Best of 2013: Blogger's Choice

Each year I do not only a Reader's Choice post but also a Blogger's Choice because sometimes I feel like there are some hidden gems that should not be missed!  To see previous year's Best of Lists, click on the Recap tag!

In no particular order, here are my Top 10 personal favorites from 2013:

1. Tomato Florentine Soup.  I'm a sucker for a good hot bowl of soup.  Especially when shrouded in bitter cold like most of us in the US have been lately.

2. Lasagna Soup.  Keeping with the soup theme for a moment.  This packs all the flavor and comfort of lasagna into an easy to make soup.  It'll warm you to the core and make for a happy tummy.

3. Bravo's Shrimp Florentine Pasta.  Who doesn't love a good copycat recipe?  Even if you're not familiar with this Italian chain restaurant, its light creamy lemon sauce will win you over upon first bite.

4. Bourbon Street Chicken.  Not at all authentic Chinese food and doesn't contain any bourbon but gosh is this one delicious!

5. Steak, Asparagus, and Chimichurri Pasta.  Is one of your New Year's Resolutions to eat healthier and maybe even go paleo?  This will fit the bill.  Regardless, give this recipe a try!

6. Peanut Butter Pudding Cookies.  I call them Candy Explosion Cookies.  These are the softest, most delicious cookies ever!

7. Brownie Pudding.  Everyone went back for seconds when it came to this rich, molten chocolate goodness.  When topped a la mode?  Heaven.

8. Honey Baked Sriracha Chicken Tenders.  You know a recipe is good when I need to drop everything and stay up after baby has slept in order to blog about it.  There's no added oil in these baked chicken tenders and they're incredibly crispy!  Plus, the sweet spicy flavor is baked right in.  Click the link to find out the secret!

9. Asparagus and Ham Stuffed Potatoes. Since it's made in the microwave, it makes it even easier to have everyone make it their own way!  Customize the fillings to fit your tastes but I must say it's delicious as written and would be a good way to use up the leftover Easter ham.

10. Hawaiian Roll Ham and Swiss Sliders.  Why it took me so long to make these I do not know.  Consider making them for your upcoming Superbowl Party.  Though, after a bite you'll wish you had made them all for yourself instead of sharing!  They're seriously addicting.  Don't way I didn't warn you.

BONUS!  Normally I ask my husband to pick a recipe to add to this list of favorites but undoubtedly he'd pick the Brownie Bottom Peanut Butter Cheesecake which already appears on the 2013 Reader's Choice List.  So, instead, I'm giving the honor of the bonus pick recipe to our son Alex.

Chewy Butterfinger Cookies.  Dubbed "Labor Cookies" by my friend as they were the last thing I baked before going into labor.  I can't say that they in fact induce labor but seems like Alex liked them enough to FINALLY make his arrival into the world (10 days late!).

Best of 2013: Reader's Choice

Happy New Year!

First, let me start out by saying thank you for following my little blog.  I know that 2014 will be challenging for me to keep up with posting with the same frequency as I did in 2013 given I now have a little guy to care for.  I hope you can bare with me and promise it will be worth it to keep following along :).

Each year I do a little recap of the top recipes as chosen by the readers and then separately, myself.  You can find the others by clicking on the Recap tag.

Here are the Top 10 Reader Favorite Recipes in 2013:

#10 - Salted Browned Butter Rice Crispy Treats. Kicking off the list strong with this simple "gourmet" twist on traditional rice crispy treats!  If you all didn't pick it for your Top 10 list for the year, I certainly would have.  Once you get a taste of the nutty browned butter, you'll wonder why you didn't always make rice crispies this way!

#9 - Balsamic-Honey Glazed Roast Beef Sandwiches with French Dip. Seriously guys, we're on the same wavelength here!  Love!  Out of all of the easy savory recipes from this year, this was one of my absolute favorites.  If you're lazy, you could skip the balsamic reduction and it'd still be delicious.  Now go put that slow cooker to work all day so you can take a dip into nirvana tonight!

#8 - Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookie Cake. Move over grocery store cookie cakes!  From the outside it looks like a regular single layer cake but just wait until you cut it open.  It's a giant cookie with a crunchy exterior, chewy interior, and enveloped in a luscious frosting!

#7 - Ginger Chicken Jook (Chinese Rice Porridge). Spot on with this pick again, my friends.  This is the equivalent of Chinese Chicken Noodle Soup and will definitely take the chill of your bones.  Some swear it even cures the common cold.  Since I've discovered this recipe I just make it anytime I have a rotisserie chicken carcass on hand...

