Fancy some chocolate?

This Post was written by Sophie from Mostly Eating

Mostly Eating (along with a few other UK food bloggers) is buddying up with luxury chocolate purveyors Hotel Chocolat for their chocolate recipe competition. All you have to do is send in your most delicious chocolate recipe by 11:59pm on the 12th December 07 and you will be in with the chance to win some seriously good chocolates and a copy of the 101 Best Loved Chocolate Recipes book. One reader will definitely win a chocolate and book package and the winner will also be entered into the grand prize draw to win even more chocolate.

Find out more about how to be in with a chance of getting your mits on this lovely stuff!

2007 Food Blog Awards

The Well Fed Network have announced this year's food blog awards. Category nominations open tomorrow:

http://wellfed.net/2007/11/26/2007-food-blog-awards/

The categories for are:

1. Best Food Blog – Chef

2. Best Food Blog – City

3. Best Drink Blog Covering Drinks (Alcohol/Non-Alcohol)

4. Best Food Blog - Family/Kids

5. Best Food Blog – Group

6. Best Food Blog – Humor

7. Best Food Blog - Industry

8. Best Food Blog – Photography

9. Best Food Blog – Post

10. Best Food Blog – Theme

11. Best Food Blog – Rural

12. Best Food Blog – Writing

13. Best New Food Blog

14. Food Blog of the Year

Happy voting!

This Post was written by Julia from A Slice of Cherry Pie

Calling All Daring Bakers...

This Post was written byNaomi from straight into bed cakefree and dried

I don't know if you folks are aware of the tireless work of The Daring Bakers? Well I just joined them for this month's challenge of making Tender Potato Bread - a double challenge for me because I blog gluten free! See my own gluten free potato and chestnut laof above. It's worth visiting the blogroll just to come across some new and exciting food sites. Find it at the bottom of the post on the link above.

An Introduction from: You Say Tomato, I Say Tomato

This Post was written by Pixie from You Say Tomato, I Say Tomato



1. Where are you based?

I live in a lovely, yet small, flat in Maidstone.

2. How long have you been blogging?

Its only been a few months but it feels like I’ve been blogging all my life; I absolutely am loving it!

3. What's the best thing about food blogging?

I’ve always wanted to get hold of my mom’s recipes and it’s something I know my family and I will always treasure in the years to come. Hopefully, at some point, I will have a book created with all her recipes in it.

We were also constantly making the same dishes week after week and it was truly getting boring. I’m now on the constant look out for new and exciting recipes. I’ve also been trying out plenty of new dishes.

I must also add, how wonderful it is to discover other food blogs and these food challenges are so much fun!

4. What's the worst thing about food blogging?

Hmmmm….….ask me in a few months!


5. What inspires you to cook and write?

It’s the excitement of the end result, seeing it up in “headlights”. Also, eventually knowing I will likely put together a family cookbook. Even if it is just for us!

.
6. Where do you like to blog?

I’m always blogging on my lovely comfy couch. We’re fortunate to have plenty of windows and the light shines through for most of the day.

7. What's your signature dish?

I would have to say my eggplant parmigiana. My father in law is constantly raving about it, so it has to be that! Though, I’ve yet to blog it.

8. What about you might surprise other food bloggers to know?

If you’ve yet to visit my blog, you may be surprised to know that I was born in Cardiff, Wales, yet grew up in NYC, therefore having a distinct NY accent and I am of Maltese descent.

Oh, I also know how to knit and crochet!

Answers to Introductory Questions

This Post was written by Oregano from Food Fun

1. Where are you based?

I am based in Hampshire. I have previously lived near Munich, Silicon Valley and Glasgow. My childhood was in London and Hampshire.

2. How long have you been blogging?

I tried blogging as a new medium in early Summer 2006. I tried a few providers and did a few experimental postings. I started regular blogging in August 2006.

3. What's the best thing about food blogging?

For me there are several important things:

a) I have sometimes bored my family silly by talking endlessly about food. Blogging allows me to express some things I want to say without boring my family; my blog readers might actually find something interesting. The blog allows me to get some things off my chest so it's usually therapeutic to make a posting.
b) I am far better organised electronically than with paper. I have a recipe folder that is a disaster. Sometimes if I try something and like it, I simply can document it on my blog for future reference.
c) I feel passionate about the fact that in the UK we are blindly following the US into being an obese and unhealthy society. Junk food and lack of fresh ingredients is a key element in this. Poor diet is partly caused by so few people being able to cook with fresh ingredients. I learned to cook as a student in a simple and fresh way and I would love more people to try to cook. If my blog can help in a small way I would be delighted.

