gin basil fizz.

Hope you had a lovely Christmas and are looking forward to next year! Especially for New Year's Eve, I've rustled up a super simple cocktail recipe combining a couple of my favourite drinks components - gin and Prosecco. This fizzy gin cocktail recipe is lifted by fresh basil to bring out the spirit's botanicals. Cheers!

shining a spotlight on motorpoint arena's hospitality package, nottingham.

Whether a beloved band just announced their latest live dates, you're sporting mad or you're a lover of laughs, why not see your favourite music, comedy and sports events in style with a hospitality package? I go to a lot of music gigs, I've seen my fair share of stand ups and recently went to my first London show, but I've never given them the VIP treatment. (Except the time I won a competition to meet Blink-182 at Nottingham Arena about 15 years ago...) So when the now Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham asked if I'd like to experience their hospitality package, Spotlight, of course I obliged.

hot chocolate orange.

Now it's almost December. is it okay to talk about the C word? I mean chocolate, of course. There's something about chocolate orange that gets all those festive feelings going for me. And with the night's drawing colder and darker, what better time to curl up with a hot chocolate, a cosy blanket and a nostalgic Winter film?

This tangy and indulgent hot chocolate recipe (should it be coined hot chocolate orange or orange hot chocolate?) is super simple to make and uses all the ingredients you'd find in your local Central England Co-op store. Even the decorations! I was super impressed by the baking aisle in general, with lots of lovely cake decorating items from Co-op and known brands, as well as lots of types of sugar, flour and confectionary. This delicious drink can also be made vegan, as the dark chocolate already is and you'd just need to substitute the dairy for a nut or oak milk and cream of your choosing. Enjoy!

cheesy pumpkin pasta bake.

A comforting recipe that encompasses three of my favourite things; Autumn, pasta and cheese. This super simple seasonal dish only requires a few ingredients, and can be made with butternut squash once the pumpkin season is over. Perfect to make or bake ahead and eat over a few days, simply warming up for a welcoming midweek meal. Heavenly, autumnal and just a tiny bit indulgent as it actually features low fat Quark. Plus, whats wrong with a little extra cheese when you're getting your five a day, right? Balance.