Despite my fears that no one would read or try the recipe, that cornbread has become one of my most popular posts.
Over the last 365 days, I like to think my photography has improved, my writing is a bit more relatable, and I’ve come closer to finding a stronger voice for myself. It’s a constant evolution. I began blogging thinking Pickles & Honey would be a recipe site, showing that vegan food is not only healthy, but also accessible and awesome in its own right. I hope I’ve been able to accomplish that, and in the process, this site has also evolved to include more of my day-to-day life and thoughts, with a heavy dose of puppy thrown in the mix.
On the one hand, I can’t even remember what it’s like not to blog, not to be thinking about my next post or how I’m going to compose the photos. And on the other hand, this year has seriously flown by. I’m also coming up on my one-year wedding anniversary this weekend and my one-year as a self-employed freelancer at the end of the month, and sometimes I can’t believe how much has changed in just a few short years. I was in such a rut before my big move to San Francisco, and since then I’ve slowly but surely made choices to get to where I am today – happily living in Boston, working for myself, surrounded by family, with a sleeping dog in my lap.
Thank you so much for reading, for making my recipes, for sharing your stories in comments and emails, and for making Pickles & Honey one of of my most enjoyable and rewarding endeavors. Here’s to another great year!
xo
Amanda
{ 42 comments… read them below or add one }
Here’s to another great year!
Thanks, Amy!
Happy blogiversary!! Keep doing awesome recipes, I love them! p.s. almost made your pumpkin tofu soup but I didn’t have any broth and I didn’t know what to use for a substitute!
Hmmm, I think you need the broth. You could make your own…or just wait until you go grocery shopping.
Aw, happy blogiversary girl! I can’t believe you’ve only been doing this a year – your blog is so sophisticated, I assumed you’d been at it for longer!
Thanks, Katie!
oh happy day to you amanda! i can’t even remember when i started reading pickles & honey, or how i found you, but i love stopping in to see what you’re creating in the kitchen {or what those precious dogs of yours are up to!}
Thanks, Jess! I feel the same way about your blog!
Happy 1st birthday. Your blog is fantastic and enjoyable. I don’t think a day goes by that I don’t stop by and read what you have to share.
Thanks for the kind words, Kathy!
I have a vegan stepson and a vegetarian partner to cater for, and your blog is one of the best places to go to for recipes. I haven’t seen the vegan cornbread recipe so off to look at that now.
Awww, thanks so much, Rosie! I actually have two cornbread recipes – the other is gluten-free if you’re interested: http://www.picklesnhoney.com/2012/06/06/gluten-free-vegan-cornbread/
Congrats, Amanda! It’s definitely hard to imagine life without a spot of my own to share delicious, healthy goodness, too! Hope to see more good stuff throughout the next year
Cheers!
Thanks, Kassandra!
Congratulations on your one year blogiversary! You’ve created a beautiful and interesting blog. I look forward to seeing what the next year brings for you! I hope you have a happy anniversary too!
Thanks, Cadry! I can’t believe it’s already been a year. Time really does fly!
Congrats on one year! Crazy how things can change so much, so quickly. I can’t wait to see what you’re going to come up with this year – and Happy Wedding Anniversary too!
Thanks, Lauren!
Happy BLOG and WEDDING anniversary- wow!! I find it so hard to believe that your blog has only been around for a year, it’s always just seemed so … mature? I’m pretty sure that I started reading from that very first post!
I’m so glad to have found your blog- you’ve really inspired me in a lot of ways- and can’t wait to meet up in Boston next weekend!
Awww. Thanks, Lauren! I think you were one of the first people to comment, actually. It meant SO much to me that you took the time. Really looking forward to meeting you in “real” life!
Congrats on your one-year anniversary! Great blog, can’t wait to see what you come up with this year
Happy Blogiversary! Thank you so much for taking the time to share your knowledge and talent with like minded people, and for giving me the courage to try new things as well. Your pancakes and Nutella are staples in our kitchen, as is your tofu breakfast bake, and your boozy corn flake ice cream was my first foray into the world of vegan desserts! Everything you post turns out great! Thanks for helping me make the transition from omni to vegan so much more tastier (that is correct grammar, BTW…. My first language is French so I can get away with it!) . Hope you had some champagne to celebrate
Thank YOU for always leaving such thoughtful comments, Genevieve! It really does mean the world to me that some of my recipes are staples in your kitchen. Congrats on your transition from omni to vegan!
P.S. Your English is great! I took a semester of intensive conversational French in college (after several years of Spanish and Italian) and it was the hardest class I’ve ever taken.
Congrats and thanks for such practical ideas and generous support!
Thanks, Beth! I saw that you found coconut coffee creamer – it’s good stuff! I’m glad you found a nice alternative to dairy so you don’t have to compromise your coffee love.
Thank you for writing this blog! It’s full of absolute treasures. I enjoy cooking with you.
Thanks for reading (and cooking along), Molly!
Happy Blog Birthday! I think I need to try your cornbread in honor of your blog.
Congratulations!!! Wow, so much happened for you within the past year or so – that’s pretty amazing and inspiring! Your story motivates me to keep following my heart and working towards my goals.
Happy wedding anniversary as well!
~Amberly
Thanks, Amberly! Keep working towards those goals – it’ll happen!
Congrats on your blogiversary – so exciting!
Thanks, Erica! It’s crazy that it’s already been a year.
Happy Blogiversary!
Thank you! I really appreciate you reading and commenting.
I’m so thrilled that I stumbled into your blog through Gina! Happy one year blogiversary and heres to many many more!
Such exciting times for you! Congratulations. You should be very proud. I’m so glad I stumbled upon your site one day in the past year. I think your photography has always been stunning! You and your blog have a very inviting feel, and from a reader’s perspective it’s nice that you respond to our comments on a regular basis
Happy multi-anniversary!! How are you celebrating!?
What a great picture of you and Honey! Congratulations on one year. You were a total inspiration to me when I first started. What’s cool too is that you and I share a business background, and now we’re using the opposite side of our brains to blog. It’s funny how you never end up where you think you will!
Thanks, Lauren! It’s really nice to have a creative outlet in blogging – there are only so many spreadsheets one can handle!
Just now able to catch up on all the posts I have missed over the past few weeks (months?) Ugh. I’ve missed everyone including you!! Happy Blogiversary! Looking forward to getting back to reading, commenting and hopefully making some of your awesome recipes!
Thanks, Cinnamon! And welcome back!
Happy Blogiversary! Your first recipe, the vegan cornbread, came up in my google search for help in my first vegan baking “experiment”, and it turned out so great! It has given me confidence to bake more and branch out in the vegan experience. Plus (true confessions) since I usually make muffins, I made my second batch of cornbread as a first time user of silicone cups – and these came out great! My approach to both was “science experiment” mindset and I didn’t need to worry. Thanks Amanda!
I’m so glad your first vegan baking experiment was a success! Vegan baking definitely takes some getting used to, but you’ll be a pro in no time.
Happy baking!
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