Showing posts with label Award. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Award. Show all posts

Sunday, 18 November 2012

Apple & Spice Listed in Woman & Home and Sainsbury's Best Blogs

Earlier this week I received some unexpected and exciting news. Woman & Home magazine have put together a list of their ‘100 Best Food Blogs’ and I was delighted to learn that Apple & Spice has been included in the list!

They have arranged the blogs into categories – baked, local produce, special diet etc and I’ve been included in the Vegetarian/Gluten Free section! Click here for the link to their full list.

The Special Diet section is the last on the list so my blog is number 99, but if you click to view the blogs backwards ‘previous’ rather than forward ‘next’ you get to my bit very quickly. I’m thrilled to be included! Here’s a screen shot of my listing.


I also found out this week that I have been listed on Sainsbury’s ‘Blogs we Love’ site. Hurrah! Click here to see Sainsbury’s blog list. They have arranged their list alphabetically. Here is a screen shot of my listing on their site.

Both Woman & Home and Sainsbury’s have chosen a wonderful selection of blogs. Some I was already aware of and read myself and others I am only just discovering. I feel honoured to be included amongst them. Do take a look and see what new blogs you discover.

Friday, 29 June 2012

ABC Award

Thank you to Gem from Cupcake Crazy Gem who recently presented me with this ABC (Awesome Blog Content) award. For fun, you’ve got to give some random facts about yourself, one for every letter of the alphabet! So here's my 26 alphabet related facts about me! 

A – Apple & Spice. My blog. I started it during my uni days and never expected it to grow and still be going strong 5 years later. It’s great at pushing me to be creative and try new recipes and showing me the vast culinary world out there.

B – Backwards. My friends and family often describe myself as backwards as I don’t fit your typical stereotype. I’m not that interested in fashion and would sooner have a new baking tin than a new pair of shoes. When doing those fun personality tests, I’m often in the 2% who say something different to the norm or I’ll like foods no one else does. I like being a bit quirky though and it means I have ideas other people might not, which can be useful.

C – Coeliac. Since being diagnosed nearly two years ago, my diet and lifestyle has changed quite dramatically. However, I feel it’s an experience that’s made me stronger and only increased my interest in discovering new foods.

D – Desserts. Some of my favourite things to bake. I eat dessert every day, it doesn’t have to be extravagant – some stewed fruit and yoghurt can be just as enjoyable as a large slice of carrot cake.

E – Eating. I love trying new foods and flavours. Different cuisines, foods and cultures interest me so much. Every time I see something new I think ‘ohhh wonder what that tastes like.’ This very snazzy looking watermelon radish was a recent discovery while in America.

F – Fruit. I love all fruit (except kiwi which I’m allergic to) and often eat 5 portions a day, before even adding veg into the equation. I love summer and autumn when all the berries, plums, apples and pears come into season. There’s nothing like freshly picked fruit.

G – Grow Your Own. There is a special kind of enjoyment about eating something you have grown yourself. I currently have 4 different varieties of potato, 3 varieties of tomato, a strawberry plant and a dwarf pear tree all growing in pots on the patio. You don’t need grass to home grow.

H – Health. Our health is one of the most important things. As much as I love desserts and sweet things, I also make sure to include lots of wholegrains, fruits and veg to my diet. My uni course, being coeliac and vegetarian has only increased my awareness of how important our health is.

I – Ice Cream. One of the best I ever had was a hazelnut gelato in Italy when I was 16. Divine

J – Job. I’m currently job hunting. If anyone knows of a job where the skills of a coeliac, vegetarian, baking enthusiast, blog writer and all round foodie with a food and nutrition degree is required – let me know!

K – Kitkat. My childhood nickname. I’m not sure how it started as I didn’t eat a lot of kitkat biscuits. I think it’s just because it sounded good when spoken with my name ‘Kitkat Katie’

L – Lightning. There is something so awe-inspiring about watching a thunderstorm, patricianly at night. Powerful, slightly frightening and strangely beautiful at the same time.

M – Mum & Dad. They’ve given me such love and support and always been there to share my highs and lows. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without them.

N – Newquay. Lots of happy memories of family holidays spent here. Days on the beach, learning to body board in the sea and walks along the coast.

