Tried 50 new recipes this year! Halfway to my goal!!

[makedah]

In February, I set out to try 100 new recipes this year (not just tinkering with food in the kitchen, but using an actual recipe) -- no sweat for those of you who eat something different almost every night, but a big deal for someone like me, who cooked the same 3 or so dishes for 10 years (2 of them containing ground beef). I just realized that today, I made my 50th new recipe, Lindrusso's mother's pesto!!!!

I've learned a lot on this board; your tips and camaraderie have helped me make the transition from frozen pepperoni pizza to organics and Moosewood cookbooks. I'm looking forward to continuing to grow and learn in my new, more healthful lifestyle. Thanks, guys! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[Peggy]

makedah,

Good for you!!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif I also find cooking inspiration on this bulletin board and have tried all kinds of different foods and recipes I never would have made without it. You are halfway to your goal and you still have more than 7 months left!! Pat yourself on the back...

Cheers!

Peggy

[valchemist]

great, makedah!

I am curious, what are your favorites so far? what recipe(s) come to mind (off the top of your head) as being definite repeaters?

[patsyk]

Originally posted by valchemist:
I am curious, what are your favorites so far? what recipe(s) come to mind (off the top of your head) as being definite repeaters?

I would also love to hear what your favorites are so far! I must congratulate you on being half way to your goal! I too, have been working on trying new recipes this year, but haven't set a goal as to how many... usually just try to get in 3-4 new ones from each magazine with a few thrown in from the bb!

[Sarah]

Yeah, Makedah!
I made a similar resolution a couple of years ago. I decided that if I was going to keep buying CL, I needed to make 4 recipes a month; at least.
Thanks for reinspiring us,
Sarah

[makedah]

Some favorites/repeaters, in no particular order:

Chicago-Style Pizza (with Atsa Spicy Pizza Sausage) - CL Jan/Feb '01
Vanilla Sweet Potatoes (I make these all the time. Easy, tasty microwave dish.) - CL Nov. '00
Stuffed Chicken Breasts with Goat Cheese and Artichokes (Impressive and absolutely delish, but since I live alone, I'd probably repeat only for guests as they are a decent amount of work) - CL May '99
Spinach Avocado Grapefruit Salad - (A simple, unusually good combination of flavors) Moosewood Low-Fat Favorites
Pineapple with Basil (I posted a thread about this incredibly simple, incredibly yummy dish. Could be side dish or dessert.) - Epicurious
Low-Fat Banana Bread (One of those great 'I can't believe it's light' recipes.) Recommended here, found at Epicurious.



[This message has been edited by makedah (edited 05-30-2001).]

[Wendy w]

Congrats Makedah!! Between all of my cookbooks and downloaded and cut out recipes, I have more than I can ever make in this lifetime!! I love the chicken breasts with goat cheese and artichokes too! This is something to definitely make again!!

[KLynn]

Wow! I am so impressed - and inspired! Keep us posted on which ones are big hits.

[Lynn B]

And a noble goal it is!!!!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif
Lynn

[KristaMB]

That is such a great goal! I wish I would've thought of that.

[SusieO]

Way to go, makedah!

My goal is to go the whole year without repeating a recipe, and I have to tell you that you inspired me to start keeping track of them (on an Excel spreadsheet -- am I a nerd or what?)

Keep up the good work, and thanks for the inspiration!

[luv2cook]

would you-all please STOP talking about goat cheese - ugh http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/tongue.gif

[schuh]

I am in awe... If I do a couple of recipes out of each issue I feel good.

At some point I'm going to keep track of how many new recipes I try. What a great idea.

[makedah]

Thanks all. I got the technique for keeping track of my recipes from someone on this board. I used Microsoft Works to come up with a grid. I have a column each for the name of the recipe, what day I made it, difficulty (1-10), rating (1-10), the source (CL, Moosewood, etc.) and my comments. Things I rate 7 and up are generally what I consider to be repeatable. I have noticed that I'm a tougher grader now than when I started out!

[jliah]

I've made 62 CL magazine recipes so far this year (January through May issues). I've probably made about 20 recipes from the bulletin board as well.

As far as my favorites, you could do a search on my name. I usually have done a once-a-month recap of my thoughts on the recipes I've tried.

I still can't believe that eating light can taste so good!

Has anyone else tried a lot of recipes this year?

[makedah]

An update: I've tried 80 new recipes as of today. Not bad considering that for almost a month I tried very few recipes!

Either I've become a tougher critic or I've chosen less-than-stellar recipes, because I have relatively fewer high scores among the newest 30 recipes. The better ones would be Barbecue Roasted Salmon (Back to the best 5/01), Collard Greens (Sylvia's Family Soul Food Cookbook) and Broiled Chicken Cutlets with Cracked Pepper (How to Cook Everything).

[BlueMoose]

Wow, Makedah, you rule! I can hardly decide what to make for dinner let alone try a new recipe! :o I'm totally in awe!:D

[SusanL]

let's see, 20 recipes divided by three more months = success!! Please tell us on the momentous day when you make 100!!

[RobinC]

Way to go makedah!!!!! I love your idea of the grid to keep track of the recipes you try.

Keep on cookin'!!!!