try at least one new recipe every month

I finally feel like I’m accomplishing this goal. It’s only the 2nd of the month and already we’re trying out a new recipe!

Tonight it’s pumpkin soup – a simple recipe but sometimes those can be the best.

Also I forgot to mention that last month I made cheese ravioli. Not entirely a new recipe as I’ve helped make it a dozen times (actually probably a lot more), but it was the first time I made it by myself (with only a few phone calls to nonna for assistance…!).

And we almost tried a new recipe the other day. P cooked one of our favourite veggie stir-frys for dinner and as he was serving it up he stated that the recipe didn’t seem to make much. When I looked into the wok I had to keep a straight face when I asked him “where are the noodles???”. It seemed to make enough when those were added….!!

I made prawn pad thai last night for dinner, but I’ll be honest – I don’t think it was that good! P assured me he liked it, but personally I’m in no rush to make it again. It was definately missing something… I don’t think it had enough veggies actually, and the lemon juice really overpowered the whole dish. Maybe I need to experiment more….

At least I tried another recipe though! That’s July covered.

I went over to P’s brothers place last night for a family dinner and brought along dessert. I made a triple chocolate cheesecake and I must say it looked remarkably like the one in the picture!

Everyone said they liked it – they were either being very poilte, or actually did like it. I hope it was the latter!

Additionally, I tried making scones again, but I used a different recipe so technically it counts as a whole new recipe! They were more successful than the last attempt (P ate about a million which is always a good indicator), so I think I’ll stick with that one for the moment.

So I’m now ahead of the game… I might have a chance of ticking this goal off this year!

Just as I posted my last entry, I remembered I made scones the other morning (which amazingly enough I have never done before). So that can be back dated to March…. which means I’ve tried 5 new recipes this year and it’s the 5th month… It’s not quite one a month, but I’m making progress at least!

failed horribly with this goal so far this year! However I made some ground by trying two new recipes this month. The first was a Caramel Slice for P, and the second was a hokkien noodle and pork stir-fry. I could almost claim the latter as two recipes seeing as how I made one batch with pork and the other with vegetarian stir fry strips, but essentially it was the same!

So that is my one for this month and last month… I think I still need to catch up for March and then I’ll be up to date for the year again.

Ok, so these might not entirely count as new recipes as I’ve helped make them before, however I made them both for my dinner party and it was the first time I made them all by myself. So I think if I combine them both (both worth only half a new recipe), they equal one full new recipe…. since I’ve already got one for Feb, these can be Jan’s recipes!

So that makes me upto date this year for this goal!

new recipe without even realising it! I made double chocolate raspberry cupcakes with a chocolate ganache icing for P for valentines day. Actually a very easy recipe and all the reports have said they were delicious.

So February has been taken care of. Now I need to make up for January!

Now I can’t class this as a new recipe as I’ve made these a bunch of times, I’m just posting it as it’s a great recipe and very easy to make (and because Nonnacookbooker asked for it to be posted!).

1 1/2 cups cooked brown rice
2 medium zucchini (grated)
1 cup dry bread crumbs
2 eggs (lightly beaten)
1/4 cup shredded mint
3 green onions (shallots), finely sliced
2 tablespoons of olive oil

1. Combine all ingredients except for oil. Season to taste. Shape into round cakes (should make about 12 fritters).
2. Heat oil and cook each side for 2-3 mins (until heated through and golden).

I only use spray oil with these to minimise the amount used. Also I usually add some cracked pepper and a little salt. Lovely served on top of salad!

Just when I nearly gave up on this goal I tried a new recipe!! It was a snowpea and prawn stirfry and it worked out great – even looked like the one in the picture! P loved it too and said he’d be happy for me to cook it for him again and he even asked if it would be easy enough for him to cook himself. It would be… very simple!

So that is December taken care of…. now I just need to make up for that past 4-5 months I missed! A new start in Jan I think.

this up again in the new year – lately I just haven’t had a chance. Somehow I don’t think putting a tub of yoghurt in the freezer counts as making ‘frozen yoghurt’ does it??!!