Today is my 30th birthday. And I’m celebrating in India – my 30th country!  In India, the food is incredible.  Transcendent.  Delicious.  Fantastic.  etc. etc. etc.

That amazes me.

I decided that since I will soon, finally, have a kitchen again, I need to celebrate turning 30 by learning to make / perfect 30 dishes every cook should know.

I originally got the idea from Elly, who stole borrowed the idea from Kelsey.

So, here’s my list. Cross your fingers that I will once again have an oven, and can get started soon. I think I’ll need all the time I can get.

1. Boeuf Bourguignon
2. Bagels
3. Chocolate Gateau
4. Beef wellington
5. Homemade pasta
6. Pozole
7. Alfajores
8. Macarons
9. Croquembouche
10. Marshmallows
11. Gnocchi
12. V8 Cake
13. Fettuccine Alfredo
14. Checkerboard Cake
15. Chicken mole
16. Salt crusted chicken
17. Croissants
18. Tempered chocolate
19. Dim sum buns
20. Royal icing frosted sugar cookies
21. Beef Stroganoff
22. Homemade ice cream
23. Chocolate soufflé
24. English muffins
25. Challah
26. Puff pastry
27. Red Velvet Cake
28. English Toffee
29. Caramels
30. Beer

Bonus: Sourdough bread

Wish me luck, and please, come over for dinner!

What I find most interesting about my list is how many of the foods are meat centered.  I’m about 90% vegetarian…and yet I, apparently, want to cook a fair amount of meat.

But, seriously, everyone should know how to fry a chicken.  If travel has taught me anything it’s that fried chicken is the world’s favorite food.