Thrilling Challenge Ahead: Trying New Recipes and Sharing Old Favorites

How is it November Already?!?

Over the past few weeks, I have given a lot of thought to the holidays and how I will approach the blog. This time of year is usually filled with baking and candy making for me. I also like to try out a new recipe or two during the season. I also need to find time to update the website (see more here), but I’m stressed by the work involved, and substitute teaching jobs have made that difficult as well. So I figured the best thing to do is get back to what I love and focus on it so I can have some joy in my life.

Bring Out the Recipe Cards

That means baking! And maybe a little cooking too 😀. Of course, I had to add a little challenge, and I will do two months of recipes. This will include some happy morsels, a baking challenge on Mondays (more to come on that later) , and two months of “Don’t F*#! It Up Thursdays!”

A collection of handwritten recipe cards arranged in a mixed layout. — Vintage Handwritten Recipe Cards for Baked Desserts by bgwalker from Getty Images Signature via Canva.com

Each Thursday I will tackle some recipes that have terrified me for years… the biggest being PIE CRUST!!! I am already hyperventilating just thinking about it 😵‍💫. I also want to tackle homemade biscuits or cinnamon knots, which I hope go better than my scones. Hopefully, I learn from those mistakes, which reminds me I need to take another crack at those scones soon.

I Cook Too

I also plan to recreate a delicious squash casserole that I tried while in Tennessee. When I asked about the recipe, I was told it included Ritz Crackers, butter, yellow squash, onions, and a touch of sugar. I couldn’t believe it could be so simple, given how good it was. It has no business being that tasty!

A plate with a serving of rice, a portion of layered enchiladas topped with avocado, and mixed vegetables including cauliflower and broccoli.

A colorful salad in a black bowl featuring diced cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, celery, and crumbled feta cheese, sprinkled with seasoning, on a patterned tablecloth.

I’m excited to test my culinary skills. I have always enjoyed cooking and am far more forgiving when it comes to making a meal than I am with my baking. Since I also mainly eat a vegetarian diet, I hope to recreate some meat-free versions of childhood favorites in the future.

Who Needs a Recipe?

Another recipe I want to tackle is sugar cookies. I want to recreate the soft ones with the bright-colored frosting you find in the grocery store. Of course, I also am trying out my own recipe. Eventually I will take on some cut-out cookies, but I figured I need to learn the pie crust first, and that is all the rolled-out treats I can handle at the moment 😀

I am also going to try to recreate my favorite pastry from Patisserie Bechler in Pacific Grove, California. They make an apricot pistachio croissant that is beyond words. Now I am not going to tackle freshly made croissants just yet. That is future Stacy’s challenge. We are just recreating the pastries here, and I will be using lovely Costco croissants.

A pastry topped with powdered sugar and chopped pistachios, served on a white plate.

A hand holding a piece of pastry with a green filling, showing a flaky texture, with another piece of pastry in the background.

My final Thursday challenge will be a Yule Log. I have always wanted to make one, and no, I have no idea why, but will do it this year. I am already anticipating frustration and potential disaster, but making it anyway. There are no plans to decorate the log with homemade meringue mushrooms or anything; I am just hoping that it looks like a log when finished. Cross everything for me and my sanity!

Holiday Baking Incoming

A decorated Christmas tree with various ornaments, surrounded by wrapped gifts, in a warmly lit room with a fireplace featuring stockings and candles.

A festive display featuring a nutcracker figure with white hair and beard, holding a colorful carousel, surrounded by holiday decorations and gifts.

As mentioned, I have plans for a Monday challenge that might revolve around cookies 😉, but I will post about that later. Hope you will join me along the way and help me celebrate my victories. I am sure there will be a few disappointments, but I am looking forward to the challenge. Let the baking commence!