Perrys’ Plate Turns Three! + Annual Birthday Giveaway

Perrys’ Plate is three years old today! I decided to give my blog a present this year (don’t laugh) and revamp the index. TA-DAAA! I’m super excited about the make-over, and I think it will make it much easier to find things. I want to thank Cara at Cara’s Cravings for inspiring me to do my index this way. (I pretty much stole her idea, but she’s cool and I don’t think she cares. Um. . . right? :))
You know what else this birthday means, right? Yep, free stuff. For you. I love those who comment and those who simply blurk, and if it weren’t for everyone, this blogging business would be no fun at all. So thank you!!
As I mulled over a few giveaway options, I decided to give two lucky winners one of my most favorite appliances ever — an immersion blender.
If you’re not familiar with this handy little tool, you can use it for almost anything a blender can do. Only instead of bringing the food to the blades, you can bring the blades to the food. I use it for all kinds of soups, sauces, and my husband uses is almost every day for his breakfast smoothies. The one we have is made by Braun and is a seven-year-old wedding gift. I would give you my exact model, but unfortunately I couldn’t find them anywhere. Tragic. But I’m pretty sure I found you an equally great one — a Cuisinart SmartStick that comes with a 2-cup blending. . . cup. I trust Cuisinart and have been really happy with their appliances, cookware, and customer service.
I’m starting to sound like an infomercial.
Part two of your gift (yes, there’s a part two!) will be a copy of In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan. His mantra “Eat Food. Not too Much. Mostly Plants.” has been one we’ve adopted as a family. Perhaps one of the best decisions we’ve ever made.
I’m a big Michael Pollan fan, and I believe that every person on the earth who eats food needs to read this book. (My husband thinks so, too. He actually said that before I did. It took me almost a year to finally get around to reading it after he did. I was sorry I waited.)
It won’t gross you out. It’ll enlighten you and change the way you look at food.
Forever. (In a good way, not a Fast-Food-Nation-grisly-tour-through-a-meat-packing-plant way.)
How to enter:
1. Leave me a comment answering the following question:
***COMMENTS HAVE CLOSED***




perrysplate
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Melissa @IWasBornToCook — February 18, 2011 @ 4:58 am
One of my earliest memories is fresh hot Italian bread on the table at my grandparents' house every Sunday. The way it smelled, the knife my Nonno used to cut it, the way it tasted…I still love it :)
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Astrid — February 18, 2011 @ 5:08 am
Although this isn't very early, I remember eating a cheeseburger on the first day of first grade. I just remember being in love with the textures on that school made burger. It probably was not high quality, but it tasted amazing and I will neer forget it!
email: arodriguez913@gmail.com
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Shayla Taylor — February 18, 2011 @ 5:11 am
Thanks for the awesome give away! Birthday could be sooner for me this year! I have really enjoyed your blog and my family has really enjoyed your recipes. Thanks for all the time you put into the blog!
shaylataylor@mac.com
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April — February 18, 2011 @ 5:34 am
YAY, first comment!!! Wait… that means not likely to win!… Oh, well.
First off, that thing is not an "immersion blender", it's a boat motor… At least that's what Emeril said one time.
My earliest food memory is probably my Granny's fruit salad. Some concoction of canned fruit, bananas and Tang (I think). It sounds gross typing it out, but it's some good junk!
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sarakata — February 18, 2011 @ 8:41 am
My first memory of food is eating pickles in the garage when I was a kid. My sister and I LOVED pickles and we would eat them after school as a snack! Hahaha.
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Mommo — February 18, 2011 @ 12:52 pm
I am a fairly new follower here. I made my way from PW. I have already linked you up to my reader. I admire how your kids will eat everything you make. You are starting them young and training them right.
Funny…my earliest food memory is a Snow White birthday cake my mom made for probably my 4th birthday. It had little SW figurines on it. When I was a little kids and couldn't fall asleep at night I would think of those cute little figures and it relaxed me enough to fall asleep.
Crazy huh!
Thanks for you food inspiration.
momfloyd4@gmaildotcom
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Nick and/or Lauren — February 18, 2011 @ 1:48 pm
Ohhh, I love that I get to be first! My earliest food memory might actually be one that is told to me often and has since become a memory. When I was little, I told my mom that I wanted to make dinner for her. She gladly accepted, only to receive bread and ketchup for dinner. Now, it wasn't just any bread…I tore it up and rolled into balls. Bread balls and ketchup! That is all my amazing mother ate for dinner that night!
