dark days plans

next week begins the Dark Days Challenge that i've thrown myself into.
what is it? well...straight from not-so-Urban Hennery's blog:

What’s the Challenge?
Cook one meal each week focused on SOLE (sustainable, organic, local, ethical) ingredients and write about it on your blog. It’s really that simple, but at the same time, it can really be that hard.
To keep things interesting we’ll have theme weeks throughout the winter, with polls to choose as we go.
What does local mean?
Traditionally, local food challenges call for a 100 mile radius. Winter time is more difficult in many climates, especially if you’re new to eating locally, so my default definition is 150 miles. You can choose to make your radius smaller or slightly larger as you need. Typical exceptions are oils, coffee, chocolate and spices. If you’re making fewer or more exceptions, please note that on your first post.
What if I can’t find every ingredient locally?
That’s why this is called a challenge! If you can’t find every ingredient, or heck even most ingredients, please still post your meal each week. This is just as much about what we learn, the obstacles we find and the decisions we make as it is about cooking with SOLE ingredients.

since i signed up i periodically mull over what i might make. of course, initially i thought—easy cheesy! but then wait, cheesy? cheese? oh yes, cheese will be a consideration. oh, and butter. and...and...and..!

so at least i'll admit up front that this might be a little more of a challenge than i initially thought. but it does pair well with my desire to find a local source of milk and more importantly—cream! (i really would l like to make my own butter.)

i have a couple of good ideas for my first foray, so i'm feeling good at the moment.

additionally, for the winter my goals is to bake bread.
or, to learn to bake bread, and then do it. and be good at it.

seems like a good winter task to have in the future. so i am beginning to read Rose Levy Beranbaum's The Bread Bible, this is the same book my former bakery of employment (Baker & Spice Bakery) used to develop many of their amazing recipes will report back as my progress moves forward. of course, i am already intimidated but i promise to report back as my progress moves along.