4. What's the worst thing about food blogging?

Finding the time to post what I want to say...but that is more an issue with my job which often requires long hours and travel. Also finding the time to do a decent job with photography.

5. What inspires you to cook and write?

As a student I cooked out of necessity - institutional food was disgusting and cooking fresh food was cost effective. I learned a lot from fellow students from other parts of the world which expanded my cooking horizon. As parents, my wife and I have wanted to give our children healthy food so we both have taken an interest in cooking.

I enjoy eating whether it is the taste or social side. Cooking allows me to prepare things I enjoy. If I travel, it is always interesting to try eating new things and then to work out how they can be reproduced at home.

My job in a high tech business has stresses, I love to cook especially at the weekend as doing something with my hands is a great way to decouple from work. I am not very good at DIY and cooking is the thing I can best do with my hands.

I have always enjoyed writing though most of that has been in my education or work. A blog is enjoyable as it is writing about something I enjoy.

6. Where do you like to blog?

After trying a few providers I settled on blog.co.uk

7. What's your signature dish?

I do not have one. For a good decade after finishing my education I pretty much stuck to the same old things I had mastered as a student. Right now I am wanting to expand my horizons and to try ingredients and dishes that I have not previously tried.

8. What about you might surprise other food bloggers to know?

As a teenager I was such a fussy eater that it drove my Mum bonkers. At that time (late 1960s, early 1970s) we ate fairly bland, traditional British food. Some of the things I disliked then, I still dislike however I am definitely less fussy now. Interestingly when I got to university and tried Indian and Chinese food for the first time I loved it - especially the use of spices. My sisters and I introduced our parents to asian food and they tried a lot of new things too.

I have a poor sense of smell. I hope it does not affect my cooking.


Please excuse my tardiness in making this post having joined the Association months ago.

Glühwein

This Post was written by Raymond from Great British Grub! It's a new blog, but has a lot of potential!

With the recent arrival of the Christmas market in Manchester, I have been spured into sharing my recipe for the liquor of festive cheer know as Glühwein. The really great thing with Glühwein is that it tends to be better with rough dark red wines, which in my view, have an overpowering bitter taste. The trick is to heat the wine with the spices and make sure you do not boil the mixture, because boiling will burn off most of the alcohol since it has a lower boiling point than water. This drink should help overcome the bitter winter cold, though remember that this is still a highly alcoholic drink so please drink sensibly and in moderation!

Ingredients:
02 Bottles of Red Wine
04 Small Oranges
01 Large Lemon
02 Tablespoons of Brown Sugar
12 Cloves
02 Sticks of Cinnamon

Instructions:
1) Insert four of the cloves into three of the small oranges;
2) Grate the peel from the last orange and the lemon;
3) Squeeze the juice from the last orange and the lemon into a cup;
4) Add the oranges and both the grated peels to into a large pan;
5) Add the Cinnamon sticks;
6) Pour the wine into the pan and warm to about 60C (140F);
7) Add the orange & lemon juice;
8) Add the brown sugar to taste and stir;
9) Serve in warmed glasses.

Pimp My Potato

This Post was written by Holler from Tinned Tomatoes

Charlotte over at The Great Big Vegetable Challenge is challenging us to a Baked Potato Match! If you have heard of the tv programme "Pimp my Car!", well this is "Pimp my potato!"

Charlotte, her son Freddie and daughter Alexandra have reached the letter P in their journey around the alphabet of vegetables. They are about to wave tattie bye to the common potato.

Why not give it a go! Add your own twist to a baked potato! Add a link to your post or your topping idea to the comments box. You can also email Charlotte at charlotte.hume@talktalk.net.


I made a creamy mushroom and pesto sauce to go on my spud!

Even if you don't give it a go, you must check out Charlotte's blog. it is truly inspired!

Great British Grub!

This Post was written by Raymond from Great British Grub!

1. Where Are You Based? I live in an apartment in the city centre of Manchester. Right next to Piccadilly Gardens so you can't any more central!

