Avellin Quick Start Checklist

Use this checklist after Avellin is installed. Start with its signature recipe tools, then finish the site structure, styling and testing.

1. Install Avellin

• Upload the final Avellin XML in Blogger → Theme → Restore.
• Confirm the homepage and a sample post load before changing widgets or styling.

2. Avellin recipe essentials

• Set up the supplied recipe-post template so recipe posts can use the dedicated recipe card, Jump to Recipe link and Print Recipe button.
• Create the Recipe Index page so readers can search and filter your Recipe-labeled posts from one place.

3. Site identity

• Open the Header widget and replace the demo title or logo with your own.
• Check the blog description if you want it displayed.

4. Main navigation

• Edit the Main Navigation Pages gadget.
• Add your top-level links and use hyphen prefixes when you need dropdown levels.

5. Theme options

• Choose whether sticky navigation is enabled.
• Set sidebar visibility for the homepage, blog, posts, static pages, labels, search, archives and error pages.

6. Recipe labels and categories

• Use the reserved Recipe label on recipe posts.
• Add meaningful labels such as Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner or Baking for categories and Recipe Index filtering.

7. Featured Recipe

• Open Featured Recipe Settings in Layout.
• Choose the newest eligible post or the newest post from the exact label you specify.

8. Homepage recipe categories

• Replace the six category Image widgets with your own images, titles and destination links.
• Keep the category names consistent with the Blogger labels used on your recipe posts.

9. Seasonal Pick, About and newsletter

• Edit the Seasonal / Editor’s Pick widget and homepage About the Author widget.
• Add your newsletter signup URL if you use the built-in newsletter layout.

10. Footer and social links

• Replace the demo footer copy, navigation links and social URLs.
• Check all external links after saving.

11. Colors and typography

• Finish visual customization in Blogger Theme Designer.
• Review layout widths, image heights, colors, typography and button styling.

12. Dark mode and translations

• Test both light and dark mode if you plan to keep the theme toggle.
• Choose a built-in language or enter manual fixed-text translations in Theme Options.

13. About and Contact pages

• Create the About page and paste the supplied Avellin About Page HTML.
• Create the Contact page, paste the supplied Avellin Contact Page HTML, and replace both placeholder email addresses with your real email address.

14. Built-in reader tools

• Check search, sharing, comments, author information, the custom 404 page and the back-to-top button.
• Most of these features work automatically and only need a quick test before launch.

15. Test the important views

• Check the homepage, blog, recipe posts, Recipe Index, static pages, category/search/archive pages and mobile navigation.
• Confirm sidebars, forms, images, dark mode and links behave correctly before launch.