A Culinary Journey: My Top 19 Favorite Recipes from 2019
Reflecting on a remarkable year of flavors, community, and global adventures.
As we bid farewell to an unforgettable year and step into a new decade, it’s truly amazing to look back at everything we’ve shared and experienced together here on the blog. 2019 wasn’t just another year; it marked the monumental 10th anniversary of this little corner of the internet, a milestone that fills my heart with immense gratitude and wonder. What began as a passionate hobby has blossomed into a thriving community, and I’m still pinching myself at how far we’ve come. ♡
This past year was incredibly prolific in the kitchen, with me proudly sharing 131 brand-new recipes designed to delight your taste buds and simplify your cooking. A significant focus was on filling in those long-requested gaps for classic comfort foods that many of you have asked for over the years. We delved into timeless dishes like hearty lasagna, rich beef stew, creamy potato salad, comforting shepherd’s pie, classic deviled eggs, and luscious caramel sauce. Mastering these foundational recipes has been a joy, and seeing your enthusiasm for them has been incredibly rewarding.
Beyond the classics, 2019 was also about empowering you to create everyday staples from scratch. There’s a unique satisfaction in making things like fresh homemade pasta, tender ricotta gnocchi, silky smooth hummus, vibrant quick-pickled onions, and intensely flavorful oven-roasted sun-dried tomatoes. These homemade ingredients elevate any meal, and I loved guiding you through the process.
Salads took center stage this year as well, with a series of simple yet spectacular side salad recipes perfect for any occasion. From the zesty Everyday Italian Salad to the vibrant Everyday Mexican Salad, the fresh Everyday Mediterranean Salad, the aromatic Everyday Sesame Ginger Slaw, and the nutrient-packed Kale Salad, we covered a wide range of global flavors to complement your main courses. For those embracing more plant-based meals, I was delighted to offer a growing collection of vegetarian dinner recipes, including satisfying vegetarian gumbo, rich mushroom lovers pasta, comforting cauliflower curry, authentic vegan pho, and decadent butternut mac and cheese.
Your incredible engagement and support truly made this a record-breaking year for site visits – a fact that still feels surreal and leaves me utterly speechless. It reinforces my deepest gratitude for each and every one of you who shows up, reads, cooks, and shares. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for being such a vital part of this journey.
Behind the scenes, 2019 brought significant personal joy and adventure. Barclay and I made the wonderful decision to extend our initial two-year stay in Barcelona for at least a third year. And I must say, these past few months have been the best yet! It feels as though something truly “clicked” around our two-year mark here. We’ve found ourselves more at home, more connected with our sweet friends, deeply immersed in the vibrant culture, more confident with the beautiful language, and completely enchanted by this magical city. Our adventure living abroad continues to be one of the greatest privileges and most enriching experiences of my life.
This dream would simply not be possible without your continued support of this blog. It has allowed me to turn my passion into my full-time job, providing the flexibility to work remotely from various corners of the world and engage in meaningful work that I genuinely adore every single day. Your trust, enthusiasm, and presence here mean absolutely everything to me. So once again, a profound thank you.
Looking ahead, I have some truly exciting plans up my sleeve for the coming year, and I’m hopeful that it will be our most healthy, delicious, and inspiring one yet. So, please stay tuned for all the wonderful things to come! As we embark on our second decade together (and move into the “roaring 20s” tomorrow!), I’m sending a massive, warm, Spanish hug your way from beautiful Barcelona. Wishing you a magnificent start to your new year, filled with joy, flavor, and incredible moments.
Now, without further ado, let’s dive into the delicious highlights of 2019 – my personal top 19 favorite recipes that captured our hearts and stomachs this year!
My Favorite Recipes from 2019: A Delicious Look Back
1. Homemade Pasta
Our unforgettable trip to the stunning Amalfi Coast last spring ignited a mission within me: to finally master the art of making pasta from scratch. And what a revelation it was! It turns out, preparing fresh pasta at home is far easier and quicker than many imagine, and the taste difference is simply incomparable. It’s pretty much guaranteed to elevate any favorite pasta recipe to a mega-notch. I even brought home my very first pasta maker, and in this recipe, I walk you through how to use it. For those without a machine, fear not – I’ve also included clear instructions on how to roll out homemade pasta beautifully with just a rolling pin!
