my favs of 2008

personally - i am really glad 2008 is over. way too many ups and downs for my liking. i am really hoping 2009 has more ups than downs.

one of the ups was this website. thank you all for your support and kind comments. i really love the pickycook and have such fun baking and cooking. i thought it would be fun to try to pick my favorite recipes of 2008. it was hard - but here it goes....



it was difficult to pick only 9 (in honor of 2009) - and trust me when i say i could have easily picked them all. but here they are in no particular order.

cinnamon rolls with vanilla cream cheese frosting

i was terrified to make these but i love a good cinnamon roll so i went for it. the first time i made them - not good. but the second time - oh my lord. they were tender and not too sweet - basically perfect. yea yeast seems scary, but try them - you won't be disappointed.

madeleines

i am crazy about lots of things but madeleines are definitely atop the list. whenever i see them in a cafe i buy them and i always wanted to try to make them cuz i knew i could make them even better than the ones i buy. after purchasing the madeleine pan and hunting for a bunch of recipes - i went for it. they are the most delectable little bites of moist cake.

vegetable minestrone

i think soup is one of the most often disappointing foods people make. it is often under-seasoned and mushy - gross. i made several soups this year and this is the most recent. this vegetable minestrone is flavorful, hearty and so not mushy. and the parmesan rind trick - i am gonna use that in any soup i can from now on.

penne with 5 cheeses

if you are a regular reader of this website - you should know of my total and utter complete infatuation with the great one - ina garten. i don't just love her - i worship her. our outlook/philosophy on food is almost identical - simple, classic, flavorful food - you can't go wrong with it. this dish - penne with 5 cheeses - hits the mark on all accounts.

potato leek soup

i think this was my most viewed page of the year (penne with 5 cheese was a close second) and rightfully so. it - i believe - is a great potato soup. its chunky and creamy but not heavy. the crusty croutons on top make it so much better.

buttermilk berry muffins

like i said in the original post of this recipe - if i had time to bake every morning, this is what i would make - hands down. they are so satisfying - one muffin is enough. they keep well and don't loose their wonderful moisture. the buttermilk and orange zest makes these muffins something you will never forget. you will crave them when they are gone.

raspberry oatmeal bars

i have really never considered myself a "bar" person. i usually find them to be dry and blah. when i found this recipe it intrigued me enough to print it out. it sat in my "recipes to make" pile for awhile - and one sunday i was moved to make them. i had the idea to mix fresh raspberries into the "filling" portion of the recipe and that was it. i am now a raspberry oatmeal bar person. i have made them a half dozen times now and every time i get pissed because they never last very long - someday i will get smart and make two batches so i can have leftovers.

roasted vegetables with mushroom gravy

i made this dish the first thanksgiving after i stopped eating meat. the idea of thanksgiving without turkey really depressed me. what about the gravy on the mashed potatoes - i had no idea how i would get through the dinner. then this dished happened. the gravy - is so flavorful - and the veggies are a great main dish. needless to say - i don't miss turkey any longer.

vanilla pudding

whenever i thought about vanilla pudding - the only image that came to mind is that stuff they call pudding in the snack packs. i had never had homemade pudding. trust me when i say i view pudding in a different way now. i made this for my family as an easter dessert and it was a hit. the chocolate shaved with a vegetable peeler is a perfect topping. the best part the pudding keeps in the fridge very well.

I wish all of you a happy, healthy and delicious 2009!
kristin

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