2012 Faves

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Countdown to 2013: Reader Favorites of 2012

Happy last day of 2012! This is a new category this year and I really like the whole idea of it. I decided to go with top ten 2012 posts by views. Without further ado, here are YOUR Fantastical favorites for 2012:

#1. Japanese Steakhouse Hibachi Chicken & Steak with Veggies (and Hibachi sauce) - 4209 views

This doesn't surprise me a bit. I love Hibachi. 

Probably a little too much and I never knew how easy it was to make it at home.

Source: fantasticalsharingofrecipes.blogspot.com via Sarah on Pinterest

#2. Streusel Oreo Muffins - 3583 views

Circle of Moms shared this recipe and it has gotten some major hits.

They are every bit as good as they look.

Source: fantasticalsharingofrecipes.blogspot.com via Sarah on Pinterest

#3. Philly Cheesesteak Stuffed Peppers - 1746 views

This is one that surprised me. I mean, I personally love stuffed peppers and Philly cheesesteak, but I didn't realize that it would be in my top 3 most viewed posts of 2012. Wow!

Source: fantasticalsharingofrecipes.blogspot.com via Sarah on Pinterest

#4. Pecan Pie Cheesecake - 1174 views

My husband absolutely adored this cheesecake. He loves pecan pie. 

He ran around his unit telling everyone about it.

Source: fantasticalsharingofrecipes.blogspot.com via Sarah on Pinterest

These next 3 were very close in most views.

#5. Jalapeno Popper Dip - 1087 views
I made this for NYE 2011 and it was so good. 

We are jalapeno popper fiends - the in laws loved it too.

Source: fantasticalsharingofrecipes.blogspot.com via Sarah on Pinterest

#6. Hamantaschen - 1039 views

I was really surprised that this was on the list. This was one of my Secret Recipe Club dishes. 

These little cookies are a perfect pair with a cup  of coffee.

Source: fantasticalsharingofrecipes.blogspot.com via Sarah on Pinterest

#7. Caramel Frappe {copycat} - 1012 views

This was being on the list at all makes me so proud. It is a rather new recipe. Most of the others on the list are months old and I worked hard to get them around. This one kind of went viral on it's own.

Source: fantasticalsharingofrecipes.blogspot.com via Sarah on Pinterest

#8. Baked Spaghetti with Cream Cheese & French Fried Onions - 998 views

This is a great baked spaghetti. Honestly, you can't go wrong with French fried onions on top :)

Source: fantasticalsharingofrecipes.blogspot.com via Sarah on Pinterest

#9. Ranch Crockpot Pork Chops with Parmesan Mashed Potatoes - 958 views

Here is another one that I'm happy got into the top 10. It is relatively new too. There is nothing really outwardly special about it, but it was definitely in my top 10 favorite dishes of 2012 too. It was a very flavorful dish and the mashed potatoes were to die for!

Source: fantasticalsharingofrecipes.blogspot.com via Sarah on Pinterest

#10. Deer Beer Pumpkinhead Chili - 860 views

This chili was a Secret Recipe Club tribute - it came from the blog The Haggis & The Herring that was written by a husband-wife team. The husband passed away and SRC got together and wanted to make something from their blog in his memory. Rest in peace, Daniel.

Source: fantasticalsharingofrecipes.blogspot.com via Sarah on Pinterest     For more Best of 2012, make sure to stop by and see: Breakfast, Soup/Bread, Main Dish, Appetizers & Snacks, and Desserts.   Tomorrow will end the Countdown to 2013 with a recap of 2012. 

Countdown to 2013: Best Dessert Recipes of 2012

Honestly, no matter how many good recipes of other categories I try - desserts are my ultimate favorite. I love dessert. So I'm not going to keep you waiting...here are the best of 2012...

Best Ever Peanut Butter Fudge - I am no stranger to peanut butter fudge. It's my favorite kind of fudge.However, this one stands out because you use crunchy peanut butter instead of smooth. I've never had it with crunchy until I tried this recipe and I found out what I was missing all my life.

