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The California Table

California Cuisine with a Coastal Vibe

July 5, 2015

My 5-year Blogiversary & a Giveaway!

WhiskandCleaver

My blog is five years old today! Blogging has been exciting and educational in so many ways. When I started blogging, my goal was to learn how to use social media, so that when my Gigi is a teen I wouldn’t be staring at her like a deer in the headlights, trying to figure out the difference between Twitter and Facebook, Instagram and Tumblr

Today, five years later, I’ve learned so much. Today I can spatchcock a chicken, although I still can’t grill. I have mastered the art of homemade ice cream, just not the custard-based kind. I still have to look at recipes, but I can combine several recipes into a creation of my own. I can bake bread, flip pizza dough with expertise, craft my own pretzels and even bake popovers. Chicken stock now comes from my freezer, not a box (but there’s nothing wrong with that, either). I know when to take short-cuts and when a recipe is worth the effort.

But most of all, I can cook. I can bake, boil, brew, melt, broil, brown, fry, simmer, slow cook, poach, seer, stew, toast and reheat.

Through the years I’ve also learned that blogging is so much more than learning to cook, write, photograph or style food. It’s really about the community. I’m lucky to count so many great San Diego bloggers – and even some national and international folks – as my friends. Friends who enjoy food and bring so much to the table with technical knowledge and support in so many ways. Thank you.

The Whisk & Cleaver community includes so many great readers, too – mostly my mom, sure, but also some amazing bloggers and home cooks (and even a few critics) who enjoy food as much as I do. Thanks to you all, too!

And so to really thank everyone who has supported me through the years, through comments and lunches, through writing groups and blogging conferences, through thick and thin, thank you.

I’m giving away a $50 Amazon gift card this week. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents. The Amazon giftcard will be sent via email. Good luck, everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

xoxolisa

Filed Under: Et cetera

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kim | Mom, Can I Have That? says

    July 6, 2015 at 11:42 AM

    Yay! You’re five! Congratulations on your five year blogiversary and on all of the things you have learned along the way, which I might add, is quite a list! Here’s to five more!

    Reply
    • Lisa Dearen says

      July 6, 2015 at 11:57 AM

      Thanks, Kim! It’s amazing to think of when I started – and how much you can learn in five years 🙂

      Reply
  2. Lisa Brown says

    July 6, 2015 at 11:47 AM

    I like the Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Bites recipe.

    Reply
    • Lisa Dearen says

      July 6, 2015 at 11:57 AM

      Thanks, Lisa – those are a family favorite, too!

      Reply
  3. Julie Wood says

    July 6, 2015 at 12:03 PM

    I love tons of your awesome recipes, but my favorite is GLUTEN-FREE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE BITES! They are the best cookies that I have ever eaten!

    Reply
    • Julie Wood says

      July 6, 2015 at 12:03 PM

      Also, Happy 5 years on your blog!!

      Reply
      • Lisa Dearen says

        July 6, 2015 at 12:57 PM

        Thanks!

        Reply
    • Lisa Dearen says

      July 6, 2015 at 12:57 PM

      Those are awesome, I agree!

      Reply
  4. Elena says

    July 6, 2015 at 12:04 PM

    My favorite is chicken and buckwheat salad

    Reply
    • Lisa Dearen says

      July 6, 2015 at 12:58 PM

      That’s one of my faves, too – great for potlucks.

      Reply
  5. Leanne Hammond says

    July 6, 2015 at 12:05 PM

    Happy blogiversary! Isn’t it amazing the things we learn with “the blog” in mind? I’ve enjoyed getting to know you and following along on your adventures. Cheers to five more years!

    Reply
    • Lisa Dearen says

      July 6, 2015 at 12:58 PM

      Thanks! It’s been fun and great to get to know you, too!

      Reply
  6. Laura @ Family Spice says

    July 6, 2015 at 12:15 PM

    YAY! Happy Blogiversary! So very happy that we’ve become friends as well as blog-mates. Wishing you 5 more wonderful years of blogging!! xxoxx

    Reply
    • Lisa Dearen says

      July 6, 2015 at 12:57 PM

      Thank you! So happy we’re friends, too 🙂

      Reply
  7. steve weber says

    July 6, 2015 at 12:22 PM

    I like the Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Bites recipe the best.

    Reply
    • Lisa Dearen says

      July 6, 2015 at 12:58 PM

      Us, too!

