March 2016 Recap

Since I finished the 100-day challenge on December 31, I've been cooking about once per week.

Here's what I made over the past 90 days:

• 🐓 Pan Roasted Chicken: 1x
• 🐓 BBQ Chicken Thighs: 1x
• 🐓 Lemon Chicken Mushroom Pasta: 1x
• 🐟 Miso Glazed Salmon: 2x
• 🐟 Fish (Tilapia) Tacos: 1x
• 🐟 Pan Fried Tilapia: 1x
• 🐮 Korean BBQ Beef Short Ribs: 5x
• 🍤 Shrimp Tacos: 1x
• 🍤 Shrimp Scampi Pasta: 1x
• 🐣 Fried Eggs: 3x
• 🐣 Scrambled Eggs: 3x
• 🐣 Boiled Eggs: 2x

I cooked 22 times (14 dinners), and I guess I got tired of the dishes from the challenge because I only made them 3 times total!

Other thoughts on the past 90 days:

• SHOPPING IN BULK and FREEZING were major keys 🔑🔑🔑 to success for me.  My Costco trip and protein portioning/freezing session saved me lots of time, stress, and decision-making for the past 3 months.
• Having ingredients in the freezer comforted me.  Knowing I had 9+ chances each to cook chicken/beef/fish, I felt free to practice without fear of messing up.
• I started cooking eggs again.  Still love 'em.  Still easy.
• I cooked shrimp for the first time, which was easier than I expected.  I like how they defrost and cook fast.
• I didn't think I'd experiment this much — I attempted 11 new recipes.
• I memorized one new recipe!  🎉🎉🎉  Korean BBQ Beef Short Ribs, using this marinade and this heating method.  This is one of my favorite foods, and now I can make it my favorite way: medium rare on the inside, with a nice char on the outside.  All using the broiler… a few months ago I didn't even know what a broiler was.
• My list of go-to dishes is evolving.  The Pan Roasted Chicken fell out of the rotation because I'm leaning towards simpler dishes right now (it's nice to have in my repertoire, but I prefer quicker meals for mid-week cooking).  As of this writing, my go-to list is as follows:  Korean BBQ Beef Short Ribs, Miso Glazed Salmon, & the 3 Egg Dishes.  

Do More/Do Less:

Things I want to do more/less of…

Do More:

• Grocery shop in bulk
• Plan a menu for the week
• Cook and freeze ready-to-eat meals (like breakfast burritos 🍳🌯)
• Master/memorize the Shrimp Scampi Pasta.  It's really good and easy and would be a nice dinner to have during the week.  Right now I still have to look at the recipe.  Just need practice.
• Keep practicing the Filipino dishes.
• Buy & eat more vegetables!  🌽🍠🍆🍅

Do Less:

• Wait until 5pm to decide what to cook for dinner
• Cook just enough food for dinner that night.  Start cooking at least enough for leftovers the next day, and ideally big batches of food for the entire week.  Meal Prep Sunday!

That's all for today.  I'm still far away from my long term goal 1, but happy with my progress so far.  Baby steps.  And last but not least, a special shout out to all the food bloggers who shared the lessons they'd teach their younger selves at a cooking class for beginners!