Blogger Spotlight: Munchies And Munchkins
Hailing from Swansea, Wales, Becky Gwynne is a 30-something mum of two and blogger behind the food/travel/recipe website Munchies and Munchkins.
She writes, "This blog is my creative outlet – I love to write, cook, and travel and it's been a lot of fun documenting this over the past four years. On the blog, you will find recipes and general day-to-day rambles amongst music festival reviews and drool-worthy food festival coverage."
Continue reading to find out more about Gwynne and her awesome blog. She recently took over The Daily Meal's Instagram page, too; click here to check out her tasty journey!
The Daily Meal: What is the mission of your blog?
Becky Gwynne: I don't know that I have a mission. I guess I just like to share the food that I love with other people. Food is always better when shared.
How'd you get started?
I used to tweet photos of my food and my followers started asking why I didn't have a blog so I thought I would give it a whirl.
What is your philosophy of cooking or baking?
Experiment. With baking, there are some rules you need to abide by but try different flavour combinations, think outside the box. Also, you can really never have enough butter... or garlic ...or bacon, for that matter.
What are some of the foods you can't live without?
Oh, so many: pasta, cheese, garlic, chili, and chicken are the main ones.
Are there foods you can't stand?
Yes, I really cannot make myself enjoy sushi.
What is your proudest post?
That is something that I find hard to pinpoint as I am proud of all of my posts. I am especially proud that my blog, which I began as a bit of fun in 2011, will be five years old in April. This is one post I wrote recently had a great reaction from my readers and it means a little more to me than my standard recipe posts: Skinny Doesn't Mean Healthy.
Do you have a blogging blunder?
I occasionally get so excited about a post that I forget to read it back through. Then it's live before I notice it makes no sense! I am getting better at that. I hope.
What is your most memorable comment from a reader?
I have quite a few that will always stick in my mind. Generally, the comments are on my more personal posts — such as my recent post about food and body image. A reader said that every woman should read this post. It made me smile and realize the words I type can make a difference.
What do you like to listen to while in the kitchen?
I have a really varied taste in music, most recently I like listening to Imagine Dragons, John Legend, or Kodaline.
What are some other blogs you love?
Most of the blogs in the UK Foodies 100 chart are written by people who I now consider friends and I love the way they write and the food they create. I read hundreds of blogs. To pick a few is too hard!
What is the best thing about blogging?
There isn't one thing really. The community is incredible; I have made such great friends and the opportunities it has brought me I couldn't have paid for. I think we are still just at the beginning of realising the influence of bloggers, especially here in the UK. I think 2017 will be the most exciting blogging year for us yet.
What is the most challenging thing about blogging?
The time it requires. I think a lot of people think you make a dish, take a quick snap, upload it with the recipe, and, boom, that's that. It is so much more work than you anticipate. If you want to be successful it is a lot of effort. The hours of creating and testing, followed by taking photo after photo, editing and then writing. Add to that all of the social promotion and it takes up nearly every spare hour I have after parenting and my day job. But I wouldn't change it. I love it.
What would even your most loyal followers be surprised to learn about you?
I am pretty open so probably not a lot of surprises. Maybe that one of the dishes I cook most often is pasta with tuna and sweetcorn; hardly exotic, but it's like a comfort food to me. Oh, and I have nine siblings (same parents); that always makes people say, "Wow!"
Anything else you would like to share?
I am always surprised by how many of my friends and colleagues don't believe they can cook because anyone can cook. Some people have natural flair but with a little work anyone can master basic recipes and you may learn to love it. It is one of the most wonderful things you can do for the people you love so I urge you to get in the kitchen and get creating. I share a lot on Instagram so head over there if you want to keep up to date with my latest recipes!
What are five of your all-time favorite posts?
I would find it hard to pick my all-time favourites, but aside from personal posts I have written, these are some of my most popular recipes that I love:
Chocolate and Salted Caramel Cake