It’s my blog’s first anniversary today.
And for the past few hours, I’ve been trying to work out what to say.
The thing is, I know there are more blogs than I could ever conceive of that have already celebrated their first, second, third, and even eighth anniversaries, and that it’s therefore silly of me to think it’s a big deal that I’ve managed a mere 12 months.
But I never expected this blog to become such a part of me, and I never imagined I’d write it for this long. When my mum first nagged me to – I mean, suggested nicely that I – start a blog with which to record my four months of solo travel between December 2009 and April 2010, I thought this blog would simply be a place my immediate family and friends could come to check I was still alive.
The strange thing is, this blog has saved me.
Yes, that’s hyperbolic, but it also feels true. I don’t want to get too teary-eyed-nitty-gritty on you, but to adequately explain how very much it has meant to me that you – yes, you - are out there supporting me by reading this (and commenting, for those of you who comment), I have to mention one or two things. You see, I’ve spent a lot of years lately not liking myself very much, and so it’s been a wonder for me to discover that by being myself, and by writing the way that I love to write, I’ve gained many lovely readers and friends who have brightened my life immeasurably.
Throughout the past year, I’ve [re-]learnt that I love to write, that I love desserts, that I love to travel, that I love my fellow bloggers and all of you who come here (silently or not), and that I’m okay.
I’ve also learnt, through this blog, that it’s entirely possible to have soul-sisters and BFFs across the world, who grew up with the same books, have the same sense of humour, offer amazing advice, and who make me laugh and feel better about everything. I’ve discovered that there are more chocoholics in the world than I’d imagined, but that non-chocoholics can be awesome people too.
This blog has taught me to be positive even when I feel like crying and to turn scary experiences on public transport into entertaining tales. This blog even led me to an experience after which I understood, for the first time in my 23 years*, why so many people write poetry and sing about broken hearts (yeah… I didn’t post about that. Sometimes, some things, sometimes, have to stay quiet).
Most of all, this blog has taught me to be grateful to each and every one of you who has ever stopped by here. Because without you, I wouldn’t still be writing, and without you, I never would have thought to try adapting one of my favourite childhood desserts into a single-serving blogiversary cake.
So I want to thank you all, very much. For being here. This Single-Serving Maple Cornmeal Pudding Cake? It’s for you.
Single-Serving Maple Cornmeal Pudding Cake
Serves one. It’s also vegan and dairy-free, with a gluten-free option.
I’m inordinately proud of this recipe. I took a beloved recipe for Indian Corn Pudding that my mum used to make, and tried adapting it into a cute celebratory dessert for one. And lo and behold, it worked the first time around! The only thing to note is that while I’ve called it a Maple cake because the original recipe uses maple syrup, I myself only had molasses on hand, which is why the cake in the pictures is so dark. Please use your syrup of choice. And please, enjoy!
- 2 tsp Nuttelex (or butter), plus extra to grease
- 3 tsp caster sugar
- 1 tsp ground flax, mixed with 3 tsp water and left for a few minutes (or a quarter of an egg, if you can be bothered figuring that out…)
- 15g (25ml) self-raising flour (gluten-free self-raising flour works here – my mum even used to make it with rye flour)
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 2 tsp cornmeal
- 25ml soymilk (or normal milk)
- 2 tsp maple syrup (or molasses, golden syrup, honey, agave… whatever you like! Jam could even work, I think)
- Mix Nuttelex, sugar, flax and water mixture, flour, baking powder, and cornmeal together well, then stir in the soymilk to form a smooth batter.
- Grease a small microwave-safe bowl, and add your 2 tsp of syrup to the bottom of the bowl.
- Pour the cornmeal batter into the bowl, then cover the bowl loosely with gladwrap. Microwave on medium-low (I used a power setting of 4 out of 10) for around 4 minutes, until pudding springs back when you touch it lightly. (Remember that all microwaves work differently, so you might want to fiddle around a bit with your timing. I’m going to experiment with the cooking times myself. 4min 30 was a bit too long for me, and I might try 3min 30 next.)
