Hello, hello, everyone, how is your week going? Ours can be summed up quite perfectly with the following quote I recently saw on Instagram.

Awkward

Amen.

I’m completely torn between wanting to disinfect and organize the entire house, and planting myself on the couch and polishing off four series I’ve started on Netflix over the past couple of months. I finally finished Master of None written by Aziz Ansari recently. Have you seen it? Aziz annoyed the heck out of me on Parks and Rec but he’s slowly carved a small, ok medium-sized, place in my heart after watching MON, which is totally relatable. Kind of like a Seinfeld for millennials.

Another reason for the uncharacteristic laziness is that Lincoln’s Christmas day funk turned into the croup and we’ve all been walking around like zombies from lack of sleep. I think he turned the corner last night though, with the help of my sister-in-law’s amazing essential oil cocktail (thieves, RC, lemon, and eucalyptus,) which I rubbed all over his little body, and things are looking up. (I hope!)

Ben’s family is coming into town later this week then we’re celebrating new year’s eve and the Rose Bowl together (GO HAWKS!!! I’m already so nauseous!) before finally settling into a routine in 2016. Wohoo!

How have you spent your week? What are your New Year’s Eve plans? If I don’t talk to you beforehand, make a batch of these and a pitcher of these, and have yourself a GREAT little night, wherever and however you spend it. I’ll catch you on January 1 with a fun and helpful post about heading into the new year in a healthy way.

Before I go, I want to share my top 10 favorite recipes from 2015! I love to recap my personal favorite recipes from the year because they can differ from what was the most “popular” recipes of the year. Of course I love all my recipes – I wouldn’t post them if I didn’t – but these 10 are the ones that stick out in my mind as being over the top tasty, really fun to create, and/or are ones we make all the time at home. I hope you find a new favorite or two to try!

Have a great rest of your week, and happy new year!

Mongolian Beef Noodle Bowls taste just like take out, swapping rice for chewy rice noodles! | iowagirleats.com

Gluten-Free Mongolian Beef Noodle Bowls

4.7 from 18 votes
Gluten-Free Mongolian Beef Noodle Bowls taste just like the popular take out dish but swap rice for chewy rice noodles instead!
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perfect grilled steak cut into slices

Perfect Grilled Steak with Herb Butter

5 from 20 votes
Perfect Grilled Steak with Herb Butter features a homemade steak seasoning and buttery herb finish. This easy sizzling grilled steak recipe is mouthwatering!
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ladle in a crock pot of sausage and peppers

Crock Pot Sausage and Peppers

5 from 19 votes
Crock Pot Sausage and Peppers are perfect for feeding a crowd on game day, or enjoying as a slow-cooked cozy Italian supper at home. Serve in a variety of ways.
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Fish Tacos with Avocado Sweet Corn Slaw

5 from 7 votes
Fish Tacos with Avocado Sweet Corn Slaw are fresh and full of flavor. These baja-style tacos taste just like a restaurant's!
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Get your forks ready - you'll be fighting over every last bite of Gnocchi with Spinach, Mushrooms and Crispy Prosciutto. This 30 minute, gluten-free meal is a stunner! | iowagirleats.com

Gnocchi with Spinach, Mushrooms and Crispy Prosciutto

5 from 2 votes
You'll fight over the last bite of Gnocchi with Spinach, Mushrooms and Crispy Prosciutto. This 30 minutes, GF/DF recipe is unbelievably delicious!
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Mediterranean Tuna Salad is fresh and light - serve in a tomato, on a salad, between twi slices of bread, or with crackers! #glutenfree | iowagirleats.com

Mediterranean Tuna Salad

4.3 from 4 votes
Mediterranean Tuna Salad is fresh and light – serve in a tomato, over lettuce, between slices of bread, or scoop with crackers!
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shrimp and chorizo nachos in a skillet with toppings

Shrimp and Chorizo Nachos with Fresh Pico de Gallo

No ratings yet
Shrimp and Chorizo Nachos with Fresh Pico de Gallo is the ultimate game day dish – make and enjoy using just one skillet!
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Crock Pot Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

