Holidays

The Year in a Neat Little Package (I love me a good package)

Good morning, lovelies!
 
This year I’m a little more on the ball. Last year I didn’t think to do a year end wrap up until a week into January. Yeah, sometimes I’m not too quick.
 
This year though – I had a plan. And who’d a thunk it? Plans = progress. At least in blog land.
 
The following are my top month-by-month posts for 2012. I’ve included the posts that seemed to get the most reaction from you, the posts that I loved the most, and of course, those poor little posts that I think deserve more attention than they received.
 
So, prepare yourselves. I now present for your viewing pleasure… the second annual year in a neat little package. And let’s be honest – who doesn’t love neat packages? Get it? Christmas = packages. Both the present kind and the sexy kind.
 
January
My Favorite: Excuse me ladies, which way to the beach? In other words, a brothy infusion of mussels, fresh veggies and wine. Paired with a loaf of fabulous bread. Does it get any better?
Your Favorite: Chorizo in Red Wine Sauce with Herbs. A Spanish dish that is close to my heart. And my mouth. And apparently yours as well!
Show Some Love: Panettone French Toast. If for no other reason than because you’re gonna need breakfast on New Years morning. And believe me – you want this.
 
chorizoinredwinesauce
February
My Favorite: How Local Can You Go? Vancouver Island Mac & Cheese. Obviously I love mac and cheese. I need it like hookers need blow. But this particular occasion was extra special. Sam @ Cooking My Way Through My CSA & I guest posted for each other, demonstrating what was locally available in the middle of February on both the East and West coasts, culminating in two very special mac & cheese dishes. What’s not to love?
Your Favorite: SRC Loving Life (and you must be smarter than the pastry bag). It never fails to amaze me how successful baking posts are. Guess we all like our sweets, yes? And you guys seem to like your Spanish food – I give you, homemade churros.
Show Some Love: Veggie Black bean Dip. Okay, this post got its fair share of hits. But it’s just that good. It deserves more. I know, I know. It looks like bat shit. But it’s seriously so good and real food to boot!
 
churros
March
My Favorite: Grandma’s Chocolate Cake. A nuanced look at “healthy” eating. Plus my Grandma’s chocolate cake. Obviously.
Your Favorite: Scratch Ravioli – Lemony Ricotta, Chard & Caramelized Onion. Home made pasta. Filled with everything that’s good in the world. Do I really need to convince you?
Show Some Love: The Story of an Egg. With so many egg choices available to us, how do we go about selecting the very best one? A quick summary of what the different varieties of eggs mean and what that looks like for you, the hens, and the planet.
 
scratch ravioli with lemony ricotta, chard
April
My Favorite: SRC Reveal: Sweetly Serendipity. Cinnamon, citrusy rice pudding. Comfort dessert at its best.
Your Favorite: My Issue with Foodgawker (and similar sites). We really struck a chord here. I was really glad to hear I’m not alone.
Show Some Love: Smashed Flat Chicken with Prosciutto and Sage. For such a simple recipe, this dish had more flavor than I thought something with so little butter could. It’s become a quick, low-fat, whole food go-to on weeknights. Plus it has prosciutto. Duh.
 
my issue with foodgawker
May
My Favorite: SRC Reveal: Lavender & Lovage. Two words: Duck. Salad. But not just any salad – fantastic & delicate seasonal farm fresh greens. Oh yes.
Your Favorite: CSA Week #11 (Crazy Food Rant…Again). I don’t just climb up on my soapbox… I’m pretty sure I sleep on it too. And eat there. And poo. I just can’t help myself sometimes. But you don’t seem to mind.
Show Some Love: I Need a Beeting (please?). This was my Spring guest post @ Seattle Seedling. Spring beet bruschetta = good. There’s just something hot about golden beets. Am I right?
 
crazy food rant
June
My Favorite: Spot Prawn Shellfish Pot. I can’t even tell you the joy that came to my little mouth when I took my first bite of the broth soaked bread. By far, one of the best things I’ve ever made. And fresh B.C. spot prawns – bitch please. Ain’t nothin’ better.
Your Favorite: Balsamic Slow-Braised Grass-Fed Beef Short-Ribs. Beefy, savory goodness on polenta. This dish was good enough to turn even the most hard-core vegetarian into a carnivore. Okay, maybe not. But you loved it.
Show Some Love: Chicken Liver Pate. I know, spreadable meat can be kind of creepy. But this very simple spread quickly became a craved obsession of mine this year. If you can get passed the gelatinous consistency of the un-cooked livers, you will be well rewarded my friends.
 
braised grass fed beef short ribs
July
My Favorite: Scratch Ricotta Gnudi with Fresh Fava Beans. Fresh fava beans and gooey gnudi = good. Period. Besides, how do you not love something that’s pronounced “Nude-ie”.
Your Favorite: Artichoke Prosciutto Gratin Dip. It’s difficult to go wrong with bacony-cheesy dip. Unless of course you can’t eat cheese. Or pork. Luckily, I can. And I did.
Show Some Love: CSA Week #15 & Introducing the Wednesday Fresh Foods Blog Hop. This was the week Sam and I launched the blog hop now known as the link up. Creating a space for people to share and connect over real, whole food ways is the reason I started this blog. A link up seemed like a logical choice. And a fun one at that!
 
