Saturday, 15 January 2011

Cookbook Challenge 2011

Update 31.12.2011: Now that the Cookbook Challenge is over for 2011, I have compiled a list of what I made and kept my working notes and ideas on the challenge at the bottom of the list.

Week 1 Saturday 1/01/2011 Stonefruit
Sugar Roasted Peaches from Nigella's How to Eat

Week 2 Saturday 15/01/2011 Citrus
Hal’s stirfry sauce from the Enchanted Broccoli Forrest

Week 3 Saturday 29/01/2011 Rice/noodles

Avocado pickled ginger and tofu soba noodle salad from The Low GI Vegetarian Cookbook

Week 4 Saturday 12/02/2011 Love
Cheese heart biscuits from Nigella's How to Eat

Week 5 Saturday 26/02/2011 Outdoors
Dried Fruit and Coconut Balls from the Joy of Vegan Cooking

Week 6 Saturday 12/03/2011 American
Granola Chocolate Chip Cookies from In Search of the Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie

Week 7 Saturday 26/03/2011 Celebration
Vegan 'Cheese' and Walnut Nut Roast from Sarah Brown's Vegetarian Cookery

Week 8 Saturday 9/04/2011 Eggs
Cheddar Spoonbread from Mollie Katzen's The Enchanted Broccoli Forest

Week 9 Saturday 23/04/2011 Crunchy
Carrot and Seed Salad from Rose Bakery's Breakfast, Lunch Tea

Week 10 Saturday 7/05/2011 Blue
Moody Blues juice from Juices and Smoothies

Week 11 Saturday 21/05/2011 Cup 
Spicy Chai Tea from How it All Vegan 

Week 12 Saturday 4/06/2011 Spice 
Banana curry with cashew rice from Rose Eliot's Vegetarian Supercook 

Week 13 Saturday 18/06/2011 Dessert 
Orange, Lavender and Almond Syrup Cake from Maria Elia's Modern Vegetarian 

Week 14 Saturday 2/07/2011 Hearty 
Moussaka with mushrooms, lentils and walnuts from Cafe Flora Cookbook 

Week 15 Saturday 16/07/2011 European
Pumpernickel rolls with currants from Still Life with Menu

Week 16 Saturday 30/07/2011 Soups 
A soup of leeks roots and walnuts from Nigel Slater's Tender Vol I 

Week 17 Saturday 13/08/2011 Baked 
Pretzel Buns from Veggie Burgers Every Which Way 

Week 18 Saturday 27/08/2011 Roast 
Roast Corn Salad from Veggie Burgers Every Which Way

Week 19 Saturday 10/09/2011 Green 
Apple Cider Brussels Sprouts from Vegan Yum Yum 

Week 20 Saturday 24/09/2011 Asian 
Tamarind Tempeh with Noodles from Alice Hart's Vegetarian 

Week 21 Saturday 8/10/2011 Childhood 
Cheesy Pumpkin Sausages from Veggie Food for Kids by Sara Lewis

Week 22 Saturday 22/10/2011 Breakfast 
Country grain and soy bread from Julie Stafford's Vegetarian Cookbook 

Week 23 Saturday 5/11/2011 Red 
Red Pepper Hummus with smoked paprika from Rose Elliot's Vegetarian Supercook 

Week 24 Saturday 19/11/2011 Seafood
Chesapeake Tempeh Cakes from Isa Chandra Moskowitz's Vegan Brunch 

Week 25 Saturday 3/12/2011 Cool
Strawberry ice cream from Vikki Leng's Vegetarian Feast 

Week 26 Saturday 17/12/2011 Christmas 
Lebkuchen from Annie Rigg's Christmas Cooking with Kids

COOKBOOK CHALLENGE NOTES and IDEAS

January 15/1/2011: This week has seen me sitting on the couch with cookbooks all around me. It is too long since I have had the pleasure (though Zinc was most displeased to have them on her snuggling spot) but there was a good reason! I have decided to join the Cookbook Challenge in 2011.

It is precisely the sort of challenge I usually avoid because I hate signing up to forums and planning too far ahead. Yet I saw Hannah's gorgeous apricot post and between the lure of cooking with stone fruit (for the first fortnight) and the desire to use my cookbooks more, I have put my hand up to be part of the group. I also love the idea that the group is Melbourne-inspired. This means it will give me the opportunity to link up with more local bloggers.

