Happy Birthday Blog and a GIVEAWAY!
Just over a year ago a few things unfolded. We moved into a new house, in a new city. Although just a short drive away, my old connections slowly disappeared. Vanished. Gone. We settled in to a new life, a new together. And we carried on. Everything stayed the same. Well, almost.
It wasn't long after we moved in that my wife and I had a conversation. She knew I wasn't writing with the regularity seen previously. I was cooking with reckless abandon in our new kitchen and my passion there had been reignited but my writing had altogether stopped. Died. She had recently started a blog and suggested I do the same. And so I did.
That was one year ago today. The 22nd of August.
It's been an amazing process. Looking back, I sometimes wonder how I even made it this far, even though this far isn't that far at all. One year ago stats and accomplishments didn't matter. The only thing that mattered was finding an outlet to write. And cook. And thankfully, at the end of the day, that stays true today.
I've learned so much in the past twelve months. Too much to list. In the end I've realized a few things. I'm thankful my wife pushed me in this direction, I'm grateful that you, my readers, continue to support this site and I have a very long way to go. Ain't no stopping me now.
So, thank you! And keep coming back because I have some big things in store for my second year.
Now, onto your regularly scheduled programming....
As I sit here writing this I can feel the winds of summer slowly changing. The humidity has flat lined. The breeze is softer, cooler and nicer. I can see some colour in the landscape out my front window. And as I sit here reminiscing about my year of blogging, I start to think of the weekend that's crawling to an end. The weekend that was.
I woke up Saturday morning without the assistance of the alarm and with only the soft morning sky to greet me. I showered my wife with a thousand kisses and went downstairs to start the coffee. It was T-minus 6 hours until we had a family to photograph. We were anxious and excited.
My camera was charging and my mind's slate was clean. I was ready. So I left the house and went to the market to pick up some goods for the coming week. I strolled around the outside vendors with their trucks backed up to their assigned spot and watched families working the tables. The perfect beginning.
I got back in an hour or so later and put everything away. My wife and I had a light lunch, something to hold us over until after the shoot. And then we floated ideas off one another and waited. And waited.
Shortly after three, the couple arrived. Before they could get out, we hopped in our car and drove to this great outdoor area bursting with flowers and beautiful old trees, some standing hundreds of feet tall.
This was supposed to be a family shoot, and at times it was, but the three young daughters quickly stole the show. They didn't need direction or ideas, they knew exactly what they were doing. Three sisters, aged eight, seven and two.
We followed them around for a few hours, shooting them doing what they normally do. Playing, laughing and having fun. We took pictures of them chasing each other, rolling down hills and playing in the playground. And with each snap, we captured life. Real life.
After our first stop we decided to head back here. And after a quick change ended up in the forest behind our house. There we saw the energy slowly leaving their bodies. But first we were able to watch a family interacting and quietly enjoying life. Together.
It was a great Saturday. We came back inside and ordered in some food. We sat at the big dining room table and laughed as the girls rushed through their meals. And we retraced the days steps in our heads and recanted some of the funnier moments that happened during the day.
It ended with my wife editing some pictures before joining me downstairs to spend some quality alone time. Just us. Just as the day started.
Today started similarly, only my wife was up and out the door early. I was in a fog as I watched her drive off to do another family shoot. This one smaller, and shorter. And I stayed at home prepping the food for her return.
When she walked through the door shortly after noon she looked exhausted. And hungry. So I quickly made up a batch of my garlic hummus with smoked paprika and pita chips and we shared it outside as she told me about her day. She loves her work and I love watching her tell me all about it.
We took the dog for a walk through the neighbourhood after that and then came home and decided to go for a bike ride. We cut through the streets to the park path out back and strolled our way in and out of the area we live in before making our way back home. Tired. Hungry again.
While I started getting everything ready for dinner I decided to make us a cocktail. Some fresh Ontario plums and blueberries turned into a boozy lemonade. We sipped on them out back and talked about the shoot from the day before and those crazy, beautiful little girls.
