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Dine and Dish

Food blog with family recipes

January 17, 2008

Fluffy Chocolate Silk Pie 

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ChocolateSilkPie.jpg

 

I feel almost silly writing out tips for bloggers… I am not nearly as accomplished at blogging as some of the people out there, but I get asked questions about it often, so I thought that in honor of the Adopt a Blogger event going on, I would throw my two cents into the ring.

First of all, let me introduce you to my new blogging friends… my adoptees are Yamiam and Jennie. I will most certainly be doing a more formal introduction later, but I at least wanted to get their links out there for all of you to visit – hint, hint!

Okay… on to my tips.

1) Blog Regularly. By regularly, I don’t mean every, single day. That isn’t necessary and could easily cause burnout if you put that kind of pressure on yourself. My suggestion would be to do 1-3 new posts each week. If you want people to keep coming back, you have to give them something new to come back to.

2)  Contact. Give your readers some way to contact you via email if they have questions, or as Deb over at Smitten Kitchen mentioned to me… give someone a way to contact you if they have a book deal for you!  Some of your readers may be too timid to leave a comment on your site directly but may feel more comfortable emailing you with questions. Have a “contact me” button, or something on your blog so that those individuals can easily get a hold of you.

3) Photos. We are foodies… we like recipes and details, but we LOVE photos. If you have access to a digital camera, try food photography on for size. Your photos don’t have to be perfect! Just give us something to look at along with your post.,

4) Give and you shall receive. If you want people to visit your blog, you first have to visit the blogs of others. Don’t spam other blogs with your information… just visit those blogs that interest you and leave genuine comments. You will be amazed at how many people will come and visit you based simply on a comment you might have left at someone else’s blog.

5) Find your place…find your style. We are all unique and everyone has something different to bring to the table, so to speak. Don’t try to copy someone else’s style. Be yourself and blog about what comes naturally to you. If you stay true to who you are, eventually the whole blogging thing will come very easily for you!

6) Don’t make visitors register. If you want people to leave comments on your blog, don’t have a big registration process for them to go through. Do the standard Google, WordPress, Squarespace form, but don’t make people fill out a private registration just so they can make a comment. Chances are, you will lose the interest of potential regular readers.

7) Participate. I know what you are thinking… hypocrite! I am the last person to talk about participating in blogging events. I used to do so regularly, but just haven’t been able to do as much as I would like to lately. If you want to connect with others in the Food Blogging community one of the best ways to do so is by participating in the hundreds of blogger events that happen throughout the year. You can find a complete list of various happenings in the food blogging world as they are updated, here.

I hope this was helpful to some of you new blogger’s getting started out there. Veterans…if you have any suggestions, feel free to leave them here. Later on I will compile them all (with credit to you) and make another post for our newbie blogger friends!

For suffering through my endless babbling, I will leave you this recipe for Fluffy Chocolate Silk Pie. This is a decadent, rich and delicious dessert from the February 2008 issue of Simple and Delicious magazine.

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Fluffy Chocolate Silk Pie

Delicious silky pie to soothe your chocolate craving. 
Course Dessert
Keyword chocolate pie, pie
Prep Time 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes minutes
cooling 3 hours hours
Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 9 inch unbaked pastry shells
  • 1 7 ounce jar marshmallow creme
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1/4 cup butter cubed
  • 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate squares
  • 2 tablespoons strong brewed coffee
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream whipped
  • Topping
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar

Instructions

  • Line unpricked pastry shell with a double thickness of heavy duty foil. Bake at 450 degrees for 8 minutes. Remove foil; bake 5 minutes longer. Cool on a wire rack.
  • Meanwhile, in a heavy saucepan, combine the marshmallow creme, chocolate chips, butter, unsweetened chocolate and coffee; cook and stir over low heat until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth. Cool. Fold in the whipped cream; pour into the crust. Let chill at least 3 hours before topping with whipped topping.
  • For topping, in a large mixing bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add confectioners' sugar; beat until stiff peaks form. Spread over chilled filling. Garnish with chocolate curls if desired.
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Filed Under: Dessert, pie, Previous Tagged With: chocolate, chocolate pie, pie

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. peabody says

    January 17, 2008 at 7:15 am

    Excellent advice…I may still this for my post. 🙂
    I agree with all of it especially the don’t make people register. There are blogs I don’t go back and visit. I also HATE when they fish for you to go look at their blog. If you post on mine, I do go and look at yours. I am also not a fan of asking to be on someone’s blog roll.

  2. heather morrow says

    January 17, 2008 at 6:34 am

    Great post, but you know me…I LOVE THE PHOTO! I’ve got to stop reading your blog at midnight. I always end up with the munchies!