The aim of the cookbook challenge is to cook and post a dish every fortnight according to a theme. I thought it would be a useful activity to set up this page with some ideas of the sort of foods that I could make. Think of it as my support to help me get through 26 weeks of the challenge. (NB I am already starting a fortnight behind.) For more info and to sign up, check out http://community.jeroxie.com/groups/cookbook-challenge/. Update - the content has been removed from this page.

This page will be a work in progress to record each recipe I make and to jot down ideas for recipes from my cookbooks. Excuse its current scrappy state! I hope that this page will be sending me back to books I have been neglecting and giving me cause to browse more that I did last year. For a complete list of cookbooks with more details, go to my cookbook list.

Week 1 Saturday 1/01/2011 Stonefruit
I made Sugar Roasted Peaches from Nigella's How to Eat
  • Peach cherry crisp - Moosewood Cookbook
  • Peachy galettes – Vikki Leng
  • Thai apricot salad - Anne Marshall
  • Poached peaches - Anne Marshall
  • Cherry cheese strudel - The Essential Dessert Cookbook
  • Poached nectarines in mixed spice syrup - The Essential Dessert Cookbook
  • Stone fruit pizza with brie and roasted almonds - Cafe Flora Cookbook
Week 2 Saturday 15/01/2011 Citrus
I made Hal’s stirfry sauce from the Enchanted Broccoli Forrest

