my favorite recipes of 2010

I’ve done recaps of my year’s most favorite recipes in 2007, 2008 and 2009 – finally the 2010 edition has arrived. I love the act of reviewing and going through a years worth of posts – it not only helps jog my memory of all the wonderful things I made this year, but it reminds me that I’ve got a lot more to learn in the kitchen. Instead of going month by month picking out the best, I’m just going to pick out my 12 favourites of the year and I hope you enjoy this look back as much as I have.

lemon meringue pie

Lemon Meringue Pie. If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you know that I love a good pucker and this pie is the perfect balance between sweet and tart. And it’s a bit of a show stopper too.

scallops

Grilled Scallop Ceviche. Years of watching Top Chef and wanting to try both scallops and ceviche, I tried my hand with this fantastic meal. It’s more of a salad full of citrus, red onion, and cucumber and it not only tastes amazing but feels down right virtuous. Win win!

brownies

Seriously Intense Cocoa Nib Brownies. It’s a serious title for a serious chocolate dessert. I can say this without reservation that these were the best brownies I’ve ever eaten.

broccoli slaw

Broccoli Crunch Slaw. I used to hate raw broccoli…not any more. This is a salad that gets repeated in our household often. Tossed with yogurt, dried cranberries, toasted almonds and bite from diced red onions, it’s a welcome sight on your dinner plate.

tex mex enchiladas

Tex-Mex Cheese Enchiladas. This was a true surprise for my northern palate. A slightly spicy chili gravy tops these bundles of joy. Lazy, hot summer days seem just within reach.

corn & black bean salad

Fresh Corn & Black Bean Salad. Another summer wonder! I ate this meal so many times this past summer and I’m sure I can bring it back using frozen corn for another hit this winter. If you haven’t made this yet, you are missing out. So good!

spicy baked chicken

Spicy Oven-Fried Chicken. Organic chicken legs brined in yogurt, lemon and spices makes all the difference to this crispy not-fried chicken. This crust shatters like it’s been deep fried and seeing this photo again has me craving this dish all over.

freezer pickles

Crunchy Sweet & Spicy Freezer Pickles. I just ate the last jar of these babies this past week and I’m so sorry to see them go. They were my pickle ideal: crunchy, spicy, sweet and gave a good pucker. The best part? No complicated canning required. Easy!

potato salad

Simple Potato Salad with Lemon & Cumin. This was one of the most popular posts on my site for good reason. Lemony, earthy and bright and no mayo required.

apple sour cherry crumb pie

Apple & Sour Cherry Pie with Crumb Topping. Did anyone say pie? This tasty beast was our Thanksgiving dessert and proved a worthy contender for best pie of the year.

ginger apple pandowdy

Old Fashioned Ginger Apple Pandowdy. Looking for something homey and rustic? This fruit dessert loaded with ginger, apples and swimming in a heady robust sauce tastes like the holidays without putting on airs.

welsh cakes

Welsh Cakes. These little bites of heaven are toasted in butter on the stove rather than baked like a scone. Tender, spicy and delicious they are perfect with a spot of tea and make a warm and filling breakfast.

30 comments to “my favorite recipes of 2010”

  1. 1
    deepa   January 1, 2011 at 11:31 am

    I made the oven fried chicken and had it with the broccoli slaw, loved both of them!
    have made the slaw a lot since, lovely thing to add to work lunches.
    Happy New Year!

  2. 2
    Bijoux   January 1, 2011 at 12:02 pm

    I’m getting hungry just looking at this post! From your top 12, I’ve only managed to make the broccoli crunch slaw and I can say without exaggeration that it was super delicious! I’m making a mental note now, that I must bookmark this page and come back to it soon for the Tex-Mex cheese enchiladas, the corn and bean salad, the coca nib brownies, the scallop ceviche, the lemon meringue pie, the ginger-apple pandowdy…um, basically all of them!

  3. 3
    Charis   January 1, 2011 at 1:23 pm

    What a great post! =) All the recipes look so yummy! A friend of mine makes a salad similar to the brocoli slaw which consists of brocoli, cranberries, onion and bacon! It is so yummy! I’m definately going to try yours soon! =)
    Happy New Year!
    From Charis of Sugar & Spice
    xox

  4. 4
    Sues   January 1, 2011 at 1:44 pm

    Looks like you had a fabulous 2010 food-wise!! I definitely want to make some pickles this year 🙂 Happy New Year!

  5. 5
    ursula   January 1, 2011 at 4:02 pm

    This looks great! It’s good to see your favorites, because I missed some of those posts, but now I’m definitely going back to make those cheesy enchiladas!
    Happy new Year!

  6. 6
    michelleg   January 1, 2011 at 5:02 pm

    The corn and black bean salad was one of the best recipes I’ve tried this year, too! Thanks!

  7. 7
    Meister @ The Nervous Cook   January 1, 2011 at 6:06 pm

    What a great year-end wrap-up, and a wonderful reminder of why I love your blog so much! Cheese enchiladas & freezer pickles FTW!

    Happiest and healthiest of New Years to you. I wish you a full belly and a smiling mouth all year long.

  8. 8
    Brittany   January 1, 2011 at 7:50 pm

    That lemon meringue pie looks beautiful! Awesome recipe roundup! Happy New Year!!!

  9. 9
    Stefania   January 2, 2011 at 2:44 am

    Happy New Year ♥
    Moltissimi Auguri
    per uno splendido 2011

  10. 10
    Francesca   January 2, 2011 at 3:36 am

    Ooooh, I’ve not made any from this list yet but I’m slavering at the thought of the cheese enchiladas (and have been for at least a month). Sadly I live in Korea where cheese is hard to come by – or at least, cheese with any flavour. My standards are too high for Korea! =P

    I think I’ll have to get on a winter version of that corn and bean salad asap, though. Yum.

