Last week I received a beautiful new cookbook for my birthday. 

As I tore off the pretty wrapping my son raised an eyebrow as if to say (with a certain resignation) "Here we go again."  

I have been known to obsess a little with a new cookbook, I got a couple of Yotam Ottolenghi's books for Christmas last year and it was lentils, zaatar and roasted cauliflower around here for weeks.  

The initial excitement of the photographs, stories and recipes whisk me off to another world, but soon enough I resurface to rummage around for sticky notes and a note pad to start marking the most enticing recipes, planning menus and making shopping lists; eager to bring these foods from the page to the table. 

As I was busy going through my latest treasure the thought occurred to me, why not document and share what we are cooking to bring you on the journey with us?

And so begins the Bullocks in a China Shop Culinary Book...