Hello, hello, everyone, how is your week going? Ours can be summed up quite perfectly with the following quote I recently saw on Instagram.
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
Not being able to pick up the phone and order take out has been a big mental struggle since going gluten-free. Luckily Mongolian Beef Noodle Bowls are easily made at home and taste just like the real thing but better because plain rice is swapped with chewy rice noodle. Upgrade!
Perfect Grilled Steak with Herb Butter
This was the most delicious cut of meat I ate in 2015 – no question. The indirect heat grilling method, craveable steak rub, and drippy herb butter made it over the top delicious. This steak truly is PERFECT.
Crock Pot Sausage and Peppers
You guys seem to love my Crock Pot Sausage and Peppers as much as I do – the feedback has been awesome so far! The scent of this recipe cooking alone transports me straight to my Aunt Mary’s Italian kitchen as a kid. So, so, so good.
Fish Tacos with Avocado Sweet Corn Slaw
I love this recipe not only because it’s healthy, fresh and full of the best flavors (seeeeeeriously that white sauce!) and textures, but also because it makes me feel like I’m on vacation in California every time I make them, which is often!
Gnocchi with Spinach, Mushrooms and Crispy Prosciutto
I was not kidding when I recently told you this was one of the best meals I’ve had in ages. Bonus points for not only looking and tasting like it came from a restaurant, but for being healthy and packed full of vegetables, to boot!
Mediterranean Tuna Salad
It might seem nuts to include a recipe for tuna salad on my year end favorites list but this particular combination of salty, briny, and fresh flavors is one of my very favorite combinations ever. I eat some variation of this tuna salad weekly. It’s quick to mix together and holds up perfectly for two or three days in the fridge.
Shrimp and Chorizo Nachos with Fresh Pico de Gallo
If I’m splurging on a truck load cheese it’s in these insane skillet nachos for SURE. I love, love, LOVE the combination of cheese, chorizo, and shrimp with super cold, fresh pico de gallo. There is nothing better for game day or date night.
Crock Pot Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
This soup makes my favorites list not only because it’s insanely easy – toss everything into a crock pot and push on – but all three of us adore this soup. Perfect any time of year, healthy, quick, and crowd-pleasing. Total winner.
Leek and Mushroom Chicken Skillet
Maybe not the most exciting recipe I’ve ever posted but the flavors in this dish are incredibly satisfying, and the whole thing cooks quickly and in one skillet. I spoon drink the sauce that’s draped on top of the chicken – YUM!
Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas with Homemade Gluten-Free Enchilada Sauce
This enchilada sauce, you guys, THIS ENCHILADA SAUCE!! Tastes just like a restaurant’s and is so easy to make at home. I haven’t bought a can of enchilada sauce since posting this recipe. It is that good, and these enchiladas are a total home run!
BONUS! Shortcut Vegetable Ragu
I couldn’t push “publish” on this list without giving a shoutout to my MVP recipe of 2015 – Shortcut Vegetable Ragu! This recipe is chock full of vegetables but you would never, ever know. It’s Lincoln’s favorite meal and my go-to recipe to take to friends/family who are sick, have a new baby, are going through a rough time, etc. I always make a double batch – one for them to eat right away and one to freeze for later. So much love for this humble sauce!
Thanks for putting this list together, I have most of them bookmarked.
I suddenly need the Mongolian beef noodle bowls for dinner. Happy New Year!!
Yes, yes you do! Let me know what you think!
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!
Love that your first time cooking them turned out so well!
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.
I’ve made everyone of these recipes this year! I know they are keepers when my husband wants them in the rotation. So, Thanks!
So glad to hear that you are both enjoying the recipes, Lisa!
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!!
Great idea, Karla! Thanks so much for the feedback and yes, GO HAWKS!
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!
So exciting, Lindsey! Best of luck, and congratulations!
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!
So glad to hear, Laura. :) Thanks so much for the feedback!
Thank you! I haven’t been in the kitchen for ages due to surgery and had no where to start.
Hope you are doing better now, Nina!
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!!!
Ummm, YIKES. Yes, super easy to make at home!