#6 - Cadbury Creme Mini Egg Cupcakes. A Secret Recipe Club Editor's Choice recipe!  This is sure to brighten up your child's Easter basket.

#5 - Chocolate Oreo Poke Cake. Doctored cake mix, Cool Whip, and Oreos never looked so good (or so easy)!  I'm not sure if this one is popular because of Pinterest (follow my boards here!), my blogiversary giveaway, pure delicious, or maybe all of the above.

#4 - Peanut Butter Cup Bars. I'm not usually a big sweets fan but this one certainly won me over.  Very rarely do I make a recipe more than once and this is one of them that had the honor of being a repeat in my kitchen.  Click the link to find out what gives this recipe its surprisingly special texture in the peanut filling!

#3 - Grilled Cheese Donuts. I'm not at all surprised to see this recipe make an appearance on this list.  After all, who doesn't love grilled cheese?...and donuts?...buttered and then smashed together into a single sweet and salty delight.  It may sound odd but I assure you your taste buds will sing when you take your first buttery bite into this Tom+Chee copy cat recipe!

#2 - Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes. A twist on the traditional Joe!  This was not only a reader favorite but also a household favorite.  Fans have written to tell me that when you're feeling especially lazy, you can skip the sauce and just add a slice of cheese.  But then that would be too neat...

#1 - Peanut Butter Cup Brownie Bottom Cheesecake. My husband's pride and joy.  His first post to my blog and subsequent claim to internet fame.  There was no doubt in my mind that this recipe would take the title of 2013 Reader Favorite Recipe!  This photo (and recipe) has been shared on facebook, pinterest, twitter, etc more times than we can count.  Sadly often times it is done without any link back to us :(.  And yet, over 66,000 of you eventually made it to this post on my page (and hopefully became loyal readers because you saw what you liked!).  Thank you so much for the love!  It's popular because it's mind boggling to think about and looks (and tastes) really freaking delicious.  In fact, my husband once told me that when someone eats his desserts, he only wants them to think about how deliciously over the top it is.  It's a brownie crust, ganache, peanut butter cheesecake, more ganache, and lots of Reese Peanut Butter Cups.  Don't even think about the calories...something this indulgent just needs to be enjoyed without remorse!

Mac and Cheese Book Review, Contest Recap, and Winners!

Book Reviews

Mac and Cheese, Please! by Laura Werlin

Mac and Cheese, Please! by Laura Werlin

Laura is an award-winning author of five books on cheese so it's no surprise that just a couple months ago she released a collection of  recipes featuring America's favorite comfort food.  As the Cheese Queen, it's not surprising that her mac and cheese recipes use some non-traditional cheese!

Like Ellen's book, Laura starts by breaking down the components of the mac and reviewing the options but I like the formatting of Ellen's book, better (tables).  The rest of the book again starts with the classics, veggies, proteins, a section on breakfst (interesting!), decadent, lightened up, and then "party time" (designed for large servings of 12-16!).

Perhaps my favorite feature about this book is the icons used to denote recipes that are designed to be "oven-cooked" versus "stovetop".  Of course, don't fret because Laura offers tips on how to convert any recipe to the other version, if desired!

Recipes that caught my eye in this book:

• Wisconsin Cheese, Brats, and Onion Mac & Cheese - The rye topping looks especially delightful!
• Kevin's Mac & Cheese (aka Valveeta, Baby!) - Ok, Valveeta isn't really cheese and it's just plain processed but you have to admit nothing beats that melty Valveeta texture!
• Indian-Spiced Roasted Cauliflower and Spinach Mac & Cheese
• Spicy Reuben Mac & Cheese
• Gruyere, Caramelized Onion, Blue Cheese, and Bacon Mac & Cheese
• Fruit and (mac &) cheese - Like a cheeseboard with figs, blue cheese, honey, and nuts!
• Butternut Squash, Gruyere, and Brown Butter Mac & Cheese
• Pizza Mac & Cheese with Ciabatta Crutons
• Nacho Mac & Cheese  - Hello, game day!  (yes, this is one of those party sized "party time" recipes!)

This collection of 50 recipes has some classics but I think the real strength is in its provocative combinations, interesting cheeses and toppings.

Mac & Cheese by Ellen Brown

Mac & Cheese by Ellen Brown

This book is a collection of 80 recipes that author Ellen Brown collected and adapted from restaurants all around the country such as Cafeteria and S'MAC in NYC, Nosh in Dallas, Rockit Bar and Grill in Chicago, and Straw in San Francisco.  I would have loved to have tagged along to do all the taste testing required for "research"!