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auctionluver — February 18, 2011 @ 1:48 pm
I already am a subscriber and my email is e717ml@gmail.com
I cant think of a memory of my earliest food. Food wasnt a big issue back then like it is now, i guess.
My kids would love to have one of these machines and so would i.
Happy Birthday to your blog.
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Rachel — February 18, 2011 @ 2:05 pm
My earliest food memory is when I was in 4th grade. My mom and I had baked a cake for a school party (well, she baked and I frosted). It was absolutely beautiful to me, and I went to bed super excited about taking it in the next day. The next morning I came down into the kitchen to see some strange holes in the cake – my cat had walked across it in the middle of the night and left footprints on my cake. I think I cried for like an hour :)
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Everyday Foodie — February 18, 2011 @ 2:07 pm
When I was six I remember a food tasting we did in my Brownies group where we closed our eyes and held our nose while we were fed a piece of food and were asked to guess what it was. I was able to guess 'banana' correctly because of the texture.
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Tess — February 18, 2011 @ 2:09 pm
My earliest food memory is watching my mom finish decorating my birthday cake when I was three. It had little plastic circus animals on it. I do not remember eating it though!
Happy Birthday and thanks for the give-away!
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Hello, My Name Is Prom! — February 18, 2011 @ 2:15 pm
When I was little, my parents expected me to at least try a bite of everything on my dinner plate. I remember crying at the table for two hours because I couldn't bring myself to sample "green spaghetti." I imagine "green spaghetti" is actually pesto – and now, of course, I love pesto!
Thanks for the chance to win!
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Miss Becky — February 18, 2011 @ 2:26 pm
I discovered green olives, ate a whole jar, and got sick. I couldn't eat them again for years but finally overcame that and continue to love eating them!
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Shanna — February 18, 2011 @ 2:41 pm
When I was about 4, my younger brother and I looked forward to hearing Paul Harvey on the radio…not because we liked him, but because that meant grilled cheese sandwich time. We still refer to him as the "Grilled Cheese Sandwich Guy." :)
shanna lillywhite [at] gmail [dot] com
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Big Al — February 18, 2011 @ 2:44 pm
Congrats Natalie!!!! Happy BirFday to your blog!!!! How awesome!!!
Recipe area looks great! Your photos look awesome!!!! Keep it up and we look forward to year 4!!!!
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Oh Mandie — February 18, 2011 @ 2:45 pm
ooooh fun! I bet that hand blender is a huge time saver!
My earliest foodie memorie is of my Nana. She was 100% Italian and loved to cook, and she did it well! I used to go over to her house a lot as a kid and I'd drag a chair over to use to climb up on the ocunter so I could sit and watch her cook. Together we'd eat most of the ingredients as we were cooking, I remember mostly sitting on her counter muching on bell peppers. I always associate Italian food and bell peppers with her :)
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oneofmanywithjoshuaanddebbie — February 18, 2011 @ 2:49 pm
My earliest memory was when I was five and was shoveling black beans and tortillas down! I was (and still am) a hungry girl! AND, I dig Pollan. Waiting to get his documentary via-Netflix soon!
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Jessie — February 18, 2011 @ 3:05 pm
My earliest kitchen memory is sitting of the kitchen countertops, making chocolate chip cookies with my mom. During the whole "mixing" stage there was a lot of eating chocolate chips and brown sugar. I used to love eating a spoonful of brown sugar, gross.
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OuR LiTtLe FaM — February 18, 2011 @ 3:08 pm
I remember my mom giving us berries or different fruits for dessert and being excited about it! I now do the same with my children. My daughter loves getting strawberries, rasberries, watermelon or something healthy for dessert! It's a win/win! :)
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Kate — February 18, 2011 @ 3:10 pm
My earliest memory was trying ice cream for the first time – I was very young and, despite my parents' protests, my grandmother popped the spoon in my mouth. I remember hating the cold and almost spitting it out before I realized how sweet & delicious it was!
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Al — February 18, 2011 @ 3:23 pm
My earliest food memory is sitting in my grandpa's strawberry patch when I was about 3 or 4, I always took 2 small bowls with me – one full of water, the other full of sugar, I would pick, rinse, dunk in sugar and indulge until I was as full as a tick!
Happy Anniversary and thanks for a wonderful giveway – I would love to have an immersion blender for soups, I always end up making a big mess transferring soup to my upright blender and then back to the pot! I also really like Michael Pollan and we try to live by his simple guidelines as well.
