Next-Day Beef Salad, my French Fridays recipe this week and my last lunch on my balcony. Can you tell by the shadows that Old Man Winter is lurking nearby?
This week presented another opportunity to choose a recipe my colleagues made before I joined them. My family’s been here for their autumn vacation and my friend, Judy Boyd, brought us some fantastic meals. Judy deals very patiently with Low-fat, Gluten-free, No Dairy, Bring It On (my son-in-law) and I’ll Eat Anything (me). She had our bases covered all week while Melissa and I relished the breather.
After the kids left, I dealt with leftovers. When I spotted the remains of a skirt steak, Dorie’s Next-Day Beef Salad came to mind. It wasn’t hard to pull together this voluptuous salad by revisiting my fridge. What’s distinctive is its simple dressing – mayo and two French mustards, Dijon and grainy. A diced, tart apple alerts us to this salad’s sweet side. Add onions, olives, cornichons, tomatoes, capers, red bell and chile peppers to the mix and it’s a meal. Serve it over greens, with crusty bread, and your leftovers become super stars.
A big bowl of ingredients for my beef salad: diced beef, onions, olives, cornichons, tomatoes, capers, red bell and chile peppers.
Last Tuesday’s Post, Pumpkin & Raisin Tea Loaf, tackled the 6 steps involved in putting together a post: Choose; Make; Photograph; Eat; Write; and Go Live. For me, it’s a week-long process. As promised, here’s Part II, “Why the effort?” “Why bother?”
WHY I BLOG
1. Realistically, a food blogger must be multi-talented, blessed with kitchen skills, camera-ready, technically astute, creatively imaginative, and more. Think Barnum & Bailey’s Big Top and you’re the only performer. Truthfully, I didn’t qualify. I began blogging because I needed Structure, a framework in which to rebuild my Life. For the last two years of my husband’s life, while in a Memory Care Unit and under Hospice care, and for the next two years that it took to plant myself where I could nurture, the one constant activity in my Life was that damn blog. Whatever else was happening with me, I plodded through those six necessary steps to post a “product” every week. It often wasn’t pretty but, for me, a great accomplishment, week in, week out.
2. “I don’t know where the Summer went,” a friend lamented to me recently. “I can’t even remember what I did.” That’s not a problem for me. My blog is a Diary and Journal. I associate weekly Posts with lifestyle events and activities. At a time when pen-and-ink has become passé, my Blog lives safely on my portable hard drive.
To complete this lunch (or, dinner) cut up crusty bread and pour a glass of apple cider.
3. Using business jargon, food blogging requires a Low Start-up Fee. This project was something I could begin at a nominal cost. I found inexpensive tech assistance via Craig’s List. We all need to eat. Food bloggers wisely feed their families and friends with menus incorporated into their Posts. In our French Fridays group, there are many fine bloggers who are thrifty and cost-conscious.
4. I Am The Boss. My blog is all ME. A dream come true! For the first time in my adult memory, I am responsible for and to no one. When I returned to Aspen, I could either wilt or blossom. Throw a pity party or do and be everything that wasn’t possible in prior decades. I felt I owed my friends and family who offered us unconditional caring, support and love for ten years, to at least try. My blog has evolved from that effort.
I poured a two- mustard/mayo dressing onto the mixture and tossed lightly to saturate it.
5. Friendships. Number 5 is an unanticipated bonus. Without a doubt and throughout my life, I’ve collected the best group of “reality” friends ever. To me, they are priceless. But, virtual friends? Who knew about that? Being a lover of all things Greenspan, in February 2011, I joined French Fridays, an internet food group cooking through Dorie’s Around My French Table. Somewhere between the Cauliflower-Bacon Gratin (12/30/11) and Cocoa Sablés (3/23/12), I realized these were not just colleagues, they were friends. Through virtual networking I’ve met other foodie pals. Blogging in not a lonely sport and I’ll keep doing it if only to maintain these relationships.
