Yum - apricots!

Good food makes great conversation.

No matter if you are out to dinner with friends, or skimming the best hors devours from the buffet at a party, food tends to bring out the conversationalist in most people.

Food is also terrific for marketing. I cannot tell you the number of times I've checked out a blog or Web site simply because the person shared a great recipe somewhere online. I'm not the only one; share a mouth-watering recipe on Twitter and see just how many hits you get on your site. I guarantee that even after the initial buzz you will nab more sustained hits or RSS subscribers.

This Saturday, Jan. 9, is National Apricot Day. Consider sharing your favorite apricot recipes with fans on blogs, or even posting on recipe Web sites, where you can sometimes include your Web site in your profile.

Below is an apricot recipe from my personal recipe library. Be sure to also check out how James Beard uses the sweet fruit in The Fireside Cookbook, a vintage tome reprinted by Simon & Schuster last year.

Easy Apricot Cake

When you have unexpected guests and need something sweet to go with coffee or tea, this is a terrifically easy recipe to pull together.

What you need:

1 can apricots, slightly drained

1 white or yellow cake mix

1 bar of butter (preferably real, salted)

Put the cake mix in a bowl. Use something to crumble the butter into the dry cake mix. Dump the can of apricots into a baking dish. Pour the cake mixture over the apricots. Bake until the top is slightly brown and the apricots are heated through.

This is fast and easy, and can be used with apple or cherry pie filling and peaches. Typically, most pantries have these items readily available, so it makes the perfect last-minute dish. I rarely have leftovers.

Market My Novel Tip: If you have special dietary needs - like gluten, wheat or dairy-free items - consider sharing these recipes in a special section on your blog or Web site. Trust me, there are many, many people searching for those. It is a specific niche, but could easily drive new traffic to your sites - and, perhaps, lead to sales.

On the Web:

National Apricot Day for Home Schoolers

Apricot Producers of California Recipe Box