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Jenny — February 18, 2011 @ 3:30 pm
My first memory is of a cider press set up in the garage and it was raining out side. My grandfather feeding apples through it. The smell of apple cider mixed with the smell of rain is got to be one of the best smells in the world.
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melcush — February 18, 2011 @ 3:33 pm
Love your blog and of course would love to win-I have been looking at these!
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Amy — February 18, 2011 @ 3:38 pm
First food memory… that's a tough one. My Nana's raspberry jello salad that she would make for Thanksgiving. It had nuts in it and she always served it on a lettuce leaf. I remember not liking it that much. : )
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K D — February 18, 2011 @ 3:42 pm
There are photos of me crawling to the snack cabinet and getting into the animal crackers but the first foods I remember being really excited for were ice cream on a really hot day (chocolate chip) and corn on the cob when family came to visit during the summer.
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Sarah — February 18, 2011 @ 3:47 pm
My earliest food memories all include air popped popcorn. Sunday night game nights with popcorn, always air popped with my family, and especially watching Grandpa P. magically salt and butter huge bowls of popcorn by throwing it up into the air and catching it in the bowl again. Yum. I think I'll make some right now.
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Beckie — February 18, 2011 @ 3:48 pm
My first food memory -and I think of this often -because now it is sad to me– My dad had made hamburgers and I didn't want them – he told me to sit there and eat them – he went to the bathroom and I fed it out the door to the dog– he came back and I told him I was done- he looked soo sad– I was really little- maybe 4- but I still remember how sad his face was!!
cobbap@ida.net- email!!
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Dani — February 18, 2011 @ 3:53 pm
I vividly remember standing on a milk crate in the kitchen of my parents' Chinese restaurant, learning to roll egg rolls from the old Chinese gentleman my father had hired to teach him how to cook. It was a blast and I still roll a mean egg roll to this day.
close.to.bliss at gmail dot com!
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Jessica — February 18, 2011 @ 4:04 pm
Hmmm, when we were really little my brother was pouring salt, yes salt, straight into his mouth. I just remember thinking, that's going to be a bad idea. He threw it all up of course. Brothers are always good for laughs.
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anabelle82 — February 18, 2011 @ 4:29 pm
My earliest memory is finding out that I was the only one having lamb on holidays. All my "American" friends were having ham, turkey, etc.
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Chelsea — February 18, 2011 @ 4:34 pm
Thank you for not having everyone jump through hoops to enter. I ended up going through my google reader and found I had a ton of blogs I'd added just to win something…they all got deleted (especially because they were the kind that had more than 5 posts/day – overkill). But because I'm your friend, I'll let you know I subscribe anyways.
Surprisingly, my earliest food memory was at a mexican food restaurant. I have no idea how old I was but it's the only thing I can think of right now. I ordered a cheese crisp. I love cheese crisps even now and every couple of months I crave one and have to make it.
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Jen — February 18, 2011 @ 4:40 pm
I remember eating spagettios like it was my job. I was a big fan of the squish sound it made when you bit hard into the meat ball… That's pretty gross now that I think about it. swimhindes (at) gmail (dot) com
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Sarah O. — February 18, 2011 @ 4:41 pm
Goldfish crackers in my high chair. :] Apparently I wouldn't eat anything that wasn't some shade of orange or beige until around the first grade.
email: so237798@muhlenberg.edu
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Danila — February 18, 2011 @ 4:44 pm
My First Memory of food was..my mom cooking in the kitchen p. She has always been very health minded and in the late 70's it was very hard have vegetarian meals that tasted good. But my mom was amazing at cooking up yummy food from scratch. Mom made vegetarian lasagna filled with lots of green stuff. Something I wasn't very fond of. But I was forced to give it a try and absolutely loved it, it became one of my favorite meals. I think that's when I really started to try everything at least once, even if it looked totally unappealing at first.
Thanks for sharing your blog with me, I am so excited to try all your recipes!
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Lark Harrington (SparkyLarky) — February 18, 2011 @ 4:47 pm
Wow, this is harder than it sounds…. However one memory did stand out. On Sunday's at our home growing up, we were only allowed to watch Wild Kingdom and the Wonderful World of Disney. And it was also the night of the week were we took turns as kids (7 of us) making the dessert.
I remember I always choose to make Chocolate No-Bake Cookies. That way while I was scooping them out onto the wax paper, I could take a spoon full for myself. (lol)
My Mom didnt realize that she was really helping all her children learn to bake. THANK YOU MOM!
