Trying something new

It's essential to keep an open mind, and be willing--better yet, eager to try new things. 

                                                                                                             Michael Abrash

Week 19

Any of you tired of going to the grocery store, getting to the meat and produce counter and buying the same ole thing week after week?  I’ll raise my hand up high.

Every New Year I have it on my resolutions list that I will try more new recipes. But as much as I talk about trying new recipes, and want it to be true, that noble idea seems to wane after a couple of weeks of new meal planning.  After all, it’s just easier to cook the same ole thing. 

I am really lucky because I have a husband that loves trying new things, and food has always been a curiosity to him.  In fact, he often encourages me to try new recipes.  And when I really open up my mind on the subject of getting out of my comfort zone in the kitchen , I’m reminded that life can seem pretty hum drum if we constantly eat the same foods, the same way, every day.

Let me share some reasons I've given in the past for not trying more new recipes: “I don’t have time.  I don’t have the right ingredients. Do I have to?  Buying all those new ingredients cost too much.  It’s just easier to do what I know and have been practicing for years.  I’ve been thinking hard all day at work and when I come home, I don’t want to have to think some more.  I tried something new once, and my family didn’t like it. It takes too much time to try something new.  When I come home, I just want to ‘veg’”…. and as you know, that’s not a food term. Any of those excuses have a familiar ring? 

Ok…now that I’ve attempted truth therapy in embracing this ‘trying new recipes challenge’, I think I’m ready to move on.  Having read over these pathetic excuses out loud, I see that the biggest barrier to making this happen on a regular basis is my bad attitude. I’ve gone about it in the past much the way I’ve gone about making other changes in my life.  Start on Monday and work hard at it for a few days, maybe even weeks, and I slowly end up back in the same ole rut.

But,  I’m thinking that using my small step philosophy on this idea may be the key.  I’m going to work on an organizational plan for incorporating new recipes into our weekly meals. But rather than going on my usual crash phase of trying new food every night, I’m going to try something new every week instead.  That way it gives me time to plan ahead, shop ahead, and prepare ahead.

So here’s my plan:

First step:  Find recipes to try. My daughter gave me a subscription to one of her favorite food magazines. I’m going to go through them and cut out any recipe that looks like something we would enjoy.  But besides those recipes, I also have a plethora of others in the back room stuck away in a cupboard, which I’ve been collecting for some 40 odd years; Albeit, they are a bit yellowish and crinkled.   Hmmm so I guess it’s not just having new recipes to try that has been a challenge for me in the past, but it’s the action step that goes with it.

I’m also going to organize those recipes in some kind of user friendly manner.  I think I’ll categorize them into food groups. (Meat, vegetable, carbs, desserts, etc.)  And then I’ll select one new recipe each week and put the ingredients on my shopping list. 

If you’ve been reading my blog then you may remember that I am eating more healthy foods these days, in fact I created a top 100 healthy food list for myself. It makes sense to use that food list to help me to determine some new foods/recipes I want to try. 

I’m not going to rush into it this time.  I’m going to be methodical and intentional.  So this week, I’m going to get the scissors out and cut out the recipes, the following week I’ll organize the recipes, and then I’ll follow that by putting the ingredients on my grocery list. Whala….I’ll be ready to mix it up in the kitchen. 

You know, this idea does make me willing…better yet, eager to try something new.  Watch out 2012…I smell change in the wind!

Small step: 52 new recipes in 52 new weeks!