Also, today marks the 3-year anniversary of this little blog - hooray!! With over 700 posts to date, it's been an amazing ride. I've learned so much along the way, and met some really wonderful people I would otherwise never have crossed paths with. I thank each and every one of you for your support! I will be hosting a giveaway at the start of the new year to show my appreciation :)
So, without further ado, the top 10 recipes of the year...
10. Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting - Without a doubt, these are my go-to pumpkin cupcakes, and when topped with cream cheese frosting, they're completely irresistible. As luck would have it, I have a ton of leftover canned pumpkin, so I don't have to wait until next fall to make them again.
9. Lemon Madeleines - I love madeleines; they strike me as so elegant with their gorgeous scalloped edges. This version has a subtle lemon twist and since citrus fruits will be in season soon, it's a great time of year for this recipe.
8. Homemade Graham Crackers - It makes me so happy to replicate store-bought goodies, especially when the result is a big improvement over the original. These are buttery and crispy, and would make the best s'mores ever.
7. Cookies & Cream Cheesecakes - My mom is a good sport and eats just about anything I bake and share with her, but she has a few personal favorites, and this recipe is one of them. I'm not a huge cheesecake fan, but this recipe made a believer out of me. You really can't go wrong with Oreos and cheesecake, I guess.
6. Lemon Rosemary & Balsamic Grilled Chicken Thighs - I laughed as I reread this post, in which I talked about Shane's dislike of bone-in chicken and my hope that I could make him a convert with more tasty recipes like this one with its super flavorful marinade. Suffice it to say, it worked! Eight months later, he requests bone-in chicken thighs regularly :)
5. Banana Breakfast Smoothie - This is a really fun breakfast treat - creamy like a milkshake, but way easier to justify first thing in the morning. You only need a few simple ingredients and a quick spin in your blender to whip it up.
4. Mini Caramel Apple Pies - Everything is better in mini form isn't it? Apple pie is one of my favorite desserts, and this version adds a rich caramel sauce to the filling, making it even more decadent and indulgent.
3. Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes - Who would have guessed that a recipe involving cauliflower would be so popular? This year I tried quite a few cauliflower recipes, but this is the one I'll return to again and again when I want to incorporate cauliflower into my diet. It's almost as good as mashed potatoes, and you can feel a whole lot better about eating it.
2. Soft Pretzel Bites - I'm obsessed with homemade pretzels, and apparently you guys are too! Seriously, I don't think I've met a soft pretzel I didn't love, and this bite-sized version is a real treat.
1. Homemade Croissants - The recipe I'm probably most proud of having tackled this year. I took lots of step-by-step pictures so I hope I inspired some of you to give them a go as well.
So, there you have it - your favorite recipes of the year! I'm looking forward to sharing my personal favorites tomorrow.
