diff --git a/.vscode/settings.json b/.vscode/settings.json
index ae2f0c1..a160986 100644
--- a/.vscode/settings.json
+++ b/.vscode/settings.json
@@ -1,9 +1,18 @@
 {
     "cSpell.words": [
+        "echojwt",
         "glebarez",
         "gocook",
         "huandu",
         "labstack",
         "sqlbuilder"
+    ],
+    "sqltools.connections": [
+        {
+            "previewLimit": 50,
+            "driver": "SQLite",
+            "database": "${workspaceFolder:go-cook}/gocook.db",
+            "name": "gocook"
+        }
     ]
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/api/handlers/v1/auth.go b/api/handlers/v1/auth.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..86a7828
--- /dev/null
+++ b/api/handlers/v1/auth.go
@@ -0,0 +1,128 @@
+package v1
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"go-cook/api/models"
+	"go-cook/api/repositories"
+	"net/http"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/golang-jwt/jwt/v5"
+	"github.com/labstack/echo/v4"
+)
+
+const (
+	ErrJwtMissing       = "auth token is missing"
+	ErrJwtClaimsMissing = "claims missing on token"
+	ErrJwtExpired       = "auth token has expired"
+)
+
+type JwtToken struct {
+	Exp        time.Time `json:"exp"`
+	Authorized bool      `json:"authorized"`
+	UserName   string    `json:"username"`
+	Token      string    `json:"token"`
+	jwt.RegisteredClaims
+}
+
+func generateJwt(username string) (string, error) {
+	//TODO use env here
+	secret := []byte("ThisIsABadSecretDontReallyUseThis")
+
+	token := jwt.New(jwt.SigningMethodHS256)
+	claims := token.Claims.(jwt.MapClaims)
+	claims["exp"] = time.Now().Add(10 * time.Minute)
+	claims["authorized"] = true
+	claims["username"] = username
+
+	tokenString, err := token.SignedString(secret)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+
+	return tokenString, nil
+}
+
+func (h *Handler) AuthRegister(c echo.Context) error {
+	username := c.QueryParam("username")
+	_, err := h.userRepo.GetByName(username)
+	if err != nil {
+		// if we have an err, validate that if its not user not found.
+		// if the user is not found, we can use that name
+		if err.Error() != repositories.ErrUserNotFound {
+			return c.JSON(http.StatusInternalServerError, models.ErrorResponse{
+				HttpCode: http.StatusInternalServerError,
+				Message:  err.Error(),
+			})
+		}
+	}
+
+	password := c.QueryParam("password")
+	err = h.UserService.CheckPasswordForRequirements(password)
+	if err != nil {
+		return c.JSON(http.StatusInternalServerError, models.ErrorResponse{
+			HttpCode: http.StatusInternalServerError,
+			Message:  err.Error(),
+		})
+	}
+
+	_, err = h.userRepo.Create(username, password)
+	if err != nil {
+		return c.JSON(http.StatusInternalServerError, models.ErrorResponse{
+			HttpCode: http.StatusInternalServerError,
+			Message:  err.Error(),
+		})
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (h *Handler) AuthLogin(c echo.Context) error {
+	username := c.QueryParam("username")
+	password := c.QueryParam("password")
+
+	// check if the user exists
+	err := h.UserService.DoesUserExist(username)
+	if err != nil {
+		return c.JSON(http.StatusInternalServerError, err)
+	}
+
+	// make sure the hash matches
+	err = h.UserService.DoesPasswordMatchHash(username, password)
+	if err != nil {
+		return c.JSON(http.StatusInternalServerError, err)
+	}
+
+	token, err := generateJwt(username)
+	if err != nil {
+		return c.JSON(http.StatusInternalServerError, err)
+	}
+
+	return c.JSON(http.StatusOK, token)
+}
+
+func (h *Handler) RefreshJwtToken(c echo.Context) error {
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (h *Handler) getJwtToken(c echo.Context) (JwtToken, error) {
+	// Make sure that the request came with a jwtToken
+	token, ok := c.Get("user").(*jwt.Token)
+	if !ok {
+		return JwtToken{}, errors.New(ErrJwtMissing)
+	}
+
+	// Generate the claims from the token
+	claims, ok := token.Claims.(*JwtToken)
+	if !ok {
+		return JwtToken{}, errors.New(ErrJwtClaimsMissing)
+	}
+
+	// Check to see if the token has expired
+	hasExpired := claims.Exp.Compare(time.Now())
+	if hasExpired == -1 {
+		return JwtToken{}, errors.New(ErrJwtExpired)
+	}
+
+	return *claims, nil
+}
diff --git a/api/handlers/v1/demo.go b/api/handlers/v1/demo.go
index bbab75e..597cb6f 100644
--- a/api/handlers/v1/demo.go
+++ b/api/handlers/v1/demo.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package v1
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
+	"go-cook/api/models"
 	"net/http"
 