I went back inside and made these steak sandwiches. They were incredible. And so easy! While the steaks were grilling, I put together the baguette. And we sat around our table eating these and we couldn't believe the weekend that just started was now about to end.
From my kitchen to yours, happy eating!
And now, the giveaway!
The fine folks at Calphalon were kind enough to give me an incredible product to review, The Removable Plate Grill. I made these amazing steak sandwiches on it. I was completely impressed. No, I was more than impressed.
I loved the fact that I could grill indoors, which will be important as we head into the colder months, and I really liked the fact I could set a temperature, much like an oven but with barbecue results. So I could set it 450 degrees to get that sear I wanted on the steak and set the timer to remind me to take them off.
I'll be using this product every chance I get, especially as we roll into autumn and I get my hands on some seasonal products and try out new recipes.
**For the record, my comments are my own. I wasn't asked to say anything about the the product other than my own opinion. No strings attached.
**International shipping on this product will be available in September, 2011. One more month! It's now available for purchase in Canada and the United States, which is fitting because this giveaway is open to North American residents!
The best part about this great product? One lucky Verses from my Kitchen reader will get the chance to win one right here!
To enter, you must leave a comment saying what you would make first using this product.
Additional entries:
- Like Calphalon on Facebook and, once you've done that, leave a message here letting me know you've done so.
- Follow @Calphalon and, once you've done that, leave a message here letting me know you've done so.
- Follow @MikeVFMK and, once you've done that, tweet the following (and then come back here and let me now you've done so):
The contest, open to Canadians and Americans, will end at 12PM (noon) EST on Sunday August 28th. I will then announce the winner in my post on Monday, August 29th.
Now for this steak sandwich, which I grilled on the Removable Plate Grill.
Steak Sandwich
Ingredients:
- 4 tbsp. butter
- 1 bunch of parsley
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 steaks
- olive oil, for brushing
- sea salt and cracked pepper
- 1 baguette, cut into two pieces
- 1 green onion, finely sliced
- 1 bunch of watercress sprigs
- 2 tbsp. goat cheese
- 1 tbsp, dijon mustard
- Using a small bowl, add in the butter, parsley and garlic and mix well. Set aside for baguette.
- Rub the steaks with olive oil and and season with salt and pepper. Heat your Removable Plate Grill to 450 degrees F, and cook the steaks for 3 minutes, or until medium rare, 145 degrees F. (Or cooked until your preference)
- Cut the baguette in half and toast under the broiler in the oven for a minute, or until golden brown.
- Spread the herb/garlic butter mix over the bottom half of the baguette slice and top with green onions and watercress and goat cheese. Place steak on top and drizzle with dijon mustard.
- Serves 2.
136 Comments:
Congrats on your blogaversary. I would make a Cuban Sandwich, pronto w this contraption.
Mike - Happy Blog Birthday. Love this space and enjoy reading your wonderful writing. Look forward to many more verses from your kitchen!
YAY! You have become one of my favorite blogs, Mike. Truly. :-) Congrats on your one year blog birthday!
I would make a vegetarian panini... maybe with some roasted zucchini, carrots, tomato, and mozzarella.
Mike, Congrats on your one year old blog, I found you on Tasty kitchen and have been so moved by your words! Now to the recipe I most definitely would make your steak sandwich for my special one. Thank-you for a great blog.
Wow, you sure are a great cook! Happy Birthday to your blog! I'm following you on Twitter, I'm francescaedesia on Twitter. My daughter loves hummus, I'll tell her to follow you too, she's hungrycaramella.blogspot.com I'm Sicilian and my husband is Japanese so I cook lots of Asian food. It's hot here in Rome right now, come on over and have a gelato:)
I finally found a source here in Kelowna outside of the restautants for Okanagan wine fed Sezmu beef. It would be lovely grilled.
I am a follower of Verses on Twitter.
Congratulations on your Blog Birthday! I am a new reader and really am enjoying your blog.
I also follow Calphalon Mike. Congratulations on one year of blogging and gorgeous photos. Tour wife definitely has some good ideas.
