The Big Idea

I recently saw the movie “Julie & Julia”, and I was inspired.

I have been a stay-at-home Mom now for exactly 16 months, the age of my sweet son Henry. I love being able to spend all of my time with him. We keep busy with gym class, music class, play dates with friends, visits to the park, and trips to the museum. Every afternoon I have one and a half hours (or on some blissful days two hours or more!) of guaranteed alone time while Henry naps. During that time I scurry around to complete housework, take my daily shower, and then sit back to do something for me. The “me” activity is typically one of three things: cooking, reading, or writing. Lately I have been feeling the urge to do something of significance with my free time and my favorite hobbies. Something that incorporates the things I love the most, but challenges me to push myself more than I usually do. Something with an end goal and measurable results, as this is what I miss most about my pre-Henry occupation.

So, after watching Amy Adams on the big screen cooking her way through Julia Child’s French cuisine in a year, I decided a similar experiment is exactly what I’ve been looking for. My husband, Ted, and I stood around the stove earlier this week while I diligently stirred a butternut squash and Portobello mushroom risotto, and brainstormed about a challenge that would be specifically suited to me. What we came up with was this: over the course of the next year, I will prepare at least one recipe from every country in the world. My kitchen creations tend to focus on classic comfort foods, so this will make me think and cook outside of the box. There are 193 countries (actual number is debatable, but this is the list I'm using), so I’m looking at about two meals per week. This might not sound hard, but given the fact that I am due with baby number two smack in the middle of this challenge, I think that’s just enough of a curve ball to keep things interesting. And hopefully, along the way, I will learn a thing or two about all of these different countries and cultures. I love to travel, but starting a family has curtailed our adventures for the time being. So this is a way of exploring other places without leaving my house. Ted and I have also decided to rate each meal, and once the year is over, we will plan a vacation to the destination that received highest ranks. I still need to devise a rating scale… look for this in the days to come.

So there you have it: 193 countries, 365 days, pregnant me, and my favorite room in our condo – the kitchen!

The official start date is Monday, October 5^th. Wish me luck!