Top Favorites From 2011

Happy New Year!  I had so many favorite recipes in 2011, but these are some of the very best.  The ones that were the most memorable.  I'm convinced there is no better way to start this roundup than with this extremely memorable and family-pleasing Grilled Sausage Ring with Parsley and Provolone over Pepperonata.  This dish was visually stunning and so crazy good. I make it often with regular Italian sausages, but I'm always on the lookout for sausage rings so I can make this again.

 

Near and dear to my heart was my very first guest post, over at Velva's Tomatoes on the Vine, where I shared this fun recipe for Pot Roast Potato Skins.   Crispy potato skins filled with tender roast beef topped with creamy mashed potatoes.  Such a fun, tasty, and satisfying dish.  Would be perfect for any upcoming Superbowl parties. 

I would be completely remiss if I didn't include this recipe for Jamie Oliver's Baby Farfalle with Creamy Smoked Bacon and Pea Sauce.  I first made this dish in May and it was such a hit with the family I continued to make it throughout the year, repeating this recipe probably more than any other throughout the year.  This recipe is fantastic and a total life saver, seems to be a huge hit with the kids, and is easily made with ingredients you can almost always find in your kitchen.   

 

My personal favorite for the year were these Creole Meatloaves with Trinity Gravy.  I really can't even begin to tell you how much I loved this dish.  Of course, this is where I should tell you that I'm probably a bit biased.  I love a good meatloaf and I do enjoy the spicy flavors that were in the trinity gravy, but WOW...this was a delicious meal.  This was the dish that made me a believer in the recipes of Rachel Ray.

Ina Garten's Chicken with Shallots was an easy, elegant, and utterly fabulous dish.  You can always count on Ina to deliver a fantastic recipe, but this is one of my Ina favorites.  This recipe would be perfect for so many different occasions.

Inspired by the movie Fried Green Tomatoes I made these Fried Green Tomatoes with Homemade Basil Mayo with ingredients mostly found in my backyard garden.  Fried Green Tomatoes coated in panko and seasoned with parmesan cheese and basil dipped in a homemade basil mayo....oh my gosh.  One of the best things I ate all year for sure!

One of my favorite things all year was The Homesick Texan Cook-Off and Cookbook Review.  It was so much fun cooking along with my fellow bloggers and every single recipe in Lisa Fain's book was utterly delicious.  My family would literally do a happy dance when they saw Lisa's book in my hands.  Everything I made from the book was fantastic, the carnitas being a personal family favorite.  My Cookbook Review and roundup are HERE.  The Homesick Texan Cookbook was my favorite cookbook in 2011.

I could eat this simply cheese mustard on just about anything.  I'm aching to try this simple cheesy mustard in place of hollandaise on eggs benedict.  On my to do list for the upcoming year for sure.

When I asked my husband which recipe was his favorite in 2011 he answered back right away with these Smothered Pork Chops.  Unfortunately for him this was probably one of the priciest recipes I made during last year, each thick-cut pork chop reigning in at around $5 each.  What can I say?  I guess my husband is high maintenance.  It's a good thing I'm not... ha ha.

And there you have it....all of our very top, very favorite, dreamed about, crave-inducing, most memorable, heart-warming, and family pleasing dishes of 2011.  It sure was a tasty year!  I can't wait to see what 2012 cooks up in the kitchen.

Happy New Year!