Social Media - Do you have niche?

When I first started blogging it was about baking and I titled my blog accordingly and all my social media channels were named accordingly. I only followed other baking accounts and joined in foodie group chats on social media. 

Which was great at the time. However, things change and people change and grow and it's hard to stay within a niche. It's hard to put limits on creativity and it's hard to stay within the boundaries of that niche, to live in a box.

It's not hard I suppose if you don't grow or change.

A few years back now I attended Food Blogger Connect and one of the workshops I attended was all about blogging, not about food just blogging and why we blogged. At the time it felt like there was a simple answer, I liked blogging because it was my little corner of the internet were I got to share something I was passionate about. A place were I could express myself and put words down where someone might actually read them.

But within the confines of baking.

When I posted anything besides a recipe or it got half the views of the ones that did. However, having had a few major things in my life change and my "passion" for baking ebbed my blog has pretty much gone on the wayside.

I spend most of my time now on Instagram and it's there that I now mostly share images of books and follow loads of book lovers and take part in daily photo challenges with prompts all to do with books. It's weird to remember that actually I started blogging not with this blog, but a book blog, one my sisters and I wrote together along with our cousin (pagesofthemind). We stopped blogging about books but, our love of books didn't go anywhere. We just stopped fitting into the niche of "book blogger."

I still read as much as I was baking, but it wasn't always something I shared or talked about because I felt like I couldn't mix the two. It's a little like that now on social media, if you don't have a niche or a theme for your page then you might as well forget it.

Which is so hard as no single person is just one thing. We have many things that we are passionate about or that bring us joy. I love books and I love the bookish community I have found online. I also still enjoy baking, but as I have stated recently and more then once, I just don't bake like I used too.

I still buy and devour cookbooks and that's the one thing I feel like I can share here because it fits in my niche of baking and food. If I couldn't tie in baking or cake or food I thought it would automatically be rejected.

However, it's was pretty presumptuous of me to assume that I had enough regular readers to care. According to my analytics my bounce rate was high, people would pop into my blog via a link or google search for exactly what they were looking for and then leave again. Nothing keeps them here. And that's okay too.

In today's world there is a lot of quick information and once that need is satisfied it goes again and it's not something I am immune too.

It was just a topic I have been thinking about a lot lately. Does my blog have to be just one thing when I myself am not one thing? I am a mother, artist, expat, book lover, plant killer, and I love musical theatre.

I am not just a baker and cookbook addict.

Both of which I still love, but I don't love them more or less then the other things I enjoy. The last few years haven't been easy ones and I felt like I no longer had anything to say. This post was relevantly easy to write harder to decide if I would share it or not.

Point of all my ramblings is that the idea of having a "niche" is restricting, but to be honest it helped when I was starting out. It's just now I don't know where to go or how to change the blog and that's not easy. It's hard not to wonder where my blog would be if I hadn't put myself in a box?

New Look and M&M Cookies

It's no secret that my blogging days have been waning. I haven't been baking as much as I used too with life and other activities taking up my time. It was a debate, after the last couple of years, if I was going to continue blogging.

It is a lot of work to keep a blog up and running - all the writing, editing of text and photos, and of course self promotion. It's all about balancing it all and I think it's about time to get back to blogging, with a new look and a new outlook on life!

I thought I'd start with something fun and easy - M&M cookies! I was doing my weekly food shop and they had the bags of M&M's hanging in in the middle of the isle and I was like I want those. More specifically I want those in cookies. So, I made it happen. About a month later, but I still made it happen!

M&M Cookies

150g soft unsalted butter
125g soft light brown sugar
100g caster sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 egg, fridge cold
1 egg yolk, fridge cold
300g flour
½ tsp bicarb of soda
100g milk/dark chocolate chunks
165g M&M's plain or peanut!