6. Through blogging or because of it, my little world has grown richer and been enhanced by the experience. Examples — Because my kitchen is a constant companion, I’m a better cook. I’m on a first-name basis with all the butchers, bakers and candlestick makers up and down Colorado State Highway 82. Food blogging is a daily on-line education. What I’ve realized is how much I don’t know especially when interacting with international colleagues. There’s no time-out for boredom when your investment is in yourself. I thrive on praise (who doesn’t?). Alex, a young bellmen here at The Gant, is still talking about the meatballs I made last Christmas. My blog comments are encouraging, uplifting and sometimes hilarious. “Wear Your Lipstick.” is the heads-up to my friends whenever a social occasion is to become a blog. Good Sports, always. Every day has become an adventure.
Just too much salad – it’s filling. My eyes were bigger than my appetite.
7. By dumb luck, I slide into a perfect niche. As I’ve written, I believe anyone can flourish in the landscape where they’re planted just by dovetailing their passions into the Life they’ve been dealt. We’re all blindsided by challenges and bumps. How we deal with those is key. My blog tells my story, showing how I muddle through my days. My greatest wish is that it provides Inspiration, Hope & Humor to my readers.
To see how my colleagues muddled through their week, visit our French Fridays link. The recipe for today’s salad is here. As I mention weekly, we are an international cooking group having a blast working our way through Dorie Greenspan’s Around my French Table.
I would wear my best shade dear.
Did we make this salad? I don’t know what is what anymore. I remember making it after we did the poached filet but I thought it odd we didn’t have this lined up to immediately follow it. I never even took a picture of it but didn’t mind as I would certainly make it again. Its all so good. I will probably end up making everything again and again. And why not?
I forgot all my reasons for blogging for a long time!
Reading yours reminded me why it’s worth the effort 🙂
The salad looks great by the way!
#5 is one of the best benefits to blogging, and I never knew it was a possibility when I started.
We blog for most of the same reasons, it is so nice to see someone actually talk about the positive side of blogging and how it can and is personally enriching instead of some of the nasty posts I’ve seen recently about people who won’t blog/work for free.
By the way, when you get tired of winter come on out and visit – I live in perpetual summer!
Your post just about sums up what I feel about blogging, especially blogs being the diary and journal of our lives! Your next day beef salad is enticing.
This is a great post Mary – enjoyed reading about your blogging journey. I got into blogging through reading cupcake blogs and deciding I could do that too!
Love this post Mary – and we’re so glad you’re blogging. To let you know though, I have never made this salad…. (it’s actually on the list of recipes still to complete!) – so look at you being ahead of the game! You should definitely try this week’s fish – if even *I* loved it, well…..
(huh, I just commented but it disappeared….)
The salad looks great and I love this post – we’re all so glad you ARE blogging Mary! But I have never made this salad and it actually is on the list of dishes still to make! So you’re ahead of the game! You should try the fish from this week sometime – even *I* loved it!! Happy weekend!
LOVE this post, Mary! Sometimes, I forget why I blog and get sucked into all the less pleasant aspects…SEO, blog glitches. The friendships are truly the best reward. Can’t wait to make this salad 🙂
I have a hunch this salad will make it to the nominations soon. Salads with skirt steak pop up often at home.
I have a writer friend I have been penpals with for over ten years. In those first two or three years, the emails felt like epic,
flirty, inspired narratives of our lives. I truly couldn’t wait to get more emails and more chances to work my way through the replies. In some ways I try to capture the spirit of those emails, or rather how they made me feel, through the blog. Some days it’s easier than others, of course. But I like having the outlet and cherish all the wonderful benefits that come from it, especially the community of new old friends friends near and far.You’re three steps ahead of us, Miss Mary.
Now, I won’t wear my lipstick; but I do know how to hide from the camera 🙂
It’s totally about the people, BTW.