Happy Birthday! I would make a turkey reuben with that mini grill. Heck, I might even get creative and invent a new cafe sandwich with all the trimmings on it!
I'm from Holland so I won't be able to join your give-away but I love your blogging, just wanting to say that.
Happy Blogiversary Mike. I enjoy your writing and photography!!
Happy Blogbirthday dear! I'd definitely make a caprese sandwich, with the addition of bacon!
I follow you on Twitter and tweeted!
I like Calphalon on FB
I follow Calphalon on Twitter
The first thing I'd do with this plate grill is make skirt steak sandwiches - I actually make skirt steak all the time and would love not to have to turn on our outdoor grill!
I like Calphalon on Facebook (Jennifer P Q)
I follow Calphalon on Twitter @therebelchick
I follow @Mikevfmk and tweeted! https://twitter.com/#!/therebelchick/status/105632938409996288
I would make a Turkey BLT using the Calphalon Plate Grill!
Jerk Chicken. I have a ton of habaneros from the garden and I have to find a use for them.
This comment has been removed by the author.
Congrats girl!! I liked cephalon on facebook!
Liked @cephalon on twitter via @cherylcasperson
Follow @mikevfmx @cherylcasperson and tweeted!
I would make a pesto grilled cheese panini!!!
Happy Birthday Verses From My Kitchen. If I didn't love that you make my husband so happy, I would be jealous of your time spent with him. I love you Michael! You're on to some big things this year. xoxo
This very first thing I would like to make would be a Butternut & arugula grilled sandwich!
I also liked Calphalon on Facebook
But I dont do twitter..
Happy Birthday to 'Verses from my kitchen'
I check in here often and always enjoy your recipes and comments thank you for sharing!
Happy Birthday to your blog! I think the first thing I would try is a panini, but that sandwich looks pretty amazing too!
I follow Calphalon on Twitter.
I like Calphalon on FB
And I follow you on Twitter, and I tweeted! Thanks for a fun giveaway!
Congrats Mike! I can't enter but wanted to wish you a very happy blog anniversary. I know how it feels :-) and you doing great!
Congrats on your blogoversary my friend! What an accomplishment. :D And it sounds like you celebrated with a weekend of absolute perfection! Now, where is the recipe for that boozy yellow plum and blueberry lemonade? ;)
Happy blog anniversary. Just found your blog through twitter and love it! You have such a beautiful way of writing! I could see all you getting ready for your family photos. So beautiful!
Congrats! Your pictures are beautiful as always
Wanted to wish you a big congrats on your first year Mike...goes pretty quickly doesn't it? I have got to go get some breakfast...a real breakfast because really what I want now is a steak sandwich. Gorgeous.
That is one heckuva sandwich, man!
I'd, uh MAKE THAT.
Congrats Mike. I can actually enter this one. Most don't let us Canucks play along. I have followed them on facebook.
I have now followed them on twitter.
I would make your recipe first of course!
I already follow you on twitter so I just tweeted the giveaway. Now I can cross my finger, toes, eyes and hope I win. The draw date is hubs birthday and our wedding anniversary so maybe luck will be on my side. Lol!
Congrats again. Enjoy every moment. The foodie community is a great place to spend time.
No need to enter me in the giveaway, Mike (I have a similar appliance in my kitchen), but I wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed this post. For the photography, for the writing, and for the way you wear your heart on your sleeve, your blog has become one of my favorite stops. Thanks so much for all you give you readers. I can't wait to see what is to come.
Happy Blogaversary!I've really enjoyed reading your posts over the past year and drooling over your photographs/recipes. I'd so have to make that steak sandwich..swoon!
The lemonade drew me to this blog, but the sandwich looks amazing!
This would be awesome to grill chicken on--all we have is a charcoal grill and I am scared of it!
The first thing I would make would be grilled salmon!
MIMIBUNNY11@aol.com
Liked Calphalon on Facebook!(Elizabeth Simi W)
MIMIBUNNY11@aol.com
Following Calphalon on Twitter!(@IMIS19)
MIMIBUNNY11@aol.com
Following on Twitter, and I tweeted:
http://twitter.com/#!/IMIS19/status/105756753286799360
MIMIBUNNY11@aol.com
Traditional indonesian sate (satay). I mean, why wouldnt you?