Week 3 Saturday 29/01/2011 Rice/noodles

I made Avocado pickled ginger and tofu soba noodle salad from The Low GI Vegetarian Cookbook
  • Rice crusted pumpkin pie – AWW small book (need to find more details)
  • Rice balls - Anne Marshall
  • Brown rice and zucchini bake - Anne Marshall
  • walnut and rice roast - Jean and Sue Easthope
  • brown rice and lentil loaf - alison holst
  • pecan and orange wild rice pilaf - cooking with kurma
  • red kidney bean burgers - sarah brown's vegetarian cooking
  • spiced rice - sarah brown's veg cookbook
Week 4 Saturday 12/02/2011 Love
I made Cheese heart biscuits from Nigella's How to Eat
  • Chocolate sour cherry biscuits – Bourke St Bakery
  • Dark chocolate and raspberry muffins – Bourke St Bakery
  • Chocolate prune brownies – Bourke St Bakery
  • Chocolate raspberry pudding cake - Nigella's How to Eat
  • Tomato and orange soup - entertaining with cranks
  • Tomato and rosemary scones - Vegan Brunch
Week 5 Saturday 26/02/2011 Outdoors
I made Dried Fruit and Coconut Balls from the Joy of Vegan Cooking
  • Carrot and cheese muffins – Anne Marshall
  • Tofu and zucchini balls - Jean and Sue Easthope
  • Cheese nut pate - Still Life with Menu
  • chickpea nibbles - how it all vegan
  • cheese and pumpkin balls - alison holst
Week 6 Saturday 12/03/2011 American
I made Granola Chocolate Chip Cookies from In Search of the Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie
  • pumpkin pie - The Essential Dessert Cookbook
  • Red slump - Nigella's How to Eat
  • Corn bread stuffed cabbage with mushroom brandy sauce - Still Life with Menu
  • cheesecake bars - Still Life with Menu
  • Cafe flora vegan coffee cake - cafe flora cookbook
  • Southern brunch platter - cafe flora cookbook
  • Hopping john fritters with cayenne aioli - cafe flora cookbook
  • Tempeh reuben sandwich - vegan with a vengeance
  • zucchini pancakes with avocado and apple salsa - Julie Stafford's Vegetarian cookbook
Week 7 Saturday 26/03/2011 Celebration
I made Vegan 'Cheese' and Walnut Nut Roast from Sarah Brown's Vegetarian Cookery
  • Courgette with fruit and nut filling – Nigel Slater: Tender
  • Pea souffle - Nigella's How to Eat
  • Roast Squash with Mushroom and Kale Stuffing and Gravy - Denis Cotter
  • Tofu loaf - Anne Marshall
  • Chocolate pecan tart - Still Life with Menu
  • Portabello Wellingtons with Maidera Sauce - Cafe Flora Cookbook
Week 8 Saturday 9/04/2011 Eggs
I made Cheddar Spoonbread from Mollie Katzen's The Enchanted Broccoli Forest
  • twice baked cheese souffle???
  • meringue swans - The Essential Dessert Cookbook
  • Spinach souffle paprikash - Still Life with Menu
  • Spoonbread - Enchanted broccoli forest
  • Strawberry meringue tart - still life with menu?
  • Leek and blue cheese souffle - entertaining with cranks
  • Blue cheese and celeriac soup - BBC Good Food Mag 101 Veggie Dishes
Week 9 Saturday 23/04/2011 Crunchy
I made Carrot and Seed Salad from Rose Bakery's Breakfast, Lunch Tea
  • Carrot and seed salad – Rose Bakery
  • Super healthy layered salad - Cranks light
  • potato cakes with capsicum and cashew salsa - Julie Stafford's Vegetarian cookbook
  • vermicelli fruit slaw - Julie Stafford's Vegetarian cookbook
Week 10 Saturday 7/05/2011 Blue
 I made Moody Blues juice from Juices and Smoothies
  • huh? Bridget jones soup?
  • Leek and blue cheese souffle - entertaining with cranks
  • A Risotto of Young Beans and Blue Cheese - tender
  • Celery and blue cheese soup - tender
  • Blueberry and ginger scones - AWW old fashioned favourites
  • Blue blueberries and cream cupcakes - Cupcakes Galore
  • Blue corncakes - cafe flora
Week 11 Saturday 21/05/2011 Cup 
I made Spicy Chai Tea from How it All Vegan
  • Mexican hot chocolate - Stephanie Alexander How to Cook
  • Hot spiced apple and berry cider - Still Life with Menu
  • White wine cup or mixed fruit cup - entertaining with cranks
  • Spice chai tea - how it all vegan
  • Jana's earth's herbal sun tea - how it all vegan
  • Hibiscus sunset, lavender nectar or cranberry ginger cider - cafe flora
Week 12 Saturday 4/06/2011 Spice 
I made Banana curry with cashew rice from Rose Eliot's Vegetarian Supercook
  • Banana curry with cashew rice – Rose Eliot Supercook
  • Golden root vegetable couscous - Nigella's How to Eat
  • Braised carrot with spices and cider - Denis Cotter
  • dahl woth onion and cheese damper - Julie Stafford's Vegetarian cookbook
Week 13 Saturday 18/06/2011 Dessert 
I made Orange, Lavender and Almond Syrup Cake from Maria Elia's Modern Vegetarian
  • maple syrup steamed pud in microwave – Rose Eliot Supercook
  • seven minute steamed microwave chocolate pudding - Nigella How to Eat
  • baked figs - Nigella's How to Eat
  • Banana and blueberry tart - The Essential Dessert Cookbook
  • buttermilk cheesecake with raspberry sauce - The Essential Dessert Cookbook
  • Apple date pudding cake with butterscotch sauce - Early Settlers' Household Lore
Week 14 Saturday 2/07/2011 Hearty 
I made Moussaka with mushrooms, lentils and walnuts from Cafe Flora Cookbook
  • Roast Potato Salad – Nigel Slater: Tender
  • Swede and cheese pastry – Nigel Slater: Tender