It starts with a chapter on dissecting each component to the perfect mac and cheese.  From the pasta, cheese, sauce, and crunchy toppings, Ellen covers it all and in a simple to read chart format.  What type of pasta is best suited for each recipe?  What's the best cheese for melting texture and how do you keep it from getting gritty?  What type of dairy will create the perfect creaminess?  And if you are a crunchy topping lover, what type is best?  Fresh bread crumbs, crackers, panko, or other snack foods like potato chips even?  Ellen breaks it all down eloquently   She also gives great tips for modifying recipes to be gluten-free, how to do advance prep and reheating (not that you'll have leftovers...).

The rest of the book is divided into appetizer/finger food macs followed my entree-type and last but not least, sweets!  Within the entrees the chapters go from simple, classic combinations to ones with vegetables and then various meats (seafood, beef, chicken, pork).

Recipes I bookmarked (and will eventually be making since my beloved Toby ate my free copy of this cookbook "forcing me" to keep it for myself):

• Mac and Cheese Bites (adapted from The Boundary in Chicago, IL)
• Skillet Fried Cheddar Mac and Cheese (adapted from Zingerman's Roadhouse in Ann Arbor, MI) - My good friend Alton Brown crowned this one the best in the country and he has already won my heart with his Creamy Stovetop Mac and Cheese recipe!
• Big Kid Mac with Spinach, Caramelized Onions, and Truffle Oil (adapted from Nosh in Dallas, TX)
• Spinach and Artichoke Mac and Cheese (adapted from Elbows Mac 'n' Cheese in Cerritos, CA)
• Parisian Mac and Cheese with Shiitake Mushrooms and Figs (adapted from S'MAC in New York, NY) - I so wanted to go to this restaurant when I was in NY for the holidays so it will be nice to try an at-home version.  Hopefully I'll make it to the real restaurant on my next trip and can do a full review of how it compares!
• Shrimp Scampi Mac and Cheese (adapted from Cheese-ology Macaroni & Cheese in St. Louis, MO)
• New England Clam Mac and Cheese - The note claims it has the flavor of classic New England chowder...the potential combination of that and macaroni nearly blows my mind.
• Philly Cheesesteak Mac and Cheese (adapted from Cheese-ology in St. Louis, MO)
• Macaroni with Pecan Caramel Marscapone - It's supposed to taste like pecan praline!

Yep...this collection will keep me and the lucky recipient quite busy!

Contest Recipe Recap

It was a difficult task but someone had to do it.  Fortunately, I enlisted the help of my husband and in-laws for the taste testing :).  Here's a comparison of the seven mac and cheese recipes that were submitted for my contest.  Please keep in mind that individual tastes may vary so I'm highlighting the things that I liked about each.

• Best Potluck Mac and Cheese as submitted by Sarah - Smooth texture and strong (onion) flavor but not cheesy enough in flavor for us.  Perhaps it was undersalted  since there were no guidelines on just how much salt to add.  I've made note of that for when I make it in the future.  It seemed to get better with age when I reheated it in the microwave so that's a plus!

• Smoked Macaroni and Cheese as submitted by Stacey - LOVED the smoked flavor from the Gouda cheese but the tradeoff of using this particular mix of cheeses was a slightly gritty sauce.

• Bonnie's Grammy's Mac and Cheese as submitted by Bonnie- With only 4 ingredients, this was so simple and a surprising taste of childhood.  Who said sliced American cheese doesn't create a smooth, creamy melt?  Add a bit of cream for extra richness.

• Creamy Stove Top Mac and Cheese as submitted by Brenda - Ultra cheesy, classic stovetop mac and cheese recipe that is extremely similar to another favorite of mine - Alton Brown's Creamy Stovetop Mac and Cheese.  We preferred without the crushed Ritz crackers as they got soggy fast.

• Lighter Baked Macaroni and Cheese as submitted by Sara- Surprisingly creamy and delicious.  It's doubtful that I would have known that it was lightened up if I hadn't made it myself.  The only thing I would have changed is to reduce the amount of Buffalo sauce because I found it a little too overpowering.

• Spinach and Bacon Mac and Cheese as submitted by Mandy - This one started from a box.  No seriously!  Classic "fancy" mac and cheese flavors were a welcome addition for a super quick meal.