T xx
Caprese panini allll the way!
I would make my favorite sandwich, a corned beef rueben that I'll pile high with homemade cole slaw.
The first thing I would make on that beautiful grill would be a skirt steak... I can't wait to see those beautiful hatch marks! :D
I follow Calphalon on Twitter... oh, and HAPPY BLOGGIVERSARY, Mike! You've done a wonderful thing, and my wish is that you'll keep doing what you love for a long time to come!
I like Calphalon on Facebook
I follow you on Twitter (via ItsYummilicious) and I Tweeted about the giveaway on 8/22
I know you love writing and cooking and it shows in every post that you do. It is so nice that you are able to share via your blog and have so many followers.
Congratulations Michael
Love mom
I would make a peach/proscuito panini
I liked Calphalon on Facebook
Grilled salmon and grilled vegetables.
Happy Blogiversary Mike! Is this only your first, really? I am shocked! I thought for sure your blog was way older than that! It's so... mature!
Boy, that sandwich you made sure looks amazing! Looks like quite the machine you're giving away too! If I had one of those babies myself, I would be making a grilled vegetable panini. I just adore them. Bet it would be the best grilled panini ever!
i'd make grilled tofu!
blueblanket@hotmail.com
Ok I've done it all. First I "Liked Calphalon" on FB.
I am following @Calphalon on twitter. I tweet @crazy4kale
I have been following your great tweets @MikeVFMK
I would make grilled cheese with our favorite cheese- smoked gouda- with some fig jam. So good! Thanks for the chance, this looks great!
I would love the Calphalon removeable plate grill and I tweeted this:
Enter to win a Calphalon Removable Plate Grill from @mikevfmk http://tinyurl.com/3jpat43 #giveaway.
The possibilities are endless on what I could make. My former (lesser brand) panini press burned out. I'm sure this would last FOREVER!!
I was surprised that your blog is only a year old. It's beautifully written (loved the post about your Mom) and photographed. Very professional.
This is my first time here...and, Yes! I'd love to win the grill. First item? The steak sandwich, of course! Looks so yummy!
I'm following you on Twitter!
Veggie Paninis!!!
maria.mckenna@yahoo.com
Facebooked and are following things :)
I want to cook some salmon steaks on this grill.
I'm picturing a buffalo chicken panini (or is is the singular form "panino?"). After that, I'd definitely have to throw some grill marks onto some steaks when the weather is crummy.
Oh, thanks for having a giveaway, and I'll be back as always.
grilled cheese.
I liked Calphalon on fb.
I'd first make a panini. then a steak.
I just joined a beef CSA and would love to use this to grill up some steaks.
Following Calphalon on twitter.
The first thing I'd make is grilled peaches and grilled asparagus! I've been dying to try these and I don't know how to light my own grill so this would be perfect!!
I don't have a facebook page, but I've followed both you and Calphalon on twitter and posted the required tweet.
Can't wait to get my grill!! ;)
grilled cheese (:
I would grill rib-eyes... especially in the dead of winter... yum....
HAPPY BLOG ANNIVERSARY. You should rest assured that your blog and your words have touched many lives. I enjoy your posts, the stories and the photos so much.
All my best,
Anita
Happy Anniversary! I would make this lovely steak sandwich because you have me drooling at my desk!
Happy Anniversary love! I would make Paninis!!
Happy Anniversary! Grilled Calamari Steaks...
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The first thing I would make would be a simple grilled cheese sandwich with top notch ingredients - sourdough baguette (I'm a native San Franciscan) and extra sharp cheddar cheese. Yum!
lajohnson555 at yahoo dot com
I Like Calphalon on Facebook (Laura Love)
lajohnson555 at yahoo dot com
Happy bday! I just find your blog and just love it!
I would make the classic grilled cheese! Mmmm...
Tweeted about it!
