My Top Ten Favourite Recipes From 2014

I always love looking back at all the recipes I have made in the past year. I always seem to forget how many great things we have eaten over the year. I thought I would share 10 of MY favourite recipes from this past year.

10. Super Awesome Brownies – I have never been much of a brownie girl, but after making these ridiculously amazing brownies I am a total convert!

9. Crispy Chicken Sandwich with Dill Pickle Mayo – Crispy chicken and dill pickle mayo what else do I need to say, seriously!

8. Rhubarb Muffins – I love me some rhubarb, and these muffins were wonderful! Probably the best muffin I have ever had.

7. Creamy Balsamic Chicken Linguine – I am always looking for a new chicken recipe and as you all know I love my pasta so this recipe was a real winner for me. Great flavor and so simple, such a great weeknight dinner.

6. Fudgsicles – This classic summer treat is always a winner but I think this homemade version is the best I have ever had!

5. Cashew Chicken Lettuce Wraps – I have been obsessed with lettuce wraps the last year or so. This version was one of my fav’s! So quick to throw together and beyond delicious!

4. Fried Donuts with Chocolate Glaze – I have always wanted to make donuts from scratch and I am so glad I finally did it! They were amazing, almost too amazing! I can’t make them often because they disappear in minutes!

3. Chicken Tortilla Soup – If you are looking for comfort in a bowl make this soup. It is utterly fantastic‼ I have made it twice since and my sister and I whipped up a batch as freezer meals when we were getting ready for her baby to come. It is just wonderful!

2. Pumpkin Snickerdoodles – It is hard to find a bad cookie but I gotta say these cookies have moved into my top 5 cookies of all time. They are soft and moist and full of fall flavor!

1. Creamy Tomato and Cheese Tortellini with Sausage – This is one of my go to weeknight dinners! It is easy and fast and tastes so so good!

It makes great left overs as well.

So there are a few of my favourite recipes. I loved every one of them and can’t wait till I make them all again!

I hope I can keep you all inspired to make some new dishes in 2015! Thanks again for taking the time to stop by my little piece of the blogosphere!

Jen

Top 10 Most Viewed Recipes of 2014

Heeelllooo‼ Happy few days after Christmas! I hope you all had a fabulous few days.

It is that time of year again, time to share the recipes you guys, my most awesome readers, viewed the most in 2014!

There are some good ones on the list again this year. A few of them have made the list a few times, but I guess that means great recipes are always great!

So here we go the top 10 most viewed by you recipes of 2014!

10. Tater Tot Casserole – a total classic, comfort food to the max and simple to make!

9. Mushroom Roll-Ups – There really isn’t a better appetizer, seriously I could eat 40 of these little things!

8. Wifesaver Casserole – This perfect make ahead breakfast is great for any occasion especially Christmas morning!

7. Slow Cooker Honey Sesame Chicken – You know what is great about this meal, it is so easy and it tastes amazing, seriously you should try it!

6. Christmas Sangria – This is such a great thing to make for a party, it is spicy and fruity and delicious!

5. Pan Crisp Salmon with Dijon Cream Sauce – If you think you don’t like fish, this is the recipe for you. The crisp bread crumbs and the tangy sauce make this salmon the utterly amazing!

4. Orzo with Parmesan and Basil – what can I say, this recipe has been on this top 10 list since the beginning. It is so darned good, so simple and it not only goes with just about anything it makes a great meal on its own!

3. Christmas Cranberry Cocktail – This beauty is my all-time favourite cocktail. It really just tastes like the holidays!

2. No Bake Cookie Butter Cookies – These little beauties are cookie perfection, first you don’t have to turn on the oven, and second they are full of cookie butter! I am drooling just thinking about them!

1. Cactus Cut Potatoes – who doesn’t love a crispy potato, add a spicy creamy sauce to dip them in and really it is the most perfect of recipes!

I hope you enjoyed the list, I know I did!

I just want to say thank you to everyone who takes the time to stop by this little blog and read what I have to say! You guys are amazing, thank you! Every comment I get makes my day, so thank you for being so GREAT‼!

Have a great few days recovering from the turkey and all the trimmings, or whatever it is you all eat over the holidays!

Jen

Butter Tarts – An update

So my mom’s classic butter tarts are the best. I have been making them forever. They are always a winner!

