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!
