Food Blog Discoveries - More Blogs!

A few more food blogs that have been added to my reader recently, hope you find some inspiration like I have :)

 image from Desserts for Breakfast

Desserts for Breakfast - I only followed this food blog because it had an awesome name (and matches my philosophy in life, clearly), but it is also a really lovely blog with gorgeous photographs.

Une-deux Senses - food but also fashion and music, beautiful photos! she has just been to New York too so some great recommendations if you are visiting soon.

Kitchen 22 - Cambridge food blogger, restaurant blogger. Yummy recipe for Oxtail Ragu.

Anne's Food - blogger based in Sweden, some really interesting recipes here, and if you like Swedish cookbooks then you'll find it very useful ;)

Catch up blog!

Somehow I totally forgot to blog last week, where did last week go?
Lots happened, I had my blog in the Etsy Storque, a feature in Etsy Finds, a press feature and an Etsy front page. Phew!

No wonder I forgot to blog :)

The press feature was in Look magazine which was ace! I sent my earrings off a while ago and was so pleased that they decided to feature me, I was the only handmade person on there too. yay!

We are also still having great fun with Flossie the kitten, her and Jess cat are getting on really well (playing and washing each other!), she is due for her first vaccinations on Tuesday so we shall expect a slightly down in the dumps kitty for a while.

Last week I was also featured on this lovely blog - My Day is Friday. It is run by lovely european crafter Helis, a beautiful photo blog of peoples days - mixing their crafty life with family and work life.

This week I shall hopefully be more productive on the blog front, I have two new recipes, probably more kitten pics and some new jewellery!

Pattypan Pasta and the Etsy Blog

This week has been so lovely on the food blog front, I have guest blogged for Walden Local Food and today my blog for the Etsy Storque is up, check out the UK Edition for a yummy recipe for Rhubarb and Blueberry Cobbler. Thanks so much to Amity from Etsy for suggesting I guest on there!

After all this excitement I am popping in with a quick and lovely recipe for a summer squash pasta dish.
I picked up these really cute squashes (yes I bought them because they are cute) at the market last Saturday. I have been trying to get my hands on pattypan squash for a while, they are one of the best squashes to eat - sweet and tender.

If you work quickly it will all come together in the time it takes to cook the pasta.

I started by topping and tailing three squashes and slicing them very finely.
I fried them off with a glove of garlic in some butter til they were a little bit browned and soft. Then I added oregano, seasoning, chili flakes and a tablespoon of creme fraiche, and stirred to combine.
Once the pasta was ready, I drained it, added it back to the pan with the squash, some water reserved from the spaghetti and some parma ham cut into ribbons (4 slices was good enough for 2 of us).
Served with some freshly grated parmesan and lots of black pepper.

This pasta was so perfect for summer (we'll ignore the fact that it was raining a lot outside) - very light and with lots of fresh flavour. I'll definitely make it again!

Elderflower Fritters

Happily I located an elder next to my office the other day, off the road and with lots and lots of flower heads to pick. So I made fritters!

The finished fritters were lovely, not the most attractive I hasten to add, but crispy and doughnut soft in the middle. I sprinkled them with sugar and served with some softly whipped cream. The flowery scent is gorgeous here, not to overpowering and it is so lovely eating basically free food!

I think I need to make my batter a bit lighter next time, for some reason it was very thick.

Head over to Colour It Green's blog for a fabulous recipe and a better picture of finished fritters - she is an elderflower connoisseur!

Lake District Craft Weekend and the Etsy Blog!

I recently went away to the Lake District with 8 of my friends from the handmade/artists/crafters community. We had a fab weekend surrounded by beautiful countryside, plenty of foodie goodies and lots of crafting.


We were featured in the Etsy storque blog yesterday too! yay!
Check us out here - http://www.etsy.com/storque/handmade-life/uk-edition-9-get-crafty-in-the-lakes-7514/

I learn some knitting, bear making, how to make PMC jewellery and needlefelting. And saw the amazingness of a gocco machine in use. I love learning new crafts and also learning a bit more about jewellery from other jewellers. I've got so many ideas still, even 3 weeks after the trip.

Foodie

I've been meaning to blog about my favourite food blogs for a while, I love food blogs - the best ones are always 200 times better than anything you would find in a magazine. I also like the tried and tested factor of it because I like to know recipes work, there is nothing worse than something you make going wrong because of a duff recipe (obviously I am a fantastic cook so its not my fault ;))

I have been following my two favourite blogs for quite a while now and they are always filled with great recipes.

First is Gastronomy Domine, which I also love for the restaurant reviews - alas I haven't been to some of the fantastic places Liz has blogged about but I have drooled at the pictures. I am going to try and track down a pork hock this weekend on her recommendation, I can't wait to try her latest recipe. You should also definitely try the recipe for Char Sui pork, although its not the weather for it now, its really great cooked on the barbecue.

photo by smitten kitchen

Second is Smitten Kitchen, which is full of what American food really should be about which is great. You should also try some of the cookie recipes, the homemade oreo recipe is the best. One of our household favourites is also the quesadilla with acorn squash recipe (you can use all sorts of different veg, I like courgettes or butternut squash) which is really easy to make. I love the photography too, I can happily flick through the photos and waste a lot of time dreaming of what to make next.

xx

Blog love

I love a good food blog, and yesterday I found this one, Simply Breakfast. The clue is in the name! A blog about breakfast, I love it. Great for a bit of foodie inspiration, not what you would normally find but I just love how simple the idea is. Plus it has given me a bit of inspiration to change my usual cereal or toast! I feel a bit shameful for having coco pops this morning now ;)

xx