Thursday’s Treasures: Your Premier Destination for Food Blogger Inspiration, Giveaways & Community

Welcome, food enthusiasts and fellow bloggers, to another exciting edition of Thursday’s Treasures! Even if it’s still Wednesday evening for some, the anticipation for our weekly celebration of culinary creativity is already brewing. This is where we gather to share our latest kitchen triumphs, discover new recipes, and connect with an amazing community of like-minded individuals who share a passion for all things delicious.

Before we dive into this week’s inspiring features and get our link party officially started, I have a couple of important and exciting updates to share with you. These are opportunities you definitely won’t want to miss, designed to add extra sparkle to your blogging journey and perhaps even your kitchen!

Unlock Your Culinary Dreams: Enter This Sensational Birthday Giveaway!

First off, have you heard about the incredible Birthday Giveaway that’s currently underway, celebrating Something Swanky’s special day? This isn’t just any giveaway; it’s a grand celebration offering prizes that could transform your kitchen and your recipe collection. Imagine the possibilities with these fantastic rewards!

• A Brand New Red Kitchenaid Mixer: The dream appliance for any serious baker or cook. This iconic stand mixer is a workhorse in the kitchen, perfect for everything from kneading dough to whipping up meringues, blending ingredients, and so much more. Picture yourself creating culinary masterpieces with this beautiful and powerful tool that brings both functionality and style to your countertop!
• A $300 Gift Card to Target: Who doesn’t love a Target shopping spree? Whether you’re stocking up on pantry essentials, upgrading your kitchen gadgets, finding stylish serving ware, or treating yourself to some much-deserved home decor, a $300 gift card offers endless possibilities to enhance your life, your blog’s aesthetic, and your next cooking project.
• 10 Cookbooks Written by Bloggers: Gain a wealth of inspiration and knowledge directly from your peers! These carefully curated cookbooks, penned by talented bloggers just like you, are packed with tested recipes, creative ideas, and unique culinary perspectives that will surely ignite your imagination, expand your recipe repertoire, and provide fresh content ideas for your own blog.

This is an extraordinary chance to win big and elevate your passion for food. Don’t let this opportunity pass you by! Head over to the Birthday Giveaway page, enter for your chance to win, and then make sure you come right back to join the party – there’s even more goodness waiting for you!

Yumgoggle: The New Hub for Food Bloggers & Your Recipe Submissions

Next, let’s talk about a significant shift in the food blogging landscape. Many of us were genuinely bummed when RecipeNews closed its doors. It was a fantastic resource for generating traffic, and its inclusive nature made it a favorite among countless food bloggers. For those unfamiliar, RecipeNews was a photo-sharing site specifically tailored for food bloggers, much like Food Gawker and similar platforms. However, its standout feature was its acceptance policy: unlike more exclusive sites that curated submissions based on strict aesthetic criteria, RecipeNews welcomed all submissions. This philosophy created a level playing field and provided invaluable exposure for a wide range of culinary content creators.

The closure of RecipeNews left a noticeable void in our community, and many of us have been actively searching for a reliable alternative that truly understands the needs of food bloggers. Well, I’m thrilled to introduce (or reintroduce for some) a fantastic platform that is not only stepping up to fill that gap but is doing an absolutely phenomenal job: Yumgoggle.

Why Yumgoggle is Becoming Every Food Blogger’s Best Friend

Yumgoggle isn’t a newcomer to the scene; it’s been around for a while but recently underwent an exciting transformation. Approximately six months ago, it was acquired by a fellow blogger – yes, one of us! While I won’t reveal her identity (that’s her story to tell), I can personally attest to her incredible dedication and profound understanding of what food bloggers truly need. She gets it. She understands that when we spend hours crafting a recipe, cooking it to perfection, and then taking 50 different photos of the same dish from every conceivable angle, it’s not because we fancy ourselves professional photographers. It’s because we are deeply passionate about the food, eager to share our favorite creations, and want to present our readers with the best possible visual representation of what they can achieve in their own kitchens. This inherent passion drives our content, and Yumgoggle recognizes and celebrates it.

Since RecipeNews closed its doors just a week or so ago, I’ve watched Yumgoggle truly step up to the plate. The platform has become incredibly active and responsive, demonstrating a genuine commitment to supporting the food blogging community. They are not just passively hosting submissions; they are actively promoting them across various social media channels, significantly expanding the reach and visibility of your delicious content. This proactive approach ensures your hard work gets the attention it deserves.

Check out their dynamic Facebook Page, where they regularly feature mouth-watering photos and link back directly to the original recipes, driving traffic to your blog. For those of you active on Google+, you’ll find them showcasing amazing creations on Google+ as well, tapping into another valuable audience. And if you’re a Pinterest addict (like most of us!), be prepared to see them pinning like crazy, sending a surge of engaged visitors to your posts. It’s incredibly rewarding to see comments from other bloggers sharing their excitement about the referrals they are receiving directly from Yumgoggle. This truly embodies the spirit of “when she does good, we do good,” fostering a thriving ecosystem for food bloggers.