4.8 from 76 votes
Crock Pot Chicken and Wild Rice Soup is a quick and healthy crock pot recipe that’s perfect for busy nights. Add all the ingredients in the crock pot then push on!
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saucy leek and mushroom chicken on a plate

Leek and Mushroom Chicken Skillet

4.6 from 11 votes
Leek and Mushroom Chicken Skillet is an elegant, 30 minute dinner recipe that’s perfect for date night or any day of the week. Quick, easy and made in just 1 skillet.
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cheesy chicken enchiladas on a plate

Easy Chicken Enchiladas with Red Sauce

5 from 17 votes
Easy Chicken Enchiladas with Red Sauce will delight your entire family. Cheesy, make-ahead, and so satisfying — no restaurant required!
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BONUS!

Featured image of Shortcut Vegetable Ragu

Shortcut Vegetable Ragu

4.8 from 6 votes
Shortcut Vegetable Ragu is a healthy, vegetable packed dinner that tastes slow cooked but will be on the table in just 30 minutes.
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18 Comments

  1. Amy says:

    Thanks for putting this list together, I have most of them bookmarked.

  2. Emily @ Life on Food says:

    I suddenly need the Mongolian beef noodle bowls for dinner. Happy New Year!!

    1. Kristin says:

      Yes, yes you do! Let me know what you think!

  3. Ellen @ My Uncommon Everyday says:

    That gnocchi was the first gnocchi I ever made and it is SO good and SO easy! Love it -and all your recipes! Happy New Year!

    1. Kristin says:

      Love that your first time cooking them turned out so well!

  4. jad18 says:

    I hope Lincoln starts to feel better, so you can all enjoy New Year’s Eve and Day and the Rose Bowl (Go Hawks!) Just a tip that you are not nauseous, but nauseated. People misuse nauseous all the time. Nauseous is what you use for the thing that causes you to feel sick, while nauseated is the feeling of being sick.

  5. Lisa says:

    I’ve made everyone of these recipes this year! I know they are keepers when my husband wants them in the rotation. So, Thanks!

    1. Kristin says:

      So glad to hear that you are both enjoying the recipes, Lisa!

  6. Karla says:

    So not surprised that your Mongolian Beef Noodle Bowls it at the top of your list– my most-made recipe of yours this past year. I try to buy flatiron steak when it’s on special and freeze it so all I have to do when a craving for Mongolian Beef strikes (ahem…not admitting how frequently!) I can partially that that beef and slice it against the grain paper thin. Voila, it truly IS better than restaurant or carry-out. Have a wonderful New Year, Kristin! And good Hawks, beat Stanford!!

    1. Kristin says:

      Great idea, Karla! Thanks so much for the feedback and yes, GO HAWKS!

  7. Lindsey @ Simply Lindsey says:

    These recipes look so delicious, especially the Mongolian beef noodle bowls! I’ll have to get my Mom to make some of these dishes when our baby comes in a couple weeks!

    1. Kristin says:

      So exciting, Lindsey! Best of luck, and congratulations!

  8. Laura says:

    I have to say that I connect pretty well with this list, especially the shortcut ragu,which I make at least once a month. So easy and delicious! Thanks for all your recipes. You keep my family well fed. Feel better Lincoln and happy New Year to all of you!

    1. Kristin says:

      So glad to hear, Laura. :) Thanks so much for the feedback!

  9. Nina @ Too Hottie For That Body says:

    Thank you! I haven’t been in the kitchen for ages due to surgery and had no where to start.

    1. Kristin says:

      Hope you are doing better now, Nina!

  10. Laura ~ RYG says:

    All wonderful recipes to review ~ but the Mongolian beef noodle bowls are calling my name. Exactly what I’ve been craving for awhile now for a restaurant. But the local news reported (this must be true since it was on the 5:30 p.m newscast…they can’t make it up…right?!) That a local restaurant purveying this type of food hauled a deer (roadkill) off the road and into their restaurant and served it up as beef. So now I’m motivated to cook at home to say the least!!!

    1. Kristin says:

      Ummm, YIKES. Yes, super easy to make at home!