From crock pot recipes to smoothies, soups and summery desserts, these are the top 10 reader favorite recipes on Iowa Girl Eats from 2016!
Hello from the other side of the holidays! How are you? Ben, our little elves, and I had a wonderful Christmas!
Sitting here a couple days after the fact, it’s still hard to believe the holidays are nearly over. They were even more of a blur this year since Cam came right before Halloween – each day since he joined our family has gone by in the blink of an eye. How this little chunker is nearly 10 weeks old is beyond me!
I tried to pause this Christmas, especially, since Lincoln’s at an age where he finally “gets” the holidays. We did the whole Elf on the Shelf thing (aka me frantically texting Ben every night at 10:30 from bed – “CAN YOU MOVE THE #$*%&! ELF???“) played Christmas music 24/7, talked about Jesus’ birthday, and of course sprinkled reindeer food on the front porch and laid out milk and cookies on the fireplace. In case this picture doesn’t give it away, this little guy was JACKED for the big guy’s visit! (Special shout out to my soon to be sis-in-law for the delicious dairy-free cookie delivery which Santa mightily enjoyed! ?)
Of course the reason for the season is not an enormous pile of presents under the tree, and we don’t go nuts with gifts, but man oh man to see Lincoln’s face light up when he opened the stuff he asked Santa for (at 6am – oy,) was just awesome. No better feeling than seeing your kids happy.
Big hits included this trampoline (hello saving grace during the season that shall not be named,) and this electric train set which I swear to you has not stopped running since December 25th. Cam’s even been getting in on the action!
Like I said, gifts under the tree is not what Christmas is all about, and my hope is that in the coming years we can focus more on that, as well as donate our gently used toys to children who could use it before Santa pays our boys a visit (should have started that tradition this year, dangit!) but seeing Christmas through a child’s eyes was really special this year, and it’s only going to get better as Cameron gets bigger. I remember running around in endless circles to Mannheim Steamroller with my little brother until we were too dizzy to stand, pretty much every afternoon in the month of December growing up. Good times!
Anyway, I hope you all had a wonderful holiday. My parent’s house was practically bursting at the seams with our family plus both my brothers’. It was a Christmas to remember, for sure! ?
In other news, this week marks one of my favorites in my blog posting schedule – a look back at your favorite recipes posted throughout the year here on Iowa Girl Eats!
In all the years I’ve been blogging (almost EIGHT!) this was the most challenging for a number of reasons. In the beginning of the year I was extremely preoccupied with getting pregnant which took up a lot of my energy and attention. A few months into my pregnancy we said goodbye to our beloved part-time sitter, who was having a baby of her own, and I decided to take a whack at working with no childcare for over three quarters of the year. Needless to say, not a lot of blog growth happened when I only got naps, nights, and weekends to work, and there were many times when I looked at my peers who were trying new things with their businesses, releasing products, and have no children or have school-aged children (aka have big chunks of uninterrupted time during the week to work,) and felt anxiety about not doing more. Additionally I, and many other bloggers I know, fell victim to burnout this year. Blogging looks nothing like it did when a big chunk of us started in 2009 and 2010, and at times it’s been challenging remembering why we all started in the first place!
That said, I finally felt at peace with this year when Cameron was born. I may not have as much time to devote to work as I did when I was 25, but IGE was started with the intention of having a creative outlet, to set my own schedule and, when the time came, work from home with my kids by my side. Staying home with my beautiful baby boys, putting them down for naps, making their meals, witnessing their milestones, AND having something to satisfy my desire to work is what I’ve always wanted, and with a ton of hard work it’s exactly what I’ve got. Here at the tail end of 2016, I’m truly able to say that the grass is green enough right where I’m standing.
All that said, 2016 was still a banner year. A BABY, trips to Colorado and Kansas City, tons of exciting work projects and partnerships, magazine interviews and covers, 150+ posts, 100+ recipes, stories told, and connections made with all of you. YOU are the ones that make this blog possible, and I truly thank you for allowing me to do what I do. I get asked what it’s like to not have a boss but really, you’re my boss! And I’ve got the best boss in the world. THANK YOU.
Alrighty, let’s get into what this post is really all about – your top 10 favorite recipes from 2016 as decided by your visits, pins, likes, and shares! You sure picked some good ones, and if you overdid it during the holidays my advice is to skip directly to #6. Also #7 is the perfect NYE appetizer! Let me know which recipes you’ve tried, and I’ll be back on Friday with a list of MY top 10 favorite recipes from 2016!
Psst: In case you’re curious, here are the top reader recipes from the past four years!
- Top Reader Recipes from 2015 >
- Top Reader Recipes from 2014 >
- Top Reader Recipes from 2013 >
- Top Reader Recipes from 2012 >
CrockPot White Chicken Chili
Chicken Fajitas Recipe
Potsticker Noodle Bowls
Easy Chicken and Rice Soup
Gluten Free Strawberry Shortcake Icebox Cake
Best Ever Green Smoothie
Bacon and Goat Cheese Stuffed Sweet Pepper Poppers
Italian Sub Salad
Shrimp and Wild Rice Skillet
Happy new year! I have loved your blog (and many recipes) for years. And it is so much fun to get an update on your family too. Keep up the great work and enjoy your time off (hopefully) this week.
