Having been forced to spend an extended period of time at home following recovery from surgery (a small abscess needed removing), I found myself spending more time trying to do things in the kitchen. In a WhatsApp group, this got nicknamed “Trying too Hard January”.

It’s been fun experimenting with various bits of cooking and baking. Everything from chocolate muffins to buttermilk chicken. A particular favourite was rediscovering a favourite from my childhood… a Sausage Pie. Legend has it that my Gran was told to “use sausages instead” by a home economics teacher after she’d told them her mum didn’t like lamb (the assignment was to make a shepherds pie). My Mum used to make it for us when I was younger and a bit of a fussy eater.

Going to see if I can make 2020 a year of trying too hard. I’m certainly off to a good start…