O – Onwards & Upwards! My motto for life. If things don’t turn out as you wanted, don’t dwell on the past, but look to the future. Equally if things are going well, don’t stop, keep going… Onwards…!

P – Peas! I love them, they are so versatile. Try eating them straight from the freezer on a hot day, they are like little balls of sorbet – delicious.

Q – Quiet. Everyone needs a bit of quiet time now and then.

RReading. I always have a book on the go and read a few pages every night. I’ve just started Fall of Giants by Ken Follett (one of my favourite authors) and at 850 pages it’s going to take a while.

S – Siblings. I have an older sister Caroline (Caz) and a younger brother Jonathan (JJ). We are all 4 years and 4 months apart, with me being the middle child. We are really close to each other, but I do remember suffering a bit from middle child syndrome when I was younger. Being jealous, as my brother got away with everything being the baby of the family, while my sister got to do everything first and I was stuck in the middle. It’s better now we’re older and have each become our own unique people.

T – Technology. I think we have too much of it. I like phones, computers and the internet but feel we are all connected to it too much now. Sometimes it’s good to keep our own thoughts to ourselves. I don’t have an i-phone, i-pod, Twitter or Facebook account for this reason.

UUSA. I’ve been twice, once to Chicago and once to Los Angeles. I loved it and can even picture myself living there for a year or two. I loved how their broad range of different foods and cuisines were so accessible. It made being a coeliac vegetarian quite easy. Plus they have specialist shops you just wouldn’t get here in the UK, like whole stores dedicated to popcorn – how cool!

V – Vegetarian. I’ve been vegetarian since I was 9, over 16 years! I’m the only one in my family who is, which also adds to me being ‘backwards’ in their eyes.

W – Walking. This is my favourite form of exercise. I love wandering off and exploring new areas, particularly in the countryside where each new hill or corner reveals something new. I find it so peaceful and it gives me time to think.

X – XXX. Indicating kisses at the end of a letter, always a nice thing to receive.

Y – Yogurt. I eat it nearly every day and prefer it to milk on my cereal. It must be natural and unsweetened, although I often add my own berries, cinnamon or even a little nutella to it.

Z – ZZzzzzz enough facts about me!


I now pass this award onto 5 of my favourite bloggers. You must link back to the person who gave you the award before passing it on:

Tuesday, 11 January 2011

Blog Award – 10 Questions…

A few days ago the lovely Alicia of The Red Deer gave me a blog award which comes with 10 questions to answer. It’s fun as some of the questions are different to the usual foodie ones. Thanks Alicia!

Why did you create the blog?
I discovered blogs in my first year at Uni. I was instantly attracted to the idea that anyone could write, photograph and talk about food in any way they wished. I loved discovering there were so many foodies out there as well as a vast variety of recipes, ingredients and dishes I had never heard of before. I became quite obsessed finding new blogs to read and recipe to try. Within a few months decided to set up my own and have loved being ‘a blogger’ ever since.

What kind of blogs do you follow?
I love any blog involving baking or desserts. I find them such a great source of inspiration as well as gaining valuable knowledge about different cuisines, cultures and trends. I’m often left feeling hungry and jealous at the vast variety of sweet treats and baking ingredients available to American bloggers. The UK is getting better, but we are still far behind America. I also enjoy reading Vegetarian and Gluten Free blogs as they have been invaluable at helping me adapt to my gluten free diet and are great for when I’m stuck for meal ideas. I love bloggers who share a bit about themselves or the occasion behind creating the food in question, over time you get a real insight into their lives and personalities and it makes them feel like friends you can relate to.

Favourite makeup brand?
Don’t have one. I don’t wear a lot of make up and the ones I do are often picked up from Boots, The Body Shop or gifts from friends or family.

Favourite clothing brand?
I love the clothes from Next. I know that’s not particularly glamorous but they fit me well and it’s my kind of style. I’ve just discovered a new brand called Apricot and am loving their clothes too.

Your indispensable makeup product?
Mascara. I don’t sleep that well and always have bags under my eyes, but I find mascara is great at widening the eyes and making me look more awake.

