Greetings, everyone, I hope you had a beautiful Christmas, if you celebrate, and a wonderful weekend!
Luckily Lincoln made it onto Santa’s “nice” list this year and had a blast tearing through his gifts. I didn’t know if he’d get the concept of ripping paper off a present yet, and at times he was more interested than the paper than what was underneath it, but all in all I’d say he loved it!
We opened a few gifts at home including a music set (a 16 month old on a kazoo, I can’t even, so adorable!) then headed over to my parent’s house to spend the day. Santa was awfully good to the grandchildren this year. (Definitely missed the Christmas jammies memo, whoops!)
At times I’m wistful remembering Christmases growing up with a house full of cousins, grandparents, aunts, and uncles, knowing I can never go back and relive those memories (is that weird?) but I’m trying hard to make the mental shift and am looking forward to making memories with my kids as an adult. It’s cliche, but experiencing Christmas through the eyes of a child is a really special thing.
Oh my gosh, remember a few weeks ago when I told you about the gift we got my brother, aka the “wolf enthusiast”??? It’s a wolf shirt! He is one of the funniest people I know and somehow over the past couple of years he’s gotten really into wolves, and not ironically. I blame Denver. Obviously we have to support him in all his hobbies though, and snatched up this shirt the second we saw it. My Mom will probably kill me for posting this picture…!
We had a morning full of opening gifts, then it was time for the Christmas feast.
Green Beans and Bacon made an appearance, of course, plus Party Potatoes Deluxe, Grandma’s Holiday Salad, and a luscious Amana ham which I probably ate 2lbs worth over the course of the day.
Another Christmas in the books – ’til next year!
With one Christmas down, we’ve got another one to go. Ben, Lincoln and I will be spending the week celebrating this wonderful season with Ben’s family, but I’ve got some fun posts lined up for you over the next couple of days starting with the Top 10 2014 Reader Favorite Recipes!
These are the Top 10 recipes you flagged as your favorites over the past year as determined by your clicks, pins, and shares. Not all of them are from 2014, believe it or not, there are actually a couple from 2012 that made the list! Share new recipes, but eat the old, right? Or something like that.
Anyway, don’t think a single day goes by without me thanking my lucky stars that you check in everyday, give me awesome feedback (both positive and constructive,) are my eyes and ears in regards to things happening on the site, and for simply making Iowa Girl Eats possible. You are my inspiration and motivation to work hard and create daily. I feel so very lucky that I get to do this as my job, and it’s all because of you. Here’s to many more good times, and great eats, in the new year!
Crock Pot Italian Beef Sandwiches
Crock Pot Italian Beef Sandwiches are one of the best things to ever come out of my crock pot…probably they don’t taste like they came from the crock pot! My goal was to create a slow cooked meal that wasn’t gloopy or flavorless and I though this recipe completely hit the mark – apparently you guys did too!
Easy Cheddar Cheese Sauce for Vegetables
This easy recipe for cheddar cheese sauce takes just 5 minutes to make and is perfect for drizzling over vegetables, tortilla chips, or pasta to make a quick mac and cheese. A great little recipe to keep in your back pocket.
Easy Chicken Fried Rice
Every time I make Easy Chicken Fried Rice at home (which is embarrassingly often,) Ben makes it a point to tell me how good it is. SERIOUSLY SO SIMPLE too. Stop getting take out and make this fried rice at home instead!
Skinny Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli Rice Casserole
Skinny Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli Rice Casserole is perfectly comforting. I practically have to ask Ben to pry my fingers from my fork every time we have it.
Cheesy Taco Soup
An oldie but goodie, Cheesy Taco Soup is a recipe from 2013 that remained popular throughout 2014. Simple and delicious, it’s made entirely of fridge and pantry staples. I doubt you’ll have to buy a thing to make it!
Crock Pot Sweet Potato and Quinoa Turkey Chili
You guys loved my Crock Pot Sweet Potato and Quinoa Turkey Chili as much as I did – which is a lot! This is a perfect meal for families, and extremely healthy, too. Lots of veggies and lean protein.
Make-Ahead Fruit and Yogurt Breakfast Parfaits
Another recipe from 2013 that’s remained popular almost two years later. Make-Ahead Fruit and Yogurt Breakfast Parfaits solve one of the day’s most challenging questions – what in the WORLD am I going to have for breakfast?
