It is once again time to ring in a new year and I once again cannot believe how quickly time has flown. This time last year I was preparing myself (mentally and physically!) for a move overseas. We then spent 9 fantastic months living in China. Enjoying the sites, the people, and the food. We feel like we blinked and our time there was over. I think the fact that we thought we would be there for much longer contributes to that feeling…. Regardless, we are thankful for the time we spent there and would do it all over again!
One thing that was a pleasant surprise was just how easy it was for me to cook in China. It was one of the things I was most worried about when we started talking about moving, because I didn’t know what sorts of ingredients we would have access to, not to mention the fact that ovens are rare in Chinese kitchens. Luckily, the area we lived in had a large expat community and a lot of Western import food stores, and our landlord even added an oven for us. I’m just glad I was able to keep on cooking and blogging!
Just like last year, I thought it would be fun to do a recap of my favorite posts from the year. First I’ll share my top 3 favorite sweet and savory posts. Then I’ll share the top 3 most popular (based on hits and pins) posts amongst readers! Also just like year, it was really tough narrowing it down to just 6 of my favorite recipes. 2012 was a great year for food. 🙂
My top 3 favorite savory posts from 2012
Shredded BBQ Chicken turned into one of our favorite meals. It’s nice to have something you can fix early in the day and then forget about until dinner time. I also have a thing for BBQ and loved the lower calorie option.
My love for these Spicy Cold Noodles is really two fold. First, they are special to me because our good friend Mandy taught me how to make them and I served them at our East Meets West Party. Second, they are just freakin’ delicious! I’m so glad I have this recipe in my arsenal. It will come in really handy when we miss (real) Chinese food!
A second shredded meat in my favorite savory recipes of 2012? Yep. Homemade Barbacoa Beef for Burrito Bowls. Chipotle was one of the restaurants I missed the most while living in China and being able to recreate the taste at home was fabulous! (Soon I’ll share my recipe for cilantro-lime rice and black beans to complete the burrito bowl!)
My top 3 favorite sweet posts from 2012
Muffins might not be the sweetest thing I made all year, but these Blackberry Lemon Muffins were one of my favorites!
This Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting is not only a favorite of mine, but also one of Jesse’s faves. The frosting is smooth and creamy and deceptively light. The cake is chocolatey and rich and fudgey. Drool. Match made in heaven.
I know I picked my own birthday cake for last’s years top 3 favorites, and I admit I might be a little biased, but I am once again super proud of the cake I created. What’s not to love about Chocolate Hazelnut and Salted Caramel Birthday Cake?
Top 3 most popular posts from 2012
Figuring out the most popular posts for this year was a little more difficult since I switched domains and had my site redesigned this year. I decided to use a combination of pins and hits to come up with what I think were the most popular posts among readers this year!
Southwest Stuffed Peppers. This came as no surprise to me. These are delicious, easy to throw together, and not too bad for you! Plus, they’re just bright and beautiful!
I was happy to see how popular this post was because this really is the Best Fajita Marinade I’ve ever used. I love the balance of flavors and how concentrated they tasted on the meat! Yay for readers agreeing with me!
Lots of people pinned this White Cake with Lemon Curd Filling. It was another dessert that tasted deceptively light. I made it for a friend’s birthday and it was a big hit at the party. It’s filled with lemon curd, so of course I love it and I’m glad readers liked it, too!
So what do you think? Did I miss one of your favorites? Thank you again to everyone that has taken the time to read, comment, and share my blog over this past year. I wish you all a healthy and happy New Year!
I would be super proud of that cake, too! (And, for conquering cooking in China!) For reals! Happy new year, Jessica! xoxo
Thanks, Nikki!
Another incredible year for you, Jessica. Congratulations! I can’t wait to see what you conquer in 2013!
What a wonderful 2012 recap, and those stuffed peppers look so amazing. I’m always in awe of your pics especially of the ones from your apt in China or hotel room!