This blog is built on the WordPress engine. I’ve used it for years, but when version 2.5.1 came out I was truly pleased and impressed. (Update 1/14/09: I’m now using version 2.7) I also use the following WordPress plugins:

• Akismet – this comment spam filter comes with WordPress and has literally saved me hours of time.
• Photodropper – this plugin makes it easy to search through Flickr photos and add them to posts.
• Secure and Accessible PHP Contact Form – this runs the contact form for this site.
• Feedburner Feedsmith – redirects the WordPress RSS feeds to the version managed through Feedburner

I handled the design myself, but the inspiration for it was the pestle and mortar photograph that I found on iStockphoto from trigga.