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Emily — February 18, 2011 @ 4:54 pm
crunchy lettuce sandwiches. I asked for them every day at lunch when I was a kid, which was weird because it was a 3 year old asking for ham, tomato, pickles, and crunchy lettuce with miracle whip and mustard.;) I still have one every time I go home. When I win, you can contact me at smithfam77@gmail.com. Happy Birthday, Perry's Plate!
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Heather — February 18, 2011 @ 5:04 pm
My mom would regularly make chocolate layered cakes. The icing was cooked in a cast iron skillet. My earliest memory of food is getting to eat the warm icing out of the skillet when she was finished icing the cake.
heatherspooner1981 at gmail dot com
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Judy — February 18, 2011 @ 5:11 pm
My earliest food memory is eating a pulley bone at my grandmothers. Fried chicken cooked from a farm raised chicken freshly killed and dressed by my grandmother. Nothing is better than a fried home grown chicken!
walker88@bellsouth.net
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Sarah — February 18, 2011 @ 5:20 pm
Probably eating my grandmother's homemade bread…delicious!
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Dani — February 18, 2011 @ 5:29 pm
what a funny thing – this morning I was just looking on Amazon at immersion blenders. I really want one!
My first food memory is learning how to use a grapefruit spoon and sharing a grapefruit with my mom or grandmother up north at my grandmother's ski house. My grandmother isn't doing very well right now and in thinking about her all my memories revolve around food – whether it was grapefruit or her trifle, which was drowned in liquor!
daniliffmann[at]gmail[dot]com
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Millertime — February 18, 2011 @ 6:14 pm
When I was younger I remember hating salads as a kid and my mom would make some kind of veggie or salad everyday. To this day I wonder what was I thinking salads are my favorite. Funny thing is I make it everyday as well. Thanks mom for making me eat that stuff.
p.s. I love perrys plate so much thanks nat for all the wonderful recipes you do.
~Elise Miller….you know where to find me;)
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cjvierow — February 18, 2011 @ 6:15 pm
I'm sure my first memory is of chocolate–or it should be anyway. Have had you in my google reader for quite some time–maybe 1-1/2 years? The book looks really interesting and would love one of the blenders. Thanks! CJ
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Kristin — February 18, 2011 @ 6:49 pm
I remember eating mac n cheese & hot dogs for lunch when I was two or three…haha, there's no way my mom would feed anybody that now!
kristinwade3@gmail.com
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Emily Hunt — February 18, 2011 @ 7:01 pm
"Pocahontas Stew" from my grandma, which was actually beef stew. I was convinced I HATED beef stew so they renamed it so I would eat it. I hate to admit how old I was before I figured that one out…
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Heather — February 18, 2011 @ 7:40 pm
My earliest food memory is visiting my grandmother in Texas and eating her homemade biscuits with tons of butter and sneaking out after breakfast to get a popcorn ball from my uncle's stash for later
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ellie — February 18, 2011 @ 7:49 pm
My first food memory is eating green peppers whole out of my mom's garden. I'd sit in the dirt as a toddler, between pepper plants, just chomping away.
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Sare — February 18, 2011 @ 8:02 pm
I remember my mom didn't really make that much food (as in her "specialties"), but I remember we often ate chicken with salad supreme seasoning sprinkled on it.
Congrats on having the most awesome food blog ever!
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Joseph — February 18, 2011 @ 8:14 pm
Eating cheerios!
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Lauren's Latest — February 18, 2011 @ 9:05 pm
I remember making rice krispie squares with my Mom for an after school snack for my older brothers and sisters. I think I must have been about 2 1/2. Great giveaway! :)
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Geekwif — February 18, 2011 @ 9:07 pm
I remember my mom holding her hand up about chin height and telling me that I had to be "this full" before I could have dessert. I had no idea that the food I ate didn't actually fill me up from my toes up to my head.
As for specific foods, I remember Christmases at my Grandma's house when all the adults would eat oyster stew and all the kids would skip the stew and pig out on the oyster crackers.
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Greg — February 18, 2011 @ 9:16 pm
One of my first memories of food that quickly came to mind is of my grandmother juicing me carrot juice. I am by no means a health foody, but I do happen to love ALL foods. :) I am 40 and I think I was first introduced to carrot juice when I was 4 or 5 and loved it from the moment I tasted it. It totally agrees with my taste buds and I've never had it quite as delicious as hers.
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Jodi — February 18, 2011 @ 9:20 pm
One of my earliest memories is of my Grandpa feeding me Nilla Wafers in the pickup while we were waiting for my dad. Its a precious memory because he died not long after. I was 2.
