Sunday, January 1, 2012

Top Favorites From 2011

Happy New Year!  I had so many favorite recipes in 2011, but these are some of the very best.  The ones that were the most memorable.  I'm convinced there is no better way to start this roundup than with this extremely memorable and family-pleasing Grilled Sausage Ring with Parsley and Provolone over Pepperonata.  This dish was visually stunning and so crazy good. I make it often with regular Italian sausages, but I'm always on the lookout for sausage rings so I can make this again.
 
Near and dear to my heart was my very first guest post, over at Velva's Tomatoes on the Vine, where I shared this fun recipe for Pot Roast Potato Skins.   Crispy potato skins filled with tender roast beef topped with creamy mashed potatoes.  Such a fun, tasty, and satisfying dish.  Would be perfect for any upcoming Superbowl parties. 
I would be completely remiss if I didn't include this recipe for Jamie Oliver's Baby Farfalle with Creamy Smoked Bacon and Pea Sauce.  I first made this dish in May and it was such a hit with the family I continued to make it throughout the year, repeating this recipe probably more than any other throughout the year.  This recipe is fantastic and a total life saver, seems to be a huge hit with the kids, and is easily made with ingredients you can almost always find in your kitchen.   

 
My personal favorite for the year were these Creole Meatloaves with Trinity Gravy.  I really can't even begin to tell you how much I loved this dish.  Of course, this is where I should tell you that I'm probably a bit biased.  I love a good meatloaf and I do enjoy the spicy flavors that were in the trinity gravy, but WOW...this was a delicious meal.  This was the dish that made me a believer in the recipes of Rachel Ray.
Ina Garten's Chicken with Shallots was an easy, elegant, and utterly fabulous dish.  You can always count on Ina to deliver a fantastic recipe, but this is one of my Ina favorites.  This recipe would be perfect for so many different occasions.
Inspired by the movie Fried Green Tomatoes I made these Fried Green Tomatoes with Homemade Basil Mayo with ingredients mostly found in my backyard garden.  Fried Green Tomatoes coated in panko and seasoned with parmesan cheese and basil dipped in a homemade basil mayo....oh my gosh.  One of the best things I ate all year for sure!
One of my favorite things all year was The Homesick Texan Cook-Off and Cookbook Review.  It was so much fun cooking along with my fellow bloggers and every single recipe in Lisa Fain's book was utterly delicious.  My family would literally do a happy dance when they saw Lisa's book in my hands.  Everything I made from the book was fantastic, the carnitas being a personal family favorite.  My Cookbook Review and roundup are HERE.  The Homesick Texan Cookbook was my favorite cookbook in 2011.
I could eat this simply cheese mustard on just about anything.  I'm aching to try this simple cheesy mustard in place of hollandaise on eggs benedict.  On my to do list for the upcoming year for sure.
When I asked my husband which recipe was his favorite in 2011 he answered back right away with these Smothered Pork Chops.  Unfortunately for him this was probably one of the priciest recipes I made during last year, each thick-cut pork chop reigning in at around $5 each.  What can I say?  I guess my husband is high maintenance.  It's a good thing I'm not... ha ha.

And there you have it....all of our very top, very favorite, dreamed about, crave-inducing, most memorable, heart-warming, and family pleasing dishes of 2011.  It sure was a tasty year!  I can't wait to see what 2012 cooks up in the kitchen.

Happy New Year!

43 comments:

  1. Very stunning and mouthwatering dishes! Your post turned my stomach into a growling hungry dog!

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  2. A delicious round up, Kim. I look forward to more of your great posts in the coming year. Happy New Year to you and your loved ones.

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  3. man, I shouldn't have looked at that on an empty stomache

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  5. You have posted such delicious looking pictures that I can't control myself! Thankyou

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  6. What a great round-up and what a yummy year Kim. I could eat fried green tomatoes all year long and never, ever complain.

    Happy new year to you and your family.
    Sam

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  7. All of these look amazing, but I'm bookmarking the Jamie Oliver dish to try soon! Happy new year!

