Top 20 Recipes of 2014

Happy New Year everyone! I’d like to take a moment to thank all of you who continually visit here and make this site possible. Your presence and interaction are vital to going forward and I appreciate all the sharing of recipes you do with family and friends.

So many of you have been here since the beginning (6+ years ago). Together we have built quite a food community that continues to grow, flourish and only get better in 2015.

It’s always fun to look back over the year and see which recipes have been popular. Even in the past few days some dishes fell out of the Top 20 spots, while others edged their way into this list. 

Let’s see if some of your favorites made the list!!

 
20. Cucumber, Tomato and Chickpea Salad. This salad is my go to recipe for a quick side dish for any meal. I make it all year long with the best tomatoes I can find. It is packed with flavor and the dressing is only one-ingredient! You need to try it.

19. Ceviche…My Way. I love ceviche, but I don’t always love the way it’s made. This recipe, which has appeared in magazines and major newspapers across the country, has my little spin on this favorite appetizer. It is absolutely yummy. You don’t have to wait until summer to make it.

18. Sausage Tortellini Soup. It’s no secret that soup season is upon us. If you are looking for a jam-packed, flavorful dish, that only takes 30 minutes to make, give this soup a try. This is perfect to throw together after work when you are short on time.

17. Slow Cooker Chile Colorado Style Beef. I created this recipe when my husband could not stop talking about the ‘best” Chile Colorado he used to get at the hospital while working. Well, now mine is his favorite and it’s something I make all of the time. Cook it up and wrap it in tortillas for the best meal ever.

16. Fried Mozzarella-Pepperoni Sticks ~ Made Easy. We all love indulging in fried mozzarella sticks at a restaurant. I have added some pepperoni and made the whole process much easier by eliminating the breading process. Come see how you can make these at home…teenagers love them (so do adults).

15. Gnocchi Mac n’ Cheese. If you are looking for the ultimate comfort food, I can highly suggest this amazing recipe. The cheese used in this dish is what takes it over the top, with lots of depth of flavor. Add lobster to make it fancy for a special occasion. I promise you will not be disappointed.

14. East Carolina Barbecue Sauce. I wouldn’t even think of making pulled pork without this sauce to drizzle over it. It’s tangy, flavorful and all around incredible tasting. Make a batch and if you don’t use it all, it lasts forever in the fridge.

13. Perfect Brunch Eggs. I use this pan for so many things, but especially for making eggs and cookies. It’s so versatile and has made making eggs for a crowd a breeze. They turn out perfect every time and you can decide if you want your yolks cooked or runny. 

12. Old-Fashioned Chocolate Cake with Glossy Chocolate Icing. If I ask the family what dessert I should make, this cake is always one their top requests. It’s very moist, decadent and just plain good. And it’s my go-to chocolate cake recipe. Make it for your next Birthday party.

11. Sticky Asian Chicken Spaghetti. This quick-weeknight dinner recipe exploded in popularity when I posted it earlier this year. It’s one of those yummy-flavored dishes the whole family can enjoy. I find myself making it again and again because it’s so easy to throw together.

10. Pasta Pie. Who knew when I made this Pasta Pie so many years ago, it would become a family and internet sweetheart. I remember un-molding the pan for the first time and being in awe of how beautiful and impressive this dish looks and tastes. Kids love it too and is perfect for a special birthday meal at home.

9. Reuben Dip. It’s a beloved Reuben sandwich deconstructed into a dip. Serve it on the coffee table while watching your fave sporting event. I promise swooning and eye-rolls with every bite.

8. Easy Artisan Roasted Garlic-Rosemary Bread. I have made at least 500 of these loaves and that is not an exaggeration. And I don’t always add the rosemary and garlic…it’s just as amazing plain. It’s rare I don’t have some of this dough waiting in the fridge to made into bread. If your New Year’s resolution includes cooking more from scratch, I would start with this recipe.

7. Mini Crab Cakes. They are crunchy, flavorful and baked in the oven…so much easier than frying. These are such a great party starter for so many occasions. Put them on your food party list for the next year.

6. Kitty Litter Cake. I always love the reaction and extreme popularity of this recipe. It is an absolute Halloween must if gross-out looking food is part of your fun menu. Ironically it tastes sooo good, but many cat-owners have a hard time getting past how realistic this looks. Dog-owners seem to have no issue. Save it for Halloween and kid’s parties.

5. Make Ahead Gravy. While this recipe is most popular around the holidays, it can be used all year and made for chicken, not just turkey. This takes away the insanity that is often coupled with making gravy for a crowd at the last minute, and it’s so flavorful.

4. Kahlua Pecan-Brown Sugar Baked Brie. This appetizer is crazy popular for good reason, it’s insanely decadent and delicious. It is devoured almost instantly when set out for a party and has made it’s rounds around the virtual world millions of times over. Make it….just make it.

3. Italian Cookies. It’s no secret these are little bites of heaven. Their popularity has been partly based on the memories of so many who grew up eating this cookie. Everyone has their own little spin on what flavoring they use to make it, but regardless it is a cookie worth making again and again.

2. Two-Ingredient Pumpkin Cake with Apple Cider Glaze. Between the simplicity and the yummy taste, this recipe is searched crazily on the internet. While its height of popularity takes hold during the Fall season, it is a perfect cake to make all year long. 

1. Dill Pickle Soup. And the Number 1 recipe for 2014 is my Dill Pickle Soup. Who knew this soup would EXPLODE on the web in the fashion it has. Some days it receives over a million hits a day. A DAY. That’s amazing. Its popularity has taken down my site on many occasions and created a situation where I had to revamp my servers just to allow the masses to get on and view this dish. I have loved hearing about how many of you love this soup as much as I do. Keep making it!!

So tell me, which recipes in this list have you made and what is next on your list to try? Please share!

One Year Ago: 15 Healthy Eating Tips to Get You Motivated
Two Years Ago: Bacon Pretzel Grilled Cheese
Four Years Ago: Top Recipes of 2010
Five Years Ago: Top 10 Recipes of 2009
Six Years Ago: Happy New Year!