Best of 2015

Here they are!  The recipes for 2015 that were most viewed by you.  

Taking a look back on the recipes that you gravitated to is a good way to reflect on past memories and the comfort they bring you.

They also tell me what types of food you are drawn too. From this compilation of recipes I see that most of you like no fuss meals.  Ones that are easy to fix, comforting, and are easy weeknight meals or slow cooker meals.  There is also a bit of weekend breakfast treats and a fabulous dessert!  

I'll keep all of this in mind during the upcoming year.

So on to the top 10 countdown of all time favorite recipes for 2015...

Lemon Blueberry Crescent Rolls - this was the most popular item.  A quick and easy breakfast treat that tastes like heaven.

Baja Chicken Sliders - These are a great entertaining idea for parties. Perfect for July 4th and other grilling holidays.

Southwest Chicken Spaghetti  - This is a fabulous slow cooker meal.  The flavors rock! 

Chicken Taco Meat - Freezer Friendly Bulk Recipe - This is my favorite 'go to' taco meat.  It makes a ton so you can freeze portions for later.

California Chicken Salad  - A staple recipe.  This one has the flavors of California in it!

Slow Cooker Greek Style Chicken with Spinach and Tomato Orzo  - Another wonderful slow cooker meal.  This one has great flavors and is a complete meal.

Quick & Easy Mini Sticky Buns  - Ohhh!  I love these little breakfast treats! Reminiscent of a true sticky bun, they are so easy to make.

Teriyaki Beef and Sugar Snap Stir Fry  - Can't beat a stir fry for a quick weeknight meal.  This one is delicious!

Bruschetta Chicken Rice Bowl  - One of my favorite lunch dishes.  A quick rice bowl full of garlic, chicken, and tomatoes.

Walnut and Rosemary Oven "Fried" Chicken - A healthier way to eat fried chicken with a wonderful rosemary crust.  Love it!

Banana Bundt Cake  - The only dessert to make the list and it is a winner! 

It was a wonderful year full of great memories and great dishes.  I hope you take the time to enjoy some of these favorites and I'm looking forward to bringing you more exciting recipes in 2016.

Happy New Year!

Garlic Spaghetti

Let's face it.  I don't think that side dishes get the attention that they deserve.

I mean, they aren't the main attraction for day to day meals. More of an after thought on what to serve on the side.  At least at my house, I tend to throw my side dishes together.  I do try to compliment my main dish in theme or flavor though but I tend to rotate the same dishes.

Today's recipe is not your ho-hum side dish.  This Garlic Spaghetti will knock your socks off!

The flavors, the simplicity, the ease of cooking this dish!  Oh my!  (need I say more?)

A few days ago I posted a recipe for Chicken Pomodoro.  It's a wonderful Italian style chicken dish that I found in a Cuisine at Home magazine (which I love!).  Along with this chicken dish they suggested this simple side dish of pasta laced with garlic and a little lemon.  It sounded like the perfect accompaniment since it didn't have a sauce but a light coating of flavor infused olive oil.  

I thought that this would keep the whole dish light, and I was right.  The pasta was just lightly coated and was perfect as a side dish.  You could even turn this into a main dish by adding some grilled lemon or garlic chicken cut in small pieces.  It's heaven either way.

Simple to make, but BIG on flavor!

Give this dish a try with or without the Chicken Pomodoro.  It will soon become one of your favorite ways to dress pasta!

Enjoy!



Garlic Spaghetti

Ricotta salata is a salty, mild-flavored cheese with a crumbly texture similar to feta.

Makes: 4 servings; Total time: 25 minutes

8 oz. dry spaghetti
2 Tbsp. olive oil
2 Tbsp. minced garlic
2 Tbsp. minced fresh parsley
1 Tbsp. minced lemon zest
Salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes to taste
1⁄2 cup crumbled ricotta salata

Cook spaghetti in a large pot of boiling salted water according to package directions. Reserve 1⁄2 cup pasta water; drain remaining water.

Heat oil in same pot over medium-high. Add garlic; cook 30 seconds. Stir in pasta water, parsley, zest, and spaghetti; toss to coat. Season spaghetti with salt, black pepper, and pepper flakes, then stir in ricotta salata.

source:  Cuisine at Home.com

Chicken Pomodoro

The other day I was surfing through one of my favorite magazines, Cuisine at Home. Have you heard of them?

The word "favorite" is an understatement.  It's more like "obsessed"!  I subscribe to their main magazine but I'm also know to buy every single special issue that they produce.  It's a problem, I know.  But I just LOVE their style of cooking along with the fact that there are no ads in this magazine. 

Basically it's a mini cookbook, and I am also obsessed with cookbooks!  So now you know my dirty little secret.  Lover of cookbooks and obsessed Cuisine at Home magazines.

Where was I?  Oh yea, I was surfing through one of my magazines and found a wonderful recipe that jumped off the page and said "Make me NOW!".  It really spoke to me.  I love Italian flavors and the dishes are usually quite simple to make. The thing about Cuisine at Home recipes is that they put a twist on a know dish to give it a slight variation but the result is outstanding.  Trust me, they really know how to put together flavors to pack a punch and create recipes that are solid and easy to follow.

Chicken Pomodoro is just one of those dishes.  Sauted Chicken is coated in a creamy sauce that contains cherry tomatoes. This is a light dish but it's perfect year round since cherry tomatoes are always available. 

If you have 30 minutes and want a fresh light dinner or lunch try this wonderful chicken dish.  I served it with the Garlic Spaghetti that was suggested (click here for the recipe) which made a perfect compliment.  Add a salad or a piece of crusty bread to round it out if you like.  

I can't brag enough about Cuisine at Home.  If you get a change check out their site, and subscribe if you want.  They also have free eRecipes you can sign up for as well, plus they sell special edition cookbooks online as well.  I'm sure you'll love them as I do.

Enjoy!




Chicken Pomodoro

If you don't like to cook with alcohol or don't have it on hand, you can replace the vodka with an equal amount of chicken broth.

Makes: 4 servings; Total time: 30 minutes

SEASON:
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, halved, pounded to ¼-inch thick (8 oz. each)
Salt and black pepper
2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
2 Tbsp. olive oil

OFF HEAT, DEGLAZE:
1⁄4 cup vodka
1⁄2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1⁄4 cup heavy cream
1 cup halved heirloom cherry tomatoes
2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1⁄4 cup minced scallions

Season cutlets with salt and pepper, then dust with flour. Coat a large sauté pan with nonstick spray. Add oil and heat over medium-high.

Sauté cutlets until brown, 2–3 minutes per side. Transfer cutlets to a plate.

Off heat, deglaze pan with vodka and cook until liquid evaporates. Add broth and cream and reduce until thick, 2–3 minutes. Stir in tomatoes and lemon juice and bring to a simmer. Return cutlets to pan and cook to warm through, 1 minute per side.

Serve cutlets with sauce and garnish with scallions.

source:  Cuisine at Home.com