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  10. wow...great list of lovely recipes...finger licking good...:)

    Dr.Sameena@

    http://www.myeasytocookrecipes.blogspot.com/

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  11. Good blog, you cook very well. My blog: www.elruidodelatierra.blogspot.com

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  12. DROOLING! Everything looks amazing...what a great year :D Looking forward to cooking with you and seeing what you cook up this year. Happy 2012!

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  13. You're my favorite place to turn for comfort food and this post definitely confirms that! SO much awesome food. I always love reading your blog, Kim. Here's to more delicious in 2012!

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  14. You've certainly had a busy year cooking all those delicious recipes! Looking forward to see what 2012 has in store!!

    http://lindyinthekitchen.blogspot.com/

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  15. WOW! I should know better than to read a food blog on an empty stomach! What was I thinking???? And meanwhile I'm making Jiffy cornbread and Hoppin' John for supper (not nearly as appetizing as your recipes) wishing for a little luck although I AM a day late but maybe I'll get SOME luck. In fact the Hopping John recipe came from Ree Drummond's blog, the Pioneer Woman. I did cook a lot of her recipes this year from her cookbook and they were great! You might want to review her cookbook. But as for me....I'll be cooking up a storm of all those 2011 favs of yours! Thank you for doing all that and sharing it with us. I've got to be frugal now in retirement and I can't waste money or food on BAD recipes and trust me I've made my share! LOL! Thanks again so much! Happy New Year to you and yours and may your meals all be blessed!

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  16. all your food looks FANTASTIC! it would be absolutely awesome if u followed my blog :) http://bakemyway2028.blogspot.com/

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  17. Looks amazing!! The fried green tomatoes look divine!

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  18. I made the meatloaf tonight after I saw it here and it was soo good! It's a keeper :) Love that gravy and the creole seasoning was a must!

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  19. That is one delicious year! All welcoming - may 2012 bring you delicious days, Kim!

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  20. my mouth was watering for each picture, oh my gosh! and i still need to get the Homesick Texan book, it looks like a great cookbook! what a great year, and a delicious one at that. can't wait to see what you do in 2012!

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  24. It's in the middle of the night and I was about to go to sleep when I stumbled upon this post. Now I've totally forgotten about sleep. Great food!

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  25. Happy New Year, Kim!

    I'd have to say the sausage roll was my favorite too.

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  26. Hi Kim! All these recipes look so good! Especially that broccoli dish. I am so going to try it. Thanks for sharing and happy new year!

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  27. I love your round up! Everything look delicious and demands to be tried. I hope you had a wonderful holiday and that 2012 brings only good things your way. Blessings...Mary

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  28. Hi friends,
    I’m impressed!! Really informative blog post here my friend I just wanted to comment & say keep up the quality work. I’ve bookmarked your blog just now and I’ll be back to read more in the future my friend!

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  29. They all look great! Happy New Year!

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  30. Pity I already had lunch, this looks delicious! Congratulations on such a tasty blog :) !

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  31. Those look delish! Almost makes me want to cook. Almost. lol
    My hubs loves Eggs Benedict. Down in the Keys there's a restaurant that makes Blue Crab Eggs Benedict.

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  32. Hi! Your dishes are so yummyy!! Loved all of them! And they seem so easy to cook and so tasty! I wanted to give you congratulations for your site and say that I would really love if you tool a look at mine and even follow me!
    See you around <3

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  33. All this food looks amazing! Congratulations on your blog!

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  34. joung7530> It seems like you're trying to tell someone

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  35. Every single recipe that you featured for 2011 look and sound superb, Kim! I've got them printed off for future meals! Thanks for the great round-up! Happy New Year!

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  36. Who think it's going to come good for?

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  37. It's got a spare video aftertaste. That's interesting!

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  38. You did make some really amazing dishes this year. Excellent comfort food. Happy 2012! ;-)

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  39. It all looks so good, but that sausage in the frist picture is calling my name!

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    Ergo Baby Changing Pad - Galaxy

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