The on Sunday morning when I woke up, I saw the results of the the South African Blog Awards and it made this book keeping exercise quite easy, because you see my goal was to feature SA Bloggers on my radio slot on RSG every Thursday morning and I managed to pull it off. I am proud to say that one of my featured bloggers, Ishay from Food and the Fabulous, won the The Pick 'n Pay Best Food and Wine Blog and Sam from Drizzle and Dip was a finalist.
Ishay's achievement made me think about all the lovely bloggers I met while prepping for my show every week. It was such an amazing journey. So many of these featured bloggers have moved on to excel in what they are doing. This may sound like a goodbye, but it is not, I will be featuring many more talented bloggers in 2012, but for now allow me to just have a walk down memory lane. Coming with?
Kristy's Mexican Bean Crumble
Next up was Jane-Anne from Scrumptious South Africa and because we were in the month of love, she made a lovely Valetine Panna Cotta. It was not only beautiful to look at, it was so smooth and silky, I could easily eat more than just one. Jane-Anne is one of our veteran bloggers and someone I really aspire to. Jane-Anne has had quite a few of her recipes published this year, so I reckon we will hear a whole lot more of her in 2012.
Rainbow Cooking's Chocolate-filled Shortbread
Alida Ryder from Simply Delicious featured next and I think she made one of her most popular dishes, Liguini with garlic and Mushrooms. Alida or Ally as we know her, has had a most fantastic year, not only did her Chocolate Cake win the Sarie Chocolate Cake Competition and appeared on the front cover of this popular Afrikaans Magazine, but she has just handed in the manuscript to her first book and it will be on the shelves in the latter half of 2012. Well done Ally.
Colleen Grove or Colly Wolly as she is known amongst the bloggers from Browniegirlblog is not only the Blogmama of many and the organizer of the annual Foodbloggers Indaba, but she is also a formidable cook and a super-gran. Colleen's Gluten-free Chocolate Cake took the world by storm and from all the emails I received, I just realized how many people live with allergies of some sort.
Robyn from the blog, Koek, is a journalist by profession so she started her blog as a self-indulgent platform to share her preoccupation with food(her words). She shared a deliciously light recipe with us, Pasta with lemon, ricotta and fresh garden peas. It was indeed delicious!
Cooking Foody's Asparagus and Parma Ham Gratin
Rose from Homemade Heaven baked some Lemon Shortbread and I have to say, I haven't had something that addictive since this recipe featured. I think it best if I keep this for high days and holidays.
Cindy form The Only Cin sent me a recipe for Mother's Day Trifle and it was such an easy recipe that I left it on the kitchen cupboard the night before Valentine's in the hope that hubs and the children would make it for me for Mother's Day!
Fritz Brand was the second male participant in the program and I just love his blog Real Men Can Cook. I love his no-nonsense approach to food and he has a heart of gold. This year he hosted a Project Steak Braai in aid of the We Feed Back campaign and they managed to raise over R5000 for this worthy cause which is enough to feed 2752 hungry children. Fritz shared his easy recipe for Mielietert or Mealie Tart and again it was a no-nonsense yet delicious addition to any braai.
Browniegirl's Death by Chocolate Cake
Matt Allison, is any wife's dream! Not only is he an urban farmer, a sound engineer, a closet designer and a blogger, but he is also a good cook and a stay-at-home-dad. Matt has featured in many magazines this year and all I can say is..watch this space! Do try his Pork and Broccoli Stir Fry.I had the honor of featuring a recipe from the illustrious Anne Meyers from I love Cooking on my show and have since met her in person. Wow, what an icon this lady is. Anne has published more recipe books than years I have lived and if you just look at her website, you will see how talented and professional she is. What a privilege to know you Anne! Anne's recipe that featured on RSG was Smokey ribs with honey and oyster sauce. Perfect for the braai season!
One fine day, I got the idea to get the bloggers to come and make their dishes here in My Easy Cooking HQ and that brought a whole new dimension to this program and we had many hours of laughter, cooking, styling and photographing dishes. These bloggers not only featured on RSG, but a post was dedicated to each one of them. Here they are.
Ingredients for Candice' Caramel Croissant pudding
- Jeanne from Cooksister and her Pork Fillet stuffed with Pear and Sage. Jeanne needs no introduction and she is one of the brains behind the most successful Plate2Page workshops.
- Candice from The Gorgeous Gourmet and her Caramel Croissant Pudding(utterly decadent) - she too auditioned for the SA Masterchef Competition.
- Sue from Sous Chef with her Sticky Chicken
- Leaine from Leaine's Kitchen and her Coconut Chocolate Ice Cream.
