Non-Year's Resolution

[madbaker]

I have a lot of cookbooks. I've read through them all (including modern ones not listed at the link) but there are a fair number that I've never cooked from.

So: The Resolution.
Once per week, I will cook a recipe that I have not tried before.

Wednesday night I tried a cheddar-and-onion tart from Tarts With Tops On, which if you hadn't guessed from the title, is a British book on pies both savoury and sweet. The one I made was decent pub stodge and went well with cider. Much prettier than my usual covered pie - I used a new fluted pie pan and decorated the top with leaves cut out from excess crust. (I really wish I had a digital camera to show off.)

If I make this particular pie again, I'll throw in some chopped up bangers and maybe some sage to jazz it up! I knew this recipe was going to be a bit blah but for the first attempt, I wanted to work strictly from the cookbook.

Anyway, an encouraging start.

Comments

[blkeagl.livejournal.com]

Nice resolution. I've made similar promises to myself in the past with good success. One period, I tried to never repeat a recipe for as long as possible.

When we were first married, we went nearly six months before I repeated a recipe (mainly because I decided to do a test recipe for an upcoming dinner to make sure I had it right). Fun stuff, and maybe after things settle, I'll do it again.

[madbaker.livejournal.com]

Not repeating a recipe is too ambitious for me, especially now with the commute. Once a week, I figured I could do.

[blkeagl.livejournal.com]

Do variations count? I actually seldom cook by recipes these days. Only when really experimenting with totally new techniques or foods that I need to learn before I play.

I end up using cookbooks a lot as inspiration though.

inspiration

[madbaker.livejournal.com]

I tend to do the same. However, since I have so many decent sources, I'm going to try (mostly) working from them for the purposes of This Resolution. Then I can muck with them to my heart's content.

Re: inspiration

[blkeagl.livejournal.com]

Actually.. there is one other case. When I want to know what the original recipe tastes like so I can see what the author intended the dish to be.

Like I said, it's a GOOD resolution and I think one I'll take on after we move.

Re: inspiration

[madbaker.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I had two basic motivations:
1) get out of rut and expand my usual cooking repertoire (maybe some of these will become standards that I don't use a recipe for doing)
2) justify all those cookbooks

[tshuma]

Besides, repeating allows for better results and a better understanding of the blending of flavours, colours, and textures.

[wyterayven.livejournal.com]

"(I really wish I had a digital camera to show off.)"

You might try ebay. I have a brand new digital camera coming that I got for $20 plus shipping.

It is the same as my old camera (which I dropped, so now the batteries dont stay in). It has good image quality, and is very easy to use. Its the camera I have been taking pictures of Shayna with. It is a Polorid PDC 1100.


My only complaints for it is that it is hard to take action shots because of the shutter delay, but that is a problem for most digitals unless you pay a lot of money. And if you dont use rechargable AA's then it goes through them incredibly fast, but with the rechargables, that problem is gone.

I think you would be very happy with it.

[strmonkey.livejournal.com]

I have to use cookbooks. If I don't you will have no idea what your eating. I can't do the fly by the seat of your pants cooking....I have made some pretty scary stuff...poor Tarik! He is usually kind enough to eat it ~ Now that's what I call love...