- Leave the pudding to rest for about 2 minutes, then turn out onto a pretty plate so that you can look at it and go “awww”. A nice touch, particularly if you’re using something like maple or golden syrup, is to drizzle more syrup over the pudding-cake just prior to eating. As molasses is fairly intense, I forwent this step. Usually, though, more syrup equals more tastiness.
- Enjoy! The original recipe was one of my favourite desserts of all time, and now I can make it just for me. I’m one happy blogiversary-celebrating girl tonight.
* Yes, I’m definitely not one of those girls who started dating when she was 14.
{ 89 comments… read them below or add one }
Happy Blogiversary gorgeous! Yes, I have 8 under my belt plus some, but doesn’t mean the first isn’t awesome
*hug*
Thank you so much Fiona!
Plus, blogs lead to IRL friends. At least I’m SO counting you. heh. NO ESCAPE now.
You’ve made me so happy, my dear! I’m counting you too, and I don’t want to escape. Just have another BBQ when I’m not leaving the city for the weekend, okay?
Happy Blogmas! Bloggakah! St. Blogrick’s Day!
You are a champ. And lovely. And the world – cyber and otherwise – is lucky to have you in it
You are, however, a little bit devious. If that cake was truly for us, I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t be a single serving……
I’ll happily make you the full-scale-serves-four version… just for you.
Because you’re a completely lovely champ too.
Happy blogiversary! And cornmeal-based sweets are awesome. I recently discovered cornmeal cookies (with chocolate chunks, of course) and YUM.
Oooh, cornmeal cookies? I’ll have to rummage through your blog to see if I can find the recipe there…
You need these: http://districtchocoholic.blogspot.com/2010/10/check-out-another-blog-my-cornmeal.html
Thanks Victoria! Those look fantastical indeed
Aw, I don’t have a microwave so I shall instead enjoy your dessert vicariously through your pictures.
Congratulations on your one-year anniversary – long may you continue to write! Soul sisters all over the world, wooo!
I definitely count you as one of my soul sisters
Even if you don’t have a microwave. (How do you get your daily dose of radiation then? I’m confused.)
I love you and your sparkly happy ohsoawesome blog! I can’t even remember how I found your blog, I think it had something to do with your postings on Florence. I hope you enjoy many more years blogging! I enjoy reading.
Thank you, Jess, your comment really made me puff up with happiness
Even if I’m still envious of the two delicious pies on your blog… 
So glad you FINALLY responded to my nag – suggestion – and started blogging, Hannah. It’s been fun sharing it with you … you know what I think about you and your writing so I won’t go all schmaltzy here but may there be many more years.
Oh, and I used to make it (the family sized version) with a mix of rye and pure cornflour – and with egg not flax. (And for those of you who know about these things, I do know rye has gluten – my aim was to be wheat-free not gluten-free)
I’m so glad you nagged – suggested – me to blog in the first place
I’ve loved sharing some of the blogging ups and downs with you too, particularly when we’ve done so whilst simultaneously watching SeaChange 
Happy Bloggiversary indeed!!!! Here’s to many more years of your wonderful words
Thank you Lisa!
Happy bloggiversary! I love reading your blog, keep it up!!
Aw, thanks! I think I just might
Awww Happy Bloggiversary!!! Its always amazing to read why people blog, and to each and everyone of us its a special thing, that no one else could truly understand. Its been a pleasure reading your blog and I hope you have MANY years to come!!
Thank you Maria! I think you’re right about blogging being, and meaning, something slightly different to each of us
But I think we can all agree that it’s generally wonderful!
Happy blogiversary, Hannah! I just love your blog. Your writing always reaches me – most often leaving me laughing out loud! You’re so witty and smart. I love your nostalgic posts too. I’m pleased that your blog has helped you through some tough times. I know that I can always come to your blog and smile if I’m feeling a little flat myself
Great job on this cake – it looks so delicious. Perfect for you blogiversary!