Heat the oven to 170*C/gas mark 3 and line your baking sheet. Melt butter and let cool a little bit, put both sugars in a bowl and then beat in melted butter. Then beat in vanilla, the cold egg and cold egg yolk until light and creamy. Slowly mix in the flour and bicarb until just blended (I mixed it in a couple of batches) fold in chocolate chunks and M&M's. Use a medium ice cream scoop or a 1/4 measuring cup to divide the cookie dough into a dozen cookie dough balls. Keep cookie dough in the fridge between baking. Bake for 15-17 minutes. Leave to cool on the tray for a few minutes.
*adapted from Nigella's recipe in Kitchen

I can't tell you how much of the cookie dough was consumed before being put on the baking tray or I might have to kill you - as the saying goes. Although I can hint that it was more then a little. Cookie dough is so good.... I know you're not suppose to eat it with raw eggs and flour and stuff....but it's so good!!

Cookies fresh out of the oven are irroestiable! This cookie recipe is my go to cookie recipe. I have used it over and over again and I just add whatever I want to it! M&M's today white chocolate and macadamia nuts tomorrow and Revel's the next day! 

Hey! So, what do you think of the new look? A big thank you to Anna at Designer Blogs for giving my blog an awesome makeover! 

Tropical Muesli Muffins

With the weather changing I thought I'd brighten up my favourite muffins recipe with a tropical twist. I used coconut oil in place of the normal sunflower oil and added some desiccated coconut instead of sultanas. Then smooshed up a banana for extra oomph! And it wasn't just any old muesli it was a tropical muesli. One made by Dorset Cereals Simply Fruity Muesli - it has pineapple, papaya, and sultanas.

Normally I wouldn't mention a brand name. Gone are the days when bloggers can just say they like something without someone thinking that they were paid to mention it. So, normally I wouldn't mention the brand I used and keep it neutral; as I did in the ingredients list. I broke my norm this time because I really do value and enjoy the Dorset Cereals product. They have great flavor combinations that work great in these muffins.

Therefore I should say that they have in no way shape or form endorsed this post. Nor given me the product to "review." In fact they are probably not even aware that I am doing so! Unless one of you tells them.

These muffins are good and will make the whole kitchen smell like a tropical island. That might not be 100% accurate as you won't smell the ocean or other outdoor smells - just tropical fruit smells! Like coconut. Mostly coconut.

I suggest eating these by cutting them in half, while still warm, and gently spread a thin layer of butter on each side. With that I give you the recipe ....

Tropical Muesli Muffins

50g self-raising flour
75g wholemeal flour
2 tsp baking powder
100g, tropical muesli, plus extra to top the muffins with
50g desiccated coconut
75g light muscovado sugar
100ml coconut oil
1 egg
150ml milk
1 small ripe banana, smooshed

Heat the oven to 200C and line the cupcake/muffin tin with 9 paper liners.
Sift both of the flours into a mixing bowl and mix in the baking powder, muesli, coconut, and sugar.
In a jug mix the oil, egg, milk, and smooshed banana.
Pour the wet into the dry ingredients and gently mix until just combined.
Divide into the paper cases and sprinkle with extra muesli.
Bake for 15 minutes. Serve immediately with butter!

notes: find the original muesli muffin post here! Just to reiterate that Dorset Cereals do not endorse this post - for more information see my contact/policy page or have a read of this post I wrote a while back about advertising and my blog!

The Pastry Challenge September Round-Up

Wow! Going from like one entry to 14 is amazing! Thank you everyone for entering. It would be my guess that pastry making and baking will be rising with autumn in full swing and the winter months closing in! I can't wait! I hope to see all of your warming pastry bakes over on Jen's Food!

Here is the round up of all the entries!

1. Puff Pastry Empanada's with Black Beans from We Don't Eat Anything with a Face
2. Cheese, Onion and Potato Pasties (Tiddly Oggies) from Green Gourmet Giraffe
3. Vanilla & Ginger Infused Pear Frangipane from Wishful Wonderings
4. Veggie Sausage, Pea, and Egg Pie from Belleau Kitchen
5. Gougeres - little cheesy choux buns from Gluten Free Alchemist
6. Double Blackberry Chocolate Galette from Tin and Thyme
7. Plum & Limoncello Tart from The Baking Explorer 
8. Chocolate Crunchie Frangipane Tart from It's Not Easy Being Greedy

9. Chicken and Leek Pie from It's Not Easy Being Greedy
10. Gluten Free Plum & Pistachio Tart from How to Cook Good Food
11. Two Tone (Red and Yellow) Balsamic Beetroot Galette from Allotment 2 Kitchen
12. Vegetarian 'Game' Pie from Only Crumbs Remain
13. Pear, Ginger, and Chocolate from Cakeyboi
14. Vegan Black Pudding and Sweet Potato Spelt Flour Galette from Allotment 2 Kitchen 

Thank you to all those who entered! 

