I’ve been blogging…really I have. It just hasn’t been here. I have been fervently trying to keep up with all the newbie bloggers who have submitted applications for adoptions in the Adopt a Blogger program. I literally have an inbox stuffed full of people who are looking for someone a little more experienced to adopt and mentor them so they can get a feel for what blogging is really like. I am running into a problem though… mentors? I have a serious shortage of mentors to help these great, new bloggers out! I hate to see us not pulling together and helping out the newbies, so if you get a chance, please take a look at the blogs currently up for adoption and consider becoming one of their mentors.

I have at least 100 more people to add, with new bloggers applying each day. Spread the word and keep sharing the gifts you have so that Adopt-a-Blogger can continue to be as successful as it has been in the past! And don’t worry… do you think you don’t have enough time or talent to give what it takes to be a mentor? I guarantee you, you do!

I didn’t really have anything else to blog about today, aside from the begging, so I’m going to bore you with some pumpkin carving and Halloween pictures. I also know that it is now officially past Halloween and pumpkin seeds are sooooo last month, but that’s not going to stop me from sharing a very basic Oven Roasted Pumpkin Seed recipe with you! Simple, basic and good enough to bookmark until next year!

Recipe: Basic Buttery Oven Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

• 1 1/2 cups pumpkin seeds, pulp removed, cleaned and patted dried from a fresh pumpkin
• 2 Tablespoons butter, melted (do not use margarine)
• 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Toss cleaned, whole pumpkin seeds in a bowl with melted butter and salt. Spread the seeds in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes so both sides get toasted.

The post Begging and Pleading (Recipe: Oven Roasted Pumpkin Seeds) appeared first on Dine and Dish.

So, guess what? I’ve got some news to share with you! Adopt-a-Blogger is officially up and running on it’s very own site! Yep… The blog mentoring program that us foodies have come to know and love has moved from Dine & Dish to it’s very own space out in Internet land.

What does this mean for those of you who are anxious to participate in Adopt-a-Blogger? It means lots of great things!

• You’ll no longer have to wait for the launch of a new session. We are going to have adoptions all the time. Almost every day, as long as there is a need, new bloggers will be up for adoption.
• I am no longer Miss Matchmaker. As much as I loved matching all the participants up, I know that only YOU will know what kind of blogger will be the best match for you. the process is simple, new bloggers fill out a short questionnaire that gives us a little bit of insight into their blog and then the experienced bloggers come along and make the choice of who they want to adopt.
• We’ve expanded into areas beside food blogging! I am more excited about this than anything because I truly believe in the power of having a mentor and belonging to a community. Why should only foodies get to participate in Adopt-a-Blogger? Now bloggers from Lifestyle and Parenting to Craft and Design to whatever else may be out there get to participate! If you know bloggers outside of food blogging who you think would like to participate, please spread the word.

I hope you’ll add Adopt-a-Blogger to your RSS feed, or even better…get the newest adoptee information right in your email box! Adopt-a-Blogger is on Twitter and Facebook too, and I’ll have the newest adoptee information there as well.

I’ve updated the pictures for this Zippy Chicken and Mushroom soup, which is my absolute favorite soup, and since it is Fall and soup weather, I wanted to remind you of the recipe. Enjoy!

Recipe modified from the Oct/Nov 2007 issue of Taste of Home magazine.

Print

Zippy Chicken Mushroom Soup

Zippy Chicken Mushroom Soup

Author Dine & Dish

Ingredients

• 1/2 pound fresh mushrooms chopped
• 1/4 cup each chopped onion celery and carrot
• 1 can of whole kernel sweet corn drained
• 1/4 cup butter cubed
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 5-1/2 cups chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
• Pinch dried tarragon
• 1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
• 3 cups half-and-half cream
• 2-1/2 cups cubed cooked chicken
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
• 1-1/2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions

• In a Dutch oven or large stock pot, saute the mushrooms, onion, celery, carrot and corn in butter until tender. Stir in flour until blended. Add the broth and seasonings; mix well. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes.
• Stir in the cream, chicken, parsley, lemon juice and salt; heat through (do not boil). Yield: 11 servings (2-3/4 quarts).

The post Have You Adopted a Blogger Today? (Recipe: Zippy Chicken Mushroom Soup) appeared first on Dine and Dish.

Each week I will feature questions from bloggers. If you have a question you would like answered, please email it to me at kristen <at> dineanddish <dot> net. I will post your question during one of the Ask a Blogger segments and will link back to your blog. Hopefully, we’ll get enough answers for you to help you out some!

The first question is one I get all the time…

“Posting every day on my blog is so hard to keep up with. Is it necessary to post every day? How many times is the right time to post during a week?”