Autumn Chopped Salad
Although I posted the recipe for Autumn Chopped Salad with the flavors of fall in mind, it is truly delicious all year round. Sweet, savory, crunchy, creamy – you will go back for forkful after forkful.
Thai Peanut Chicken Quinoa Bowls
I 110% agree with you on how yummy Thai Peanut Chicken Quinoa Bowls are – it’s one of my favorite recipes from 2014, too! If you like pad Thai, you’ll love this gluten-free version that’s made with quinoa and a gluten-free peanut sauce.
Perfect Broccoli Cheese Soup
I made batch after batch of Broccoli Cheese Soup to perfect the recipe and I think I finally nailed it. You guys agreed and made it one of the most popular soup recipes here on IGE in 2014. Smooth, creamy, and cheesy, it’ s perfect to warm up with on a cold day.
WHAT??? Skillet Tator Tot Casserole didn’t make the list??? That was MY favorite, hands down!
I made the Crock Pot Sweet Potato and Quinoa Turkey Chili Monday night, and we loved it! I used leftover turkey breast from Thanksgiving though : )
Lincoln looks like a resident of Whoville in those first pictures.
I’m going to have to say that out of all of these recipes, Thai Peanut Chicken Quinoa Bowls was my favorite. Thanks for sharing these, I look forward to trying more in 2015.
I fell in love with the Thai Peanut Quinoa Bowls. I have made so many different version of this using soba noodles, shrimp, altering the sauce, swapping out the veggies, etc. It’s quickly become one of our favorite weeknight meals so thank you for creating it :)
Salads don’t normally tempt me in the winter but that autumn salad looks amazing.
My 2yo has those same jammies – one of my favorites!
Our hands down favorite IGE recipe is your skillet lasagna – always a hit!
Your meals are always a hit around here. I’ve marked a few from this post to feature in Real Food Meal Plans in 2015. Cheers to another great year!
I’ve made the broccoli and cheese soup several times!
I was thinking the same about holidays. Since we are a military family, it’s weird that my son will seldom have those big family Christmases that I remember. But when we do have those holidays, I guess he will think of our family the same way I did my aunts, uncles, and cousins when I was little! Time marches on!
Aw, I can imagine it feels amazing to see Christmas through Lincoln’s eyes! He’s so precious. And I can’t believe how long your hair is! I’m not sure if you haven’t posted a picture with it down in a while but it seems like it grew overnight.
Best wishes for a happy and healthy new year! I’m excited to see what delicious recipes are in store for 2015!
I used to adore wolves, and my entire family got the memo. I didn’t mind the T-shirts or wall calendars. It was all of the statues and chotchkes they kept giving me. I was running out of places to put it all! Thankfully, they’ve since stopped. Still love wolves, just not clutter.
Merry Christmas, Kristin and family!
Just wanted to let you know I keep seeing this Pin on Pinterest. Looks like it is your fried rice, but it does not link to your website.
Looks like it’s been taken down – thank you for the heads up!!
Looks like you had a lovely Christmas and I adore the round up – my mouth is watering just looking at the recipes!
I am glad I am not the only one! I totally had that feeling this year. It was our first ‘married’ Christmas and I couldnt help but feel a little nostalgic for the Christmas’ in the past with my family together and every year being exactly the same and wonderfully predictable. It’s all part of life though, and now we will begin our own memories and take on life as our own family unit. Change is okay and will bring so much adventure. But I always have those memories!
That Thai Peanut Quinoa is my favorite hands down but these all look delicious! It looks like you had a wonderful Christmas and I hope you have a great 2015!
Merry Christmas!
the crockpot italian beef sandwich is my favorite recipe! I’ve been sharing it with everyone!
That Cheesy Taco Soup is sooo good! I also made the cheese part of the soup in a brocooli cheddar soup. So yummy.
Great list! FYI broccoli cheese soup + popcorn + red wine = perfect snowy day night.
There is nothing like Christmas with kids!
What a delicious list of recipes! Definitely some recipes I’ve missed and need to check out.
I am so glad you had a Merry Christmas – it looks like you had a great day!
All of these recipes look amazing! I am thinking that Autumn Salad would be a good way to balance out my cookie eat-age for the past few weeks. ;) Pinned!