This past January 1st marked our 4th blog anniversary here at Just One Cookbook. Each blog anniversary is a huge milestone for me, but this 4th one was quite special and meant a lot to me personally.
Just One Cookbook Then and Now
When I first started blogging back in January 2011, Mr. JOC and I made a decision to give it a try for 4 years. He thought 4 years would give us enough time to see if this new hobby of mine would result in anything.
Looking back, the last 4 years of our blogging adventure was fun and amazing. I’ve met many cool bloggers that became my dear friends, and along the way we’ve had to learn a lot about blogging, photography, videography, wordpress, technology, and food! Just One Cookbook slowly became a bigger and bigger part of our life, like our 3rd child.
Four years later, it’s still unbelievable to me that the website gets about 30K visitors a day, with many readers leaving me sweet and heartfelt comments and sending me personal messages. My hobby became my new career around the 3rd year and I am still just as excited about it as when we first started out.
Blogging as a Career
When blogging became my “real” job last year, it was much harder to juggle time. One of my favorite things to do was visiting other food blogs to drool over their recipes and getting to know the blogger behind the blogs. However, I started to spend more time on developing and testing recipes instead of sitting in front of the computer, and I have less time to read other food blogs.
If you are wondering what a food blogger exactly does everyday, it’s an interesting one. When I first started, I had no idea how much work was involved to have a successful food blog. I simply wanted to share quick and easy Japanese recipes, and I thought my job was complete by taking a few photos and sharing the recipe.
(Recipe: It’s delicious, if you believe me! Taken at the dining table right before the dinner.)
Little did I know the job description also included a food stylist, a videographer, a photographer, a writer, a social media specialist, a help desk to answer questions all day long, and not to mention, a tech specialist.
When I first started, I took about 10 images per recipe. These day, for an average recipe we take about 150 pictures (80 step by step and 70 final shots). Yes, the secret is out of the bag, the 3 final images I share are usually out of 70+ shots that we took.
I’m sure all the food bloggers (and bloggers in general) will agree that it’s beyond a hobby, if you want to do everything well.
Struggles To Overcome
Even after 4 years, I have a few struggles that I’m going through right now.
My biggest struggles is time management. Although my work is flexible since I control my own hours, I somehow end up working day and night. I just don’t seem to have enough time everyday despite the fact that I sleep for only 4-5 hours.
Making videos with Mr. JOC over the past year has been fun, but it lengthened the time to create a recipe from 3 hours to 7 hours of shooting time. I feel very guilty that we spend most weekends working, instead of spending time with the children and taking them to places. Our children are very understanding and supportive, and even offer to help. I just can’t help feeling bad about not giving them our full attention. 🙁
5th Year of Just One Cookbook
What are our goals and plans for our 5th year? Videos are definitely becoming increasingly important in our daily lives. Before when Mr. JOC had to fix something or learn a new skill, he would need to search the web. These days his first search is usually YouTube; screenshots are great but there’s nothing better than video instructions. So we definitely want to create better videos this year and I do plan to appear in “some” of videos. As you know, we shoot videos on weekends when our kids are at home and they make a lot of noise, whether they are chasing each other or playing the piano. It’s very hard to have “quiet” moment in our household. 😉
One of my dreams is to create another e-Cookbook (Here’s my first e-Cookbook), but I can’t promise yet as I already struggle publishing my new blog posts on schedule. I have many requests from readers for a second book and I would like to try my best to make it happen.
Starting next month we’ll be working on a new blog design with a new designer. If you have any special request or features you feel would improve your experience on Just One Cookbook, feel free to shoot me an email or leave a comment below. I want to make sure my site is very easy to use for everyone.
Oh, one last thing! We’ve been working with an architect to draw a new kitchen and first floor space. We’ve went through 3 different plans already….and hoping this drawing will be the last one so we can move forward. I haven’t thought about kitchen-less situation YET. I’ll keep you updated in my newsletter.
And Finally, Thank YOU!!!!
As we grow each year, Just One Cookbook has become one of the most popular Japanese recipe websites in English. I can’t stress enough that it’s your emails and comments, and heartwarming stories that keep me going each day. In return, I am always trying my best to respond to all of emails and questions I receive from you (until I can’t absolutely handle the amount. Haha.).