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Hillary Gras — February 18, 2011 @ 9:27 pm
Hillary Gras
hillarygras@gmail.com
Mine is having dinner at this restaurant we used to go to all the time during the summer on lake champlain. We'd go by boat, then I personally would enjoy a huge salad, my own personal shrimp cocktail, prime rib, baked potato and most likely, chocolate mousse. I was such a pig! The benefits of fast metabolism are wonderful :)
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Jennifer — February 18, 2011 @ 9:32 pm
My fondest memory would be getting a whole can of black olives for my birthday and Christmas from my grandparents. They started that when I was about 4. I loooovvveeee black olives!
momentary_changes@hotmail.com
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Tierney — February 18, 2011 @ 10:26 pm
I think my earliest food memory involves me, age 3, standing on our kitchen table with a huge chef's knife in hand, slicing myself a banana. Just a taste of things to come (I'm a doctor now).
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Tamarama — February 18, 2011 @ 10:35 pm
I wish I could figure out which of my food memories was the earliest, but I'll go with this one. When I was a kid, I loooooved to eat peanut butter and turkey sandwiches (yes, I'm serious). Don't ask me why. I've almost attempted it several times in adulthood but always end up chickening out.
PS: I know this wasn't a requirement for entry in the giveaway, but I have to say that one of the things on your blog that I'm most excited to try is the Portobello and Black Bean Enchiladas. They look delicious!
Oh, and I'm sending you an email with my email address.
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Judy — February 18, 2011 @ 10:38 pm
Picking vadalia onions out of my grandfather's garden and eating them like an apple!
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JuLo — February 18, 2011 @ 10:44 pm
I remember I used to love my mom's bbq beef. I would say it was my favorite kind of chicken. Until my mom tried making it in the microwave. Then I never ate it again. True story.
And I like you on FB and subscribe already! Just to let you know. ;)
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Jordan — February 19, 2011 @ 12:21 am
My earliest food memory is making holiday fruit cake at my great-grandmother's house in a dimly lit kitchen.
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Alene — February 19, 2011 @ 12:26 am
Cake. My first memory of food is birthday cake. My grandmother raised me and birthdays were always special and she made the most wonderful cakes that she would decorate.
neenacos@comcast.net
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Caitlin — February 19, 2011 @ 1:10 am
One of my earliest, and favorite, food memories is sneaking into my mother's garden with my older brother to pick the snow peas. We'd take our handfuls and climb up into this little bunk house we had as part of our back yard swing set. Then we'd sit up there and slowly munch them down, savoring each crisp, sweet bite. I can't wait for the day when I own my own house and can plant my own garden, with tons of snow pea vines!
Natalie, I love your blog! My new favorite recipe, which gets made weekly, is your bacon, kale and sweet potato breakfast burrito! It's amazing, and it's one of the only dishes with kale that my husband will eat with a big ole smile on his face! Thank you!
theuncertaingourmet.tumblr.com
caitlin.f.erwin@gmail.com
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Janssen — February 19, 2011 @ 2:15 am
My earliest food memories are of holiday meals at my grandmother's house. She is a fantastic cook and always lays a gorgeous table.
And even though she is very well-mannnered, she still thought it was funny when I put olives on my fingers.
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susitravl — February 19, 2011 @ 2:46 am
My earliest food memory would either be unrolling noodles for my grandma's homemade chicken and noodles or getting a crybaby cookie right out of the oven at my other grandma's house across town.
susitravl(at)gmail(dot)com
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Katie — February 19, 2011 @ 2:49 am
My first memory is eating big pieces of watermelon under the tree in my grandparent's large back yard.
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Stephanie — February 19, 2011 @ 3:51 am
My earliest food memory is standing with my mom while she baked an old fashioned (and very delicious) pound cake! I still crave it every now and then too!
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Kruti — February 19, 2011 @ 4:16 am
Happy Birthday! Thank you for taking time to blog! My earliest food memory I can think of is sitting on the dining table when I was 4-5 eating roti with yogurt with my grandfather. I was a picky eater & he'd convince my mother to let me eat my 2 favorite things.
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Cindy — February 19, 2011 @ 5:52 am
Happy blog birthday! I remember eating poached eggs on toast when I didn't feel well. That was the tummy soothing meal during my childhood.
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dana — February 19, 2011 @ 5:57 am
Mashed Bananas. I hate bananas and I was just getting over Bronchitis. My dad, bless his heart, was home taking care of me and tried to get me to eat a mashed banana. Yuck!
