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Dec 31, 2014

Countdown to 2015: Top 10 Reader Favorites of 2014


These are my ten most visited recipes for 2014. I've never compiled a list of my most "popular" posts. First, there's always the burning question, do I prorate the visits? As a wannabe statistician, do I need to age the data to account for more time having passed?

Then there's the issue of bots and spammers who account for about half of the traffic to blogs. My blog's platform doesn't really distinguish between real and fake visitors when giving me visitor statistics. Thank goodness for Google Analytics (are you falling asleep at this point?).

I am fascinated by which posts take off and which posts kind of languish without attention. It doesn't really change what I do here, because I like to make and post about food that we will actually eat. My favorite thing is to challenge myself to try new techniques.

And of course, bake bread.

Blogging about food has been an amazing creative avocation, and the best part has been "meeting" simply wonderful people who share my interest in food, cooking, and writing about food and cooking.

I added up the numbers and decided that prorating and aging the data was way too much trouble. Here's list of your top ten favorite recipes of 2014 (plus a bonus).
  1. Sourdough Polenta (Grits) Bread 
  2. Bouchon Bakery Shortbread Cookies
  3. Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes with Taleggio Cheese
  4. Caramelized Onion and Shallot Braided Bread with Gruyere
  5. Jalapeño Cheddar Coins
  6. Salted Peanut Caramel Sauce 
  7. Slow Cooker Asian Glazed Wings
  8. Individual Potatoes au Gratin
  9. Roasted Vegetable Focaccia
  10. Garlic Gruyere Pain de Campagne Boule
  11. Section Challah 
My New Year's blogging resolution? To finally get a logo and to learn Lightroom. Please hold me accountable. 

This year, Sarah of Fantastical Sharing of Recipes and Secret Recipe Club is hosting a round up some of the best recipes of 2014. Visit her blog to see what other bloggers have contributed to this Best of 2014 round up.



Countdown to 2015: My 10 Best Dessert Recipes of 2014

My top 10 desserts of 2014

These are my top 10 dessert posts from 2014. When I compiled this list, I realized I need to expand my dessert world. There are an awful lot of cookies on this list. It's probably because there are just two of us in this house.

With cookies, I can either pack the leftovers into my grandkid's lunches and take the rest to work. They also keep longer.

My 10 favorite dessert recipes of 2014 (that I made) are:
This year, Sarah of Fantastical Sharing of Recipes and Secret Recipe Club is hosting a round up some of the best recipes of 2014. Visit her blog to see what other bloggers have contributed to this dessert round up.



Dec 30, 2014

Brioche Flower with Cherry Preserves

Brioche Flower with Cherry Preserves

This Brioche Flower with cherry preserves can be made with any sweet or savory filling. I used cherry preserves, which went perfectly with the brioche dough.
Dec 29, 2014

Countdown to 2015: Best Appetizer Recipes of 2014

Best appetizers of 2014

These are my favorite appetizers from 2014. They are wonderful for any dinner party. Some are easy, others are a bit more complicated, but all of these are tasty.

My favorite appetizers for 2014 are....

This year, Sarah of Fantastical Sharing of Recipes and Secret Recipe Club is hosting a round up some of the best recipes of 2014. Visit her blog to see what other bloggers have contributed to this appetizer and snack round up.


Dec 28, 2014

Countdown to 2015: (My) Best Main Courses of 2014

My favorite main courses from 2014

These are my favorite main courses from 2014. I would make each of these again without reservation. I would (and have) serve them for guests, and I would (and have) make them just for me. They are that good (and foolproof).

My favorites main courses from 2014 include the following:
This year, Sarah of Fantastical Sharing of Recipes and Secret Recipe Club is hosting a round up some of the best recipes of 2014. Visit her blog to see what other bloggers have contributed to this main course round up.


Countdown to 2015: Best Crockpot Recipes of 2014

4 fantastic slow cooker recipes

Slow cooker meals are just about the best comfort food. They are perfect for the summer, when you don't want to turn on the oven, and perfect for the winter, when you want a meal that will take off the chill.

