My new Leaf and some short-term goals

What I learned from my new Happiness book is that I should be engaging in more "flow" activities, which are activities that I enjoy to the point where I 'lose' myself. Oh, how the list of those activities are long and many, but one of the more recent ones that I have discovered over the course of this year is cooking. I once read a blog where the writer listed out all the recipes and goals that she had for the upcoming year and tracked her progress each time she made a recipe - what a great idea! This has inspired me to make a summer list to keep me cooking seasonally and this way, I'll never forget to make a recipe that I happen to read that I love.

1 - perfect my dumpling recipe. use new info from ah ma by
1) maybe adding in turkey meat?
2) adding an egg
3) using nappa cabbage instead of chives?

2 - cabbage slaw from kitchn.com here adjust by:
1) adding in red peppers (like the dish at guo ciao mee shien restaurant in taipei)
2) crushing the peanuts (maybe even frying them in oil)
3) adding sesame seeds

3 - broccoli slaw here

4 - zi ma mien (sesame noodles) - what my mom made in california with the horrendous lime olive oil. blegh. adjust by:
1) using normal olive oil
2) adding vinegar instead of rice vinegar, which she used

5 - ONE panini sandwich!!!! and or tetramezzi / crostini. should i prep for a party?

cookbooks i'd like to buy:
1 - simple italian snacks
2 - simple italian sandwiches
3 - land of plenty
4 - fuschia dunlop's other book
5 - fuschia dunlop's memoir
6 - some of giada's books - MAYBE.

Off Hiatus!!

So many things that I want to make!

1 - strawberry yogurt ice cream (via my hand mixer)
2 - braised pork belly marinated in star anise, 5 spice powder
3 - strawberry cake!
4 - i want to use the black sesame paste (is it expired?)
5 - spinach and feta stuffed chicken breast
6 - balsamic vinagrette
7 - a pressed ham / cheese sandwich using grey poupon! (croque monseiur?)
8 - chinese beef ho fun
9 - want to incorporate my hoisin sauce?
10 - crab cakes?

things i want to buy:
1 - food processor
2 - ice cream maker
3 - hitachino beer! (white ale)