My answer to this one is simple… you have to figure out a rhythm that works well for you. When I first started blogging 3 1/2 years ago, I wrote a new post every day. I soon found out that between cooking, photographing and writing a post each day, I was quickly getting burnt out. I eventually went to 3 times a week and felt like that fit what I was able to do much better and I enjoyed blogging a whole lot more. When I was posting so often blogging became more like a chore than something enjoyable. I think the key with blogging is to be consistent. If you post once a week, make it on the same day so that your readers know when they can expect to get new content from you (I know I need to practice what I preach, don’t I? 🙂 ).  Do what works for you and your readers. Is there a right or wrong answer to this question? Experienced bloggers…what do you think? I look forward to hearing what you have to say!

Now, at 11:58pm, here is my Menu Plan Monday menu for the week:

• Monday: Teriyaki Pork Tenderloin from Food Network
• Tuesday: Panda Express Copycat Orange Chicken from Recipezaar
• Wednesday: Baked Chicken Legs from Chaos in the Kitchen
• Thursday: Special Spinach Salad (recipe below… this is my new favorite salad recipe!) with Baked Chicken from Wednesday
• Friday: Crab Cakes from Paula Deen
• Saturday: Mushroom Stuffed Chicken from Cooking Light
• Sunday: Shrimp Fra Diavlo from Cooking Light

Special Spinach Salad (from my Sister-in-Law)

1/4 Cup Sugar
1/2 cup slivered almonds
1 bunch of romaine, torn
1 pkg (6 oz) fresh baby spinach
1/2 lb. sliced mushrooms
3 cups shredded swiss cheese
1 med. red onion, sliced
1/2 lb. sliced bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 can 15 oz mandarin oranges, drained

Poppy Seed Dressing:
1/3 cup white vinegar
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
2 tbsp. dijon mustard
3/4 tsp. salt
3/4 cup canola oil
2 tsp. poppy seeds

1. In a small heavy skillet, melt sugar low heat add almonds and stir to coat. Spread onto a greased sheet of foil; break apart if necessary.
2. In a large bowl combine romaine, spinach, mushrooms, cheese, red onion bacon and oranges.
3. For dressing, in a blender, combine the vinegar, sugar , onion, mustard and salt cover and process until blended. While processing, gradually add oil in a steady stream, stir in poppy seeds.
4. Pour dressing over salad and toss to coat. Sprinkle with sugared almonds.

The post Ask a Blogger and Menu Plan Monday (Recipe: Special Spinach Salad) appeared first on Dine and Dish.

I have had the chance to have a few email conversations with both of my adoptees and I must say… they really don’t need my help at all. Bloggers these days seem to be so much savvier then I ever was back in the day… you know, when I had to walk uphill to school, against the wind, without shoes carrying an 80 pound backpack full of textbooks. Yeah… those were rough days. Makes me cold and tired just thinking about it.

Katie, from The Cutting Back Kitchen, is a menu planning, coupon / deal finding queen. She lives in OH and is married to a prince of a guy as well. I wish I had the sense of mind to be so smart with my money when it was just my husband and I. Katie’s blog is a fantastic resource for parents, singles, couples… anyone wanting to save money, cook delicious food, and figure out how to live a great life on a budget! I have a feeling I’m going to learn as much from Katie as she will learn from me!

Stephanie, who writes the blog Desserts for Breakfast, is a lovely CA native. She is a graduate student in linguistics, but I secretly think she should drop all that and just focus on food photography and styling. She is quite talented for being on the newer side of blogging. Stephanie’s blog is full of delicious, indulgent, rich and decadent desserts… all written up with clever writing and beautiful photography!

I hope you will visit both of these blogs and say hi… welcome them to my ever expanding family and give them a little of attention, please. Ask my kids – you kind of have to fight for it around here.

Now, on to menu plan Monday. My menu this week features some really delicious recipes, but I have to give an extra shout out about what we had for dinner tonight. Have you ever eaten at Bonefish Grill™? Have you ever had their amazing Bang Bang Shrimp™? One of the tastiest things on the planet, in my opinion! Well, this past week I found a copycat recipe and made it tonight… Oh. My. Gosh. This stuff is so good. Warning you though… it has quite the kick to it, so if you don’t like spicy food, you might want to skip this recipe!

• Monday: Copycat Bonefish Grill’s Bang Bang Shrimp™ from Recipe Secrets
• Tuesday: Maid-Rite Sandwiches from Recipezaar
• Wednesday: Chicken Pot Pie from Recipezaar
• Thursday: Homey Grilled Ham with Katie’s Scalloped Potatoes, from The Cutting Back Kitchen
• Friday: Worlds Easiest Roasted Tilapia from Kalyn’s Kitchen
• Saturday: Altamont Grade Schools Poor Boy’s, from my childhood
• Sunday: French Dip Panini from Panini Happy

I hope you all have a great week! What’s on your menu? Don’t forget, for more great menu ideas, visit Menu Plan Monday at I’m An Organizing Junkie!

