Week One

I know it has been almost an entire week since I have posted. I am glad to say, though, that my accomplishments are in better shape than my blogging. The following goals are "in progress":

6-12. Complete one crossword puzzle every week for six months. I actually completed a few crosswords last week. It has been difficult to find puzzles at the perfect level of difficulty. Some are too difficult, and some are easily-completed. I supposed by the end of six months, I will have found a book or website with challenging, but complete-able puzzles. 


95-99. Try five new soup recipes. My new favorite kitchen tool is the immersion blender. It's basically a magic wand that you can stick in a hot pot of vegetables to make a delicious pureed soup. Before the challenge started, I used it to make a new tomato soup recipe (with rye bread and pancetta, courtesy of Giada di Laurentiis) and a butternut squash soup recipe (courtesy of Anthony's mom). Unfortunately, these two soups cannot be counted toward the five I will make for my goal, but the potato, leek, and shallot soup I made this weekend certainly does! You can find the recipe at one of my favorite websites: foodgawker.com. It was delicious!

Sauce and Sensibility

190-195. Use “Gas Cubby” for six months. I LOVE Gas Cubby. It's an iPhone app that helps track your gas mileage. I've learned that my trusty old Saturn is getting 29 mpg! Pretty good for a ten-year-old car :-)


238. Watch the “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman” series. "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman" was my absolute favorite show as a kid. This Christmas, I received the whole series on DVD, and I have been so excited to watch all of them. My sister has been watching them with me, which is pretty neat.

The following goals are complete:

66. Cook with eggplant. This was pretty disappointing. I have a newfound love (or obsession) for eggplant. This weekend, I made a baked chicken and eggplant recipe. It seemed like a good bet, but it didn't turn out quite as I had imagined. Anthony seemed to like it okay, but it wasn't my favorite. I have certainly enjoyed eggplant much more. I'll be searching for another recipe and trying again. If I'm lucky, Anthony's mom will teach me how to make her Eggplant Parmesan. Yum.

129. Eat fruit every day for one week. This was delicious and easy. It has also been helping me to make smarter food choices all week long. I am competing in a "Biggest Loser" competition at work, and it has been an excellent week. Tomorrow includes fruit and my leftover soup. :-)