Complete: 10. Year of baking

I'm all done! I've baked 52 new items this year!

My last two bakes were butter mochi (forgot a picture) and mushipan (stupidly easy and delish):

I've gone through almost 2 25 lb. bags of flour, and I've conquered my beast of an oven (maybe).

I've posted pictures of most everything here as I've baked them, but here's a full list of what I baked:

1. Bread
1. French bread
2. Whole wheat with flax
3. Rustic French Bread
4. 90 minute bread
2. Cookies and bars
1. Sugar cookies with royal icing
2. Almond pretzel cookies
3. Rosemary shortbread
4. Alton's peanut butter cookies
3. Cakes
1. Mexican molten lava cakes
2. Victoria sandwich
3. NY cheesecake
4. Deco roll cake
4. Pies/Tarts
1. Strawberry pie
2. Cornish pasties
3. French Easter pie
4. Chicken pot pie
5. Pastries
1. Palmiers
2. Cream puffs
3. Kouign Amann
4. Gougeres
6. Savory Circles
1. Seedy crackers
2. Pizza
3. Bagels
4. Broccoli cheddar quiche
7. Rolls/Breadsticks
1. Copycat Crazy Bread
2. Dinner rolls
3. Burger buns
4. Naan
8. Muffins/Sweet Rolls
1. Cinnamon rolls
2. Almond poppyseed muffins
3. Kolaches
4. St. Lucia buns
9. Sweet/Quick Breads
1. Challah
2. Nutella raspberry babka
3. Snickerdoole bread
4. Zucchini bread
10. Fancies
1. Macarons
2. Baklava
3. Chocolate souffles
4. Swedish princess cake
11. Biscuits, etc.
1. Baking powder biscuits
2. Berry cobbler
3. Cheddar Bay biscuits
4. English scones
12. International
1. Focaccia
2. Pitas
3. Pao de queijo
4. Melon pan
13. Potpourri
1. Raspberry clafoutis
2. Beef Wellington
3. Butter mochi
4. Mushipan

I think I would make a lot of these again, but it's also worth it to just buy some things (puff pastry, I'm looking at you). A lot of these were surprisingly easy (cream puffs, heck), which is very dangerous to know. They certainly weren't all good bakes, but I think I definitely improved my skills.

I'm so proud of myself, but also so glad to be done. Whew!

Complete: 35. go to 10+ new Provorem restaurants

We finished #35 in style with the wonderful assistance of Colette and Julie. Thanks, ladies!

Lunch was doner kebab at Rimmel's, dinner was all the snacks at Fruta Crush, and dessert was at The Wash. Naturally, I 'grammed it all.

I'll rank the 10 restaurants below:
1. Oh Mai
2. Asa Ramen
3. Rimmel's
4. Fruta Crush
5. Jugueria Rodriguez
6. Brasa's
7. Asahi
8. The Wash
9. Pizza Studio (doesn't actually exist anymore...it was replaced by #1 Oh Mai)
10. Lucy's Brazilian Kitchen

Oh man, Oh Mai and Asa Ramen are amazing. SO glad they exist and so close by! Rimmel's was a delightful find, as well. Fruta Crush has caught my eye for a while, so I'm glad we've finally gone. They just serve Mexican snacks. My favorites were the tostiesquite, which is Mexican style corn over chips, and the spicy apple - an apple coated in tamarind candy, salt, and chili powder. Super yum. Though I was the only one of the four of us who really liked it. More for me!

Anyway, so glad I've done this goal, because I love eating out, and I love trying new places. Provorem really has a great food scene.

Busy December

Christmas prep has got me under the pump, and on top of everything I'm still baking. It's times like these that I question my commitment to these Very Silly Goals.

2 potpourri bakes down, 2 to go!

Raspberry clafoutis

Humble Beef Wellington (complete with soggy bottom - Paul and Mary would be so ashamed)

Wish me luck!

Wrapping up the bakes!

I baked melon pan on Saturday, which is something I've always wanted to do.

 Melon pan is a Japanese bun wrapped in cookie dough. One of them exploded, haha.

I'm really glad for my year of baking as it's pushed me to make so many new things and so many thing I've been wanting to make anyway!

It's the last month and I've declared it potpourri month to catch all (well, 4 of) the things that didn't fit into categories or things I still want to bake. I've got to finalize things quickly, but here are my ideas:

• Japanese-style Christmas cake
• Chinese steamed buns (I've done savory, but never sweet)
• Butter mochi
• Japanese-style cheesecake
• Chilean bread
• Sourdough (never did sourdough!)
• Beef Wellington (the poor man's version with ground beef)
• Savory kolaches/filled buns 
• A modern art dessert
• Clafouti
• A galette (informal pie)
• No knead bread
• A decent whole wheat loaf

I could include the international recipes in item #69, so maybe that will help me decide. Hm! We'll see!