Source: fantasticalsharingofrecipes.blogspot.com via Sarah on Pinterest

  Snickers Cheesecake - As a child, Snickers were my favorite candy bar - I always seem to find my way back to them. I made this cheesecake for Valentine's Day 2012 and boy, was it delicious!

Source: fantasticalsharingofrecipes.blogspot.com via Sarah on Pinterest

  Andes Creamy Mint Brownies - Okay, maybe Andes Mints were my favorite as a kid, but I got them so rarely that I sometimes forgot about them. These brownies are fudgy, minty, and chewy - topped with a minty, creamy whipped topping and then more Andes Mints on top of that!

Source: fantasticalsharingofrecipes.blogspot.com via Sarah on Pinterest
    Funfetti Blondies - My first time ever making and eating blondies. What a treat! I think it's safe to say that blondies rank on the top for my favorite type of dessert....for now. :)

Source: fantasticalsharingofrecipes.blogspot.com via Sarah on Pinterest

  Peanut Butter Cup Blondies - So after the funfetti ones, I had to make these blondies. On occasion, I buy a pack or eight of Reese's and shove them in my fridge to snack on when I'm hungry. I loved these even more than the funfetti ones and everyone at my husband's unit (company) loved them too.

Source: fantasticalsharingofrecipes.blogspot.com via Sarah on Pinterest

  Vanilla Cupcakes for Two - There are times when I'm too lazy to leave my house and I may not have a fridge stocked with Reese's...so I search my binders for something quick to make that I have the ingredients for on hand...this recipe is definitely on my list of go-to desserts because it makes two. Meaning I don't have to try and gorge on desserts before they go bad because I'm the only one eating them. They are the perfect amount of vanilla-tasting and I used some leftover rum flavored cream cheese frosting. This was my first successful cupcake decorating too :)

Source: fantasticalsharingofrecipes.blogspot.com via Sarah on Pinterest

  Cheesecake Factory Pumpkin Cheesecake - this recipe showed up on my very first themed week: Pumpkin Week. I have had pumpkin cheesecake once and pumpkin cheesecake ice cream once. I definitely love it and this recipe was perfection.

Source: fantasticalsharingofrecipes.blogspot.com via Sarah on Pinterest

  Oreo Pudding Cookies - I don't want to say these are my favorite cookies because the next two are also amazing, but these are probably one of the best cookies I've ever eaten. It was my first pudding cookie recipe to try and I loved them. I've made a few variations of these cookies since trying them back in September. They were apart of this month's themed week: Cookie Week.

Source: fantasticalsharingofrecipes.blogspot.com via Sarah on Pinterest

  White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies - Now this may be the reason why I can't come out and say the previous were my favorite...these are one of my all-time favorite types of cookies. I first had one when I was a preteen at Subway...they are chewy, crunchy, chocolatey, sugary, and nutty. They are the best. This recipe was dead on for the Subways and I was such a happy girl for it.

Source: fantasticalsharingofrecipes.blogspot.com via Sarah on Pinterest

  Peppermint Meringues - I sure had a lot of firsts in 2012. And you guessed it, these cookies were my first meringue experience. I've eaten meringues once before, but couldn't really remember if I liked them or not. I made these successfully and everyone was blown away at how good they were.

Source: fantasticalsharingofrecipes.blogspot.com via Sarah on Pinterest
  What about the rest of the Best of 2012???  Check out the rest here: Breakfast, Soup/Bread, Main Dish, and Appetizers & Snacks.    Tomorrow is a new category: Reader Favorites.

Tasty Treasures

Time to show off the most clicked from last week's Tasty Thursday!

#1: Clay Pot Chicken//My Turn (for us)

#2: Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies//Amy's Confectionery Adventures

#3: Santa Hat Fudge//What's Cooking, Love?

The Eye-Catcher: Sparkling Apple Cider Punch//Hot Eats and Cool Reads

You can also grab this nifty button if I featured your recipe!

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Tasty Tuesday will be back after the new year :) Make sure to check out the other recipes linked up too!

