Third Annual Lurker Buffet
Mar 2nd, 2010 by Marilyn
It occurs to me that I’ve not been a good host.
I realize that week after week, you lovely people show up and I open my mouth and it’s just words, words, words. I’m giving you little reason to hang around. Could I not offer you a little something? A cupcake maybe?
Two cupcakes?
Okay, two cupcakes and some spicy cheese straws.
Wait! Two cupcakes, spicy cheese straws and crazy pretzels. I hope you like toffee almond.
Good god you drive a hard bargain. Don’t make me bring the heavy artillery.
Fine. Little banana cakes with sour cream ganache.
You know? I think we’ve done this before. The chocolate bait, the sugar high, the comments. It’s all coming back to me now: I believe we’ve got ourselves a Lurker Buffet. An annual meet-and-greet in which I leave a trail of baked goods and lure you into the light. Remember the first one? And last year, Valentine’s Edition? Good times.
Spring is coming, but while it’s still gray and frozen, we might as well don name tags, grab a cocktail and gaze at treats. No matter how often you visit (or how often I write) I’m grateful for Simmer readers in every season, and I love to hear about you. So whether you’re a regular or just dropped in, grab a treat…
…and leave your chocolate-smudged intro in the comments. Enjoy this year’s buffet, and as always from here at Simmer HQ, many sweet thanks for stopping by.
I am way too chatty to be considered a lurker here (or nearly any place I appreciate the way I do this site), but simply had to send along a virtual back pat for your wonderfully welcoming idea: A Lurker Buffet!
So in honor of the treats and the cozy invite, I’ll go ahead and share: TexasDeb here, late 50s, empty nester, double blogger, and huge admirer of everything about STD. I take all sorts of day trips around the blogosphere, but this is one “home” that always provokes a sigh of pleasure when I return.
Can’t comment – too busy drooling!
Hi Marilyn, I am a simmer-till-done lurker, I like to visit your blog regularly again and again, your blog address is saved in my favorites and I follow all your posts. Pleased to meet you. would like to try one of the crazy pretzels… greetings, Anja
Lurker:) Love your blog, and your food. Also, my son has a little crush on Josie…I’m convinced it’s because he assumes she cooks just as wonderfully as her mom does
Drool.
Drool.
Drool.
I will happily delurk. In fact, I think you might find me *actually* lurking around your house soon with posts like this. Fear not. I don’t bite. I just really enjoy baked goods.
Thanks for the treats-I enjoy your delicious and entertaining blog very, very much. Sorry if I’ve left chocolate fingerprints on your page.
Loved the lurker bait. I am hooked!
I was going through all of the sites that are going to be in the 55knives book and stumbled across yours. I really like the looks of your blog and the photos above are making drool.
And here I thought you were actually going to send some of those treats to commenters. Silly of me.
Love you and your blog anyway. What’s up with the book???
Lurker Buffet totally worked. Cathy here. Lurking for years. What would I do without your wisdom, humor and tasty recipes? I don’t want to find out. Thank you for the effort you put into this lovely blog, and all those cupcakes. (Do you ever teach classes?)
As I (nosh, nosh) lament the fact that it has been way too long since I have (nibble, nibble) even had the opportunity to lurk on this (munch) delectable site, I am overjoyed that the day that I have returned (crunch, crunch) is the lurker buffet. Thank you so for your words (sip, sip) and your eye-candy. Drool as usual. Smile as always.
I’m no lurker ’cause I can’t keep my mouth shut about your inspiring posts. But those desserts? Gah. I’m glad I’m HERE, as opposed to…..well, THERE, or wherever those beauties are, because while I am not one to shut up much, I’m also not one to shut my mouth much when treats are around. That is why I must master the talk-and-take type of eating. I talk, take, bite, then listen. Swallow, answer, repeat.
I guess I am a lurker of your site. I am a regular reader! I am orignally from Kansas City. Loved my day trips to Lawrence. Is the great kitchen store still in downtown? Four years ago I moved to Omaha, Nebraska. I began blogging a year ago and love it.
I want one of those delicious cupcakes!
Hi, I’m Carol. I predate Simmer Till Done as I started following Marilyn’s New Old House a few years back. I’m a mom to 3 kids in Oak Park, Ill. who enjoys Marilyn’s way with words and food. Now you simply must excuse me while I go enjoy the buffet…
Well, I’m no lurker, but I love the idea behind your lurker buffets. What a tasty way to draw out blog readers who visit, but might be too shy to comment or just enjoy hanging around! If these sweets don’t do the trick—I don’t know what would.
