C'mon 2010. Let's go get the shit kicked out of us by love (or food).

ten things i want to attempt to cook in 2010.

1. i would really like to make my own pasta dough. this also would require the acquisition of a rolling pin... which i do not have... i'll have to get one of those. i would love to have a pasta thingy but a rolling pin is cheaper.

2. pot pie. i want pot pie! chicken pot chicken pot chicken pot piiiieee! okay, but not chicken. just veggies. maybe some fake chicken. mmmm.

3. turducken. ha, jk. toootally kidding. i want to try and make my own veggie patties out of tofu and veggies. i think it'll be fairly easy. we'll see though haha.

4. tortillas. i've never made a tortilla!! i want to do it.

5. tamales too! i'm mexican, it's in my blood. hopefully dna will make tamale creation easier for me. keep your fingers crossed!!!!

6. pesto sauce. i've made it before but it just hasn't been as good as i know it can be, so i want to try and perfect it.

7. keeping on the page of sauces: mole. i know there's like a thousand ingredients, but i really want to try and make a mole sauce. it's SO good!

8. gnochi. also something i've made before, but it was only once. i can do better.

9. potato croquettes. i love the ones i get from mitsuwa; i would really like to recreate those lil cakes of goodness.

10. hmm hmm hmm... what to put in the coveted no. 10 slot... well. there's this giada recipe i've wanted to try for awhile. it's called Lemon and Basil eggs over Foccacia. It's like a hollowed out piece of foccacia bread with eggs poured in it and baked. mmm.


***as an added thing, i would really like to expand my garden. it's pretty small right now, with just some herbs and such. but when spring comes i hope to plant some vegetables: tomatoes, green beans... maybe squash!? broccoli!? endless possibilities.

Broccoli, you fiendish devil.

Broccoli. I've never really been a fan. It's just always been one of those vegetables that I could leave on my plate and not feel bad about it. Same with cauliflower. Well, no, I've always thought cauliflower was gross. BUT! I'm turning over a new leaf, and I'm giving these guys another chance. I figure I'm an adult of sorts now, I should try liking these things. And well, I'm a vegetarian so... I SHOULD like these things.

I helped my dad make a broccoli soup for dinner last week. It turned out fairly well. He just used broccoli, onions, and a little bit of potato and cooked it all in vegg broth. When it was all soft and squishy he hit it with the immersion blender to make it creamy and smooth. It was missing something though, and surprisingly he asked me to spruce it up. I say surprisingly because my dad and I are the same when it comes to cooking: don't mess with our food, it is our creation and we don't want you meddling with our art. thanks but no thanks. SO he had to go fix the garage door (apparently it poopooed and needed a new motor/gears or something) and asked me to fix the soup cuz it tasted flat. I went in there and added more salt and pepper, a pinch of basil, a pinch of dill (brings out those potatoes! i love dill), and a healthy dose of sage. He came back in and tasted it and said it was perfect. He also thought I added nutmeg. I think he asked me 3 times if I added nutmeg. No dad, I did not add nutmeg. But maybe I will next time!

My dad also made this roasted broccoli and cauliflower that was SUPER good. he roasted it in the oven with whole garlic cloves and (I assume) some olive oil. It was delish; crispy and non-squishy and full of flavor. AND he made this bomb horse radish cheese sauce to go with it. Cheese sauce makes EVERYTHING taste better. It's a fact. Don't try and fight me on this.

So broccoli, you've got me interested. Keep up the good work.