Countdown to 2013: Best Snacks & Appetizers of 2012

This has been a good year for appetizers and snacks too. I have stumbled upon and made some very amazing recipes - these are going to mixed up because some can double as an either/or type situation.

Teddy Graham Trail Mix - this snack has M&Ms, yogurt covered raisins, chocolate covered 

raisins, cheerios, pretzels, AND Teddy Grahams. The inner kid in me squealed. 

That's all the best munching stuff all in one!

Source: fantasticalsharingofrecipes.blogspot.com via Sarah on Pinterest

  Thin Mint Muddy Buddies - I was inspired by some other variations of Puppy Chow and because I had a leftover box of Thin Mints, I went crazy in my kitchen. At the time, my son couldn't have peanuts or peanut butter - so this was a great alternative for a nut-free house.

Source: fantasticalsharingofrecipes.blogspot.com via Sarah on Pinterest

  Ranch Crackers - these little things are deceptively delicious. My mom-in-law made some while we were home for Christmas (2011/2012) and I had to make some when we got back.

Source: fantasticalsharingofrecipes.blogspot.com via Sarah on Pinterest

  Fruit Nachos - I have had this in my arsenal for so long. Again I neglected it and now I am feeling guilty for doing that...you make the chips with tortillas and cinnamon sugar. You top with yogurt and fresh fruit. A super healthy, delicious snack that you can customize to each person eating it.

Source: fantasticalsharingofrecipes.blogspot.com via Sarah on Pinterest

  Philly Cheesesteak Egg Rolls - I took a very basic recipe of this and ran with it.  It's another favorite of everyone's :)

Source: fantasticalsharingofrecipes.blogspot.com via Sarah on Pinterest

  3-2-1 Funfetti Cake Batter Dip - This one was for my kids who loves sweet as much as their momma does, but don't get them as often as I do. It was great with the little Barnum's animal crackers. It's 3 ingredients: cake mix, yogurt, and Cool Whip. :)

Source: fantasticalsharingofrecipes.blogspot.com via Sarah on Pinterest

  Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeno Chicken Bites - I guess I thought these were a main dish and then when I made them they were a lot smaller than expected. So I put them in the appetizer category. They'd be amazing to serve for a group watching a football game or for New Year's Eve.

Source: fantasticalsharingofrecipes.blogspot.com via Sarah on Pinterest

  Popcorn Chicken - I made these for this year's man food week. Without buffalo sauce, the seasoning on the chicken is very distinctive - you can taste every single spice and they all blend together well. I personally couldn't figure out which was my favorite...without the sauce or with it.

Source: fantasticalsharingofrecipes.blogspot.com via Sarah on Pinterest
  Find more Best of 2012: Breakfast, Soup/Bread, and Main Dish. Stop by tomorrow for sweet treats as I feature the best DESSERTS!

Countdown to 2013: Best Main Dishes of 2012

I've had a good main dish year - 2012 might be the year of the main dish. I have 15 bests to share with you here.  I tried to refrain from adding so many pasta dishes, perhaps 2012 was the year of pasta?? :)

Tamale Balls - this is my mom-in-law's recipe and one that I don't make often enough. The ingredients look so simple, but the flavor is so complex.

Source: fantasticalsharingofrecipes.blogspot.com via Sarah on Pinterest

  Lemon Fettuccine - This was a Secret Recipe Club post and the actual recipe that made me adore lemons. I've made it with lemon pepper chicken on top - and that just blows it out of the water.

Source: fantasticalsharingofrecipes.blogspot.com via Sarah on Pinterest

  Marinated Pork Chops with Pineapple Salsa - I experimented with a few fruit salsas this year and I have to say that they go really well with pork.

Source: fantasticalsharingofrecipes.blogspot.com via Sarah on Pinterest

  Chicken Parmesan - PDub's recipe for Chicken Parm is the best. Why? It doesn't heavily coat the chicken and therefore, it doesn't get all soggy. The marinara-esque sauce is the best sauce ever.