2. How Long Have You Been Blogging? Not long really! I would say just over a month! I was inspired by a friends blog.. Peckish?

3. What's The Best Thing About Food Blogging? In order to find something to write about, I find myself cooking more interesting food and going out a lot more so that I can review events etc. I also find myself being educated about good food in the process!

4. What's The Worst Thing About Food Blogging? Trying to find something to say that can be of use or interest to the masses! Well, maybe when my blog gets up and running a bit more I can say the masses :o) Also, finding recipes, ales and restaurants that I have used or tried in the past to review. I've a terrible memory so some brilliant material just gets lost!

5. What Inspires You To Cook And Write? Being able to provide something new and exiting on the table for my partner inspires me to cook, but to write? I think that is just something I have in me anyway!

6. Where Do You Like To Blog? Always in my study! It's the only place I have peace and quiet!

7. What's Your Signature Dish? I don't really have one, but I make a mean Spaggetti Bolognaise or a Vodka and Lemon Sorbet!

Google search, Google ads

This Post was written by Joanna from Joanna's Food

I'm thinking of putting Google Ads on my blog, and I wondered if anyone had any advice about what works and what doesn't. Or if anyone recommends a different ad service?

Also, can someone please tell me how to put a Google this blog search facility onto my blog? I can't work it out at all

Thanks
Joanna

The Great British Pudding Challenge

This Post was written by Rosie from Rosie Bakes A 'Peace' of Cake



I watched the BBC news this week in utter disbelief that a national favourite of steamed puddings are in danger of becoming extinct in our national households!

I’m laying down the gauntlet with Maria a fellow friend and Blogger to try and keep the Great British Pudding from becoming extinct. You are most welcome to join in with us in this challenge!! The more the merrier but don’t forget to let us know you are partaking so we can link into our posts to view each other’s blogs.

How does this work?

Each month a blogger will choose a pudding, but it has to be Traditional British and one blogger will host the challenge in turn. The host will get to choose the pudding of their choice on their Blog. The host will post a recipe for all the other challengers to follow. Whoever wishes to join The Great British Pudding Challenge, please visit my Blog Rosie Bakes A ‘Peace’ of Cake on this link

I hope you will pick up the gauntlet and come and join us.

The Great British Pudding Challenge is under way for this month starting from today until the end of the month 30th November

Rosie x

Cooking the Books

This Post was written by Alex from Eating Leeds

Just a note to say that the new channel 5 cook book program, Cooking the Books, starts on Monday at 6:30pm.

Quite a few people have either been invited on or have already gone on it.

And Andy & I (aka team Eating Leeds) should be in the first episode!

If you're on subsequent episodes, please post and let the rest of us know!

Announcing the Launch of the UKFBA Forums!

As promised, I'm very pleased to announce the launch of our new forums. You will need to register to participate, which you can do on the home page of the forums.

Please feel free to start new discussions about anything you like. It will start quietly at first but once we all get posting I'm sure the forums will become a lively place! Enjoy!

Click here to go to the UKFBA Forums


This Post was written by Juliafrom A Slice of Cherry Pie

Introduction to Claire's Austrian Kitchen: Schnitzel

This Post was written by Claire from Schnitzel

http://schnitzel.wordpress.com/

Where are you based? In live in Surrey.

How long have you been blogging for? I’ve been officially blogging since I was 15 on a weird American site called Teen Open Diary which may still be in existence! I started my food blog in August of this year and although I got off to a slow start I’m now becoming addicted to the foodie community! As if Facebook wasn’t enough! Now I seem to be spending most of my free time typing away!

Does your blog have a theme? My blog is centered around the simplicity and importance of sharing good food with friends and family around the table! I think it's important not to loose sight of food being for this purpose. Good food is not just a passing fashion for the wealthy and can be produced by anyone - not just celebrity chefs.

What are the best things about food blogging? The best thing about food blogging is the interaction and being able to write my stream of thoughts down knowing that there are hundreds of similar foodies out there that can relate. Once considered a place for geeks, nowadays the internet is a fantastic tool for communication for anybody and everybody which I think we are all appreciating more and more.

What are the worst things about food blogging? Hmmm. At the moment I really want a scanner to scan in some old photos of family (which were taken before the digital era!) So it’s quite frustrating that I can’t post any photos of my Grandmother in the kitchen! Cooking for family, friends and enjoying life is what my blog is all about!