Heidi xo
Oh Heidi – you have no idea how much this means to me. Thank you so very much – you’ve just prevented me from feeling at all flat for the rest of today!
xoxo
A very Happy Blogiversary to you my dear! And I am so happy that you have felt the love that all us readers send your way each time we get to hear about a slice of your life and wonderful personality – you definitely shine through your words.
And whilst I initially came here for the chocolate, I kept coming back for you
Oh, gosh, thank you! I didn’t expect to have such lovely words appear on this post – it was meant to be just about me thanking you! Really can’t express how much this loveliness means to me
Happy 1 Year!
Thank you!
Happy blogaversary – it’s year six for me but, like you, my blog(s) have helped save me too. And blogs such as yours are found via comments which incite a bit of ‘hmm who is this person?’ and then staying to read what they write and think about and bookmarking them, seeing them respond and on it snowballs.
You have a witty outlook on life and a wonderful talent, so make it onto year two, year three, year twenty…..
Thank you Kath! Of course, sometimes blog relationships start even before two people have their own blogs, all because the send each other chocolate from their respective cities…
(And I quite like that way of connecting, too!)
I’ve so enjoyed (re-)discovering your non-chocolate blog, too. I’m still cranky at my brain for glitching and missing out on that one for so long!
P.S. Twenty years? Wow, that’ll be an effort! That’s almost as long as I’ve been alive…
Can’t help it. I’m all teary eyed! Well done indeed.
Aw, dad! Thank you!
Happy blogbirthday, Hannah! You have brightened many of my days by sharing your travel, food and life stories. Though I must agree with L-Izzle about the single serving-ness…
P.S. Can I have a cool blog name too? ^o)
Ash-Diddy?
For you, A.ResearchSuperstar, I’ll make the full-serve size of this and we can go halvsies in January. Even though that size is meant to serve 4
Thank you so much for popping by and commenting. It means so much when my pre-blog friends do
Happy happy bloggiversary. I have a few orange polenta cupcakes in the freezer; I think celebrating your blog birthday is a good excuse to eat one, no?
Absolutely! I think you’ll need to eat at least three to properly celebrate my anniversary
(Particularly as my orange-aversion-y self wouldn’t be able to join you even if we were in the same city…) Polenta celebrations FTW!
Right time to have landed here, congrats for the feat. Lovely cake. First time to this beautiful place, hope to come here more often for these lovely treats. Best wishes.
Thank you!! I hope you like the rest of the blog if you do pop back sometime
Wow
Happy Blogiversary. I want to echo what just about everyone has said here lovely one but mostly I want you to know your fantasticly witty writing always makes me smile, sometimes laugh out loud & on several accounts made it to a “Oh I must tell you what one of my blog-buddies said” to friends. I’m so glad your blog ‘saved you’ – I kinda relate now you’ve made me think about it, blogging makes you look at things differently & with humour for sure, I love that.
I think bloggers are like wine…. we just get better with age – can’t wait to see what your ‘Terrible Two’s” will bring to light (methinks it could be your launching pad)
Happy Days new friend xox
Oh, gosh, really? Thank you Anna! So many lovely sentiments, I truly appreciate it
Love the idea of us being like wine. At least that’s one positive to aging, right? 
Congratulations one year is quite feat. I do enjoy reading your blog, your observations and of course the chocolate keep it up.
Thank you Gillian! I shall indeed do my best to keep it up
There’s still a lot of chocolate out there in the world for me to get through…
Happy happy first blogsoversary lovely Hannah! I’m raising a chocolate to you for many, many more!
xxx
I couldn’t ask for any better toast that one with chocolate
Thanks Lorraine.
