Progress Report
Annie & Alison Newsletter #26
I realize it’s been a few weeks since my last newsletter, so I figured it’s time for a progress report! Since October 30, I’ve done a good bit of cooking. Not as much as I would have hoped, but enough to maintain the self-imposed deadline of “225 recipes in 365 days” as a viable target.
Since my last newsletter, I’ve cooked and written about 28 recipes. All in all, I’ve completed 186 recipes, and have 39 left to cook and write about in a span of 40 days. We’re in the home stretch! January 27, 2022 is the deadline.
I won’t list all 28 recipes from the past 7 weeks, but I will share some highlights!
Low and Slow Rib Roast with Rosemary and Anchovy. Certainly one of my proudest achievements throughout the project. With the help of a digital meat thermometer, oven thermometer, and a few quick prayers, I roasted this 5 lb. rib roast to perfection. I’ll never forget holding my breath as I sliced into it, and then sighing with joy and relief as the perfectly pink flesh revealed itself. A true victory. I served this with Alison’s Little Gem and Pickled Turnip Salad (surprisingly delicious!) and…
Sheet Cake with Mascarpone and Coffee, an American gal’s best attempt at tiramisu. Baking this dessert was sort of like solving a puzzle or intermediate math problem. It even required a ruler!
Clams and Cod in Heavy Cream with Tiny Potatoes and Celery. The lemon juice, red pepper flakes, and sourdough bread for dipping completed this dish. I could honestly eat a full meal of bread soaked in the broth.
Sour Cream Flatbreads. A low effort, highly impressive, delightfully chewy and dippable flatbread that I plan to pair with many more meals in the future.
Luckiest Biscuits in America. A darn good biscuit with plenty of buttery, fluffy layers, plus a chance to write and reflect on lucky moments in my life. Alison reposted my Instagram Story about this recipe and sent me a personal message thanking me again for doing this project! Lucky biscuits, indeed.
A lot of people have asked if the recipes left are the ones I’m least excited to cook. About three months into this project, I realized that I had to start crossing off the ones I didn’t have an appetite for, or I’d run into a real problem at the end. I tried, friends. I really did. But of the 39, 10 of them are seafood centric, which, especially in the winter, do not excite me one bit. I can’t say the final days will be easy. However, very few recipes have proved to be an utter disappointment, and if history tells me anything, this seafood will likely pleasantly surprise me.
What’s left? 2 breakfasts, 5 appetizers, 6 salads, 7 side dishes, 14 main dishes, 5 desserts.
I’m most excited for Pizza Night and Yogurt-Marinated Leg of Lamb. I’m least excited for Oil-Roasted Sardines with Mayonnaise and Quick Weeknight Fish Stew with Olives. I’ll report back on my progress after the holidays.
Thank you all for being a part of this journey! Merry Christmas to each of you. May this season provide you with rest and wonder.
xo,
Annie