Your favourite colour?
Purple! I love most shades of purple from dusky lilacs to moody aubergine. Believe it or not I actually bought my old phone for the pure reason it was purple! I got a new black one for Christmas, but have just bought a purple phone cover protector for it. I plan to one day have purple cupboards in my kitchen!

Your perfume?
I don’t wear perfume that often except on special occasions. However, my favourite is Paradise which is sold by Next.

Your favourite film?
It would have to be The Sound of Music. It brings back very happy memories of my childhood when my sister and I would watch it obsessively. We knew all the songs and I would often dream about being one of the Von-Trap children, running about on the hillside, having picnics and exploring.

What country would you like to visit and why?
Ohh that’s a hard one. Like Alicia I would love to explore more of France, especially as my ancestors are actually from the Alsace region of France. I’ve been to France once before and loved tasting all their different breads and pastries; their fresh figs and apricots are unbelievable! However, I found they didn’t understand the concept of a Vegetarian diet very well and as I was diagnosed with coeliac disease a few months back its probably best I avoid the temptations of France for a while. I’d love to visit India or Japan as I think their food is amazing, plus they do lots of things for Veggies. I’d be too scared to go without someone who knew the area though. Also, I’d never turn down the chance to go back to America either!

Make up the last question and answer it yourself
What is your motto?
My motto would is ‘Onwards and Upwards!’ I see no point on dwelling on the past. Sometimes things happen that make us feel down or sad but in my view there is no point mooching around and forever thinking ‘what if?’ or ‘poor me.’ Of course it’s natural to feel upset by things for a while, but then I think it’s important to pick ourselves up and look to the future. It’s full of hope and promise and who knows what tomorrow, or even the next year will bring. Don’t view things as problems, see them as exciting challenges which you are going to figure out how to overcome. I’m a firm believer in a Positive Mental Attitude!

I would like to pass this award and 10 question challenge onto the following 10 bloggers:
Marie of The English Kitchen
Lorraine of Not Quite Nigella
Patricia of Technicolor Kitchen
Johanna of Green Gourmet Giraffe
Emily of Sugar Plum
Michelle of Brown Eyed Baker
Karina of Gluten Free Goddess
Anne of I Heart Cupcakes
Cupcake Crazy Gem
Chele of Chocolate Teapot

Wednesday, 26 May 2010

7 Things for 2 Awards

A while back the lovely Johanna of Green Gourmet Giraffe presented me with two blog awards.
The Kreativ blogger award and the Beautiful Blogger award. Thanks Johanna! I have had the pleasure of receiving the Kreativ blogger award in the past, so I’m going to pass on the Beautiful Blogger award.
This requires me to list 7 random facts about myself before passing the award onto 7 other boggers.

Without further ado, here are the 7 facts about me (apologies in advance for my rantings, if anyone is offended by my views it was unintentional)

1) Breakfast is my favourite meal of the day. Porridge, muesli, yoghurt, fruit, bagels, waffles, pancakes, muffins, toast, specialty breads and jams, granola, scrambled eggs, scones, toasted sandwiches etc etc. I love them all. It’s amazing what a wide variety of different food, tastes and texture you can have for one meal. They can be hot or cold, healthy or ridiculously indulgent. Even simple things like pouring hot milk on your cereal transforms it into a completely different breakfast experience. I normally eat quite a healthy breakfast, but the odd indulgent treat at weekends is great. I can’t understand people who miss breakfast or who eat exactly the same thing every day – yes have porridge every morning if you want but as least alter the toppings, add some fruit and cinnamon to it for a change – please!

2) Many people know that apples are one of my favourite fruits but recently I have switched my daily fruit of choice to be pears – they’ve got to be quite crisp though and eaten raw, whereas apples are good in any form.

3) I love going for long walks in the countryside but hate cycling. Walking is so relaxing and peaceful. You get to see and appreciate all the wonders of nature and can go by yourself or with a companion. Whereas cycling, to me, feel unnatural, you can’t really talk to other people while you are doing it and in the summer you get splattered with lots of little midges.

4) I’d rather be a little too hot than too cold in temperature.

5) My clothing seems to be going through a floral stage. The last three items of clothing I bought have all been covered with big prints of flowers. Not sure how this started as always used to avoid clothes like this.