 	"github.com/labstack/echo/v4"
@@ -38,12 +39,24 @@ func (h *Handler) HelloBody(c echo.Context) error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return c.JSON(http.StatusBadRequest, HelloWhoResponse{
 			Success: false,
-			Error: err.Error(),
+			Error:   err.Error(),
 		})
 	}
-	
+
 	return c.JSON(http.StatusOK, HelloWhoResponse{
 		Success: true,
 		Message: fmt.Sprintf("Hello, %s", request.Name),
 	})
 }
+
+func (h *Handler) ProtectedRoute(c echo.Context) error {
+	token, err := h.getJwtToken(c)
+	if err != nil {
+		return c.JSON(http.StatusForbidden, models.ErrorResponse{
+			HttpCode: http.StatusForbidden,
+			Message:  err.Error(),
+		})
+	}
+
+	return c.JSON(http.StatusOK, token)
+}
diff --git a/api/handlers/v1/handler.go b/api/handlers/v1/handler.go
index 1788678..9de5b13 100644
--- a/api/handlers/v1/handler.go
+++ b/api/handlers/v1/handler.go
@@ -3,26 +3,53 @@ package v1
 import (
 	"database/sql"
 	"go-cook/api/repositories"
+	"go-cook/api/services"
 
+	"github.com/golang-jwt/jwt/v5"
+	echojwt "github.com/labstack/echo-jwt/v4"
 	"github.com/labstack/echo/v4"
 )
 
 type Handler struct {
-	userRepo repositories.UserRepository
+	UserService services.UserService
+	userRepo    repositories.IUserTable
+	recipeRepo  repositories.IRecipeTable
 }
 
 func NewHandler(conn *sql.DB) *Handler {
 	return &Handler{
-		userRepo: repositories.NewUserRepository(conn),
+		UserService: services.NewUserService(conn),
+		userRepo:   repositories.NewUserRepository(conn),
+		recipeRepo: repositories.NewRecipeRepository(conn),
 	}
 }
 
 func (h *Handler) Register(v1 *echo.Group) {
+	jwtConfig := echojwt.Config{
+		NewClaimsFunc: func(c echo.Context) jwt.Claims {
+			return new(JwtToken)
+		},
+		SigningKey: []byte("ThisIsABadSecretDontReallyUseThis"),
+	}
+
+	v1.POST("/login", h.AuthLogin)
+	v1.POST("/register", h.AuthRegister)
 	demo := v1.Group("/demo")
-	demo.GET("/hello", h.DemoHello)	
+
+	demo.GET("/hello", h.DemoHello)
 	demo.GET("/hello/:who", h.HelloWho)
+
+	demo.Use(echojwt.WithConfig(jwtConfig))
 	demo.GET("/hello/body", h.HelloBody)
 
-	users := v1.Group("/users")
-	users.POST("/new", h.NewUser)
+	protected := v1.Group("/demo/protected")
+	protected.Use(echojwt.WithConfig(jwtConfig))
+	protected.GET("", h.ProtectedRoute)
+
+	//recipes := v1.Group("/recipe")
+
+	//users := v1.Group("/users")
+	//users.POST("/register", h.RegisterUser)
+	//users.POST("/login", h.LoginUser)
+	//users.POST("/update/password", h.UpdatePassword)
 }
diff --git a/api/handlers/v1/users.go b/api/handlers/v1/users.go
index 3f3ed84..e2dcc37 100644
--- a/api/handlers/v1/users.go
+++ b/api/handlers/v1/users.go
@@ -6,6 +6,10 @@ import (
 	"github.com/labstack/echo/v4"
 )
 
