Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Goals


I put the "Foodie Goals" tab at the top of the blog and then I never did anything about it. 'Doh!

I wanted to make a list of my cooking goals--things I want to cook/bake that will be a challenge for me. If anyone wants to bake or cook one of the goals along with me, I'd love the company. I am not setting any specific schedule, or timeline; this is just a way to keep me motivated to try new recipes.

So... on to the list!

1. Croissants- I've made these before but it's been a long time (completed 1/20/10)
2. Baba au Rhum (completed 8/14/09)
3. Full English Breakfast- Beans and all (completed 3/1/10)
4. Bagels (completed 2/24/10)
5. Grissini- Skinny breadsticks (completed 5/15/10)
6. Pumpkin Roll
7. Semolina Gnocchi (completed 3/16/10)
8. Crepe Cake (completed 9/20/09)
9. Bee Hive Cake (completed 10/10/09)
10. Gougeres
11. Persian Crispy Rice
12. Pretzels- I used to make these all the time but it's been awhile (completed 9/27/09)
13. Kolaches
14. Gelato- (completed 3/8/10)
15. Croquembouche
16. Cookies with Royal Icing- Just like Martha Stewart (completed 10/20/09)
17. "Irish" Doughnuts- I'm trying to recreate the amazing cream-filled doughnuts we had in Clifden, Ireland (completed 2/10/10)
18. Buttercream Frosting
19. Fruit Gelees (completed 3/1/10)
20. Crostoli- Fried cookies my Italian grandmother would make for holidays

Well, that's my top 20! Any other suggestions or must-make recipes?

****The cookie cutter is probably older than I am and it belonged to my Grandma W; she was an amazing cook and baker.

11 comments:

  1. I hope you're feeling better, Michele. I'll send good vibes your way. Knock on wood, I've never had to eat hospital food and I can just imagine how unappealing that must be for us vegetarians.
    I would love to try my hand at making some baba au rhum with you - sounds like fun!
    And your dried tomatoes look delicious. I don't think I am going to get many tomatoes here in the Hudson Valley with all this rain. Thank goodness for farmers markets!
    Be well! :)

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  2. Hi Michele - I hope that since you're back to posting, you're feeling better.

    I had to laugh when I read Barbara's comment, because I would also like to try baba au rhum! I don't know much about it, but it sounds exotic. I'd also like to make pretzels. I think I made soft pretzels way back when, but I don't even remember it. Soft or crispy would be good. So if you'd like company with either of those, let me know.

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  3. All right - after checking out your list you inspired me to re-check my own list - which I haven't updated in (ahem) months. And Crepe Cake is on my list!!

    I made semolina gnocchi a few months ago - it was so good - which lead to a large purchase from amazon of semolina flour.

    Crepe cake in about a month? Just in time for my birthday - let me know!

    mybakingadventures@gmail.com

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  4. Barbara and jillbert: Making Baba au Rhum together would be great! I have to look up a recipe to see what type of pan I need. When would you like to do the baking? Should we e-mail recipes and stuff first?

    jillbert- I'll dig up some pretzel recipes and e-mail them to you and we can decide when we want to make them! How lovely to bake along with you.

    Megan- I would be honored to make a crepe cake with your for your birthday! Do you have a recipe in mind? I'll send you an e-mail and we can work out the details.
    I love amazon for obscure ingredients. They have great prices. I will have to check-out your gnocchi post.


    I think I'm feeling a little better with all the medicines I'm taking. I guess it will just take some time.

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  5. so goo d to have you back.

    Wow, I like your cooking goals, I am not that disciplined in the kitchen. I hav enever heard of Kolaches. What is it?

    I like your dried tomatoes, something I will be doing very soon. Like you I have been thinking about getting a food dehydrator. I have seen one that I quite like the look of.
    http://www2.westfalia.net/shops/household/kitchen/cooking_desiccating_grilling/desiccating_appliances/193811-food_dehydrator.htm?vbSESSID=e791a2c3b449c092eb3fcbe39ccfce1a
    What do you think?

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  6. Hi Michele - I think it would be good if we all made the same recipe (though I may need to improvise with the pan). I took a quick look through my cookbooks and the Joy of Cooking has a baba au rhum recipe, but I don't know how authentic it is. There's probably a more French version out there Perhaps Julia Child?

    I'm flexible on when we do it but I will be out of town the first two weeks of September. Feel free to email me.

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  7. jillbert- I love Julia!! I'll e-mail you and Barbara this weekend. I was thinking of using a popover pan or maybe muffin cups? I'm not sure what will work--I'll have to read some recipes.

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  8. mango- I think the food dehydrator you picked out looks great. I love dried fruit, so I am more and more inclined to buy one of my own.

    Kolaches are pastries that usually have a fruit filling. I think most people identify them as having a Polish origin. I grew-up in Illinois which has a very large Polish community, and I've always loved Kolaches. Especially those filled with apricots, prunes, and poppy seeds. Some recipes use a yeast dough and some do not. I'm not sure what the "authentic" version is.

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  9. Great cooking goals! You must try the SMS peanut butter cookies, there the bomb!

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  10. Great list! Can't wait to see the results as you check items off.

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  11. Thank you Flourchild and Wendy!

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