6) I quite enjoy housework – ironing, hovering, washing up etc but find dusting a chore – not sure why.

7) I don’t like foods that taste too much of burnt caramel, I find it too intense and sweet. A little caramel is good, as a sauce or drizzle, but when its one of the main flavours I find it too overpowering. Hence I don’t like crème brulee or tarte tatin.

Hopefully you found those interesting and don’t think me completely crackers now. The 7 bloggers I wish to pass the award onto are:
Monica of Lick The Bowl Good – I ‘met’ Monica through The Cake Slice group and she is truly a master of creating delicious treats and cakes and has introduced me to some indulgent American bakes and pies

Rebecca of Ezra Pound Cake – she has a fantastic variety of delicious fresh recipes but its her fabulous looking cookies and bundt cakes that always have me racing to the oven

Patricia of Technicolor Kitchen – a fellow cake, cookie and dessert lover. She is truly talented and are photos are stunning

Samantha of The Caked Crusader – a woman after my own heart, a true cake lover. She bakes wonderfully deep and satisfying cakes and organises the London Cupcake Challenges – which I fully intend going to myself one day soon!

Marie of The English Kitchen – has a wide range of tasty, fresh, healthy and indulgent recipes. Great mix of sweet and savoury dishes, ideal when I’m stuck for inspiration

Hilary of Let Her Bake Cake – a fellow baking enthusiast. Some divine recipes and beautiful photography

Chele of Chocolate Teapot – she is always ready with a kind comment and has a whole host of delicious recipes using fresh seasonal ingredients

Friday, 15 January 2010

10 Things Award

A few days ago I was delighted to receive award from Issy of Cupcakes and Cornwall. The idea behind the award is to list 10 things that make you happy and then pass the award on to 10 bloggers whose blogs brighten your day.

So 10 things that make me smile are:
1. The aroma of a cake baking in the oven
2. Going for walks and being rewarded with finding secret hidden views
3. Sinking into a hot bath on a cold day
4. The taste of freshly baked bread
5. Reading a good book snuggled up in bed
6. A hug
7. Sharing life’s ups and downs with a friend over dinner
8. Finding a new variety of apple to taste
9. Spending a day with the family
10. A good nights sleep (I’m a bit of an insomniac)

The 10 bloggers who I am passing the award on to for brightening my day are:
1. The Caked Crusader
2. Lick The Bowl Good
3. Maltese Bakes and More
4. Let Her Bake Cake
5. Feeding My Enthusiasms
6. Green Gourmet Giraffe
7. Antics of A Cycling Cook
8. Pig Pig’s Corner
9. Technicolour Kitchen
10. Katie Cakes

If you want to take part in this blogging award you can! Just follow these instructions:
1. Copy the award image into a post
2. Then list 10 things that make you happy
3. Tag 10 bloggers who brighten your day
4. Put in a link to their blogs
5. Notify the award receivers
6. Award recipients must link back to sender's blog

So, what makes you smile?

Thursday, 23 July 2009

The Kreativ Blogger Award

A few days ago I was given The Kreativ Blogger award by two lovely ladies, Nora from Nora The Kitchen ‘Splorer and TracieMoo from Bitter Sweet Flavours. Thanks girls, it brought a huge smile to my face.

The Kreativ Blogger Award comes with some rules:
1 Thank the person(s) who has given you the award (Thank you Nora & TracieMoo!)
2 Copy the logo and place it on your blog
3 Link to the person who has nominated you for the award
4 Name 7 things about yourself that people might find interesting
5 Nominate 7 Kreativ Bloggers
6 Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate
7 Leave a comment on each of the blogs to let them know they've been nominated


Seven Facts about me:
1) I adore cake in any form, from light and fluffy to dense, spiced and fruity – I’d have cake over a bar of chocolate any day.

2) I don’t enjoy shopping for clothes but will never pass up the chance to explore a food market or bakeware shop.

3) Like Nora, whenever I visit a restaurant the first section I look at is the desserts.

4) The Sound of Music is probably my favourite film – whenever I was ill off school I always used to watch it, lying on the sofa snuggled under my duvet. Even though they keep bursting into song throughout the film, I find this is part of its charm and yet modern films do this it irritates me – strange.