Spicy Cheese Straws….do tell more, Simmer.
I’m not so much a lurker. But….
cheese. straw. recipe. please.
Oh Marilyn! Everything looks SO delicious! Are those banana cakes like the cake you made for Josie’s first birthday? I’ll take some spicy cheese straws and some crazy pretzels. You know the address.
Mmm. Banana cakes.
I’m Kate. I want to be Marilyn when I grow up.
Great post. These are absolutely beautiful photos and such a nice variety of treats.
De-lurking to say yum! Love your website. I have it in my favorites. These are so beautiful and look so delicious. Here in the deep south, we live by the cheese straw.
Maybe the recipe? Please?
carol
there is drool here
)
Good g-d, Simmer! It’s after midnight here and I did NOT need this food porn to make me want more chocolate. Can I say porn on this site? ;o)
Lisa, Married, furry child only, not by choice. LOL. And I’m in desperate need of hamantaschen help. Mine NEVER stay pinched at the corners. I roll thin, they unpinch. I roll thick, they unpinch and are HUGE. I was thinking I should form them, then chill them, THEN bake them.
Simmer thoughts?
Greetings from the Gravy Company! I am a frequent flyer of your site and am a fellow blogger from the Kansas City area. I am intrigued by those loaded up pretzels and the cheese straws. Keep up the good works! Nella
another lurker, you know i lurk around your blog. a lot. the cupcakes are little pillows of perfection, M. so beautiful. ah, when will the day come when i pass by your place for tea and scones? x shayma
Not a lurker but really not much of a commenter either. I love your blog, have lots of different flours & other stuff in the pantry that I expect to use to make some of your recipes some day. I also now have FIVE madeleine pans and have yet to make a single madeleine. Some day…….
Oh I love all the treats. They are calorie free today since I can’t reach through my computer screen and grab one or two, maybe three!!!!
I am a major lurker here but I have been known to leave a comment once in a while.
Not a lurker, but I haven’t commented in a bit, so hello, and curse you, curse you, lovely Marilyn for all that carb/choco temptation. I am dieting, dieting, dieting, and it will be months before I eat a cupcake. (Though I do make exceptions, on occasion.) Someday, someday, we’ll gather in person and raise a chocolate toast to one another…
Those pretzel sticks look delish!
I ADORE you! These pics are to die for, and we are anxiously awaiting recipes! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!!! Thanks for giving me new inspirations. I would follow you anywhere…
Hugs,
Rhonda
IMO it really doesn’t matter how often a person posts as long as I get a big drool out of it and some great new ideas. You always hit the mark !
You know I love your blog and love your writing but I never seem to get here often enough. Now, if I knew that a gorgeous chocolate cupcake or two was waiting for me every time I showed up, I’d be here, oh, 2, 3 times a day! Keep up the great blog!
those pink and brown heart cookies are so amazingly cute!
i cannot read your site marilyn…you always make me STARVING. those cupcakes in the first picture? to.die.for.
Wonderful idea! Don’t mind if I do indulge a little. I always do around here. So glad to have you in my neighbourhood! Thanks for all you do to make me laugh – and for the lovely treats.
Are you in the market for a second daughter? How about a clone-in-training? Royal food taster? Not-so-royal food taster? Geeky sidekick? Eager (or is that Igor) apprentice? Consider this my job application.
As for me, I’m Valerie, and I also want to be Marilyn when I grow up. Maybe we can form a club! That’d be one of the few things I’d consider moving away from Tulsa for. The only other I can think of is a gazillion dollar inheritance with a live-in-this-city-for-a-while clause.
ohhh….cheese straws hands down!!!!
I’ve been in such a tizzy lately I’m not quite sure what I am. I’ll be anything you want me to be if I can please have the first platter of cupcakes. Yes, the entire plate:)
Did I miss the book announcement?
Thanks for adding a spark to my day and a blog full of belly timber, Marilyn. Always a pleasure…
I’m definitely a lurker – but you always having me coming back for more recipes – I’ve tried several – I love your site – do you have a cookbook in print?????
This is one luscious page! Your relatives are so lucky! Love from the other Louise
knock, knock…..hello?? marilyn?? are you there?? is everything alright? we miss you. please come back soon.
Hi Marilyn! Hope everything is okie dokie.
hehe – I love it! I’ll take a bite…. or two. YUM!
What a nice idea… I’ll take one of everything, please!
Very entertaining read and pictures to drool at; what else is there?