  11. 11
    Rivki Locker (Ordinary Blogger)   January 2, 2011 at 4:00 am

    Im going to try the corn and bean salad tonight with frozen corn. Looks great!

    My resolution for this year is to develop my food photography skills which are now pretty much nil. Your photography is amazing. Do you mind my asking if you have any tips to share with me? what kind of camera and lens do you use? I have a good Dslr camera (canon) but my lenses and skills are better suited for outdoor pix of my kids and scenery. Food photography is just a whole new thing for me. Any tips or recommended reading? Thanks so much and have a great year. Hope you accomplish everything you set out to do!

  12. 12
    Joanne   January 2, 2011 at 4:42 am

    This is a great short list of recipes for me to make..uh…five minutes ago. Love em!

  13. 13
    Danabee   January 2, 2011 at 6:10 am

    Sweet! A handy checklist for me, a new reader of this blog. The little welsh cakes are up first.

  14. 14
    Melynda@Moms Sunday Cafe   January 2, 2011 at 7:01 am

    Wonderful list! So many great things to make, eat, enjoy. Thanks and have a great new year ahead.

  15. 15
    Kimberley   January 2, 2011 at 10:43 am

    The Scallop Ceviche and Broccoli Slaw are going on my list! I am a fan of new ways of making both! Yum.

  16. 16
    Julie   January 2, 2011 at 12:28 pm

    Great roundup! Looks like I have some catching up to do!

    All the best for the new year!!

  17. 17
    i3etty @ veggie potluck   January 2, 2011 at 3:23 pm

    wow, just came across your blog and am loving most of the stuff on this list – that lemon meringue would’ve been ace at some of the xmas parties… here’s to more deliciousness in 2011!

  18. 18
    Erin   January 2, 2011 at 3:39 pm

    Wonderful. I can’t wait to tick off the ones I haven’t tried. Yours is my favorite food blog, and I’m so excited to follow you in 2011.

  19. 19
    kickpleat   January 2, 2011 at 4:20 pm

    Deepa, so glad you made 2 of the recipes on this list and glad you enjoyed them! Thanks!

    Bijoux, the enchiladas are amazing and I’m sure you’ll love them. Get to it!

    Charis, I’ve seen that recipe with bacon and lots of mayo, but this is a lighter but just as wonderful (i’m sure) meal. Yum.

    Thanks Sues, food wise it was swell 🙂

    Enjoy the enchiladas, Ursula…they’re worth it.

    Michelleg, so glad to hear that you loved that salad as much as I did. Hip hip hooray!

    Aw thanks, Meister! All the best to you too.

    Thanks Brittany, it’s a good ‘un!

    Thanks Stephania!

    Francesca, oooh I’d be mourning the loss of good cheese too. I live in Chinatown and it’s hard to find cheese here – but my hood also borders little Italy so I don’t have to suffer!

    Rivki, I don’t have too many tips: use natural light, try different configurations (I like shooting from above) and practice! I also use Photoshop but you can use another free online photo editor to help you out. And maybe set up a cheap photo studio which I’d like to do this year. I don’t have a dslr, so you’re one step ahead! Good luck!

    Thanks Joanne 🙂

    Danabee, I love your enthusiasm! Hooray!! I hope I can continue to inspire.

    Thanks Melynda!

    Kimberley, oooh do try them both – so good. Enjoy!

    Get going, Julie 😉

    I def agree about more deliciousness in 2011, thanks i3etty!!

    Thank you Erin, I’m flattered 🙂

  20. 20
    SixBalloons   January 2, 2011 at 10:26 pm

    I am definitely going to try that chicken recipe, it looks delicious. Thanks for sharing your experiences in the cooking world! Your photos are so appetizing too, such a challenge to get good shots, especially in the gloomy Vancouver winters.

  21. 21
    kickpleat   January 3, 2011 at 10:12 am

    Tell me about it, SixBalloons – gloomy Vancouver winters make photographing so difficult! Thanks for your nice words and yes, make that chicken 🙂

  22. 22
    Helen   January 3, 2011 at 1:08 pm

    I’ve recently started following your blog and have already tried and loved many recipes! Thanks for posting this list — I know what I’ll be eating for the next month!

  23. 23
    kickpleat   January 4, 2011 at 7:15 pm

    Thanks so much Helen for trying the recipes and sticking around too 🙂

  24. 24
    Katie   January 5, 2011 at 4:15 pm

    Wowzers…I’m a first time reader — just stumbled over from How About Orange — and I want to try EVERYTHING! The grilled scallop recipe caught my eye first, and then every single recipe after that! Thanks for the blog…I’ll definitely be back. 🙂

  25. 25
    happachica   January 10, 2011 at 5:37 pm

    made the broccoli slaw, but (as I’m in China) substituted golden raisins instead – super delicious and a favorite at the dinner party!! it pleased picky parents AND drunk friends. good job

  26. 26
    kickpleat   January 11, 2011 at 10:44 am

    Thanks so much Katie for stopping by! Hooray 🙂

    Happachica, so glad you liked the broccoli slaw – raisins are a perfect sub.

  27. 27
    The Rowdy Chowgirl   January 11, 2011 at 4:31 pm

    Beautiful! I just found your wonderful blog recently, so the recap is a gold mine! Looking forward to lots more. Just the picture of your grilled scallop ceviche has me drooling!

  28. 28
    happachica   January 11, 2011 at 7:03 pm
  29. 29
    kickpleat   January 12, 2011 at 11:34 am

    Thanks for stopping by Rowdy! The scallop ceviche is pretty wonderful 🙂

    Awesome, thanks for the link, happachica!

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