A Slice of Cherry Pie Forum Book Club - March 2009

This Post was written by Holler from Tinned Tomatoes

I thought it was about time we got the reading group on the Slice of Cherry Pie Forum up and running again, so I popped over to Amazon to have a look at what paperbacks they had on offer and came across a zany little book called We Bought a Zoo by Benjamin Mee.

Here is a review:

While looking for a place to buy for his 76-year-old mother after his father's death, Benjamin Mee, living in France with his wife and two children, received details of his "dream scenario" by his sister. Unusually, the property in question was a struggling zoo.

We Bought A Zoo tells the story of how the dilapidated Dartmoor Wildlife Park, populated by around 400 exotic animals, was transformed into the busy Dartmoor Zoological Park by an ordinary family using a trial-and-error method. Along the way, Mee has to deal with an escaped jaguar, fighting (among people as well as animals), an escapologist wolf, and a tiger which stands up during general anaesthetic.

The book also describes how the family coped during the gradual deterioration of Mee's wife Katherine due to a brain tumour and how they coped with her loss.

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This book is reviewed by readers as sad, but also a laugh-out-loud kind of book. I think this is just what we need after such a long winter, well for some of us anyway It is available on Amazon and Play for £5.49, alternatively you could order a copy at your local library.

If you would like to join in then leave a comment on the forum to let us know you are joining us and we will start a discussion about the book, as the month progresses. The discussion thread will contain the word SPOILER, for those who haven't finished yet.

I hope everyone is happy with this and that you will all join in. It should be fun!

Holler
:)

No Croutons Required - July

This Post was written by Holler from Tinned Tomatoes

No Croutons Required is a monthly, vegetarian soup and salad challenge, hosted by myself and Lisa from Lisa's Kitchen.

For this month's challenge, I would like you to think up a soup or salad showcasing your favourite herb or one you haven't experimented with yet.


The herb garden is now officially open!

The Rules

1. Post about your vegetarian, herb soup or salad.

2. Mention "No Croutons Required" in your post and link back to Tinned Tomatoes. You are free to use the "No Croutons Required" logo in your post.

3. Email me a link to your post at nocroutonsrequired@googlemail.com and include your name, the name of your blog, your location and the name of your dish, with any anecdotes.

4. Entries must be in by 20 July 2008.

The roundup of entries will then be posted and readers will be able to vote for their favorite soup or salad in the poll.

The winning soup or salad will be announced at the end of the month and the winner will receive this badge to display on their blog.

5. Good luck :)

No Croutons Required

This Post was written by Holler from Tinned Tomatoes

























No Croutons Required is a new, monthly soup and salad challenge hosted by Tinned Tomatoes and Lisa's Kitchen. Lisa is hosting the first challenge, and the theme is vegetarian soup.

The challenge is open until the 20 February 2008. A line-up of entries will be posted after this date and the winner will receive a gorgeous badge for their blog.

I hope you will join in the challenge!

Check out the rules on Lisa's blog and give it a go.

If you have any questions you may leave a comment or email us at nocroutonsrequired@googlemail.com.

Love
Holler

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!

It's Pumpkin Time!

This Post was written by Holler from Tinned Tomatoes.

Well November is just around the corner and there are lots of pumpkins languishing on those supermarket shelves! Here are some recipes to make the most of them!


My contribution is a gooey Pumpkin Fondue.

Kevin over at Closet Cooking made a gorgeous Pumpkin Cheesecake!

Eat'n ve'gn made a rather delicious looking Black Bean and Pumpkin Soup.

Charlotte, who is tempting her son Freddie around the alphabet of vegetables, made Pumpkin and Smoky Bacon Risotto. Looks good, but as a veggie I think I would substitute the bacon for mushrooms!

Val from More than Burnt Toast exceeded all expectations and made Cinnamon Streusel-Topped Pumpkin Pie and Pumpkin Praline Pie!

And our very own Julia made Stuffed Butternut Squash (I know squash, not pumpkin, but you could adapt it to use pumpkin!)

I hope that gives you a few ideas!

Give a pumpkin a home, it's Hallowe'en!

Tinned Tomatoes and a Wedding Dress

This Post was written by Holler from Tinned Tomatoes.
























1. Where are you based?

I am based in Dundee, Scotland.

2. How long have you been blogging?

I started my blog in April 2007.

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

It always amazes me that people from all around the world visit my blog and many of them return! I have made a few good friends in the food blogging community. That is definitely what it is, a very strong community and I am happy to be part of it!

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

It has to be the time aspect, sometimes life gets in the way and I don't post as often as I would like to!

5. What inspires you to cook and write?

When I started to blog my inspiration came from a lady called The Next Nigella, who cooked her way through 500 Nigella Lawson recipes and posted her results. I loved following her posts, even though a lot of them where meat based and I am a vegetarian. I started to think, maybe I could do this too! And so I set up my blog in the hope that it would encourage me to widen my cooking repertoire, which was a bit limited!

Right now, my answer would be different. It is not just one person who inspires me, but all the other bloggers in the community. When I read their posts and chat to them, I get great ideas and want to go try them out. My recipe book and my notebook are overflowing!

6. Where do you like to blog?

I do all my blogging at computer desk in our spare bedroom. I long for wifi and a new laptop, so I could sit somewhere comfy to blog!

7. What's your signature dish?

I don't have one, as I am trying out different things! I do return to old favourites quite often though.


My friend Andrew enjoys my pea pesto, so I like making that for him, My brother-in-law Lachlan likes a halloumi salad, my mum loves bruschetta and Graham's favourite is a pasta sauce made with lots of herbs, mushrooms, wine, garlic, black pepper and creme fraiche. So, my signature dish is different for each person in my life!

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

I just got married to the love of my life Graham. It wasn't a whirlwind romance, we have been together for 16 years. I met Graham at my student union. I went over and asked him to dance, because I thought he was so cute. The rest is history! He didn't stand a chance!

This won't be a big surprise if you read my blog! So, I will let you into a little secret. I am about to start belly dancing classes!


This is my gorgeous niece trying out my coin belly dancing belt!