  3. Lydia says

    January 17, 2008 at 1:08 pm

    Great advice. I’ll add a few thoughts. (1) I can’t stress enough the notion of reciprocating — become an active reader and leave positive comments, and the blog world will find you. Don’t expect comments if you don’t leave comments. AND don’t blog just for comments — they are not an indicator of whether you’re doing a good job. It can take months to get your first comment. (2) Don’t write posts that say that you have nothing to write about that day. If you don’t have something to say, don’t post. (3) Think about what value you’ll add to the food blog community, whether it’s good photography, interesting recipes (or recipes that you’ve tested, modified, or just didn’t work), restaurant reviews, travel tips, sources, new products, etc. Add something of value with each post. (4) Think about who you want your audience to be. If you use profanity in your writing (and that’s fine, if it’s your thing), you probably won’t be included on some blogrolls (like mine), because I know that kids read my blog. (5) Have fun!

  4. Patricia Scarpin says

    January 17, 2008 at 2:09 pm

    Not silly at all, Kristen! Very useful tips, actually.

  5. megan says

    January 17, 2008 at 2:55 pm

    I’ll take all the tips I can get.
    Thank you!

  6. Patsy says

    January 17, 2008 at 6:10 pm

    Thank you for sharing those tips! I just discovered your blog yesterday and have enjoyed reading and looking at your photography.

    I was wondering if you could tell me how to add a "contact me" box on my blog? Or can you refer me to an on-line guide on how to do it?

  7. Katie says

    January 17, 2008 at 8:36 pm

    Good list – particularly number 5. I don’t think I found my voice for at least a year…maybe still haven’t? I keep misplacing things…..

  8. Jennifer Mullinax says

    January 17, 2008 at 9:28 pm

    Awesome post!! I have to say I *LOVE* checking in on your blog….fabulous pictures, awesome receipes….and lots of persoanlity….always a good read!! You’ve inspired me to step back into the kitchen a little more…and for that Jared thanks you!!! 🙂 See you soon, Jen

  9. Kathy says

    January 17, 2008 at 11:56 pm

    Great tips Kristen! I didn’t even think of the "contact me" button?! What a great idea! Yes, I’m a newbie 😉

    I just want you to know that as I’m typing, I’m drooling over that Silk Pie! OMGosh, I’m gonna have to make it – like SOON!!! :o)

  10. Cynthia says

    January 18, 2008 at 3:12 am

    Those are very good tips, Kristen.

  11. Lisa : ) says

    January 18, 2008 at 4:28 am

    Great tips!
    You are one rockin’ blogger!
    🙂

  12. Jennie says

    January 18, 2008 at 4:56 am

    These are great tips! I’m off to add a "contact me" link. =)

  13. Núria says

    January 18, 2008 at 8:18 am

    Hola Kristen! I’m one of the newbies. Thanks for all your efforts helping us! These "rules" are what I have come up with after 7 months blogging… they are just common sense… but it took me a while to figure them out! I wish somebody had told me about them when I started.
    Today I’m posting about my Veteran pal foodieblogger!
    Cheers!

  14. Bellini Valli says

    January 18, 2008 at 2:04 pm

    Great tips Deb!! I am still waiting patiently for my adoptee to contact me. I have up on my side bar and I have emailed her 🙁 It will be great once I can let people know a little bit about her and cook up a few of her Asian recipes.

  15. Jennifer says

    January 18, 2008 at 6:04 pm

    WONDERFUL tips. Now if I could only follow them. I have been lacking for 3+ months now. Oy.

  16. Ginny says

    January 19, 2008 at 1:31 am

    Thank you so much for your advice. I have been wanting to begin blogging but am most intimidated by the fact that my photography skills are a bit lacking. So I just decided to go for it and hopefully will have my first post up this weekend. My goal is to become a Daring Baker…The pie looks so yummy! Thanks again!

  17. julie says

    January 19, 2008 at 4:28 am

    This came at a great time. Thanks Kristen. The pie looks yummy!

  18. Yamiam says

    January 19, 2008 at 4:35 am

    Thanks for the advice!! It’s really helpful and I’ll keep all the tips in mind.

  19. Yamiam says

    January 19, 2008 at 4:41 am

    Thanks for the advice!! It’s really helpful and I’ll keep all the tips in mind.

  20. MrsPresley says

    January 19, 2008 at 6:32 am

    those are all great tips! i just found your blog through this adopt a blogger event… what a great idea! 🙂 i would also love to know how to add the contact me form that you have on your blog…

  21. MyKitchenInHalfCups says

    January 19, 2008 at 11:17 am

    That puts it in a nutshell very well. Wish I’d had something like that to start from.
    I’d stress being who you are, how you are. I’ve always thought I should meet & present myself as if we were really face to face. When I’ve then met bloggers face to face, it’s been wonderful.

  22. CountryGirl CityLife says

    January 19, 2008 at 1:58 pm

    I think these tips are great! Thanks, I am going to incorporate a few right now….

