Month in Review - April 2008

May 1, 2008

Here is a quick review of the highlights from April at The New Cook and a discussion of things to come.

Top Posts

Most Commented:
The Minimum Equipment for a Kitchen, Part 1 - Thanks for the excellent advice. I am actually using my final list now to start thinking about what I need when I move into my apartment this summer.

Most Viewed:
Where Cookbooks Fail - This was actually published in March, but I got a wave of StumbleUpon users in April which bumped it up.

My Favorites:
My Recipe for Mush - A spectacular failure that was eventually revived.
What is Browning Food? - A look into the science of cooking and why you always “brown” things.

Favorite Recipe:
Iranian Basmati Rice - I don’t know why, but it was great.

What’s Happening in May?

I thought April was relatively successful, but not to the degree I was shooting for. I didn’t put in enough time as I wanted to - something I want to rectify this month. My goal for the month is to write six posts a week (everyday except Sunday). Posting frequency (about every other day) is not going to change though. This is more a test to see if I can post everyday in the future and a way to build up a nice backlog of posts. So we will see how it goes.

Also, I have been contemplating how I want to focus the site. So far I just write about whatever I find interesting or what I cook and try to mix up the topics of posts. The Amateur Gourmet has started a Tuesday Techniques series (posted on Wednesdays) where he looks mainly at Jacques Pepin’s Complete Techniques. I think something along these lines could be great for the site as it would give structure to what and how I am learning. I am considering a few books:

• Jacques Pepin’s Complete Techniques, Jacques Pepin
• La Varenne Pratique, Anne Willan
• The Professional Chef, Culinary Institute of America
• Le Cordon Bleu’s Complete Cooking Techniques, Le Cordon Bleu
• On Cooking, Labensky et al.
  

Does anyone have any suggestions for a technique focused book?

Anyway, I think this month I am going to try to write more and find a good technique book on which to possibly start a series. Thanks for reading!

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