  • Moussaka with mushrooms, lentils and walnuts - Cafe Flora Cookbook
Week 15 Saturday 16/07/2011 European
I made Pumpernickel rolls with currants from Still Life with Menu
  • Parsnip risotto – Maria Elia Modern Vegetarian
  • Spring cabbage dolma of pumpkin and chickpeas with sesame yoghurt sauce - Denis Cotter
  • Raisin pumpernickel rolls - Still Life with Menu
  • pumpkin and ricotta cannelloni with leek and mushroom sauce - Julie Stafford's Vegetarian cookbook
  • pfeffernusse???
Week 16 Saturday 30/07/2011 Soups 
I made A soup of leeks roots and walnuts from Nigel Slater's Tender Vol I
  • A rich root and cheese soup – Nigel Slater: Tender
  • A soup of lentils bacon [facon] and chard - Nigel Slater, Tender
  • A soup of roots, leeks and walnuts - Nigel Slater, Tender
  • Green bean and almond soup – Rose Bakery
  • Bean and pesto pots - Veggie Food for Kids
  • Not chicken soup with malkaleh's matzoh balls - Still Life with Menu
Week 17 Saturday 13/08/2011 Baked 
I made Pretzel Buns from Veggie Burgers Every Which Way
  • Maple syrup scones – Rose Bakery
  • Carrot bread – Jim Lahey
  • Orange, lavender and almond syrup cake – Maria Elia Modern Vegetarian
  • Courgette pea and parmesan tart – sainsbury’s try something new
  • Broccoli and cheese strudel - Anne Marshall
  • Potato tart - Early settlers' household lore
  • Scripture cake - Early settlers' household lore
  • cheese and date (scone) ring - Early settlers' household lore
  • banana cheese empanadas - Still Life with Menu
  • yoghurt scones - Still Life with Menu
  • cheese and leek pizza - sarah brown
  • country grain and soy bread - Julie Stafford's Vegetarian cookbook
  • tomato and olive cake - Julie Stafford's Vegetarian cookbook
Week 18 Saturday 27/08/2011 Roast 
I made Roast Corn Salad from Veggie Burgers Every Which Way
  • Chestnut stuff onions, Rose Eliot Supercook
  • Tamari nut roast with tomato sauce - Rose Eliot Supercook
  • Roasted and marinated green beans with onions and garlic - Still Life with Menu
Week 19 Saturday 10/09/2011 Green 
I made Apple Cider Brussels Sprouts from Vegan Yum Yum
  • Pea recipes such as pea and feta crostini- Maria Elia Modern Vegetarian
  • Pea mint and avocado salad - Nigella's How to Eat
  • Salsa verde - Nigella's How to Eat
  • Nettle and potato gnocchi - Denis Cotter
  • Green goddess potato dressing - Still Life with Menu
  • Summer minestrone - Alice Hart
Week 20 Saturday 24/09/2011 Asian 
I made Tamarind Tempeh with Noodles from Alice Hart's Vegetarian
  • Ginger beer-battered tofu with asian mushy peas – Maria Elia Modern Vegetarian
  • Black kale and aubergine spring rolls with ginger and tamarind dipping sauce - Denis Cotter
  • Japanese broth - Cranks light
  • Kung pao tofu - Still Life with Menu
  • Tamarind tempeh with sesame noodles and shredded greens - Alice Hart
Week 21 Saturday 8/10/2011 Childhood 
I made Cheesy Pumpkin Sausages from Veggie Food for Kids by Sara Lewis
  • Zucchini slice with vegan bacon
  • Pavlova - AWW old fashioned favourites
  • Cheesy pumpkin sausages - Veggie Food for Kids
  • Golden syrup dumplings - The Essential Dessert Cookbook 0r AWW
  • Lamingtons - AWW old fashioned favourites
  • College pudding - AWW old fashioned favourites
  • corn and potato cakes on spinach with pumpkin mash - Julie Stafford's Vegetarian cookbook
Week 22 Saturday 22/10/2011 Breakfast 
I made Country grain and soy bread from Julie Stafford's Vegetarian Cookbook
  • Sage onion and apple sausages – Rose Eliot Supercook
  • corn and zucchini muffins - low gi cookbook
  • grilled tomatoes and stuffed mushrooms - low gi cookbook
  • pancakes with tofu, basil and sundried tomato - low gi cookbook
  • pumpkin and honey bread - Julie Stafford's Vegetarian cookbook
Week 23 Saturday 5/11/2011 Red 
I made Red Pepper Hummus with smoked paprika from Rose Elliot's Vegetarian Supercook
  • Raspberry buns – Broons cookbook
  • Beetroot and seed cake – Nigel Slater: Tender
  • Tomato and fig soup with goats cheese bruschetta – Maria Elia Modern Vegetarian
  • Red pepper hummus with smoked paprika – Rose Eliot Supercook
  • Raspberry cheese dip - Still Life with Menu
  • Beetroot cake - Julie Stafford's Vegetarian cookbook
Week 24 Saturday 19/11/2011 Seafood
I made Chesapeake Tempeh Cakes from Isa Chandra Moskowitz's Vegan Brunch
  • Chesapeake Tempeh Cakes (inspired by crab cakes) - Vegan Brunch
  • Ocean Chowder - cafe flora cookbook
  • Salad with seaweed??? (vicki leng???)
Week 25 Saturday 3/12/2011 Cool
I made Strawberry ice cream from Vikki Leng's Vegetarian Feast
  • Watermelon panzanella – Maria Elia Modern Vegetarian
  • Pak choi and rice vermicelli salad - Denis Cotter
  • Strawberry and banana ice - The Essential Dessert Cookbook
  • Chilled berry soup - Jean and Sue Easthope
  • raspberry marinated vegetable salad - Still Life with Menu
  • Fruity seasoned peppers (cold and stuffed)- AWW Vegetarian Cooking
Week 26 Saturday 17/12/2011 Christmas 
I made Lebkuchen from Annie Rigg's Christmas Cooking with Kids
  • Christmas galette – Rose Eliot Supercook
  • Cinnamon and plum cake – Maria Elia Modern Vegetarian
  • Summer pudding - AWW old fashioned favourites
  • Nut and wine pate - entertaining with cranks

