Need a midweek meal that doesn’t take a lot of time to prepare? Then check out these 4 fabulous Quick Prep Midweek Meals. Each one is packed full of flavour but involves minimal prep – perfect for busy evenings. Plus find the linky below for MY LAST EVER #CookBlogShare!
My Last #CookBlogShare Linky!
Well folks, all good things have to come to an end someday… and so this week will be the last time I host the #CookBlogShare linky.
#CookBlogShare has been a huge part of my life since my early days of blogging back in 2015. It was how I first got to know literally hundreds of amazing bloggers, and it has helped me grow my blog and share my friends’ blogs too.
I was over the moon when, back in 2017, I was asked to become one of #CookBlogShare’s regular co-hosts by Kirsty from Hijacked by Twins, along with Mandy from Sneaky Veg. (Anyone else remember back to those days?)
Since then, the line-up has changed with first Mandy and then Kirsty stepping down, and Jacqui from Recipes Made Easy and Monika from Everyday Healthy Recipes joining the team, but #CookBlogShare has just gone from strength to strength, and I am especially delighted that so many of the #CookBlogShare regulars have now become regular guest hosts – something which I think has really made this linky extra special.
However, as many of you will know, back in 2018 I started a second blog – Productive Blogging. This new blog has grown and developed beyond my wildest imaginations – I’ve recently hosted my first live event, Productive Blogging LIVE (a conference and networking event for bloggers) and launched my first course, SEO Jumpstart (a jargon-free SEO course for bloggers who want to grow their blog traffic) and I am currently working on my next course (all about how to start a profitable blog).
And, well… there just aren’t enough hours in the day for everything I want to do, and so something had to give! And that something, I am sad to say, is #CookBlogShare. I feel it is time I stepped back from #CookBlogShare and let others step up and take my place. It was a hard decision to make, but I feel it is the right decision for both my blogs and my sanity!
But don’t worry, #CookBlogShare is not going anywhere! It will still carry on with Jacqui at the helm and I’m delighted to tell you that Michelle and Lesley from Lost in Food will be joining her as co-hosts! And of course, there will still be lots of guest hosts throughout the year too.
And, while I might not be hosting #CookBlogShare anymore, I will certainly still be joining in with #CookBlogShare every time I have a new recipe to share… and I’ll still be popping into the #CookBlogShare Facebook group from time to time too 😀 And I am really looking forward to seeing how #CookBlogShare grows and develops over the coming months and years!
For me personally it feels like the end of an era, but I hope for #CookBlogShare it’s the start of a new and even more exciting one!
What I’ve been up to this month…
November has been a jam-packed month as ever. On Easy Peasy Foodie, I’ve shared 3 new recipes… my Ikea inspired Easy Swedish Meatballs, as well as a delicious Quick Pickled Cucumber recipe to have with it (which was inspired by my trip to Sweden in the summer). I also shared my recipe for Easy Roast Sweet Potatoes – a perfect recipe if you want an alternative to traditional roast potatoes or chips!
Meanwhile, over on Productive Blogging I have also been busy, sharing new blog posts on:
As well as updating 3 older blog posts to bring them bang up to date:
4 Quick Prep Midweek Meals
I don’t know about you, but what with Black Friday, my new course and Christmas, I am crazy busy right now! I want to eat good food, but I just don’t have a lot of time to spend in the kitchen. So, it’s no surprise that the recipes that jumped out at me from last week’s linky were all quick prep meals. Each of these meals are packed full of flavour, but take under 20 minutes to prepare – now that’s my kind of cooking!
Moroccan Spiced Salmon
First up we have this delicious looking recipe for Moroccan Spiced Salmon from Corina at Searching For Spice. This recipe is so up my street: delicious salmon fillets coated in ras-el-hanout and simply pan fried, served on top of a big bowlful of fluffy couscous, flavoured with onion, tomatoes, mint and stock. And only 10 minutes prep time – what’s not to like?
Beef Stew with Red Wine
Next, we have this wonderful Spanish-inspired Beef Stew with Red Wine from Ewa of Cooking with Ewa. The flavours in this stew have my mouth positively watering: tender slow cooked beef, red wine, tomato puree, garlic, bay, paprika, allspice, cloves… Yes, it’s a long slow cook (all the best beef stews are!), but the prep time is just 10 minutes. I love this kind of cooking – a quick prep earlier in the day, and then leave the stew to do its thing while I do mine… and a ridiculously delicious meal ready right when I need it!
Chicken and Potato Vegetable Soup
Another recipe that has my mouth watering is this gorgeous sounding Chicken and Potato Vegetable Soup from Monika at Everyday Healthy Recipes. Monika simply simmers chicken, onions, leek potatoes, carrot and celeriac in vegetable stock and flavours her soup with a touch of bay. This is just the kind of easy peasy, but filling and warming recipe you want on a chilly evening! At 20 minutes prep time, it’s the longest prep time – but I think more than worth it for this amount of deliciousness!
Pork & Green Bean Stir Fry
And if you are really pushed for time, why not try this quick and easy Pork & Green Bean Stir Fry from Cat at Curly’s Cooking? It’s packed full of flavour, but also some fab cheats, such as ginger and garlic paste and straight to wok noodles. Meaning that, not only is the prep time cut down to just 10 minutes, but this whole meal can be on your table in under 20 minutes!
#CookBlogShare2019 Week 48
And so we come to this week’s linky. You can link up any foodie post that you have – both old and new posts are welcome. All you need to do is:
- Link up a recipe or foodie post by clicking the blue ‘add your link’ button below and following the instructions (maximum of 4, please).
