Foodie Resolutions for 2017 (Yes, Really…)

Well. It’s been an interesting year, to say the least—part of the reason why I effectively took the better part of this year off from posting—but I won’t get into that now. Instead, it’s time for foodie goals! 

I went back and forth on what to do for 2017, and whether to do them at all. Ultimately, I decided that, yes, I needed to keep with my tradition and set some. Even though we’re 3/4 of the way through the year now (I had good intentions to post this about a month or two ago but, you know, life and all…), I’m determined to make them happen in the months remaining—and have strategically picked some that I think are pretty doable.

My final foodie goals verdict for 2016 was 2 for 5 completed, including making homemade kombucha and aioli. Both were sort-of successful—as in, there were no catastrophes or other things that got in the way of making them—but there was definitely room for improvement on both:

• I got too busy and, as such, my kombucha fermented too long before I bottled it. I tried it and let’s just say that it was drinkable, but not pleasant (womp, womp). I have since gotten off a kombucha kick, probably because I drank too much of it for a while there, but recently had some delicious homemade strawberry-basil kombucha from Greenmouth, which might just change my mind about it again.
• My aioli had an off taste to it, likely from the oil that I chose; if I remember correctly, it was canola or vegetable oil for general cooking purposes, but I think it had been opened for some time. It definitely was not a fresh bottle, whatever it was. For my next attempt, I’ll definitely buy fresh oil; more specifically, I’ll make the small investment in safflower or grapeseed oil for a lighter, more neutral taste.

In the interest of time, I’m narrowing down my list to three manageable goals for the rest of this year. Here’s what they are.

1. Make homemade mozzarella—Back in January, I had the awesome opportunity to go to Philly for a special birthday brunch at Garces Trading Company. I went there for dinner a few years ago and had some amazing Spanish- and French-inspired small plates. This time, though, I really looked forward to what was going to be on the menu for brunch. I most certainly was not disappointed and, in fact, I think I’ve been back there one or two times since then. One of those items was a warm, freshly-made mozzarella ball topped with salt, pepper, and a drizzle of fruity olive oil. Crusty bread, of course, was nearby, and to say it was delicious would be an understatement. Mozzarella isn’t very difficult to make and requires a few ingredients, which will make this a perfect weekend project.
2. Go sugar-free for a week—This is one that I’ve wanted to do for a while in an effort to have a healthier diet; I’ve heard good things about people’s experiences, increased energy and weight-loss included, after the initial headaches and other negative symptoms go away (part of a “detox” effect.) I still have some research to do on this so I can make sure I can do it gradually and safely, but when I do so I will also aim to eliminate any “fake” sweeteners—which I typically put in my AM Starbucks cold brew, without fail—and diet soda—which I have already cut back on in the last couple of weeks from what I was drinking. (Also, I recognize it is kind-of counterproductive to the former goal so, needless to say, they won’t be accomplished in the same week.)
3. Make homemade Kahlua—Another easy one to round-out the list. Dave told me that this is very easy to make and has tried it himself, so I’m going to see if there’s a way to put a spin on it. We’ll see…