2008 favorites

I scanned through my posts from 2008 and managed to narrow it down to about fifty favorites. Then Dave told me that I should choose just ten to recommend. Ten?! Ten?! I was barely able to get it to fifty! But I think he’s right – it’s the best way to make sure the true standouts really get noticed, with the added bonus that I get to add a blurb about each. Except I simply wasn’t able to choose ten – I ended up with nine, and then a list of six that I couldn’t decide between.

9 favorites (in chronological order based on posting date)

country-crust

Country Crust Bread – I make this all the time. I generally keep some in the freezer, either as a sliced loaf or as rolls. It’s such a perfect sandwich bread – tender, sturdy, and flavorful. And it’s a great recipe for beginner bread bakers because there’s nothing tricky about it and the instructions are so detailed.

salmon-pasta

Salmon Pesto Pasta – Still Dave’s favorite meal ever. I’ll be making this for his birthday next week. I’ve been making it fairly often lately with storebought pesto because it’s so easy that way. But Dave and I agree that it’s best with homemade pesto.

bagels

Bagels – I wish I could keep a supply of these in the freezer all the time, because I like them so much more than storebought. That doesn’t always happen, but I am planning to make a batch tomorrow!

cinnamon-rolls

Cinnamon Rolls – This recipe is pieced together from my favorite aspects of a few other recipes. It has just the right balance of tender, sweet, spicy, and rich for me, with the added bonus that almost all of the work can be done the night before the rolls are baked.

rice-and-beans

Red Beans and Rice – It’s so simple, but I look forward to eating it every time I make it.

pulled-pork-a

Crockpot Pulled Pork – This is by far the most popular recipe on my site. And for good reason – this pork is seriously amazing. I like to keep a supply in the freezer, especially since the recipe makes so much.

pigs-blanket

Pigs in a Blanket – Gourmet eating at its best. Or not. But they were really good, plus I like the photos quite a bit. My sister often keeps some of these in her freezer for easy lunches for her toddler.

soba-feta-peas

Soba Salad with Feta and Peas – I was surprised by how much I liked this, but it was so good that I’ve made it several times. It’s a weird combination of ingredients that somehow meld together perfectly.

sushi-bowls

Sushi Bowls – I’m still so proud that I came up with my own recipe. I just took a bunch of my favorite sushi ingredients and mixed them up in a bowl instead of dealing with making rolls. It’s far easier, but just as delicious.

honorable-mentions

6 honorable mentions
Macaroni and Cheese – last time I made this, I couldn’t stop eating it
Fish Tacos – easy, healthy, and so tasty
Scotch Eggs – definitely not healthy, but worth it
Blueberry Poppy Seed Brunch Cake – tender and lemony with lots of blueberries
Chicken with Forty Cloves of Garlic – best chicken I’ve ever eaten
Pumpkin Bourbon Cheesecake – I haven’t stopped thinking about this since I made it

I have a couple goals (the word “resolution” seems unpopular this year) for my blog for 2009.

More easy, healthy dinner recipes – Did you notice that of the 15 favorites I picked from the last year, only one is a dessert? But about half the entries in my blog are desserts. I want to focus more on dinner recipes because those are the ones that a lot of people need new ideas for.

More effort into taking photos – One reason that a lot of dinner recipes don’t get posted is that I’m too lazy or rushed to take pictures of dinner. I have this idea that the cooking is the first priority, but I need to keep in mind that photography is an important hobby to me as well.

Basics of Photography page – I’ve had this in the works since August, and it’s almost done now; I just need to make the final push on finishing it. It’ll be for photography beginners, but that’s where I was a year ago, and I think I’ve learned a lot since then.

I learned a lot about cooking, photography, and having a blog in 2008. Here’s to making as much progress in 2009! Happy New Year!

Comments

  1. AMAZING year you’ve had with this blog!! And wonderful resolutions for the year ahead – I can’t wait to see exactly what you bring to the blog in 2009 πŸ™‚

  2. joelen says:

    What a great round up of your tasty 2008! I’m glad I chose one of your faves to tackle yeast. You’ll forever be my yeast hero and baking sensei πŸ™‚ Here’s wishing you a Happy New Year full of more delicious eats. I’m looking forward to future posts from The Way the Cookie Crumbles in 2009!

  3. What a great pictorial – and I’m looking forward to more wonderful posts from you!

  4. what a great round up for 2008! looking forward to seeing your posts in 2009!

    … and i have a sudden craving for pigs in a blanket!

  5. juju73 says:

    WOW! How beautiful! I would love to be able to make bagels! I am still a little nervous with yeast, maybe that will pass with time!

    Happy New Year!

  6. Excellent choices – but everything you make is wonderful so I can see why you had difficulties narrowing the list. And you got to eat all these so that must have been even harder!! πŸ™‚ Happy New Year! Looking forward to your master creations next year!

  7. Everything looks wonderful! Especially that crusty bread. I am looking forward to your basics of photography page! I can’t believe you were just a beginner a year ago-that gives me hope for my pictures:)

  8. Yea for a photography tutorial. I always love your pictures as much as your posts. Also, if you are intersted I tagged you over at my blog, check it out if you would like to play. But please don’t judge the pictures, they are complete rubbish next to yours! πŸ™‚

  9. Awesome round-up and I can’t wait for the new year’s new recipes! That pigs in a blanket photo never fails to put a smile on my face πŸ™‚

  10. Great choices… I see a few I’d love to try!

    Happy New Year!

  11. Wonderful roundup! It made me want to rethink my dinner menu for tonight!

  12. Thank you for sharing this round up – I can’t wait to try some of these recipes – and the photos are fabulous.

    Tania