      Reply
  8. Kelly Tupick says

    July 6, 2015 at 1:01 PM

    I like the Rosemary Garlic grilled chicked recipe. Sounds perfect for the summer.

    Reply
    • Lisa Dearen says

      July 6, 2015 at 1:37 PM

      I make that at least once a week – it also does well as leftovers.

      Reply
  9. Natalie says

    July 6, 2015 at 1:56 PM

    My favorite recipe from your blog would have to be the peanut butter M&M blondie recipe.

    Reply
    • Lisa Dearen says

      July 6, 2015 at 2:03 PM

      Oh, I haven’t made that one in ages, thanks for the reminder! And thanks for visiting the blog.

      Reply
  10. Mimi of MimiAvocado says

    July 6, 2015 at 2:14 PM

    Congratulations Lisa! Hope we can get together and celebrate soon!

    Reply
    • Lisa Dearen says

      July 6, 2015 at 5:36 PM

      Yes, me too – I miss our writing group!

      Reply
  11. Joann Woolley says

    July 6, 2015 at 2:30 PM

    I feel like even though I have had my blog for nearly as long, that I’m just starting to really give it the effort I’ve always dreamed of and that means I’ve also done things I hadn’t before in the name of my blog and am better for it! It is quite surprising how this blogging thing can motivate us to learn new things that perhaps we had no interest in before. I’m going to go look at the gluten free chocolate chip cookie bites now!

    Reply
    • Lisa Dearen says

      July 6, 2015 at 5:38 PM

      I agree with you, and for me, I’ve definitely had times when I blog more often than at other times. Blogging has definitely opened new doors for me!

      Reply
  12. Liz Schmitt says

    July 6, 2015 at 3:15 PM

    Wow, what an achievement – mine comes up in September – and I still can’t grill either 😉 xo Congrats!!

    Reply
    • Lisa Dearen says

      July 6, 2015 at 5:38 PM

      Thanks, Liz! Maybe we can learn to grill together 🙂 xoxo

      Reply
  13. Maggie Unzueta says

    July 6, 2015 at 4:01 PM

    Whoooot!! Happy Blogiversary!

    Reply
    • Lisa Dearen says

      July 6, 2015 at 5:38 PM

      Thank you, Maggie! It’s been fun getting to know you through our blogs!

      Reply
  14. Maureen Walker says

    July 6, 2015 at 4:36 PM

    I love your post about baking with kids! Congrats on 5 years!!

    Reply
    • Lisa Dearen says

      July 6, 2015 at 5:35 PM

      Thank you!

      Reply
  15. Colleen Boudreau says

    July 6, 2015 at 8:19 PM

    I like the PEANUT BUTTER M&M BLONDIES recipe.

    Reply
    • Lisa Dearen says

      July 6, 2015 at 9:04 PM

      Sweets are always a winner 🙂

      Reply
  16. shelly peterson says

    July 6, 2015 at 8:53 PM

    Congrats on 5 years! I like the Peanut Butter M&M Blondies recipe! Yum!

    Reply
    • Lisa Dearen says

      July 6, 2015 at 9:03 PM

      Thanks! And thanks for visiting.

      Reply
  17. Paula Rivers says

    July 6, 2015 at 11:24 PM

    Congrats!! 🙂

    Reply
    • Lisa Dearen says

      July 7, 2015 at 7:12 AM

      Thanks 🙂

      Reply
  18. Anna Roberts says

    July 6, 2015 at 11:27 PM

    Happy 5th birthday!!! I am a new fan and so glad to have found you. Where have I been the last 5 years ? Hah! Can’t wait to see what’s to come . 🙂

    Reply
    • Lisa Dearen says

      July 7, 2015 at 7:12 AM

      Thank you and welcome!

      Reply
  19. Nicole Dziedzic says

    July 7, 2015 at 2:08 AM

    So many yummy ones to choose from, but my favorite would have to be the “not your childhood chicken pot pie”.

    Reply
    • Lisa Dearen says

      July 7, 2015 at 7:12 AM

      That’s one of my all-time favorites.

      Reply
  20. Stacy B says

    July 7, 2015 at 7:05 AM

    Congrats!

    Reply
    • Lisa Dearen says

      July 7, 2015 at 7:12 AM

      Thanks!

      Reply
  21. Abby of Baby Bird's (@BabyBirdsFarm) says

    July 7, 2015 at 4:51 PM

    Congratulations on 5 years!! That is a sign that you are doing something right. 🙂

    Reply
    • Lisa Dearen says

      July 7, 2015 at 7:25 PM

      Thanks!!