-func (h *Handler) NewUser(c echo.Context) error {
-	return c.JSON(http.StatusOK, "not implemented yet")
+type newUserResponse struct {
+
+}
+
+func (h *Handler) RegisterUser(c echo.Context) error {
+	return c.JSON(http.StatusOK, newUserResponse{})
 }
diff --git a/api/models/recipe.go b/api/models/recipe.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9f98366
--- /dev/null
+++ b/api/models/recipe.go
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+package models
+
+import "time"
+
+type RecipeModel struct {
+	Id          int32
+	Title       string
+	Thumbnail   string
+	Content     string
+	CreatedAt   time.Time
+	LastUpdated time.Time
+}
diff --git a/api/models/std.go b/api/models/std.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..efd0955
--- /dev/null
+++ b/api/models/std.go
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+package models
+
+type ErrorResponse struct {
+	HttpCode int    `json:"code"`
+	Message  string `json:"message"`
+}
diff --git a/api/models/users.go b/api/models/users.go
index e47dc2b..14560ca 100644
--- a/api/models/users.go
+++ b/api/models/users.go
@@ -9,3 +9,7 @@ type UserModel struct {
 	CreatedAt   time.Time
 	LastUpdated time.Time
 }
+
+type UserDto struct {
+	
+}
diff --git a/api/repositories/recipe.go b/api/repositories/recipe.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6ee15b3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/api/repositories/recipe.go
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+package repositories
+
+import (
+	"database/sql"
+	"errors"
+	"go-cook/api/models"
+)
+
+type IRecipeTable interface {
+	Create(models.RecipeModel) error
+	List() ([]models.RecipeModel, error)
+	Get(id int) (models.RecipeModel, error)
+	Update(id int, entity models.RecipeModel) error
+	Delete(id int) error
+}
+
+type RecipeRepository struct {
+	client *sql.DB
+}
+
+func NewRecipeRepository(client *sql.DB) RecipeRepository {
+	return RecipeRepository{
+		client: client,
+	}
+}
+
+func (rr RecipeRepository) Create(models.RecipeModel) error {
+	return errors.New("not implemented")
+}
+
+func (rr RecipeRepository) List() ([]models.RecipeModel, error) {
+	return []models.RecipeModel{}, errors.New("not implemented")
+}
+
+func (rr RecipeRepository) Get(id int) (models.RecipeModel, error) {
+	return models.RecipeModel{}, errors.New("not implemented")
+}
+
+func (rr RecipeRepository) Update(id int, entity models.RecipeModel) error {
+	return errors.New("not implemented")
+}
+
+func (rr RecipeRepository) Delete(id int) error {
+	return errors.New("not implemented")
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/api/repositories/users.go b/api/repositories/users.go
index e5ba982..1ee2e91 100644
--- a/api/repositories/users.go
+++ b/api/repositories/users.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package repositories
 
 import (
 	"database/sql"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"go-cook/api/models"
 	"time"
@@ -12,8 +13,17 @@ import (
 
 const (
 	TableName string = "users"
+	ErrUserNotFound string = "requested user was not found"
 )
 
+type IUserTable interface {
+	GetByName(name string) (models.UserModel, error)
+	Create(name, password string) (int64, error)
+	Update(id int, entity models.UserModel) error
+	UpdatePassword(name, password string) error
+	CheckUserHash(name, password string) error
+}
+
 // Creates a new instance of UserRepository with the bound sql
 func NewUserRepository(conn *sql.DB) UserRepository {
 	return UserRepository{
@@ -37,10 +47,15 @@ func (ur UserRepository) GetByName(name string) (models.UserModel, error) {
 		return models.UserModel{}, err
 	}
 
-	return ur.processRows(rows)[0], nil
+	data := ur.processRows(rows)
+	if (len(data) == 0) {
+		return models.UserModel{}, errors.New(ErrUserNotFound)
+	}
+
+	return data[0], nil
 }
 
-func (ur UserRepository) NewUser(name, password string) (int64, error) {
+func (ur UserRepository) Create(name, password string) (int64, error) {
 	passwordBytes := []byte(password)
 	hash, err := bcrypt.GenerateFromPassword(passwordBytes, bcrypt.DefaultCost)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -62,6 +77,10 @@ func (ur UserRepository) NewUser(name, password string) (int64, error) {
 	return 1, nil
 }
 
+func (ur UserRepository) Update(id int, entity models.UserModel) error {
+	return errors.New("not implemented")
+}
+
 func (ur UserRepository) UpdatePassword(name, password string) error {
 	_, err := ur.GetByName(name)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/api/repositories/users_test.go b/api/repositories/users_test.go
index 283ca75..120b53b 100644
--- a/api/repositories/users_test.go
+++ b/api/repositories/users_test.go
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ func TestCanCreateNewUser(t *testing.T) {
 	defer db.Close()
 