My favorites from 2014 are these Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Baby Back Ribs, these Slow Cooker Asian Glazed Wings, these Slow Cooker Asian Beef Short Ribs, and this Slow Cooker Beef and Potato Stew.

This year, Sarah of Fantastical Sharing of Recipes and Secret Recipe Club is hosting a round up some of the best recipes of 2014. Visit her blog to see what other bloggers have contributed to this crockpot round up.


Dec 26, 2014

Carrot and Cauliflower Puree with Browned Butter


This Carrot and Cauliflower Puree was the perfect side dish for Christmas dinner this year.


Carrot and Cauliflower Puree with Browned Butter


It was my turn to host the annual family Christmas Eve soiree. On the dinner menu? Ribeye roast beef, red wine dijon cream saucespinach gratin, goat cheese mashed potatoes (contributed by my cousin), and this carrot and cauliflower puree.
Dec 19, 2014

Cranberry Horseradish Pan-Fried Steak

Cranberry Horseradish Pan-Fried Steak from Karen's Kitchen Stories

This cranberry horseradish pan-fried steak is a fabulous way to use the inevitable leftover cranberry sauce from Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner.

The glaze for this steak combines the sweetness and tartness of cranberry sauce with the spiciness of the horseradish to make an outstanding glaze.

I make my own cranberry sauce from fresh cranberries, and hate to toss out the leftovers.  It's an attachment issue. You understand, right?

For this cranberry sauce, I used this recipe, but any whole cranberry sauce will do.

You don't even need a barbecue to make these steaks because they are pan-fried and then finished in the oven. I used this pan, but any cast iron or oven proof stainless steel pan will do. Totally easy!

Cranberry Horseradish Pan-Fried Steak from Karen's Kitchen Stories

For another recipe using leftover cranberry sauce, check out these cookies. They are delicious and so easy.

We loved these steaks. The sweet-savory cranberry sauce and horseradish flavor combination is pretty amazing. Next time, I'd probably reduce the cooking time in the oven by about a minute because I like a pretty rare steak.

Totally easy, totally tasty.

Cranberry Horseradish Pan-Fried Steak

Ingredients

1 tsp olive oil
Salt and pepper
1/4 C cranberry sauce (not jelly). I used leftovers from this recipe
2 tsp prepared horseradish
2 New York Strip Steaks (1 inch thick) about 12 ounces each

Instructions

  1. Rub each steak all over with the olive oil and salt and pepper. 
  2. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
  3. Mix the cranberry sauce and horseradish in a small bowl.
  4. Heat a cast iron pan on medium high heat. 
  5. Sear the steaks in the hot pan and cook until seared, about 3 minutes. 
  6. Flip the steak over and spread it with the cranberry horseradish sauce. 
  7. Transfer the pan to the oven and roast for about 4 to 5 minutes. 
  8. Move the steaks to a cutting board, cover with foil, and let rest for about 5 to 10 minutes. 
  9. Slice the steaks and serve. 
Adapted from Cook the Story
Dec 14, 2014

Lime Meltaways


Lime Meltaways from Karen's Kitchen Stories

These Lime Meltaway cookies are super easy to make. I made the dough in advance, and baked the cookies the next day. You can also make the dough and freeze it, then slice and bake the cookies when "needed," making them the perfect cookie for gifting.

What is a meltaway cookie, you ask? It's a butter cookie made with powdered sugar and cornstarch (you could also use tapioca). The cookie is incredibly crumbly, so when you take a bite, it kind of "disappears" in your mouth, in a tasty "what was that wonderfulness?" sort of way.

Lime Meltaways from Karen's Kitchen Stories

I know there's a bite missing. Someone had to make the sacrifice so you could see the interior of the cookie. It's a tough job.

While these were made with lime, you could substitute lemon. orange, or grapefruit, or any combination of citrus. You could also just go with vanilla or chopped pecans if you prefer. We're flexible around here.

There are many ways to coat the cookies with the powdered sugar. You can place the cookies in a plastic bag with the powdered sugar and shake to coat them, dredge them in the sugar in a bowl, or sift the sugar over the cookies. I ended up dredging the cookies in a bowl, and then sifting more sugar over them.

