Wrapping Up 2011 - Food & Favorites from the Year

Well.  Another year.  Flown by!  Isn't it funny how it can simultaneously seem like January was yesterday and forever ago?  I've never done a recap of a year at girlichef before, and I thought I'd like to start doing it this year.  I thought I'd start with the "most popular" posts as determined by statistics, and then move on to share some of my personal favorites from the year.  Really, it was so hard to pick.  I love almost everything in the moment.  But the ones I've picked to share today were definitely some that still linger in the food-bank of my memory today.

So, the top 9.  Oh yeah, I said 9.  I'm defying all reason and throwing 10 out the door.  Here goes.

Starting with the most-viewed...

#1 Bite-Sized "Poptarts" - #2 Hibiscus Popsicles w/ Mango -

#3 Amazing Date Shake - #4 Fried Green Tomatoes & Pulled Pork - #5 My Favorite Tortilla Soup (& results of my Tortilla Soup Quest) - #6 Root Beer Cupcakes - #7 Gnocchi w/ Oxtail Ragu - #8 Pad Krapow - #9 Sopa de Ajo 

Now I'll move on to my favorite salads and sandwiches from 2011...

  1. Warm Bread, Pancetta, & Poached Egg Salad w/ Parmesan, 2. Fruit & Grains Salad w/ Edible Flowers and Strawberry Vinaigrette, 

3. Crispy Pambazo,  4. Reuben 

I had a really hard time choosing just a few soups.  And as you  may know, the Tortilla Soup that I shared up in my "most popular posts" collage is my all-time favorite soup.  These however, came very close...

1. Tomato Garlic Soup w/ Cheese Tortellini (& the Garlic Broth that goes with it), 2. Smoky Yellow Eye Bean Soup, 3. Good Neighbor Tortilla Soup, 4. Sopa de Letra (Alphabet Soup)

I realize that I don't really don't post very many whole meals.  But these are four dishes that make very happy bellies when served as an Entree...

1. Lazy Girl's Cassoulet, 2. Pastitsio, 3. Layered Crespelle w/ Tomato, Prosciutto, & Cheese, 4. Bacon-Wrapped Cod w/ Rosemary & Roasted Fingerling Potatoes

Mmmm...side dishes.  I've been known to eat side dishes as whole meals.  Each and every one of these is case-in-point.  However, a small side serving is just as pleasing.  Both the mac and cheese and the scalloped potatoes happen to be my very favorite versions of each...

1. Poblano Macaroni and Cheese, 2. Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes, 3. Curried Fried Rice, 4. Roasted Vegetable Salad w/ Garlic & Rosemary

Mmmm...breakfast...my favorite meal of the day.  While I have a bit of a hard time choosing favorites, because really, breakfast really depends on my mood.  But I tried my hardest...

1.  Midnight Skillet Breakfast, 2. Oatmeal w/ Bananas, Poppy Seeds, Cinnamon, & Toasted Almonds, 3. Sweet Potato Muffins w/ Bacon-Pecan Streusel, 4. Banana Pancakes w/ Butter Rum Banana Maple Syrup

While I could compose an ode to the glory that is freshly baked bread (haiku's about croissants are also commonplace around here),  I'll share six irresistible versions with you right now.  Irresistible I say!

1. Garlic Bread (hands down THE best ever), 2. Conchas, 3. Croissants, 4. Oatmeal Brown Ale Rolls, 5. 100% Sourdough Bagels, 6. Sopapillas

Whether it's happy hour or the bewitching hour, it's always the perfect time for any of these drinks!  If I had to choose one cocktail to drink for the rest of my life, it would be numero uno...

1. Cherry Basil Collins, 2. Ponche Navideño, 3. Champurrado, 4. Spiced Daiquiri

I'm a sucker for many, many sweet endings but here were a few of my favorite desserts from this year...

1. Fried Nutella Ravioli, 2. Apple Cider Pie, 3. Paletas de Chocolate (Mexican Chocolate Ice Pops), 4. Lemon Bars

And a few odds and ends that didn't really fit into any category, but still deserved a spot in my favorites from this year were...

1. Queso Fresco, 2. Roasted Strawberry Vanilla Bean Jam, 3. Popcorn w/ Kale Dust  (& Kale Chips), 4. Sauteed Feta w/ Piquant Relishes

To go along with these favorite food picks from 2011, I also want to mention a couple of projects that were near and dear to my heart...She Made, Ella Hace and The Homesick Texan Cookbook Spotlight & Cook-Off.

Thanks so much for hanging out with me in 2011!

I'm really looking forward to 2012...more food...more fun...more projects.  You can look forward to another Cookbook Spotlight (Joy the Baker), more She Made, Ella Hace and this will also be the new home of BYOB- Bake Your Own Bread.  Oh yeah, I'll be hosting MLLA- My Legume Love Affair in March so I hope to see you for that, as well.  And I'll finish the second half of 50 Women Game-Changers in Food along with a lovely group of ladies.

Be safe and have a blast on New Year's Eve everbody!