Random Observation/Comment #362: There’s something about peeling potatoes that makes me happy. It’s just a simple task that reminds me of spending the summers in Pennsylvania making mashed potatoes with my gravy master uncle. Still thinking about you, Goo Jerng…
Prepping will be a big part of this challenge. It’s important to optimize this process so the challenge doesn’t take up my entire life. Last year, my epic 30 day challenge was only possible because I had project managed every day and approached it with vigor and excitement.
In order to do the same with this challenge, I’ve thought about different variables I can control and prepared well beforehand. For example, a bulk of the writing (including this entry) is being written ahead of time so on the cooking days, I just need to worry about cooking, taking photos, and writing the observations.
The other variable that I’ve looked into is the shopping list for the week. With the exception of the meats (of which I will get fresh from the butcher on the way home from work), I think the vegetables and other ingredients can be purchased on a weekly basis. Using the “Shopping List” feature from AllRecipes, I have put together my shopping list for each week (given I follow the meals I want to cook per week).
Week 1: (pickles, deviled eggs, potato salad, stuffed zucchini, meatballs, oxtail soup, mac n cheese) – Bought at Trader Joe’s
- Cucumbers – $2.29
- Wasabi Mayo – $3.29
- Swiss Cheese – $2.65
-
Bowtie Pasta – $0.99
- Zucchini – $2.29
- 2 Lemons – $1
- Bag of Potatoes – $4.99
- 4 cloves of Garlic – $2
- 2 Red onions – $1.48
- Carton of eggs – $3
- Ground beef
- Oxtail
- (already had)
- Olive Oil
- Salt/Pepper
- Bread crumbs
- Cabbage
Week 2: (congee, sushi, naan, chicken tikka masala, pbj, ham and potato soup, chicken cordon bleu)
- Sushi rice
- Lettuce
- Chicken drumsticks
- Loaf of bread
- Flour
- Cornstarch
- Yeast
- Jam
- Peanut butter
- Ham
- Cream of Chicken can
- Chicken breast
Week 3: (sangria, eggs benedict, guinness corned beef, guac, burritos, tuna steak, okonomiyaki)
- Red Wine
- Champagne
- Oranges
- Apples
- Lemon
- Eggs
- Ziplock bags
- Guinness
- Corned Beef
- Carrots
- Avocados (buy ahead of time to ripen)
- Soft burrito shells
- Baked beans
- Tomato salsa
- Ahi tuna
- Cabbage
Week 4: (brownies, ravioli, jap stir fry, mashed potatoes, lime chicken, baked ziti, omelet in a bag, curry cauliflower, ramen burger)
- Potatoes
- Beef
- Chicken
- Limes
- Ziti patas
- Tomato sauce
- Lots of cheeses
- Eggs
- Curry paste
- Paprika
- Bell peppers
- Shitake mushrooms
- Cauliflower
- Ramen
- Beef patties
- Pickles (from before)
Receipts for each week’s purchases will be saved and the cost of all the ingredients for this 30 day challenge will also be analyzed at the end. The first week has already been filled out above (since I bought them already).
~See Lemons Prep and Ready to Cook
