The last couple of years I’ve done a recap, in early January, of the best recipes I posted during the last year. Here’s the 2010 group:
Chocolate Chip Cookies Adapted from Silver Moon Bakery – if I were to put this list in a rank order, I suppose this would have to be first – only because I’ve made these cookies about 6-8 times in the last year. They’re taller than most chocolate chip cookies. They’re crunchy and crisp, just the way I like them. I changed the recipe just a smidgen.
Meyer Lemon Grains Salad with Asparagus & Almonds – I probably made this salad 3 or 4 times last year. Ever so good. So tasty with the lemon juice. But then, I love lemon juice and lemon flavoring in just about anything.
Mixed Berry Meringue Parfaits – this are very similar to a dish called Eton Mess (from Eton in England). This one is SO easy – as long as you have some ice cream, some meringue cookies (from Trader Joe’s), some whipped cream and fresh berries, you can make this treat anytime. This is also a very nice company dessert. So easy to make (at the last minute, though). Idea when fresh berries are in season.
Salmon Steaks with Soy and Maple Glaze – Oh so very delicious. An easy entrée, and full of flavor too. Surely I must have made this 3 or 4 times last year, even for guests. You know when you read a recipe and think because it’s just so easy , it might not be “fancy” enough for guests? Not so with this recipe. It’s very colorful with the maple glaze (gets nice and crunchy) and the pile of freshly chopped green onions.
Brussels Sprouts with Brandy, Orange and Dried Cranberries – if you ever thought you didn’t like Brussels Sprouts, this might change your mind. They’re easy and SO good.
Country Captain Chicken – I was never a big fan of Country Captain until I made it this way. As I recall it’s a Cook’s Illustrated, or an America’s Test Kitchen recipe. Even good for guests. It’s not all that different than other Country Captain recipes, but there’s a definite flavor punch.
Marinated Tomatoes – who would think that letting tomatoes veg out in a marinade would make such a difference. These are just wonderful – in the summer – when you can buy really good tasty tomatoes. Make ahead, great for guests. Easy too. It uses a whole bunch of fresh herbs (mostly I have them in my summer herb garden) which just pushes the flavor off the charts. Looks pretty too.
Maida Heatter’s 86-Proof Chocolate Cake – oh my gracious goodness is this ever wonderful. Definitely an adult (beverage) cake since it has bourbon in it – a lot, actually. Worth every single calorie. Hard to figure out exactly what’s in there unless someone tells you. You know it’s alcohol, though. I think I served it with a mound of whipped cream flavored with a bit more bourbon, too.
Saffron Basmati Rice – I fell in love with this when I made this rice. It has relatively simple ingredients (including canned coconut milk, which I had in my pantry). Fortunately, the only time I’ve made this,I made a big batch and froze several packets of it for later. We’ve enjoyed every single leftover there was. A huge favorite for me. I made this recently so haven’t had a chance to make it a second time. Yet.
Aarti’s Indian Rice Pudding – do you watch Aarti’s show on the Food Network? Very fun. Have enjoyed every one of her recipes I’ve tried, this one included. Love the coconut milk, and the great basmati flavor. It’s made with whole milk, which I don’t keep on hand, but it was worth the trip to the market.
Irish Soda Bread with Orange Zest and Currants – over the years I’ve made plenty of soda bread. And they were always “okay,” but never off the charts. Until this one. It’s an Ina Garten recipe, and is so good I could almost make a meal of it, warm from the oven with a bowl of butter alongside. It is best served the day you make it, but was still good the next day too. I made it for Easter dinner and have made it a couple of times since.
Vegetable Coconut Curry – As I look at that picture, I’m craving this curry. Meatless. Just chock full of good things for you, and so tasty you don’t even miss the protein. It has everything but the kitchen sink in the mixture, all healthy for you kind of ingredients. Even grapes.
Orzo, Dried Cherries and Almonds – if you ever wanted to serve a different kind of pasta side dish, this would be one of those! Really tasty. Great with pork, chicken or fish. It has a sweet tinge from the dried cherries, so it wouldn’t go with anything except a relatively plain protein. Like grilled pork tenderloin, or a grilled chicken. Don’t serve it with an entree that has a sauce. It would take away from the flavor of the side dish.
Welsh Cakes (like flattened scones) – oh my goodness are these ever good. I tried several recipes, then one of my readers, Toni-Anne, from England, told me about her recipe, which she kindly shared with me. She grew up in Wales, and had a recipe from the 1980s that was just like what I remembered when we tried these, in Wales, last summer. I was on a mission – big time – to find just the right combination. This is it.
Tomato and Butter Sauce for Pasta – this may not look like much, and if you don’t add the full amount of butter to this, it probably wouldn’t taste like much either. As our friend Bud says: Fat is the sled on which flavor rides. Yup. A meatless dish, very satisfying. Butter, butter and butter.
Leave a Comment!