Mr. JOC and I enjoy creating this website and YouTube channel to be a great source for you to learn about Japanese food and cooking. It’s humbling that my just one cookbook that I wanted to pass onto my children has become everyone’s cookbook. I truly appreciate your support and love, and I want to thank you from bottom of my heart.
Now It’s Time for Worldwide Giveaway!
I’d like to celebrate this big milestone by giving away my favorite and reader’s favorite kitchen gadgets! Sponsored by yours truly and no strings attached.
The 1st winner will receive one (1) Nutribullet 14-Piece Nutrition Extractor 600 Watt Blender Juicer! Let’s make smoothies with me!
(The winner living outside of the US will automatically receive $100 Amazon gift card or cash via paypal. The winner living in the US can also choose the gift card or cash instead of the gift.)
The 2nd winner will receive one (1) Miyabi Morimoto Edition Fusion Chef’s Knife (8 inch)! This is one of my favorite knives I use daily.
(The winner living outside of the US will automatically receive $100 Amazon gift card or cash via paypal. The winner living in the US can also choose the gift card or cash instead of the gift.)
The 3rd winner will receive one (1) Cuisinart ICE-21 Frozen Yogurt-Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker (White)! Get ready for making delicious ice cream with me!
(The winner living outside of the US will automatically receive $45 Amazon gift card or cash via paypal. The winner living in the US can also choose the gift card or cash instead of the gift.)
The 4th winner will receive one (1) Taiyaki Japanese Fish-Shaped Hot Cake Maker! Fill your homemade Taiyaki with red bean paste and your favorite filling!
(The winner living outside of the US will automatically receive $35 Amazon gift card or cash via paypal. The winner living in the US can also choose the gift card or cash instead of the gift.)
The 5th winner with receive one (1) Cast Iron Takoyaki Plate & Picks! Now you can enjoy making Takoyaki right at your own home!
(The winner living outside of the US will automatically receive $30 Amazon gift card or cash via paypal. The winner living in the US can also choose the gift card or cash instead of the gift.)
The 6th winner will receive one (1) Sushi Oke Wooden Hangiri, Bamboo Mat, Rice Paddle Set! You now have a home sushi party essential!
(The winner living outside of the US will automatically receive $15 Amazon gift card or cash via paypal. The winner living in the US can also choose the gift card or cash instead of the gift.)
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To enter for your chance to win one of six gifts, please leave a comment on this post that answers the following question:
What’s your favorite and least favorite of my website? (I will not choose winners based on your answer, so please don’t hesitate to share your true thoughts with me. 🙂 )
Six (6) winners will be selected via Random.org and announced on Monday, February 16, 2015. This giveaway closes on Sunday, February 15, 2015 at 12 p.m. PST and is open to participants worldwide (everyone!). The winners will be contacted via email, so please include a valid email address in the email address entry box.
Full Disclosure: This giveaway is sponsored by yours truly. I will NEVER share your email address.
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Thank you for participating this giveaway! I read everyone’s feedback and I really, really appreciate it! I’ll be making some changes based on your feedback and I hope to improve your experience on my site. Thank you again!
Here are the winners…
#1 Gift: Kristy C (#345)
#2 Gift: Quyen (#265)
#3 Gift: Selina (#335)
#4 Gift: Pavel (#71)
#5 Gift: Emma (#670)
# 6 Gift: Tara (#292)
I’ll be emailing you guys shortly…
Congratulations on your 4th year of blogging & may your blog stay as helpful as ever! 🙂
I love how easy the instructions for each recipe is and the step-by-step pictures has gotta be my favourite aspect of the site because I can see how each ingredient is supposed to look like! Least favourite is a tough one- hmm, maybe an easier way to find the compilation of Youtube videos on your site? (because not all recipes have videos and I didn’t know that you had a video channel till quite recently)
My favourite thing is that I can found a lot of Japanese traditional recipes. Now I live in Japan, so it is really wonderful to easily find all the ingredients!! 😀
The less favourite thing is that maybe the lost of ingredients is limited. There are a lot of vegetables here in Japan, but I don’t know how to cook them!!
