Savories:
1. A savory tart: I come across recipes for savory tarts all the time and am itching to try one. I have my eyes (er, stomach?) set on one with sweet caramelized onions.
2. Polenta in any form: The one time I attempted this was a lumpy disaster. I've since read everything I could about the types of cornmeal to use and cooking methods to employ.
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4. Spaghetti and meatballs: This is absolutely one of my favorite meals of all time. I don't eat a lot of meat, but this and meatloaf are two of my favorite comfort foods.
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6. Something with poached eggs: Since my first experience with poached eggs and that irresistible runny yolk, I've wanted to recreate the magic in the kitchen. As with polenta, I've searched for every tip and trick I could in order to make the perfect poached egg.
7. Chicken chili: I'm a total soup person. I've had my eye on this recipe from Martha Stewart since I first saw it back in October.
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9. Something with wild mushrooms: Whenever I try wild mushrooms at a restaurant, I'm wowed by their - excuse the pretentious "foodie" term - umami flavor. They're expensive, but a little bit goes a long way and I could easily knock out two birds with one stone by using them in a savory tart, risotto, or poached egg dish.
10. Something with tofu: The only time I'd ever tried tofu before this year was some sort of barbecued offering from the Whole Foods salad bar, and I was, to put it plainly, quite disgusted. However, I tried it again this year and was taken by its versatile ability to soak up the flavors of whatever you pair it with. I really want to try this crispy tofu recipe from Daily Garnish.
11. Chicken or vegetable stock: If it's good enough for Ina, it's good enough for me.
12a. Savory yeasted bread: By this I mean a crusty, European hearth-style bread. Of all the things on this list, this might be the one I'm most excited and motivated to tackle.
Sweets:
12b. Sweet yeasted bread: Pumpkin brioche. Cranberry walnut bread. Cinnamon rolls. How could I not?
13. Macarons: I finally want to see what all the fuss is about. (I have tried macarons from Dean & Deluca in New York before, but I want to see what all the fuss about homemade macarons is about.) Plus, the notion that they're a challenge to make naturally makes me even more motivated to try them.
14. Homemade granola: I should be more specific - I want to make a healthy granola. I bookmark just about every granola recipe I come across, and I finally want to take the plunge. Bonus since it'll be so much less expensive than the Kashi granola bar habit I've acquired.
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18. Something with coconut: I actually really love coconut but hardly ever use it in sweet desserts. Perhaps I'll find a way to incorporate it into a granola.
19. Rice pudding: As with granola, every time I see a rice pudding I bookmark it. Ina Garten even has a rum raisin version, and we all know how I feel about rum raisins.
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