see the picture above? that logo looks familiar, doesn’t it? =) i got a ton of wonderful christmas gifts this year, + one of my favorites, that i knew i wanted to share with you, is what’s pictured above – my very own fearless homemaker-branded apron + dishtowels, a gift from my parents (designed + created by Straight Stitch of norwood, massachusetts). how cool is that?!
getting fab fearless homemaker gear inspired me to make a 2012 cooking goal. for me, the new year will be about learning + branching out, food-wise. what does that mean? for 2012, i’m challenging myself to make 1 dinner each week that i’ve never made before. too often, i get stuck in a dinner rut + find myself keeping the same 10-15 meals in rotation. does that happen to anyone else? well, no more, folks! 1 week down (successfully), 51 to go!
when i mentioned my 2012 dinner challenge on facebook, awesome reader kathy mentioned that she had thought of a similar goal for herself, + asked if i would share my weekly ‘resolution recipes.’ i will definitely do so! at the end of each month, i’ll do a recap of my ‘resolution recipes’ along with links to the recipes, some pictures, + my rating of them. thanks for the wonderful idea, kathy!
so, did you set any goals, cooking or otherwise, for yourself this year? if so, i’d love to hear ’em!
be a fan on facebook
follow on pinterest
follow on instagram
{ 36 comments… read them below or add one }
What a great gift! I love that!
thanks, caroline! i’m lucky to come from a family of pretty awesome gift-givers! =)
I LOVE those!! What thoughtful parents
I like your resolution — sounds great & can’t wait to see what new recipes you’ve tried
I did set goals for myself! I made a whole list on my kitchen goals post a while back and I’m slowly knocking them out — starting with that yeast!! hehe 😉
aren’t they fun?! awesome that you set goals for yourself, especially because i now know that at least one of them (to win the battle over yeast/bread) has already been successful for you! =)
the apron + dishtowels with your logo is so cute. What a great gift. It is practical as well.
Great resolution. It is always good to challenge yourself. One of my goals or resolutions I have for myself is to “cook the book”. you basically take a cookbook that you really like and make every recipe in it.
thanks, steph! i absolutely love your cookbook idea. too often, i get or buy a cookbook, + only make a recipe or two out of it before putting it up on the bookshelf indefinitely. that might have to be my 2013 cooking resolution – i love it! good luck + i can’t wait to hear how it goes!
How cute are those dishtowels and apron?!?! Love it!
Let’s see, my food goals for this year include trying out more yeast breads and venturing into some other areas that I’m not at all familiar with (gluten-free, for one).
ha, aren’t they cute?! i was so surprised by them as a gift + just love ’em. love that your goals this year include working with more yeast breads – as someone who just recently got into that, i can tell you that you’re going to have a blast with it! can’t wait to hear all about it!
Oh I LOVE the customized gift. What a great idea!
My cooking goals are to cook at home more and eat out less, to fix healthier meals, and to have friends over for dinner more often.
thanks, suzy! i love your goals, especially the one to have friends over for dinner more often. we go out with friends a lot, but it gets expensive + certainly isn’t as healthy as it could be. i really want to get in the habit of having people over more often – it’s cheaper, it’s healthier, + it’s cozier. =) plus, there’s no wait for a table!
I have a couple. One is doing some projects around the house- small improvements. The other is cooking more dinners and being better with planning (ie. pulling out frozen meat/fish in time to thaw in fridge), so that I have no excuses to just ‘go out’ whenever I feel like it. The end result will be spending less $ on dining out, more $ in our pockets. It’s hard for me, I’m a working mom and am guilty of finding the smallest excuse.
i hear ya – it’s super tempting to opt out of cooking, especially after a long day, + opt for take-out or dinner out instead. i have found for us that weekly meal planning helps a lot, as does having a ‘leftovers’ night once a week. sending good vibes that your 2012 goals are awesomely successful – i bet they will be!
I love your homemade gift! So thoughtful
I think your 2012 goal to try a new recipe each week is great! I actually did the same thing last year and called it Project Wifey Wife.
(I am a newlywed, so to be a good wife was a double goal there) I tried 2 new recipes a week, one savory and one sweet. Come by my blog sometime and check out my tab if you need any recipe ideas. You’ll have so much fun this year with your goal.
