à table!

So my lovely cousin over at Life on the J Train tagged me for this food meme. Hmm thanks?!

Let's see how it goes....

1. What or who inspired you to start a blog?

We moved from England to France in July 2010 and I wanted a nice way of keeping my friends and family up to date with our news and I thought it might be an interesting "Life in France" blog. It turns out there are a million of those, and the majority much more interesting than mine! Anyway, I continue...

2. Who is your foodie inspiration?

My parents are a very big influence, one of their favourite topics is cooking, they're always talking about different dishes they have made. I don't often ask for the recipe as I don't have time to make the stuff they make, but one day I might! However I do enjoy eating it! My dad's speciality is his lamb curry, it's really delicious. My mum can make a million different chicken dishes and they are ALL delicious, and of course you have to try her Jamaican rice and peas if you haven't yet!

Baking is my favourite past time and there are so many wonderful influences out there. One is an online mummy friend Sam K, her baking is amazing. Her hubby has a food blog which I will be tagging at the end of this post!

3. Your greasiest, batter-spattered food book is…

This is my baking book. Certain pages are very clean and others are encrusted with flour, sugar and butter. Just how a loved baking book should be! 

4. Tell us all about the best thing you have ever eaten in another country, where was it…what was it?

I have to talk about something here in France....The number one dish voted in a French food magazine is Magret de Canard, and I think I have to agree. It's duck breast, often pan fried and joined by a delicious sauce. Honey and Soy Sauce, or balsamic vinegar for example. I've made it a couple of times and it's hard to cook the duck just right, so I appreciate how great this dish is.

5. What is the one kitchen gadget you would ask Santa for this year (money no object, of course)?

 

Definitely a big food mixer for baking, of course I'd need a big kitchen to accompany it!

6. Who taught you how to cook?

I took Home Economics classes at school, I think Mrs Clark was the name of the teacher. I learned how to make lasagne, quiche, and trifle that I remember!

My mum also taught me so much, either baking with her, or helping out with sunday dinner, Christmas dinner etc.

She gave me some great lessons before going off to Uni and living on my own. This is where the Tuna and Tomato pasta dish came from which I still cook once a week to this day, the kids love it!

7. I’m coming to your house for dinner.  What’s your signature dish?

I think it's safe to say Lasagne is my signature dish, but if you come twice I have to think of something else to cook, that's when I panic!

8. What is your guilty food pleasure?

Hmm, tough one. My cousins named Carrot Cake and Peanut Butter and Jam sandwiches as theirs, those are both very high on my list too! Mine would have to be some form of chocolate cake or biscuit. Oh I know, my soft bake chocolate chip cookies. Definitely. My mother-in-law would agree they are the best!!!

9. Reveal something about yourself that others would be surprised to learn. 

I am a Black Belt in Karate! That's always my surprise! I got it when I was 15, sadly I couldn't continue practising it at Uni, so it's history, but I still have the certificate!! 

Now to tag some others, I'm tagging Matt (and Sam) over at Out of the frying pan and into the bin, and Steph at Blog in France.