I look forward to seeing your pastry creations again next month! 

Blogging Reflections and Paula Deen’s Fresh Apple Cake

When I started blogging I did for a few reasons, first it was a creative outlet and it filled a part of my life that was missing. As a stay-at-home mom it was a distraction that took me away from baby stuff that didn’t take me out of the house. My posts were shared only with friends and family. There was no Facebook page, Twitter account, or Pinterest boards to promote my blog. It wasn’t about the numbers. It was for me; a way to experiment with baking and a way to share my experiences.

I can’t recall when I made my accounts for all these social media sites (I’m sure they would all tell me if I could be bothered to look), but it changed the way I blogged. All of the sudden it was about trends, shares, and likes. I started making things I thought might do well on the blog instead of things I wanted to actually eat in hopes it would get shared and liked. When I realised I wasn’t enjoying blogging or baking any more following this behavior, I backed off and went back to doing what I liked and relished in any views or likes I did get, not the ones I didn’t get.

It’s changed again, but now it seems to be all about the free stuff and/or being paid. There are bloggers out there that have amazing blogs with amazing stats and they deserve to get paid for their work. However, I’m not there yet and I don’t know that I ever will be.

There was a time where I was actually quite flattered and said yes to every “free” sample offered to me. It didn’t long before I didn’t recognise my blog and realised the hard way that nothing is free. I have politely said no to 98% of the opportunities sent my way in the last year or so. Sometimes I wonder if I’m missing out, but I’m not ready, as I mentioned above, to make it a job.

It’s something I do besides everything else I do. It’s something I do for me.

Blogging 101 - Get to the Point.

I do ramble a lot. To the point or to the cake.

I taught myself how to bake by using other people’s recipes and then as I became more confident adapting them one way or the other to make them more my own. There are debates on this method of sharing recipes, but I’ve never considered nor claimed myself to be a recipe developer. My blog is to share my adventures in learning to bake and how it’s become a part of my life and changed it.

There are still many times I still just follow a recipe and a lot of the time these baked goods don’t make it on to the blog. This time I thought I would share it by linking to the recipe online. I found the recipe in a book who had permission to republish it, but it’s also available online. The recipe for Paula Deen’s Fresh Apple Cake from Georgia can be found on the USA Food Network website.

First you have the cake with the apples, coconut, and pecans but to take it that step further you pour a warm butter mixture into/onto the warm cake and let it sit to soak in. There are no words. It’s amazing! Follow the link above and make it for yourself. You will want a slice right away as the whole kitchen fills with the smells of autumn spices!

notes: or I should say disclaimer! I was not asked to make this recipe or to promote it, Paula Deen, or Food Network in anyway. It looked good and so I made it and I liked it and now I’m sharing with you! Enjoy!

The Pastry Challenge September Link-Up (plus August round-up)

There is a little guilt putting the link up and round up together. However, last month was a bit of a bust with neither myself or Jen really getting a pastry entry in! Jen having a much better excuse then myself.

I did make mini gypsy tarts which were suppose to be my entry but as they didn't turn out exactly how I wanted I was a bit weary about sharing them. It seems that a lot of my pastry attempts haven't been working out all that well!

This month my intentions are to try making from scratch puff pastry. It's notorious for being tricky! Any tips out there please let me know!

If it wasn't clear yet I will be hosting again this month as Jen is very busy taking up a new adventure and move! I am happy and excited for her, but a little sad as she's moving away from me! As for the pastry I will be keeping it open again this month with any thing goes!

Before I go over the ground rules again here is last month's entries:

Churros with Sugar (vegan)

mini gypsy tarts

Here are some of our ground rules and below is the button to add your link!

First bake a pastry that fits the theme (anything goes)!
Second blog about it! Be sure to link back to both myself Lisa and Jen.

If you tweet use the hashtag #thepastryhcallenge and be sure to include us @unitedcakedom & @jensfood we like and retweet any we see!