Lime Meltaways from Karen's Kitchen Stories

If you're wondering about the little cups, I used these.

This post is part of the Secret Recipe Club Cookie Carnival. Sixty (yep, sixty!) of us have been randomly assigned another blog from which to make a cookie recipe (big thank you to Sarah of Fantastical Sharing of Recipes for putting this together). I was assigned Grandma Loy's Kitchen.  She has three children and three grandchildren, and has been married to the love of her life for over 50 years. Just like me, she enjoys reading cookbooks like novels. I'm with you, Loy!

After the recipe for this cookie, you will find links to dozens of wonderful cookie recipes.

Lime Meltaways from Karen's Kitchen Stories


Lime Meltaways Recipe

Adapted from Grandma Loy's Kitchen, adapted from Martha Stewart.
Makes 48 cookies

Ingredients

12 T unsalted butter
1 C powdered sugar, divided
Zest from 3 large limes
2 T fresh squeezed lime juice
1 T vanilla
2 Cups minus 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 tsp salt

Instructions

  1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, or using a hand mixer, cream the butter and 1/3 C powdered sugar until light and fluffy. Add the zest, juice, and vanilla, and mix until smooth.
  2. Whisk the flour, cornstarch, and salt together, and add to the mixing bowl. 
  3. Mix on low until the flour is just incorporated. 
  4. Divide the dough in half, and shape into two 1 1/4 inch diameter logs. Wrap the logs in wax or parchment paper, and then wrap in plastic wrap (see note above about paper towel holders).
  5. Refrigerate for at least an hour, and up to 24 hours. The dough can also be frozen and used up to two months later.
  6. Preheat the oven and line two baking sheets with parchment.
  7. Slice the logs into 1/4 inch disks and place them on the parchment, about 1 inch apart. 
  8. Bake the cookies, one sheet at a time, for 15 minutes.
  9. Let the cookies cool slightly on a wire rack, and then dredge, shake, or dust with the remaining powdered sugar while they are still warm.
  10. Keep in an airtight container for up to two weeks.


Dec 13, 2014

Stir-Fried Ginger Tomato Beef | Wok Wednesdays

Tomato beef in a bowl.



I almost missed making this Stir-Fried Ginger Tomato Beef from Wok Wednesdays. The post was supposed to be up on December 3rd, which snuck up on me way too fast..... something about the recipe schedule not being posted until after the weekend.... that's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Dec 8, 2014

No Knead Quinoa Bread

No Knead Quinoa Bread

This Quinoa Bread really surprised me. I'm not at all experienced with this grain and was a bit skeptical because it has been kind of a fad. When the #BreadBakers group decided to use quinoa as a theme this month, I finally broke down and bought a bag of the stuff.

Maple Cupcakes with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting

Maple Cupcakes with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting from Karen's Kitchen Stories

These maple cupcakes must be pretty spectacular. I took them to work, and they disappeared pretty quickly. Before lunch.

Dec 2, 2014

Stollen

Stollen bread on cutting board.


Stollen is the German Christmas bread. According to Peter Reinhart, in the book, Bread Baker's Apprentice, the shape of the stollen symbolizes the blanket of the baby Jesus, and the colored fruits represent the gifts of the Magi. Dresden is considered the home of stollen and even hosts an annual stollen festival where they unveil a giant (huge!) loaf.

Dec 1, 2014

Couronne | Mixed Starter Bread

Couronne | Mixed Starter Bread

I did the happy dance after making this Couronne bread. The mixed starter dough may take a weekend to make, but it is so totally worth it. The resulting bread is crusty, crusty, crusty, and the soft interior is filled with the uneven holes for which bakers of rustic loaves strive.

Couronne | Mixed Starter Bread

The recipe was contributed by Steve Sullivan, founder of Acme Bread Company, one of the pioneers in the artisan bread movement, to the PBS Series, Baking with Julia, and the resulting book, Baking with Julia, written by Dorie Greenspan in 1996.