Just found your blog from Twitter. Love it! First thing I'd cook with this bad boy? A juicy cheese burger me thinks... I've been fiending for one all week.
I would use it to make turkey and provolone paninis!
Happy Blogiversary!
I'd make a panini of sorts first thing with this bad boy. No question.
I liked Calphalon on FB!
I added @Calphalon!
I added @mikevfmk and sent out this tweet: Enter to win a Calphalon Removable Plate Grill from @mikevfmk http://tinyurl.com/3jpat43 #giveaway.
Seriously fantastic giveaway, Mike! I think I'd be tempted to make your steak sandwiches. Of course, I'd only be able to eat the steak part, but that's the best part anyway!
Happy Blog Anniversary. I am glad to have landed in your blog on the first anniversary and what a beautiful journey you had. Love your pictures and writing. Looking forward to keep in touch.
Wishing you gazillion more anniversaries
Congrats on your one year. This is my first time on your blog. I love it!
I love Calphalon and am excited about this giveaway. I would love to grill some burgers on here. This would be very handy in the heat of the summer in Arizona.
I like Calphalon on Facebook.
I follow Calphalon on Twitter.
Happy anniversary! Each time I pop in, I'm just in awe of your stunning photography...you can make anything look beautiful...such an eye! I tweeted your give away~
Happy Birthday Blog!!! I would make Grilled French Toast :)
Great Job, I love learning when it comes to the kitchen!!!
xo.
I like Calphalon on FB~
I'm following you on SU~
I am following you on Twitter.
I would first see if I could make a pannini. What a great give away~
This is my first time here! Love your site! I would make a tomato, basil and mozarella panini first!
I follow you on Twitter and I tweeted (@BakeYourDay)
I follow Calphalon on Twitter.
A panini with turkey, provolone, spinach and spicy mustard.
Hi Mike!
Happy Blog Birthday!! Cheers to many more!
O MY GOD, I would make everything. There are seriously so many recipes I pass over because they call for a grill and, as Feist once sang, second floor livin' without a yard. So I would grill pizza and watermelon and shrimp skewers and pretty much everything I've been denied for the whole summer. One huge end-of-summer grillpollooza.
Happy Blogaversary Mike - i truly do love coming to this place and reading your posts, swoon over the pics and, more importantly, have enjoyed getting to know you . . . may you have many more years as a blogger!!
I really do love the way you write, with such passion and detail :)
I also liked Calphalon on FB :)
I also followed them on Twitter :) (Stylish1z)
And of course I follow you on Twitter!
You've captured such a crisp freshness in your photography. The drinks and food look vivid even on a dusty computer screen (especially those delightfully plump blueberry garnishes!) Bravo!
I would make a caprese panini! Great giveaway!
Liked Calphalon on FB!
Following Calphalon on Twitter
Of course, I was already one of your followers on Twitter...
Happy blog birthday to you! How come I don't get this kind of meal on my birthday ;) Stunning and here's to many, many more :)
Love the giveaway! I now follow them on FB & FB'ed the giveaway link too :)
Happy blog birthday! The grill looks fab - never would have thought of doing a steak on it! I'm a huge fan of panini - any sort of grilled cheese, really! I bet it would be perfect for those. With caramelized onions inside, maybe? or pulled short ribs? yum.
YUM! I would grill some vegetables and do a panini sandwich. Being in an apartment for the past year has had me yenning bad for a grill. This perfect!
Chicken parm panini! Oh yeah! Happy bday blog!
I have just started blogging about food and still don't really know where to go with it. Food, cooking and different cultures were my main interests. However, I think I underestimated a little how many things you can do with the writing - even on a food blog. I have just discovered yours and could not be happier about that. I think you have just inspired me. I will add you to my blogroll.
Thank you
Tobias
Congrats on your blog birthday! I hope to someday have a blog of my own, but I'm still trying to figure out what kind of blog. I would grill my favorite lemon fennel chicken.
Those steak sandwiches look delicious. I would love to have one of those grills so we can have grilled steak and chicken in the middle of winter (I live in the Midwest). Congratulations on your blog birthday!
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