Picky Eaters Club: Month 6

Well, it's been six months, so that marks the official end to this project.. see ya!


Haha, just kidding. Ok, Month 6, definitely better than Month 5, but still not up to scratch. This time, I made 7 recipes!! And here they are, in particular order. ;)

115. Penne with Gorgonzola and Walnuts - *Pasta*
116. Leek and Potato Soup - *Soup*
117. Halloumi, Rocket and Tomato 'Club' - *Toast*
118. Aubergine Tikka - *Indian*
119. Tomato, Bacon and Onion Sauce (Amatriciana) - *Pasta*
120. Chickpea, Bacon and Mushroom soup - *Soup*
121. Chickpea, Bacon and Mushroom soup (soup pasta variation) - *Soup*

This month I learned that I hate gorzonzola, but halloumi ain't too bad! As gorgeously as I disguise vegetarian food, Rafa will always prefer meat recipes -- and in that vein, chorizo makes a good subsitute for bacon! That's a tip for any of you that toss all night contemplating if it would.

Although I am about 80 recipes until the end of the book, the end of each chapter is drawing closer. In fact, I am only three or four recipes away from finishing the Pasta and Soup chapters! I think my goal for the next few months is to focus on the ethnic dishes of the Junk Food, Indian and Thai chapters. I feel I have neglected those recently.

Thanks to everyone still reading this blog. :)

Picky Eaters Club: Month 5

This is Tom N-D:

'Anyone, anyone???'

This is me:

'Huh?'

So I've made FIVE recipes in August. Count 'em - one two three four five! Woohoo! I really should slow down or I may have nothing to cook in September, my last month of the project!!

Ok well obviously I won't finish the project on time, surprise suprise. So, I have decided to free myself mentally and otherwise and not have a deadline. That's right, no deadline. I will finish CL when I finish it. But I don't intend to drag it out at all, so keep reading. I will be cooking, I promise.

So let's look on the bright side; I have cooked 114 recipes out of a single book! I don't think I have ever cooked that much out of one book, so good for you, Ilana. I made some lovely dishes in August. Here's a summary:

110. Bacon Omelette - *Toast*

111. Pasta with Pesto - *Pasta*

112. Spaghetti with Ricotta and Herbs (variation) - *Pasta*

113. Mackerel and Ginger (but with salmon) - Stir Fries

114. Potato, cabbage and chorizo soup - *Soup*

Now that the weather is getting cooler, I can imagine cooking lots more soups and curries and stir-fries. I really do hope I get back on-track because I fear I'm not being a very good Tom N-D representative. Considering that out of 114 recipes I've loved about 50-75% of them, I think that is a good indication of a great cookbook. My inability to make my target date is not so much an un-love of Tom and cupboarding, but more an un-love with scheduling and plans. Gives a whole new meaning to the lazy days of summer! :)

Picky Eaters Club: Month 4

This post should really be called 'Didn't-do-fuck-all' Club: Month 4. Oh, Ilana (shaking my head), what have you been doing with yourself that you only managed to make 14 recipes in 31 days!! I'm too scared to even see what that rate of recipes per day is, yikes!!

So the project is obviously going to have to be extended another month, maybe two. It's really hot here. Going to be around 100ºF; this is the only time I'm actually happy I work here, at Crapco. Air-conditioning -- that I don't have to pay for myself!!!

Ok, so despite July being a slow month when it came to Cupboard Love cooking, I did eat fabulously!

Here are my faves:

95. Spaghetti and Tinned Plum Tomatoes - *Pasta*
96. Grilled Shrimp - *Grills*
100. Spaghetti with Ricotta and Herbs - *Pasta*
101. Something 'Smoreish' - *Afters*
102. Rocky Road - *Afters*
104. Prawns and Red Curry - *Thai*
105. Garlic and Tomato Sauce (Aglio Dorato) - *Pasta*

I got to cook a lot out of the Afters and Thai chapters. That's good news because these were my least used chapters up until now. I poached eggs and made hollandaise sauce for the first time, became better at improvising and not taking myself so seriously. Just last night, I was so tired and hungry, and I made a fab salad of mixed designer leaves, lime vinaigrette, spring onions, corn, blanched zucchini, goat cheese and toasted pine nuts. Not only was it so delicious, but I didn't take a picture of it! But, no, that's a good thing. As much as cooking and taking pictures are my two loves, as much as I am a slave to recipes, no matter how basic they are, I actually managed to make up a salad on my own based on instinct and past fab eating experiences, and I didn't think I was so uppity that I needed to show the entire world how fabulous I was by doing it. I mean, people do this every day, make lovely meals, from their own intuition. But let's face it, I am not like those people every day. I do love my cookbooks, and I do love to show off my cooking. I'm not ashamed to say that this blog is a way for me to show off; a grown-up version of 'look mummy, look what I've done'. Is there one blogger who isn't just the tiniest bit self-absorbed?

