Culinary Resoultions for the New Year

I find I actually do better when I go ahead and set a few goals. Here's what's on the list for 2014:

1. Become a much better cake decorator
2. Cook more food at home ( This is a continuation from the last few years, but this time it seems to be taking root)
3. Try new recipes, from my subscribed food magazines, within 90 days of the magazine's release.
4. Purchase the annoying tools and gadgets . This probably means a pair of onion goggles/glasses for me and an instant-read thermometer. Right now I'm hung up on making the right choice in dry measuring cups.
5. Note the menu. Some kind LTH'ers sent me spreadsheets of meals served at home to assist with my meal planning. I think if I just jot down what I am serving it will make things easier to serve them again.
6. Use More leeks.
7. Cook More tofu.

How about you?

This time I really am going to clean out the freezer.

Pie Lady wrote:This time I really am going to clean out the freezer.

Okay that would be hilarious but I thought you moved. Wait did you bring the freezer with you?

Nope. I put everything in a cooler with ice packs. That Slustard was precious.

Sausage at home. I've been threatening to do this for several years now. I even went so far as to buy the attachment for the KA, and casings from Paulina. The casing stayed in the back of the fridge for two $%^& years. I tossed them without looking. I have some fantastic ideas for snausage flavors.

I failed. I guess that is what the New Year is about, right?

This year I'm going to clean out the freezer.

Use my cast iron pans for everything I can
Break out the propane high-blast outdoor wok ring (it will only be the second use in five years)
More sous vide
Trade sides of the kitchen with SueF more often: If I'm ever going to be on Chopped Home Cooks, I'd better be able to whip up some batters and doughs.

Well I guess I needed this thread to spur me on. Here goes:

Like Seebee, make sausage. I have all of the Kitchenaid attachments.
Like Pie Lady, clean out my freezer. Haven't seen the bottom of the 15 cubic foot freezer in the garage for many years.
Make homemade pasta. I have all of the Kitchenaid attachments.
Use my Tagine. I had it for at least two years and it hasn't been touched.

Pie Lady, you made me LOL!

For our household: finding more ways to do delicious things on a small budget. Learn more fish recipes. Incorporate more fresh fruits and vegetables. Have more people over for dinner.

Ms. Ingie wrote:Like Pie Lady, clean out my freezer. Haven't seen the bottom of the 15 cubic foot freezer in the garage for many years.

I hope there's not a rabbi in there.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Frozen-Rabbi- ... 156512619X

mamagotcha wrote:Pie Lady, you made me LOL!

For our household: finding more ways to do delicious things on a small budget.

Thanks!
And I am also doing that resolution. I'm trying to make every week's shopping trip, including housewares/toiletries/etc under $100.

Good topic. A word to the wise though, the KA attachment for stuffing will frustrate you to no end. I went and bought a 5 LB crank stuffer that works great. I made 10 LB's of chicken/fresh apple/dried Door County Cherry sausage on New Years Eve morning. Brought a coil to the event that night for an app. Being chicken, very lean, but the apple and wine used made it very good. Froze the rest, some coils, some links. FYI, I ground a combo of breast and thigh meat for the sausage.

Well if push comes to shove, mom has the old fashioned crank style.

pairs4life wrote:I find I actually do better when I go ahead and set a few goals. Here's what's on the list for 2014:

1. Become a much better cake decorator
2. Cook more food at home ( This is a continuation from the last few years, but this time it seems to be taking root)
3. Try new recipes, from my subscribed food magazines, within 90 days of the magazine's release.
4. Purchase the annoying tools and gadgets . This probably means a pair of onion goggles/glasses for me and an instant-read thermometer. Right now I'm hung up on making the right choice in dry measuring cups.
5. Note the menu. Some kind LTH'ers sent me spreadsheets of meals served at home to assist with my meal planning. I think if I just jot down what I am serving it will make things easier to serve them again.
6. Use More leeks.
7. Cook More tofu.

How about you?

pairs4life wrote:I failed. I guess that is what the New Year is about, right?

Success! I did buy the dry measuring cups last year. Phew! Feels like I dodged a bullet. Onward! Oooooh, and bonus I did record menus!

I sooooo relate to the measuring cup quandary! Congratulations!

Don't eat any sweets but home made.
More fruits and vegetables.
Make cassoulet.
Use the cast iron frying pan I got for Christmas.
Make home made salad dressings.

I'm doing my best with 1 and 2. I'm going to try #5 but laziness often gets the best of me.