2. Pepperoncini Chicken Noodle Soup
This year brought a truly game-changing discovery for my beloved chicken noodle soup: the addition of pepperoncini peppers! Get ready to fall head over heels for the subtle tang and delightful, gentle kick these peppers introduce to this ultimate cozy comfort food. It’s a simple ingredient swap that transforms a classic into something unexpectedly vibrant and absolutely addictive. I certainly did!
3. Hummus Toast
While avocado toast has certainly had its moment in the sun, 2019 was the year I completely fell in love with hummus toast! It’s a fantastic and flavorful way to refresh your toast routine, offering a healthy and satisfying alternative. Our classic homemade hummus serves as the perfect creamy base, pairing wonderfully with an array of both sweet and savory toppings. This versatile dish is perfect for breakfast, lunch, or a quick snack.
4. Vegetarian Gumbo
As a huge fan of a rich, classic gumbo (especially one studded with savory andouille sausage), I’ll admit I was initially skeptical about just how delicious a vegetarian version could truly be. Turns out – it was shockingly good! I loaded this recipe with an abundance of hearty, flavorful vegetables. When combined with a deep, golden Creole sauce (achieved by mastering that essential roux) and generously served over fluffy rice, this vegetarian gumbo recipe proved to be a 100% undisputed winner in our kitchen.
5. Everyday Mexican Salad
You might recall that this year I unveiled five of my go-to “everyday” side salads, including the vibrant Italian Salad, the delightful Sesame Asian Slaw, the refreshing Mediterranean Salad, and the nourishing Kale Salad. However, the one we prepare most frequently in our home, without a doubt, is this incredibly easy Mexican side salad. Since many of our favorite Mexican main dishes often feature tortillas, beans, or cheese, having a crisp, fresh green salad on the side provides a perfect, light balance. And let me tell you, the dressing on this one is absolutely divine!
6. Cilantro Lime Slaw
This vibrant cilantro lime slaw is incredibly simple to whip up in just 10 minutes, making it an ideal last-minute addition to any meal. But I’m warning you – once you experience its fresh, zesty flavor, you’re going to want to serve it with everything! I’m particularly fond of piling it generously onto juicy burgers and flaky fish tacos, where its bright notes truly shine. It also stands beautifully on its own as a light side salad and travels perfectly for potlucks and picnics.
7. Catalan Chickpeas and Spinach
Throughout the year, I shared a few authentic Catalan recipes inspired by our life in Barcelona, but this particular dish remains my absolute favorite. It’s my homemade copycat version of a beloved tapas dish from a charming 90-year-old local joint in our neighborhood, and I could honestly eat it every single day. While the ingredient list might initially seem like an unusual combination, trust me, the flavors meld together beautifully to create something truly special and comforting.
8. Amazing Mexican Breakfast Casserole
This breakfast casserole is a true showstopper, packed with all my favorite Mexican-inspired ingredients. It’s wonderfully easy to prep ahead the day before, making your morning stress-free, and in my experience, it’s a total crowd-pleaser that disappears quickly at brunches and gatherings. If you prefer, feel free to make yours vegetarian by easily swapping out the meat for savory mushrooms or a delicious vegan sausage alternative.
9. Life-Changing Baked Fish Tacos
As much as I adore classic, deep-fried, beer-battered fish tacos, I often find myself craving something lighter and fresher when ordering them. Enter this refreshingly healthier baked fish taco recipe – it truly changed my life! It features perfectly baked fish with a satisfyingly crispy panko crust, served with that dreamy cilantro lime slaw (which I raved about earlier), a quick and heavenly chipotle crema, and all your favorite taco toppings. It’s a total win for flavor and health!
10. Roasted Broccoli Farro Bowls
This recipe easily takes home my award for the “favorite clean-out-the-fridge, happy-accident-of-a-recipe” of 2019! It’s brimming with wholesome, feel-good ingredients, and its beauty lies in its adaptability – you can effortlessly customize it with whatever grains and roasted vegetables you have on hand in your fridge. Everything is then tossed with my absolute favorite dreamy tahini dressing, creating a harmonious and utterly delicious meal. We’ve made this one countless times since, and it never disappoints!
