1. In any blog conference, comfort is key and, while flats and I are far from BFF until I get clearance, I still think they are an excellent choice for a blog conference because, stilettos for 8 hours in sessions and then to parties after – not a good look, imo. I love these Cole Haan Air Reesa Leather and Patent Ballet Flats – the neutral is perfect to rock with any outfit.

2. I know at some blog conferences, there are more laptops than outlets. I often bring my iPad (in addition to a small notebook) and having a cute case is always a plus. I love this kate spade new york iPad sleeve in this chick black and white floral. There is even a matching iPhone case.

3. Business cards are a must at these conferences.   I love these bright business card holders from Graphic Image that are functional and won’t get lost in a crowded bag.

4.  If pen and paper are more to your liking, I really love this kate spade new york organizer – such a great pop of color!  The girls at kate spade in King of Prussia must laugh because whenever I’m in there, I can’t resist heading to the back and looking at the organizers going “Hmmm… should I?” – maybe this summer I might treat myself – if I ever get out of these daggone sneakers.

5. Jen from One Curly Fry reminded me of the most important necessity for a blog conference – COFFEE! How could I have forgotten that (and, while I’m thinking of it – I better check to see where Starbucks is in relation to the hotel because me – that early in the am without coffee – oy vey!) I love this snazzy hot pink OXO Soft Works LiquiSeal™ Travel Mug.

6. There are some seriously great blogging books on the market. I have a few of them and have told you before about my adoration of Food Blogging for Dummies. Some others that are fabulous are ProBlogger: Secrets for Blogging Your Way to a Six-Figure Income, Professional Blogging For Dummies, and The Digital Mom Handbook: How to Blog, Vlog, Tweet, and Facebook Your Way to a Dream Career at Home. Both Audra McClellan and Colleen Padilla will be speaking at Bloggy Boot Camp tomorrow along with some fabulous speakers.

7. One of the things on my to-do list for June is to get another bookshelf because my cookbook collection is seriously out of control. One of my latest additions A Country Cook’s Kitchen: Time-Tested Kitchen Skills is focused on making things from scratch but not in a way that will make you scream for the hills (like the time I ruined the pie crust). In all seriousness, I can tell you their egg and bacon tart will be on the menu in the very near future (including a from-scratch pie crust that I hope to not kill). Who knows – I might even attempt to make my own puff pastry this year!

Have you attended a blog conference? What are some of your must-have necessities and any advice for anyone attending a blog conference?

[Disclosure – this post contains some affiliate links. My opinions, as always, are 100% my own]

I’ll keep it short and sweet with today’s post as I’ve got a sick Sous Pug that needs some TLC. If you saw my instagram the other night, you might have seen that my lil’ guy had to head to the ER for a late night visit when a cyst ruptured on his leg and he’s got his leg wrapped up tighter than a mummy.  You would have thought he was being tortured with the look on his face.

What’s one of your favorite side dishes to serve?

Gather The Ingredients

Time to blanch – don’t skip this part!

Enjoy and let’s keep it a secret how amazingly simple it is to make these okay?

Over the weekend, I checked out the new Wegmans that opened up in King of Prussia and they had a crazy insane sale going on and the berries beckoned from the produce department, whispering “Aly – buy me buy me“. I couldn’t say no and knew that I’d probably make a few recipes along with some of my favorite strawberry jam. Well, Sunday morning, as I broke out the blueberries for brunch, I got inspired and decided to do a mixed berry jam and, I’m so sorry Barefoot Contessa but I think this mixed berry jam will be one of my fave go-tos this summer. My neighbors are also due for a surprise this week – the SousPug is going to deliver a couple jars to some of his favorite pups (and their respective humans, of course).

Much like the strawberry jam, it’s super simple – you tumble in the berries, add some apple, orange juice and sugar and cook down for a spell. Let cool a bit, and you have summer berry freshness for toast, biscuits, yogurt – the possibilities are endless.

Gather the ingredients

Washing the strawberries

Strawberries are sliced and ready to go

Tumble in the berries

Boiling away

Mixed Berry Jam – so simple and full of summer flavor

Blogging has been quite the journey for this gal. If you told me 10 years ago that I’d be obsessed with all things Le Creuset, I would have told you to shush and when was the next shoe sale. Cooking and I were not mixy things. However, a passion for cooking was ignited when I learned I actually COULD cook and now you can often find me either perusing one of my many cookbooks, in the kitchen or wandering the Italian Market or WholePaychex prepping for a new recipe.

So, let me throw the doors to my kitchen wide open, welcome our new visitors and give you a quick {virtual} tour of the abode. My About page can give you the 411 on the gal behind the stilettos. If you shop online, you might appreciate my tutorial on All Things Cash Back. Since this IS a cooking blog, there has to be some delish recipes on here, right? Well, you can find my favorite tried and trues on the Recipes page. I asked a couple friends what they might recommend you try and my BFF Meowmix recommends the Spicy Smoky S’mores and the Black and Tan Brownies. My Philly partner in crime, Jen from One Curly Fry recommends the Bourbon Slow Cooked Pulled Pork and the Lasagna Rolls. The one piece of advice I can give you – y’all really need to have a jar of my Mojo de Ajo in your fridge for summer grilling – the stuff takes olive oil to a whole new level.

