Try new recipes.
I sometimes get stuck in my ways. When I meal plan, I use recipes that I know are tried and true rather than attempt something new. Especially on a week night when the last thing I need is the catastrophe of a failed dinner plus a mess in the kitchen to deal with. I find myself drifting back to the easy ones that I know I’m good at. Back into my “comfort zone.”
The Viper Pilot never complains about my cooking (honest, he doesn’t) and he will often ask me to make a dish again (spicy thai noodles are his fave). I’m sure he gets sick of the endless variations of pasta or soup night after night…he’d just never admit to it. But he also loves when something new appears on his plate at dinner. I usually make the call on his thoughts about a new recipe by the look on his face when he walks in the door. He comes in and takes a whiff, then peeks into the kitchen, and makes a face or asks, “So…what exactly is that?” — first impressions are everything.
The other day the Viper Pilot asked me if I could make apple butter with the fresh apples from the tree in our back yard. I’ve never even had apple butter. (Seriously.) That’s way out of my league. I get stuck in my “comfort zone” making casseroles, soups, pastas, etc. and I’m cool with most desserts…but apple butter…that’s beyond me. I bought some at the store just to try it to see what I’m up against. I like it and it seems like it should be easy enough to make. Plus, I already have the apples…so why not?
I’m going to give it a shot.
What about you? What recipes are in your “comfort zone?”