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Anne — February 19, 2011 @ 6:04 am
Sad to say, I was a picky child. I think I preferred to play with my food rather than eat it. So my first memory is my mom distracting me with a toy dinosaur to eat my mushed carrots (I hope my children end up much more like their father, the human vacuum!).
My husband and I love Michael Pollan! It's definitely changed the way we look at food for the better! Happy birthday to your great blog!
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Kathryn — February 19, 2011 @ 6:32 am
One of my earliest food memories is a traumatic one, unfortunately!
I was eating Campbell's chicken noodle soup just before going to preschool one day and I tried breaking up some saltines in the bowl with my spoon. Somehow, I ended up spilling the entire bowl of soup on my lap and my mom got sooo angry because I ruined my new outfit. I always crushed crackers into my soup with my hands after that experience. Kids always learn the hard way, right?
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d1de85f4-3bf8-11e0-a97f-000bcdca4d7a — February 19, 2011 @ 7:21 am
My earliest food memory would have to be eating mac and cheese. Loved it back then and I still do!
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My Sweet Indulgences — February 19, 2011 @ 10:56 am
I have never really thought about it..I would have to say mustard sandwiches..Oh, how I loved them!!
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Kirsten's Cooking — February 19, 2011 @ 12:52 pm
I'm not great at remembering back too far – but I remember chicken pot pie in the school cafeteria – that was back in the days when the school lunches were still made by hand!
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Jessie — February 19, 2011 @ 12:54 pm
My dad making us grilled cheese sandwiches when I was a little girl… one of the few memories I have of my dad EVER cooking!
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Sarah — February 19, 2011 @ 1:41 pm
Darn! I already have that exact immersion blender and I have already read that book, so I don't need to enter the contest, but I just wanted to say thanks for all the work you've put in to this lovely blog for three years!
(I'm the one who emailed you the other day about using yogurt in the sweet potato waffles. I did it, and they were delicious! Thanks again!)
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ksuty — February 19, 2011 @ 3:18 pm
My grandma used to make this really great million dollar cake, and I remember helping her bake before Christmas when I was really little and licking the batter from the bowl. I still love that cake!
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Andrea — February 19, 2011 @ 3:28 pm
Hey, the index looks great! Happy blogday!
Maybe my mom's porcupine meatballs?
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Sarah — February 19, 2011 @ 3:57 pm
Happy Birthday! I would have to say that my earliest food memory is of food burning in the oven. My mom was in the hospital giving birth to my sister and the person taking care of my other sister and myself was a terrible cook!
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Christa — February 19, 2011 @ 4:41 pm
First thing I can picture struggling with a spoon to eat was mac and cheese. So simple and yet considered such a delicacy to all kids. It also happens to be the first thing I can remember cooking myself, despite being from a box. (Thank you Kraft cheese powder!)
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Jessica — February 19, 2011 @ 10:14 pm
My earliest memory of food was eating yogurt…all.the.time…and would refuse anything else.
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Lorraine — February 19, 2011 @ 11:46 pm
Making oatmeal for my family for breakfast when I was 8 and picking vegetables straight from grandma phillips' garden.
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Mary — February 20, 2011 @ 12:39 am
Nat- love your new index!
I do not like blenders. I think I would LOVE and immersion blender.
I saw someone early on in the comments mention school cafeteria food, and I don't think I remember anything before that either. But about the same time, I also remember having my mom's Cherry Delight (have you ever had that?) for family birthdays. Mmm…
And I want to know what YOUR earliest food memory is too.
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MindySue — February 20, 2011 @ 1:08 am
It's sad, but I think the earliest food memory I have is of eating those horrible $.29 chicken pot pies. Blech. My children will NEVER have one. Ever.
You know where to find me.
PS. I love "In Defense of Food"! It's changed the way I think about eating.
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Eric & Callie — February 20, 2011 @ 3:49 pm
Caramel Corn on Monday nights for FHE. Sooo good! kazooboy@gmail.com
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Shea — February 20, 2011 @ 4:23 pm
My first food memory isn't that exciting :) I remember my grandma cutting up hot dogs for I believe my 3rd birthday. I just remember staring at them thinking you really want me to eat this?! I don't know if I ever did.
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Jayne — February 20, 2011 @ 6:57 pm
I remember when I was young I was playing in my backyard and when I felt hungry I would choose one of the many fruit trees, climb it and pick a fruit to eat. I can still remember the taste of a fresh apricot, plum, apple, cherry or peach.
