The 2010 Cookbook Challenge

New Year's Resolutions seem to be considered boring by quite a lot of people. I approve of them: when made sincerely they can be the start of real changes, and even if it's just something small, it's an opportunity to show yourself that you have the strength to improve things in your life. I heard a story on the news today about a couple who gave up smoking at New Year two years ago. With the money they've saved, they're going on safari, which is pretty impressive, but to my mind the most important thing is that they have shown that they are in charge. This can be applied to a number of aspects of life. Cigarettes are not in charge. A lack of fitness is not in charge. An unhappy relationship is not in charge. A spiralling overdraft is not in charge. YOU ARE. To make an official promise to yourself at the start of a year, for some, is the start of a commitment to change.

My one formal New Year's Resolution for 2010 is rather more modest: to cook at least one recipe from each of my cookery books during the year. My reasoning behind this is as follows: I like to cook and have quite a number of cookery books which I haven't used (or don't use very often). I don't want to get rid of them, so this is my opportunity to make them earn their keep and try out some new recipes in the process (I suspect that this may also prevent me from buying too many more of the blighters).

This then begs the question: what counts as a cookbook? Do cocktail books count? Does Heartburn count because it contains recipes? I've decided that these are optional additions to the challenge.

I can, so far, strike two dishes off the list: Hoisin Pork with Leeks and stir-fried Greens and Split Pea and Vegetable Soup. The former was actually cooked in the dying days of 2009, but there's nothing wrong with giving yourself a headstart, is there?

It might not change my whole life, but it will make my food more interesting.