A delicious collection of our readers’ favorite (new!) recipes here on Gimme Some Oven over the course of 2020.
Dear friends, we’ve collectively navigated a truly unprecedented year. The journey through 2020 was undeniably historic, marked by unexpected challenges, shifts in daily life, and a global rollercoaster of emotions. While countless moments from this period will be etched into our memories, as a food blogger, one profound observation stands out: you, our incredible community, embraced your kitchens like never before. Whether by choice, necessity, or a blend of both, home cooking became a central pillar for many, a source of comfort, nourishment, and even creative escape.
And for that dedication, that commitment to feeding yourselves and your loved ones, we want to extend our deepest appreciation and offer a heartfelt declaration: you truly did an outstanding job.
The early days of quarantine sparked a unique energy, an eagerness to tackle ambitious DIY projects. This period saw a renaissance of homemade staples, from the satisfying aroma of freshly baked bread and the tactile joy of crafting pasta, to perfecting your own tortillas. Many of you delved into the comforting sweetness of cinnamon buns, the rustic charm of focaccia, the intricate art of sushi, and even elevated your home happy hour with an array of cocktails galore. It was a time of culinary experimentation and skill-building, transforming kitchens into vibrant hubs of activity.
However, as the months progressed and the initial adrenaline waned, the reality of prolonged time at home settled in. The marathon of daily cooking often became a demanding task. We observed a natural shift in preferences, with our community increasingly seeking out recipes that offered speed, simplicity, and a comforting embrace. Our quickest and easiest dinner solutions, such as savory fried rice, the elegant simplicity of spaghetti aglio e olio, and the ever-popular 5-ingredient chicken chili, soared in popularity. Alongside these, classic comfort food recipes, especially an abundance of holiday cookies, provided much-needed solace and joy. We understood that some days, simply getting *any* meal on the table – whether it was a frozen pizza or scrambled eggs – was a monumental achievement, a small victory in a challenging time.
So, regardless of what your culinary journey looked like throughout 2020, please know that your efforts were remarkable. You demonstrated incredible resilience, providing sustenance and comfort for a record number of nights in a row. You nurtured yourselves and your loved ones, navigating unprecedented circumstances with grace and resourcefulness. As we look ahead, we eagerly anticipate a future filled with renewed energy for healthier habits, and perhaps, more opportunities for those much-deserved nights off from kitchen duty. We dream of freely gathering again, hosting vibrant dinner parties, and safely dining out at all our beloved restaurants. But for now, we celebrate our collective strength in cooking our way through one of the most complicated and unpredictable years of our lives, creating countless delicious moments and cherished memories along the way.
On a more personal note, we want to express our profound gratitude. Thank you for allowing Gimme Some Oven and our recipes to be a part of your journey this past year. It has been the most meaningful period in our food blogging career, offering new recipes and resources that we sincerely hope provided a helpful guide through the pandemic. The trust you place in us and in these recipes is a treasure we hold incredibly dear. It has been an absolute privilege to know that our blog served as a reliable resource for you during such a pivotal time.
Once again, our sincerest thanks. We are immensely grateful, as always, to have each and every one of you as part of our community. As is our cherished annual tradition, we proudly present the definitive list of the top 20 new recipes that captured your hearts and taste buds here on Gimme Some Oven in 2020! Make sure to stay tuned tomorrow for a separate list featuring our personal favorites, and we warmly invite you to share your own top picks in the comments section below!
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