Over recent months I’ve seen many bloggers who I admire being nominated for various blogging awards – so it means so much to be on the receiving end of two award nominations as I approach 18 months of food blogging.
The Liebster award – First I was nominated for the Liebster award by a fellow Laura at Healthy Made Easy. Laura is French and South African and, like myself, loves to cook healthy recipes from scratch. So if you’re tempted by dishes like date balls, zucchini noodles and quinoa salads then check out Laura’s blog.
The Real Neat Blog award – The second nomination came from Vanessa at My Gastro Adventure. Again, be sure to check out her blog. Vanessa started her blog with Challenge 52 – through which she is in the middle of posting 52 recipes throughout 2015, all of which have been chosen by her family and friends.
Here are the questions I’ve been asked to answer through these awards:
- What’s your favourite meal of the day? Definitely dinner, I love to sit down with my husband and eat a hearty meal whilst chatting about the day.
- When did you start blogging? January 2014.
- What inspired you to start your own blog? / How did you get involved in blogging? I have always loved food, eating out and writing. Friends used to always say to me ‘you should start a blog’. I finally got around to it after a colleague shared with me her blog and gave me tips on getting started on WordPress.
- What’s your favourite ingredient to use in recipes? This is a difficult question because I have many top pick ingredients. But I’d probably choose lamb meat because it is so versatile and many cuts (shoulder, ribs, shanks) can be slow-cooked with simple herbs and spices.
- What’s your favourite breakfast recipe? I tend to skip breakfast most days (yes I’m on the intermittent fasting bandwagon) but on weekends when I do indulge I go for a combo of avocado, and eggs, most recently paired with home made paleo bread.
- Who do you cook for? Normally myself and my husband.
- What’s your favourite kitchen tool? My hand blender.
- What’s your number one tip on starting a blog? / What is your best piece of advice for a new blogger? Have a clear vision and philosophy that means something to you and then stick with it. And of course try and choose a blog name that’s aligned to that vision and philosophy.
- How would you describe your blog in one word? Feasty
- Do you mostly make the same recipes or do you like to try out new ones? I typically have 10-20 of my favourite recipes on rotation at any one time. I’ll try a new recipe every week or so. If it’s a winner add it to the rotation, if it’s average I won’t cook it again. And when I get bored with a recipe or a key ingredient is out of season I’ll drop it for a while.
- What are you most looking forward to in the next 12 months? Seeing my new apartment (construction is about to start) being built in Manly beach, just 100 metres from the sand.
- What’s your favourite book and why? It’s a book called The Art of Racing in the Rain and is about a dog called Enzo who is almost human. It’s a touching book and extra special to me because I too have a poodle/cavalier cross called Enzo (see image below).
- If you could only eat one dish for the rest of your life, what would it be and why? Another killer question. I guess I’ll have to put the nutritional content to one side and say ice cream, because it’s the one food I never seem to tire of. Sometimes I wish I would have a ‘I am so over ice cream’ moment but it’s been my vice for over 20 years.
- If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why? It would be where I have chosen to live right now – in Sydney, Australia, over 17,000km from where I was born in England. It’s a fantastic city surrounded by a beautiful harbour, with world class beaches and a mild climate. And of course it’s also home to amazing fresh local produce and heaps of farmers markets.
- If you had a dinner party and you could invite any 5 guests, dead or alive, who would you invite? For obvious foodie reasons I’d have Jamie Oliver and Heston Blummenthal (both fellow Brits like myself). Then I’d have Graham Norton to add extra fun (sorry another Brit). Then I’d balance the genders with two Aussie women who are growing old gracefully (to get to their secrets) – Kylie Minogue and Elle Macpherson.
Both awards come with the following rules:
- Post the award logo on your blog
- Link back to the person who nominated you as a thank you
- Answer the questions set for you
- Nominate 10 other bloggers (Liebster award) or as many bloggers as you like (Real Neat blog award), including a link to their blogs
- Let them know they’ve been nominated (by commenting on their blog)
- Create 10 questions (Liebster award) 7 questions (Real Neat blog award) for your nominees
I have chosen to nominate those bloggers who have either really engaged with my Feast Wisely posts (thank you!) and/or those who have inspired me with their wonderful stories and recipes. I’ve followed the rules of the Liebster award and so now I nominate the following 10 bloggers with 7 questions:
- Elaine at Foodbod: https://foodbod.wordpress.com/
- Jo at This Sydney Life: http://www.joannafrankham.com/
- Helen at Grab Your Fork: http://grabyourfork.blogspot.com/
- Allane at Packing My Suitcase: http://www.packingmysuitcase.com/
- Seana at Cottage Grove House: http://cottagegrovehouse.com/
- Nell at I Need a Feed: https://ineedafeed.wordpress.com/
- Sally at My Custard Pie: http://mycustardpie.com/
- Olga at Ocean View Kitchen: http://oceanviewkitchen.com/
- Amy at Thoroughly Nourished Life: http://thoroughlynourishedlife.com/
- Aaron at A Wallflower Gastronomy: http://awallflowergastronomy.com/
And their questions are:-
- What’s the best foodie city you have ever visited and why?