So, pull up a chair, grab a cocktail, some raspberry iced tea or even an iced chai and browse around. I’m so glad you are here!

I love the combo of both mustards along with the fresh herbs and shallots. A couple quick pulses of a food processor and your sauce is good to go. Serve with some asparagus and couscous and you have one heck of a weeknight dinner.

Gather the ingredients

Put together the sauce

Isn’t This A Gorgeous Piece of Salmon?

Before the broiler

Broiled Salmon with Herb Mustard Glaze

[The Recipe Redo Series is when I take one of my earlier posts here at Cooking In Stilettos, redo the recipe with new pictures and add any tips I've learned along the way.  This Tried & True originally appeared back in March of 2008:  Tried & True: Broiled Salmon with Herb Mustard Glaze]

First of all, can I say how much I wanted to stomp my stiletto when I saw how much fun Jen from One Curly Fry had on her recent trip to Vegas? You must check out her recap (she even had a Frrrozen Oreo Hot Chocolate at Serendipity3).

One of my other fave people, Candice Kumai (aka the Stiletto Chef) poured her heart out in 30 Things I’ve Learned (or wish I had) Before 30. What’s that phrase – “if I knew then what I know now” – so very true true!

Mother Would Know has a great granola recipe and a cost breakdown that will have you making your own and never buying it from the store again.

To go with the granola – you really need to check out Alana from Eating From The Ground Up’s recipe for Crock Pot Greek Yogurt.  I go through a TON of greek yogurt with both myself and also for the SousPug (he needs yogurt to mask the taste of one of his meds) and knowing that I can control the ingredients makes it SO much better..  Alana – my wallet is singing your praises right now.

Muy Bueno Cookbook has a killer Tacos Al Pastor With Roasted Pinapple Salsa that is begging to be made this spring!

Marisa from Food In Jars got an interesting package the other day – her own cookbook. Amazon started shipping these lovelies out early (I got my copy the other day) and, let me tell you, I’m ready to start canning in stilettos after reading some of it. Congrats Marisa!

Not Without Salt threw the doors to her kitchen open with the post My Mess.

Tasha from The Housewife Diaries recaps her visit to the 2012 Taste of The Nation event here in Philly. I so need to go to that next year.

Creative Culinary has a great cocktail with this Limoncello and Prosecco Cooler with Raspberry Ice cubes – perfect for Mother’s Day.

Finally, a bit of food for thought with La Phemme Phoodie – she tackles a tough subject, Bullying, in her Keeping It Legal series which focuses on legal issues that affect food bloggers. It’s a must read.

What’s one post that has you obsessed this week – leave it in the comments!

1. I’m still on a wedge kick and am obsessed with these Diane von Furstenberg Woven Raffia and Metallic Leather Wedge Sandals. Running in a close second for the must add to the shoe arsenal award – her Tafari Patent Leather Cork Wedges. Both would be perfect for my summer escapades.

2. I am seriously contemplating this Cusinart Elite Griddler – between the temperature controls, the grill/griddle options, removable dishwasher safe plates – heck – this could be one of those kitchen electrics that can be used year ’round. I know I know – I’m channeling my inner Bill Cosby Gadget Hound again.

3. Colin Cowie has launched his Spring line for HSN and he has some gorgeous stuff on there. One of my favorites are these Colin Cowie Marquis by Waterford Polka Dot Glass Goblets. He also has Highball Glasses and Double Old Fashioned Glasses that will add a pop of color to your home bar.  Plus – as my mother taught me years ago, you can never go wrong with Waterford.

4. While we are talking about cocktails – if you are looking for that perfect Mother’s Day gift for the mom who loves to entertain why not get this Beverage Server with Chiller Insert? I have said it once and I will say it again – you can never go wrong with one of Colin Cowie’s beverage servers. I use mine whenever I am entertaining and it is always a lifesaver. Order it, print out a pic of it and put it in a card and let her know it’s on it’s way to her (plus – it’s on sale right now – HURRY!)

5. Remember the much loved Charlotte’s apron from Sex & The City 2 that I had to hunt down and find (note: you can still find it HERE).  Well, you best get thee to Anthropologie because they have the matching pot holders. So cute!

6. Jen Lancaster has hit it out of the park again with her latest, Jeneration X: One Reluctant Adult’s Attempt to Unarrest Her Arrested Development; Or, Why It’s Never Too Late for Her Dumb Ass to Learn Why Froot Loops Are Not for Dinner. Jen was recently in Philadelphia and she had the crowds roaring with laughter while discussing some of the antics contained within this book on her facing life’s challenge to adulthood and, can I give you a tip – no matter how bad my day can be, if I start reading a Jen Lancaster book, it totally changes my mood. The woman is hilariously snarky.  Jen – I still think you should put out a cookbook.. jus’ sayin…

6. Martha’s American Food: A Celebration of Our Nation’s Most Treasured Dishes, from Coast to Coast has been perused nightly and so many recipes have been flagged for kitchen experiments. I mean, really – it’s Martha – you are destined for kitchen success with this book.  I think that playing with recipes from this cookbook will be one of my many summer projects.

What are some of your summer plans / projects?

[Disclosure – this post contains some affiliate links. My opinions, as always, are 100% my own]