Sweet Stuff at SGCC

I'm not going to tell you any sad stories today. I'm locking them all in my Sad Story Box and they are not allowed out until tomorrow. Today is my birthday and I just want to think about happy things! Don't ask me how old I am, though. If I told you that, I'd have to kill you!

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I've shared a lot with you all on this blog; the good, the bad and the bittersweet. Writing has always been cathartic for me and it is sometimes easier to express my feelings this way. I think that is true for many of us. Someone asked me not too long ago, how I could spend so much time talking to nameless, faceless strangers on the Internet. She said that interacting in this way was not true communication. She also claimed that because of the anonymity of the web, most of the people I've met online are probably not even who they say they are.

I tried to explain to her about this wonderful world of food blogging - about all of the terrific people I've come to know and how much I look forward to visiting them and their blogs. I told her that some of the connections I've made with other bloggers are are just as real as if I'd met them right here in town. We celebrate each others' successes, laugh over our failures, cry over our losses and support each other in our endeavors. She didn't get it. I guess people often can't accept what they don't understand. That got me thinking. How do you feel about this? Is what we do true communication? Can you really forge a strong bond with someone you've never met? Hmmm. Food for thought.

There has been a lot of sweet stuff going on here in SGCC Land and I couldn't be more thrilled! I've been saving it up to share with you all at once. I had planned to write this post a while ago, but with all of the craziness, I just never got to it. In the last several weeks, I've won a few contests and have been honored with some great awards!

Last month, I submitted an entry to Holly at Phemonenon for her Little Wonders, Blogging for Babies event. My Lemon Yogurt Cakelets was chosen as one of the top three entries! I was stunned! I was happy just to be able to participate in such a worthwhile event. To actually win was the icing on the proverbial cake! For my efforts I received a copy of Govind Armstrong's excellent cookbook, Small Bites Big Nights. Thank you so much, Holly and everyone who voted for me.

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Around the same time, I submitted an entry in the The Great Peanut Butter Exhibition #1 - Cookies, hosted by The Peanut Butter Boy, The Chocolate Peanut Butter Gallery and Foodaphilia. I entered my Holycraptheseareamazing Cookies and lo and behold, I won! WooHoo! I was too excited for words! My sincere and enthusiastic thanks go out to Nick, Kristina and E! Check out my cool badge I get to display!

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When it rains, it pours, this time in a very good way. Patsy at Family, Friends and Food has passed on the Blogging With a Purpose Award to me. Patsy is one of the sweetest bloggers around. She writes about her adventures in the kitchen with humor and charm. Not one to shy away from a challenge, she features lots of interesting and diverse recipes. Take a moment to check out her blog. You'll be happy you did. Thank you Patsy!

The Blogging With a Purpose Award was originated by Eric at Blogging With a Purpose. The rules are, that recipients must nominate five people who have not yet received the award, and that the blogs that receive the award must serve some purpose.

My good friend and fellow legal eagle, Cakelaw at Laws of the Kitchen has bestowed the Yummy Blog Award upon me. Cakelaw is one of my favorite bloggers. She is also one of the most prolific! I'm always amazed at how she manages to work full-time as an attorney and yet still find the time to create so many wonderful dishes and post about them to boot! She never seems to miss an event. Plus, she recently completed a class on cake decorating. You really need to visit Cakelaw's blog to see the lovely and tempting things she has been churning out in her kitchen! I am honored that she thinks my blog is yummy!

This award was started by Roopa of Kitchen Treats. Here is Roopa's decription of it in her own words: " The Yummy Blog Award is the award given to the blog with most yummy recipes/photos. The receiver should also quote their favorite yummy-licious dessert(s) that they have ever prepared/eaten...Also the receiver should pass on the award to four other bloggers who’s blog they find “yummy” and let them know about the rules." There are so many "yummy-licious" dishes that I've posted about. After all, if I don't love the food I make, I usually don't bother writing about it. If I had to choose one, I think it would have to be my Thank Heaven for Little Girl(Scout)s Samoa Cheese Tart. With all of that cream cheese, dulce de leche, toasted coconut and dark, rich chocolate, it is the quintessential Sticky, Gooey, Creamy, Chewy dessert!

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Both Gretchen at Canela & Comino and Val at More Than Burnt Toast have honored me with the You Make My Day Award. I've gotten to know both of these terrific women pretty well over the last several months and my life has been richer for it. They are generous and kind and incredible cooks! Gretchen features many mouthwatering Peruvian dishes on her blog and very charming and poignant stories to go along with them. Val's blog is like the United Nations of food! She presents delicious recipes from all over the globe, including her native Canada, often imparting valuable nutritional information too. She also shares lots of great pictures of all of the exciting and exotic places she's been. It's worth a trip to both of these blogs to see what they're up to. My sincere thanks goes out to both of these special ladies.

The Rules of this award are to give the award to up to 10 people whose blogs bring you happiness and inspiration and make you feel so happy about blogland! Let them know by posting a comment on their blog so that they can pass it on. Beware! You may get the award several times!

Last but certainly not least is the Arte y Pico Award that I received from Nikki from Canary Girl. I have to admit that when I first saw this one floating around the blogoshere, I was secretly hoping that someone would pass it on to me. I really, really wanted that lovely badge! I'm so very happy that Nikki thought enough of me and SGCC to send it my way! Nikki is one of the most fun bloggers around. Her sunny smile is infectious and her breezy writing style makes for a great read. Nikki lives in the Canary Islands, which is too cool for words! Her recipes are a great mix of different cuisines, but I especially love all of the Spanish offerings. Stop by and check it out. Thanks, Nikki!

The Arte y Pico award originated with Eseya at Arte y Pico. The rules are as follows:

1)You have to pick 5 blogs that you consider deserving of this award with respect to creativity, design, interesting material and contribution to the blogging community.

2) Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his or her blog to be visited by everyone.

3) Each recipient has to display the award and link to the blog that has given it

4) The recipient has to link to the originator of this award.

5) These rules are to be posted.

Now comes the hard part! How in the world do I narrow down my list of deserving bloggers to so few? I can honestly say that I find enjoyment and inspiration in every one I visit. They all deserve these awards. But, since I must name some names, here goes. This post is already way too long, so you'll just have to go visit these blogs to see why I love them! I tried not to duplicate, and if I did, I apologize. It wasn't easy!

The Blogging With A Purpose Award goes to:

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Barbara at Winos and Foodies

Cathy at Noble Pig

Holly at Phemomenon

Jen at A2EatWrite

Susan at Food Blogga
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The Yummy Blog Award goes to:

Aran at Canelle et Vanille

Kevin at Closet Cooking

Heather at Gild the Voodoolily

Marc at [No Recipes]

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The You Make My Day Award goes to:

Stacey at Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Ho-Hos

Tempered Woman at Tempered Woman

Rachel at The Essential Rhubarb Pie

Mike at Mike's Table

Michelle at Thursday Night Smackdown

Grace at A Southern Grace

Mark at No Special Effects

Patricia at Technicolor Kitchen

Rita at Mochachocolata Rita

Lori at The Recipe Girl

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The Arte y Pico Award goes to:
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Jessie at Cakespy

Michelle at Bleeding Espresso

Diane and Todd at White on Rice Couple

Jen at Use Real Butter

Nicisme at Cherrapeno

Whew!