Monday, December 31, 2012

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. Pin It

15 comments:

  1. Sounds the perfect way to celebrate a new year. You forgot to mention all the pleasure you have brought to your blog readers with your warm and humorous posts. Looking forward to more of the same for 2013, Happy New Year when it comes.

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    1. Thanks Janice, that's very kind of you. I'll do my best!

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  2. I don't think my list of 'things to do in 2012' ever got beyond one, which was to get back in the habit of making pastry again. So I admire your list, even if you didn't manage them all. Have a very happy New Year, and best wishes for 2013. :)

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  3. Happy New Year Lucy! And very best wishes for 2013 x

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  4. I've bought three slotted spoons this year and two of them seem to have disappeared without trace. There's something strange going on. I'm very impressed with the carving skills although if you'd won a race up a mountain while writing a book in a foreign language I'd have been even more impressed. My sole things to do in 2012 was to survive and not murder any in-laws. I think I'm going to make it - just. Have a wonderful New Year.

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  5. I really need to learn how to carve... At the moment, I just slice or shred :)
    Happy New Year Lucy! Best wishes for 2013! x

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  6. Two half marathons - you are my hero. After failed attempts of sharpening knives I now take mine into Petone and get them done professionally and instead wield a steel every time I take the knife out of the draw. I've reduced my cut fingers considerably. It's been fun reading about your kitchen exploits and meeting you at the Food Bloggers conference. I look forward to more fun and recipes in 2013. Happy New Year to you and yours.

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  7. Your witty, well written cooking exploits are fabulous hon and a real joy to read. Best wishes to you for a truly magical 2013! Becks x

    P.S. I am going to investigate getting my knives professionally sharpened!

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    1. Thank you! On the knives front, House of Knives in Petone apparently have a thing where you pay about $30 for a year's worth of knife-sharpening. Might be worth investigating? Or the guy I mention above is in Constable St, Newtown, next to People's Coffee. Good luck!

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  8. You've accomplished quite a lot! Helps to make achievable resolutions. Can't tell you how many times I have cut myself in our ultra sharp knives since my husband got a set of global knives earlier in the year that he keeps regularly sharpens. Surely it's not worth the pain! ;)

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  9. Mmmm, there are a few of your culinary resolutions I could do with mastering. Happy New Year, Lucy - I look forward to reading many more of your wonderful posts in 2013 xo

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  10. Happy new year - let's hope 2013 is the year we both have many frolics and much fun!

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  11. happy new year - I bought the tart tin but now have to actually use it - hope the dinner went well and you get stuck into those recipe clippings this year :-)

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  12. a belated happy new year. i love the idea of culinary resoultions! you've got me thinking, maybe i should make a list for 2013. i never make normal resolutions, but culinary ones sound intriguing!

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  13. Happy New Year Lucy! Hope it fun & food filled!

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Hello - thanks for stopping by. If this was real life I'd make you a cup of tea and open the biscuit tin, but in lieu of those things, let's have a chat anyway...