Six months in…

…and over 20,000 visitors later and the enjoyment of writing my food blog has not diminished! Over the last three months I have discovered a lot of things about blogging and about myself, I have made more online friends, read many more blogs, commented on plenty as well, cooked recipes I never would have tried and enjoyed blogging about the experiences of cooking them all. I have also learnt many more family recipes, now passed down to my generation, so that I can continue passing them on with this blog.

My posts have become easier to write and put together, with the photos from a small ordinary digital camera – no digital SLR or lighting rig as of yet! I have tried to make my blog more user-friendly too, adding Printable Recipe Links to every post, for readers to print off only what is needed each time.

Over the next six months, I will be moving home, setting up all my planters and tubs in my new garden with fruit and vegetables to last me through the summer and autumn, and trying new things like making my own wines. I’m looking forward to having a go at more recipes from the blogs of my fellow foodies, as well trying to create some more new recipes of my own to share, and getting involved in more blogging events.

I hope all the visitors of my blog enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing it. I have learnt that a blog is more than just a collection of individual posts – it is a collection of posts and comments and pictures and replies on other blogs too, that are a part of my personality shared in this big social media world. As ever, I have to say a big thanks to my girlfriend, family and friends (online and offline) for all their continued support and for helping me out.

I’m already looking forward to the next six months and blogging about my new experiences on here for all to read!

Filed under: Blog Update, Others, blog writing, cooking, food blog, google, in, months, recipes, review, seo, six, software engineer, uk food bloggers association

Three months in…

…and over 10,000 visitors later and I now really know and appreciate, that the effort and enjoyment of writing and running a foodie blog, has been worth it!

I have made a lot of new great foodie friends worldwide and have them all to thank for their continued support and feedback, and hope to share many more recipes in the years to come with them.

The best bit for me is reading all the other amazing recipes on other great blogs and giving me ideas on what to cook next.

I’m already looking forward to 2010, as I hope my personal cooking accomplishments will get bigger and better, and hope to write all about them on here.

Filed under: Blog Update, Others, blog writing, cooking, food blog, google, in, months, recipes, review, seo, software engineer, three, uk food bloggers association

One month in…

…and over a thousand visitors later and I now know the effort of trying something so new for the first time in years has been worth it!

I didnt know how I was going to get on with this attempt at ‘food blog writing’ but with help from my family I can say I absolutely love it. I wouldnt say I have a natural flair for online story writing being a Software Engineer by day but I like to think I have put passion, fun and care in most of the posts! My sister being an online journalist has even commented she likes my writing style which is a bonus.

It has been very scary writing recipes at times and a huge learning curve for me as well, especially trying out new things and new techniques – gaining confidence with each one. I keep thinking back to where it all started, when I was 16 working as a kitchen-hand in a local 3* Hotel learning the ropes, as well as learning from my mum’s wonderful home cooking over the years, to where I am now, sharing mine and my family’s favourite recipes with the rest of the world.

The picture taking has been fun as well as stressful – trying to get the correct lighting to make it look good. I will have to study lots and lots of other pictures to make mine look better moving forward.

Working in the digital media arena in different jobs over the years, I have been able to use what I know about search engines, optimisation and directories, to make the most of publisising my blog! At the start, most of my visitors came from family and friends and from joining excellent associations like the UK Food Bloggers Association (UKFBA) but now most come from Google searches, which means others out there must enjoy the same things I like to write about!

Blog writing has had a lot of other bonuses too, especially with social networking, making new friends, being invitied to meet other bloggers and digital darlings as well as local food producers and getting to visit lots of other local excellent food haunts and restaurants, which my girlfriend really loves.

It seems like I have spent many hours sat infront of my laptop writing these posts but I can say it has been totally worth it and I would recommend it to anyone. I have rekindled my passion for cooking and now have a medium to share it with others.

Finally, I want to say thanks to my girlfriend and family for all their help and also to everyone that has visited “Anyone for Seconds?” and left comments and especially to all the other excellent food bloggers that have helped me along the way! I have so many more recipes, reviews and posts that I want to do (that I already have in Draft mode or that I have scribbled down all over the place), that I hope everyone enjoys reading them as much as I enjoy creating them, now and in the future!

Filed under: Blog Update, Others, blog writing, cooking, food blog, google, in, month, one, recipes, review, seo, software engineer, uk food bloggers association

The Food Show at The Romsey Show

Show Date: 12/09/09

I hadnt been to a full-on Food Show in a couple of years and had never been to one in the Hampshire area before, so was very pleasantly suprised at the size and layout of the event on what was a gorgeous hot and sunny day!

You couldnt miss The Food Show area at The Romsey Show for the size of the signs leading you there and welcoming you in…

There were many great ‘localish’ food producers from other Counties like East Sussex and London but what I wanted to see, taste, discover and hopefully buy, was local Hampshire produce.

There were several local beer and wine companies which is always a good thing with me and two notable beers that I came home with were ‘Wallops Wood’ from Bowman Ales Ltd and ‘Resolute’ from Andwell Brewing Company, both of which were perfect for my tastes!

I then was warmly welcomed at the Heaton Wines stall which was partnered up with The Star Inn tent. Paul Dawkins, the MD of Heaton Wines took the time to talk to me about his latest ranges and suppliers from France as well as informing me of wine tasting days coming up which I was invited to. I walked away with a Bressy Masson Cotes Du Rhone that wasnt actually being sold on the day so thanks to them for letting me purchase one. I really enjoyed it once I got home!!

After getting the drinks out of the way and visiting a miriad of bakers, butchers, cheese makers and organic food producers, 3 other companies need a worthy mention. Firstly Sunnyfields Organic Farm whose fresh organic veg on display was a delight – my sister had been raving about them for months and I hadnt had a chance to visit them – so to finally see what was on offer was great! We went home with plenty of veg for the weekend and following week. Next was Tailor Made Desserts whose display again made me come over to see what was on offer, only to be plesantly suprised by the Gluten Free cakes they had brought with them. Finally is Pete’s New Forest Butchers who again had on display the fact they made Gluten Free produce as well. Their sausages looked great and I will be definately getting some more of them.

All in all the day inspired me to find out how much more there is to discover locally, from suppliers to foraging and growing my own fruit and veg too.

I’m already looking forward to the next local food show to visit!

(If anyone at the show would like me to list their local produce websites, please leave a comment with all the information with this post).

Filed under: Gluten Free, Local Produce, coeliac diet, coeliac recipes, food show, gluten free, gluten free food, gluten free meals, gluten free recipes, hampshire, local producers, new forest, review, romsey show, what is gluten, wheat free diet, wheat free foods, wheat free recipes