Best of 2013

One of the Year's Best --- Corn Caprese Salad from Jane

Happy New Year! 

Well, Thanksgiving rolled into Christmas and now the new year is already here.  Hard for me to believe!

Just for fun, thought it might be fun to look back on 2013 before we embark on 2014. 

(Click on the recipe title to see the full post.)

Best Recipe:  Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Mini-Muffins.  Unassuming yet oh-so-yummy.  Made them many times this year.  There is something about them being mini which makes them even yummier.

Best Twist of a Recipe:  Colleen's switch from raspberry jam to Nutella in her Nutella Oatmeal Bars.  Really, really good if you like chocolate hazelnut!

Best Soup:  Dee's Easy Seafood Chowder (Tom's version).

Best Bread:  No Knead Cheesy Chive Bread

Best Veggie:  Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta.  (Will be posting this version soon.)

Best Summer Recipe:  Jane's Corn Caprese Salad

Best Salad:  Sesame Shrimp Salad with Miso Dressing

Best Fish:  Grilled Salmon Steaks from Dee

Best Nut:  Pecans --- even though there was a shortage. 

Best Dessert:  Jeanne's Hot Fudge Sauce from Ben and Jerry

Tom's Favorites of the Year:  1) Beef Broccoli Lo Mein 2) Jacques Pepin's Spicy Leg of Lamb

Most Unusual:  Guinness Brownies

Most comforting:  Mary's Jasmine Tea Pearls

Best Sunday Dinner:  Roasted Chicken with Onions, Apples and Carrots (and/or Potatoes) 

Best International Flavors:  Indian Pepper Chicken by Tom

Best Restaurant "Find":  Chimiama in Florence for the International traveler or El Paso's L and J Café by the Graveyard for great Tex-Mex for the domestic traveler

Best Food Adventure:  King Arthur Cooking School in Norwich,Vermont

Best Turkey:  Stierly Farms.  They brought us a great turkey this year.  And thanks to Terri Gross's PBS broadcast just before Thanksgiving, I learned to rub the breast meat with salt 24 hours in advance and let the turkey air dry in the fridge.  I don't remember all the cooking science involved but it made for a moist, flavorful turkey and crispy skin.

Best Gadget:  our new Oxo Food Mill.

Worst dish of the year:  Nothing will ever be worse than the inedible duck I made for Tom in 2012

If I missed any of your favorites, just weigh in and let me know what you think!

B