Introducing Amy Black - new guest blogger

Amy Black is a mother four, a wordy foodie, blog creator and contributor and she is also gainfully employed. She will soon provide our Munch readers with some guest blog posts. These will be focussing on Mums! Yes, you. With at least two blogs of her own - we thought you might like to know a bit about Amy.

Amy kindly took time out of her busy life to answer some questions I put to her.

What is your blog about?

On the monkey trail is a family kitchen diary. It's a celebration of real family food and how it fits into real life. I hope it provides some inspiration, and some confidence that when it comes to cooking, a little free-style randomness can be a very fine thing. Even in baking. On the monkey trail is my test kitchen, my idea well, my life in food. It’s about the mood as much as the method.

I’m also working on a collection of recipes over at Welly Kitchen that will become a summary of favourites. The best versions of the stuff I make regularly, in an easy to follow format including  adaptations for the small folk.

Why did you start your blogs?

I started the blog as a way to amuse myself and create something for myself amongst the chaos of the day. Looking after 4 young boys (my kids were 6 montths, 2, 4 and 5 when I started the blog at the start of the year) is demanding and relentless, particularly when it comes to feeding them. I began to feel completely drained of inspiration and decided to try making food I wanted to write about. The blog evolved from there.

Do you have a favourite post?

The page ‘on kids’ is very me.

What other blogs do you follow?

I like My Darling Lemon Thyme which was one of the first blogs I came across when I started my own. Emma has a lovely writing style and takes gorgeous photos … plus the recipes are pretty inspiring.

I love The Girl Who / Thunder Pie because the authors have a hilarious way of talking about parenring.

I also contribute to The Big Swell which is a site inspired by a passion for women, children and families thriving in happy and healthy environments.

How much time do you spend blogging?

It varies dramatically depending on what’s going on in the family and how much work I have on. When I started out I was on maternity leave from my ‘real job’ so I had more time. Now I try and post once or twice a week.

What are the benefits to you of writing or contributing to blog/s?

Writing is good for my soul. I always have a couple of half finished novels on the go so blog posts are especially good for my soul because I actually finish them and get to publish them and a few people even read them.

Tell us about your food philosophy?

Food should be celebrated. To be able to feed ourselves with real and nutritious food is a very fine thing indeed. I wrote a post over on our work blog ‘Barefoot and Soul’ that talks more about this in Keeping it Real.

What is your favourite cookbook and why?

I actually started a page in On the monkey trail recently on cookbooks (which is very much a work in progress but you can read it here.

Describe your favourite meal?

Hands down my favourite meal is one cooked for me and enjoyed with my family who live in the UK and who I don’t get to see anywhere near as much as I’d like to. They’re all pretty amazing cooks but it’s the company, the conversation the good vibes that make the meals great.

 Who do you enjoy cooking for most?

Anyone who remembers to say thank you, tucks in appreciatively and helps to clear up. Although frankly any of the above will be a good start.

What else do you do? Tell us about your other adventures?

I work part time as a practice manager at WillisStreet Physiotherapy.