Happy anniversary eve to us!

A little more than a year ago, Meg suggested that we start a blog together. A baking blog. We didn't know what would become of it, but we were EXCITED. Several of our favorite things came in to play. Baking? Check. Writing? Check. Doing something together despite being separated by 1,000+ miles for the past six years? Check.

And so the blog was launched. At first, we went crazy, baking up a storm to try to get several new recipes out each week. Eventually, though, we *had* to slow down because of demands from life, work, school, and most recently, our still-gestating babies. We've continued to try to provide at least one new post a week, and over the last 12 months we've worked hard to vary our offerings so that you don't find 90 cookies recipes and one muffin recipe. You've read along during our theme weeks and while we shared our pumpkin obsession with you on Pumpkin Fridays.

We've been able to share some of our favorite tried-and-true recipes, and we've also tested out some new ones, combing recipe sites on the internet, other blogs and old-school recipe books for our newest baking adventures. We started with a scant two blog followers and have grown to 22 followers. The blog celebrated 100 posts AND a redesign (old header is at top of post). We've led two rounds of Operation Baking Gals, and many of you have supported our troops by participating.


Over the course of the last year, we've had some major baking successes ... some of my favorite recipes from the past year include the party-pleasing Cookie Pizza (right), the oft-requested Pumpkin Bread Pudding, the sinfully decadent Cheesecake Cookie Bars, the ever-popular Cookie Dough Dip, and my favorite, easy-to-variate stand-by, Cakies.

And now I'm officially hungry :)

And of course, there have been some unappetizing failures. One of my most notable failed recipes was for S'mores Bars. While they turned out edible, they did not impress me at. all. I struggled with the recipe for Haystacks around that same time. My initial return to baking after a Lent-long hiatus was also quite a disaster.

Thank you to everyone who has been along for the ride so far. We're looking forward to the recipes of the future, and we'd like to get some more feedback from all of you. Sooooo ...

What do you like most about the blog? What do you like least? What would you like to see more or less of? Feel free to leave a comment here on the blog with your thoughts, or e-mail us at easttowestbakers@gmail.com.