Cheers to 2012

The end of 2012 hasn't so much crept up on me as snuck in, wearing a balaclava, to bash me over the head with a baseball bat. Or a rolling pin. Or both. This year has been the best of times and the worst of times in all sorts of ways; most of the time it was about putting one foot in front of the other and keeping going.
So I don't have a triumphant list of achievements to tick off - I didn't climb a mountain or win a race (though I did run two half-marathons). I didn't write a book or learn a language. I haven't grown anything spectacular in the garden, unless you count letting all the silverbeet go to seed (it does look pretty impressive when it's 6ft tall). I had lots of good ideas and acted on very few of them.

I was beginning to feel the year had been a complete write-off when I remembered my list of  culinary resolutions for 2012. Let's see how they went...

The Nibbly Tea - one of 2012's greatest hits

1. I will learn to sharpen knives.... Well, my brother did give me a lesson and I did try, but I'm still not very confident about doing it. More importantly, I have found a man with a little knife-sharpening shop and I think it will do us all good if I support him in 2013.

2. I will learn to carve a turkey/chicken/poussin/quail properly... Done. We haven't eaten any turkeys, poussins or quail, but I can carve a chicken like a pro now, despite my lack of razor-sharp knives.

3. I will buy a slotted spoon... Done. Thanks to my lovely cousin Rebecca, who bought me one. It's a thing of beauty and I think of her every time I use it.

4. I will wear gloves to do the washing up and remember that wet teatowels are of no use whatsoever when handling hot oven trays.... Needs work.

5. I will delve into the piles of recipe cuttings and cull them ruthlessly... Needs work.

6. I will buy a tart tin with a removeable base so we can eat more pies.... Done! And I have an amazing book, Pie, to help me make more of them.

7. I will sit down to eat... I am trying, honest.

8. I will not sit down to eat at my desk, if I can help it. Fail. Epic Fail. But there is no time at work to do anything else.
9. I will just say no to the enormous glace cherry-topped macaroons sold at the supermarket... Done! I bought one in the middle of the year, ate it in about two bites and realised the spell was broken.
10. I will remember how lucky I am to be able to have food in my fridge and family and friends to share it with. Done. Often.

The best sponge in the world - see Frankie issue 50 for the secret recipe!

On that note, tonight we're having six people for dinner, plus two excitable children. I'm going to see out 2012 in the way I spent most of it - apron on, oven whirring, dishwasher loaded, holding two conversations at once, glass in hand.

Thanks for your support this year. I'm looking forward to more fun and games in 2013.