Ren Behan - Author Wild Honey and Rye

Food Writer

Recipe Testing

Recipe Testing for Jaden Hair – Steamy Kitchen Cookbook 2

The great thing about blogging is the opportunity to get to know amazing, inspiring people from all over the world and sometimes actually getting to meet them in person! Yes, it is a bit strange when cyber world meets reality and you are faced with actual people to talk to, but it’s also great to open up your usual boundaries and strike friendships through blogging.

One of the highlights of last year was attending Food Blogger Connect, even better than that, was winning a refund on my ticket at the last minute through Olives from Spain! The keynote speaker was Jaden Hair, who began writing her blog Steamy Kitchen over in America around four years ago and who has since gone on to do many exciting things through her blog, such as being featured all over America on sites like Martha Stewart and Oprah.com, international guest speaking and writing her own cook books. She is certainly one of America’s top bloggers, and she had so much advice to share with us all at Food Blogger Connect. Jaden had already written one hugely successful book, The Steamy Kitchen CookBook and is now in the process of writing her second.

Miso Asparagus & Honey Teriyaki Salmon

Jaden recently put a call-out for recipe testers, and I was so happy to be selected as a UK-based tester for her latest book  – I thought it would be great to offer a British perspective, on availability of ingredients and any issues with measurements. I often buy cook books that have been published in America and always keep an eye out on amazon.com for up and coming trends and new releases, so it’s exciting to be involved in recipe testing for Jaden. 

I’ve really enjoyed trying out and giving feedback on Jaden’s recipes, including a simple but super-tasty Salmon Honey Teriyaki and well as putting British asparagus to the test already with a recipe called Miso Asparagus. These were two separate recipes but went really well together for supper. I’ve also got an ever-growing list of more recipes I’d like to test, so better get going!

Sadly, but understandably, I’m not able to blog the recipes, but do check out Jaden’s beautiful blog Steamy Kitchen for lots more Asian-inspired dishes and of course, keep an eye of for her second book!

Thank you to Jaden, Adam and Joanne for letting me join the team!

Mushroom and Tofu Soup

 

What exciting opportunities have you had through blogging? Do you think blogging has opened up new doors?

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Recipe Testing for Team Prepped!

Joining team Prepped! and recipe testing for Vanessa Kimbell

Yesterday I had a wonderful conversation (split into two by my Blackberry deciding to die mid-sentence) with the hugely talented multi-tasking foodie Vanessa Kimble.

Vanessa is a foodie blogger and is writing a cookbook, called Prepped! which is due to be published in May 2011.

I often come across people who talk about following their dreams, of all the things they’d love to do, but rarely do you meet/speak to someone who is actually doing it.

Here’s where Vanessa Kimbell is a true inspiration.  She’s a mum-of-three, who gave up a high-powered day job to pursue her dream of writing a cook book.  She has a book deal and is currently in the throes of putting together a glorious collection of recipes designed for the ‘Time Short Foodie.’

Vanessa’s ‘About Me’ section is about as impressive as it gets.  She is a trained chef, has a collection of over 400 cook books (just a few more than me!) speaks fluent French, has worked in lots of cool places and is well, a bit of a culinary genius, in my view.  I won’t give too much away, suffice to say I am hugely looking forward to the launch of her book.  I wish her the very best of luck and I am very privileged to be joining her team of food-blogging recipe testers.

All I need now is a huge jar of vanilla sugar and I’ll be away with my first recipe!

Vanessa Kimbell Author of Prepped!

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