The post Meet My Adoptees & Menu Plan Monday (Recipe – Bonefish Copycat Bang Bang Shrimp™) appeared first on Dine and Dish.

I have to give an extra special, couldn’t have done it with out her, shout out and thank you to Kate at Serendipity for her help getting this all together. Kate scoured through the comments and did the majority of the inputting of the information in the spreadsheet that I use. Adopt-a-Blogger #4 couldn’t have happened without her volunteering, so thank you, Kate!!! I truly, truly appreciate it! Everyone – please go visit Kate’s blog and give her an extra special thank you for making this happen!

The matches for Adopt-a-Blogger #4 can be found HERE.

The post Sneak Peak – Adopt-a-Blogger #4 appeared first on Dine and Dish.

1. Goals – Project 365 – Day 1, 2. Bottles – Project 365 – Day 2, 3. Project 365 2010 – Day 3 – Grandma & Leah, 4. Project 365 2010, Day 4 – Mystery Ornament, 5. Project 365 2010, Day 5, Shake It Photo App, 6. Project 365 2010 – Day 6 – Jammie Day, 7. Project 365 2010, Day 7 – Picnic Anyone?, 8. Project 365 2010 – Day 8 – To Be Read, 9. Project 365 2010, Day 9, Cupcake Wrecks, 10. Project 365 2010, Day 9, Cupcake Face, 11. Project 365 2010 – Day 10 – Painting, 12. Project 365 2010 – Day 11 – Cleaning Routine, 13. Project 365 2010, Day 12 – A Rainbow of Temptation, 14. Project 365 2010, Day 13th – Be Happy, 15. Project 365 2010, Day 14 – So sweet…or is she?, 16. Project 365 2010, Day 15 – Slightly Obsessed, 17. Project 365 2010, Day 16 Inspiration, 18. Project 365 2010, Day 17 Tonight’s Going to be a Good Night, 19. Project 365 2010 – Day 18 – Return to Netflix, 20. Project 365 2010, Day 19 – Calming, 21. Project 365 2010, Day 20 – Children’s Hospital, 22. Project 365 2010, Day 21 Cereal for Dinner, 23. Project 365 2010 – Day 22 – Crazy Hair Day, 24. Project 365 2010, Day 23, My New Jo Tote Camera Bag, 25. Project 365 2010 – Day 24 Catholicism

One of my goals for this year was to return to Menu Planning. I’m proud to say it is one of the goals that I am actually doing well at so far. One of the reasons I called the items I wrote down on January 1st as goals instead of resolutions was because I am hoping to attain those goals by the end of the year… not accomplish them on day one. Good thing, because I would be failing miserably if that was the case. They are all top of mind though, so I do have a more centered sense of awareness around them since I wrote the goals down.

One goal that has turned into a new love of mine is Project 365. I love how participating in Project 365 is forcing me to get my camera out more and is motivating me to take some time for myself each day, doing something I truly enjoy. It has also become a format of micro-blogging for me, which has been fun. Above is a little collage of what I’ve taken pictures of so far. I have a long way to go, but I am pretty proud of myself for sticking to it for 24 days so far!

Adopt-a-Blogger matches will be made and posted here by next Sunday at the very latest. We have several newbies who still need to be adopted. If you have any interest at all in adopting a blogger, please head over to this post to sign up. Spread the word… we need experienced bloggers or I’ll have to turn some newbies away.

Here is my menu for this week. What’s on yours?

• Monday: Chicken Enchiladas from Southern Living Magazine and My Recipes
• Tuesday: Herbed Chicken Parmesan from Cooking Lignt and My Recipes
• Wednesday: Crockpot French Onion Beef Roast with Potatoes and Carrots
• Thursday: Shrimp and Wild Rice from Recipezaar
• Friday: California Pizza Kitchen BBQ Chicken Pizza from CD Kitchen
• Saturday: Chicken and Mushroom Panini from Recipezaar
• Sunday: Baked Tilapia from Recipezaar

For more menu planning ideas and inspiration, head over to Menu Planning Monday at I’m an Organizing Junkie or to my friend Jane’s blog, This Week for Dinner.

The post Menu Planning Monday – Back on Track appeared first on Dine and Dish.

If you don’t know about Lydia from The Perfect Pantry and her Drop in and Decorate – Cookies for Donation event, please head over to her website now to get the lowdown. Lydia is the poster mom for Adopt-a-Blogger. Over the past 3 adoptions, Lydia has adopted 3 different people and has taken them under her wing and has gone above and beyond mentoring her adoptees. Lydia has given of her time, talent and expertise to her adopted bloggers. Another way Lydia gives back, and encourages others to do the same, is through her Drop in and Decorate event. Please take a few minutes to go check out Lydia’s website and consider hosting a Drop in and Decorate event of your own!