• Lobster Mac and Cheese as submitted by Kristen - This used the most expensive and decadent of materials. Surprisingly what stood out most about it was probably the cheapest and simplest part, too - The crunchy topping which was created using coarse and airy Panko (Japanese) breadcrumbs!

And now the WINNERS!

Best Mac and Cheese Recipe:
It was very difficult to pick a winner because everyone's taste may vary and each recipe seemed to have its own strength.  In fact, after the contest was over, I actually started combining components of the different recipes to see if I could create the ultimate macaroni and cheese recipe.

In the end, simplicity and nostalgia won out so I choose Bonnie's Grammy's Mac and Cheese as the winner!  Congratulations, Bonnie M!

Social Media Sharing Winner:
Random.org was used to select the winner...Tamara S!

I will be emailing the winners to make arrangements to claim your prize.  Bonnie - as the Mac and Cheese Champion, you will get first pick of cookbooks!

Congratulations to the winners and thank you fans for all your sharing.  Special thanks to Running Press and Andrews McNeel Publishing for supplying the prizes for this contest!

Disclosure - This blog is a personal blog written and edited by Christine @ Christine's Kitchen Chronicles. The owner(s) of this blog was compensated with free products to provide an opinion on the products, services, websites and various other topics. Even though the owner(s) of this blog receives compensation for posts or advertisements, we always give our honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the bloggers' own. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question.

Best of 2012: Blogger's Choice

I try to screen out the recipes that I share so that each one is sure to be great if you give it a try yourself.  However, some of them stick out as real winners each year so I write this particular post in order to make sure they're not missed.

Here are the top 10 best things that I made this year shown in the order in which they were posted on my blog.

#1: Southwestern Stuffed Sweet Potatoes.  I have a slight obsession with  stuffed recipes (like Stuffed Crust Pizza, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Stuffed Cinnamon Buns, Stuffed Chicken Marsala, and Gruyere and Bacon Stuffed French Toast...more on that one shortly) .  This stuffed sweet potato totally did not disappoint.  I could have eaten that filling straight up with a spoon.  Delicious.

Photo Credit: Emily H.

#2: Chorizo and Sweet Potato Lettuce Wraps.  Guess I also have a love of sweet potatoes (and lettuce wraps).  This was one of those recipes that was so good I had to drop everything once we were done stuffing our faces so that I could immediately share it with you.

#3: Macadamia Lemon Bars.  I FINALLY made lemon bars!  Every time I serve this recipe it's a hit and everyone wants the recipe.  Thank you so much Emily for sharing it with me!

#4: Parmesan Crusted Goat Cheese Ball with Basil Oil.  Tangy, sharp, and plain pretty.  This appetizer will make a great first impression with guests.  Perfect served with Daelia's Biscuits for Cheese. (Read my full review of their biscuits here.  Sorry, giveaway has long ended.)

Photo Credit: Emily H.

#5: Magic in the Middles.  One word to describe this cookie: irresistible.  Who can resist the temptation of a chocolate sugar cookie with a hidden peanut butter center?  Not even me, the Savory Queen.

#6: Farro Spaghetti with Beets, Browned Butter, and Poppy Seeds.  This brought me out of my comfort zone and ultimately converted me to being a beet lover.  Seriously!

#7: Gruyere and Bacon Stuffed French Toast.  There's that other stuffed recipe I was talking about.  The perfect combination of sweet and salty.  I love breakfast.

#8: Spicy Garlic and Ginger Chicken with Green Beans.  One of the best stir fry sauces that I've ever had.  Mix it up by using your favorite meats and veggies!

#9: Chicken Marsala Risotto.  Hands down my favorite entree that I made all year!

#10: Cinnabon Caramel Corn.  And for balance, this was my favorite sweet from the year....possibly my favorite over all??  I don't know.  That's a pretty bold statement.  Either way, everywhere I brought this easy treat, it was gobbled up far too quickly!

Since my husband also has the honor of tasting all the food that I make, I decided to allow him to share a couple of his favorites, as well.

Chris' Savory Pick: Buca di Beppo's Spicy Chicken Rigatoni. We love pasta and all things spicy.  We love saving money by making restaurant copycat recipes at home even more ;).

Chris' Sweet Pick: Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake Cake.  Does this really come as a surprise to anybody?  I didn't think so.  This is also the cake that gave me the honor of being compared to her abuelo (grandmother) by our friend's daughter.  If that's not the gold standard...the highest compliments to the chef...I don't know what is.  I was touched.

Photo Credit: Emily H.

