I like the idea of choosing a word for the year. In 2018, I choose new. I challenged myself and try many new things this year: new books, new workouts, and new recipes. Let's dive into a review of my 2018 goal progress.
1) Try 12 new recipes.
This goal is to challenge me to find new dinner inspiration, to try new cooking techniques, and taste new foods. Here are a few of the recipes I've made this year:
- Greek meatballs (keftedes) with taziki
- Roasted cauliflower with a tahini and lemon sauce
- Grilled shrimp with chermoula
- Avocado toast with a poached egg and everything bagel seasoning (so good!)
- Stove-top mac and cheese
- Blueberry honey scones
- Eggs Benedict with hollandaise sauce
- Shrimp ban mi
- Vietnamese coffee ice cream
- Spinach and ricotta gnudi
- Ham and gruyere strata
- Spinach and artichoke calzones
- Spinach and feta puff pastry
- Oreo truffle balls
- Gingerdoodle cookies
- Roasted cauliflower with a tahini and lemon sauce
- Grilled shrimp with chermoula
- Avocado toast with a poached egg and everything bagel seasoning (so good!)
- Stove-top mac and cheese
- Blueberry honey scones
- Eggs Benedict with hollandaise sauce
- Shrimp ban mi
- Vietnamese coffee ice cream
- Spinach and ricotta gnudi
- Ham and gruyere strata
- Spinach and artichoke calzones
- Spinach and feta puff pastry
- Oreo truffle balls
- Gingerdoodle cookies
If you're counting, that's 15 recipes. I was surprised that I tried that many recipes. With busy schedules, I rely on quick easy weeknight meals and can easy get in a cooking rut cooking the same things over and over again. The cooking classes really helped introduce me to new recipes that I made at home.
Do you have any favorite recipes? If so, share them below. I would love your recommendations!
2) Read 12 books.
I read the following books in 2018:
- Church of the Small Things by Melanie Shankle
- A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
- Becoming Madeleine by Charlotte Voiklis
- A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
- Becoming Madeleine by Charlotte Voiklis
- Daring Greatly by Brene Brown
- A Wind in the Door by Madeleine L'Engle
- 100 Days to Brave by Annie F. Downs
- A Wind in the Door by Madeleine L'Engle
- 100 Days to Brave by Annie F. Downs
- A Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeleine L'Engle
- Many Waters by by Madeleine L'Engle
- The Happiness Project by Gretchen Ruben
If you're counting, that's 9 books. I didn't quite reach the goal of 12 books. I started a few other books, but I didn't like them. So, I didn't finish them. That may sound straight forward and simple to you. To me, a recovering perfectionist, it was hard not to push through to finish the books, so I could meet my goal. I count 9 books as a win! When you make goals, I think it important to balance meeting your goals and having grace because accomplishing part of your goal is progress.
What books do you recommend?
3) Be physically active consistently.
In 2018, I played tennis and took barre classes. Both were great, and I plan to continue to incorporate them in 2019.
Do you have favorite exercise class?
What motivates you to be physically active?
What keeps you consistent with physical activity?
Do you have favorite exercise class?
What motivates you to be physically active?
What keeps you consistent with physical activity?
4) Learn and improve a skill.
I took several cooking classes this year. I took a Mediterranean cooking class, an Italian cooking class, and a Vietnamese Street Food cooking class. There are some great tips to make cooking easier, and fit also has fun menu ideas and inspiration.
Do you have anything you want to learn to cook this year?
Do you recommend any particular cooking classes?
Do you have anything you want to learn to cook this year?
Do you recommend any particular cooking classes?