11. Cozy Cauliflower Curry
My wonderful husband deserves all the credit for this fantastic dish! His cauliflower curry has quickly become a regular, cherished staple in our meal rotation throughout the year. It brilliantly ticks all our favorite boxes: it’s quick to prepare, incredibly easy, wonderfully healthy, deeply comforting, entirely vegetarian, and bursting with ultra-flavorful spices. When generously ladled over fluffy rice – or Barclay’s preferred tri-color quinoa – this Indian curry offers the perfect way to warm up and savor a delicious meal on a chilly evening.
12. Quick Gochujang Lettuce Wraps
2019 was also the year we enthusiastically discovered the magic of gochujang, and began adding this savory, spicy Korean chili paste to practically everything! I was particularly smitten with these incredibly quick 20-minute lettuce wraps. They’re built around a simple yet incredibly flavorful 4-ingredient gochujang sauce and can be customized with your choice of protein and crisp veggies. This recipe makes for an ideal healthy meal, a fantastic appetizer, or even a satisfying quick snack that will have you eagerly coming back for more. Simply delicious!
13. Thai Chicken Wild Rice Soup
After having made my incredibly popular Cozy Autumn Wild Rice Soup countless times this past winter, I decided it was high time to introduce another wild rice soup to my rotation. And this Thai chicken soup absolutely hit the spot! It’s naturally gluten-free, remarkably easy to prepare whether you’re using an Instant Pot or cooking on the stovetop, and packed with all the best cozy, aromatic Thai curry flavors that we all love and crave. It’s a hearty and comforting meal with an exotic twist.
14. Super-Simple Salmon Tacos
This recipe was the very first one I had the pleasure of sharing on the blog in 2019, and it consistently remained one of my personal favorites throughout the entire year. It features flaky salmon that’s cooked to absolute perfection, seasoned with the most delicious chile-cumin rub, delivering a burst of savory flavor. A quick and vibrant avocado-citrus salsa provides all the necessary moisture and tang, negating the need for any additional sauces. Together, they form the most incredibly flavorful, light, and healthy tacos you can imagine. As an added bonus, these culinary delights can be on your table in less than 30 minutes!
15. Italian Potato Salad
Imagine all your favorite Italian-inspired ingredients beautifully combined into one delectable, refreshing cold potato salad. That’s precisely what this dish offers! It’s absolutely perfect for summer potlucks, backyard grill-outs, and sunny picnics, overflowing with the most incredible and zesty flavors. This Italian twist on a classic side dish is guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser at any gathering.
16. 5-Ingredient Burst Tomato Spread
You absolutely must add this sensational spread to your must-make list for cherry tomato season this year! My mom introduced this recipe as a spread with crusty bread last summer, and every single person around the table simply could not stop raving about how incredibly delicious it was. If you haven’t had the pleasure of trying it yet, this one is truly a seasonal must-have that captures the sweet and savory essence of ripe tomatoes perfectly.
17. Bourbon Caramel Sauce
This decadent bourbon caramel sauce became our unofficial condiment of the summer, poured almost non-stop over everything imaginable – from scoops of creamy ice cream to fresh fruit, warm brownies, rich cheesecakes, flaky pies, and so much more. The best part? It takes only 10 minutes to prepare, yielding a gorgeously rich and complex flavor. Our friends absolutely go crazy for it every time we serve it, making it a guaranteed hit for any dessert.
18. Greek Salad Salmon Bowls
We find ourselves making some variation of these delightful Greek salad salmon bowls at least a few times each month, and we genuinely adore them. Their versatility is a huge plus; they also work wonderfully with a sesame vinaigrette (I’m particularly fond of the one from this recipe) or made with succulent grilled shrimp instead of salmon. No matter how you choose to prepare them, this recipe consistently delivers a meal that tastes incredibly fresh, healthy, and utterly delicious!
19. Breakfast Tacos
Yes, you’ve spotted correctly – this is the third taco recipe making it onto my top list this year! (Are you truly surprised, though?) I firmly believe that everyone needs a reliable, solid breakfast taco recipe in their culinary arsenal, and this year, I was thrilled to share my go-to version with all of you. I adore these tacos because they are super quick and easy to whip up, bursting with fantastic flavor, and pretty much guaranteed to kickstart your day on a truly fabulous note. Enjoy the simplicity and deliciousness!