- What is your favourite dessert?
- What are your top 5 pantry staples?
- If you could visit one country where would you choose and why?
- Which well-known chef do you most admire and why?
- What would your dream kitchen look like?
- How would you spend the perfect Sunday?
Thanks for reading and I look forward to learning more about you all……………….
By Laura (Feast Wisely)
Feast Wisely 
Thank you so much Laura for nominating me! I’m very honored you included me in your list. 🙂 And you won’t believe this but I have met Garth Stein on a number of occasions! He lives here in Seattle and my husband knows him well. Congratulations on your award!
Thanks Seana – no problem, I have really been enjoying your blog and it’s funny to have a food connection with fellow bloggers all around the world. I can’t believe your huby knows Garth Stein – pls pass on how much I love his book. He has convinced me that dogs are truly human and my little Enzo is very special indeed (as is his brother Vespa, my other Cavoodle)!
I love his book(s) too! You pup is so adorable. I love that you have two brothers. We kick ourselves for not bring Hesster’s (our big black dog) brother home to live with us too. I’m loving your blog as well Laura. So nice getting to know you…
Thanks so much Seana – I’ll have to include a picture of his equally cute brother next time!
Congratulations!
Thanks Nandini!
Thank you so much for the nomination Laura and congratulations on your nomination! I’m going to have to think carefully about my answers and post them soon 🙂
Thanks Amy – yes look forward to your answers!
Congratulations on your nomination – I thoroughly enjoyed reading your responses. Like you, I’m a huge fan of lamb. 🙂
Thanks so much Linda – if my list of nominations could have been two more I would have love to have added your blog – and even better now I know you’re a fellow lamb fan!
Congratulations! I’ll have to follow your blog a bit more closely as it takes time wracking the brain for recipes for two!
Thanks Grace – I also just followed your blog too!
Thanks! Mine’s not gourmet – it’s just a diary of what we’re eating in a busy week while trying to be healthier! Looking forward to seeing more of your cooking adventures 🙂
Congratulations on your award, lovely to learn more about you 🙂 and thank you so very much for including me in your nominations xx
Thanks Elaine!
I’ve linked to your tomato kasundi recipe in my post today, I hope that’s okay xx
Wow thanks Elaine – I’m a few days behind on reading fellow blogger posts but will check it out ASAP!
Well done on your awards! …And, thanks for your nomination, Possum 🙂
Thanks Joanna and no problem, I have really been enjoying reading your blog!
Congratulations on your award! Thank you so much for nominating me, Laura! I have been enjoying reading your blog!!! Good luck with your construction! i bet you will enjoy the final result:) Olga xxx
Thanks Olga! And no probs for the nomination – I too have been enjoying reading your posts, your style of cooking is so homely and satisfying!
Oh, congratulations lovely! You’ve got an inspiring, creative space here that is a joy to visit! May this be the first round of many more awards to come xx
Thanks Laura for the lovely feedback!
Thank you so much once again for thinking of me Laura ❤
And I am sorry for the late comment, I was traveling and just came back, so I'm catching up with everything 😀
Congratulations on your award… I love your blog so I know you deserve it!!
Wow 18 months already? How awesome ❤
Thanks so much – I hope you’re not suffering from any holiday blues! Will look out for your next posts. 😄
hahaha you’re welcome! No, I’m ok with the holiday blues 😀 already looking forward to the next trip!!
Thank you so much once again!!
Hi Laura, I’ve only just seen this post (I’ve been on a little holiday)! I enjoyed reading your answers and learning more about you 🙂 Thank you again for all your support and encouragement during my blogging journey x
Hi Vanessa hope you had a nice holiday – I’ve enjoyed your posts too and live your 52 week challenge! Laura
It was lovely, thank you. Struggling to settle back into reality but I’m getting there 🙂 x
In the flurry of being overseas when this post was published, I’ve only just managed to read your post now. Thank you so much for your nomination – I do love the great community spirit that is so much a part food blogging 🙂
Thanks Helen and I hope you enjoyed a great trip!