Top Recipes of 2012

It’s that time of the year again where we look back just a bit to revisit some of the most popular posts of the year here at An Oregon Cottage. I actually learn a lot about what you guys like by looking back, plus it’s fun to remember some of the recipes and projects that were accomplished this year. Oh, and the most surprising thing I learned? Just how much my photography and styling skills have grown since last January – whew, I can’t believe some of the photos I published just a short year ago! Not that I’m accomplished by any means, but there is a marked difference, that’s for sure – especially in the realm of lighting, the bane of my photography life here in gray Oregon.

Today I’m brining you a list of the top recipes of 2012 (published during the year) which comes in at 11 instead of the traditional top 10 because the 11th was our family’s favorite sourdough artisan bread, so it had to make the list. On Friday I’ll share the most popular DIY projects from the year and on New Year’s Eve it will be the most popular posts of all time – since the inception of AOC almost four years ago!

The most popular recipes made last year are:

1. How to Freeze Green Beans Without Blanching. Maybe this doesn’t qualify as a true recipe, but let me tell you I was surprised at it’s popularity, that’s for sure, so I had to include it. Sometimes it just cracks me up to see what you guys like the most…
2. Homemade Pigs In A Blanket- in Less Than an Hour. Now this isn’t so surprising, ’cause I had tried to find something similar and most of the recipes were for those crescent-or biscuit-dough-wrapped appetizer things. I knew there had to be others out there who wanted old-fashioned dogs-in-a-meltingly-good-yeast-dough. Easy and fast were just bonuses here. A classic in our household (and since it’s pretty easy to find quality meat dogs now, pretty good for you, too).
3. Homemade Caramel Apple Dip + less sugar version. 2012 found me reworking a lot of our most-loved recipes to use less sugar after I realized that I could cut sugar almost in half of a lot of recipes without noticing much difference. I added that to this perennially popular recipe.
4. Whole Wheat Sriracha Cheese Crackers. I see that you agree with me – every once in awhile it’s good to spend a few minutes making your own crackers – especially when they taste like this.
5. Sourdough Bagels. Most of our bread this last year has been made with the sourdough starter I grew more than two years ago. It’s an area of growth I’m really proud of and I hope my success (using these easy tips) encourages you to try your hand at sourdough as well.
6. Amazing Whole Wheat Flaky Biscuits. Yes, using pastry flour you can still have light and flaky biscuits. Well, with lots of butter…yummm.
7. Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Broth/Stock. I always have chicken broth/stock in the freezer now that I use this method. The fact that bone-based broth is super nutritious makes this recipe even better.
8. Quick and Easy Lava Cakes. Oh my goodness are these good. And apparently many of you have realized, like I did, that this decadent dessert is super easy and inexpensive to make, too.
9. Lemon-Berry Cake – with the BEST lemon frosting ever! Am I ever glad I discovered this wonderful frosting, which is perfect for a springtime pairing with berries.
10. Addictive Tomato Chutney – updated with less sugar. Yep, another classic that was made better in 2012 with less sugar. I don’t miss it, and in fact think the flavors come through better. This would be #1 on the list if it were just my favorite recipes.
11. Easy Sourdough Artisan Bread – I really worked to get a sourdough artisan that was as easy and good as the classic Easy Artisan Bread we love so much. And it is – it’s pretty much the only artisan bread I make now.

What were your favorite recipes from 2012 that have become part of your repertoire? Did they make this list?

Sharing at these great parties: Chic & Crafty, Weekend Wrap-Up, Saturday Nite Special, Countdown to 2013: Best of 2012