I didn’t do nearly as much cooking last year as I wanted to, but I still managed to make a few things. Starting a new year tends to make people reflect on the past, and make plans for the future, so I figured it wouldn’t be a bad plan to do the same thing on my blogs as well.

As far as plans for the future, I’d just like to post more often in 2009. This will require me to continue to try new dishes on a consistent basis– an area I’ve struggled with in the past. I have 101 Things in 1001 Days list on my other blog, and one of my goals was to cook 50 things I’ve never made before. I’m partway through that list, but I still have quite a ways to go. I also have a few recipes backlogged that I’ll be trying to get posted over the next several weeks.

As far as the past, below you’ll find a summary of what I’ve made and posted about in the past year. Enjoy!

January
Turtle Pumpkin Pie
White Chicken Parmesan
Chili Mac
No Bake Cookies

February
Macaroni and Cheese Casserole
Chocolate Chip Cookies

March
Peanut Butter Fingers
Peanut Butter and Pickle Sandwiches

April
No recipes! Bad food blogger!

May
Dump Cake

June
Chicken Salad

July
No recipes! Slow summer?

August
Puppy Chow
BLT Sandwiches

September
No excuses, just no cooking either.

October
Chili

November
Pizza Soup

December
Chocolate Mint Pudding Pie
Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Cookies
Corn Bread Topped Italian Sausage Pie

I look forward to cooking and sharing with you in the coming year. I hope it is both a happy and a healthy one for you and your families.

Another less than exciting Monday’s Menu for you today. Here’s what I had for dinner:

Cheddar brats, mustard potato salad and amish macaroni salad. Usually I like my brats more grilled than that, but that can be a little difficult to accomplish on a George Foreman grill. Someday I’ll have a house, and therefore I’ll be ABLE to have a REAL grill. *sigh* The salads are from the deli counter at a local grocery store. It was some nice summery food which helped out a little bit with the winter blues. Certainly not very carb friendly though!

I haven’t been posting because I haven’t been cooking. There were a few trips out to restaurants and the like, but mostly just quick heat and serve things. I think the most exciting thing I made all week was chicken cordon blue from the freezer section and macaroni and cheese in a box. In my cancer pans.

A couple of people commented on my Macaroni and Cheese Casserole about the state of my pans. Yes, I admit, they are rather sad. Most of what I have is what is left out of one of those really cheap sets they have out at the beginning of every school year for college students. I’ve had it since I was in college. I’m honestly surprised that the pans have lasted as long as they have for being as junky as they are. Even I will admit that they are on their last leg, but I just don’t have it in me to worry about whether or not the gouges in the bottoms of my pans mean that non-stick coating is flaking off into food just waiting to give me cancer.

And frankly, I just can’t afford to buy new pans right now, no matter how much they are needed! If you’re willing to buy me a new set of pans though, I will gladly trade in my “cancer pans” for new ones!