  23. Lisa says

    January 19, 2008 at 4:49 pm

    Inspiring tips! I most appreciate your tip about a ‘contact button’ and your encouragement to participate. What great reminders for us newer bloggers to help us start the year off right.

  24. Gail says

    January 20, 2008 at 2:20 am

    Thank you for sharing this useful advice! I have been blogging for over two years now and find that I still have so much to learn. One example – I now am off to add a "contact me" button to my blog.

  25. Lynn says

    January 20, 2008 at 5:25 pm

    Excellent tips and wonderful pie!

  26. Naomi says

    January 20, 2008 at 9:12 pm

    Thanks for tip nr. 1! Really needed to hear that, you’ve probably safed me from burning out 🙂

  27. Alison says

    January 20, 2008 at 11:33 pm

    thanks for the "sticky note" link Kristen. I’ve often wondered how people find out about all of the blog event. I’m going to try and make it a point to participate in more of them this year!

  28. mary says

    January 21, 2008 at 12:40 am

    Kristen! I just figured out you emailed me a while ago about being adopted by a non-vegetarian. It took me off guard- and I’m awfully guarded about too much internet information- and I didn’t realize it was from you! If there’s still a chance, I would LOVE to be adopted by whomever you choose…..I’m not actually a vegetarian anyway- just cook like one. Thanks again and great post this time. mary

  29. Emiline says

    January 21, 2008 at 10:09 am

    I agree with all of these tips you have. Occasionally, you will come across some blogs that don’t have any pictures, but the writing is really good. I’m so grateful that I started reading a few of these, because they are some of my favorite blogs.

    My dad love chocolate silk pie…and his bday is in one week…

  30. Louise says

    January 22, 2008 at 1:04 am

    Wish I could be adopted… I’ve only started publishing in both English and French a few months ago (started out only in French in mid-december 2007) 🙁 (sob)… Is there anywhere I can get syndicated so that more English-speaking readers know about my posts?

  31. cookie jill says

    January 22, 2008 at 2:08 am

    Kristen – Do you have an email address for my blogging "partner?"

  32. lululu says

    January 22, 2008 at 3:16 pm

    Such thoughtful and helpful tips!
    BTW, the pie looks so good!

  33. Cris says

    January 22, 2008 at 3:52 pm

    Great tips! One thing that bothers me is to see my photos or even content of my posts in another blog without credits. I don’t mind sharing at all, but it is so nice to know that people liked your posts and want to use your material.

  34. Anticiplate says

    January 26, 2008 at 3:46 pm

    Thanks so much for your post! I am glad to know that I AM doing the right things as a fellow blogger! It took me a while to get the hang of it, though. This is my first time visiting your site, and it is wonderful. The pictures are beautiful and it is so easy to read your writing. Very conversational. Thanks!
    -Kari
    http://www.anticiplate.com

  35. Joy says

    January 29, 2008 at 4:29 am

    Thank you so much for the tips! I’m a newbie and will take all the help I can get! I’ll be visiting you again soon!

  36. Miri says

    January 30, 2008 at 11:49 am

    Hi Kristen,

    Thanks a lot for the great tips! Being a newbie food blogger, I find them very useful!

    Miri.

  37. Johanna says

    January 30, 2008 at 10:21 pm

    thanks for a great post – wish I had seen this when I started blogging!

    The first piece of advice I would love to give to bloggers is to make sure that the page doesn’t take too long to download – there are blogs I really want to look at but they take so long downloading that it frustrates me (although even my own blog frustrates me at the time it takes to download)

    For new bloggers I would also advise to think about an index early on as it took me ages to do this and then seemed a big task – but necessary as I was struggling to find old recipes.

    Following on from an index, think about how people can navigate your blog – an index is great but also consider how to do archives and subject lists – check others blogs to see how they do it and settle on a style that is user-friendly.

    Lastly – it was a great day for my food photography when a friend told me to look for the close-up button on my camera.

    Hope that helps! Am interested in the adopt a blogger scheme so will look out for it!

  38. Cara says

    January 31, 2008 at 5:03 am

    Thank you for laying these rules out there. I’m a new blogger, and still feeling very much out of my league. Your tips give me some concrete things to work on, and helped me to realize that it takes time to build a great blog. I enjoy your recipes and photos!

  39. Average Betty says

    February 12, 2008 at 9:46 pm

    So glad I "stumbledupon" your blog! Great post and pointers… beautiful pie!

  40. pixie says

    February 14, 2008 at 8:15 am

    Thank you so much for your tips, they were very helpful! I never heard of the sticky date blog, which is sure to be very useful for me. Brilliant!

    oh and yummy dessert too 🙂

  41. Nikki says

    February 17, 2008 at 10:56 pm

    Well put! It’s even refreshing to hear some of those tips. 🙂

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