This year I made a couple of little changes, and as a result I made the best butter tarts I have ever had! My in house taste tester gave them an A++‼

I used dark brown sugar instead of light, and I used a mixture of light and dark corn syrup. Plus I used a mixture of different raisins instead of just all one kind.

The resulting butter tart had a great depth of flavor that wasn’t too sweet. FANTASTIC!

What you need,

Makes 36 tarts

Click Here To Print

36 pre-made tart shells, I like tenderflake (you could make your own if you want to)

1 cup packed DARK brown sugar

¾ cup light corn syrup

¼ cup dark corn syrup

1 cup butter, melted

4 eggs, lightly beaten

2 tsp. vanilla extract

½ tsp. salt

1½ cup mixed raisins (if your raisins aren’t soft soak them in hot water for 10 minutes before using)

Heat the oven to 400 degrees.  Line the tart shells up on 2 large baking sheets. 

In a large bowl, whisk together the butter, sugar, corn syrup, eggs, vanilla and salt until well combined.

Sprinkle a few raisins in the bottom of each tart shell, just enough to cover the bottom.

Pour in enough of the butter mixture to fill the tart shell up ¾ of the way. 

Bake the tarts one pan at a time in the middle of the oven for 12-15 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown and the syrup is bubbly!

Remove from the oven and let stand on the cookie sheet for 5 minutes. Then remove the tarts to a wire rack to cool completely.

You can store the tarts in an airtight container in the fridge for a week or in the freezer for 2 months, but they won’t last that long!

The dark brown sugar and the mixture of corn syrups really added a deep rich nutty flavour to the tarts. 

I hope you enjoy my updated butter tarts as much as we did! They are so darned good!

Enjoy!

Jen

Egg Nog French Toast with Cranberry Compote

If you are wondering what to eat for breakfast on Christmas morning, I have the perfect thing‼ This Egg Nog French Toast is AMAZING!! The tangy cranberry compote really pushes it over the top.

The best part is that it takes under 30 minutes start to finish!

What you need,

For 4 slices of French toast

Click Here To Print

2 eggs beaten

½ cup egg nog

½ tsp. vanilla

Fresh grated nutmeg and cinnamon, to taste

4 slices of bread, whatever you like

For the cranberry compote,

1 cup fresh cranberries

2 tbsp. water

2-3 tbsp. sugar (depending on your taste)

Fresh grated nutmeg and cinnamon, to taste

In a shallow dish whisk together the eggs, egg nog, vanilla and spices until well blended.

Soak each piece of bread in the egg nog mixture until full coated.

Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add a teaspoon of butter to the pan. Once it is melted add the soaked bread and bake for 5-6 minutes, flipping halfway through until brown on both sides and the custard is set.

Remove to a plate.

While the French toast is cooking make the compote.  In a small pot combine the cranberries, water and sugar. Cook over medium heat until the cranberries split and the mixture thickens. Season the compote with freshly grated cinnamon and nutmeg. Set aside to cool slightly.

Serve the French toast with some of the cranberry compote, a light drizzle of syrup and a dusting of powdered sugar.

A few pieces of crispy bacon on the side never hurt either!

I can’t wait to make this wonderful breakfast again! It was so yummy, it tasted just like Christmas!!

Enjoy!

Jen

Almond Bark

Almond Bark, Saltine Toffee or Christmas Crack… call it what you want but it is awesome!

This simple tasty treat was always on our Christmas goodie plate.

It is perfectly salty and sweet. I love it!

What you need,

Click Here To Print

1 cup butter

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup shaved almonds

300 grams chocolate chips

24-30 salted crackers

Line a baking sheet with tin foil and spray it well with non-stick spray. DO NOT FORGET TO SPRAY THE PAN‼ Your lovely almond bark will stick, you will eventually be able to peel it free from the foil but it will take forever!

Place soda crackers salted side up on cookie sheet in a single layer. Melt the butter and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil and cook for 3 minutes. Pour mixture over crackers and spread evenly. Bake at 350 for 5 minutes.

Remove the pan from the oven and sprinkle the chocolate chips over the top, place the pan back in oven until the chocolate is softened. Spread chocolate over the surface with knife and then sprinkle with almonds.

Place the whole pan in the freezer until frozen. Break the almond bark into small pieces and store in an airtight container in the freezer.

This is absolutely a perfect Christmas treat! Whip up a batch, you won’t be disappointed.

Enjoy!

Jen