Source: fantasticalsharingofrecipes.blogspot.com via Sarah on Pinterest

  Restaurant Style Steak - This is our go-to recipe for making steak. I've made different variations of the butter and I always use the leftover butter in everything.

Source: fantasticalsharingofrecipes.blogspot.com via Sarah on Pinterest
  Easy Pizza Pasta Casserole - I love baked spaghetti, but unfortunately no one else in the family will eat it. This is basically baked spaghetti topped with pepperoni and they devoured it. I think I can make the compromise of pepperoni on top to eat one of my favorite things in the world!

Source: fantasticalsharingofrecipes.blogspot.com via Sarah on Pinterest

  Updated Beef Wellington - I had had this recipe in my binders since I got married in 2006. I finally made it and I was sorely disappointed that I hadn't made it earlier. It was simple and looks so fancy. It is also flaky and delicious. Everything about it is good.

Source: fantasticalsharingofrecipes.blogspot.com via Sarah on Pinterest

  Pizza Braid - When I joined Pinterest, I started a crazy addiction. This was one of the very first things I pinned. It was super, super good and a nice change from regular old pizza.

Source: fantasticalsharingofrecipes.blogspot.com via Sarah on Pinterest

  Grilled Chicken & Pasta with Basil-Cream Sauce - Another Secret Recipe Club recipe to join some of the best recipes of 2012. The basil-cream sauce was extraordinary. This recipe honestly tastes like it came from a five-star, sit down, formal attire only restaurant.

Source: fantasticalsharingofrecipes.blogspot.com via Sarah on Pinterest

  Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes - Another compromise on my part - no one likes traditional sloppy joes, but everyone loved these philly cheesesteak ones.

Source: fantasticalsharingofrecipes.blogspot.com via Sarah on Pinterest

  Grilled Chicken Pasta in Tomato Cream Sauce - Another grilled chicken and pasta recipe to make the list, I told you I was trying to refrain from too many pasta favorites, but this one makes it because the sauce surprised me. The tomato took this very smooth, rich, and NOT overpoweringly tomato quality to it. The Montreal steak seasoning on the chicken paired perfectly with the tomato cream sauce. Then, of course, you also have all this on top of pasta! Yum :)

Source: fantasticalsharingofrecipes.blogspot.com via Sarah on Pinterest

  Pork Chops with Pineapple Fried Rice - Another PDub recipe! I think this is #3 on the list. I am a sucker for fresh pineapple. I'm also a sucker for carmelized onions and fried rice too. This had everything I could have wanted and more.

Source: fantasticalsharingofrecipes.blogspot.com via Sarah on Pinterest

  Sweet 'N Spicy Hawaiian Pizza - As a child, we had to eat apricots in our school lunches and I despised them. As an adult, I still hate them. This pizza uses apricot preserves as a base, instead of tomato sauce. I was sure that it was going to be weird and I was going to turn up my nose...this was not the case. It was the best Hawaiian pizza I've ever eaten.You never would even know there was apricots on it. My husband tried to guess and couldn't figure it out. He was very surprised!

Source: fantasticalsharingofrecipes.blogspot.com via Sarah on Pinterest

  Crispy Chicken with Creamy Italian Sauce & Bowtie Pasta - I believe the original called for using cornflakes, but I'm anti-cornflakes all the way and used my favorite, Rice Krispies, to bread the chicken. The sauce is definitely one of my favorites - it's creamy and delicious!

Source: fantasticalsharingofrecipes.blogspot.com via Sarah on Pinterest

  Cheesy Chicken Enchilada Pasta - I kept seeing this one all over Pinterest, just like many other recipes I've made this year, and knew I had to try it. We had it twice in two months - which is insane in my house. We never have the same dinner two months in a row. That's crazysauce! So is this recipe. There are so many flavors and textures that work together to create an incredible dish. Every time I see the picture, I drool. It's that good.

Source: fantasticalsharingofrecipes.blogspot.com via Sarah on Pinterest

Don't forget to check out more Best of 2012: Breakfast and Soup/Bread.