A Dash of Ginger

UK Food Blog

  • Home
  • About
  • Recipe Index
    • Breakfast
    • Baking + Desserts
    • Dinner
    • Drinks
    • Snacks + Sides
    • Soups + Salads
  • Work With Me
  • Contact

2018: Thoughts on the Year Ahead

January 4, 2018

Happy New Year!! I’m having a rather slow start to the year, hence this post being a good few days into 2018.

I’ve never quite understood people who can get started on their resolutions full force on January 1st. Aside from the inevitable New Year’s Day hangover, I always find it takes me at least a few days to settle back into normality and routine.

So, here we are, with a bit of a chatty ramble rather than a recipe. There’s plenty of time for those, my friends!

Any long-time readers will know that I don’t have the best track record with plans for this space. So, here are some hopes for the year ahead – who knows if they’ll all go to plan. Life happens, and I think I’ve *finally* started to accept that the blog needs to ebb & flow alongside it.

That said, here’s what I’d like to achieve this year:

Blog more consistently

Feel free to laugh out loud at this one ;). I’ve been straight-up terrible at this for a looong time, flitting between posting 3 times a week then not at all for 5 months. I’m hoping once a week is achievable, but honestly a year with no multiple-month breaks will be an improvement.

On the plus side, I *finally* qualified as an Actuary in December which means NO MORE STUDYING!! (and most importantly, more time for blogging!).

Keep things simple

I updated my ‘About‘ page recently, and said that I’m leaning towards easy meals made with simple, flavourful ingredients. I still love experimenting with extravagant desserts and dinner party dishes, but midweek meals that are quick and bursting with flavour is where the real magic of cooking lies.

When I do delve into more adventurous cooking, I might share the experience as a more casual ‘look what I made/look at this disaster’ (the latter being more likely, #RealLife) type post rather than a recipe.

Be more helpful

Bit of a vague one, huh? I love cooking (erm, obviously…) and I genuinely believe that anybody can be good at it. My reader survey way back in July highlighted that a lot of you struggle for inspiration or aren’t confident combining flavours and cooking without a recipe.

For me the true joy is being able to knock together a good meal without a recipe, so alongside sharing my favourite recipes I really want to provide tips and ideas to help you get there.

I’m not sure exactly what that’s going to look like, but I’m thinking ingredient guides with info on different ways to eat/cook particular ingredients, plus what other flavours they go well with. I’m also hoping to make my newsletter (ha, remember that!) more helpful, with info on seasonal ingredients and quick tips & ideas.

Improve my photography

The styling & photography side of things is still something I absolutely love, and one of my favourite unintended side-effects of starting this blog. I really want to work on improving this and seeing where I can take it. I’ve had the privilege of working with a few awesome brands to create recipes and images for them and this is something I’d love to build on.

In the meantime, I guess it’s time to up my insta game!

As always, if there’s anything you’d like to see, or if you’ve got any ideas about how I can make this a more useful resource, please do let me know. I’m all ears!

Pin on Pinterest
Pinterest
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
share on Tumblr
Tumblr
Google+
Google+
Share on Reddit
Reddit
Share on StumbleUpon
StumbleUpon
Share on Yummly
Yummly

More recipes you might like:

Life Lately: A Catch Up On Blogger Burnout & Self Inflicted Stress 7 Food Blogs You Should Be Following Life Updates + Reader Survey

11 Comments

Comments

  1. Rosie von Waldherr says

    January 4, 2018 at 12:39 pm

    I am totally with you! Who is even doing anything on the 1st of January?! I know I spent the day lounging on the sofa with my cat, a cup of tea and a book! I didn’t take part in your survey (because I didn’t know the blog yet), but I am definitely one of those people who NEEDS a recipe to cook and still manages to ruin it. Though I have to say, I have gotten a lot better! Our fire alarm is still living in the living room, because it would constantly go off in the kitchen…strangely always when I was cooking… And I also understand you when you say you want to plan to be more consistent here on the blog…I’m the same, always (trying to) make plans for my blog and then ending up just winging it…

    I hope it isn’t too late to say Happy New Year!

    xo, Rosie //Curvy Life stories

    Reply
    • Kirsty says

      January 4, 2018 at 9:08 pm

      Yep, we’re 4 days in and I’m already looking forward to a weekend on the sofa. Maybe come Monday I’ll be back at it!!

      Ahh I’m sure that’s not true (and if it is, practice makes perfect!).

      Happy New Year to you too 🙂

      Reply
  2. Laura says

    January 4, 2018 at 9:16 pm

    That cake looks AMAZING! I’d love to learn more about photography and food styling this year too – it would be nice to look back in a years time and see some progress. Fingers crossed! x

    Laura // Middle of Adventure

    Reply
    • Kirsty says

      January 4, 2018 at 9:56 pm

      Thank you! That’s another thing I should have added to my list – cake decorating. The one in the photo is definitely my best effort yet!

      Reply
  3. ly says

    January 5, 2018 at 12:12 am

    I’m just getting properly going today. Jan 1st is def for sitting about in your jammies. Good luck in 2018.

    http://www.somethinginthewayshemoves.me

    Reply
    • Kirsty says

      January 5, 2018 at 8:50 am

      Definitely, I’m so glad it’s almost the weekend to be honest!! Thanks, you too 🙂

      Reply
  4. Steve Shakeshaff says

    January 8, 2018 at 12:01 pm

    So much the same for me.

    My blogging consistency is, for sure, something I need to improve!

    Reply
    • Kirsty says

      January 8, 2018 at 12:34 pm

      Yeah, it’s so hard to keep on top if it alongside everything else!

      Reply
  5. Corina Blum says

    January 8, 2018 at 4:07 pm

    Happy New Year! It’s definitely worth concentrating on improving photography and food styling. I love that area and the more I learn the more I feel I still have to learn.

    Reply
  6. Meg says

    January 8, 2018 at 9:03 pm

    I think your photography is great already! Mine is also to blog more consistently – it’s so difficult to do though isn’t it?!

    Good luck with all your resolutions, looking forward to following the journey!

    Meg
    http://www.nomeanfeast.co.uk

    Reply
  7. Jenna says

    January 26, 2018 at 12:17 am

    Great resolutions! I hope you are able to complete them all – I believe in your!
    Love,
    Jenna <3
    Follow me back? The Chic Cupcake

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Bloglovin
  • Pinterest

Welcome!

Hello! I'm Kirsty, a food-obsessed 20-something in Edinburgh. You can read more about me here!

Search the site

Recent Posts

  • Chocolate Pistachio Sponge Cake
  • Peanut Miso Noodle Soup: Tofu and noodles in a rich, nutty miso broth makes a deliciously savoury comforting meal that's quick & easy to cook.Peanut Miso Noodle Soup
  • Choc Chip Banana Oat Muffins: Light & fluffy muffins made with bananas, oats, greek yoghurt & honey (plus chocolate for good measure!)Choc Chip Banana Oat Muffins
  • Venison Sausage Bean Casserole: A hearty, comforting recipe of venison sausages in a rich red wine gravy that only takes 20 minutes to cook.Venison Sausage & Bean Casserole
  • Chocolate Orange Tart: Shortcrust pastry with a light and creamy chocolate orange filling. The perfect make-ahead dessert!Chocolate Orange Tart

Popular Posts

  • Most Viewed

    Site Archive

    January 2018
    M T W T F S S
    1234567
    891011121314
    15161718192021
    22232425262728
    293031  
    « Dec   Feb »
    Foodies100 Index of UK Food Blogs
    Foodies100

    Copyright © 2022· A Dash of Ginger · Blog Design by Ready to Blog Designs