Instead of making a resolution (to do without something) that won’t last a month, this year I’m pledging something positive.  I’m setting goals for myself in the kitchen that I normally wouldn’t tackle.

I love to cook.  Baking, however, is another thing entirely.  Correction, I love to bake cookies, pies, cakes, muffins, anything not involving yeast.

This year I am raising the bar on the things I’m going to make in the kitchen to include the things that I don’t like to make.  I don’t like to make bread because I’m not good at it,  Truth is, I’m not good at it because a) I rarely make bread and I haven’t had enough practice; b) I haven’t researched really good recipes for bread like I have the recipes for cooking that I’m interested in; and c) I haven’t made it a priority.

This year, I vow to make bread and rolls that require yeast.  I will still make my signature banana nut bread, but I will make Challah, my grandmother’s fluffy rolls, Italian and French bread before the end of 2012. If I feel adventurous, I will undertake pretzels.  I will subject my family as guinea pigs and will probably need to live through several failed attempts before I get it right.

But wait, isn’t that how all of us learned to cook?  What’s been stopping me?  You guessed it – Me.  Numerous things I felt were daunting at the beginning have been overcome in the kitchen.  I remember when I felt like I would never succeed at soufflés, perfect fried chicken (without burning it or serving it half raw), homemade gravy or deboning a chicken.  I wanted to master those things and I did.

So this year, I plan on mastering the art of yeast and kneading.  I plan on serving hot rolls with my roasts and warm challah bread for my French toast.  Well, that’s my plan at least.  I trust that you will help keep me on track when you don’t see any bread on here and it’s June

Giving up a resolution might actually be something all foodies should do.  Unite!  Raise the bar on yourself this year,  Try that recipe you’ve been afraid to attempt.  Make pasta from scratch.  Make homemade pickles – whatever you’ve wanted to try and didn’t because of lack of confidence, give it a go in 2012.  What have you got to loose?  It can’t be any worse than giving up on a resolution, right?