#CookBlogShare Week 44 Round Up - Recipes with a Twist

Last week it was my turn to host the #CookBlogShare linky and it was lovely to see such a wide variety of recipes shared. I was certainly left feeling hungry after reading all of the posts. When it came to selecting four recipes that shared a common theme it was difficult. There were lovely bakes, wholesome dinners and delectable desserts! There really was a mixture of all sorts.

For this weeks round up I have decided to go for four recipes that are not what they first seem. They are all recipes that go much further than what the pictures make you believe that they are. All four of these recipes have an added twist that makes them special.

Here are my four favourite recipes from week 44 of CookBlogShare...

Weekly Meal Plan - Week Commencing 7th November 2016

Hello and welcome to my weekly meal plan. This week is an exciting week for me. Last night J and I went to see Bring Me The Horizon is Sheffield and we had an amazing time. However we did have a late night so today I am definitely feeling it. But tomorrow will be even busier! Tomorrow I am leaving North Lincolnshire and travelling all the way down to Dorset! I am so excited and feeling extremely lucky to be visiting River Cottage for a festive feast with the great team over at Tots100 and Foodies100. We have always loved River Cottage and especially Hugh's ethos on living and food. So keep an eye out for lots of pictures and a post all about the evening!

This weeks meals, for me, are going to be following the SP Slimming World food plan. My meals will consist of just speedy free foods and protein packed free foods. This is a great way to accelerate weight loss, but in my case, this week, I am hoping that it will counterbalance the foods and drinks that I will be consuming on Tuesday. Last week I lost a whopping 5lbs and have now crossed my first half stone milestone and I do not want it to go back on. I am feeling so much better following the healthier eating plan and really enjoying my meals.

This is what we will be enjoying this week...

Right Number, First Time

Telephone picture courtesy of Pixabay

As much as I love technology, sometimes you just need to speak to someone. There is only so much you can do online. Unfortunately getting through to someone can often be quite a challenge. From finding the correct number to the dreaded automated system, it can be tough as well as time consuming. The amount of times I have rung a number, been on hold for what felt like an eternity to only be told that I have rung the wrong number! This leaves you both annoyed and stressed! Gone are the days when you could open a Yellow Pages or the phone directory.

When I was told about Contact Number UK I thought what a great idea. Contact Number UK is a British run organisation that aims to get you through to the right person first time. They list all of the UK's major organisations and companies. Not only will they get you through to the right person but at last they offer a way to beat all of the queues! This will allow you to speak to customer service representative in a fraction of the time. We all know there is nothing worse than being stuck on hold, listening to monotonous music.

Winter Kale Salad

At the moment we have got a lot of kale in the garden ready for harvesting. Kale is one vegetable that I think often gets over looked. We get bored of eating it the same way, steamed, so I am always looking for new ways to add this super food to our diets. Now that we have had our first frost I know that the kale will be even sweeter and perfect for salad!

One thing that kale is great for is as a salad. It has a firmer texture and fuller flavour than lettuce and, in my opinion, makes a more filling salad. Today's recipe contains 6 delicious vegetables and is jam packed with goodness. It is perfect as a lunch or goes great with a jacket potato.

This is what I did...

Ruby Wedding Anniversary Cake - Great Bloggers Bake Off Final

That is it. The Great British Bake Off is over for another year, and sadly over for the way we know and love it. This year I was not surprised that Candice won, she always seemed to go the extra mile despite it costing her bakes along the way. But her final bake was outstanding. I have loved watching Great British Bake Off grow from a little show on BBC2 featuring an unknown baker and a legendary cook to moving to BBC1 and making Paul Hollywood the celebrity he is now and rekindling our love for Mary Berry. But for me the two people who transformed the show from just a baking show to a comical, entertaining baking show has to be Mel and Sue. They are hilarious with their quips and baking innuendo. I simply cannot imagine Bake Off without them! But I understand why each have done what they have. Mary, Mel and Sue have remained loyal to the BBC while Paul has remained loyal to the team and show which made him. What the show will be like on Channel 4 is yet to be seen!

Anyway, now onto my final bake.

This weeks bake came along at a perfect time. My parents celebrated their ruby wedding anniversary last weekend and an occasion like that certainly deserves a show stopper of a cake. They deserved a cake fit for a Queen and her King.

This is what I did...

#CookBlogShare - Week 44 Pumpkin and Squash Round Up and Linky

Hello and welcome to week 44 of CookBlogShare. I cannot believe we are in November, the weeks are certainly flying by.

True to the season last weeks CookBlogShare linky, hosted by Mandy at Sneaky Veg, contained many Halloween inspired dishes. Whether they were spooky sweet treats or meals using the seasons best vegetables, there was a definite theme to the linky. So it will be no surprise that today my round up is based on the many pumpkin and squash recipes that were shared last week. I love these vegetables and am always on the look out for new ways to incorporate them into our meals.

Here are my favourite four recipes from week 43 of CookBlogShare...