a cooking challenge

I have an internet problem.

I’m pretty much online, in some form, all day long. My day job is all online = 8 hours. Blogging = 1-3 hours. Reading blogs, commenting on blogs, and other time-sucks like my new obsession with pinterest = I don’t want to add up or admit to a number here.

One of the best parts of my day is when I get to read magazines, cookbooks, and blogs, and mark recipes that I want to make.

The only problem? I never go back and actually make them!

I can count on one hand – one finger, actually – how many times I’ve actually made a recipe I’ve seen on someone else’s blog in the past 3 years.

About a year and a half ago, I made Brown Sugar Bacon Waffles from Joy the Baker. They were incredible. And since I’m not the best waffle maker, it was even better that they turned out delicious and didn’t stick to the waffle iron like mine usually do.

With all the recipes I have printed and bookmarked and starred and pinned, you’d think I would have tried more than one by now. I’m usually messing around in the kitchen with my own recipes, but I’d like to really give these recipes a shot and just follow someone else’s directions for once.

I’ve got a new challenge for myself:

At least once a month (and hopefully more), I will try a recipe that I have flagged to make. And I’ll post about it here! I’ve got so many tasty recipes waiting, and I’m excited to get going on this challenge. Making up my own recipes is definitely fun. But I like being able to just follow instructions and learn new tips and tricks from someone else, too.

Anyone else up for the challenge? Or know of an awesome recipe I need to make?

I’ve got a few ready and waiting and can’t wait to get started.

What’s on your to-make list right now?

26 comments

  1. I have the same problems (too much internet time and not enough time making recipes I bookmark!). Such a great idea for a challenge… I should really try it too!

  2. I think that’s a great idea and that I should join you. I have at least 25 recipes bookmarked from other blogs, including your german chocolate cookie bars.

    • me too – i don’t even want to count how many I have marked to make.

      ps: you totally need to make those bars :) they were so good!

  3. I used to do a blogger week on my blog on my blog where I’d make 1 recipe every day that I had flagged! I miss it. I totally need to do it again. On my to make list right now:
    Oat Balls: http://www.petitfoodie.com/?p=2402
    this soup, recommended by JulieGoLean: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/member/views/CURRY-PEANUT-SOUP-50111510

  4. This is such a great idea, I love the idea of setting myself some sort of challenge just to give me the kick up the backside that I sometimes need!

  5. Great idea!! I try to make as many recipes as I’ve bookmarked….but more always keep getting added!! Haha :)

  6. I started actually printing the ones I want to make and putting them in a folder. I go through it once a week and pull one out I’ve been wanting to make.
    I do have a boatload of recipes on Pintrest that I want to make too but I feel as tho that won’t happen for a while…

    • you’ve got a better system than I do! I’ll have to figure out the best way to organize things and make it easier on myself to find the recipes and mark them off as I go.

  7. Way to go! Recipes are about the ONLY thing I’ve been able to follow through with on Pinterest. I’m munching on a leftover Crockpot sandwich (Italian hoagie style) now and I’ve found some things I’ve loved…and not loved as much as I hoped. CrockPot Santa Fe from skinnytaste.com, refrigerator dill pickles from oneperfectbite, and tomato-basil grilled cheese from thecookmobile have been my top faves so far from Pinterest. And your baked penne is a huge hit in our house now, and it took me forever to get around to trying it! :) Can’t wait to see what you try…and what you think of the recipes.

    • thanks Lara! italian hoagie sounds so good right now. and i’m so happy you like the baked penne! that’s one of my favorites.

  8. You don’t even want to know how many recipes I have bookmarked….and pinned. I have been thinking about doing the same thing. Great idea!

  9. Blogs may be the only reason I cook at all! But I aim to be more like you and create my own (it’s hard!)

    Check out Smitten Kitchen and make her black-bottom cupcakes. They aren’t healthy by any means, but they are so unique and delicious.

  10. ha i can TOTALLY relate 100% to all of it…soo much time on the internet and never making as much as i’d like to! that being said, at least i know i will never run out of yummy things to make :)

  11. love this challenge! i might join you!

  12. I’m terrible about bookmarking and then never following through. I think I’ll join you on this challenge for sure!

  13. I have a similar problem. For me, much of it stems from the fact that there are SO many recipes that interest me. Plus I feel like since I’ve been blogging I’ve been trying harder to come up with my own unique and original recipes so it means that other blogs’ and cookbooks’ recipes often don’t get made.

  14. Such a good challenge! I always bookmark recipes then never get around to them… Very sad for the recipes.

  15. I do the exact same thing. I thought that when Pininterest came along, this would solve this problem but truthfully, it doesn’t. I just keep pinning recipe after recipe but always forget to go back and actually make them! Great challenge.

  16. I am definitely guilty of this too, i have SO many recipes bookmarked and i seem to get thru them so slowlyyyy! right now these are on my to-make list (and i think may actually happen next week, we’ll see?!)

    how sweet eats chicken enchilada pasta
    iowa girl eats buttery tomato sauce

  17. oh man, i have a ton of recipes bookmarked/saved/whatever too… if only there were more hours in the day! i like the challenge though, i have been thinking of doing something like that from my cookbooks :)

  18. Love this challenge idea! I was just thinking that I need to get my blog ideas, recipe ideas, and recipes that I want to try from other sources organized this weekend… this challenge will make me actually try some of those recipes from other blogs!

  19. This is a great idea! I may need to follow your lead. :-)

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