XO
Thanks so much for the reminder of why we blog. It truly has enriched my life, made me a better cook, given me structure on bad days and most of all enabled me to connect with wonderful people like you Mary. Love this salad, it is one of the many recipes I still have not made.
Yes STRUCTURE. Love it. I remember when I was a young mother and a daily soap opera at 2PM gave my life structure. Wow have things CHANGED.
Also, DOCUMENTATION. As a CPA, I totally support you documenting your life (and sometimes mine too).
ANd finally, I hope you finished your greens…looks like you picked off the low hanging fruit and left the spinach.
YOu can’t have dessert if you do that.
TTR.
What a wonderful post, Mary. I think you capture the reasons that blogging can be so rewarding. I never realized how much community could be built online until I began blogging with this group.
As for the salad, I can hardly wait until it comes up in the rotation. It looks wonderful!
Mary, this is a wonderful post, and I was anticipating “part two” from your CCC post.
I love all of the points you made. I think the structure and connection to friends are a couple of the big ones for me. Whether it was my Dad’s illness and death, or projects that were overwhelming, or a respite from learning to work from home again (so easy to get sucked in!), both the structure and our friends have kept me in the game. I’ve missed plenty of weeks, but everyone is understanding and welcoming after my backslides! And It was true what I said, I would have abandoned this if it hadn’t been for my friends like you who are so encouraging.
I’m probably not going to get to your level of professionalism any time soon, but it’s so fun to read through your posts (and others) and see where we’ve been. You are right on target!
Oh, and the salad… We haven’t officially done that recipe yet (so you are ahead!), but I’ve made it and photographed in anticipation (as a desk-lunch at my former job, so it makes me laugh!). It is totally delicious, and I would encourage us to all choose it – and soon! 🙂
Hope you have a wonderful day, enjoying whatever is left of Autumn in your neck of the woods!
Enjoyed your blog post immensely. I have not had a cold beef salad before so it will be interesting to see if I like this. I am sure you will like your Pacific cod and double carrots. It is nice to sometimes cook after everyone so you can learn from others. Have a great week.
Great salad and great post Mary. It’s really good to put in writing why we do something. For me, it gives important perspective and helps me continue to carry on. The problem is that I don’t often take the time. Thanks for the inspiration! Wishing I had some leftover skirt steak in my fridge. 🙂
You’re ahead of the game, Mary. We didn’t make this salad yet, but it looks delicious, so I can’t wait!
I love your post, and I’m so glad that you started blogging with FFWD because I can’t imagine what life would be without having met you. It is incredible where the journey takes you. I’m so proud of your efforts. You (and Nana) are my role models, you know. xox
Well, as the other comments indicate…if you have not already figured it out, you have touched many of our virtual and real lives. I look forward to your insights, your wisdom, your humor and your stories. And yes, I like to see what you have knocked out in the kitchen this week as well. I am touched not only personally but in knowing the relationship and support you have provided my Mom as well. The thought that all over the US and world we have “Doristas” who are figuring out who’s hubby or kids won’t eat what ingredient, who shared the results with friends and who is treating us to a virtual road trip this week (no matter how lousy perhaps our own week turned out ???) NEVER ceases to put a smile on my face. Love your salad. Love your visiting family and generous friend. And I think the “wear your lipstick” motto are both words to live by and something I would like printed on a t shirt. Because you just never know, do you ? 🙂
Sorry, I missed your post last week, we were in Gettysburg, Pa., at my nieces wedding. However, I’m glad I got to read your wonderful post today…most of the reasons you gave for blogging certainly ring true for me, too. Number 5 was definitely a lovely unexpected bonus! I went into my blog strictly to cook through AMFT. I remember going onto blogger and setting up my blog…and then sending it to my son, and cousin for critique before it went live. One plus for me was getting to learn more about how my computer works. Hell, when I started I didn’t even know what html was!
I’m glad someone realized we had not made the “Next Day Beef Salad” yet, because I thought it was one I missed. It does look delicious…looking forward to trying it! Have a great week, Mary!