My first full year of food blogging. Personally some of my best achievements, but also some of the worst times I've encountered so far over the past almost 22 years. 2014 is certainly a year I won't be forgetting in a hurry, and it was only putting this roundup together I realise how much I've managed to pack in. So, in the middle of your preparations to see 2015 in in style this evening, make yourself a nice cup of tea and join me down memory lane for a moment if you will looking back on some of my favourite moments and blog posts, recipes and restaurant reviews from the past year. I moved from London back to Canterbury, and I've been to France, Spain, Norway, Iceland and Scotland. And it's certainly been a colourful one!
January
1.
Barbecue season! This mant my Skinny Sticky Storecupboard Barbecue Chicken. | 2.
A big group of my favourite people and I went to Finals Day at Chesterton's Polo in the Park at Hurlingham Polo Club. | 3.
A sunny Friday night found my friend Jon and I eating our way around Street Feast in Dalston Yard. | 4.
I made the classic French Quiche Lorraine. | 5.
This Ottolenghi salad is one of the best things I made last Summer. | 6.
Barbecue S'mores Bananas were mu favourite thing to cook on the last of the hot coals.
July
Last week of June, beginning of July I went on an amazing trip around Norway, Iceland and Orkney. I saw such beautiful feats of both man and nature, and so many breathtaking shades of blue. Bathing in the Blue Lagoon was one of the best experiences I've every had. If you have not read them already, click though and read my posts, browse the photos to even just get a little taste of what was simply an incredible trip. It was also a fantastic opportunity to kick off the travel writing here on the blog, and for me as a freelancer. Travel is something that goes hand in hand with food, but with all my university commitments it is something (aside from upping sticks and traveling on the other side of the world, which I did!) I did not really have much of an opportunity to do before. I think I really started to realise the freedom I'd never had before.
1.
I caught up with my friends and made some new ones, all the time stuffing my face with fantastic food and delicious cocktails at Jamie Oliver's book party for Jamie's Comfort Food. | 2.
My favourite recipe I've produced this year, my Ginger & Pomegranate Sandwich Cake for my Borough Market column. | 3.
Baking up a storm making some Classic Cheese Straws to nibble on in front of the television at the French house. | 4.
Messing around with some of my new kitchen gadgets sharing another classic family recipe, a really easy Chicken Liver Pâté, paired with a new favourite, my crunchy Winter Slaw. | 5.
I put together a round up of some of the cookbooks I simply could not live without to help with all your Christmas shopping. | 6.
For festive breakfasts, I made up a batch of Christmas Granola, scattered with Christmas chocolate!
I think all that is left now is to wish you all, in advance of tonight for all my British, European and American readers (but perhaps somewhat on time for all you Aussies out there?) a Happy New Year! I hope that 2015 brings you all that you hope it will, and good luck with all of your new years resolutions. I've got some very fresh, light and bright recipes planned for January (all to be ruined by something totally indulgent to celebrate the blogs 6th birthday on February 1st!) and I simply can't wait to get started!