I have been trying to make notes throughout the week of cooking to make these more accurate to the feelings that I had at the time making them. Clearly this week got away from me (I’m playing the “Why is Sam tired” game again). I’ve tried to adjust the process a bit for how I collect recipes to make too. So I have a list of things I might want to make that I do throughout the week, rather then just waiting for for Sunday morning to go through a weeks worth of email and bookmarks. It kind of distributes the effort through the week, rather then making a large burden all at once. It also works better when my emotions aren’t particularly cooperating.

For Valentines Shannon picked the Cheese Bar. They did a fantastic job.

Halal Cart-Style Chicken and Rice With White Sauce

Perhaps it’s because I didn’t take the time to toast the rice, as I started dinner a bit late and it was this or Shepherd’s pie. But the rice was not quite done, but didn’t have more time to really play more. So that as a distraction, this still came together really well. I like the flavor combination of the sauce and the chicken and rice. I had it for breakfast for the next several days.

Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

I could have sworn I bought wild rice. I could’ve sworn I put it away, but when I went to look for it, I couldn’t find it so I used some leftover jasmine and basmati rice. I really liked the way this turned out. And I think I’ll have to do it again with wild rice.

Taco Salad

an old standby for the win.

Coconut Apple Ginger Dal

This ended up being more filling then I expected. It was savory and sweet at the same time, which was pretty nice. It had some long cooking times, also a plus, because it allowed me to rest my eyes for a bit.

Shepherd’s Pie

I make the shepherd’s joke almost every time I make this, as it’s included in the recipe. I know I bought the mutton in the mid to late fall from Lucky George with the intentions of making Alton Brown’s version of a Shepherd’s Pie. I added a bit more Worcestershire sauce, didn’t particularly measure the corn and peas. I had a bit more mutton then called for, but what I’m I going to do with a faction of a pound of mutton? I had some potatoes that I bought from the last winter market and peeled them, only to remember how annoying peeling small potatoes can be. To save a pan, I finished it in my 12” pan. I should’ve had a bit more potatoes, I think. Oh well. Still came out really good. I bought a bottle of Champagne for New Years that we didn’t end up opening, so we had it with the Pie. It was a nice contrast.