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January 2, 2008
2007 Recap: My Favorite Recipes Round Up
I thought it would be fun to round out 2007 and list one recipe for each month of 2007 that was my "favorite". Boy was it hard just picking one some months, but the links below list my favorites and why.
January: Sushi : I decided in January that I wanted to move my recipes to a dedicated food blog and Dianne's Dishes was born. Since I started the blog toward the end of the month there weren't many recipes to choose from, though Sushi would have been my favorite anyway. I was pleasantly surprised to find that making sushi at home was a breeze! I haven't made any with fish, but I've become a pro at the vegetable rolls! Seriously if you like sushi it's very simple to make. Don't let it intimidate you!
February: Calzones: For years I had wanted to try to make Calzones, but I had never done it. Really it's simple...You just fill a circle of pizza dough with toppings, fold it over, crimp the edges, top with olive oil, herbs and a little cheese, then bake until golden brown and serve. This is another one of those dishes people assume is difficult, but it's not. You can add veggies, meat, cheeses or whatever you like...Calzones are easy to mix and match!
March: Vegetarian Red Beans and Wild Rice: In March I was still trying to cut out all meat but fish (I've done this many time over the years and I never make it more than a month or two because I crave meat!), but regardless I eat a lot of vegetarian dishes most of the time anyway. Red Beans and Rice was always a favorite of mine, but I'm not a big fan of the sausage they add in. I decided to try and make it without sausage and with wild rice instead of white rice, which is healthier for you and the result was delicious! I even got a few e-mails from people reading the blog who said this could be considered a Weight Watchers Core recipe, so if any of you out there do the WW Core plan that's good to know! ;o)
April: Whole Wheat Pasta Taco Salad: I love pasta salads and I love tacos. Why not combine the two? This takes the best of both worlds and brings them together! This is a bit healthier than your standard pasta salad being made with whole wheat pasta, which is always a good thing, but as they say everything in moderation! ;o)
May: Whole Grain Granola Bars: This recipe was adapted from one I came across in Mother Earth Living. Sometimes reading the ingredient lists of products you are buying is just down right scary! This version of granola is whole grain and naturally sweetened. There are no trans-fats, there is no high fructose corn syrup, there are no weird preservatives either! There is nothing that isn't natural. My sister ended up liking this a lot and Nelson and Alexis did too! It's a simple, delicious way to have your granola and eat it too! ;o)
June: Cucumber Salad: Several years ago I was going to a ladies picnic with our church and we were all supposed to bring a couple of dishes. I wanted to bring something cool and refreshing, but not something that was the normal old pot luck fair. I came up with this Cucumber Salad and it was an instant hit. I've been making it ever since!
July: Summer Pie: I started making this recipe years ago. It's a fresh, delicious way to use vegetables right out of the garden! If you're a pasta fan then this is the recipe for you!
August: Blueberry Ice Cream: I love blueberries! I have often wondered why Blueberry Ice Cream wasn't a more prevalent flavor. Finally this summer I got around to making some instead of hunting fruitlessly for a commercial version. My parents were visiting and my Dad is a big ice cream eater so I thought this would be a fun alternative. Alexis loved it too! Blueberry Ice Cream will most definitely be making a return at our house come summer 2008! ;o)
September: Fresh Tomato and Thyme Risotto: If you've been a reader of Dianne's Dishes for a while then you know I love risotto! This version utilizes fresh tomatoes and herbs, which are plentiful in September, and brings them together to create a wonderful taste combination. Risotto is a great mix and match dish and this version mixes and matches together perfectly!
October: Tortilla Soup: I'm also a big fan of soup. Before Alexis was born I didn't eat a lot of soup because I don't like the stuff that comes out of a can and Jamison is the pickiest eater I've ever known! Luckily Alexis is more daring and much like me she loves her soup! Tortilla Soup is the perfect mix of creamy and zing. It's just perfect for those cool October nights!
November: Maple Pumpkin Bread: What's autumn without a little pumpkin? I love when the local sugar pumpkins come in and you can make everything from soup, to pie, to cheesecake, to muffins, to bread, oh my! Maple Pumpkin Bread is just the thing for breakfast or even makes a wonderful snack! No matter how you slice it (yes I went there! ;o)) it's wonderful all around!
December: White Chocolate Blueberry Fudge: For December it was really hard for me to choose just one favorite! I mean with Turtle Cake, Hot Chocolate Mix and Chocolate Marshmallows, not to mention many other yummy treats, how do you choose just one? Ultimately I had to go with the White Chocolate Blueberry Fudge. The white chocolate and the dried blueberries melded together perfectly. Who can argue with that?
So that's my round up of my favorites for 2007. I'll be back tomorrow with new recipes! Happy New Year once again!!
Posted by Dianne at January 2, 2008 7:17 AM
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