getting started, i think

hurrah hurrah to the loverly julie, mastermind/lunatic behind the julie/julia project. i'm inspired and of course, a raging copy-cat at heart-- and while i haven't worked out all the details yet, i'd like to get started on a similar project. but what? how? for now, i'm toying with the idea of using my newest moosewood book as a guide-- which seems alright but maybe not structured or challenging enough. at least i won't run much risk (any risk) of having to tear the insides out of some formerly alive thing. at the same time however i'd also like to hone my MEAT COOKERY skills and so moosewood can offer no assistance. hopefully, i'll find fair middle ground. for tonight though, i'll start with what seems to be a simple soup and we'll see where how far i go in a year (i'll be just shy of 30 by then, so maybe i'll end up doing something grand. whatever).
just this for tonight:

1- creamy potato-cheese soup

3 - 4 tb butter
2 c chopped onions
1 large garlic clove, minced or pressed
2 large potatoes, unpeeled & chopped coarse
1 large carrot, unpeeled and chopped coarse
3 c veggie stock or water
1 1/2 c milk or cream
4 oz cream cheese or neufchatel
1 c grated cheddar
s&p to taste

basically, the idea is to cook everything and puree the crap out of it. i'm telling you, i HAVE GOT to get an immersion blender.