Top 10 Recipes of 2011

The sun through the living room window this afternoon was delicious. It was a cool white and playful along the walls. We sat on the couch together, talking about pocket knives. He was showing me the features of the one he got for Christmas, and we were sharing the relief that the one I left in my carry-on when we went through security last week, and subsequently put in the mail to arrive back at home, had in fact arrived. (The TSA agent sure had his eye on it!)

[I would also like to mention, as a side note, my extreme embarrassment for being "one of thoose people." The ones who hold up the security line because they forgot to take the nunchucks out of their carry on bag. Uh, sorry people.]

It wasn't that there was anything about this little piece of the afternoon that was out of the ordinary. In fact, the ordinariness of it all is what made it stick inside of me, like an extra big dinner. 2012 will be our first whole year as married people. One of many in our future, I'm brimming with the hope that we'll see our lives wind through and realize that we were side by side the whole time.

Because it's held its rank as such a special place in my heart, I thought I would show you a glimpse of our special day. It was terribly cold that day in early October, like in the 30s, but I hardly noticed. It was the others at our reception that seemed to notice how frigid it was! I'm grateful for the folks who endured the chill with us, and I loved watching my nieces and nephews play near the beautiful stone fireplace. I think that made their day memorable too.



Top day of 2011!



Well, this coming year is going to be pretty great. I have some big plans for the blog, and for some restaurant reviews (which haven't been my strong point in the past), and for having some gluten free dinner groups at our house. Are any of you local folks interested in getting together for some delicious gluten free dinner? It would just tickle me pink to meet people around the valley who have awesome gluten free insights and have a great evening together.

Last Year: Top 10 Gluten Free Recipes of 2010
Two Years Ago: Top 10 Recipes of 2009
Three Years Ago: Lindt Excellence Extra Creamy Milk Chocolate (not gluten free)

Well, let's kick this off. Since you all, the readers, are my favorite part about blogging (with food coming in as a close second), I wanted to highlight the foods you chose this year. The ones that people read about, and hopefully tried out the recipes. It's always the highest honor to have someone explain how they tried out a recipe, and whether or not it worked, and how they liked it.

So, 2011 brought us:

10. Jerusalem Artichoke Soup was one of my earliest 2011 inventions, and it came because of a Bountiful Baskets order. I was convinced that they had passed along 5 knobby roots of fresh ginger, and was puzzling over what I could do with it!

The Jerusalem Artichoke flavor is more complex than potato, with a nice hint of spicy bitterness underneath the creamy tuber taste. It's a nice way to try something different for the cook who has made all kinds of potato soup.

9. Sweet Potato Fries have always been a favorite for us, but we haven't been able to eat them out at restaurant since going gluten free. (If you live in Salt Lake and don't eat gluten free, the Bayou has some excellent sweet potato fries.)

I wanted to get to the bottom of how to make crisp sweet potato fries, and so I studied it out and we think the results are pretty positive. The outsides have a nice crunch (but they aren't burnt), and the inside has a nice creamy and smooth texture.

8. Pumpkin Cranberry Bread came out of our oven multiple times this fall! I just couldn't get enough of the warm spices with the earthy pumpkin, with bits of bursting fresh cranberries in the bread. I made regular sized loaves and some of the small loaves, and this was one of the first times I really saw the clear difference in baking with different types of pans. You will find different results with metal pans than you will with glass or ceramic.

It's a true measure of a skilled baker to recognize when the texture is correct, and adjust the baking time accordingly. Hopefully we'll be exploring more about baking times and pan materials in the coming year.

7. Easy Apple Coffee Cake really truly did turn out to be an easy recipe. I loved the walnut-studded outer crust, and the way I was able to get this in and out of the oven in time to help the husband get ouf bed.

Has anyone else noticed that a divine smell from the kitchen can help rouse the heaviest of sleepers? I guess it works at this house. I was also pleased to be using some delicious local apples from the Monday Market several times in making this recipe.

6. Chili Colorado Recipe was actually part of our special day. We served it, along with a choice of Shredded Mexican Chicken, and the guests were able to choose their favorite and pile on the toppings. From the murmurs at the tables, I think it was a win.

The husband's favorite part of this dish is the meatiness, combined with the complex spice profile. It's surely something that will perk up taste buds, and leave people wondering what you put in there!

5. Gluten Free Fresh Grapefruit Cake is actually a recipe that I had to battle with. The grapefruit flavor provides the underlying bitterness in the cake, which can be very pleasant. Still, it needed something to help tone down the bitterness, so the Dairy Free Caramel Sauce (number 2 on this list) turned out to be a great accompaniment. There are few things are sublime as something bitter paired with something quite sweet, with a touch of sea salt in the caramel. What a treat!

4. Berry Streusel Coffee Cake is hands down now my favorite coffee cake. The streusel topping was almost like an oatmeal cookie (sans oatmeal, since the oatmeal and butter usually found in coffee cake are no longer on my list of edibles). You can use any berry you like, I personally prefer frozen berries in here, since I have them in my freezer all year long. This is another breakfast treat that is sure to help your sleepy crowd out of bed!

Honestly, coffee cake holds a tiny corner of my innermost me, since I make it every year at camp. This year we let one of our greatest mentors go, and he remains a part of me and my cooking, since he treated me and my cooking contributions for camp with such respect.

3. Dairy Free Easy Peanut Butter Fudge was this year's holiday friend gift smash hit. My friend K asked for the recipe, and I made multiple batches, and kept it in my fridge for the moment I needed it. I'm not really one to plan ahead on those sorts of things, so I appreciated a speedy recipe that could go into the fridge, and then be sliced on demand and wrapped on a little plate for a good friend or neighbor.

I'm a big believer that we should each find those easy things that make our life better - whether it's Chili Colorado in the freezer, a quick and filling risotto meal that is always on the appealing list when few other things are, or a treat that's easy to make and easy to share when it's needed. It's quite appealing to my pratical side, and so I'm sure it will make its appearance again and again.

2. Dairy Free Caramel Sauce, like I mentioned above, was the perfect pairing for the fresh grapefruit cake. Sometimes all you need on a cake with a really strong flavor is an equally delicious contrasting sauce. The same thing happened on my Gingerbread Bundt Cake with Chocolate Ganache, just a few days ago. It also reminds me of the Apricot Dobos Torte from several years ago. Complex and packed with caramel.

1. Balsamic Beef Stew was the all-time favorite of the year for you readers. I have to be honest that I can't really blame you. It fed me and the husband multiple times this fall, and the deep smoky balsamic makes all the difference. It's a substantial and chunky dish, perfect for the chill of winter.

Here's to another year, bursting with creativity, fresh food, ingenious dishes, and good friends and family. May your 2012 be bright.