Thank You!  Thank You!  Thank You!  

I could just kiss you… or eat this doughnut.  

You did it!   Your votes landed me a nomination as Best New Blog for the 2009 Bloggies.

I  can’t even begin to tell you how exciting this is for me.  I’ll try.  

I started this blog one year ago this month.  I’m a girl who loves to bake, take pictures and tell stories.  It turns out there’s a way to put all of those loves in one place.  I’ve put so much love and energy into this space, so much of myself, that it almost didn’t matter if anyone came to read it.  But here you are, everyday.  Geez!  I just love you for it!

Thanks for being here.  Thanks for responding to what I do.  Thanks for loving pancakes and baked apples as much as I do.  Thanks for the nomination.  Really.  From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

If you’re feeling frisky enough to go cast your Bloggie votes, don’t forget the other awesome blogs in other categories.  I love Smitten Kitchen for Best Food Blog, and The Superficial is totally a guilty pleasure for Best Gossip Blog.  

Me?  I’m towards the end of the line in the Best New Blog category. 

Vote?  Vote!

I was also nominated for Best Food Blog Writing by the Well Fed Network.  It looks like Deb at Smitten Kitchen is going to run away with that win… and I think that’s the way the world should be.  Fact.

Please accept my crazy, honest, giddy and sincere thanks.

I’m a huge breakfast fanatic.  I usually go for something hearty, healthy and full of surprise goodies.  That’s not to say that I don’t sometimes reach for a donut and some coffee, but this go around I opted for old-fashioned oatmeal with the gorgeous flavors of cranberry, orange and almond.  I threw in a bit of brown sugar for good measure, and surrounded my oatmeal with cold milk.  It was a delightful breakfast- satisfying but not too heavy.  It’s the kind of breakfast that convinces you you’re ready to take on the world.  Brilliant

Cranberry Orange Almond Oatmeal

Print this recipe!

1 cup water

pinch of salt

1/2 cup old fashioned oats

2 Tablespoons dried cranberries

6 raw or toasted almonds

1/2 teaspoon grated orange zest

optional:

1 Tablespoon brown sugar

1/4 cup milk

Bring water and salt to a rolling boil in a small sauce pan.  Add oats and reduce to medium heat and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Add 1 Tablespoon of dried cranberries into the cooking oatmeal.

After 5 minutes, remove from heat, and transfer to a serving bowl.  Sprinkle with remaining cranberries, orange zest, almonds, brown sugar and milk.  Enjoy!

Thank you Dawn!  It was so sweet of you to send me these darling cards and pens!  I’ll put them to good use!  They’re absolutely beautiful!  Thank You!!