Logistics

• Who designed this website? That would be me! I was a web design geek in college, and it is one of the only things that stuck. I created the first version of the website in 2010, and, admittantly, the layout and design was essentially a Frankensteinly conglomeration of several other cooking blogs I admired. It has undergone several renovations since then as my tastes and preferences have become more personal.

• What tools do you use on your site? I use WordPress and an always changing portfolio of plugins. You can find direct links to what we’re using in the footer.

• How do I subscribe to The Red Spoon email updates? There is a “Subscribe by Email” button in the title bar at the top of the webpage.

• How do I unsubscribe from The Red Spoon email updates? There is an “unsubscribe now” link at the bottom of each email update.

• Is there a difference between the subscription buttons in the title bar and the links underneath the pages? Yes, and this is because The Red Spoon website is comprised of several sub-sites. If you would like to receive all updates from The Red Spoon, then subscribe using the buttons in the title bar at the top of the webpage. If you would like only sub-site specific updates, such as baby food updates, then use the subscription options at the bottom of the page within the sub-site for which you would like to receive updates. If you follow The Red Spoon on Facebook and Twitter, you will receive all updates via those platforms.

• Where did your ‘email a post to a friend’ link go at the bottom of your posts? As of March 2012 I realized that the email plugin we were using was not actually working. After contacting the plugin creator and a mad, feverish google rampage I was unable to fix the error between the site and the plug in. Fortunately, there is an email option under the share button. Though it will not send the entire recipe to your mailbox or your friend’s mailbox, it will send a direct link to the recipe you want. I know. Totally not as cool, but it’s what we’ve got. Unless there is a javascript wiz that can figure out the problem between my theme and the plug in.

• Do you participate in link exchanges, swaps, reciprocal Facebook likes, etc.? I do not.

• Can I advertise on The Red Spoon? You are welcome to ask, though I have yet to be pitched on a product or service that I would want advertised on The Red Spoon, and, until then, I am sticking exclusively to Google’s advertising platform. 

• We would love to advertize/be a freelance writer/put a link to our product on your site/etc. This here is a one gal show. Everything is cooked, photographed, written, tested, and designed by me so freelancers, thanks but no thanks. Those that want to post product links, I do not think so. I do not plug anything I have not personally tried and loved and want to share with others. If you want to send me something, feel free, BUT I make no promises to blog about it (it must be earth shattering, life altering good for me to do so) and/or to write a positive review. I try to be brutally honest, and if I do not like you/your product I will not write about you. And if I hate you, I will write about you…negatively. So basically, you should assume the answer is no. No I will not link to or write about you. As far as advertizing, at the moment we are doing everything through Google.

Photography

• What kind of camera do you use? Lenses? Lighting? Equipment? All posts photographed prior to May 2012 were shot with a Nikon D3000 and a Nikon 50mm f/1.8D AF Nikkor Lens. All posts photographed since May 2012 are shot with a Nikon D7000 and a mixture of the 50mm lens and a Nikon 60mm f/2.8G ED AF-S Micro-Nikkor Lens (macro lens). I don’t have any fancy lighting equipment yet, but I do have a handy wireless remote, and, of course, a tripod.

• Who takes your photos? That would be me, Meg. I take all of them. Believe me, you would know if Josh took any because he MAKES me give him credit for any of his shots. Being the diva that I am, and unwilling to share credit, I then never put his pictures up. The one notable exception being the burrito we made oh so long ago.

Recipes

• Can I write about one of your recipes on my site? Yes, and thank you. I’m flattered. When you do so, though, be sure to credit both the original source and The Red Spoon (with a plainly visible link to The Red Spoon in your post) as the place you found the recipe, and be sure to put the recipe in your own words. You also should try the recipe yourself before posting it. I know this advice may seem obvious, but what following this advice mitigates is the urge to essentially aggregate content from websites with viewers in an effort to bolster your own readership without actually creating something. Don’t do this, it is lame.

• Can I use your picture(s) with the recipe I am writing about?   In most cases the answer to this question will be no, or it may be yes provided you credit The Red Spoon as your source and provide a plainly visible link to The Red Spoon in your post. But really, you should take your own pictures, i.e. create your own content. Again, you shouldn’t be aggregating content from other websites just to bolster readership on your website without actually creating something. #lame #fail #dosomethinguseful

• I have a recipe question. Ask away. I always try to respond to recipe questions in the comment section of the post it relates to as quickly as possible. And if I’m not fast enough (sometimes these people in my house need me, like I’m wife/mom/solver of all world problems or something) then anyone should feel free to respond with an answer. I’m definitely not a know it all cook, so if I’m not sure I will definitely research it out for you.

• Do you have any wine, beer, alcohol recommendations and/or pairings? Unfortunately no. Pretty much the only rule I have about cooking with alcohol is that it is cheap, and something you could see yourself drinking as that would be the best pairing. I usually never pay over $10 for something I use in cooking.

• Can I substitute an ingredient in this recipe? You should try it! Post pictures on the Red Spoon Flickr photopool and let us know how it turned out!