I’m not a fan of reality television. I don’t like watching shows that make untalented people famous. I don’t like shows that focus on humiliation. And I really don’t like shows that use meanness to “create drama.”
This last practice seems to be a staple on cooking competition shows. Although I’ve learned a lot about ingredients and techniques from watching “Chopped” and “Top Chef,” I simply can’t stand the cruel judges or the sniping between the “chef-testants.”
The one exception? “The Great British Baking Show” on PBS. After watching the first episode, I immediately began binging on the rest. Not only does this charming program highlight the contestants’ skills, it features people who are supportive of each other. And when each episode ends, I head into the pantry, examine the ingredients on the shelves and start planning what I’m going to make next.
Last week, the Brown Eyed Baker posted a blog entry about her kitchen conquests. Since she and I share a similar cooking style — we’re both huge fans of America’s Test Kitchen — I decided to follow her example and make a list of the 100 recipes I want to master. They are:
Apple cider doughnuts
Beignets
Breadsticks (both crunchy and chewy)
Challah
Ciabatta
Focaccia
Glazed chocolate cake doughnut holes
Honey wheat dinner rolls
Kaiser rolls
Parker House Rolls
Parmesan and garlic butter pull-apart bread
Sourdough bread from homemade starter
Thin-crust pizza
Quick Breads:
British scones
Buttermilk biscuits
Chocolate banana bread
Churros
Irish soda bread
Shortbread
Tart cherry and toasted almond scones
Cookies/Bars:
Biscotti
Hot chocolate thumbprint cookies
Mexican wedding cookies
Pastries:
Cherry chocolate rolls
Éclairs
Funnel cakes
Kouign-Amann
Raspberry-swirl lemon cheesecake bars
Cakes:
Angel food cake
Banana pudding cupcakes
Black forest cake
Blueberry bundt cake
Boston cream pie
Butter cake
Carrot cake
Chai spiced coffee cake
Charlotte rousse
Chocolate biscuit cake
Ding Dongs
Dobos torte
German chocolate cake
Ginger peach cupcakes
Gluten-free almond cakes
Marble pound cake
Midnight pumpkin layer cake
Millionaire’s layer cake
Petit fours
Pineapple upside down cake
Pound cake
Red velvet cupcakes
Trifle
Pies:
Cheddar apple pie
Cherry handpies
Chess pie
Chocolate cheesecake
Chocolate cream pie
Chocolate handpies
New York cheesecake
Pumpkin cheesecake
Breakfasts:
Baked French toast muffins
Blueberry pancake casserole
Breakfast carbonara
Crepes
Quiche
Dinners:
All-chicken pot pie
Beef stroganoff
Calzones
Chicken chimichangas
Chicken saltimbocca
Fettuccine with asparagus and smoked salmon
Fideuà
Guinness pie
Homemade fettuccine
Mahogany chicken
Maryland crab cakes
Mississippi roast
Paella
Pepperoni stuffed chicken
Pierogi
Rigatoni with white bolognese
Stromboli
Tortellini
Soups, Salads and Sides:
Bacon scalloped potatoes
Baked beans
Chorizo queso
Chorizo corn chowder
Crockpot chicken gnocchi soup
Mozzarella sticks
Shrimp and corn chowder
White bean and rosemary gratin with parmesan croutons
Frozen Desserts:
Mint chocolate chocolate chip ice cream
Semifreddo
Miscellaneous Desserts:
Baked Alaska
Chocolate mousse
Chocolate souffle
Flan
Fudge
Nestle Crunch bars
Pots de creme
Twix bars
Who wants to come over and taste my treats? If no one volunteers, M will be forced to be my guinea pig (not that he minds). I’m also open to suggestions of other recipes to try. Dishes that serve two people are always preferred.