Well, I guess my point is, I'm growing. And I don't mean horizontally -- and certainly not vertically! As a cook, I mean, I'm appreciating things more. I'm trying out new ingredients; ordering things I would have never ordered at restaurants. Of course, I still have a long way to go.. haha, and a lot more to grow!!

Picky Eaters Club: Month 3

June is over!!! When I started this project I thought how far away the summer was; and now we're here, and one-third of it is gone! Well I am exactly halfway through my project and I am feeling scared. I only did 27 recipes in 30 days! Ok, so 94 recipes in 91 days total! I am below my required rate, yikes! Breathe, taking deeeeeep breaths! Not going to freak out! I have to admit, what a lazy-ass have I been lately -- I get into the mode where I am just running on adrenaline and then I just screech to a halt.

Well I better get my ass in gear. I have two trips scheduled for July, and I have guests coming for 10 days in August.

Let's have a look at new and fantastic ingredients I found!

La Bella San Marzano tinned plum tomatoes - the ones Tom uses - found at Dom's in Little Italy, Manhattan

yellow tomatoes - yes, you've seen the last of them, I promise. I haven't seen them for ages. Must have taken their entire inventory, but you must admit, they were fun for a bit!

dried porcini mushrooms - I'll forgive their crazy price since they're Italian and can't help it!

radicchio

oyster mushrooms

rib-eye steak (yes, my first time buying steak!)

lamb chops (yes, yes, first time too!)

Recipes I loved:

68. Spring Bean Soup - the Peckham Way - *Soup*
70. Bruschetta - *Toast*
78. Spanish Omelette - (dill-flavored variation) - *Toast*
83. Quicker Tomato Sauce - *Junk Food*
84. Napoletana - *Junk Food*
89. Marathon Shake - *Afters*
90. Dried Mushroom Risotto - *Risotto*
92. Pasta with Parmesan (sage variation) - *Pasta*
94. A Winter Bean Salad - *Larder Salads*

Hopefully this holiday weekend will be productive. Well today's a wash out - literally, going to the beach! Monday, I actually have to go to work at Crapco - we don't get that day off! The 4th, well, is the 4th. So really I have tomorrow. I'm in trouble! LOL.

Picky Eaters Club: Month 2

Another month has passed; wow they sure go by quickly!

Well then let's see how well I did.

22 recipes in 31 days. Ouch! Not good, not good! Well at 67 recipes in 61 days I am still above my rate, but only just. I better be picking up the pace. I am not sure why I didn't cook as much; I guess general laziness and not being home that often now that the weather is so much nicer. Well I'll get back on it, especially since we are so skint right now we can't even afford a hot dog from a street vendor!

In May, I didn't buy anything that I haven't previously, but I did like a whole lot of the recipes!

Here are the faves:

50. A Very Quick Tarka Dhal - *Indian*
51. A Simple Bean Soup - The Italian Way - *Soup*
53. (Sort of) Chicken Tikka - *Indian*
54. Want your tikka with masala? - *Indian*
58. Fattoush - *Larder Salads*
59. Chicken in a Bun - *Junk Food*
60. DIY: Make your own mayonnaise - *Junk Food*
63. Lentil and Vinaigrette Salad - *Grills*
65. Thai Chickpea Curry - *Thai*
67. Devilled Shrimps - *Toast*

I have really delved into a few ethnic dishes this month - Indian, Thai, Moroccan (#67 - shrimps), Italian, Israeli/Mid-East. Yum yummy!

Can't wait for June! (and don't have to wait long, June starts today!)

Picky Eaters Club: Month 1

Well it's May 1st, so I reckon a summary report is appropriate now. In the first month of my project, I just have to say how much fun I am already having. I liked a lot more recipes than I ever thought I would, because even though I really have the best intentions, I am a pretty picky eater still, after many years of rehabilitation. Each month I will list my faves, plus all the things I have not bought or eaten previous to this Cupboard Love project.

Ingredients for a picky eater

Leeks
Paneer
Poppadums
Tofu
Orecchiette
Bean Sprouts
Rice-Stick Noodles
Dried Shitake Mushrooms
Parmesan/Poorman'sgrana

Not bad, ey? I am sure I will have a lot to add in the coming months as there is a whole world of ingredients I have never even seen or heard of, yipee!

And now for the faves, and these are the recipes that really stood out this month!

8. Chilli and Herb Risotto - *Risotto*
11. An easy lentil soup, the Turkish way - *Soup*
13. Cheese and Tomato Omelette- *Toast*
15. Bean Curd with Peanut Sauce and Cucumber - *Stir-Fries*
22. Oven Chips - *Junk Food*
42. An Easy Pilau - *Indian*
44. Tropical Shake - *Afters*

Also, I have made a total of 45 recipes in 30 days, which brings my rate to exactly 1 1/2 recipes a day!! I'm doing pretty well, and I hope to continue on this path!