Times, they are a’changing…
You may have noticed that my blogging output has slowed down somewhat. This has been for a number of reasons. Time, work, motivation and interest.
This has lead me to reassess why I blog and to embark on a new direction.
Why? There are a few reasons, the main being a financial imperative, as my partner and I are trying to save for a house, so my habit of expensive dinners needs to cease. The other reason is about health. I need to lose weight. I’ve packed on the kilos since I’ve started blogging, and it’s time to send them back to the restaurants from which they came!
From 1 January 2010 I am going to set myself a challenge: Reem’s Cookbook Challenge!
If you take a look at My Bookshelf, you’ll notice I have an extensive and growing collection of cookbooks, from fast after work dinners, to the most amazingly evocative, technical and beautiful cookbooks from Masterchefs, and everything in between. Some of these books I’ve never cooked from. Ever.
So my challenge is to cook at least 1 dish from each book (if it has recipes, some books listed don’t and will be excluded) each week.I will attempt the recipe on a Sunday and post it by the Friday of that week. During the week I’ll be on my healthy eating plan, and trying to shift the kilos.
My first recipe will be this Sunday 3rd January 2010
I hope to improve my cooking skills, lose the kilos, save some cash and actually use my books for the purpose for which they were intended…
Wish me luck! 
I look forward to your new blogging adventures and good luck house hunting!
@Aptronym Thank you, and thank you for being my fastest commenter!
Best of luck Reem! Can’t wait to see what you make
.-= Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella´s last blog ..Interview with Valli Little, Food Editor of Delicious Magazine & A New Year’s Cocktail! =-.
Hooray for more personal cooking challenges! Really looking forward to reading about the recipes you choose to try. Best of luck =)
.-= mademoiselle délicieuse´s last blog ..Party Food =-.
What a great idea – your bookshelf looks like a fabulous resource. I’ll be watching with great interest and will play along at home (would like to return some of my own kilos to 2009).
Good luck with the house hunt!
.-= Injera´s last blog ..Handwriting is history, long live the Tablet? =-.
Good luck with the directional change, I will be interested in seeing how the recipes you choose work out
Cheers,
Craig
.-= Craig Thomler´s last blog ..Australian Gov 2.0 Taskforce publicly releases final report – and most project reports =-.
Ahh I hear you! I have so many cookbooks it’s ridiculous. Looking forward to seeing what dishes you create
.-= Helen (grabyourfork)´s last blog ..2009: A Grab Your Fork digest =-.
I too have spent sooo much money and packed on the KG’s and am hoping to focus on a ‘blogger on a budget’ segment and a healthier eating plan! Here’s to good luck for your new year’s resolutions.
.-= gastronomygal´s last blog ..End of Year Christmas Daze =-.
What a great goal! Best of luck!
.-= joey@FoodiePop´s last blog ..2009: My Year In Entrees/Starters/Amuse Bouches =-.
All the best with your challenge and looking forward to read all the delicious cooking from your kitchen.
.-= Ellie´s last blog ..Dutch Oliebollen =-.
Heya Reem – goodluck! Homecooked recipes are just as good! You should put your top ten of 2010 at the endof the year!:)
.-= Rob @ StickySteps.com´s last blog ..Bells at Killcare =-.
Yay – I really like cooking better than eating out, will look forward to seeing new recipes! I have well over 100 cook books…I just can’t help myself LOL. Hopefully your house hunting leads you to a place where you have a small vege patch as well!
I hear you girl, cookbooks are addictive aren’t they?! My stash is slowly growing here and definitely need to be put to good use. All the best in 2010!
.-= billy@ A Table For Two´s last blog ..A Table For Two takes a look back at 2009 =-.
@Karen Purser I hope we have a little veggie patch too!
Thanks everyone for the wonderful support, it’s very much appreciated
Hello reemski
I wish you good luck for your new resolution ; come and see my blog you will find some good stuff not expansive , original and healthy so be brave and have a visit you are very welcome !!!
Cheers from a french foodie
Pierre
.-= pierre´s last blog ..Dôme de langouste, fenouil, poire et sauce Corinthienne =-.
Great idea, Reem; hope you get lots out of your cookbook challenge (not weight, though!).
.-= Belle@OohLook´s last blog ..Chicken with lemon – delicious in more ways than one =-.
Thanks for sharing this Reem – I’m the same – need to lose weight – and save – seems to go against our passions for food and fine dining, but you’ve nailed it. Cooking at home needn’t be a chore – and there is such great produce, and recipes for us to share. I am going to join you and attempt to extend my skills in the kitchen this year, and less dining out.
Cheers, and Happy New Year!
Tony Hollingsworth
.-= Tony Hollingsworth´s last blog ..Sydney’s ultimate dining experience this month – Cuisine Now’s Gala Dinner =-.
Good luck! I’m going to embark on the same… but with my bookmarks. I have sooo many recipes bookmarked it’s ridic, if I can get through at least a quarter of it I’ll be happy.
I’m with you on this one. I have a) moved all my cookbooks into prime visual position, b) have committed to cooking one new recipe each week and c) joined Weight Watchers for the in between!
Good luck in your endeavours! I must admit to being a cook book whore as well, most of which I’ve never cooked from, it’s just as fun reading about food as well as eating, right? (Fingers crossed!)
.-= Moya´s last blog ..Why we should pay more for our tomatoes =-.
Hey – best of luck with that. Know what you mean about the kilos but I’m not as strong as you and usually cave in to eating out under just about any pretext!! Look forward to reading the new direction.
I hear you. After the indulgences of the last few weeks, time for me to eat healthy again. All the best for your venture and I hope it got off to a good start. Look forward to see what inspires you from your cookbook collection
.-= Gourmantic´s last blog ..What to Do with a Truffle =-.
Good on ya Reem! Hey it sounds like your idea is worthy of actually being a book in itself… or a reality TV show for foodie channels? If you make millions from these ideas, just cook me a meal sometime…
.-= Ben Crothers´s last blog ..Government 2.0 Taskforce report released =-.
Happy New Year, Reem. You probably thought I forgot but if you come over to my travel blog there is a post I think you will like and a link to a lot more baby ele photos.
http://annamogtravel.blogspot.com/2010/01/kenya-2009-nairobi.html
.-= Ann´s last blog ..Southern Africa 2009 – The Tour =-.
Sounds like a great idea – I recently started a similar challenge being hosted here – check it out! http://myfoodtrail.blogspot.com/2009/11/cookbook-challenge-is-underway.html
.-= Bri´s last blog ..Taste of Tasmania 2009/2010 =-.
Way to go, Reem! Good luck on the cookbook challenge, I’ll definitely be following your recipes with much interest!!
.-= myriamthi´s last blog ..myriamthi: RT @hollingsworth: @iggypintado What a beautiful memorial to your grandmother Iggy, and an amazing story of survival http://post.ly/KEhD =-.