Unemployment Hobbies

As many of you know I am currently unemployed and am intermittently temping as I change careers. Some days can be extremely boring and long. So I have decided for the days that I am not working and am at home I will cook one new thing. Today was the inaugural day of this new plan. I attempted to make minestrone soup today. It sounds totally doable and easy, just a lot of chopping. My soup was more like a stew. I added plenty of water yet it seemed to drink it right up. I also used swiss chard, which the recipe called for, and it tainted my whole "soup." The soup tasted and smelled like swiss chard. I think I will not be making this soup again- maybe I will find a new recipe for minestrone but I think it will hinder me from trying new recipes. The next recipe is going to be a chocolate hazelnut quick bread. I have all the ingredients and won't have to go to the supermarket so that seems like a logical next choice. If anybody has any suggestions or recipes they would like to share - the forum is now open.