I feel the motivation

creeping back. Maybe January is my primer button... hopefully. 

So, I mentioned the cutting back on eating out and making more meals at home. We'd started talking about that last year, and we really started acting on it at the end of November. I think it all started when I bought an extra turkey so we could have sandwiches. Trying to keep it going, I decided to try a recipe for a meal that I've always hated.

Chicken pot pie. I've never liked them, but they kept coming up in conversations. Then a video for recipe popped up. It was this one HERE. Guess what. I'm totally a fan now. Well, I'm a fan of these chicken pot pies. I'll definitely make these again.

I was immediately inspired to start cooking more. Right after that was Dad's birthday, and he requested biscuits with sausage gravy for breakfast. I tried a recipe for 7Up biscuits. They were awesome.

I was on a roll so I decided I needed a new dutch oven for Christmas. I picked out this Le Creuset and it's so pretty.

I knew the first dish I would make would be coq au vin because it's been a while since I've made it.

Next up was a copycat recipe, ish. I wanted the mushroom sauce from La Madeleine. I went ahead and pan fried chicken breasts to go with it.

I forgot that I was trying to get into the habit of taking pictures of things I'm making (to help with the motivation) and it was almost gone by the time I remembered. oops.

I stepped aside and let Cosme make something that he'd been wanting, and it was something that I'd never had. He made butter chicken and we all liked it.

Next up was something I'd been seeing on Pinterest and it didn't go over so well. I made orzo with roasted vegetables. I thought it was decent.

I went into the next one from Pinterest and wasn't expecting much after the orzo, but it was surprisingly good. Let me clarify. I hoped it would be good. Once I started mixing and sampling, I had doubts. It called for roasting strawberries and rustic bread. I had a loaf of brioche and a loaf of sourdough. I decided to sample each. I tried whipping the ricotta with honey as instructed, but it wasn't enough and I pulled the powdered sugar out. That did it. The brioche tasted better, but the sourdough's texture worked better. I'd probably stick with the brioche. I also learned that I'm not a fan of roasted strawberries. I will keep them plain and sweetened next time.

First with sourdough,

and next with brioche.

Anyway, since I feel the motivation coming back, I figured I'd post all of this to help keep me on track.

Now I've got to get a grocery order placed because I'm planning on red beans and rice today or tomorrow.