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Shaun — February 20, 2011 @ 11:04 pm
Oatmeal, is that sad?
email: emily_claire87@hotmail.com
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Jenni — February 20, 2011 @ 11:23 pm
My earliest food memory is of me standing next to the tomato plants in my Mom's flower bed when I was very small and eating a tomato straight off the vine.
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Rohit Kapur — February 21, 2011 @ 12:11 am
Earliest I can think of is my grandmother sitting me in her lap and feeding me tea and paranthas. :)
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rk — February 21, 2011 @ 1:09 am
eating egg salad sandwhiches as a little girl
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Kendall — February 21, 2011 @ 5:21 am
My first food memory is being a chubby four year old asking my mother if she had fed me. She had-I just had a short memory and a big appetite!
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Kiersten — February 21, 2011 @ 5:44 am
I remember eating noodle soup at the counter in my grandmother's restaurant, when I was probably just three or four years old. Mmm.
Thanks for the great giveaway!
kiersten(dot)k(at)gmail(dot)com
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grace — February 21, 2011 @ 6:02 am
i shudder to recall this, but i can remember a time when my favorite treat was a white bread sandwich (no crusts) with american cheese and mayo. and that's it. ack. :)
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RG — February 21, 2011 @ 4:22 pm
One of my earliest food memories is going to my grandmother's house and always getting sweet cereal. My mom never allowed us to have anything sweeter than Cheerios, so my grandma always bought us Lucky Charms, it was such a treat then, now I love mildly sweetened cereal more, but at the time I would save the marshmallows until last because they were the best part.
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Becka Dietrich — February 21, 2011 @ 4:24 pm
My earliest food memory is macaroni and cheese and peas. We had the old school kind where you had the cheese in powder form in a separate shaker can. It was a treat to have mac'n'cheese and the only way to get the kids to eat our peas was to mix it in together. It made for a colorful presentation and we weren't grossed out by the squishiness of the peas because it was the same consistency as the noodles. The things moms do to get their kids to eat!
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msmcnabb — February 21, 2011 @ 4:38 pm
"What's the earliest food memory you can think of?"
The earliest memory I have of food is pizza sauce. My dad use to feed it to me before I had teeth…at least that what my family tells me. They also use it as the reason I love pizza so much. Truly, though, my earliest memory is pizza because my family would make pizza's together all the time. My mom would make the dough and I would get to spread the sauce and on all the toppings.
Magenta
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Ashlie and Alfred — February 21, 2011 @ 5:26 pm
My earliest food memory is eating/drinking vanilla milkshakes with my dad. He always used our favorite blue bell homemade vanilla, added in a little milk, and some extra vanilla extra. Then he would litterly shake the mixture up until it was creamy and frothy! Yummo! Happy Anniversary amd thanks for a great giveaway!
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Judy — February 21, 2011 @ 6:44 pm
My earliest food memory is something I remember very clearly. I have eaten a bowl of cereal for breakfast for as long as I can remember. Well one morning we did not have any milk. I insisted that my mother let me eat it with water, so she did, and I hated it! I have since made sure that there is enough milk at all times!
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Allison — February 21, 2011 @ 7:39 pm
My earliest food memory is family holiday dinners at my grandmothers. She always made everyone's favorite two side dishes and desserts. It was enough for God's Army but we ate, laughed and napped and enjoyed each other company. Now that she has passed I recall those memories often to remember her and the wonderful times we had as a family.
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Colene — February 21, 2011 @ 7:51 pm
I always remember LOVING and talking about food. My mom tells the story that one night on vacation I sat up in bed while still asleep and said grace. She said it was nice to know that even in my dreams I prayed over my food! :)
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Em — February 21, 2011 @ 8:35 pm
My earliest food memory would have to be making sandwiches with my dad on Sundays. You see, my mom would always work double shifts on Sundays, and since my dad isn't the most culinary inspired man, we'd always make sandwiches. My brother and I would scrounge around in the fridge and make the most silly, and random combinations. I tried a peanut butter pickle once (my grandpa's favorite), it was not so good.
Ever since then I've always been inspired to be creative in the kitchen. I would spend all day Sunday "practicing my cookings", and my father has been the best taste tester you could ever ask for (even when I decided to make a chocolate cake and put 2 Tablespoons of baking soda instead of teaspoons). That's Love :)
Emily
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Michaela — February 22, 2011 @ 12:34 am
My dad made coleslaw for the first time and it took so much canoodling and convincing to get me to try a bite. Then I ate a whole plate of it! It's been one of my favorites ever since!
