2013 has been a great year for Runaway Apricot! As I described in my 50th blog post, I’ve been trying to make food more central to my life as I approach 25. Not just reclusive content generation, I have been sharing more meals, meeting new friends in the food world, and enhancing the website so this passion project will one day be a career. And I’m so happy you’ve been along for the ride!
Save money, eat well and live healthy: Take control of your diet by learning to cook from scratch. It’s easier than you think.
Early this year I had to figure out my goals. Who do I want my message to reach and what change do I want to catalyze? Ultimately I want my community (Americans, low- to middle-income, Blacks, young people, future mothers and fathers, or really anyone) to understand how to eat healthfully and support a vibrant and prosperous life. Just $1.50 a day separates a healthy diet from an unhealthy one, so economy is not an excuse. Once you gain the will and know-how to navigate the market and kitchen, you realize that most excuses aren’t valid. That’s where I want to be a coach.
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| I made this roasted chicken, bably fennel and pears in autumn with about 5 minutes of active time. All locally and seasonally sourced for about $3 a plate. Those excuses are melting away. |
There’s been a major uptick in the frequency of my essays and recipes. I’ve also made many changes to the website to stimulate the traffic and keep you poking around the site a little longer. Have you noticed these changes?
- Rebranded from my old Taste the Globe illustration to a simple and clear Runaway Apricot header
- There’s now an easy search function in the sidebar
- Added links and images below each article to related posts
- Aded a widget on my sidebar which cycles through Instagram posts
- Created a Runaway Apricot Facebook page!
- Used the logotype for links to my presence on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter
- Finally wrote an About Me page with the back story, mission, and contact info
- Social media icons below each post make it easy to share on your networks
- RECIPE INDEX!
I’m really excited about these updates and I hope they allow you to use the website like a big cookbook and encyclopedia of food – that’s honestly how I use the site!
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| Remember helping me to raise money for the Jimmy Fund? We completed that 5-mile walk through Boston with smiles. |
I get a burst of energy and motivation whenever I think about food and there’s been a lot of little sparks throughout the year. Some of the best moments are when a friend texts for advice on preparing this or that. I’ve been lacing conversations with musings from Bee Wilson’s Consider the Fork: A History of How We Cook and Eat. A good friend pushed me through the summer and I created my most popular post yet, reviewing food in Orange is the New Black. I’ve cooked for housewarmings and holidays, brunches and dinner parties – even the prom. And I’ve gotten the chance to feed a lot of friends along the way.
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| This summer I discovered a farmers market less than a block away from my apartment in Harlem. This table full of produce cost me less than $12! |
This year I’ve attended great events like Harlem Park to Park’s Farm to Table conversation with Marcus Samuelsson of Red Rooster and Rhys Powell of Red Rabbit which has truly stimulated me to make local food – and farmers markets – more of a priority in my life. I reconnected with the foodie scene at the food+tech Meetup, meeting Qwiker Liquor and Ariel Lauren Wilson of Edible. That’s how I’ve come to start writing for Edible Manhattan and Edible Brooklyn!
2013 has been exceptional and I promise the momentum will not subside. In 2014 I’m planning to finally bring my apricot to life in illustration, continue to improve my photography and even mix in a few video tutorials. I added Runaway Apricot to my LinkedIn this year and I hope to soon add business cards to help this venture feel more real in my mind. I’m an email marketing expert by day and I plan to start an email newsletter to help deliver Runaway Apricot content to you. I also have a few interviews on the calendar to share some tips from friends who are food experts in one way or another.
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| I went to the west coast for the first time in 2013 – ice cream cheers! |
My final hope for 2014 is to get even more feedback from you. Let me know what you like by cooking, sharing and commenting on the recipes and essays. Ask me questions on Facebook or twitter, or even by email. This is a passion project that runs on smiles from your input.
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