15 comments:

  1. You know, a list such as this is genius. I should do it too because I'm looking to join in the fun this year but I foresee myself getting VERY behind due to lack of planning. Thanks for the inspiration!

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  2. First off, thank you so much for the lovely shout-out :) Second, WOW. I'm in awe of your organisational skills! I've actually promised myself to *not* plan ahead, because I'm too liable to get distracted by the themes I'm more interested than others :P

    P.S. I saw a banana curry somewhere recently and really want to make it! If only I could remember where..

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  3. What a great idea, and what a perfect way to make some otherwise overlooked recipes! I'm off to check out the details (though I highly doubt I'd be able to plan that far in advance). ;)

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  4. Thanks Celeste - it is really a safety net for me and also a prompt to go back to some cookbooks that should get more attention - and shows my paranoia about getting behind!!!

    Thanks Hannah - I expect I will just not do some of these recipes as I will suddenly have a great idea but if it makes me cook a few more of these recipes or even inspires others to get the books, it will be worthwhile

    Thanks Ricki - blog events focusing on cookbooks have been great - I miss the Weekend Cookbook Challenge event which has sadly finished - so many great recipes buried in my shelves

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  5. I think this is a fabulous idea too. I made a plan at the start of the year to make more use of all my cookbooks too, though it's a little less ambitious than yours. My plan was to try at least one new recipe (from a book or making my own) at least once a week this year.

    Lots of luck with your project - it sounds like it will be great fun

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  6. Ooooooooooooh - this should be a good challenge. If only I had the courage to join you ;0)

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  7. Kudos to you Johanna for taking the leap. I too shy away from group events. Good luck and HAVE FUN!!!

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  8. I love discovering new recipes in my cookbooks from my shelves... but I couldn't imagine being attached to such a lengthy challenge. You have your whole year of food planned out! It helps when you are feeding more than one, I suppose. Great challenge, though!

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  9. Thanks Sophie - I think a new recipe a week is quite ambitious - good luck with your challenge

    Thanks Chele - I am quaking in my boots :-)

    Thanks Louise - fun is the key isn't it!

    Thanks Janet - it is a far more lengthy challenge than I usually do but I wouldn't say it is the year planned out as it is flexible enough and I am sure I will disregard half these ideas when it comes to the crunch - actually I kept thinking I would make a peach cobbler for the first one and then I didn't!

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  10. That is certainly a challenge and a half Johanna. Did you elect the dishes or were they set?

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  11. AMAZING. I love your blog johanna, I know I say it all the time BUT I TRUELY DO!!! you are inspiring to me xxx

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  12. Thanks Jacqueline - the themes are set but I have written down some dishes from my cookbook to inspire me and help me keep on track - I see recipes from cookbooks that I want to make and I forget them all too quickly in the whirl of blogging

    Thanks Carla - just keep saying it - I love to hear your praise :-)

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  13. This looks like it will be a lot of fun to do! And that is a very impressive list. I look forward to following your posts on this challenge :-)

    There is a great pumpkin pie recipe in Cooking with Kurma, which I noticed is on your cookbook list. If you have access to a copy of Delia Smith's Vegetarian Collection, there is a really good cheese souffle recipe and a great souffle omlette recipe.

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  14. Hey, good luck, what a fantastic challenge! I look forward to reading your results.
    Best Wishes
    Maria Elia
    (Author of the Modern Vegetarian).

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  15. Johanna,
    Perhaps for the blue week, which you looked like you were struggling with, you could stretch the definition a little a run with 'Cordon bleu' (Blue ribbon). That way you could either go with a classic French theme, or even just 'Food cooked to the highest standards' as the dictionary puts it.
    Mille feuille with blue icing, perchance?

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