 	repo := repositories.NewUserRepository(db)
-	updated, err := repo.NewUser("testing", "NotSecure")
+	updated, err := repo.Create("testing", "NotSecure")
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Println(err)
 		t.FailNow()
diff --git a/api/services/userService.go b/api/services/userService.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..193c53d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/api/services/userService.go
@@ -0,0 +1,106 @@
+package services
+
+import (
+	"database/sql"
+	"errors"
+	"go-cook/api/models"
+	"go-cook/api/repositories"
+	"strings"
+
+	"golang.org/x/crypto/bcrypt"
+)
+
+const (
+	ErrPasswordNotLongEnough           = "password needs to be 8 character or longer"
+	ErrPasswordMissingSpecialCharacter = "password needs to contain one of the following: !, @, #"
+	ErrInvalidPassword                 = "invalid password"
+)
+
+// This will handle operations that are user related, but one layer higher then the repository
+type UserService struct {
+	repo repositories.IUserTable
+}
+
+func NewUserService(conn *sql.DB) UserService {
+	return UserService{
+		repo: repositories.NewUserRepository(conn),
+	}
+}
+
+func (us UserService) DoesUserExist(username string) error {
+	_, err := us.repo.GetByName(username)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (us UserService) DoesPasswordMatchHash(username, password string) error {
+	//passwordBytes := []byte(password)
+	//hash, err := bcrypt.GenerateFromPassword(passwordBytes, bcrypt.DefaultCost)
+	//if err != nil {
+	//	return err
+	//}
+
+	model, err := us.GetUser(username)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	err = bcrypt.CompareHashAndPassword([]byte(model.Hash), []byte(password))
+	if err != nil {
+		return errors.New(ErrInvalidPassword)
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (us UserService) GetUser(username string) (models.UserModel, error) {
+	return us.repo.GetByName(username)
+}
+
+func (us UserService) CreateNewUser(name, password string) (models.UserModel, error) {
+	err := us.CheckPasswordForRequirements(password)
+	if err != nil {
+		return models.UserModel{}, err
+	}
+
+	us.repo.Create(name, password)
+	return models.UserModel{}, nil
+}
+
+func (us UserService) CheckPasswordForRequirements(password string) error {
+	err := us.checkPasswordLength(password)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	err = us.checkPasswordForSpecialCharacters(password)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (us UserService) checkPasswordLength(password string) error {
+	if len(password) < 8 {
+		return errors.New(ErrPasswordNotLongEnough)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (us UserService) checkPasswordForSpecialCharacters(password string) error {
+	var chars []string
+	chars = append(chars, "!")
+	chars = append(chars, "@")
+	chars = append(chars, "#")
+
+	for _, char := range chars {
+		if strings.Contains(password, char) {
+			return nil
+		}
+	}
+
+	return errors.New(ErrPasswordMissingSpecialCharacter)
+}
diff --git a/api/services/users_test.go b/api/services/userService_test.go
similarity index 100%
rename from api/services/users_test.go
rename to api/services/userService_test.go
diff --git a/api/services/users.go b/api/services/users.go
deleted file mode 100644
index bb2d355..0000000
--- a/api/services/users.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,43 +0,0 @@
-package services
-
-import (
-	"database/sql"
-	"errors"
-	"go-cook/api/models"
-	"go-cook/api/repositories"
-)
-
-const (
-	ErrPasswordNotLongEnough = "password needs to be 8 character or longer"
-)
-
-// This will handle operations that are user related, but one layer higher then the repository
-type UserService struct {
-	repo repositories.UserRepository
-}
-
-func NewUserService(conn *sql.DB) UserService {
-	return UserService{
-		repo: repositories.NewUserRepository(conn),
-	}
-}
-
-func (us UserService) DoesUserExist(username string) error {
-	_, err := us.repo.GetByName(username)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
