Top 10 of 2008

I've seen this on a few other blogs, and thought it was a neat idea. Without further adieu, here are my top 10 recipes from my blog from 2008.

1.Chicken with 40 Cloves of Garlic

I put this in the category "Best Chicken Ever" for a reason. The skin is crispy, the chicken is moist, and the flavors are sublime. If you make one recipe from my site, make this one!

2. Chicken Marsala



This is a very close second. I have made chicken marsala in the past, but have found the breading falls off. The Cook's Illustrated version pan-fries the chicken and then puts it in a 200 degree oven to keep warm while you make the sauce. Yum yum yum.

3. Almond Crusted Halibut



A real winner from All Recipes. The crunchy coating on the halibut combined with the shallot-infused butter sauce (it's not exactly a calorie-saver) makes for a delicious dish.

4. Baked Pasta



A ridiculously simple Italian dish that satisfies every time. This is the recipe most requested by my husband!

5. My Fly Stir Fry



I don't make a lot of pork-based meals, but this is one of my favorites. The pork strips marinated in a combination of mirin, rice vinegar, and soy combined with crisp veggies over egg noodles is always yummy!

6.Stuffed Peppers



My first Cook's Illustrated recipe! Since then, I've bought The New Best Recipe, an online subscription to cooksillustrated.com, and their recommended roasting pan, garlic press, and Dutch oven. It is an expensive addiction! But anyway, back to the peppers. We loved these! Not too difficult and an easy company dish.

7. Pioneer Woman's Whiskey-Glazed Carrots



So...freaking...good. And easy, too. I could not stop eating these over Christmas dinner!

8. Garlic Rosemary Roast Chicken with Potatoes



Another great recipe from The New Best Recipe. I had never brined a full chicken before, or roasted on a v-rack. The red potatoes were also really, really good--seasoned with rosemary, garlic, and chicken drippings. I believe in the v-rack!

9. Sunday Gumbo



This had the perfect blend of a lot of different flavors, and just the right amount of spice, too.

10. Pioneer Woman's Linguine with Chicken Thighs



I am not playing a hoax on you: there IS a Pioneer Woman recipe without any heavy cream OR butter! I love, love, LOVE this recipe. Using chicken thighs instead of breasts was a new idea to me, and I love the resulting flavor and tenderness.

Thank you to everyone who looks at my blog! 2008 was my first year and not only did I learn a lot, but having a blog forced me to try a lot of new recipes, which was a ton of fun. I look forward to even more recipes and new ideas in 2009!