It used to be that people swapped recipes and cooking tips over the back fence or around the water cooler. Now, they're sharing them all around the world in a matter of seconds, thanks to Web logs, or blogs.

A blog is a Web site that features entries that are usually made in journal style and the ability for readers to post comments.

With an Internet connection and help from software, anyone can publish his or her own food blog, complete with recipes, commentary and photos.

Food blogs go beyond recipe swapping, said Kalyn Denny, a Bountiful schoolteacher who has a blog called Kalyn's Kitchen at www.kalynskitchen.blogspot.com. It gets 3,000-4,000 visits a day, generating comments from readers as far away as India, Thailand and Singapore. Last month when the Well Fed Network, an online compilation of food blogs (www.wellfed.net), announced its annual awards, Denny's was named best blog in the theme category.

"In late 2004 I lost over 40 pounds on the South Beach Diet," Denny said. "Since I had always been known for being a good cook, friends who also wanted to lose weight started asking me for recipes."

She started her blog in April 2005, after it became cumbersome to send out her South Beach Diet-friendly recipes on a large mailing list.

"I think I've kept blogging because it was such a perfect outlet for my three creative passions, cooking, writing and photography," she said. "I also was excited about sharing the recipes that helped me lose weight."

She said the blog has expanded her life, connecting her to thousands of people around the world who share her interests. She's met about 20 other bloggers in person, and several have become close friends.

Her blog usually features a new recipe each day, such as Chicken Asparagus with Three Cheeses or Black Bean, Rice and Cilantro Salad. You can also find directions for making a restaurant-quality salad, frittatas, homemade chicken and beef stock, and freezing herbs. There are lists, such as Denny's favorite diet snacks, cookbooks, kitchen equipment and other blogs.

She updates her blog six days a week, spending three to five hours a day testing recipes, shooting and editing photos, writing posts and networking with other bloggers.

"On the weekends it's not unusual for me to spend an entire day working on the blog," she said. "I try to take either Saturday or Sunday off every week."

Her blog has also attracted advertising, which now generates $500-$600 a month. (None of it comes from the South Beach Diet folks.) Denny says she knows at least 20 bloggers who are able to make a full-time living from their blogs.