Please feel free to use the image above in your post as a way to help spread the word. I will be adding the entries to the official Pastry Challenge Pinterest board that you can follow here!

Lastly link it up below, following the instructions on the widget/gadget below.

A few reminders we are looking for new or re-posted posts following the instructions above. Feel free to enter more then one entry. Also if you have a few minutes check out the entry before yours and leave a comment!

Any questions please feel free to contact either Jen or myself! We look forward to seeing all your amazing pastry creations!

There are lots of other blogging challenges so overlapping is encouraged and if you have one we haven't heard of please let us know by email or leaving a comment below!

An InLinkz Link-up

Shamed by Hollywood

Paul Hollywood that is! 

Earlier today, Jen from Blue Kitchen Bakes, and I attended the BBC Bakes & Cakes Show!

We were too busy talking on the circle line tube train, that we didn’t hear that it changed directions. 

Stupid tube trains.

If it weren’t for that we would have been in plenty of time to see Paul Hollywood at 11 in the Bakes & Cakes Theatre. However, we were not on time.

As we were sneaking in to take seats in the back, Paul totally called us out. Yes, he paused in the middle of his demonstration and said something about late comers.

At least he caught us up to where he was in his making of his Devonshire Splits, they did look delicious. 

Our faces were a little red, but hey-ho we really hadn’t missed much!

Also, did you know that Paul Hollywood is funny? I was mildly surprised by this fact. He really did put on a good show. The Great British Bake Off really makes him come off as a jerk sometimes. I guess it’s just the bad cop good cop thing they try to portray.

After that we had a great time running around seeing what there was to see.

We had a lovely chat with Scott, from Kooky Bakes and we learned a lot taste and our senses from Flavour Sense Nation. We also learned a lot about York and chocolate, I think I will be visiting there soon. Apparently when the wind is blowing the whole town smells like chocolate!

Overall it was a nice day out and the best was that I got to spend some time catching up with Jen!

notes: I was provided with a press pass for the event, all opinions are my own. Please see my contact/policy page for more information. The Bakes & Cakes Show was held at the Business Design Centre in London. 

Top 10 Things I Learned at Food Blogger Connect 2014 #FBC14

It was a whirlwind weekend full of new friends, food, and lots of information. Lots and lots of information!

There is just so much to write that I am not even going to attempt to write it all. So, instead I am going to share the top 10 things I learned at Food Blogger Connect.

Some of it is what I already knew, but sometimes it’s nice to be reminded that I’m heading in the right direction!

Top 10 things I learned at #FBC14 (in no particular order): 

1. Opportunity: Sometimes it finds you and sometimes you have to find it.
2. Find your niche. What makes you and your blog different?
3. Have a good idea. Research it. Plan it out. Just do it. A good idea will stay a good idea if you don’t do something about it.
4. Social media is important. Find the ones that really work for you and use them to their fullest ability!
5. I wish I had looked into being a travel/food blogger! I am definitely interested in seeing sites and experiencing food all over the world. (Maybe one day when the girls are bigger.)
6. All brands sell luxury, status, comfort, and so on so what are you trying to “sell”? What you make people feel is just as important as what you make.
7. Remember you can say no. If you aren't comfortable or something doesn't fit with your blog you don’t have to say yes. If in doubt ask questions. Brands are learning how to handle the whole blogger thing so you won’t know unless you ask!
8. Don’t take too many photos. You only really need a handful of photos to relay your story. I know I do struggle with having too much choice, so this was a handy tip for me.
9. If your dream is to publish a cookbook consider an e-book, look at Holly Bell from the Great British Bake Off. She has a mini e-book and her new book is out next month!
10. Food Bloggers and Foodie People are awesome!

So, there was all that learning stuff and then there was the food! We had a lot of variety and it was a lot of fun trying all of it! Each day gave us different choices and I made sure to try each choice. 

I especially enjoyed Tequila Patron everyday, all day! If I wasn't drinking that I had a Good Beans cold brew coffee or a Sweetbird's lemonade! There was some delicious street food too! I didn't take pictures of all of it, but I did get quite a few! 

I have a few products I brought back from the weekend and am in the process of brainstorming ways of using them in my baking! Hopefully they will be posted in the next couple of weeks so stay tuned!