Couronne | Mixed Starter Bread

This dough begins with a small piece of leftover bread or pizza dough. I used used a piece of firm starter that had been sitting in my refrigerator for a couple of weeks from this bread. This is called the "old dough starter." About 8 hours later, the starter is fed again, and allowed to rise.

Couronne | Mixed Starter Bread

The dough is "mixed method," in that it also includes a small amount of instant yeast in the final dough. There are a lot of steps to creating this dough, but the resulting dough is simply amazing and a dream to work with.

Once you've made the dough, you can make baguettes, wheat stalks, pain fendu, boules, walnut bread, or this couronne.

Couronne | Mixed Starter Bread

To create the hole in the middle of the dough, you plunge your elbow into the center of the shaped dough (Yes, I did it).

The top of the couronne is decorated with a string of "pearls" made from extra dough. My pearls got a bit off kilter as the dough was rising, but that's why they call this bread "rustic," right?

Couronne | Mixed Starter Bread

Mixed Starter Bread Couronne

Ingredients

Old-dough starter

1/2 ounce of risen dough from white bread or pizza (I used two week old firm starter)
1/4 C warm water
2/3 C unbleached all purpose flour

Second Starter

All of the old-dough starter
1/4 C warm water
3/4 C unbleached all purpose flour

Final Dough

1 1/4 C water
1/2 tsp instant yeast
All of the second starter, cut into pieces
3 1/3 C (14.15 ounces) unbleached all purpose flour
1 T Kosher salt

Instructions

  1. Break up the old dough into pieces and add them to a medium bowl. Add the water, and let sit for about 5 minutes. 
  2. Add the flour and mix with a dough whisk or spoon. When the dough gets too stiff, remove it from the bowl and knead by hand until the flour is incorporated. Place it back into the bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm place for about 8 hours (after the 8 hours, I refrigerated this starter until the next morning). 
  3. Mix the second starter the same way you mixed the first starter. Let rise for four hours, and then refrigerate for 1 to 8 hours (I refrigerated mine for 1 hour). 
  4. In the bowl of a stand mixer, add the water, the yeast, and the second starter pieces. Let sit for 5 minutes. 
  5. Add all of the flour and mix with a spoon to just incorporate. 
  6. Mix with the dough hook on low to fully incorporate the flour. Let rest for 10 minutes.
  7. Sprinkle the salt over the dough. Mix on medium to medium high for about 8 minutes. 
  8. Place the dough into an oiled bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let it rise for 90 minutes in a warm spot (about 85 degrees F). 
  9. Gently stretch and fold the dough over itself from all four "sides," and let it rise, covered, for another 45 minutes.
  10. Take a 10 inch cake pan or springform pan and place a small (3 to 4 inch) bowl upside down in the middle. Cover with a tea towel, and rub the towel with flour.
  11. Cut off a 5 ounce piece of dough. Pat it into a rectangle, fold it over itself several times to develop tension, and roll it into a small log. Cover and set aside. 
  12. Shape the rest of the dough into a rough ball. Plunge your elbow into the center of the dough to create a hole. Using a floured hand, continue to expand the hole. Cover the dough and let it rest for 15 minutes. 
  13. While the dough is resting, make the "pearls.' Roll the rope until it is about 24 inches long. Using the side of your hand, indent the rope by sliding your hand back and forth every inch or so. Place the "pearls" into the basket, circling the small bowl. 
  14. Place the rest of the dough, flipping it over (very carefully) on top of the "pearls." Cover and let rise for about 90 minutes. 
  15. Place a pizza stone in your oven, and preheat it to 450 degrees F. Set up the oven for steam or place a large metal bowl over the pizza stone (this is what I did). 
  16. When the dough is ready, place a piece of parchment over the cake pan, cover with a peel, and flip the whole thing over. Remove the cake pan and the tea towel. Transfer the dough to the stone and cover with the hot metal bowl. 
  17. Reduce the oven temperature to 425 degrees F and bake for 20 minutes, covered, and then 20 to 25 minutes more, uncovered. The bread should be very brown, with an interior temperature of 200 to 210 degrees F. 
  18. Cool completely on a wire rack. 
I am participating in Tuesdays with Dorie. To see how other bakers fared, check out this link