Our 56th “Follow them Friday” features Ellen from Kokerellen who blogs in Dutch.
When did you start blogging?
In my head I started thinking about the idea of blogging a couple of years ago. But with all the awesome blogs that were already around, I wasn’t sure I could provide something new and original that readers would still love to read. Eventually in July 2014 (after long deliberation and many insisting encouragements of my friends) I decided I would take the challenge. Eventually at the end of November, the blog was finally ready and launched with a couple of recipes.
How did you decide on the name of your blog?
This was a difficult one! So many great ones existed and I wanted something original but also linking to who I (= Ellen) was, since one of the main things I like about blogs is that they are so personal. Therefore, I knew somehow that I wanted my name or one of my characteristics in my blog. We went back and forth between different ones utilising the fact that I have red hair, or that I have two cats, or that I am an Antwerp-girl. But in the end, none of them really stuck. And then all of a sudden I came up with Kokerellen (which translates from Dutch something like “Cooking but more for dummies than professionals”), which was perfect. I bounced the idea to a few people, everybody loved it! So that’s how Kokerellen was born. 🙂
What was the title of your first ever blog post?
Haha, my test post was a photo of my cat drinking my smoothie! But that one sadly didn’t make the cut to stay on the site once it was launched. 😉 My first real post was “Pasta met groene groenten”, which was a pasta dish with ricotta and green vegetables. Simple, quick, healthy and easy, and that also became the motto of all of my recipes. That recipe is still one of the most viewed recipes each month! I do make it quite a lot myself. 😀
Do you prefer eating in or eating out?
This one’s a difficult one. I like to have some balance. I can really enjoy cooking at home, but like most people, when I’m not feeling it, I’m just not going to cook. Also, trying out new flavours and dishes is one of my favourite things to do! But in the end, if I had to pick never cooking again or never eating out again, I would definitely prefer staying at home and making my own food.
What is your favourite dessert?
At the moment, I really really like the rhubarb cake that’s on my blog. Oh my! I tried it recently at a coffeehouse in Antwerp, and I was like “My god, this is my new all time favourite, move over carrot cake!”. So then my mission was to recreate the recipe, so I could enjoy it every week and share my love with others. Mission accomplished. 😉
How do you like your eggs in the morning?
I actually do not like savoury dishes in the morning, haha! Just give me some oatmeal, a bowl of fruit with some quark or pancakes and I will definitely thank you for it. In the weekend or when we’re having a brunch, I would surely choose a soft boiled runny-egg-yolk egg where I can dip my bread in. Love it!
What are the three things you always have in your freezer?
Frozen bananas! Love them! As well as other kinds of frozen fruits. I’m currently in a smoothie bowl obsession phase, I make it almost every day. When you use frozen fruits instead of fresh, your smoothies are soo cold which I enjoy very much. Ok, I enjoy them so much that brain freezes are a regular thing now! I also keep ginger in the freezer, I’m never able to finish it in time otherwise, and some pizza’s or other goodies for one of those days that you do not even want to touch a pot or spoon. Every one has those, right?
How do you spend your time when you’re not blogging?
I have a fulltime job at the University of Antwerp doing research on the surfing behaviour of adolescents on social network sites, like Facebook. The match between my work and my blog provides a perfect balance between intellectual, creative and inspirational challenges, which I really like. When I’m not working or blogging I’m mostly found with my cats and my boyfriend, or friends drinking, eating or working out together. 🙂
Who are your favourite food bloggers?
I really like Pinch of Yum (such gorgeous photos, life goals on that one!) and Laura Vitale on YouTube. She was the first foodblogger (foodvlogger?) I ever followed and she made me wanting to go experimenting in my own kitchen!
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