What have I been up to

SO I may not have been on here much lately but that doesn't mean I haven't been cooking. I would love to say that I have been cooking up a storm but honestly the last few months have been extremely difficult and I'm having a pretty hard time. Cooking for me is my happy place and the thing that makes me happy. But honestly, every time I hear chefs talk they talk about needing the love and that your emotions show in your food and frankly it's true. When I have moments of happiness and joy - I cook and my food is stellar. That being said - the other times I have tried to cook to help find my joy again my food has been less than stellar. 

I don't know when or how I'll get through this rough patch - I just know I'm thankful for the person who is around and helping me keep myself together. 

In an attempt to remind myself of my joy - I have gone through to look at the things I have made that I need to blog about and the new things I have made that didn't make the list. Right now I'm at 66 things I have made - only 300 more to go! LOL it's getting difficult because I make new things but I don't think they qualify for the list because the entire thing isn't new - eg. the pork tenderloin I made with the glaze and Orange Habanero Mojo was a new recipe and new because I don't often do glazes or sauces but I mean it's pork tenderloin which I have made lots before - so it didn't make the list. 

1. beer battered onion ringsHam and Cheesy Egg Crepes with Mustard Sauce Recipes 
2. Garlic Aioli 
3. Chimichurri Sauce with Beef tenderloin and home made fries
4. Curried Cauliflower soup with Red pepper pure Curried Cauliflower Soup with Red Pepper Puree - Chef Michael Smith
5. Chicken Parmesan with Spaghetti and Tomato sauce
6. Pineapple carrot cake with brown butter frosting
7. Mother's day Mexican Feast
8. Hasselback potatoes and grilled pork tenderloin a la Rodriguez with a guava glaze and orange Habanero Mojo
9. Cheese Soufflé
10. Home made fettuccine with pesto and toasted pine nuts
11. Homemade pork tortellini
12. Five spice marinated pork on top of garlic ginger sweet potato purée with five spice apples
13. pea and goat cheese filled ravioli
14. Buttermilk fried chicken with buttermilk waffles 
15. Gumbo with Dirty Rice