Happy Blogiversary! I think celebrating your first year is the best year of all to celebrate, and the hardest to make it too! Glad that you joined the blogisphere … and posted that cake
Thank you Alisa! I’m glad I joined too
Happy anniversary and I was touched by your heartfelt and honest assessments of what this blog has been to you; I am likewise very happy I started mine, have learned a lot of new things and have met alot of great people, virtually and not.
Love that little cake, I always go for these sweet treats with cornmeal, love that little crunch and rustic feel of it, similar to the semolina we use in Lebanese pastries.
Thank you! It really is wonderful what blogging can do and mean for each of us
I’ve never cooked with semolina (as my mum is allergic to wheat) but I think I’ll have to try it soon!
Congratulations! I got a little behind in my RSS feed, so only just saw this today.
I understand completely how you feel – it seems strange that the blog anniversary is a big deal but it definitely felt special. It is an achievement to have started this and kept it going and great that you have connected with so many people along the way.
A toast to you Wayferer!
Thank you for the lovely comment, Emily
It’s wonderful how many of us feel this way about what we’re doing and each other! Toast gladly received 
That is such a heart felt post! Happy blogoversary, I think milestones in life, big or small deserve celebration. I am glad I found a great blogger like you!
here’s hoping for many more such fun filled posts and blogoversaries!
Thank you so mcuh, Priyanka! This really means a lot to me
Adorable cake! Happy blogiversary!
Thank you! It’s a pretty tasty cake too
Happy Blog-versary!
And your small maple cornmeal cake looks delicious. Funny coincidence: I just made polenta cakes myself.
Oooh, did you blog yours? I’m going to have to go explore your blog
A very happy blogoversary to you my dear! Wishing you many more.
Blogging has really changed my life too, and made me happier than I thought I could be.
*birthday kisses* HH
Thank you! Blogging, and the people we connect with through it, really can brighten life up immeasurably!
Congratulations – you are one of my two favourite bloggers (you can guess who the other one is.) Now you know how special you are to so many people – so start feeling special about yourself.
Look forward to future blogs (though as you know I skip most of the choc ones – after all they do make me jealous.)
Thank you Grandma! I’d completely understand if I was your second favourite blogger
One day I’ll find a chocolate bar that you could safely eat and reat about…
Happy blogaversary Hannah….you are a wonderful writer and your vibrant, happy personality really shines through in your blog! I love reading it. And you aren’t listed on my blog under the title of “People I’d Like To Have A Drink With” for nothing!! xx
Oh my! I didn’t know that, thank you so much! What an honour
I really, really appreciate your comment. Me = happy 
happy first blogiversary – I am glad your blog is still going and that I have discovered the joys of dropping in for some entertainment and chocolatey goodness. And what better way to celebrate the anniversary than to get to meet you and find you are just as lovely in person as on the blog. Blogging is a beautiful thing!
I am so slow on commenting here. Read this post a few days ago and I wanted to tell you how awesome you are and how much reading your blog makes me laugh (and I’m still cracking up when I hear that guy’s voice). I love how you approach every situation here with courage and a smile. You are awesome! (I can’t stop using that word at the moment…potentially tragic).
PS One of my friends started dating when she was 11 (or at least that’s when I first met her and she was dating then…so perhaps she’d been at it earlier?). A bit scary perhaps?!
Oh! Thank you so much! I’m smiling so much right now that it’s a little bit ridiculous. Really really thank you. I just wish I could take responsibility for that man’s voice…
P.S. 11?! Sweet heavens, I was still playing with barbies then.
Well, I won’t even mention how old I was when I stopped playing with barbies…or if I ever stopped. In fact, I actually have a few collector barbies at my parents as well as my ones from “childhood”. I’d love to put them on display but you can’t take them out of their boxes or get them damaged by sun…it’s all rather tragic ’cause I’d really like to take them out and brush their hair.
Oh dear, I think I’ve said too much…!
Okay, new plan: I fly to Christchurch in a few weeks’ time, you bake – erm, stir together – my raw pumpkin pie, and we’ll play with Barbies like it’s 1999.