Thank you, Kelly! We did enjoy some nice time off this past week – hope you were able to do the same!
Love your blog- it’s my favorite and I always look forward to reading it. Many of our family dinner favorites have come straight from your blog (hello spicy, smoky, sweet chili)! As a small internet business owner I have often felt the same way you described- I always try to remember the quote from Theodore Roosevelt- “comparison is the thief of joy”. Know that your blog brings joy to so many of us who love reading about your family and trying your fantastic recipes! Happy New Year!
Love that quote and try to think of it often! Thanks so much, Kim!
I can’t believe you’ve been blogging for 8 years?! I’ve read since the very beginning :) Love your blog!! Looking forward to 2017!
It’s nuts, right?! Thanks for reading along for so long, Tracy – I appreciate it so much!
I appreciate the work that you do! I have followed your blog, for several years, but I never comment. I simply want to thank you. Your blog has been a blessing in my life for several reasons. I am a horrible cook, but I actually enjoy trying your recipes, and they often turn out really good! I followed your blog prior to you going g-free, but due to health issues, I strive to eat g-free too. Your recipes are healthy, realistic, and delicious. On a personal note, I reside overseas and when I feel homesick your blog always helps to brighten my day. I also enjoy seeing updates on your beautiful family and I appreciate that you keep it real. You shared a while back, that it was difficult for you to get pregnant, this time around. Your simple words, and your adorable baby, have given me hope. Also random, but you suggested your friends blog ‘Our Styled Suburban Life’ which I really enjoy too! So, thank you …
Yes, never give up hope, H! So glad to hear IGE can give you a little taste of home. :) Happy new year!
So glad you had a Merry Christmas, I’ve a IGE reader for seven year’s and Love ,Love your blog, it’s nice to here you found peace with this year, always rember family 1st blog 2nd. The Band Kiss has a saying that should be for IGE, you want the best{you or we} got the best. So as one of your bosses give yourself a raise, looking forward to your recipes in 2017
Thanks so much, Steve, you know I have always appreciated your loyalty! Happy new year!
And as an 8 year reader, I’m still here because I love your honest voice! It’s fun to watch the evolution of blogs, but your relatability is what keeps us coming back (oh, and that your recipes are FAB!;). Being a mom is 10 jobs and a half and your doing a beautiful job balancing both, yet I can imagine how challenging it is! Just wanted to be one more person to give you the awesome credit you deserve❤️
You are so kind, Donna, and I really appreciate your words and loyalty! Thanks for continually coming back to IGE!
Loveeeee the list, of course!
And YES! I swore I wouldn’t go crazy with gifts and YES I plan on doing THE SAME with donations before the holiday….BUT HOLY WOW, watching them open presents is INFINETLY better than even Christmas when WE were young❤️ Holy heaven❤️
Sooo, so sweet. :)
I just pinned all of these! Actually made the chicken fajitas last night and my husband said they were the best fajitas he’s ever had! Can’t believe I waited so long to make them. So glad you had a wonderful holiday. Enjoy your time with your boys, it goes fast. I am a “boy mom” too, and mine are 7 and 9 now, and it seems like just yesterday they were as little as yours. Happy New Year!
Ahh, so glad to hear it! And I can relate on how fast time flies by – it’s insane!
Great roundup! Thanks for sharing =)
Thanks Sara, hope you’re able to enjoy a few! :)
Merry Christmas to you and your family! Just wanted to say thanks for your wonderful recipes. At least one of your recipes makes it on my menu each week. Take the time you need with 2 littles. We can’t get this time back with them. Also, the potsticker noodle bowls were the first thing I could prepare and eat during my first trimester of my pregnancy this fall. I’ve made them a lot and everyone loves them.
So glad to hear that, Laura, thank you so much for the nice comment – I hope you’re feeling well!
Jeez, I don’t know if it’s the holidays being over, or what, but this post nearly made me tear up, haha! I’ve been following your blog since 2011 and truly appreciate all of the wonderful recipes you develop/post and the family updates you give us. You are my favorite blogger and I wish you and your family lots of happiness and health in the new year. I can’t wait to see what great recipes you post in 2017!
Thank you so much, L, your support means everything to me. Happy new year!
Hi Kristin,
I want you to know how VERY awesome your blog was for me the last half of this year!! My son was diagnosed with celiac disease in August and it really threw us for a loop!! I love to cook and found your recipes to be so great to follow and all of them have been so tasty!! Thank you for all you do… you can’t imagine how many people you may be helping by sharing your recipes and your story!
Looking forward to your blog in 2017!
KimW
I’m so sorry to hear about your son, Kim, though am so glad IGE can be a resource for you guys! Hope your little guy is on the mend!
Dear Kristin,
Merry Christmas!!! I don’t usually leave messages, though I read your blog in every update, I love your recipes and I sometimes try to make them with the ingredients I find in Buenos Aires. I just wanted to wish you a wonderful 2017 and congratulate you on your gorgeous kids!!
From Argentina, with love,
Paula
Thank you so much, Paula, such a sweet comment! Happy new year to you!