Seamless Submissions & An Inclusive Philosophy

Yumgoggle makes the submission process incredibly user-friendly and removes common barriers that often deter bloggers from submitting. You can submit square photos, and the platform intelligently handles the cropping to ensure your images fit the correct dimensions perfectly. This thoughtful design removes a common hurdle for many bloggers, allowing you to focus on creating and sharing your best work without worrying about complex image editing requirements.

To underscore their unwavering commitment to every food blogger, regardless of professional photography skills or blog size, here’s a direct quote from the owner herself, which perfectly encapsulates their philosophy:

“At Yum Goggle we believe that if you took the trouble to create the recipe, cook the food and photograph it, then we should show it off. We get some lesser quality photos of delicious food sometimes, of course, but we also get a lot of really great photos from some really amazing cooks.”

This inclusive philosophy is a breath of fresh air and a testament to their dedication to building a supportive and empowering community. It reassures every blogger that their efforts are valued and their delicious creations deserve to be seen and celebrated by a wider audience, moving beyond the often-restrictive visual demands of other platforms.

So, once you’re done linking up your fantastic recipes at all your favorite parties this week, make sure to pop over to Yumgoggle and submit a few of your best photos. It’s an excellent, free way to gain additional exposure, connect with a broader audience, and support a platform that truly champions the food blogging community. Let’s make Yumgoggle thrive together and continue to share our passion for food!

This Week’s Featured Culinary Delights from Thursday’s Treasures

Now, for the moment you’ve all been waiting for! It’s time to celebrate the incredible talent and mouth-watering creations that were shared at last week’s party. Each week, we are consistently amazed by the ingenuity, passion, and sheer deliciousness displayed by our vibrant community. These features represent just a small glimpse of the culinary excellence submitted, but they are truly exceptional examples of home cooking and creative flair. Get ready to be inspired and perhaps even find your next favorite recipe to try in your own kitchen!

75 Treats with Chocolate Chips Round-Up from The Kitchen is my Playground
Calling all chocolate lovers! This incredible round-up is a treasure trove of 75 different ways to enjoy chocolate chips. From classic cookies and fudgy brownies to creative cakes and irresistible bars, you’ll find endless inspiration for your next sweet craving. It’s a testament to the versatility and universal appeal of chocolate chips – a must-save for anyone with a sweet tooth!

Caprese Burger from The NY Melrose Family
Elevate your burger game with this sophisticated Caprese Burger. The brilliant fusion of classic Italian flavors – creamy fresh mozzarella, ripe summer tomatoes, fragrant basil pesto, and a perfectly cooked juicy patty – creates a gourmet experience that is both refreshing and incredibly satisfying. A definite must-try for summer grilling, bringing a taste of Italy to your backyard barbecue!

Stove Top Pastitsio from Lemons for Lulu
Enjoy the rich, comforting flavors of traditional Pastitsio without the lengthy baking time! Lemons for Lulu shares a brilliant stove-top version of this beloved Greek pasta dish, packed with savory meat sauce, tender pasta, and a creamy béchamel topping. It’s perfect for a satisfying weeknight meal that tastes like it simmered all day, offering maximum flavor with minimal effort.

Cherry Hand Pies from Blahnik Baker
These adorable Cherry Hand Pies from Blahnik Baker are a charming and delicious treat! Each individual pie boasts a golden, flaky crust perfectly encasing a bursting sweet-tart cherry filling. They’re perfectly portable, making them ideal for picnics, lunchboxes, or simply as a wonderful dessert or snack on the go that’s easy to enjoy.

Strawberry Lemonade from Served Up With Love
Quench your thirst with this vibrant and exquisitely refreshing Strawberry Lemonade! Served Up With Love brings us a homemade classic that perfectly balances the natural sweetness of ripe, juicy strawberries with the tangy zest of fresh lemons. It’s the ultimate summer beverage, ideal for backyard parties, a relaxing afternoon on the porch, or simply to cool down on a hot day.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream from Cook with Sara
For a truly decadent and irresistible treat, look no further than Cook with Sara’s Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream. This creamy, dreamy concoction perfectly combines the universally adored duo of rich, dark chocolate and nutty peanut butter into a frozen delight that will satisfy even the most intense sweet tooth. Prepare for pure bliss with every spoonful!

Blueberry Lemon Streusel Bread from Turnips 2 Tangerines
This Blueberry Lemon Streusel Bread from Turnips 2 Tangerines is an absolutely perfect morning treat or an delightful afternoon snack. Bursting with sweet, fresh blueberries and bright, zesty lemon flavor, and generously crowned with a delightful crumbly streusel topping, it’s a moist and flavorful bread that’s sure to become a cherished family favorite.

S’mores Brownies from My Biscuits Are Burning
Get all the joy and nostalgic flavors of a campfire s’more in a convenient, utterly decadent brownie form! My Biscuits Are Burning shares these amazing S’mores Brownies, featuring a rich, fudgy brownie base generously topped with golden-toasted marshmallows and a layer of melted chocolate. They are an absolute showstopper dessert and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser for any occasion.

If your amazing creation was featured this week, congratulations! We’re so thrilled to highlight your talent and share your delicious recipe with our community. Be sure to grab your special “Featured at Thursday’s Treasures” button from my sidebar and proudly display it on your blog. It’s a wonderful way to showcase your accomplishment, drive traffic, and spread the word about our vibrant community!