Next… Kai Wilson is one of the key people who helped me get through the time when Dine & Dish was hacked a couple months back. Kai is one of the smartest WordPress guru’s I know. She knows how to help keep your blog safe, knows the ins and outs of WordPress plug-ins and is just overall a very smart lady! Kai offers her services at a very reasonable rate, and she tends to also go above and beyond for her clients. She has a couple new websites in the works that will offer “spa like” services for your blog. For those of you who are like me and just want to blog and not have to worry about the behind the scenes technical stuff, Kai is the woman for you!  Check out www.theblogspa.com (up and running soon!) and Blog A-and-E for more about Kai. Follow Kai on Twitter to contact her for services – great for newbies and veterans alike! @Kaiberie.

Now…. are you ready for Adopt-a-Blogger #4? If so, please read this post in its entirety!

I’m excited to kick off the 4th round of Adopt a Blogger. Thank you so much to all of you who have made this blog event a success! I appreciate your participation and commitment to making our food blogging community a friendly and helpful one.

Now for the details on how you can participate!

If you were adopted in one of the previous adopt a blogger events, consider adopting someone this time around. If you adopted before, you can adopt again. I am limiting the number of potential adoptees to 50 for this round. So, I am looking for 50 newbies and 50 experienced food bloggers. First come, first serve basis. If you miss it this time around, we’ll get you next time! (Note – I will increase the number of slots *if* I get enough interest from the experienced bloggers to adopt the newbies!)

• Newbies – Newbies are food bloggers who have a blog that has been up for a year or less. If you are just starting out, you must have had at least 1 month worth of consistent posting on your blog.
• Experienced Bloggers – Anyone who has maintained an active food blog for over 1 year. If you have a blog that is younger than a year old, but feel like you have the whole food blogging thing down and could provide some expertise to someone just starting out, then please feel free to sign up as a veteran.
• Prior to the adoption process, you will mention Adopt a Blogger with a link back to this post in either your blog or a Tweet on Twitter. We typically are heavy on newbies and short on Veteran’s, so please spread the word so everyone who wants to can be adopted!
• Newbies will commit to writing one post about their Veteran. Veterans will commit to doing the same. Trying a recipe out and posting this on your blog would count as well, as long as you are introducing each other and the blogs.
• You will each add each other to your respective blogrolls.
• At the end of the 3 month mentoring time, where the Veteran will help the newbie find their way, I ask that the Veteran write one post linking back to this Adopt-A-Blogger post with a piece of advice for new bloggers. I also ask that the newbies write one post about what they have learned about blogging during the 3 month mentorship. Please note that by three months, I don’t mean that you have to be in constant contact with each other. Just keep in touch with each other for the three months and be available to ask/answer any questions that might pop up.
• If you are interested in participating, please leave a comment on this post indicating if you are a newbie or a veteran. Please make sure you enter your website information in the form as well as an email address. If that information isn’t included, I can’t get a hold of you which means you won’t be able to participate!
• Once we have reached have reached 50 newbies and 50 experienced bloggers, I will carefully match you all up and the adoption will be official!
• It will be your responsibility to check back at Dine & Dish regularly to see if adoptions are posted. I will not be sending out individual emails with the information. We had a lot of people sign up last go around who did not fulfill their commitment. If you cannot commit to mentoring and/or learning from another blogger and the conditions above, please do not sign up. Thank you!
• For anyone concerned about Adopt-a-Blogger conflicting with the madness of the holidays, don’t worry… matches won’t be announced until after January 1st!

And now, the recipe!

Double Quick No Knead Dinner Rolls (from Betty Crocker.com)

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
2 Tbs Sugar
1 Tsp salt
1 package regular or quick active dry yeast
1 cup very warm water
2 Tbs shortening
1 egg

Mix 1 1/4 cups of the flour, the sugar, salt and yeast in large bowl. Add water, shortening and egg; beat with spoon until smooth. Stir in remaining flour until smooth. Scrape batter from side of bowl. Cover and let rise in warm place about 30 minutes or until double.

Grease 12 regular-size muffin cups. Stir down batter by beating about 25 strokes. Spoon into muffin cups. Let rise 20 to 30 minutes or until batter rounds over tops of cups.

Heat oven to 400ºF. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.

The post Adopt-a-Blogger #4 (Recipe: Double Quick No Knead Dinner Rolls) appeared first on Dine and Dish.

Also, make sure to check out the end of this post for the Effortless Egg Rolls recipe from Simple and Delicious magazine. So good, so easy and so worth trying out!

Interview and recipe after the jump:

Interview with Adopt a Blogger #3 Matches – Jennifer of Jenn Cuisine and Amy of Playing House

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Read More

The post Meet the Bloggers Interview #1 (Recipe: Effortless Egg Rolls) appeared first on Dine and Dish.