Broadening My Horizons

It’s become apparent to me that rather than making a list of New Year’s resolutions, my approach to 2009 could’ve much better been summed up in a list of just two items:

1. Try new things.
2. Learn new things.

Seriously, with the Get-Healthy resolution, I knew it had to be more than a diet. I love food, all kinds of food, so I knew that denying myself favorites just wouldn’t happen or I’d give up in about four days.  I do have personal goals, but I wanted this to be a lifestyle overhaul; I wanted the way I cooked to change.

I get a lot of inspiration from friend and food blogger, Kate (she writes at the appropriately titled Kate in the Kitchen). I’m also doing a lot of digging and reading a lot of food blogs, recipe sites, and magazines to learn how to make favorite dishes healthier. (For example, Spaghetti and Meatballs just becamse Spaghetti with Ground Turkey, Garden Vegetables, and Whole Wheat Pasta and is SO much better than its predecessor that I can’t believe I never did that before).

The biggest thing I’ve been learning is how to overhaul my kitchen and cook differently. It’s also been incredibly fun.  Since I already love to cook experimentally, I’ve gotten to spend so much more time in the kitchen perfecting things, tweaking things, and eating a LOT of healthier meals.  Doniree’s Test Kitchen is officially open for business.

Two things I’ve never made before that I’m going attempt before spring: lasagna and soup. I know, they’re both simple because you get to just through everything in a pan and call it a day, but… I’m going to actually do it.

Second, I’m going to learn to do new things.  For starters, I’ve grown up with an intense aversion to all things craft and always got really overwhelmed and annoyed walking through Michael’s or Jo-Ann’s.  All those little pieces and strings and fabrics… wtf was I supposed to do with all that stuff?!

Well, not any more. I started card-making (me!  the girl that’s always hated scrapbooking-esque things!) at the turn of the new year and ALMOST have enough to start giving a couple of sets as gifts. That’s definitely a new thing.

Knitting.  Last night, Kate came over and introduced me to TWO new things – lentils and knitting. The lentil dish included bacon and sausage which is pretty much an automatic Win in my book.  It was awesome.  As for knitting, I never ever in my whole life thought I’d have the patience for it; it’s detailed, it’s time-consuming, and the probability of me making mistakes, finding a gaping hole in my fabric, and having to start over was high.

Yet, I found it’s something I can actually do, and not only that? I wanted to keep going. I knitted a row this morning before I went to work, just to make sure I remembered what I was doing. (I did!)

I’m going to make a master list and track my progress, but here are the preliminary items, off the top of my head that I want to learn/try in 2009:

• beading
• sewing
• cook this lentil dish (which is what I tried last night)
• knit a scarf
• take better photos of food (since I write about it enough)

I’m open to new ideas! Tell me what new things you’re doing this year and maybe I’ll try it too. And since life is about balance and bacon should be it’s own food group, maybe I’ll even try a bacon mat.