11 Best Dishes of 2018

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Happy New Year!

2018 was a year full of highs and lows but it seems that it went so fast that it was a blur.  The food we made was a full of variety.  The most popular dishes seem to have a comfort food theme with a little bit of restaurant flair thrown in.   

I've gathered the eleven most popular dishes (there was a tie for 10th place that I couldn't break) from 2018 in one spot for you to reference and enjoy!

Enjoy all the precious moments that 2019 will bring.  We only live once!

11 TOP RECIPES OF 2018

In no particular order...

Cajun Roasted Potatoes

Chili Lime Salmon with Roasted Vegetables

Baked Honey Soy Chicken Legs

Spicy Turkey Chili 

Garlic and Parmesan Crispy Oven Fried Chicken

Grilled Balsamic Chicken with Mediterranean Rice

Slow Cooker Italian Chicken Stew

Middle Eastern Chickpea Salad

Lemon Blueberry Muffins

Easy Cinnamon Peach Cobbler - Family Sized

Sheet Pan Beef Fajitas

There are plenty of dishes to come in 2019.  Lots of comfort food, weeknight meals, stir frys, southern dishes, and easy restaurant style meals.  Enjoy a prosperous holiday and I am so grateful for all of my followers.  I wish you the best to come in 2019 and will be talking to you in the new year!

Apple Cinnamon French Toast

Basic French toast is elevated a notch or two when topped with tender juicy apples and drizzled with a cinnamon syrup!

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The best way to make your day start off right is to eat a hearty helping of French toast that is topped with soft tender apples dripping with a cinnamony syrup!  

Breakfast can be on the table in about 20 minutes with this quick Apple Cinnamon French Toast recipe.  Apples are in season right now and this is the perfect way to incorporate them into your diet.  This is indulgence at it's best!  There are so many wonderful apples to choose from so pick your favorite and enjoy a great breakfast at the start of a great day!

I love the apples and I look forward to them every year.  I also love trying new varieties of apples so I chose a Sugar Baby apple for today's dish, but use your favorite.  The apples will stew away while you cook the French toast so you want an apple that stays firm and won't fall apart.  I left the skin on the apples for the nutrients and structure but you can certainly peel them if you choose. 

This is a wonderful winter weekend end breakfast.  One that the whole family will love.  I love the combination of apples and cinnamon and this takes your basic French toast up a notch or two!  

Enjoy!





Apple Cinnamon French Toast

serves 2

Apples: 

1 large apple - choose your favorite firm apple 

1/4 cup white sugar 

1/4 tsp cinnamon 

1 1/2 tbsp butter 

2 tbsp water

French Toast: 

4 slices white bread , preferably slightly stale 

2 eggs 

1/4 cup milk 

2 tbsp butter

a pinch of salt

Place the sugar, butter and cinnamon in a small saucepan over medium high heat.  Cut the apple into 1/4" thick wedges, leaving the skin on.  Add the apple and water to the saucepan.  Allow to simmer until apple have softened and syrup thickens slightly.  Stir occasionally.  

Meanwhile in a small bowl whisk together the egg, milk, and salt.  Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a large skillet, over medium high heat. 

Dip the bread into the mixture, then remove, allowing any excess egg to drip off. Place in the skillet and cook until golden brown on each side - about 1 1/2 minutes. Remove from the skillet and keep warm.  Repeat with the remaining butter and dipped bread.  

To serve, place French toast on a plate and top with the apple mixture, spooning over the syrup.

source:  Recipe Tin Eats

Fall/Winter Picnic: Wraps, Salad Two Ways, and Ginger Lemonade

A series of wonderful vegetarian dishes pair perfectly together for a Fall/Winter Picnic, indoors or out!

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So all week long I've been bringing you recipes that are simple in nature, vegetarian, and oh so tasty! 

If you've missed my posts for Orzo Black Bean Salad, Feta Chopped Salad, or Pesto Cucumber Wraps take a moment to check them out.  They are all wonderfully light and delicious vegetarian dishes that I found in a new cookbook I got called,  "Forest Feast Gatherings: Simple Vegetarian Menus for Hosting Friends & Family", by Erin Gleeson.  What a fabulous book!

So let pull all these dishes together and go on a picnic.  I want to show you how easy it is to pull a picnic together if the weather is nice enough to go to a park and eat outdoors.  If it isn't cooperating this would be perfect as an indoor picnic in your living room on the floor with a blanket and a bunch of pillow.  

So grab your plaid throw and let's create a picnic.

The perfect thing about this is that both the salads can be made ahead of time and stored until time to serve.  The Pesto Cucumber Wraps are what I call the main entree, while the salads compliment them as side dishes.  

Don't be fooled by the fourth of July plates, this was held on a blustery day in the park.  I just happened to grab what paper plates we had on hand.  To pull this off I grabbed a navy blue plaid throw to use as the base for the food.  Put both the Feta Chopped Salad, and the Orzo Black Bean Salad in bowls that have lids and transfer well.

To round off the food I made a wonderful Ginger Lemonade (recipe is below) and packed it in a nice jar.  Some fruit such as pears and grapes along store bought cookies for dessert finish off this menu.  

Make sure to take along some entertainment.  MGG likes to fly his drone, while I like to read a good book on my kindle while we rest in the afternoon.

Having a picnic, inside or outside really allows you to do something a little different.  It breaks up the routine, makes the meal special, plus it's fun!

Enjoy some picnic time this season!




Ginger Lemonade

1 liter Store bought lemonade
2 Tablespoons chopped fresh ginger
1/2 fresh mint leaves

Mix all ingredients in a blender, then strain into a jar.  Can be made the day before and kept in the refrigerator.  Serve chilled or over ice if possible. Shake or stir prior to serving.

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