Best of 2011

2011 isn’t really a year that I want to remember, but looking back on what I’ve posted – I have made some pretty yummy things.  I’ve also been making lots of my old favorites – so I haven’t had as much new content on the blog this year.

I’ve definitely seen an improvement in my photography as I work my way though understanding my dSLR.  I hope that 2012 brings many more delicious treats and healthy dinner ideas to share with you!  Here’s a year-in-review of my favorite recipe (or recipes) from each month this year.  I don’t know about you – but I can’t wait to ring in 2012!

January – Sponge Candy

Living in Buffalo, NY sponge candy is considered a staple candy.  I’m glad I found a recipe that others can enjoy if they can’t get sponge candy as easily as I can.

February – Chocolate Macarons & Thin Crust Pizza

My first and only (I definitely need to change that this year!) attempt at French Macarons.  They were amazing and I was so happy they turned out so perfectly. 

Thin crust pizza – I seriously need to make this again STAT.  Crispy, chewy crust and so satisfying.

March – Chicken lo mein

This has become one of my go-to easy weeknight meals.  I’ve discovered these lo mein noodles at my grocery store – and this meal is even easier since I just have to defrost the noodles and not boil them separately.  I’ve made this meal more times than I can count – and I haven’t ordered Chinese take-out since! 

April – Double Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream

I love anything cookie dough and I love anything ice cream – so this was a no-brainer.  Almost too good to be true…

May – Meyer Lemon Cookies

I travelled for work a ton in May – so I didn’t do a lot of cooking or blog posting.  But I did discover my love for Meyer lemons – and these cookies were a great example of a way to use them. 

June – Chocolate Peanut Butter Squares

This is a family recipe that I’ve enjoyed my entire life – and finally got around to posting on the blog.  I like to keep leftovers in the freezer and eat them straight out of the freezer – it’s a reese’s cup, but better.

July – Strawberry Shortcakes

July was my month of almost exclusive strawberry desserts – and shortcakes were my favorite way to enjoy them.   It doesn’t feel more like summer than fresh shortcakes and fresh, local strawberries.  Luckily I still have some more in my freezer to enjoy over the winter.

August – Lemon Tuna Pesto Salad

This is one of my husbands favorite pasta salads – fresh tomatoes, fresh pesto, tuna and lemon.  It’s the perfect summer salad – I can almost feel the summertime heat just thinking about this dish. 

September – Santa Fe Burgers & Peach Brown Sugar Ice Cream

These burgers were a surprise hit with me – and turned out to be one of my new favorite burger recipes.  I can’t wait until its warm enough to grill outside again.

Peaches are my favorite fruit – so peach ice cream never fails me.  The brown sugar was the perfect compliment to perfect summer peach.

October – Chicken with tomato-herb pan sauce

Just seeing this photo again made me add this on the menu for next week.  I forgot how much we loved this and how flavorful it was with just a few ingredients. 

November – Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes

Easily one of the richest desserts of the year – but completely worth every.single.calorie.

December – Dutch Apple Pie

My new staple recipe for apple pie – I know I can never try another recipe after tasting this one.

Thanks for reading – and here’s to a great 2012!!!! 

Super Bowl Ideas

The Super Bowl is this weekend!  Although I could care less about the football – we always watch for the commercials and other entertainment.  It’s also a great excuse to make appetizers for dinner – and that should be reason enough to celebrate the Super Bowl.

So if you are in a bind and are looking for some last minute ideas for recipes – here are a few from my archives that you may enjoy.

Chicken Wing Dip – although the Buffalo Bills haven’t been to a Super Bowl since 1994 – you can have a taste of Buffalo with the big game anyway.  And if your team loses you can comfort yourself by eating this dip and knowing that it isn’t the 4th straight year in a row that your team lost the big game like the Bills did from 1991-1994.  It is always a hit with a crowd (or by yourself sitting on the couch – hey, the celery makes it healthy, right?)

 

Cilantro Hummus – Another great dip that is super easy to make in advance and just a bit healthier than the one above.  Serve it with some chips, red pepper, pita bread or crackers – and don’t even feel guilty about it. 

Guacamole – Who needs a reason to eat guacamole – not me!  I love this stuff so much – it is definitely one of my very favorite things.  You can easily adjust the heat by adding some hot sauce to kick it up a notch.

Soft Pretzels – My husbands favorite snack – he likes to dip them in pizza sauce.  I like them plain – but they are also great with some melted cheese or mustard.   I’m think I’m making these again this weekend too!

Chocolate Toffee Cookies – It’s not a party without dessert.  These chocolate toffee cookies were really easy and can be made in advance and baked at the last minute – so they are warm for your guests (or yourself!).  It might be fun to try and shape these like footballs too! 

Oreo Cheesecake Cookies – Do these really need further explanation?  Oreo – check, Cheesecake –check, yummy-ness in my tummy – check! 

