Cookbook Challenge

[ysabetwordsmith]

A friend tipped me to cookbook_challenge.  The idea is to work through your backlog of recipes.  It doesn't quite fit with my goals, but it is a very interesting community that might appeal to other folks. 

Comments

[siberian_skys]

This sounds like fun. I was watching Julie and Julia the other day and was thinking about that. I'll have to read the faq and see if it's what I think it is.

Yes ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

You decide how much of a commitment you want to make, and there's a large range of choices regarding how often you want to cook a new recipe.

The recipes have to be ones you already have, either physically or saved/bookmarked on your computer, but they don't have to be in actual cookbooks. Recipe cards etc. count too.

Re: Yes ...

[siberian_skys]

I've got recipes everywhere. I'm trying to decide what my goal should be. I'm thinking on the lower end, until I see how it goes. I've got so much stuff to do, but I've been wanting to cook more and try some of my Mom's recipes that I miss.

I'm hoping my mushroom soup recipe turns up. I've been threatening to make it for years, but I can't find it. I may have to not count it and just look it up at some point.

Re: Yes ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

I decided to keep my goal at one new recipe a month. That's easy to meet and exceed, so then I feel good.

I think if I tried for a weekly goal, it would be too hard to keep up with.

Re: Yes ...

[siberian_skys]

That would be way too hard for me, too. There's challenges that fit your goal, I think. I chose a small goal as well. 6 to 9 new recipes per year. I was going to go for 1 a month, but I'm not sure that's not a little too much for me this year.

Re: Yes ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> That would be way too hard for me, too. There's challenges that fit your goal, I think. <<

I think they had a very nice range of goals from easy to challenging.

>> I chose a small goal as well. 6 to 9 new recipes per year.<<

That sounds good. It will give you space in case sometimes you have too much month left at the end of your spoons.

>> I was going to go for 1 a month, but I'm not sure that's not a little too much for me this year. <<

Likely so.

On the bright side, there are many foods that boost mood and energy. They're not a cure-all, but emphasizing those things at least ensures that your body has all the resources it needs and you're not undermining mood and energy for lack of vital components.

https://www.culinarynutrition.com/mood-boosting-foods/

https://www.eatthis.com/foods-all-day-energy/

Also worth considering: do you have appliances that minimize cooking effort?

A Foreman grill takes a few minutes to heat, you throw on a slab of meat or other food, and 5 minutes later it's done. (Cleanup is a bit more challenging though.)

A crockpot can be used to make dump recipes, where you empty everything into it and then ignore until done.
https://www.buzzfeed.com/melissaharrison/crock-pot-dump-dinners

This batch has a mix of crockpot and other cookware dump recipes.
https://www.diys.com/dump-meals/

A chore-saving trick that really only works with dump recipes that don't need stirring: use a crockpot liner. Everything just lifts out with no mess.

Re: Yes ...

[siberian_skys]

Mom had a slow cooker, but it's not like my old crock pot, so I've been meaning to dig it out and investigate it. My first appliance that I need to order is a small, counter top oven. Mom's went belly up sometime last year and I miss it. Not cooking related, but the other appliance that needs to be replaced is the vacuum cleaner. It's always something.

Re: Yes ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> Mom had a slow cooker, but it's not like my old crock pot, so I've been meaning to dig it out and investigate it. <<

Then do that one thing. Don't make it like, "Dig out the crock pot and cook a meal in it." Digging it out to investigate is one thing. Looking at recipes to see if you find one you like is a different thing. Shopping is a thing, and given your energy level you might favor recipes based on canned or frozen ingredients at first -- they aren't as healthy or energizing as fresh, but they won't spoil either, and some are damn tasty. Then cooking a meal is a separate thing too. Baby steps.

>> My first appliance that I need to order is a small, counter top oven. Mom's went belly up sometime last year and I miss it.<<

That's a good idea too. Our has a rotisserie that's very convenient.

>> Not cooking related, but the other appliance that needs to be replaced is the vacuum cleaner. It's always something. <<

Yeah, that sucks. But unless the carpet crunches underfoot or has sharp things in it, vacuuming is a noncritical chore. You have to eat every day. You need to save your limited spoons for the most essential tasks, so you don't run out.

Re: Yes ...

[siberian_skys]

That's why I thought I'd take a look at the slow cooker. I may very well donate it and get a crock pot, but it might be okay.

Definitely oven first. I loved that one that went belly up.

I wish my Mom hadn't been a carpet person. Where ever I land eventually, there will be no carpet.

[conuly]

Yes, we have nifty banner images too.

[nsfwords]

I’ve got recipes torn out of magazines & saved on Pinterest from over 5+ years ago - so I always hope to do something like this, but rarely get to them.

I’ve also signed up for the 6-9 recipes over the next year. I feel like I can meet or exceed that amount, but once a month felt like too much commitment.

Go you!

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> I’ve got recipes torn out of magazines & saved on Pinterest from over 5+ years ago - so I always hope to do something like this, but rarely get to them.<<

I have found New Year's resolutions a very effective way to knock off things that I've meant to do but haven't gotten around to doing. Those damn bells sat on my desk for years.

>> I’ve also signed up for the 6-9 recipes over the next year. <<

Woohoo!

>> I feel like I can meet or exceed that amount, but once a month felt like too much commitment.<<

Yeah, that's how I feel about a new recipe every week. It's good to set goals that will encourage you to do things, without overwhelming yourself.