2012's Most Popular Recipes

I am super excited to finally be able to write this post! I started my blog in November of 2011 and towards the end of the year I was reading all of my fellow bloggers posts about what recipes were the most popular from that year. I only had a blog for two months so it didn't really make sense for me to do it too, but now with a year of blogging under my belt I am finally showing my readers what posts were the most popular!The funniest thing about these posts is that the top 3 most popular recipes of the year were posted within the same week! What a great week I had!

"Healthified" Spicy Pumpkin Mac & Cheese

Did I ever tell you how obsessed with mac & cheese I am? The creamy cheesy noodles, the crunchy panko topping. Ugh, honestly I could eat it every day. I like trying new twists on mac & cheese because the usual ole dish can get a bit boring. I am a sucker for yellow cheddar cheese and anything spicy so I did what any normal person would do.. add pumpkin and peblano peppers! Maybe not everyone would have done that, but I am sure happy I did. 

Potato Skin Bites

Is everyone recovering from their Christmas celebrations? I know I am. Every Christmas there are so many left overs! I can only have left overs one or two times before I am totally sick of them. Mashed potatoes are one of my favorite foods so whenever I find a recipe that lets me use them I do a happy dance inside because I can eat them and change them so the don't feel like leftovers. I have become pseudo famous for making these golden balls of goodness over the last few years. They are super easy to make and are always a hit!

Merry Christmas from Around the Table

Just wanted to wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas!!! Hope you get all the foodie gadgets you want and eat until your buttons pop off of your pants...well, maybe don't eat that much. Rest assured you can look forward to lots of posts this week with delicious recipes!

I will leave you with a ugly sweater family photo of myself, my husband and our pug Meatball! Enjoy your day with family & friends!!

Xoxo Leanne

Guest Post: Eating Great and Saving Money When Traveling

 
I am very happy to introduce you to Gracie, our guest blogger from across the pond in the UK! Gracie writes about home improvements, travel, health & beauty and technology. Since it is the holiday season, many of us will be traveling nationally and abroad. What better article to have than this one! Planning in advance snacks to bring or not falling into tourist traps are the best things to do when traveling in a place that is unfamiliar to you. Check out Gracie's top tips for saving money and eating great when traveling.

My Healthy Eating Mantra: Buffalo Turkey Meatballs

My mantra for eating is to try to eat healthy most of the time and when you have a hankering for pure crap you know you shouldn't eat, go for it! Part of what helps me do this is finding healthy ways to make the fattening foods I love. It actually is alot easier than you may think. 

Home Made Cocoa Roasted Almonds

Ahhhhhhh. That is the sound of me realizing how simple some of the best things in life are. I tried cocoa roasted almonds a few months ago. Super smokey and a perfect snack for a sweet tooth craving without the guilt. The down side: It was $5 a canister and like most processed foods there is a laundry list of ingredients.
Ugh,but do not fear loyal readers. I have your back.