Go watch the video »

Some cookbooks include measurement conversions, and there are charts you can download and print- but for food bloggers, sometimes the best solution is an online calculator. Here are our top 3 favorites:

Gourmet Sleuth’s Cooking Conversions

Actually 6 different calculators, including a highly-precise Cooking Conversions Tool that we have to love. Using the calculator involves a few steps, as you first search for a keyword, then select from a list of possibilities, then type in the amount you need to convert.

Traditional Oven’s Calculators

I’ll admit that, as a baker, these are the online calculators I use the most- especially their Flour and Butter calculators. Easy to use, with calculators for Sugar, Honey, Oats, and more.

The Kitchen Calculator iPhone App

Kitchen Calculator iPhone App

(warning: link will open the App Store in your iTunes)
For those of us who never go anywhere without our iPhones, iPod Touches, or iPads, this $1.99 app might just be worth every penny- especially with its support for fractions.

What do you use to calculate your measurements?

The good news is that using LinkWithin couldn’t be easier. Here’s how we did it for FoodBloggers.net, which is running on self-hosted WordPress:

After submitting your preferences and details, download the plugin, install and activate. Then go into the plugin Settings and select whether you want it shown only on Single posts (in our case, yes):

And voila. Yes, it’s that easy.

A little customization is possible- for instance, if you know how to edit your blog templates, you can select exactly where to place the LinkWithin widget with this bit of code:

<div class=”linkwithin_div”></div>

Or edit the text that appears above the widget with this:

<script>linkwithin_text=’Your custom text:’</script>

So far, I’ve been really pleased with the LinkWithin service- and have no problem recommending it highly. You can see it in action at the bottom of this post.

Do you use LinkWithin? Has it increased reader activity on your blog?

Finding inspiration for food blogging doesn’t have to be difficult- sometimes, like a Glee slushie, it hits you right in the face.

After all, who (other than the High School outcasts in Glee) doesn’t love slushies? They’re perfect on hot summer days, and if you serve them at your next backyard barbecue, your guests will love you. Really.

The best thing is that you probably already have everything you need for great slushies in your kitchen or pantry right now.

This recipe from Tyler Florence is something we’ve made for both adults and children (omitting the rum, of course, for the latter).

Mojito Slushy Recipe

Source: Tyler Florence

1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1/2 cup fresh lime juice, about 4 to 6 limes
1/4 cup fresh mint leaves, firmly packed
2 limes, zested
1/2 cup light rum (OMIT if serving to children)
8 cups crushed ice
Mint sprigs and lime wedges, for garnish

In a saucepan over medium heat, add the sugar and water. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring often, until the sugar is dissolved and the syrup is clear. Set aside to cool.

Put the sugar syrup, lime juice, mint leaves, lime zest, and rum (if using) into a blender and blend until smooth. Add the ice and blend until slushy. Spoon into glasses; garnish with a sprig of mint and a lime slice.

*Update!: We’ve released our very own Food Blog theme. It’s sweet and cupcakey and free! Check out the Winnie WordPress Theme.

The FoodRecipe theme has been around for a while, but it’s still one of the nicest food-related blog themes out there. A wood-grain background gives it a homey warmth, it supports widgets and gravatars, and allows you to highlight your “featured” posts as well.

Cutting Board is a little bolder, and certainly more obvious, with an extra-tall header featuring a knife, salad and- of course- chopping board. Still, it’s a nicely made theme, with a bright red background that most food photos will look good against.

Maybe I was drawn to this theme because strawberries are my favorite fruit ever. Strawberry Blend is a sleek black, white and red theme with two columns. I like how clean this theme looks- and honestly, if strawberries aren’t necessarily your thing, the header photo can be replaced with a photo of your choice quite easily.

I really like In the Kitchen because it’s girly without being overly so, with a nice choice of light colors and rounded corners for softness.

Finally, the new (released just days ago!) and free iRestaurant theme has got to be my favorite. Perfect for a restaurant, but just fine for a regular food blog, it’s got everything from an options page to ad-ready banner spaces to areas for featured videos and featured content.

Do you use a food-related theme on your blog?