Here's to trying new things, including more plants and more soups!
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Cara — February 22, 2011 @ 12:54 am
Do I mind? Heck no! I love the way your recipe index and if I had more good pictures to choose from I would probably go ahead and steal YOUR idea. (And by the way, my blogiversary is coming up next month and I was already thinking of giving away an immersion blender, great minds think alike!)
I think some of my earliest food memories involve sleepovers at my aunt's house, where we always cooked popcorn in the fireplace and had ice cream sundaes and plenty of sugary cereal. It was always a great time :)
Happy blogiversary to you! Here's to another year of delicious blogging.
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anicreations — February 22, 2011 @ 1:55 am
Several of my early food memories involve the fancy birthday cakes my grandmother used to make for me. I just remember them being beautiful and yummy!
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Alex — February 22, 2011 @ 3:08 am
peanut butter sandwich
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Susan — February 22, 2011 @ 3:41 am
Earliest food memory? Never thought about that one…my mom says I ate dirt as a toddler, but luckily don't remember that! Most of my food memories are of favorites at both my grandmothers – GG's fried appricot pies and Grandmother's fried catfish fresh from her pond…guess my roots are based in grease! Giveaway…great idea! Love your blog!
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Michele — February 22, 2011 @ 7:00 am
Happy 3rd birthday! That's so exciting. I've read that book by Michael Pollan and it was really eye opening. I enjoyed learning so much. We're trying to adopt his mantra as well with our eating habits. I love all your food, you have a great blog. I made your portabello enchiladas a few weeks ago and they were great and I've got Beso's Tortilla soup on the menu for tomorrow night, can't wait.
My earliest food memory was of my mom making us fried chicken when we were kids. That was a LONG time ago. I can't remember the last time I ate fried chicken anymore.
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Meredyth Haas — February 22, 2011 @ 7:00 am
My earliest food memory was me sitting at our kitchen table in the middle of July, with my legs swinging below my chair, gorging myself on mint chocolate chip ice cream. I had a spoon, the ice cream container, and I'm pretty sure at the age of 4 I may have devoured the entire box.
-Meredyth
meredythhaas@gmail.com
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KrHoover — February 22, 2011 @ 3:45 pm
My earliest food memory….hmmmm, I'd say Oreo Cookies. My mom used to feed me Oreo's just so she could cut my hair!
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Natalie — February 22, 2011 @ 4:36 pm
Happy Birthday! I love your blog :)
My earliest food memory is probably decorating cookies at either my 3rd or 4th birthday party!
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Bethany Nash — February 22, 2011 @ 5:20 pm
One of my earliest food memories, rather amusingly, is my great-grandma making Kraft macaroni and cheese. Still love it, even though at heart I know it's really an awful food. :)
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Katie — February 22, 2011 @ 7:09 pm
my earliest food memory is thinking that kraft mac and cheese with hot dogs was the best meal possible. I"ve since moved on to slightly more sophisticated tastes but (homemade) macaroni and cheese is still my favorite food!
engh.katie at gmail dot com
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Becky — February 22, 2011 @ 7:58 pm
One of my earliest food memories is snitching sugar with my older brother. My mom kept some sugar in a little plastic thing that I hardly know how to describe except it had a hole on one side that the sugar came out of and we would take turns pouring the sugar into our mouths. I was around two years old and my mom was probably in the shower.
Thanks for your giveaway! I really enjoy your blog.
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DeeGeeRN — February 22, 2011 @ 8:50 pm
Hello!
It seems some of my earliest food memories has to do with outdoor BBQs etc and family reunions.
Maybe KFC, burgers on the grill, corn on the cob in the summer, fresh sliced tomatoes in the summer….
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SavageAnderson — February 22, 2011 @ 9:03 pm
I'd have to say hot chocolate and cinnamon toast with my mom as a special late-night snack.
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Natasha Wade — February 22, 2011 @ 10:32 pm
Wow, you have received a ton of comments!!! You are so popular. :) I honestly can only remember one that is going to make you cringe. I remember playing outside and not wanting to go inside for fear that my mom would make me stay inside. So I went and eat a handful of cat food from the bag in our garage. I also remember it tasting meaty and it being very crunchy. (The things we live through as kids!!!) Miss ya
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amanda — February 23, 2011 @ 12:24 am
My earliest food memory– my birthday cake at age 3– Little Mermaid themed :)
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Danica — February 23, 2011 @ 3:33 am
I remember "helping" my mom make chocolate chip cookies for my dad. I would sneak some of the cookie dough :)
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