Top Posts of 2012, (Yours and Mine)

These are the favorite Posts of the year, Yours and Mine.

As a food blogger, creating recipes is an incredible creative outlet, and the rewards can be amazing. But the truth is that you never really know what your audience will go wild for (or not). Out of the hundreds of recipes of 2012 sometimes I was not surprised at all (chocolate donuts) and sometimes I am completely confused when you weirdos get excited about things like brussels sprouts! (thank goodness I am not the only one out there that loves them so!)

From chocolate to sprouts, here they are in all their glory folks. It is all top twenty (uh, but in no real order.)

Some caused pandemonium through the web (#1 #2 #3 #4) and others were just well appreciated within the community. Whatever the case- here is a look at the greatest hits of 2012 chosen by you. (My picks follow below).

Your Top Twenty!
1. Chocolate Blood Orange Donuts:
The moist chocolate donuts, and the fact that they were baked caught attention, but some people seemed captivated by that blood orange glaze which made these a sensation!

2. Caprese Soup:
I can only assume that everyone loves the idea of hot tomato soup, crispy garlicky toast, pesto and gooey melting cheese as much as I do…

3. Cookies and Cream Popcorn:
This was just pure novelty all the way…

4. Pork Chili Verde:
I know how wildly delicious this “leftover” chili was- but I was shocked that people all over the web got so excited about it! One taste though and it is not hard to see why…

5. Almond Joy Cookies:
Fast, easy, chewy, crispy cookies filled with almonds, coconut and yes, Joy. What’s not to love?

6. Raspberry Buttermilk Cake:
Best “summery” cake ever. Ever. Perfect for family, perfect for dinner parties. Perfect in general.

9. 3-Day Juice Diet:
I guess everyone else goes through phases where they can’t fit in their pants either… Right now after the indulgent holidays, this is the most popular post on my site. Happy New Year!

10. Caramel Pumpkin Pie Bars:
I still can’t believe how phenomenal these were. It was like my favorite pumpkin pie recipe with amazing extras like maple caramel and shortbread. Best Thanksgiving desert I have had in a long time. These will become an annual affair.

11. Pumpkin Butterscotch Granola Bars:
I guess people just love granola and love pumpkin, and they came together here in a crispy little snack of perfection. Oh yeah, they were laced with butterscotch.

12. Pasta with Walnut Pesto
I am not sure why this surprised me too. I love this recipe, but again, you never know what will float people’s boats. I think that this flavorful pesto really appealed for it’s versatility.

13. Coconut Scones:
Fuggetaboutit. These are the best things ever.

14. Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting :
Carrot Cake for the non carrot cake lover. I guess that is lots of you!

15. Brussels Sprouts Pesto:
Weirdos! See explanation # 12

16. Chocolate Coffee Ice Cream Sandwiches
I guess this isn’t too hard to understand. Cookies, ice cream, chocolate, coffee.

17. Avocado Orzo with Garlicky Grilled Shrimp
I thought you would find this weird, and some of you did- but I think I caught your attention with those giant garlicky grilled shrimp.

18. Blueberry Donuts with Vanilla Bean Glaze:
Melt-in-your-mouth…

19. Carrot Risotto:
You all surprised me again. I created this for the Easter Bunny, but it turned into a year round favorite for many.

20. Halloween Slutty Brownies
Who can resist at least seeing what this nonsense is all about? Cookies, Oreos, Halloween candy, brownies. Whaaaatttttt!!!!?????

Mine:
Here are my favorites from the last year. These are a few recipes from 2012 that are now repeats in my house. Trust me, when you cook as much as I do, and are in a constant state of new recipe development, this is really saying something. They are good.

1.BLT with Bacon Cheddar Bread:
This recipe was all about the homemade Bacon Cheddar Bread and the Goat Cheese Butter. Yes. I said Goat Cheese Butter.

2. Sticky Asian Chicken Wings
I wasn’t kidding when I said that I devoured these standing up at the counter while they were still scalding hot. These are INSANE.

3. Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Avocado:
Perfect side dish. I made it for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I will make it next time friends come for dinner too. This last time I made it, I also added crispy, buttery croutons, I totally recommend it.

4. Strawberry Rhubarb Sugar Cookie Crisp:
I remember being shocked by this recipe. How could something so simple be so delicious? And how could I have never thought to use my favorite sugar cookie recipe as a pie crust before? I will be making this over and over again for forever using all different types of fruit for the filling. Amazing.

5. Asian Salmon Burger with Spicy Herb Sauce and Spicy Pickled Cucumbers and Sweet and Spicy Pickled Red Onions

6. Shredded Brussels Sprouts Salad with Fried Goat Cheese:
I know, it is like I am a freak for Brussels Sprouts, (and goat cheese)but I am telling you- this salad will change how you feel about Brussels Sprouts. And Salad. And maybe life…

7. Smoked Salmon Crostini:
I make this crostiini like every time I have someone over. Besides the fact that I clearly love it to be making it so often, it is easy and for some reason it always seems appropriate. Sometimes I use smoked trout- I may like that even better.