Hi there! I hope you had the merriest of holidays! :)
This past week has been the epitome of relaxation. Normally our trips to visit Ben’s parents in DC are go-go-go (which, as an eternal sight-seer, I adore) but 3 out of our 5 days there were spent hanging around the house with the family, sipping hot chocolate by the fire, and reading my brains out (I’ll fill you in on my favorite books on Friday!)
You know what? It was NICE. Nice not having an agenda, nice not worrying about which museums we had to hit before leaving, and nice knowing there was nothing to do, but do nothing at all. I can’t tell you the last time I took a trip and felt that way! Ok, well, Jamaica where there were no worries, but even there I spent several days worrying about how we were going to get to Rick’s Cafe…which we never did. Damned unlimited rum punch!
Anyways, that said, no trip to our nation’s capitol would be complete without a little sightseeing, so we humored my insatiable, inner-tourist and had a couple of days filled with fun, only-found-in-DC activities, too. I’ll fill you in later this week!
Before we get back to regularly scheduled programming, I wanted to feature the Top 12 Recipes of 2012, as chosen by me!
In case you missed it, a few days ago I featured the Top 12 Recipes of 2012 based on YOUR clicks, pins, and shares, and while many of those recipes are for sure my faves, there are even more yummy, mouthwatering, thirst-quenching recipes that didn’t make the list. Here they are, in no particular order. I hope you enjoy!
Fresh Apple Cake
Baked Chicken Caesar Nachos
Dad’s Killer Beergaritas
Thai Turkey Burgers with Peanut Sauce
Thai Quinoa Salad with Peanut Dressing
Spaghetti and Meatball Soup
Mini BBQ Cheddar Meatloaves
Homemade Cheeseburger Helper
Caprese Lasagna with Spicy Turkey Sausage
Sesame Chicken Fried Rice
Cheeseburger Quesadillas
Bonus: Bacon-Wrapped Almond-Stuffed Dates
Bacon-Wrapped Almond-Stuffed Dates
Thank you again for making 2012 such a great year!! :D
I’ve become a follower of your blog in the last year and we have several of your recipes that are now staples in our home!! A couple of them were the ones you mentioned in this post, but seriously we’ve loved almost everything we’ve made from your blog! Thank you so much for the delicious recipes that you’ve given to our family in the past year! We look forward to following you further in 2013! Happy New Year!!!
baked chicken ceaser chalupas are on our New Years Eve menu!! Happy New Year!!!!
I enjoy your posts and can’t wait to feel better so I can try some of these recipes. I really like this site! I’m recovering my back going out—oh-h!! Not exactly how I imagined ringing in the New Year! Happy New Year to all!
Where is the picture of the Christmas tree taken? I recognized Mount Vernon and the White House but not the lobby with the tree…just curious. Love the recipes! Thank you!
It’s inside the Willard Hotel, just down the street from the White House! :)
I would love to try the kale fried rice recipe. I always hear great things about the health benefits of kale, but have yet to cook with it because for some reason I am a bit intimidated by it. This sounds like a simple recipe that I can try that includes kale. Thanks!
I love MANY, MANY of your recipes, but my favorite of the year was Kiwi Mango Quinoa Salad. I ate that a couple of times a week last summer! But I made it with the Wild Rice Quinoa mix that Costco sells (instead of straight quinoa). Thanks for all of your wonderful posts!
I agree – Thai Fried Quinoa was one of your best. SOOO good!
I absolutely love DC. Have you been in the spring when the Cherry Blossoms bloom? It’s unreal!
Love all of your recipes, but especially, the top 12. I’m wondering how I missed some of them though. Thai fried quinoa? OMG!
Every single one of those recipes have got me drooling. Must try soon!!
I’ve been enjoying 10 days off of work and have made 5 new recipes off your blog so far and have three more ready to go! I love how easy, kid friendly and delicious they all are! Thanks so much for your blog and GREAT recipe ideas!
Ooooh so happy to see that the French Onion Soup Potstickers made this list. Ever since I first saw the post, it has been on my “to make” list. Now I will definitely need to try them out!
I might also have to try recreating the Home Made Hamburger Helper and the Caprese Lasagna.
What a fantastic recap. It’s so great to see what YOUR favourites were seeing as you got to taste them firsthand:) Thanks!
Thanks for so many wonderful recipes! It’s always fun to see what you come up with. I’ve made several dinners from your site and my family has loved each one. Happy New Year!!
So glad my two absolute favorites made the list. My husband and I both love the Homemade Cheeseburger Helper and Caprese Lasagna.
We’re both sad it’s not longer tomato season, as we were making the lasagna every other week throughout the summer. So good! Now we’re making the cheeseburger helper regularly. Such a good, and easy, cozy comfort food.