apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I want to at least attempt these project this fall/winter:

Find a recipe for the perfect potato soup - I've tried tons
Make a successful braciole in the crockpot
Bake a pie from scratch (never done it!baking scares me)
Experiment with unusual grains (spefically millet and barley)

I want to start making bread again - I have a sourdough starter bubbling on my kitchen island as we speak.

I also want to try one of the brioche recipes from Peter Reinhart's Bread Baking Apprentice book.

I want to make some of the North African dishes that my dad grew up with and I've never tried to make.

I want to make a triple-layer cake with some fancy decorations!

I want to attempt making a croissant from scratch. It's cold enough in the house these days that I can have more time to tackle the pastry.

cassoulet!

I want to make homemade gumdrops. Actually, I want to make giant gumdrop-shaped fruity things that are halfway between gumdrops and gelees. And, they will preferably be able to live at room temperature. Is that too much to ask?

make sure you try the salted caramel french macaroons at Eurocafe in Pasadena! i love those (but they sell out fast).
I would love to know how to make the famous Peanut Butter cookie at Downbeat in Echo Parque. It's a double cookie with a squish of peanut butter inside. It's the best! Also, i can never get gingerbread cookies quite right. Either they are not soft enough, not dark and spicy enough, or too tar like!

yes Heidz! I want to make an epic cassoulet!!

Also, more extravagant layer cakes. And quick breads (particularly banana) that are delicious and actually HEALTHY (maybe I am asking too much).

And I'd also like to try my hand at a buche de noel.

Heidz and gourmandizzy, I am totally with you!
I might even try a cassoulet this weekend (but the much quicker Cook's Illustrated version published last month rather than the authentic all-day affair).

Other than that, some beautiful fondant-covered cake would be fun!! If only I had an excuse to have so much desert around for one person...

I just can't figure out what color to paint my (now white) cabinets. The rest of the kitchen is bright Mexican yellow and green. Will send pics!

@dezine: Croissants are a pain. But I suggest that if you do go for it, make yourself some pain au chocolat too as a treat. :)

I want to make more bread this winter, especially a fluffy pita that does not have pockets. This is apparently an impossible task, but they do exist so a recipe has to be out there somewhere...I just haven't found one. Soft, fluffy, lovely pita like one uses for gyros, you will be mine one day.

And more curries! Please! I love milder ones. (Also, curried roasted potatoes.)

I want to make a Dickensian Christmas dinner this year - roast goose and plum pudding. I've never done either of those things before, and they both sound very hard... but it also sounds like a lot of fun. I hope my relatives agree, cuz they'll have to eat it!

I want to explore cooking with "unusual" meats other than the grocers' standards of beef, pork, chicken and turkey. I've had a hankerin' for rabbit for weeks now! It requires an extra trip to get goat or lamb, and I would have to probably special order other things. I'm not sure where I could find duck either. My cassoulet was very nice without it, but I knew I was cheating.

I've never much cared for venison, but I'm sure that's only a question of preparation (eww venison jerky). If my husband manages to bring some home I'd love some suggestions. I'd also be curious as to other "hunters" recipes for phesant and the like. It's certianly eating locally and seasonally!

I'd also like to see a discussion of what eatin' plants can be grown easily indoors besides herbs. Next year we will be experimenting with a proper kitchen garden that cycles with the seasons, but this is Wisconsin and we are apartment dwellers - I don't think our landlords will permit coldframes.

And on the subject of cassoulet - oh man is it worth it! Even if you cheat like me :) I'm going to be experimenting with French country cuisine - I dream about a terrine I had in Limoges last year. Besides unusual types of meat, I'll be thinking about "nose to tail" cookery. (sighs dreamily)

I'm very excited by what everyone wants to try! Good luck all - yay for winter cooking!

I live in Hong Kong, and I promised a friend I would make tamales for Christmas. Before I read a recipe. Now I'm kind of kicking myself.

I'm thinking about turning the tamale-making into a party, though. The stuffing and folding will go so much faster that way!

i seem to be unable to bake anything involving yeast. here in europe we have dry yeast that you blend with water until it foams and this moist yeast from the fridge that i don't know how to use. regardless, my pizzas, breads, etc. are always awful, but things without yeast like scones are great. so some help with advice on how to bake with yeast would be great! thanks!

Making granola bars at home.

I recently moved to a house without an oven. My dad gave me his old one, but it's sitting out on the balcony so I can't use it when it rains, which is mostly everyday since I live in Holland.

Any tips for great winterdishes that don't need ovens? I can't roast anything or make pies and I'm lost for ideas.

@ellepoubelle (great screen name!) - Do you have access to a stovetop when it's raining? If so, get yourself a dutch oven and you can make braises! Instead of putting the pot in the oven to braise, leave it on a back burner on the lowest heat possible. It might cook a little faster, but it will be great.

There are also plenty of desserts you can make on the stovetop. Check out this post

And to all the cassoulet-makers - I'm so with you! Maybe I'll make one for Christmas dinner....yum....

TONS of bread baking!!!!!!:)