good enough to eat -- culinary challenges.

 
COVETING: J. Crew Liberty-Collar Merino Sweater in Stripe
www.jcrew.com; $125 
As if the combination of a Peter Pan collar and a stripe wasn't enough to steal my heart, J. Crew has swept me off my feet by creating the collar in a Liberty print.  I adore how the patterns mesh but don't clash, and the little florals and nautical stripes are just springy enough to pull me out of my mid-winter funk -- absolutely brilliant with jeans, pencil skirts, and everything else in my wardrobe.

As much as I love being in the kitchen, there are some tasks which I just find to be... Daunting.  The recipes that I save and hope that someday I'll have the nerve to try.  These aren't your basic cookies or cupcakes, or even more ambitious and impressive treats like fresh-baked foccaccia or homemade Oreos, or even more ambitious recipes that require lots of steps and labor (but are totally worth it) -- these are all-day, what-if-it-goes-wrong recipes that are sure to dirty every dish in my tiny kitchen.  However, in my efforts to improve my culinary skills, I think it's time to give them a shot, no matter how laborious, time-consuming, or intimidating they may be.

 

{soft pretzels via Yammie's Noshery}

{salted caramel apple pie via The Baker Chick} 
 

{cinnamon rolls via The Pioneer Woman}  

{new york cheesecake via Smitten Kitchen}

 

{homemade bagels via Cupcakes and Cashmere}

What's YOUR kitchen fear?

xo Josie

Thanks to J. Crew, Yammie's Noshery, The Baker Chick, The Pioneer Woman, Smitten Kitchen, and Cupcakes and Cashmere for the photos.