Can you believe this little blog is already two years old?
Do you feel like you’ve seen it grow up before your eyes? From a little Tumblr blog, to a WordPress template toddler that I tried to update myself (there were several desperate phone calls to my sister, the graphic designer, for help), and finally, to this young adult wearing grown up clothes and hoping no one notices.
Last year, we decided to celebrate by taking a look back at the top ten dishes we made that year. Because we didn’t agree, we split this into two posts, a Jason version and a Vicky version. This year is no different. But because the volume of posts has increased pretty dramatically, we decided to do a top 3-10 per category.
We hope you enjoy. Without further ado, here’s Jason’s best of choices:
Top Three Breakfasts
03. Sweet Potato Oatmeal Pancakes with Mascarpone Cream – Really, we don’t typically go for the sweet breakfasts, but come on. Look at it.
02. White Cheddar and Green Onion Scones – These have become a staple in our household. Make a batch, freeze them, and bake them in the morning.
01. Smoked Salmon Stuffed Crepes with Bechamel Sauce – Now this is savory breakfast at it’s best. Without a doubt the breakfast winner for the year.
Top Three Appetizers/Snacks
03. Blue Cheese Gougeres – It took two attempts to get these right, but once we did, they were a party hit.
02. Honey Lemon Jelly and Ricotta Crostinis – It’s not fair because we did no work for this one. Just bought some delicious jam, which you should do too.
01. Morel, Spinach, and Goat Cheese Toasts – Morels are a special little fungus, and this is how it should be eaten.
Top Three Soups
03. Coconut Butternut Squash Soup with Rice – One of the most interesting soups I’ve ever had. Try it, you’ll see what I mean.
02. Black Bean and Lentil Chili – A good winter soup that’s both healthy and filling.
01. Red Cabbage and Sausage Soup – By reading just the name, you may not think much of it, but the flavors in this soup are incredible.
Top Three Salads
03. Kale, Squash, and Quinoa Salad with Maple Citrus Dressing – The uniqueness of this one propels it into the top three. Perfect for end of summer and fall.
02. Beet, Cucumber, and Feta Salad with Basil – This salad is so simple, and yet it’s the type of thing where you want to drink the dressing out of the bottom of the bowl when no one is looking.
01. Paprika Spiced Roasted Potato Salad – Any surprise here? Of course I choose the potato salad as number one. And this is a different take on the classic.
Top Ten Main Dishes
10. Apple Cider and Maple Syrup Brined Bone-In Pork Chops – It’s the perfect fall weather dish, although in full disclosure we’ve made it in the summer and winter as well. Juicy and flavorful, I promise you’ll be gnawing at the bone.
09. Harissa Chicken with Chickpeas – quick and simple with so much flavor. This year, we discovered the wonders of harissa and have been dumping it in all sorts of meals. This one is the winner.
08. Brussel Sprout and Turkey Gratin – Creamy, crunchy, and with the vegetable that’s made the best comeback in the last 5 years: brussel sprouts.
07. Roasted Trout Beurre Blanc with Lentils – There’s a combination of flavors here that makes this dish so memorable, even though we didn’t quite get the beurre blanc sauce to emulsify as needed. Save this one for a special occasion.
06. Lamb Stew with Caramelized Fennel and White Bean Puree – I could eat this all winter long. It’s a stick to your ribs kind of dish, but elevated.
05. Cauliflower Feta Fritters – Call it a vegetarian entree or an appetizer, it doesn’t matter. This is the most interesting way to eat cauliflower. Hands down.
04. Fish Cakes with Horseradish Cream Sauce – This one also falls into the category of entree or appetizer, depending on your serving size. The fish cakes are delicious as is, but it’s the sauce that makes this dish most memorable.
03. Okonomiyaki, Savory Japanese Pancakes – If last year was the year of the dumplings, this is the year of the fritter/pancake. This Japanese version is so unique, you have to try it.
02. Roasted Chicken Thighs with Clementines – This one caught us off guard. We didn’t realize just how brilliant it was. But of course it is, it’s from Yotam Ottolenghi.
01. Sausage and Lentil Cassoulet – Perhaps it’s a little bit about the sentimental memories of our wonderful trip to France, but this one stands out as this year’s best dish.
Top Five Side Dishes
05. Southern Style Black Eyed Peas – A Southern classic with bacon and jalapeños to add some kick.
04. Warm Brown Butter Sweet Potato, Pancetta, and Arugula Salad – I think the title says it all.
03. Farro, Brussel Sprout, and Potato Bake – It could be eaten like a vegetarian entree but we prefer it as a side dish. Either way, it’ll make you warm and happy.
02. Charred Green Beans with Spicy Garlic Aioli – Spicy garlic aioli. Enough said.
01. Paprika Spiced Roasted Potato Salad – It’s not entirely fair, but this fits into two categories, so of course it won both.
Top Three Desserts
03. Rhubarb Upside Down Cake – Not the healthiest of desserts but sometimes decadence is in order. And by decadence I mean lots of butter.
02. Lemon Curd Icebox Tart with Mint Raspberries – A great cake for a dinner party.
01. Childhood Berry Crumb Pie – There is just nothing better than a dessert stuffed with three pints of berries. And of course, it’s Vicky’s classic recipe.
Top Three Projects
03. Basement Curtains – Despite all the work that’s gone into remodeling our basement, the curtains seem to have the biggest visual impact.
02. Built-in Bookshelves – Without a doubt the hardest and most ambitious project from this year.
01. Our Living Room – With the move to the new house this year, there is no other room I’m most happy spending time in than our living room. It came together over the course of a couple months, and with the addition of the art above the fireplace, it finally feels complete.
Tomorrow, we’ll be back with Vicky’s best of choices.
Love all the beautiful pictures and delicious recipes! Where’d you get that couch in your living room?? I love it and am looking for a new one.
writes ClaireClarie – thanks for the kind words! The couch is from Crate and Barrel. It’s still available, here’s the link: http://www.crateandbarrel.com/petrie-sofa/s270907
writes Vicky[…] we brought you Jason’s best of choices from this […]
writes Two Year Blog Anniversary and My Best Of Choices - Things I Made Today