A 2019 cooking challenge: 52 new recipes in 52 weeks

This year I spent a lot more time in the kitchen and realised that it really is my happy place. I love being about to switch off on a Sunday afternoon and lose myself in cooking something delicious. One of my goals this year was to start using my cookbooks enough and I certainly did that. But I mainly rotated around five books which is silly considering I now have around 200 sitting around. I found recipes, especially baking recipes, I loved and did them numerous times. Now there's nothing wrong with that but I want to push myself and stop being afraid of it going wrong.

So this year I am going to try 52 different recipes which works out one a week. A pretty doable challenge if you ask me! They can be from books, blogs or newspapers. Just a recipe that has tickled my fancy. I have literally hundreds bookmarked and have tried maybe one or two. I want to be a lot more adventurous and try and improve my knowledge of the kitchen. Bread is my top choice for something I want to ace next year.

I'll be blogging about it on here to keep me in check. I think I'll be writing a new blog post each time I complete around five which will hopefully equal around one a post a month. As nothing really counts until it's been posted on social media, I'll also be popping each recipe up on my Instagram alongside the hashtag #52recipes so be sure to follow along. 

Wish me luck!

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A Christmas treat with Jet2 Holidays

A email popped into my inbox a week or so ago asking if I fancied a hamper from Jet2 to help celebrate the festive season. Well after a long week at work, it was such a treat to come home too! Using the theme of European Christmas markets, it was full of goodies to help get me in the mood. I can't wait to make that Yule log in time for Christmas Day and have already used those gorgeous milled wine mugs! Those chocolate coins went down faster than you can say Merry Christmas...

Coincidentally when I went to Magaluf back in May I actually used Jet2 Holidays and can't rave about them enough. We ended up delayed because of an awful storm but were kept well informed and given frequent cups of water to keep us hydrated. It doesn't sound too much but it's a lifesaver when you're stuck on the tarmac inside a stuffy plane. Inside the hamper was also a £60 voucher to go towards a trip. I'm hoping to take advantage of their Jet2 holiday city breaks if our funds allow us next year!

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Why you should put satin pyjamas on your Christmas list

I don't know about you but as I get older, it becomes a lot harder to decide what to ask for for Christmas. I've been working properly for quite a few years now and things that I really want, I usually end up buying myself. Then the things that I can't afford to buy myself are far to expensive to ask for as gifts. Quite the palaver eh?

One thing that I would never buy myself but would absolutely love to receive as a gift are silky pyjamas. There's something so luxurious about going to bed in satin pjs. They feel so soft on your skin and make you feel like you've made an extra special effort to get into bed. Everybody absolutely loves receiving a pair of fancy pyjamas don't they? You can't go wrong!

When UK Lingerie got in touch to see if I wanted to pick something from the site I immediately decided that it would be a pair of pjs. After browsing for a while I stumbled across a gorgeous coral floral set with a cute lace trims. I love the unusual waist tie. They came in a pretty box wrapped in tissue paper. It's all about the small details. What a treat they were to receive. I'll definitely won't need to get change into something more fancy on Christmas Day thanks to these!

What's your favourite gift to receive for Christmas that you would very rarely buy yourself?

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