Last year...

Last year I decided to try to challenge myself to cook 52 new recipes during the year--they could be things I had eaten before, but the recipe had to be something that I hadn't tried yet. I'm a recipe addict by the way--I work at the library so I'm constantly looking at cookbooks and other things trying to find something tastey and fun to try for dinner or dessert. So basically the idea was to try some of those recipes that I copy and hoard in my house. And I did it! Over the last weekend I ended up making the last of my 52 recipes, and here they are in no particular order:
Focaccia and Dipping Oil, Oat Bread, Black Bean Tortilla Bake, Pina Colada Cheesecake, Crepes, Random Casserole--not good!, Peanut Butter Valentines Day Chex Mix (which is super yummy and I think I need to make some really really soon!), Sugar Cookies from a jar--and the icing to go with it, Beer Bread, Fried Rice, Coleslaw, Margarita Frozen Dessert (definitely a good one too), Taco Casserole, Peach and Raspberry Pie, Tex Mex Lasagna, Papa Johns Pizza Crust (Cheryl loves this), Lasagna rolls, Crispy Orechiette with Broccoli Pine nuts and Garlic, Zucchini "crab" cakes, Sweet Potato fries, Crab cakes with stovetop stuffing, Sesame Noodles, Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo, Couscous with yogurt dressing, Peach Cupcakes, Raspberry Buttercream Icing (my first attempt at buttercream, it wasn't very good either), Mountain Dew Apple Dumplings, Penne pasta with Spinach and Ham, Sue Schoppman's Pie Crust, Homemade Apple Pie filling, Cheesy Chicken and Biscuits, Apple Dumplings, Layered Enchilada Bake, Cheesy Turkey and Rice Burrito, Pumpkin Pie, Crockpot Thanksgiving Turkey, Pumpkin Cheesecake, Sweet Potato Casserole, Mom's Chicken and Noodles from Scratch, Mini Spice Cake Tarts (super yummy!), Apple Pear Crumble Pie (also a favorite now!), Bruschetta Chicken Bake, Creamy Pasta with Peas, Oatmeal Scottchie Pan Cookies, Apple Swirl Bundt Cake, Cream Cheese Cookies, Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake, Lasagna, Spice Cookies, Chicken Crockpot Curry, Velvetta Taco Pie, Pineapple Upside Down Cake (which has been the best thing ever in my mind! I love coming home to it at the end of the day!).

I'm actually pretty proud of myself for just setting a goal and sticking to it! It was a lot of fun!
What to challenge myself to in 2009? Well I didn't decide to do this until the end of January, so I figure I'll give myself about a month before I start the challenge, whatever that may be....

Best Wishes!