2009 food challenges

It’s that time again, where I set my culinary new year’s resolutions.

In 2007 I did a masterful job, and so I upped the ante in 2008 setting many new categories and increasing the tasks to five in each category. I had 45 tasks to complete, many of which had multiple elements, and I achieved 32 of these.

The hardest to complete were the feasts, which I have scraped in 2009. The most entertaining to do were trying out new ingredients, recreating food memories and learning about new cuisines. I’ve kept these for 2009.

I’m back down to four tasks per category (it’s much more achievable) and I’ve introduced a two new categories: trialling recipes by fellow bloggers and a commitment to purchase some new cooking gadgets.

Here are the tasks I have set myself. Those I didn’t complete from 2008 have rolled over into 2009 and are listed in italics.

Cook recipes I’ve coveted:
Puy Lentils w Scallops completed
Chocolate Caramel Tart completed
Castagnaccio (cake)
Red Wine Risotto
Coeur de Crème (dessert) completed Jun 2011
Khachapuri completed

Find recipes for:
Pickled Sausages completed
Tagine completed
Braciole completed
Oeufs en Meurette (eggs in red wine)
Česneková Polévka (garlic broth) completed Dec 2011
Königsberger Klopse (meatballs)

Invent my own recipes for:
Trifle
Rhubarb Jam completed Oct 2011
Edamame Pesto completed
Falooda completed
Musk Ice Cream
Crepe Gratin

Recreate food memories:
Dadar Unti (pancakes)
Sauerkraut & Pork Chops completed
Sorbetto all’Anguria completed
Cullen Skink (soup)

Learn more about these cuisines:
Creole & Cajun travel experience, main, breakfast
French ice cream, dessert, breakfast
Mexican sauce, breakfast, snack, stew, starter
Japanese

Cook with new ingredients:
Oxtail stew
Hominy stew
Chestnuts cake
Wattleseed scones
Mastic ice cream

Taste test:
Sea Urchin completed
Rapini (turnip leaves)
Brawn (head cheese)
Grains Of Paradise
Pheasant

Recipe Road Test:
Far Breton by Mercedes from Desert Candy
Milk Braised Pork by Kalyn from Kalyn's Kitchen completed!
Rosemary Scented Truffles by Ilva from Lucullian Delights
Apple Cider Indian Pudding by Alanna from Kitchen Parade


Cook from these books:
Red Lantern by Pauline Nguyen
Creole by Babette de Rozières
elBulli by Ferran Adria
Frozen Desserts by Francisco J. Migoya
Pier by Greg Doyle

Buy these books:
The Press Club by George Calombaris
Aquavit by Marcus Samuelsson
The Perfect Scoop by David Lebovitz bought!
The Silver Spoon by Phaidon Press
Thai Food by David Thompson
Cheese Slices by Will Studd

Buy these gadgets:
Smoker COMPLETE
Lime juicer COMPLETE
Photography light box
Cooking thermometer

Now that you've read through mine, it would be great to hear what challenges you have set yourself for 2009. Why don't you write your own food challenge post and add a link to it in the comments section. Be sure to update the same post regularly with your progress throughout the year and check back to this very post to see how I am doing too!