Cooking Around the World

I'm starting to think more seriously about the possibility of a new challenge for Caleb and I.  I'd really like for us to go through the each country by making a traditional dish in our kitchen.  I think it'd be really adventurous, educational, and exciting.  We already enjoy trying new things and exploring cuisines, in fact we could probably already cross off quite a few countries already, but I'd like to make it a proper challenge and then blog about it, too!

via Digital Trends via Shutterstock

In case you didn't know (I didn't), there are 196 countries in the world.  I imagine it's going to take some strategy in order to not spend lots of money on little jars of things we'll only use once.  Maybe we'll magically only choose recipes we end up finding delicious, and then we'll just keep making the same things until we run out of the ingredients.  Either way, our pantry will get much more full.

Oh, and what about commonwealths?

Anyway, I've already mentioned the idea to Caleb.  He's not as keen on the idea as I am, but maybe if we start out safe and cook food from Western Europe first he'll be more receptive down the line.  We just looked through this picture list of grandmothers around the world and the foods they cook, and it got me excited all over again.  Caleb, too, was starting to think this wouldn't be such a bad idea after all.

I'd love to hear your thoughts!  Do you have any recommendations for dishes from other countries to try?  Any ideas for keeping costs low?  Any dishes to definitely NOT try?  Let me know in the comments below!