Slush cake – If you’ve got a crowd coming over – this is the dessert to make – pudding, whipped cream, walnuts and a buttery crust.  This (completely from scratch) version is simply the best. 

Hope you enjoy the Super Bowl – and good luck if you are rooting for the Steelers or Packers!  If these ideas don’t suffice – be sure to check out my recipe index for all of my favorites!   

Now I’m off to my kitchen…..

Best of 2010

 

Can you believe that 2010 is already over?  For myself – 2010 was a year filled with happiness, sadness and everything in-between.  I am really looking forward to the new year and what it means for me and my family.  I’m not too into making ‘resolutions’ – but I definitely have goals set for myself to accomplish in 2011.  One of my main highlights of this year has been the joy I have gotten out of this food blogging hobby of mine.  I joined the Daring Bakers and made some desserts that I never thought I would ever attempt to make.  I got a new camera – and am working on improving my photography skills, both personally and for the blog.  I have enjoyed each and every one of your comments or kind emails on my blog – it really is humbling to know that people read and enjoy my posts.   

And now for a year-in review of sorts – I am going to post a link to the favorite recipe I made from each month over this past year.  I am going to try my hardest to not post all desserts.

January – Spicy Baked Chicken Tenders

These are still one of my favorite easy treats – and a much healthier version than something you would get from a fast food place.  The super crunchy coating tastes like it was fried, even though it is baked.  YUM!

February – Samoas

This is easily the most popular post on my blog – thanks in part to a link on Mother Nature Network.   But it is also for a good reason – Samoas are one of the most popular girl scout cookies – and everyone wants to enjoy them during the time of year when they are not available.  I love this easy bar version – I was amazed at how much they tasted like the real thing – I need to make these again soon.

March – Pork Tostadas

 

March was a tough choice – I made several of my favorites (check out these Greek Turkey Burgers, Chocolate Chip Treasure Cookies and Tin Roof Ice Cream).  But these pork tostadas earned the top spot – they were the biggest surprise for both my husband and me – so flavorful and delicious.  Worth every bit of effort – I can’t wait to make them again soon – I’ve been on the hunt for queso fresco and if I find it – I’m making these stat!

April -  Thick and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

This was an easy choice  - you cannot beat the perfect, classic chocolate chip cookie.  And the bonus is that they are super easy to whip up.   I have made these many times since I discovered this recipe – and you can never grow tired of perfection. 

May – Chocolate dipped Strawberry Ice Cream

Hands down this is my favorite ice cream recipe of the year – I love chocolate and strawberries and adding ice cream to the mix makes it even better.  If you make one ice cream recipe next summer when strawberries come into season – make this your choice. 

June – Summer Pasta Bolognese

 

Once zucchinis and tomatoes start coming into season – this is the first dish I turn to make.  It is super easy to whip up and healthy too.  It’s the type of dish that when I’m full – I could still eat more because it’s so tasty – and that I have no problem eating leftovers for lunch for days. 

July – Lemon Meringue Cupcakes

 

I definitely have a cupcake addiction – I like them so much better than eating a piece of cake – no utensils needed and everyone gets the same size piece.  These lemon meringue cupcakes were so cute and fun to make.  And any recipe involving a kitchen torch is all right with me.     

August – Buttermilk Waffles

August was a hard choice since I love fresh, local summer produce.  But these buttermilk waffles (topped with fresh local blueberries, of course) are probably the most repeated item I’ve made all year.  Once I found this recipe – I was craving waffles every weekend.  In fact, we just had them on Christmas morning and I want them again already.

September – Peach Shortbread Bars and Oreo Cupcakes

Ok – I couldn’t choose just one for September.  Peaches are my absolute favorite fruit – so I had to pick something that I made with peaches.  And I could not let this best-of post go by without including the infamous Oreo cupcakes.  They are both too good not to give a second look at! 

October – Apple Cider Doughnuts

   

One of my favorite Daring Bakers challenges from the year.  I’ve never attempted to make my own doughnuts before – but they are amazing.  They actually turned out to be much simpler than I thought – but worth all of the trouble.  Perfect for a fall get together to celebrate the season.

November – Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

My favorite macaroni and cheese recipe of the year.  The butternut squash adds a flavor that is so perfectly balanced with the cheese.   It’s actually a very simple recipe to mix up – I can’t wait until next fall to make this again (or I bet I can still find some squash at the store and make this sooner).  

December – Caramel Apple Cheesecake Pie

In December I only posted 4 non-dessert recipes – so I obviously have been baking up a sweet storm.  But this pie is hands down the winner for the best of the year.  Graham cracker crust, homemade caramel, apples, cheesecake and fresh whipped cream – yes please! 

Well, I hope you enjoyed my pick of the best of 2010.   Here is to a another year filled with yummy treats and healthy dinners in 2011!