Actually, come to think of it, your story is completely acceptable. After all, those Barbies aren’t “dolls”, they are socio-cultural artefacts reflecting the values, idealised images of beauty, and gender constructs of a bygone era. (See what I did there?)
This is a good plan! I’ll be in Christchurch from boxing day and I’m sure we have plenty of room!
I just won’t mention how old I was in 1999!!
And absolutely, I do like that description of my doll collection. Many of my collector ones are actually not technically barbies (although the bodies are made from the barbie mold) but Mattel versions of the Disney Princesses. This one is my favourite.
As someone who knows ‘most every Disney song by heart, I can absolutely get behind this
Ooo really?! We could have singalongs! My brother and I used to sing along to Beauty and the Beast together…although if I mentioned it to him now he would deny it. But a few years ago we watched Aladdin at one of our family Christmas parties and us older cousins scared the younger ones by quoting the whole thing. We do the same thing for The Princess Bride. Ahh, The Princess Bride…such good memories!
Disney and The Princess Bride? We really do have to make this raw pumpkin pie meet-up happen
AWWW. Happy blogiversary! Squish.
HAPPY BLOGIVERSARY TO YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOU!!!
I am SO very glad that you decided to give birth to this little baby a year ago, I would not like to imagine a world without having met you
Tonight I shall dine on a leftover cupcake in your honour, and I may even pour some maple syrup on it too, even though the flavour doesn’t entirely go with it. I think some ice cream may also be required. And peanut butter, of course.
Oh, Conor! What a wonderful thing to say
Thank you!
P.S. That sounds like an amazing dessert. Cupcakes, ice cream, peanut butter, maple syrup? I’m in.
Happy bloggy day! And many many more to come lovely
Thank you Penny! Hopefully the next year will involve a trip to Melbourne when you’re actually in the city
*muahhh*
Congratulation!!
Thank you!!
I’m SOOO sorry at my behind-ness! Happy very belated blogiversary! I really enjoyed reading this heartfelt post of yours. Assuming I am in fact one of them, I’m proud to be a soul sister to such a bright, witty, lovely person (and that doesn’t even begin to describe the wonder that is Hannah!). Here’s to many more years!
No need to apologise, my definite-soul-sister! After all, you’re busy figuring out how to perfect my raw cheezecake buffet
Thank you so much for your lovely words – it means so much to have you in my life xoxo
I’ve been a little behind with blog reading this week, and just got to reading this post today. I feel sorrow at having missed your blogiversary, but so glad you celebrated it in style. I read a fair range of blogs at the moment, and yours will forever be one of my favourites. Such a nice surprise to see a new post from you in my reader. As everyone has said I too enjoy your wit, humour, fun and turn of phrase. What I really like though is that even though you started the blog to write about grazing on chocolate as you travelled around the world, the blog didn’t die off when the travelling stopped. I did love living vicariously through you whilst you were away. Vestri pistachio still nags at me you know. But you’ve turned an adept hand at a range of other topics and made them fun and interesting too. No one trick pony here, no siree. Well done Hannah. I’m glad your fame is spreading. And I’m glad it’s given back to you, just as it’s given to us.
Oh, Louise. I can’t believe I deserve such wonderful words, so thank you very, very much. I’m absolutely honoured to be one of your favourite blogs to read, and it means so much to me that I’m not just faffing around and amusing only myself
And what a relief that the slight shift in focus since I returned home hasn’t lost me my wonderful blog-friends 
If I ever find the Vestri again, I’ll make sure to buy one for you.
Happy belated blogiversary! I’m so glad we had a chance to meet on the travels that inspired this blog, and I hope we will one day again be in the same city at the same time. (I was imagining moving to Melbourne just today, in fact…)
Me too, a thousand times
You were my first blogger meet-up, and as they say, you never forget your first 
I, however, don’t hope we’ll one day be in the same city again, I know it. Also… please move to Melbourne. If you do, I swear I will too.
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