Monday 12 May 2008

I Love Birthday Cake for Breakfast.


Hello dear friends and readers,

“Is this Nora’s resurrection post?” you may wonder. I am not quite sure yet as I am still pondering over the “new direction” for this blog. Since submitting my dissertation in March, I’ve had a terrible bout of blog block. Cooking, baking and eating are still integral parts of our home life, but not photography or writing. Even my blog's 1st birthday on April 26th failed to inspire me.

I do miss blogging (and I miss all my blogger friends!). I hope that by starting small with this short post, I will be able to shake off this blog block.

This delicious Black Forest Cake was not baked by me, but it was Quikong’s handy work. I think that he may have had some advice from our friend and baker extraordinaire, Eva of Sweet Sins. He baked it for me for my birthday last Saturday. It's lovely to be at the receiving end of a homemade cake for a change.

I love birthday cake for breakfast. How about you?

Take care,
xx Nora

31 comments:

Lucy said...

LOVE IT!

Yay - you're back! Hope the blog block disappates into the ether.

So glad to see you pop up in my feedreader!

Eva said...

Now that's a black forest cake! Qikong, you have my respect! Will try to do something about my own kind of blog bout, too... Soon, I promise!

KJ said...

Yaaay, welcome back Nora. I think you've made a great start back with this cake!!!

Veron said...

Dear Nora , glad to have you back. Blog block is common, I've had it a couple of times. Congrats for completing your dissertation too and your first blog anniversary.
Hope to see you post more, Black forest cake was always a favorite of mine and this looks simply delicious!

Patricia Scarpin said...

It's so great seeing you post again, sweetie!

Aimée said...

Hey Nora!
Happy belated birthday! Glad to see you back, I thought you might be gone for good...

Anonymous said...

Lovely to have you back Nora. Blogging block - I think it's happened to all of us at some point. But the difference is - you came back!

And what a beautiful birthday cake - and all the better that someone made it for you!

Lydia (The Perfect Pantry) said...

Congratulations on completing your dissertation! Blog block is common; I'm reading more and more bloggers who note that after a year or two of posts, they've just run dry for a while. Blogging should be pure fun -- and when it isn't, you need to take a break. I hope our comments will encourage you to come back when you're ready -- we miss you!

Anonymous said...

Dear Nora,

Happy Birthday! It's great to have you back! I've been missing your posts, and I hope you will stay with us.

Also, congratulations on submitting your disertation! Btw, what is your topic?

Take care,

Maninas

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

Sure I would eat cake for breakfast...it does have fruit:D Welcome back. Quite a few of us have cut back on our blogging time now that the summer-like weather is here:D

Susan from Food Blogga said...

Welcome back, Nora! It's lovely to hear from you again. Congratulations on your dissertation. I hope your blog block begins to fade.

Oh for the love of food! said...

Hi Nora, Happy Belated Birthday and Happy 1st Birthday wishes for your blog too! I know all about 'blog block', we're good friends! Never mind about it, just post when you feel like it. Is this Quikong's first attempt at baking? The Black Forest looks wonderful and moist too! BRAVO, Quikong!

Nora B. said...

Thanks ladies,
I do feel comforted that this blog block appears to be a common occurrence. I'll kick my own but and get into gear soon. Should start making my rounds to you blogs as well, that always helps to inspire me.

x Nora

p/s:
Maninas: It was on the impact of gambling on families.
Carol: Quikong has baked cakes before but this was the first time he baked a cake for my birthday. :-)

Cookie baker Lynn said...

Good to see you back, Nora. Delicious looking cake. Happy birthday, a little late.

Mike of Mike's Table said...

Happy belated blog birthday and congrats on wrapping up the dissertation. I hope you join the food blog world again--we'll all be waiting here when you do. :-)

Rosa said...

Welcome back, Nora! I know how hard it can be to fit blogging into your day, but I hope you continue as you're such a welcome and friendly voice. I rarely allow myself to eat cake for breakfast, but I eat it at just about any other time...

Cynthia said...

ixsqoTake your time in getting back hon, the important thing is that we are still around. I've missed you and congrats on submitting the diss! Take the time and just chill now.

Amanda at Little Foodies said...

Helloo...I think there's an epidemic! I've had several blog block periods, until the weekend I was still in one truth be told.

Hope you're well and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! xx

Gloria Baker said...

yiiiiipeee!!! You come back I really miss you dear!!! This recipe is really lovely!!!
You know Dear My favorite Cake is Black Forest Cake, about many years I asked this Cake to my Birthday!!! xxxxxGloria and Happy Birthday!!!

Susan said...

Well, there you are! Good to see you, Nora. Sounds like a "simple" case of burnout. We all get it sooner or later from a variety of sources. I missed my blog birthday, too. Black forest cake is one of my favorites!

Shaun said...

Nora ~ Happy Birthday!! So lovely of Quikong to bake such a gorgeous-looking cake. He puts my baking efforts to shame.

We have missed you. Perhaps the blog block results from part post-thesis fatigue?

Congratulations on submitting your thesis - a great feat!

Anonymous said...

Look - even if you are just blogging about cakes every time I will read it - this looks delicious Nora!

Helene said...

Glad to have you back! Blog when you feel like it, we will always be around :)
Happy belated birthday!

Nora B. said...

Awwww, you all have been so wonderful! I feel so supported, reminds me of why I love blogging so much, it's because of all of you.

I really feel the block is easing away. And yes, I'll just blog about whatever it feels like, even if it's about cakes :-)

xx Nora

Y said...

Oh yum! That a serious looking bit of black forest cake. What a great way to celebrate a birthday :)

Kelly-Jane said...

Happy belated birthday and blog-iversarry too!

Lovely cake well done Q. and do hope you get over your bloggers block soon :)

Maggie said...

Well, as a cake addict, I can tell you that in my teenage years I used to eat cake for breakfast, on my way for the bus into work.
I love Black Forest Cake - the old ones are always the best.

Nora B. said...

Y, Kelly-Jane & Margaret,
Thanks for dropping by. I have to say that I have been eating a lot of cakes lately. It's my way to trying to get out of the blog block. Seems to be working!

nora

Shayne said...

I have had some blog block issues as of late too. I hope that the summer bounty will bring my blogging self back to light.

Big Boys Oven said...

wow! you submitted! well done, best of luck! WELCOME back babe!

Fake cake said...

Thank you for the translate-function on your blogg.

I want to try some recept.

yes.. i love birthday cake to of corse;)

Have i nice day//Lotta