My goal is to entertain more and make up my own recipes.
ha, too cute! i’m still a newlywed too (it’ll be a year in april), so i can definitely appreciate your project last year. i’m impressed that you aimed to do two new recipes each week – that’s awesome! i’m over on your blog now, looking through the amazing recipes you made. hope your 2012 goals are a great success – i’m sure they will be. =)
Those are fabulous and such a creative gift! My goal is also to cook more new recipes and to get back into making more creative bentos for my daughter (totally been slacking…lol) Can’t wait to see what recipes you make!!
ooh, i always love the bentos you make – so creative! can’t wait to see more of those on your blog, steph! =)
Oh goodness, what thoughtful, unique gifts! That’s a treasure, Amy – how sweet. Those are really s beautiful. Heck I want one!! I haven’t thought about a Food Resolution for myself, but I can’t wait to read your recipes this year
So glad y’all had a very Merry Christmas!
miss ally, it’s so good to hear from you! i missed you over the crazy, busy holiday season. + thanks for your kind words on the gift – i really did think it was one of the sweetest (+ most unexpected) gifts i’ve ever gotten. happy 2012! =)
Thanks for stopping by the blog. Great to meet you. Looking forward to sharing and talkin’ food.
Agreed on Jess’s blog it is fantastic.
Be well
great to meet you through jessica – looking forward to connecting with you more, too! =)
What a sweet gift!! Brandon had wanted to make me a “notsodomesticated” t-shirt before one of our races, but then he realized that it was cold and I would probably want to wear my Under Armor gear haha. But it’s the thought that counts! 😉
that would be super cute workout gear! i bet he’ll make you on for one of your warmer weather races. if he does, you better post a pic! =)
Your parents are the best. What a thoughtful gift!!
I’ve thought before about wanting to try one new recipe a week but never made a plan to really stick to it. Interested to hear how it works for you and maybe I’ll be inspired to try again =)
aww, i’m sure my parents appreciate your sweet comment. i know i do. =) so far, we’ve had two successful weeks of one-new-dinner-a-week. two down, fifty to go! it’s been fun so far – i’m definitely going to try to keep it up the whole year!
What a wonderful Christmas gift! How thoughtful. I’m looking forward to seeing all the recipes you are trying for the first time. I’m in that same mode this year myself, although I’m not trying a new one every week. Probably should…it is a great idea.
thanks, renee! so far, the one-new-dinner-a-week challenge has been a lot of fun! i’m not sure if i’ll feel the same way 6 months from now, but it’s good to challenge myself. =) can’t wait to see all of your great 2012 recipes, too!
OMG, how adorable! When I first launched my blog, my best friend got personalized recipe cards made. They included my blog pattern and a charicature of me in my apron with a cupcake. So amazingly thoughtful
Love your 2012 challenge!
what a wonderful gift that your friend gave you when you started your blog! now, that’s the sign of a fabulous friend. they sound so fantastic. =)
i love cooking-related resolutions! this is such a great idea–excited to see what you come up with! this is why i do blog challenges every year that are food-related, so pumped for my 2012 Eat and Repeat one
while i totally understand people’s health/weight/organization-related resolutions, those just aren’t for me. i’m much more of a cooking resolution-type gal. =) i absolutely love your eat + repeat challenge – can’t wait to read more about it!
What a wonderful gift! I love them!! What a fantastic goal for this year!! I always get stuck preparing the same things for dinner all the time!
i know, isn’t it so tempting to make the same things for dinner all the time? i’m really hoping this is going to help me break out my dinner rut – so far, it seems to be working. last night’s recipe was a huge success (+ i’ll share it on the blog next week). glad to have you back after your busy holiday season!
Your parents are awesome! I adore the apron and towels. What a cute idea! I also love your resolution. We always make the same things for dinner. I’m looking forward to seeing your recap at the end of the month!
thanks so much, julie! hope your 2012 is off to an awesome start, + i can’t wait to see the awesome new direction that your blog is going to take this year!
that is a very cool goal! You can do it!!
awww, thanks alison! i think i can pull it off (hopefully). two weeks down, fifty to go! happy 2012 to you + the family. =)