- Add a link from your post back to this post (so everyone else can find it and link up too!) and / or add the #CookBlogShare badge to your post (you can find the code below).
- Comment on one of the host’s posts and a minimum of 2 other posts linked up here, and generally share the love with a bit of social media action!
If you wish, you can tweet a link to your recipe to me @easypeasyfoodie and also (if you have room on the tweet!) my co-hosts Jacqui @recipecrumbs and Monika @monikasecipes, using the #CookBlogShare hashtag and we will retweet them. You can also post your recipe on the Cook Blog Share Facebook Page.
Need some help on Instagram? You and me both…so let’s help each other! Whenever you post to Instagram, use the #CookBlogShare hashtag, then quickly hop over to the #CookBlogShare feed, liking as many as you can and commenting on any that particularly catch your eye. Not a big job at all, but if we all do it, it would make a BIG difference!!
I will comment on a selection of my favourite posts this week and pin them to the Cook Blog Share Pinterest Board. I can’t wait to see what you’ve all been making!
Just to remind you, by joining in, you are giving the #CookBlogShare hosts permission to use your pictures in a round up and on social media, if your recipe is selected as one of our favourites!
The next #CookBlogShare will be hosted by Jacqui at Recipes Made Easy 🙂
Corina Blum says
So sad that you’re stepping down Eb but I can completely understand why. It takes a lot of work to host a linky and you’re got so many other great things going on too. You’ve been a great host and I’m delighted that one of my recipes has been picked your last time as host x
Eb Gargano says
Aw – thanks Corina. I am a little bit sad too – it’s been a big part of my life for years. But it’s the right decision for my blogs and business going forward! Eb x
Donna says
Aww end on an era! I found Cook Blog Share through your blog! You’ve done so well though, you’re like my hero!
Great round-up as always! x
Eb Gargano says
Aw – thanks Donna! Yes it really feels like the end of an era to me too! Eb x
Cat | Curly's Cooking says
Really sad that you’re stepping down but definitely understandable. It’ll give you more time to help bloggers like me improve which is always a good thing! Thank you for featuring my stir fry in your last round up 🙂 x
Eb Gargano says
Aw – thanks Cat. Yes – I’m hoping I’ll be able to use the time to make even more resources for bloggers. Fingers crossed for some video resources next year! Eb x
Cat | Curly's Cooking says
Oooh fantastic! x
Eb Gargano says
Thanks Cat!
Lesley Garden says
Sad to hear that you are stepping down, but very understandable given how busy you are over both your blogs. We will try and do you proud Eb. Another great round-up, I’m always looking for mid-week meal inspiration. It’s so easy to get stuck doing the same recipes, so a few here I’m going to tag and try out later.
Eb Gargano says
I KNOW you and Lesley will not only make me proud, you will go on to make #CookBlogShare EVEN BETTER – I believe regular new blood (and therefore new enthusiasm and new ideas) is the reason why CBS is so good! Eb x
Choclette says
Hahaha, I remember to before then when Lucy was hosting. In fact I remember when she started it. But you’ve been a part of this for a good while now and I shall miss you. It’s always fun to read your posts and see what you’ve been up to. Thanks for hosting over the last couple of years.
Eb Gargano says
Thanks Choclette! Oh I know #CookBlogShare has been going so long and has been so successful – in fact, I think it’s the only one left of all the linkies I used to do! And it’s where I originally met most of my blogging friends. I’m sad to be handing over the reigns, but it’s the right decision for me and my blogging business. Eb x
Veronica says
Good luck with Productive Blogging. It’s my go-to blog at the moment when I’m strugging. My traffic has improved 200% in the last month thanks to your great posts 🙂 .
Eb Gargano says
Thanks Veronica – I am delighted to hear that! That’s an amazing improvement – well done you 😀 Eb x
Monika Dabrowski says
Thank you for including my recipe in the features in your final #CookBlogShare! It does feel like the end of an era, especially as I’ll also be hosting my last linky soon. It’s a little sad but would be sadder if the #CookBlogShare family wasn’t also Productive Blogging family. All thanks to you! So we won’t lose touch with one another, just do different things. Enjoy your final hosting duties!
Eb Gargano says
Thanks Monika. Yes, it really does seem like the end of an era. But hopefully also the start of a new and even more exciting era! Eb x
louise Gunstone says
Thanks Eb. I follow you on Productive Blogging so I can see how busy you must be juggling it all. You intro’d me to CookBlogShare so thanks.
Exciting times ahead for you, good luck 🙂
Eb Gargano says
Thanks Louise – yes, exciting times ahead indeed. While I am sad to be leaving the #CookBlogShare team, I am very happy about all the exciting things I have planned in 2020! Eb 🙂
Michelle Rolfe says
Thanks Eb for helping to get CookBlogShare where it is today! I completely see why you need to take a step back and not try and do #allthethings. Look forward to helping to man the reins going forward with Jacqui and others to keep it going from strength to strength. And I look forward to whats new to come to Productive Blogging! Cheers, Michelle x
Rebecca - Glutarama says
Aww the end of an era indeed, thank you so much for being part of the link up for so long, it’s not an easy thing to do at all and very time consuming so your hard work is very much appreciated.
Eb Gargano says
Thanks Rebecca. Yes, it certainly feels like the end of an era. I have very much enjoyed hosting CBS over the last few years and I’ve been delighted with what a lovely community has sprung up around it. But yes, it is hard work and I have so many demands on my time now, I have to really pick and choose wisely! Eb x