Monthly Challenge.
Challenges.
Life is full of them. Some we don’t ask for. Others we invite, in order to help us grow.
If you saw Saturday’s post, then you already know that Miss Sunshine woke up ill for her 14th birthday. In fact, today she’s home from school and still ill. On top of that…it’s pouring rain. I’m mostly housebound.
So…
I’ve decided to announce my November Challenge.
If you are new to my blog..first off..welcome! I’m so happy that you’ve found my tiny space on the web. Second, since turning 40 (September 2017), I’ve decided to do a 30-day challenge each month to learn more about myself…to create new habits…to press outside of my comfort zones…to be challenged. I introduce the next month’s challenge at the end of the prior month so there is an opportunity to join along.
The challenge for the month of November is:
30 days of preparing a new recipe each day.
New Recipes.
Now, before you look at me like I have three heads, I do realize that this challenge will take work. I’ve found that we are in a food rut. Same meals… tacos, spaghetti, anything quick and easy. Too much frozen or processed food. So I’ve decided to really challenge myself.
Wishes.
While my hope is to try many main dishes, I am also a realist.
By preparing a new recipe, I am inclusive of all types of recipes. There is a very distinct possibility that when I post about whether or not I succeeded in the 30-day challenge, you will find many days I tried a new smoothie or salad dressing recipe.
I’m okay with that. We all have to start somewhere. Some days there will be time to prepare a full course…and some days I will have to work extremely hard and finding the space to fit in something new. One major challenge that I’m already aware of is that Miss Sunshine has a soccer tournament in November. Since I cannot transport a kitchen to the hotel, I will be looking at overnight and/or microwave recipes.
Believe it or not, I did a lot of cooking when the teens were little. That was in the days before everyone was running in different directions and had decided what their taste buds preferred.
Realities.
I’m not gonna lie…you’ll probably also see that I make a lot of desserts. Desserts are my favorite form of cooking. While they aren’t always healthy, they also aren’t processed. They have always brought a twinkle to the eyes of my children. It’s rare that they turn up their nose at a dessert that I’ve put hours into making.
Other dishes…
Sometimes I don’t even like a new recipe that I’ve made. That’s the excitement of this challenge. Some recipes will be winners and some will be losers, but through it all…is growth.
I hope that you’ll join in for November’s challenge! Or least try a few new recipes during the month.
Update: to see how it went check out these posts:
Let your light shine!
Amy
Wow – you’re going BIG! Good one 🙂
Even if I wasn’t going to be away for half of the month of November, I would not be tempted to join you in this one. I found it challenging to do 1 new recipe a week a few years ago.
I’m definitely looking forward to hearing about your wins and failures on this one 🙂
Hope your daughter is feeling better soon!
Yes…it is BIG! I must admit that I’m a little intimidated myself, but once the thought came, it refused to leave. So challenge myself, I will! 🙂
The girlie is beginning to feel a little better this evening. I’m hoping that a good night’s rest will help even more.
I assume you’ve already started to put together a plan. That is the only way I would survive … take the daily thinking out of it.
I’m slowly working on a plan… the biggest thing will be to have super simple, easy recipe as a back-up for the days when life throws me a curve ball! 🙂
Sorry your missy is still poorly. 🙁
Well look at you GO!
I agree, desserts are the common denominator in how happy all the people are we’ve made a thing! lol I agree completely about the from-scratch desserts being better than pretty much processed anything, too.
I totally understand food rut, especially when the schedules are assorted. I look forward to reading about any new winners you find 🙂
Thanks Joey.
Desserts are so much more fun to make…and eat. I’m hoping to find some real winners. Surely, the odd will be in my favor! 🙂
Great and yummie photos, Amy. Sitting hungry in my hotel this is torture for my stomach nerves 😉 ! Best wishes to Miss Sunshine for a quick recovery! Marcus
Thanks Marcus! Some of them make me hungry as well!! Miss Sunshine is on the mend and feeling well!
Looking forward to seeing your new recipes. I just bought two new cookbooks with ‘healthy’ recipes. So i am slowly working through them
Working through cookbooks sounds like a fun adventure. I’m hoping to make many of the recipes, “healthy”, but I’m not ruling out some treats that won’t qualify in that category. 🙂
Awesome challenge! Looking forward to hearing how it goes…and I love making desserts too. x
Thanks Dee!! Desserts are the best! xo