What Do You Want to Bake in 2011?

‘Tis the season for making resolutions. Here are 11 things I have resolved to bake in 2011.

1. Walnut-filled Slavic Potica – Pronounced “po-teet-sa,” potica is nut roll pastry. The potica pictured above was made by my mother-in-law, and the recipe dates back to my husband’s great grandmother, who made it every year for Christmas. My mother-in-law warns me it takes time to make, but I think it will be worth the effort.
2. Egg Tart – I had my first egg tart at A&A Bakery during a visit to San Francisco’s Chinatown last year. It was highly recommended by a friend of my husband’s, and for only 99 cents, the experience lived up to his rave review. Since we won’t likely make it back to San Francisco in 2011, especially since we were so fortunate to go twice in 2010, I have resolved to make it at home this year.
3. Crackers – “Why crackers?” you may be wondering. At the risk of sounding like a crazy pet lady, I was feeling guilty after making homemade treats for my dog, while my pet cockatiel looked on longingly. She loves Wheat Thins, and I found a recipe for Wheat Thins crackers on a blog called Kitchen Stewardship that I’d love to try to make for her. (OK. I know, I am a crazy pet lady.)
4. Croissants – Bread and chocolate are two of my favorite things. When I learned that chocolate and croissants are a popular breakfast treat in France, I immediately wanted to go there. Since I won’t likely make it to France this year either, I’m planning to make them at home. I even found a recipe in a new cookbook I got for a bargain at the Half Price Book Store titled “What’s Cooking Baking.”
5. Souffle – Another French baked treat I want to try simply because I’ve never made it before. It sounds intimidating, but after mastering creme brulee last year, I’m feeling more confident to give a souffle a try.
6. Rhubarb Something – I planted my first rhubarb plant last year. I’m hoping it will last through the winter. If not, I will have to get my spring rhubarb fix from the farmer’s market. Knowing my love of rhubarb, my in-laws gave me a book titled “Everything Rhubarb” for Christmas. It’s from an annual rhubarb festival in Lanesboro, Minnesota. There are so many recipes to choose from, including cheesecake, coffee cake, bread, cobbler, and of course, pie,  There was even one for Rhubarb Ketchup. I’m not sure which recipe I’ll try in 2011, but I doubt it will be the ketchup. Maybe we’ll even make it Lanesboro this year for the annual rhubarb festival, if I am lucky.
7. The Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie – I can make a decent peanut butter cookie, ginger cookie, sugar cookie, and even meringue cookies. But I still have yet to master the perfect chocolate chip cookie. Mine always spread out into a big gooey mess after baking. This year I want to find a fail-proof chocolate chip cookie recipe that stays thick and puffy. If you have a recipe like this, please send it my way.
8. A Muffin With a Top – I have muffin envy. Mine always go flat. I want to learn how to make muffins with a beautiful puffed top, like these Apple Walnut Muffins from Baking Bites and those Chocolate-Chocolate Chunk Muffins from Brown-Eyed Baker. How do they get those tops to puff? I plan to find out in 2011.
9. Key Lime Pie – For our one-year anniversary, Ken and I celebrated with a trip to the Florida Keys. The highlight of the trip for my husband was the key lime pie. I tried making it at home once after that trip. It was a disaster. The pie filling never set up, and the graham cracker crust absorbed it like a sponge. It was more like key lime soup in a graham cracker mush. I’m on a quest for the perfect key lime pie recipe.
10. Maple Cake and Ice Cream – My mom lives in New Hampshire, and every year for Christmas I get real New England maple syrup by the half gallons. One year, she  also sent me the New Hampshire Maple Syrup Recipes cookbook. Who knew you could make so many different things with maple syrup? A few of the recipes for maple cakes and maple ice cream definitely caught my eye. Maybe I’ll even make some maple cookies to send to mom.
11. Fruit Cake – This is a favorite of Ken’s grandfather. I tried making it for him one year, but wasn’t impressed with how it turned out. It seemed somewhat dry after “marinating” in the fridge soaked in a brandy filled cheesecloth. Then Ken’s grandfather brought us a fruit cake from Jaarsma’s Bakery in Pella, Iowa. It changed my view of fruitcake forever. It was so moist, with so much fruit it was more like candy than cake. Once I got my hands on it, Ken barely got a bite. I must find out how they make this magical fruit cake. It’s my Christmas wish for this year.

So those are my resolutions for a new year of baking. What are yours?