2011 Faves

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Countdown to 2012: Best Dessert Recipes of 2011

Ending the Countdown to 2012 with a bang! I have an incredible sweet tooth, if you've seen my Sunday Social posts - you know that's probably an understatement. :) A special shout-out to the awesome host, SnoWhite, at Finding Joy in My Kitchen for doing this awesome recap series and inviting others to join in! If you haven't seen her blog, go check it out! She has some amazing recipes over there!

I admitted my blasphemous dislike for Oreos in my Cookies 'n Cream Cookies post. 

But I did think these cookies were amazing.

I tried the Best Chocolate Cake Ever in February, but switched it up for a little cookout we were having and it turned into the Bestest Chocolate Cake Ever!

I've been testing out new types of cookies too. They are fast, easy, and they disappear quickly around my house. Hot Chocolate Cookie with Marshmallows never stood a chance.

I had the opportunity to do a fudge challenge this month and I found the perfect fudge: Pralines & Cream Fudge. It's the best fudge I've ever eaten.

My first stab at homemade brownies was these beauties: Carmel-Filled Brownies

Homemade Ding Dongs. That's all I need to say.

 

For Thanksgiving, I made a Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bundt Cake. It was absolutely incredible.

I hope you all have had a wonderful 2011 and 2012 brings you everything you dream for!

Past Recaps: Breakfast, Breads, Soups & Stews, Main Dishes, and Crockpot.
My full dessert list can be found right here.

Countdown to 2012: Best Crockpot Recipes of 2011

One of my favorite tools in my kitchen is my crockpot. And today's recap is all about the crockpot. Stop by tomorrow for my favorite favorite day of recaps: DESSERTS!

A little recipe that reminds me of my grandma's chicken: 3 Envelope Chicken.

Fauxtisserie Chicken is a great way to utilize your crockpot and bake a whole chicken!

I think my favorite thing to cook in the crockpot is any kind of pulled meat. I loved this Pulled Pork's seasoning. It was supremely better than any other I have had before!

A great Mexican dish: Taco Chicken Bowl

And probably our most favorite recipe of the year
(hands-down my husband's favorite) is Philly Cheesesteak Sliders.

Make sure you stop by past recaps for 2011: Breakfast, Breads, Soups & Stews, and Main Dishes.

You can find more of my crockpot recipes: here.

Countdown to 2012: Best Main Dish Recipes of 2011

We've rounded up the best breakfast, breads, and soups & stews, now it's time for a little main dish love! For more main dishes, you can find a full list in this post.

Grilled Chicken & Pineapple Quesadillas - oh yeah! And my special touch was bacon.

You can never go wrong with adding bacon.

I was NOT a fan of alfredo until I made my own. Broccoli Fettuccine Alfredo would also be great with a little grilled chicken on top.

I found and tried some amazing pizza recipes this year: Amazing Homemade Pizza Rolls and Pizzadillas.

I tried many different spaghetti recipes, but Ranch Style Spaghetti was definitely my favorite.

We recently tried this Sweet & Spicy Bacon Chicken.
It was unreal how delicious it was, and yet so simple.

We are jalapeno monsters in my house, so we couldn't NOT try this awesome Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese Sandwich.

And last, but certainly not least, Tatertot Tacos. I never thought that tacos could get any better than they already were....I was wrong!

Still yet to come, crockpot and dessert recaps - the gems of the recipe world, right?

Countdown to 2012: Best Soups & Stews Recipes of 2011

Day 3 of Countdown to 2012 - a fun way to recap the best recipes of 2011 :)
Today is all about soups and stews. I don't think I've made any stews, so mine will be strictly soups!

I liked the idea behind Wisconsin Cheddar Soup and was pleasantly surprised at how good it was.

On my quest to find a good homemade chicken noodle soup, I found Grandma Ruth's Italian Chicken Soup. It's unbelievably delicious!

Bean & Bacon Soup - one of my all-time favorite soups. I've also been trying to steer away from things out of a can, so this was a perfect substitute. 

Come back tomorrow for the Main Dish round up and make sure to check out my past posts: Breakfast and Breads.

