I’m an out-of-work English teacher turned writer and food blogger. While I don’t necessarily miss hormonal teen antics involving bathroom passes and stolen American flags, I do miss sitting on a stool in the front of a room on a hot June afternoon reciting poetry or having actual conversations about Steinbeck with freshman. That’s cool. That’s where I feel alive. Another place I really feel alive and at peace is in the kitchen. And thus, A Sweet Spoonful was born from a lack of teaching jobs in California and a passion for spending time in the kitchen—and writing about it.
I cook, bake, and write about what I’m drawn to. This varies from day to day based on the seasons, my mood, what I’m reading, and where I’m finding inspiration. But for the most part, the recipes you’ll find on A Sweet Spoonful will feature whole foods and seasonal ingredients (with a bit of a bias towards baked goods). In the Bay Area, we’re so lucky to have farmer’s markets and specialty shops that stock a variety of fresh produce from the farms and valleys. When I lived in Boston as a graduate student, I remember craving tomatoes and blueberries all winter long, wishing I could just find a piece of fruit that actually tasted like I remembered it could. While I miss the seasons, I don’t miss that.
In a lot of ways, what I write about here is ordinary. You’ll find a picture of a tea bag or a simple soup recipe. Those are the things that make up the fabric of my day—and I’m guessing, yours too. It’s impossible to separate food and cooking from the other parts of our lives: from family drama, car breakdowns, apartment hunts, and cramped kitchens. From births to deaths to really huge birthday parties and ballet flats. It’s all one, really.
I’m so genuinely honored that you’ve made it over to my online sanctuary/home, and I hope you find something that speaks to you here—perhaps something ordinary, something you’ll take with you.
If… you’d like to speak about a freelance writing or photo assignment, I’ve written for numerous local and national publications. While things are busy around here, a portfolio of published clips is available upon request, and I’d be happy to speak with you about future writing opportunities or about purchasing photos for commercial use. Contact me at: meganjgordon {at} gmail.com
If… you’d like to send me products or books to review, please see my policy below before doing so.
If… you just want to say hi, please do! Anytime. There’s nothing I love more than hearing from readers. I will, with very few exceptions, always get back to you.
“Give homage to old coffee cups, sparrows, city buses, thin ham sandwiches.”
~ Natalie Goldberg
A Few Frequently Asked Questions…
Why don’t you have ads on your site? Are you interested in our Ad. Network? Currently I don’t feature any ads on the site for no other reason than it just doesn’t feel right. I can’t explain why. That’s not to say I never will, but for now, that’s the decision I’ve come to. Feel free to contact me if you are interested in featuring relevant ads on A Sweet Spoonful and I will carefully consider the request. I feature ads now! And I’m psyched about it. I found a wonderful, gracious ad network that doesn’t run creepy ads and is truly interested in creating a partnership with their bloggers. And you know what? Buying groceries, paying for hosting, and picking up the occasional cute plate really ads up after awhile. I’m happy to have the opportunity to alleviate a very small portion of those costs.
Will you try my product and tell us what you think? I’m not really the type of blogger that formally reviews products or does promotions and giveaways. It’s just never felt genuine or authentic to me.
~Readers: That being said, if I ever change my mind, I’ll always tell you when I’ve received a product for free.
~PR/Publishers: I do occasionally link to companies, cookbooks, and products that I love. If you’d like to send me something that’s relevant to A Sweet Spoonful, please feel free to email me about it first. I’d certainly be open to trying your product, but I can’t guarantee that I will mention it on the blog.
Do you take all of your own photos? I do, with the exception of the beautiful header, which I asked my favorite Seattle food photographer, Lara Ferroni, to do for me. She rocks.
I’d like to use one of your photos on my site—is that o.k.? It depends, but it’s imperative that you contact me first as all content and photos on this site are copyrighted. If your request is legitimate and you say please (and link to the photo & give credit properly), I’ll usually say yes. But we must chat first. If you are interested in licensing one of my photographs for commercial purposes, please contact me.
I wrote a comment on your blog and you didn’t post it—why? I love and appreciate all of my readers who take the time to comment at A Sweet Spoonful. I welcome all constructive feedback, thoughts, and reactions. 99% of the comments are lovely and truly make my day. Every now and then, I get an anonymous, nasty one and if it’s not relevant to the content on the site and it’s not constructive, I do delete it. Spam and rude comments—they’re just not what A Sweet Spoonful is about.
Can we exchange links? No, sorry—not my thing. I do have a Links page in which I reference sites I’m excited about, but I don’t do link exchanges. However, if you have a great site you’d like to bring to my attention, please email me. I always love to see new material!
