Let's Whip It Up!

Do you ever find yourself in a cooking rut? We all do: cooking the same thing over and over because it tastes pretty good and it's easy. But it's time to stop that. Oh yes. And we are going to do it together. This summer, RA and I are hosting Whip It Up: Taking Recipes on Test Drives Since 2008. Each week we'll each try new recipes, post them on our blogs to share these recipes with each other and maybe even develop our own recipe binders.

I'm sure you have questions so I'm going to try to answer them.

Wait, so what's going on?
Each week you try at least one new recipe. You post it on your blog along with photos of the finished product, should you choose to do so. You also answer questions about whether the recipe was good, easy and if you'd try it again. Each week RA or I will post a round up of all of the recipes on our blogs so you can go see what everyone else is doing.

Well, that sounds kind of cool. What do I have to do to sign up?
Send an e-mail to us at whippingitup@gmail.com and let us know that you want to partake. You have two weeks to sign up, the deadline is June 27th. Don't worry, I'll post a reminder as the date gets closer.

When does this whole challenge start?
We will begin our challenge the week of July 7th, with the wrap up posted here on my blog on July 11th. The last week of the challenge is August 25th with the wrap up posted on August 29th.

I'm really busy this summer and I might need to miss a week, can I still participate?
Of course! If you're going to miss a week you can double up another week. A maximum of two recipes a week will be accepted so you can enter the prize drawing at the end of the summer.

Wait, there's a prize?!
THERE IS! At the end of the eight weeks, everyone who completes at least eight new recipes will be entered into a random drawing for a new cookbook. The choices are:

• Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking (my favorite!)
• The America's Test Kitchen Family Cookbook (RA's favorite!)
• Barefoot Contessa at Home (just an awesome choice!)

But I'm kind of stumped about what I should make...
Ah, we all go through that. If you're stumped for a new recipe, RA and I will guide you each week with a suggested theme. The theme will be posted each week with the wrap-up post and is merely a suggestion and you don't have to follow it, but it's also a good jumping off point.

I need some more help.
RA and I came up with a list of resources which you can find here on RA's blog: Resources. If you're stumped beyond that you are always welcome to ask us and your fellow participants in the weekly wrap-up comments.

I need a badge!
Of course we have badges. You can find the badges here on my blog and you can also go to the flickr pool to download them in different sizes.

Here it is in 100 px

Here it is in 216 px

So we post a recipe on our blog and that's it?
Well, sort of. You're going to post the recipe (or a link to an online source) and then talk about it. In fact, we do have a bit of a suggested format. It's only three parts. First, you'll introduce your recipe, tell us where you found it and maybe show us a picture of the final product (you can add the pic to our group flickr pool too!). Then you'll list the recipe and any modifications you made. At the end, you'll give us your verdict by answering the following questions:

• Was the recipe easy to follow?
• Did the dish taste good?
• Would you make it again?

So let's recap:

• You try a new recipe each week
• You post about the recipe on your blog
• You send a link to your post to whippingitup@gmail.com by Thursday of each week at midnight
• RA and I will post a round up on Friday for you to check out what other people made
• There's a prize in August!

Comments

[RA]

Woo! Let the recipe hunting begin!

[nancypearlwannabe]

Woot. I am so down with this. Now I just need to find a recipe that will make you all drool when you read it...

[Rhi]

I'm already kinda doing this with my Cooking for One thingy - so I'm in!

[Jess]

I just posted a comment on RA's post about this--this is awesome, and perfect timing! I may start off with a couple of posts about the new recipes that I did last week, even though I won't have photos. I am super excited.

[Laurel]

What a great idea! I am packing to move in July, so this might be the motivation I need to cook even once a week!

[Erin]

Sounds like fun! Sending in my email now!

[Kristabella]

I'm not sure I can participate, but I am going to steal all the yummy recipes!

[HollowSquirrel]

I don't get it. What do you have to do?

kidding.

Um, I can tell you right now, that you'll be on the Today Show for this. Catchy title. Cute Graphic. Get ready to chat with Kathie Lee...

[HollowSquirrel]

I'll participate if you up the ante and include Rocco diSpirito as a prize. And if everyone else's kitchens mysteriously burn down during the contest, it's completey random.

[Stephanie]

Oooh... that sounds like a lot of fun! I think I'll try to join, but can't guarantee making something each of the 8 weeks. I guess that just means I might be out of the running for the prizes, which isn't too big a deal.

Are there any restrictions on the recipes? Does it have to be dinner? Is there an ingredient/time limit?

[Sheri]

I'll do it too. But don't expect too much, cuz I suck at all the technical computer-y stuff.

I'm a great cook though, and I have a ton of cookbooks.

[slynnro]

I just might need to do this too! Great idea!

[Vanessa]

Ohhh, I need to do this! This sounds like fun and I love to cook. The prizes? I want them!