Other than that, I do tend to beat myself up about not blogging more often. But sometimes all I want to do after work is have a hot bath, glass of red wine with a few cheeky chocolates!

What inspires you to write? I discovered the book Falling Cloudberries a few weeks ago. I love cookbooks which write not just fantastic recipes but come with history, family and photographs. Books like these remind me of the influence that my Grandmother has had on my cooking.

Also a chilly autumnal day inspires me to bake; but I don’t need that much encouragement to cook on any day really!

Where do you prefer to write? We had these discussions in my Creative Writing lectures. It’s strange how we all prefer to write at different times and places! I like to write in bed - on my day off when it’s all quiet and the sun is shining through my window!

What is your signiture dish? I adore making my own pasta. Kase Nudel is a dumpling dish from Southern Austria (where my mother originates) which consists of a compressed mixture of quark, chopped mint, chervil and potatoes. A dish which perhaps sounds suspiciously healthy but with a sprinkling of chopped chives and melted butter over the top - divine!

What about you might it surprise other bloggers to know? In June I was waiting in a long queue at the ticket office in Liverpool Street Station and a cute guy at the end of the queue caught my eye. I wouldn’t usually approach someone I thought was hot but I suddenly thought to myself why not! So when I got to the booth I scribbled my number down while paying for my underground ticket, made my way towards him, stuffed my number in his bag pocket and dashed away. He got in contact the next day and we found out that we had mutual friends in common! I love coincidences! I know that this is a bit unrelated to food and it’s a cliché, but sometimes I think it makes life more interesting if you push yourself beyond your limits!

Phew. Well be sure to check out my blog and let me know what you think! I'm looking forward to being part of this community!

PS: Has anyone else been invited to go on a new cookery programme commencing on Channel 5?

Claire

x

The Forum's are Coming

Yesterday I met up with the lovely Cherry Menlove and we talked food and blogging....and forums. Cherry has recently launched her own forums, and I told her how I've been toying with the idea for some months now. She thought a forum for the UK Food Bloggers Association would be fantastic and I must say I agree.

So, over a bottle of prosecco (or two) the idea was conceived and over my laptop and a packet of Nurofen this morning the forums were created. They don't look too great at the moment; in my hungover state it was all I could do to register them, but they WILL look great and they WILL be launched, so keep an eye out and I hope to see you all on them very soon.

If you have any thoughts on what category of forums would be good for us all let me know. My alcohol-sodden brain could only come up with blogging and...um....food & drink this morning, not the most inspired.....



This Post was written by Julia from A Slice of Cherry Pie

Welcome to My Edible Life

This Post was written by Pete from This Edible Life






1. Where are you based?
South East London

2. Why did you start blogging?
A couple of months ago I decided to jack in a comfortable but uninspiring career to follow my dreams and work in the food industry. After 11 years in the rat race and at the age of 34, I now find myself in the terrifying but exciting position of starting at the bottom again, and in January I'll be joining the Diploma in Food and Wine at Leiths School in London. I decided that I would document my life changing experiences at This Edible Life hoping that it might provide inspiration for anyone else thinking of doing the same thing.

3. What's the best thing about food blogging?
I've rediscovered the joy of writing, something that I haven't had time to do for many years.

4. What inspires you to cook and write?
Going to markets really inspires me to cook. I get a massive headrush when I'm rooting around French markets and I wish every English town had the same. I get inspired to write by the silly things in life and I think the style and content of my blog probably reflects that.

5. What do you like to cook?
On the one hand I love the challenge of cooking really poncey food, with stupidly intricate garnishes, and time-consuming stocks. On the other I love slow-cooked comfort food like stews and long braised dishes. I try and cook something new everyday.


6. What do you hate to cook?
Any form of baking. I just can't deal with precise ingredients!


So that's it. Thanks for reading so far and please check out my blog if you have a moment. As I said, I'm really quite nervous about what the future holds so I need all the encouragement I can get!

An announcement

This Post was written by NAME from My Cooking Hut

Just a quick note to inform that Lemongrass no longer exists. It is now known as My Cooking Hut

I would appreciate if you could update your bookmark and link accordingly.

Many thanks!

Leemei @ mycookinghut