The Cook Book Challenge: Weeks 1 (A Primer)

Several years ago, I ended up with this cookbook from IKEA.

It’s an adorable little thing, and everything I’ve made out of it has been just delightful. But I’ve always wanted to go through the 365 recipes…. and make one each day of the year. Now, I know for a fact I won’t be able to actually do that, because life will get in the way, but I’ve made the decision to try to make the seven recipes that correspond with a particular week, within that week.

So far, I’ve got the five days of the first week (Short because the year started on a Tuesday) done! I’ll be posting a picture conglomeration of all the stuff I’ve made each week with what they are on Saturdays… and I’ll be putting up the recipes (heavily modified – if we’re honest, I can’t leave well enough alone) each weekend. Because of the move and everything, I'll be a week behind :)

Non 365:

(Clockwise from top left)
Spiced Tea
Sundried Tomato, Basil, and goatcheese stuffed Chicken with fettucini in a creamy herb butter sauce (Both modified from an episode of Barefoot Contessa)
Falafel, white bean sauce and Israeli couscous tabouli (Both modified from an episode of 10 Dollar Dinners)
and
Cheesy Ham and potato Soup (I added left over ham to the soup mix and put it in the crockpot while we were at work)

365 Recipes:
(Clockwise from Top Left)

"Poor Knight" - with my changes, this is pretty much French Toast with vanilla ice cream and a cranberry orange syrup.
"Smoked Loin of Pork" - We did a roast because pork loin is so expensive!
"Corn Salad with Apple Vinaigrette" - I used spinach because I love it, and could not for the life of me think where I'd find Corn Salad.
"Vol-au-Vent with Chicken Ragout" - This is totally free-standing chicken pot pies.
"Sweet & Sour Pork" - This is probably the only recipe I didn't do much changing to.

Christmas Crafts: Christmas Cheesecakes

Okay, so they’re not really a craft… but I’m spending this whole week talking about things I made for Christmas, and so I felt it worked. You’re free to disagree.

This is the time of year I make a lot of cheesecakes. I was spared two this year because we were out of town over thanksgiving, but usually, I have 6 or 7 to make from November through January.  This year, I’ve made 3 and have a 4th & 5th one still on the schedule.

Let me tell you, when you are in the habit of bringing cheesecakes with you to family gatherings… and you simply don’t have time for it one year, you do not hear the end of it all night when you show up without one (I would rather like to never have to deal with that annoyance again, tyvm).

So with Christmas festivities in swing, I made 3 the weekend before the big day:

A Reece’s Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake:

I will be making this one again… of that I am certain. It flew off the serving dish as though it were made of GOLD.

 A York Peppermint Patty Cheesecake:

The only request I received was that next time I add peanut butter to the mix on this one – because the group I made it for loves Yorkies… and the only thing they love more is a Yorkie dipped in peanut butter.

And a Bailey’s Café Mocha Cheesecake with a healthy layer of unsweetened whipped cream on top and a dusting of cocoa powder.

This one is another favorite. I have yet to find someone who doesn’t want me to make them one of their own after they’ve had a slice.

Did you get any baking in for the holidays?