pinenuts prosciutto artichoke dip
August
My Favorite: Pan Seared Halibut with Fresh Peas and New Potatoes. I ate well this Summer. And one of the most inspiring meals I’ve ever had was during my visit to scout apartments in Toronto. Hence, this recipe.
Your Favorite: Grilled Veggie Sammiches. In the height of Summer, there is nothing better than cheese, bread and fresh grilled vegetables.
Show Some Love: Post Work-Out Smoothie (and a teeny health rant). A guest post at a dear friend’s blog – and why I think “healthy” is over-rated. Not to mention wrong.
 
fresh grilled summer veg sandwiches
September
…let’s be honest – i was mostly MIA in September due to the cross country move. So let’s show some love for the fabulous guest posters who took care of my dear blog (and you, dear readers) while I was away:
 
 
guest post collage
October
My Favorite: Punkin Doughnuts. 1980’s family photos + pumpkin + doughnuts. Do the math. Warning: highly addictive. The doughnuts, not the post.
Your Favorite: Chicken Pot Pie Sliders. Uh, yes. These bad boys “slid” right into your hearts. Get it? The slider, slid.
Show Some Love: Localism: Crap. An interrogation of “localism” and why we need to expand our definition of ethical eating. Plus a pretty significant realization.
 
chicken pot pie slider
November
My Favorite: Autumn Mac & Cheese. Anyone who knows me, knows I love mac & cheese. We are one. Meant to be. Meant. To. Be.
Your Favorite: Molten Chocolate Lava Pudding Cake with Pomegranate and Candied Ginger. Do you really need more words than that? This shit is good. And so simple to make. Why pay $10 for it in a restaurant when you can make it at home?
Show Some Love: Kristy’s Cold Weather Cocktail. This bad boy got me featured on the Stoli Vodka facebook page. Plus it tastes fantastic. And it gets you drunk. What’s not to love?
 
chocolate lava cake
December
My Favorite: The Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap – Salted Chocolate Stout Truffles. There’s just something about chocolate, beer and Christmas. Put it all in a package and mail it off and you’ve got yourself some serious snail-mail fun.
Your Favorite: Pan Seared Trout on Bacon Green Beans with Chive Buttered Gnocchi.With all the sugar and booze floating around in our stomachs right now, a little veg and fish would do us good, evidently.
 
pan seared trout on bacon green beans
Which was your favorite post this year? What did you love most about this past year? What would you change? What do you plan to do differently next year? Do you believe in New Years resolutions? So many questions!
 
Happy New Years my darlings!!

 

  • Gentri
    December 31, 2012 at 6:26 PM

    It looks like a great year, at least in food, for you! I seriously wish i could try all of it! Maybe you should start mailing me meals?

    • Kristy Lynn
      January 6, 2013 at 2:53 PM

      deal, gentri. though that could get a wee bit messy.

  • Lindsey at NW Backyard Veggies
    January 2, 2013 at 10:44 PM

    You are so well organized with this list. I am impressed. I think I have a blog-crush on you.

    I had totally forgotten about the chicken liver pate! THANK YOU for reposting. I am pinning right after I post this. Because I have a giant bag of chicken livers from my last round of butchering and I can’t eat them fried, or stewed, or whatever else people told me to do b/c it’s GROSS.

    Yay, pate!

    • Kristy Lynn
      January 6, 2013 at 2:54 PM

      aw – the feeling is mutual, lindsey.

  • Amanda @ Once Upon a Recipe
    January 3, 2013 at 1:07 AM

    What a great recap! You’ve reminded me of a few of your recipes that I still need to try! And thank you for the show me some love shout-out. That fig tart was somethin’ else!

    Happy New Year love, may great things await you in 2013! Muah!

    • Kristy Lynn
      January 6, 2013 at 2:54 PM

      YOU are something else amanda! xoxo!

  • April @ The 21st Century Housewife
    January 5, 2013 at 7:47 PM

    Happy New Year to you too, Kristy! This is a fabulous round-up post. I’m so glad you shared it because I did miss some of your wonderful posts and this is a great way to ensure I catch up! Your recipes and photographs are wonderful, and I always enjoy reading your posts. Looking forward to lots more in the New Year.

    • Kristy Lynn
      January 6, 2013 at 2:55 PM

      Thank you April! I’m looking forward to seeing your posts this year as well!

  • Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets
    January 7, 2013 at 11:55 PM

    So I went through and read all of these because I happen to really like your package.
    Great posts, and I was nodding my head in agreement (or like a bobble head doll – you pick) at some of your rants. I get so frustrated with our food system and the lack of good local produce for everyone. Yeah sure I get my CSA but what about folks 20 minutes away whose only meal choices come from fast food row, and is that even food. Grumble, grumble.

    • Kristy Lynn
      January 8, 2013 at 12:09 PM

      HAHAHAHA.. i heart you. haha

      i totally agree – we need to find a way to allocate the resources so those in food desserts can have access to real food. hm. i wonder if we could work in each of our communities/cities to have portable farmer’s markets (ie pocket markets) pop up once or twice a week in areas where real, local, organic food isn’t ordinarily available….?

    • Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets
      January 10, 2013 at 11:58 AM

      You might be onto something here…We have a lot of urban farms popping up, but there is still huge gaping holes.