- Chef Caro with her 4 minute Microwave Cheesecake - I must have had 100's of emails about this cheesecake. I am happy to report that Caro is moving to CT permanently to pursue her career as a chef.
- Jan Tripepe and her Fetuccini Alfredo although her Uvo Batuto made far more waves...... Without a doubt the readers choice!
- Sarah from A Foodie Lives Here with her Gnocchi with Bacon and Gorgonzola. Sarah's book will also be on the shelves soon....and here is the good part, I am in it!!
- Lisa from Marmite on Toast and her Asparagus and Gruyere Tart. Wow, what a refreshing surprise it was to find this blog!
- Jaco and Marietjie from Rainbow Cooking and there Chocolate-filled Shortbread. Also a crowd pleaser!
- Sam from Drizzle and Dip and her Beetroot and Barley Risotto - All the vegetarians went for this recipe. Sam is a food stylist of note and if you want proof of the quality of her work, please visit her site, Drizzle and Dip!
- Christie-Anne from CookingFoody and her Fresh Asparagus and Parma Ham gratin with Balsamic Plums.
This young lady has just auditioned for the SA Masterchef Competition and is in the top 40 that went through in Gauteng. We are holding thumbs for you! Her recipe also featured in the Woolworths Taste Magazine.
- Robyn from Chocswirl who is a pastry chef, made the most beautiful Pineapple Tarte Tatins in my kitchen. I learned such a lot about precision from her.
- Caylee from Love Bites and here Chicken and Mango Salad was our last featured recipe for 2012. Lovely, fresh flavors!
Although this is not my last post for 2011, there are still a few more Christmas Recipes I would love to feature, but I want to take this opportunity to thank each and every blogger who were willing to share their recipes with me and the RSG listeners. I am so grateful and proud to be associated with you in such a small way. Thank you, thank you!!
11 comments:
Dearest Nina,
It was such a huge honor for me to be featured on your slot on RSG. Because of the time difference between South Africa and Taiwan, I never actually got to listen when you featured the chocolate truffles but believe me, people from as far away as Abu Dhabi phoned me to tell me that their mothers heard my name mentioned by you!
Thank you again for friendship and advice over the past year...and I can't wait to meet you at your HQ once I set foot in the Mother City again.
Wxxx
Hi Nina
Thank you so much for the kind words, and thanks again for featuring me on your slot on RSG, I must admit I was quite chuffed hearing my name on radio.
My blog is now just about 1 year old, and what a year it has been. I met so many great people, you included of course, I honestly never even knew this "world" existed.
Thanks for being a continuous source of inspiration, and may 2012 be a year of so much awesomeness that you end up having to give some of it away!
Happy Krismis and a Merry New Year!
Dear Nina
I am almost unable to see this screen as my eyes are so tear filled. I realised how much work you did this year to keep our little business ticking over.And still I give you such uphill with MY WANTS AND NEEDS... As you know I keep my-easy-cooking.com business cards in my jacket and end up giving clients your card rather than mine. Our son has passed (very well) and is going to High School (sob) and my baby girl got top marks in every subject. She couldn't do it without you. (Wipe tears away-focus)
Tomorrow we are married 15 years...how do I repay you for your understanding spirit. Your sence of Humice! I am overcome by gratitude to my GOD who has given me you.
All the best for 2012! "You fill up my sences" and "are always on my mind"!!-dt.
Many congratulations on a great year - what a good idea to do a review like this.
Wow Nina you have certainly had a fabulous year and thanks for the mention. I hope 2012 is as wonderful for you and all your dreams come true.
sam
Wow! Nina what a wonderful post and reading through the post one can feel the joy that you experienced and the oppurtunities you created for all the featured bloggers. Well done and look forward to lots more in 2012. Have a blessed festive season and all the very best for 2012
It was so much fun cooking with you at your place and I was so honoured that you wanted to feature me. Looks like you have had a great year, I wish you all the best for next year, and look forward to seeing what My Easy Cooking has in store for us next year. Well done!
I think 2011 was a pretty good year for this blog!
Thank you for the kind mention Nina. I wish you the best for the year ahead. Merry Christmas to you and your family x
What a lovely and inspiring post, Nina. I read the whole thing avidly. I really admire you for so wholeheartedly supporting South African food bloggers in a realm that is often plagued with competitiveness and some low-level nastiness. Thanks for the mention and congrats on this excellent post.
Go Nina, mag alles wat jy gee 50 maal terug gegee word aan jou! Dankie vir die ongelooflike ervaring en al die raad oor die jare, ek dink die vriendskappe is die mooiste deel van blogging. xx
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