I can hardly believe it’s that time of year again – RECAP TIME! (Coincidentally my favorite time. FYI – if you need me during the next week or so, I’ll be glued to the television watching countdown shows on E. Great.)
From take-out fake-out dishes, to easy dinner sides, and delectable fruit dips, here are the recipes YOU GUYS deemed the most popular here on Iowa Girl Eats in 2012. Stay tuned next week for my picks!
**Edited to add: Here are my picks for my favorite recipes of 2012!
12. Homemade Trader Joe’s Chili-Lime Chicken Burgers
Lean yet moist, Homemade Trader Joe’s Chili-Lime Chicken Burgers are bursting with bold flavors. No need for a grill either – these burgers are actually better made indoors. Don’t forget the guac on top!
11. Inner-Goddess Detox Salad
Just in time for the start of the New Year, this Inner-Goddess Detox Salad is chock full of vitamin, mineral, and antioxidant-packed fruits, veggies, and berries, and is a wonderful dish to turn to after over-indulging during the holidays.
10. Skinny Chicken Broccoli Alfredo
Creamy and filling, yet surprisingly light, Skinny Chicken Broccoli Alfredo is a lower-calorie take on pasta and Alfredo sauce that was just as big of a hit with you guys as it was with Ben and me.
9. Farmers’ Market Skillet
Ever come back from the grocery store or Farmers’ Market and have no idea what to do with all the produce you picked up? Farmers’ Market Skillet is the perfect dish to throw it all into. Really healthy, tasty, and customizable.
8. Cheesy Broccoli Orzo
Take the guess work out of what to serve alongside dinner tonight, and make Cheesy Broccoli Orzo as a satisfying side dish that’s not just dinnertime “filler”.
7. The Best Fruit Dip. EVER.
No need for fruit – The Best Fruit Dip. EVER. is so good, you’ll want to eat it with a spoon. Just three ingredients, too!
6. Easy Chicken Fried Rice
Easy Chicken Fried Rice is so good that I literally had a dream about it last Saturday night. Sad? Hilarious? We may never know. All you need to know is that you should make this quick and easy dinner, ASAP!
5. Mini Corn Dog Muffins
You may be surprised to see Mini Corn Dog Muffins make this list, but after one bite, you’ll see the light. All-beef hot dogs smothered in homemade cornbread and baked into a poppable bites really are THAT good.
4. Superfood Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette
Another salad full of good-for-you ingredients, Superfood Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette has something a little extra special about it. You’ll want to make this salad again and again.
3. Mini Ham & Cheese Quinoa Cups
Ham + cheese + quinoa + mini size = recipe for success! Make a big ol’ batch of these super satisfying Mini Ham & Cheese Quinoa Cups, then reheat all week long for a quick and easy breakfast, filling lunch, or yummy snack. (Don’t miss their brotha from another motha Mini BLT Quinoa Cups!)
2. Chick-fil-A Bites with Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce
With a secret ingredient in both the marinade AND coating, you will be absolutely thrilled with Chick-fil-A Bites with Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce. Don’t skip that sauce either – it’s also spoon-drinking worthy.
1. My Top Secret Diet Weapon
My Top Secret Diet Weapon went absolutely gangbusters on Pinterest this year! Healthy, filling, and DELICIOUS, this green-hued smoothie remains one of my go-to breakfasts year-round!
Wether you’ve read IGE 1 time, or 100 times, thank you to each and every single one of you for making 2012 so absolutely wonderful. Here’s to an equally amazing 2013!
I stumbled on your website a while back looking how to make fresh springrolls and was completely impressed (I like my visuals!)….then it fell off of my radar. It just popped up again when I searched for a curry chicken salad with greek yogurt! I added your site to my start up so I can see if anything new has been added as soon as possible. Thank you for sharing! I consider comin accross your site fate, as when I tell people I am from Sandpoint Idaho, they ask if that is close to Des Moines :) I let them know I haven’t clocked it yet but certainly will the next time I travel there! To a healthy and happy new year!
Ohh the classic, Idaho/Iowa mixup! You’d love this shirt ;)
The green smoothie is how I found your blog and I look forward to reading it every day! I have made some awesome meals and love the Friday Favorites!
Looking forward to what you have in store for us in 2013!
Those salads look amazing! :)
Fantastic list! I wish I had a plate of chicken bites right now :) Have a wonderful new year!
I made the inner goddess detox salad for dinner last night after eating far too much over the holidays. It was delicious and I feel much better already :)
Those corn dog muffins are phenomenal! A friend of mine told me about a mini corn dog recipe using corn bread mix and I didn’t have that in the house, but wanted to make them for our 5 yr old daughter. So I googled the recipe and happened upon your blog. So thankful we did! She loved the corn dog muffins and we’ve loved a dozen other recipes! Thanks so much and happy New Year!
I have been reading your blog for over a year now and have tried many of your recipes and my family and I have enjoyed them all! My little ones would not touch spinach for anything but they absolutely love the green monster smoothie and ask for it a few times a week. My six year old actually caught me making it once and saw that I was putting spinach in it and she still drank it
:) love love love your Friday favorites! Thanks so much for blogging,
Hi, I was excited to see your blog in Fitness! I’ve been following you for several years. I too love the Green Monster Smoothie and have been drinking it for a long time, despite the grossed-out looks from my co-workers. I don’t put any yogurt though, but add a little dry oatmeal. I’m looking for some blog motivation to get back on a healthy track, so have decided to start a weight-loss competition. There’s free jewelry involved!! See my blog (http://rockytoprebecca.wordpress.com) if anyone is interested.
[…] Iowa Girl Eats – Top 12 of 2012 […]
My family adored the chicken and noodle dish. It was very different than most things we eat and we just loved it.
Read your blog first thing everyday! And also each week before I go grocery shopping. You have such a great energy and being a former Iowa girl myself, I always enjoy the hings from around town in des Moines where I grew up. I make your recipes for my family at least once a week, so when my family thanks me for dinner- I thank you!
These are awesome! A friend recommended your blog right after I got married in May, and I have to admit that we partake of an “IowaGirl” recipe at least once a week. Thanks for all you do! :)
I can’t believe I “happened” upon your blog just this year. Especially since we share Iowa kinship! I think your photography is stunning and your recipes are TDF!!! (Too Die For)Rock on in 2013!!
I stumbled upon your blog while looking for a homemade hamburger helper recipe earlier this year, and I’m so glad I did! I’ll admit I’m a blogger addict, and you by far are my favorite. Thanks for all of the yummy recipes! I hope you have a great New Year’s and I look forward to more recipes in 2013!
The Alfredo looks so yummy! My husband isn’t a fan of Alfredo. He grew up eating the microwavable pasta stuff. I think that is why he is scared to try it. I may have to make this to see if he changes his mind:)
Love this! it’s always interesting to find out what your top posts are right?