It’s no secret that I try to snowboard as much as I can this time of year. I often use the chair lift as a time to check in on social media and emails. Unless of course it’s dumping, and then I turn my phone off and ride till my legs give out. Last week, I happened across a Facebook post from Lori of Recipe Girl where she shared her bucket list of recipes she’d like to make before she dies. What a great idea, I thought. Except that’s a lot of recipes. And I get a little overwhelmed thinking too far ahead. What can I say, it’s how I roll. So throughout the morning as I was riding, I kept thinking that there are so many things I’m either scared to make or I really suck at making. Maybe I should tackle those things first…..
So now it’s happening; I’m using 2013 to tackle the recipes that seem to get the best of me. Whether I blame it on the high altitude, lack of skill or just being scared, no more excuses. It’s on. Here’s what I’m hoping to master over the next twelve months. My kitchen bucket list for 2013:
- Caramel.
SauceWhiskey Caramel Sauce made 2/6/2013, toffee, soft candy…..you name it, I never seem to get it right. I’ve burned more than one pan trying to get ‘er done. I have a cheater caramel sauce I make but it doesn’t count. I want to master them all. Even if it takes 20 lbs of butter to do it. - Biscuits. I even had a one on one tutorial from my friend, Annalise, who is the queen of biscuits and I still can’t make them. Unless, of course, hockey pucks are your thing. I want fluffy. And flakey. And buttery. It will happen, darn it.
- Pasta. I’ve never made it and it’s something I’ve always wanted to do at home. It seems sooooooo daunting, doesn’t it? I don’t have any fancy equipment and not an Italian bone in my body. But I love the idea of it and for years it’s been something I’ve wanted to learn.
- Pot Stickers. I’m not scared to make them per say, but when I think of making them at home, I think of messy. And time consuming. And they make some pretty darn good frozen ones so I’ve yet to try my hand. BUT, I have literally almost a dozen pot sticker recipes that I’ve either bookmarked or pulled from various publications. These are so happening sooner rather than later.
- Break down a whole chicken. I usually have the butcher at Whole Foods do it for me but it’s high time I do it myself. For no other reason but to say that I know how. This reminds me I need to sharpen my knives…..
- And lastly, I really want to make soft pretzels. I don’t do a lot of baking with yeast and for whatever reason, soft pretzels are what I want to make most. My friends, Maria and Barbara and I have been talking about making them together for over a year now. Maria’s husband Josh is a bit of an expert and he’s willing to teach us. I guess we need to set up a day!
I hope everyone is settling into the New Year. Have a great weekend and we’ll “see” you next week!
What are you scared to make? Is there something you’re really horrible at making?
Welcome to my kitchen! I'm a personal chef, wife and mama of two young boys. I Love butter, snowboarding and laughing out loud.
My goal this year is to finally conquer high altitude baking. I am probably going to gain 10 lbs doing it, but it’ll be worth it (I think)…
Happy New Year!
I need to make pasta from scratch – I’ve only done it twice, and both times I wasn’t TOTALLY thrilled with how it turned out!
I’d love to learn how to make pasta. And I really want to learn how to can. But what I’d really really love is to be more comfortable working without a recipe in general. Be able to look in my pantry/fridge and come up with something. I’m starting to by doing little things like subbing one thing for another in recipes if I don’t have a particular ingredient, but I hate doing all the work and then having it taste nasty! Baby steps I guess. The more I’ve been cooking, the more I understand what flavors work well with each other which I guess makes sense. I laugh at my first married self who had 5 recipes she knew how to make and rotated through. I have learned a lot over the years.
oh, and you really need to make soft pretzels from scratch. they’re easy and so so yummy. (i’ve always loved to bake. cooking is what’s hard for me)
I was just thinking about soft pretzels too. Let’s definitely pick a day. I got pasta attachments for my Kitchen Aid for Christmas
Very fun list! I wish we lived close to each other I would haul over and teach you how to make my momma’s biscuits. The key is not over working the dough…just like pie dough use a gentle hand. and the dough needs to be sticky and messy, not dry. I have a step by step on my blog if you want to check-er out ; )
Yes, we need to set a date for pretzels! Josh is willing to have 3 women in his kitchen:)
Can you make that four women?
We made soft pretzels all the time as kids. Especially at slumber parties…so many memories. Funny I was just thinking this past week how I want to make them with my children. My goal this year is to learn how to make “good” homemade bread. Now I’m thinking pasta, too. Love your list!
I’d love to learn how to make good homemade bread too!
I am terrified to make yeast bread. Maybe this is the year!
You and me both! Yeast scares me
Such a great list here, I should come up with my own. We need to plan a baking day! Let’s do something with caramel. And maybe some more biscuits too.
I need your help desperately
Hi – Happy New Year! I cut chicken with scissors – like this (if you don’t mind me adding a link): http://aladyinfrance.com/2011/05/17/the-idiot-leaves-it/
Kelley, I love this list! I love what’s on it and I love that it’s totally doable.
I want to make everything on the list, especially pretzels and pasta.
One thing I want to learn this year is canning and to make beef wellington.
Canning is a great thing to learn how to do! I love it so much!!
I could repost this entire list – I love it!!
I have 52 recipes to tackle this year! So far I’ve made one with success. Caramel and pretzels are on my list for 2013 too! Want to have a caramel and pretzel making party this year? =)
I just made caramels and posted them…today! The EASIEST method you will ever ever ever use! Seven mins in the microwave! Seriously.
And pretzels…drum roll…I made them, yesterday. Post next week. Pared down all recipes Ive ever seen and came up with an easy, goofproof way.
Our bucket lists are so similar!
Looks like I need to come to SoCal and you can teach me all the things on my list!
Pasta has been a breeze for me. I make ravioli and fettucini noodles often. I have also tried ‘rags’ with vodka sauce and my gnocchi come out fantastic. I would love to teach a few of you. Let’s put together a small class.
That would be fantastic!
I would like to second the chicken scissors idea! The only way I’ll do it!!
I looove the idea of a recipe bucket list. I’m stealing some of your ideas: my biscuits suck and I got a pasta maker attachment for my KitchenAid 2 years ago that is still in the box. I’m on it! Maybe with you?