Top Ten of 2011

It's been another great year full of cooking, learning, and discovering. Below is a list of my favorite new recipe discoveries from 2011. Click here to see my top 10 list for 2010.

1. Baked Creamy Chicken Taquitos - these are a definite crowd-pleaser and the perfect accompaniment to any television sporting event. They can be eaten as an appetizer, or served with rice and beans for dinner.

2. Catherine's Enchiladas - these are an original Mangoes & Lemons creation and a recipe that I've repeated several times. Also a crowd pleaser, these enchiladas are filling, delicious, and great for a hungry crowd. They can also be made ahead of time and kept in the fridge until ready to bake.

3. Crash Hot Potatoes - The Pioneer Woman did it again with these delicious, savory, crispy potatoes. The ingredients are simple, but the method turns ordinary potatoes into an extraordinary treat.

4. Creamy White Bean Chili - If I was ranking these 10 recipes, this would probably be #1. For about a month, I was making this dish once a week. I've finally given it a longer rotation, but this recipe is yummy, filling, and healthy, AND it actually makes me excited a little happy about having cold weather. 

5. Fresh Strawberry Yogurt Cake - this divine, moist bundt cake is the perfect recipe for a brunch. Last week, I made it with raspberries instead of strawberries and brought it to a baby shower. It was a hit. Now, I'm dying to try it with blueberries. 

6. Ina Garten's Lemon Chicken Breast - I feel like any home cook should have this in his/her arsenal. A classic, baked chicken recipe that doesn't dry out the meat. This would be great accompanied with crash hot potatoes. 

7. Linda Schlauder's Famous Orange Rolls - Seeing as these rolls were the star of both my Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners this year, it's easy to see why this made the cut. Just thinking about these rolls makes me wish I had one (or 3 or 5) sitting in front of me. 

8. Steak with Lemon Garlic Butter - Steak is a meat that doesn't need a lot added to it to make it delicious. This simple recipe partners three staple ingredients with steak to create and flavorful, juicy, and oh-so-satisfying bite. 

9. Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Cookies - this year, I learned to cook a lot more with whole wheat flour and I have been very pleased with the results. These cookies are very delicious. If you haven't tried them yet, do yourself a healthy favor and bake a batch!

10. Whole Grain Banana Bread - Another 100% whole wheat specialty, this bread is a simple, moist, and delicious breakfast treat that won't put a dent in your nutrition plan. 

Top Ten of 2010

This was not easy to do but below is a list of the top ten recipes on this blog from 2010. While I feel that all of the recipes posted here are worthy of repeating (believe you me, there are some disasters that simply do not make the cut), there are a handful of recipes that I simply love, love, love and would highly recommend to anyone. Here are my top ten, in alphabetical order:

ADOBO CHICKEN TACOS - East meets west in this delicious, savory meal. The traditional Filipino meat can easily be devoured on its own but tortillas, cream, and cilantro create a perfect home for such a deliciously seasoned and slow-cooked meat.

CHICKEN PARMESAN WITH MARINARA - This simple Italian dish can be made quickly with ingredients that are likely to already be in your kitchen. I feel like every cook should have this recipe in your repertoire. Many of you probably already do, but this is the recipe I choose. A classic goody.

CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA - I always figured Indian food was difficult, until I discovered this dish. Creamy, fragrant, perfect for spicing things up a bit.

CHOCOLATE SOUFFLE CUPCAKES WITH MINT CREAM - Oh my. If I were stranded on a desert island and could only bring one dessert with me, this would be it. You'll feel like you're biting into a piece of heaven when you eat this.

FRESH CALIFORNIA ORANGE CAKE - This citrus delight is perfect for summer gatherings. I always say it, but fresh ingredients make all the difference. This one sure has it.

GOOD OLD-FASHIONED PANCAKES - This has definitely become my go-to pancake recipe. It always makes a perfectly browned pancake and is very easy to flip. I appreciate recipes that are reliable. This one definitely is.

GRILLED SALMON WITH LIME-BUTTER SAUCE - Here's another one that is great for summer but I love to make it year-round. I've learned that butter makes things better, especially seafood. This one blends butter perfectly with lime juice to bring out the natural flavors in salmon. So simple.

LEMONY SHRIMP WITH WHITE BEANS AND COUSCOUS - Shrimp and couscous has become one of my go-to combinations, as you can tell from this other great shrimp-couscous combo. This is one of those dishes that looks impressive but can be ready in 15 minutes if you need it to be.

RITA'S SIMPLE AND PERFECT HUMMUS - I will always love this recipe because it is my amazing grandmother (who is also my number one cooking inspiration)'s signature recipe. Rita is not only an amazing cook but an amazing hostess and one of her tricks is always having some homemade hummus for your guests.

SIMPLE ORZOTTO - Last but certainly not least is this simple orzotto recipe from Kelsey Nixon. I have made this more times than I imagined because it is the. perfect. side dish. It is easy, delicious, and most importantly, versatile.