      Reply
  22. Karen Nadeau says

    July 8, 2015 at 7:33 AM

    I love the chocolate chip bites. Thank you for this chance.

    Reply
    • Lisa Dearen says

      July 8, 2015 at 5:04 PM

      Thanks for visiting!

      Reply
  23. rachel cartucci says

    July 8, 2015 at 3:13 PM

    HAPPY BLOGIVERSARY!!! Wishing you many happy more to come.

    Reply
    • Lisa Dearen says

      July 8, 2015 at 5:04 PM

      Thank you! And thanks for visiting!

      Reply
  24. Sondra says

    July 9, 2015 at 9:56 AM

    Congratulations on five years of amazing recipes and beautiful photography. I always love visiting your site. Can’t wait to see more from you!

    Reply
    • Lisa Dearen says

      July 9, 2015 at 1:38 PM

      Thanks you, Sondra! It’s been fun getting to know you through blogging and Shopswell!

      Reply
  25. rabecca ranaldi says

    July 9, 2015 at 10:07 AM

    I live your gluten free choc chip cookie recipe!!! Yummy! Congrats on the big anniversary.

    Reply
    • Lisa Dearen says

      July 9, 2015 at 1:38 PM

      Thanks, Rabecca!

      Reply
  26. Simon Slavik says

    July 9, 2015 at 12:50 PM

    My favourite recipe is LAZY GIRL STEAK MARINADE 😉

    Reply
    • Lisa Dearen says

      July 9, 2015 at 1:39 PM

      Thanks – that’s one we make often!

      Reply
  27. Janice Cooper says

    July 9, 2015 at 7:39 PM

    My favorite recipe is the chocolate ice cream

    Reply
  28. april says

    July 9, 2015 at 7:44 PM

    Penne Alla Vodka… always happy to find a good gluten-free pasta recipe!

    Reply
  29. Katie J says

    July 9, 2015 at 7:59 PM

    The not your childhood chicken pot pie!

    Reply
  30. Bridgett Wilbur says

    July 10, 2015 at 6:10 AM

    Congrats and I just love all your recepies . Ty for posting them.

    Reply
  31. Elle says

    July 10, 2015 at 7:45 AM

    The Quinoa and Chicken Summer Salad is my favorite recipe!

    Reply
  32. Tara E. says

    July 10, 2015 at 9:47 AM

    I love the chocolate chip cookie bites! They are delicious!

    Reply
  33. DJ says

    July 10, 2015 at 1:40 PM

    I really love the PASTA WITH GARLIC & PARSLEY recipe.

    Reply
  34. Nataly Carbonell says

    July 10, 2015 at 2:37 PM

    My fave recipe is the curry chicken and rice salad.

    Reply
  35. Tina W says

    July 11, 2015 at 1:37 AM

    I think it was your blog where I first ran across the idea of cooking quinoa in a rice cooker. Now I do it all the time!

    Reply
  36. Amanda Sakovitz says

    July 11, 2015 at 11:20 AM

    I love the Peanut Butter M&M Blondies recipe

    Reply
  37. Betsy Barnes says

    July 11, 2015 at 2:01 PM

    I love discovering new recipes. however, one of my favorite Whisk and Cleaver recipes is the Penne alla Vodka recipe 🙂

    Reply
  38. Rebecca P. says

    July 11, 2015 at 6:37 PM

    I got lost in the vegetable section. I am always looking for new ways to make vegetables since i eat them multiple times a day and don’t want them to be boring. I like the butternut squash soup recipe, that is a fall fave of mine that i will definitely try. And the ‘not your childhood chicken pot pie’ bookmarked!! Will be the first i make!

    Reply
  39. Kimberly M. says

    July 11, 2015 at 8:18 PM

    I love new recipes. Food can get boring if you are making the same stuff week after week, month after month so I always am looking for new or different ways to make recipes. My favorite Whisk and Cleaver recipe is the Not Your Childhood Chicken Potpie. I love pot pie and this sounds so good. I can’t wait to try it.

    Reply
  40. Thomas Murphy says

    July 11, 2015 at 9:23 PM

    I like the Seafood Stew recipe.

    Reply
  41. Lynn @ Oh-SoYummy says

    July 24, 2015 at 3:23 PM

    Happy blogiversary! It’s been a lot of work in the making! I wish I had more time to cook so I could learn as much as you! 🙂

    Reply

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