New Years Resolutions or Why I Won’t Be Making Any This Year

This morning I woke up and felt fat.   So I went through every fad diet in my mind and for about 5 minutes resolved to be a vegan, paleo, juice cleanser who Crossfits and runs marathons in 2014.

Then I walked back into reality and decided that’s just dumb.

Every so often I feel the need to make drastic changes in my diet and time and time again it all reverts back to the same thing: don’t eat so much and move yourself.  The beginning of the year is the perfect time to pine over diets and dream about the possibilities of being skinny if we just cut out a few major food groups.

Everyone is in diet mode and we all decide we’re going to never eat another cookie again our lives.  Then we go on Pinterest, see this photo

BananaBaconChocolateChipCookies3

and get hungry and eat 15 cookies.  So let’s just skip that part and just try to be healthy.

That’s my resolution (slightly rephrased): eat when hungry, stop when full, move yourself.

But resolutions aside, I do have some goals for this New Year.  In 2014, I’d like to:

  1. Be able to do at least 1 unassisted pull-up and 10 unbroken double unders.
  2. Read at least 14 books.  Currently reading: Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls by David Sedaris.  Enjoyable. Up next will probably be: Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling.  After that… who knows.  But I took a step in the right direction and made a Good Reads account.
  3. Make cheese (something I said I would do last year but did only once).
  4. And bread! All sorts of bread would be fun!
    ChallahLike I used to! Challah! (lame pun intended)
  5. Go on vacation again.  Now is the time to travel. Peru and China were awesome the past two years.  I’d love to go to Thailand, Costa Rica, or Jamaica.  But I guess I’d compromise on this goal and save money instead.  We’ll see…

What are your goals for 2014?

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Technical Difficulties and My Baking Wish List

Hi All.  I have so many things to tell you about… OC Restaurant Week (that’s happening now!), my first attempt at mac and cheese, gnocchi making.  So many things!

But sadly, I’m having technical difficulties with some photos and my internet just plain sucking most days.  So while I get that sorted out, let’s talk about things I’ve been dying to make lately, but haven’t had a chance to…

(Image from Martha Stewart)

Crepe Cake.  I don’t even really like crepes.  I just want to make tons of crepes, and layer them with some amazingly delicious fillings.  I have so many ideas for a wonderful crepe cake.  I hope it happens soon.  If you’ve made one tell me if it’s amazing or not.

Challah

Bake Bread.  I haven’t made bread in a really long time.  In fact, I think the last bread I made was the Challah in the photo above.  I’d love to make a good, hearty wheat bread, or maybe some pretzel rolls.

Along those lines… bread pudding.  I made some not too long ago, but I didn’t try it and I hated my photos.  That probably means I need to remake it.   Sometimes I still reminisce about this Bourbon Bread Pudding I made a long time ago…

breadpudding3

Memories.

I’m also really curious to experiment with new flours and healthier baking options.  I remember I made that Bourbon Bread Pudding because I made some wheat berry bread that didn’t taste very good.  Back then I used to experiment.  What happened to that?

Well I’m off to take my Dad to the airport.  Hope you’re having a fantastic weekend and making (and eating) lots of tasty things!

What’s on your list of things to make?

Some Meal Inspiration… or What You Should Be Making ASAP

Hi Guys.  I’m moving again.

So while I try to eat the entire contents of my shelf in the fridge and cupboard, I need to live vicariously through you.

I just ate celery and a hunk of cheese for dinner.  I’m considering supplementing it with some tortillas and… peanut butter.  Hmm maybe not the best combo.

Really, I’d like to be eating this Zucchini Goat Cheese Omelet.

Breakfast is totally appropriate at all times of the day.  Make it.  Tell me how it is.

Oh wait, I know how it is.  Absolutely delicious.  Just make it.  I’m already jealous.

Oh yeah, and I’d serve it with a slice of this Challah the side.

Don’t be shy.  It’s less complicated than it seems but just as tasty as it looks.

If I were in my new place, I’m make Bananas Foster Creme Brulee for dessert.

Wouldn’t you?  Yeah, you should probably head to the kitchen now.  I know I would if I could.

Be back soon with more new recipes from my own kitchen!