Top Ten Recipes for 2016

These recipes are the most popular reader favorites for 2016. 

Here they are! Karen's Kitchen Stories Top 10 most popular recipes for 2016! These were your favorite recipes, and I thank you so much for visiting, commenting, critiquing, and following Karen's Kitchen Stories. I can't believe it's been another year!

The Last Word Cocktail

The Last Word Cocktail is reputed to be an old-timey cocktail, originating in Detroit, and dating back to pre-Prohibition. All I know is, it's pretty tasty. 

Evidently, The Last Word Cocktail, after languishing in obscurity for about 80 years or so, enjoyed a sudden resurgence when a Seattle bartender recreated it and began serving it around 2006. According to folklore, he discovered the cocktail in a book that was written in 1951.

Smoked Gouda Cheese Spread

This Smoked Gouda Cheese Spread is a wonderful appetizer spread on crackers, mini toasts, and crudités. It's perfect for cocktail and bowl game parties. 

I love this Smoked Gouda Cheese Spread on garlic melba toast or Carr's Table Water Crackers, but any good cracker will do.

Shanghai-Style Shrimp, Sweet and Sour Cabbage, and Slow Stir-Fried Red Peppers | Wok Wednesdays

For the months of November and December, the Wok Wednesdays group made three recipes from the book The Breath of a Wok. The recipes include Sweet and Sour Cabbage, Shanghai-Style Shrimp, and Slow Stir-Fried Red Peppers. 

This dish is Florence Lin's Slow Stir-Fried Red Peppers. This recipe is so simple, and so delicious. Other than oil and a little bit of salt and sugar, there is just one ingredient, red bell peppers.

Countdown to 2017: Best Appetizers and Snacks

The following are my favorite appetizers and snacks from 2016. 

I can't believe that 2016 is coming to a close. I know, it's just a date, but still, time seems to be flying by.

Cheddar Muffins

These Cheddar Muffins could really be delicious cheesy bread masquerading as muffins... or maybe cheddar biscuits disguised as muffins. 

These cheddar muffins are loaded with cheese and flavored with shallots, just a bit of cornmeal, Dijon mustard, freshly ground black pepper, and Tabasco sauce. They have just the right amount of kick.

Espresso Chocolate Sablés

These Espresso Chocolate Sablés are filled with the rich flavor of coffee and chocolate, and have a wonderful crumbly texture. 

Sablés you ask?  A sablé is the French shortbread! It's just fancier because of the name... and maybe a little more grown up.