This week, I was passed along a wonderful blog treat from my dear friend bakergirl – she tossed me the One Lovely blog award!

Now bakergirl knows a thing or two about good food…we all know that.  But what she is also incredibly talented at (and something not everyone would know) is that she is VERY good at appreciating people. She regularly does kind little things to make everyone feel appreciated.  SO, I wasn’t really surprised to see her appreciating other bloggers but was I tickled to be appreciated!  So wanting to follow the kind-hearted ways of my bakergirl pal, I too would like to honour 8 of the the best of blogs I know with a ONE LOVELY BLOG AWARD.

All my Friday gratitude this week goes to these talented writers, dreamers, critics, and artists – may the words always flow eagerly from your fingertips so that I can continue the pleasure of reading your thoughts and feeling inspired by you!

• the rex-files.  He may (or may not…oooooh…mysterious) be my husband and he blogs with intelligence, wit, and perspective on anything and everything (particularly technology, photography, the environment, or information management).  And as cheesy as it is to pass a blog award to your husband (damn…there goes the mystery!) he deserves it!
• Burnt Lumpia.   In my quest to add Filipino food to the repertoire after marrying into a Filipino family the excellent and creative (and incredibly humourous) ramblings of Marvin have satisfied just about every culinary Filipino need I have ever had…now if only my Filipino husband really likes Filipino food!
• Desert Candy.  Mercedes has inspired a strong urge in me to cook more Middle Eastern food…REAL Middle Eastern food – not your run of the mill hummus and pita.  Her recipes are easy and delicious!  Keeps me dreaming of all the recipes I look forward to trying when we leave Nepal!
• SmellyBlog.   Anyone who knows me well knows that if I could live my dream it would be to become a perfumer.  So, I can’t help but devour the blog of Ayala.  A resident of my adopted home town, Vancouver, and a talented perfumer who can describe a smell so vividly you can almost smell/taste it!  She is living proof that my dream could one day become a reality.
• Everybody Likes Sandwiches.  Also a Vancouver blogger who I stumbled upon while looking for a good cabbage recipe.  I found one.  And many many many other appetizing, healthy and seasonal recipes that seem wholesome and real.  I resonate with her lifestyle, her food style, and her sense of style.
• Pinch My Salt.  Stumbled here as I was looking for a recipe for making cheese and found so so much more.  Nicole is a fabulous cook and an excellent writer!
• Sailu’s Kitchen.  These days, I am understandably obsessed with finding recipes and blogs related to good Indian and Nepali cuisine.  I am afraid that if I don’t perfect some of my favourite recipes I will be lost for what to eat when I leave Nepal!  Sailu’s Kitchen has provide great inspiration and a stock-pile of delicious recipes that I will make forever.  The kind of recipes that are destined to become family favourites 🙂
• My husband cooks.  I read this blog out of complete admiration and awe…some day I dream my husband will surpass me in cooking ability too 🙂  Until then, I revel in the fact that her husband cooks the most delicious food and they both share it with us!  Now if only I could get my husband to read this blog…