FIVE COOKING CHALLENGES OF 2006

Crazy Gaijin of "Nihon No Ryori" tagged me for this meme...

I must say that I had to think a little before giving my "Five Cooking Challenges Of 2006" as I never tend to set myself a challenge regarding anything, and even when it comes to cooking!

But, thinking about it, I do have a few things I'd like to change, learn or do during the following monthes, so I guess that one can call them "challenges"!!!...

1. To learn more about my own country’s culinary traditions and try more recipes… Switzerland is a rich country with many regional differences whether it concerns the dialects, the mentalities or the food. This diversity is what makes this country so special! Our dishes are rustic, but very tasty. Swiss food could be labelled as “comfort food”, because it’s nourishing and uses a lot of farm products like dairy products, charcuterie, potatoes, flour, etc… We eat simple, humble and regional dishes, but they have a potential healing effect on our souls!!! And that’s exactly what I like about Swiss foods…



2. To try following a recipe entirely without always wanting to change something in it! I can’t cook without adding my own touch to recipes. I continuesly want to change things and I’m never entirely satisfied by the list of ingredients needed or with the methods to apply... It’s a very bad habit as sometimes, certain recipes don’t turn out correctly (no wonder!)! But, generally, I must say that my changes are positive and add a little something to a recipe which might have been bland if I had not modified it!…



3. To buy more tools and pans for my kitchen because I’m missing a few items, especially when it comes to stuff in the baking area. I’d like more cake pans as I tend no never have the right ones and of course, I wouldn’t mind owning more cake-making gadgets… But will my kitchen be big enough if I buy more things? I doubt, as it’s already full now and trying to get out something from a cupboard is an adventure in itself!!!…



4. To make my own French “pains au chocolat” or “croissants”. I love to make bread and bake, but I can never gather enough courage in order to make those two bakery classics! And it’s not because I’m afraid of the challenge, but more because this challenge is not adapted to my tiny kitchen!!! I just simply lack working surfaces since I can only use the side of the sink, the vitroceramic cooker (the best invention ever when you kitchen is as big as a sardine tin!) and a few centimeters of my small table… But, I guess that if I organize myself well enough, I could bake those two yummy breakfast goods!



5. To test new Nyonya (Peranakan) kuih recipes. Kuihs (kueh or kue) are types of sweet or savory bite-sized “cakes” from Malaysia, Indonesia or Singapore. I love them so much that I could eat them at any time and all the time! Unfortunately, before I can try more of them,I’ll have to buy myself a book about kuihs…


Now it's my turn to tag the following bloggers:
Susan of "Foodie Farmgirl"
Glutton Rabbit of "Pearl Of The Orient"
Boolicious of "Masak Masak"
Ivonne of "Cream Puffs In Venice"
Angela of "A Spoonful Of Sugar"

(AOC -Pic by www.swissinfo.org)
(The Silver Spoon -Pic by www.silverspoon.co.uk)
(Cake Pan -Pic by http://easycookin.com)
(Pain Au Chocolate -Pic by www.beatties.co.uk)
(Kuih Lapis -Pic by www.karangkraf.com)