So there are our favorites from 2012!  I hope you give them a try and let me know how you like them :).

Oh, and just in case you missed it, here are the Readers' Choice Best of 2012 Picks!

Best of 2012: Readers' Choice

Here I am sharing the best of 2012...again when it is already the following year, 2013.  When will I finally get on the ball and get this up before the year's end?  Probably never...I'm just not that organized and holiday madness gets in the way.  Surely you know how it is, right?

I love doing these posts because it allows me to see the types of foods that you enjoy best.  Because, even though I cook with the purpose of feeding my husband and myself, I do the blogging part for you all!  I also like to see how I've grown as a blogger each year.  Just looking at the photos in this roundup, I can tell I've made great improvements to my food photography this year.  This is only made more evident by the fact that several of these photos were accepted by "food porn" sites like Tasteologie and Serious Eats.  But they're still generally not good enough for the prestigious Food Gawker and I know there's room for improvement.  In 2013, I can only hope that the light box my brother bought me for Christmas will be a tool to help with that goal.  They are especially useful in the Winter when natural light is generally unavailable come dinner time.

So now, here they are, your Top 10 favorite recipes from 2012 done countdown style!

#10: Brat Burgers with Drunken Onions.  This year was the year that I joined the Secret Recipe Club and this particular recipe was an instant Summer hit due to its bold, gourmet-burger-shop-style flavors.  If there's one other thing I revealed about myself this year, it's my love for drunken foods.  But believe me, my love for alcohol stops there!

#9: Cinnamon Sugar Baked Pumpkin Doughnuts.  Another recipe swap that I participate in is the What's Cooking Recipe Swap and my favorite theme is Blogger's Choice.  This sweet treat was practically guilt-free ;).

#8: Homemade Nutella.  The one and only international sensation of velvety smooth chocolate and hazelnut spread.  Once you make it at home with a few simple, pure ingredients, you won't be buying the jarred stuff again.

#7: (Lightened Up) Loaded Baked Potato Salad.  Get all the rich flavor of a loaded baked potato but while tricking your guests into something healthier by using this secret "sauce" ingredient!  It's an easy ingredient substitution that you'll find yourself using to lighten up recipes in the future.

Photo Credit: Emily H.

#6: Hawaiian Chicken Sandwiches.  So simple.  So delicious.  I got this for a recipe swap and am so glad that I did because just thinking about this sandwich makes me wish it were grilling weather right now.  Hmmm...maybe this will be the perfect recipe for using my new Lodge Cast Iron Grill Pan that I got for Christmas...

#5: Oven Baked Sriracha Chicken.  This is like BBQ Asian style.  Don't have the infamous Thai hot sauce Sriracha?  Buy some here then thank me later.

#4: S'mores Pizza with Graham Cracker Cookie Crust.  I love it when I find inspiration in other blogs.  This is my own creation and I couldn't have been happier with the result.  A homemade graham cracker cookie crust is what makes this dessert pizza extra special and since it's made entirely in the oven, you can enjoy the campfire tradition of s'mores even in the dead of Winter.

#3: Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Stuffed Cinnamon Buns.  My first ever Secret Recipe Club pick and definitely one of the most decadent things to have ever been made on my blog.  This recipe is exactly as it sounds.  It's a traditional cinnamon roll that's filled with chocolate chip cookie dough in addition to the regular cinnamon sugar gooey goodness.

#2: Mini Corn Dog Muffins.  Adored by children and adults alike.  This healthier version of a carnival classic also makes a great freezer meal or gift for expectant/new parents that need quick, one-handed snacking options.

#1: .  Given the splash it made being featured in the FoodBuzz Top 9 (now DailyBuzz Food), it's no wonder that this is the top recipe on my blog for 2012.  Pizza and steak lovers rejoice because now you Grilled Steakhouse Pizzacan have both together!

BONUS RECIPE!  The above may have been your top 10 favorites that *I* made on my blog this year but none of them really hold a candle to the true top recipe of the year, a guest post by fellow Secret Recipe Club Group C member Mother Thyme.  I think we can all agree her Cream Cheese Coffee Cake that looks just delectable!  Plus, this is the type of blogging caliber that I aspire to be like someday...

There you have it, your Top 10 favorite recipes plus a bonus from 2012!  Stay tuned and tomorrow I'll share my personal favorites from the year and then Monday will be the great Mac and Cheese Contest winner announcements!  Last chance to enter to win!

What was YOUR favorite recipe from 2012?  Want to see favorites from previous years?  Click the recap label link below!