I Need a Project

One of the earliest books I recall pouring through was a cookbook.  I even had to compete with Gremlyn for the book.  Sadly, after countless moves and countless relatives moving in with us, that book, along with some other things (toys, clothes, appliances... you know the drill) have become lost.  It didn't diminish my fascination with cooking though.  Cooking shows abound, even then, and the most popular, Wok With Yan, was a weekly family affair.

We would marvel at his skill at the skillet, tossing the food into the air, flambeing, making everything seem like magic.  We would applaud at his mastery with the knife, transforming mundane vegetables into mythical beasts and food containers.  I loved his execution and envied his passion for cooking.

I love the idea of cooking, but I seldom cook.   And thus, this project.

It's not about learning how to cook, because I know how, at least in theory.  All those years of watching cooking shows and reading cookbooks and magazines have prepared me for that.  The problem lies in the execution.

I can be careless and manage to burn the simplest of foods, even friend chicken.

I'm gonna conquer  this double-burner soon.

I am quite ambitious though and I know I will never learn to cook by doing simple dishes.  If I am to learn how to cook, then my projects need to be ambitious and elaborate as myself.  My spicy tuna pasta with mushrooms in paprika wouldn't do.  I need something grander.

I am thinking of a once a month affair initially, and as my skills increase, and my budgets improve, the frequency of cooking should increase as well.

Where do I start though?  What dish is worthy of my ego?

Any suggestions?