My favourite is that you make japanese cooking easy to all your readers. I love japanese food and am so glad that following your recipes doesn’t take a long time, is straight-forward, and delivers delicious results! The photos help too to get me to try out a new recipe or get me excited 🙂
My least favourite part… honestly I cannot think of one right now.
Thank you for being such an amazing food blogger and for always staying connected with and caring about your community.
I love the meticulous way the recipes and food are prepared, cooked and presented, it’s as if each one is treated ‘sacred’. This site is my go-to-website for Japanese recipes. I really love Japanese food since those are generally balanced diet. Way to go Nami!
Favorite: Easy to follow recipes with clear written instructions. Keep it up!
Least favorite: Recipe browsing format. I was trying to find a recipe I had previously tried and it was confusing scrolling through the different sections of your recipe index. I was expecting page numbers or forward/back arrows but instead you use “previous posts” that are in an endless loop.
I love how clearly each step of a recipe is presented on your website. The recipes always turn out correctly by following the steps. Although I truly don’t have a least favorite thing, sometimes i wonder what else to serve together as a full meal (i.e. seasonal theme) or how to use/store leftover ingredients (although you do mention it sometimes on the site already-thank you!)
My fave thing is learning about new Japanese ingredients
Least is that you need to have metric measurements in grams and ml.
My favorite is all the recipes on how to make sushi.
Least favorite is that all the ingredients are not available in town
what i like the most from your website is you make Japan Cuisine feels so easy to make and somehow “hypnotise” me to go to kitchen, grab some apron, cook it and serve it to my friends. my very first Japanese dish is curry rice. In indonesia, its around $10 dollars per plate. i like it so much and i found your recipes (and video!) was really-really big help!
what i like the least from your kitchen is perhaps the advertorial 🙂 It kinda disturb your beautiful website and recipe. Well i hope i can see your next writing 1 more year from today to celebrate the beauty of Japanese Cuisine ^^
happy anniversary, Namiko 😀
Like: Sushi recipes
Less Like: I wish I see more sushi recipes :D.
You’re great anyway! I started learn japanese cooking from you!
Happy anniversary
love youre recipes even its somethimes impossible to find ingredients for some stil loveing it
Miso Ramen is my favorite
Happy anniversery 😀
Favorite is curry 😀
Like youre site alot and missis makes alot that i can taste 😀
Congratulations on four years! I’ve been blogging for just over six, but I could not hone in on 1 subject and elevate it. Time management is SO difficult. Self-imposed deadlines + me = do not work. So I admire bloggers like you who make it work. You’re doing a marvelous job! OK, my favorite aspect of JOC is how accessible your recipes are. I have had an interest in Japanese food since I was in my early teens, and with an increasing interest and skill in cooking, I naturally wanted to tackle Japanese food. However, all attempts had previously come up against multiple roadblocks. After discovering your blog, Japanese food is not that hard and I’m AMAZED and what I can do. I whip up omelets like a pro, make big batches of Japanese rice, even today I made cute face out of nori for my rice filled nori. It might be a touch overboard to say empowered, but cooking does make me feel that way, and your website has really helped that. As for what I like the least, I honestly have nothing here! Yours is only 1 out of 2 recipe blogs I faithfully follow! I love the clean, organized design and how you lay out each post. Keep up the brilliant work!
What’s your favorite and least favorite of my website?
Favorite would me the Simple chicken curry and the Miso ramen 😀 Just love them 😀
Least favorite i dont really have cause some recipes i cant make cause they dont sell some ingridients near me.
Love to try them all out 😀
Happy birthday!!
You blog is now my favorite one and I refer to it almost every day to find ideas on how to cook what’s in my fridge. I hope your blog will live for a very long time.
On the good side of your blog, I love the amount of recipes choice, they are always easy to find and follow and can be made with ingredients easy to find (except for the sushi-grade fish in London) I also love the fact that I always learn something about the ingredient or recipe I am about to make.
I don’t really see things to improve but maybe you could sometime propose a very easy recipe to be cooked with/by children. I’d love to teach my children to cook Japanese but most recipes are long or hard to make. Maybe you could even involve your children to cook ‘children-friendly’ recipes such as deserts, salads or appetisers, omelette (omurice?) and such…?
I’m really looking forward to your next book!!
All the best 🙂