5) I hate throwing food away and often have lunches consisting of 2 days of previous meal leftovers, such as cold potatoes, salads, breads, quiches, even boiled carrots – they make great houmous and veg sarnies! and if breads getting a little dry then I toast it or dip it into soup.

6) I have just found out that I have obtained a 2:1 degree in Food & Nutrition from uni!! Now busy job hunting with little success (I want to do more the practical food side than the nutrition side – bakery, recipe testing, magazines etc so if anyone’s got any jobs going…)

7) I never put butter on my bread if adding another topping. I find jam, houmous or pickle etc add enough of their own moisture.



The next seven 'Kreativ Blogger' holders I would like to pass the award onto are:
The Caked Crusader – a fellow sponge pudding enthusiast and her custard tart recipe is divine!

Nic of Cherrapeno – a lovely blogger who shares my love of exploring foodie markets and shows.

Sam of Antics of A Cycling Cook – some wonderful recipes, making the most of fresh seasonal produce.

Rosie of Baking Cakes Galore – a fellow baking enthusiast with some great recipes for afternoon tea.

Snooky Doodle Cakes – a cake decorating master!

Johanna of Green Gourmet Giraffe – a fellow vegetarian and a great source of inspiration when I’m stuck for ideas of what to make for dinner.

Karina of Karina’s Kitchen – a gluten free goddess who proves avoiding gluten doesn’t mean missing out on tasty meals and treats.

All wonderful bloggers with such fun and creative flair and a great writing style.

Tuesday, 10 March 2009

The Adorable Blog Award

The lovely Rosie from Baking Cakes Galore has kindly given me The Adorable Blog Award. Thank you Rosie, it really made my day!

The rules for The Adorable Blog Award are:
“Nominate as many blogs which show adorability, cuteness and charm. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received your award.”

I have many blogs that I read on a daily basis, their posts always offering a whole host of tempting treats and creative inspiration. I have decided to pass this award onto just two people – The Caked Crusader and Natalie from Snooky Doodle Cakes.

The Caked Crusader is always baking wonderful temping homely cakes and desserts, including some great classics, many of which bring back fond memories of my own childhood. You are always guaranteed to be drooling over your screen at her tasty treats, all generously topped off with custard and ice cream. Nothing beats a bit of pudding and custard when you’re feeling down.

Natalie of Snooky Doodle Cakes shows off her creative talents by producing beautifully decorated children’s birthday cakes and a range of other sweet treats. Her decorating skills are incredible.

Thanks girls for your culinary inspiration and for making me long for cake for breakfast whenever I visit your blogs in the mornings!

Monday, 24 November 2008

Christmas Cake Stage 3 – Feeding the Cake

Just a reminder, don’t forget to feed you Christmas cake. Unwrap it, prick the top with a skewer and drizzle over a few teaspoons of Brandy. Then wrap it back up and keep it in a cool dark place until next week, when it will be time for another feeding.



Award
On another note, the lovely Antonia from Food Glorious Food awarded me the ‘I love your blog’ award. Thanks Antonia it really made me smile.

I now wish to pass it on to Gigi from Gigi Cakes – my long time friend (even though we’ve never actually met) who bakes a whole host tempting treats

Johanna from Green Gourmet Giraffe who proves that Vegetarian food is anything but boring

And The Cake Crusader who bakes delicious cakes and indulgent desserts

Saturday, 12 April 2008

An Award and A Six Word Memoir

Firstly I would like to thank Gigi for awarding me a ‘E for Excellence’ award. Thanks Gigi, I’m really touched.

I wish to pass the award on to Naomi from Straight Into Bed Cakefree And Dried. She has an amazing gluten free blog full of delicious and creative recipes. Her wide knowledge and use of alternative flours always amazes me.



I was recently tagged by Johanna from Green Gourmet Giraffe for a Six Word Memoir. This involves trying to sum up my personality and capturing the essence of ‘me’ in just 6 words. It’s a lot harder than it sounds. Below are my six chosen little words.

Bake-aholic
Passionate
Creative
Optimistic
Backwards
Thoughtful

I am now passing the challenge on to six other bloggers who have to write six words about themselves, pass the tag on to six others and link back here.