-func (us UserService) CreateNewUser(name, password string) (models.UserModel, error) {
-	us.repo.NewUser(name, password)
-	return models.UserModel{}, nil
-}
-
-func (us UserService) CheckPasswordForRequirements(password string) error {
-	if len(password) <= 8 {
-		return errors.New(ErrPasswordNotLongEnough)
-	}
-	return nil
-}
diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index 4ac5107..adbb909 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -21,10 +21,12 @@ require (
 	github.com/go-playground/universal-translator v0.18.1 // indirect
 	github.com/go-playground/validator v9.31.0+incompatible // indirect
 	github.com/golang-jwt/jwt v3.2.2+incompatible // indirect
+	github.com/golang-jwt/jwt/v5 v5.2.1 // indirect
 	github.com/google/uuid v1.5.0 // indirect
 	github.com/huandu/go-sqlbuilder v1.25.0 // indirect
 	github.com/huandu/xstrings v1.3.2 // indirect
 	github.com/josharian/intern v1.0.0 // indirect
+	github.com/labstack/echo-jwt/v4 v4.2.0 // indirect
 	github.com/labstack/echo/v4 v4.11.4 // indirect
 	github.com/labstack/gommon v0.4.2 // indirect
 	github.com/leodido/go-urn v1.4.0 // indirect
diff --git a/go.sum b/go.sum
index eba4381..a04d568 100644
--- a/go.sum
+++ b/go.sum
@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@ github.com/go-playground/validator v9.31.0+incompatible h1:UA72EPEogEnq76ehGdEDp
 github.com/go-playground/validator v9.31.0+incompatible/go.mod h1:yrEkQXlcI+PugkyDjY2bRrL/UBU4f3rvrgkN3V8JEig=
 github.com/golang-jwt/jwt v3.2.2+incompatible h1:IfV12K8xAKAnZqdXVzCZ+TOjboZ2keLg81eXfW3O+oY=
 github.com/golang-jwt/jwt v3.2.2+incompatible/go.mod h1:8pz2t5EyA70fFQQSrl6XZXzqecmYZeUEB8OUGHkxJ+I=
+github.com/golang-jwt/jwt/v5 v5.2.1 h1:OuVbFODueb089Lh128TAcimifWaLhJwVflnrgM17wHk=
+github.com/golang-jwt/jwt/v5 v5.2.1/go.mod h1:pqrtFR0X4osieyHYxtmOUWsAWrfe1Q5UVIyoH402zdk=
 github.com/google/uuid v1.5.0 h1:1p67kYwdtXjb0gL0BPiP1Av9wiZPo5A8z2cWkTZ+eyU=
 github.com/google/uuid v1.5.0/go.mod h1:TIyPZe4MgqvfeYDBFedMoGGpEw/LqOeaOT+nhxU+yHo=
 github.com/huandu/go-assert v1.1.5/go.mod h1:yOLvuqZwmcHIC5rIzrBhT7D3Q9c3GFnd0JrPVhn/06U=
@@ -50,6 +52,8 @@ github.com/kr/text v0.1.0/go.mod h1:4Jbv+DJW3UT/LiOwJeYQe1efqtUx/iVham/4vfdArNI=
 github.com/kr/text v0.2.0/go.mod h1:eLer722TekiGuMkidMxC/pM04lWEeraHUUmBw8l2grE=
 github.com/labstack/echo v3.3.10+incompatible h1:pGRcYk231ExFAyoAjAfD85kQzRJCRI8bbnE7CX5OEgg=
 github.com/labstack/echo v3.3.10+incompatible/go.mod h1:0INS7j/VjnFxD4E2wkz67b8cVwCLbBmJyDaka6Cmk1s=
+github.com/labstack/echo-jwt/v4 v4.2.0 h1:odSISV9JgcSCuhgQSV/6Io3i7nUmfM/QkBeR5GVJj5c=
+github.com/labstack/echo-jwt/v4 v4.2.0/go.mod h1:MA2RqdXdEn4/uEglx0HcUOgQSyBaTh5JcaHIan3biwU=
 github.com/labstack/echo/v4 v4.11.4 h1:vDZmA+qNeh1pd/cCkEicDMrjtrnMGQ1QFI9gWN1zGq8=
 github.com/labstack/echo/v4 v4.11.4/go.mod h1:noh7EvLwqDsmh/X/HWKPUl1AjzJrhyptRyEbQJfxen8=
 github.com/labstack/gommon v0.4.2 h1:F8qTUNXgG1+6WQmqoUWnz8WiEU60mXVVw0P4ht1WRA0=
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 1cf5f44..0896dc4 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ func main() {
 	}
 	e.Pre(middleware.RemoveTrailingSlash())
 	e.Pre(middleware.Logger())
+	e.Pre(middleware.Recover())
 
 	v1Group := e.Group("/api/v1")
 	v1Api := v1.NewHandler(db)
diff --git a/rest.http b/rest.http
index e80ad51..a5a5dc3 100644
--- a/rest.http
+++ b/rest.http
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+###
+POST http://localhost:1323/api/v1/register?username=test&password=test1234!
+###
+POST http://localhost:1323/api/v1/login?username=test&password=test1234!
+###
 GET http://localhost:1323/api/v1/demo/hello
 ###
 GET http://localhost:1323/api/v1/demo/hello/james
@@ -5,5 +10,13 @@ GET http://localhost:1323/api/v1/demo/hello/james
 GET http://localhost:1323/api/v1/demo/hello/body
 Content-Type: application/json
 
-name = "body"
-###
\ No newline at end of file
+{
+    "name": "body"
+}
+###
+
+POST http://localhost:1323/api/v1/login?username=test
+
+###
+GET http://localhost:1323/api/v1/demo/protected
+Authorization: Bearer 
\ No newline at end of file