Countdown to 2012: Best Bread Recipes of 2011

Continuing the Countdown to 2012 series, hosted by Finding Joy in My Kitchen. Today's theme is bread recipes. Come back tomorrow for the Best Soups & Stews of 2011!

I decided to try a new banana bread recipes and I wasn't disappointed: Melt in Your Mouth Banana Bread.

I am a lover of monkey bread and was excited to try its savory, for-dinner partner, Garlic Bubble Bread.

I also wanted to branch out and try my hand at a few fruity rolls:  

Raspberry Swirl Sweet Rolls and Orange Rolls

 

Other bread recipes can be found: here.
The first post in the Countdown to 2012 series was Best Breakfast Recipes of 2011 and can be found: here.

Countdown to 2012: Best Breakfast Recipes of 2011

SnoWhite over at Finding Joy in My Kitchen is hosting a Countdown to 2012 - a recap of all the best of the best recipes from this year. I definitely wanted a way to recap my blog's best recipes and I love the idea of doing it by category. Very organized!

Today's theme is Best Breakfast Recipes of 2011.

I started off the year with Cinnabon Cinnamon Roll Copycats. They are unbelievably good.

Then I tried out some great, EZ Donuts, that you make from buttermilk biscuits from a can!

Followed by one of my favorite recipes, period: Cinnamon Roll Pancakes.

While I was on my desserty pancake kick, I made Cake Batter Pancakes. They are delicious.

Then not to steer away from my favorite breakfast food too much: Pioneer Woman's French Toast with Berry Butter. Ree Drummond never fails me.

And to have a more normal breakfast that is probably more healthy than most of the food I make: Broccoli & Ham Frittata. I did eat half of it by myself...that's probably not so healthy.

Not to be outdone by the early year sweet breakfasts, I ended the year with Funfetti Cake Donuts and S'Mores Pancakes!

I hope you all found some breakfast foods you want to try out. To see more breakfast recipes, go here! I hope you stick around - because tomorrow is Best Bread Recipes day!

Chicken Egg Rolls

Today is December's reveal day for Group D :) This month, I decided to do a main dish/nonsweets food since last month I did Banana Custard Cream Pie.

My blog this month was Tami's Kitchen Table Talk. Tami is Group D's wonderful host! Her blog has a ton of great recipes. She also hosts a blog event called the Cookie Carnival - to find out more about it, check out this post.

I had a hard time deciding between the egg rolls and the calzones. But ultimately I chose to do egg rolls because I had never made them before. It turns out that the chicken egg rolls were also Tami's first time making egg rolls too. I think that it was a very simple recipe - and it made a ton! I actually froze the remainder of the egg rolls to pop in the oven at a later time.

(Printable Version)
What you need:

• 1 pkg. egg roll wrappers (found by tofu - usually in the produce section)
• 1 (16 oz.) pkg. coleslaw mix
• 2 tsp. ground ginger*
• 1 tsp. garlic powder*
• 2 tsp. vegetable oil*
• 1 pkg. chicken breasts, cooked and shredded*
• Vegetable oil for frying

* Tami's recipe used fresh ginger and garlic, sesame oil (my son is allergic to it), and 1 cup cooked, cubed chicken.

Directions:

Mix together all ingredients except the egg roll wrappers.

Heat about 2 tbsp. vegetable oil in a large skillet. Add filling mixture and cook until cabbage is soft.

Remove from heat and let cool for 5 minutes.
To assemble the egg rolls for frying, take one egg roll wrapper, lay out to look like a diamond, 

and wet edges with water. I use my finger to do this, it's easier, I think.

Add 1/3 cup filling.

Fold in sides to the middle.

Then pull up the bottom.

Roll tightly from the bottom and fold the top corner down. If it isn't sealing well, dab your finger in the water and wet the corner again. Repeat until all your egg rolls are ready. I got 20 total.

Heat a few inches of oil in a large, deep skillet until water droplets will sizzle in it.

Fry egg rolls in batches and drain on paper towel-lined plate once both sides are golden brown.

These were recreated by Kudos Kitchen by Renee for July 2012 SRC {here}