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.

Roasted Butternut Squash & Pesto Pasta

 

You know me. I love me a heaping bowl of pasta any day! Pasta is so versatile. It can take on the flavor of anything you pair with it. I happen to be on a roasted butternut squash and pancetta kick lately, so why not add this delicious combo to pasta! Add some pesto and this is the ultimate, decadent dinner that you can make for your family!

Butternut Squash Black Bean and Kale Quesadillas

Quesadillas are that food that everyone loves. They are also super versatile. You can make them sweet or savory and add hundreds of toppings to them depending on what you like. I like quesadillas because you can make them for appetizers, breakfast, lunch or dinner and you will have a speedy and delicious meal or snack in less than fifteen minutes.

Spicy Sweet Potato Burgers with Roasted Garlic Crema

I am so excited to share this recipe for yet another veggie burger with you today! I try not to eat too much meat mainly because I saw the movie Food Inc and it completely grossed me out because it talked about about where our meat comes from. So after I nearly gagged while watching it I decided to try to eat organic local meat when I can. I actually really enjoy not eating too much meat because it keeps my food budget down and I am able to become inventive with the veggies and beans that I use. Oh, and did I mention I love pasta???? So it makes it pretty easy to not eat meat.

Cinnamon Scented Ornaments

It is already December! Can you believe it? My husband and I got our Christmas tree this weekend and I was super excited to decorate it because of this awesome idea I found on Pinterest, Cinnamon Scented Ornaments! While these bake for a few hours, the ornaments fill your house with the smell of Christmas! Not to mention, when you hang them on your tree they continue to make your house smell like you just baked a boat load of snickerdoodles.

Red Velvet Cheesecake

I don't know how normal my aversion to pie is, but I cannot tell you how much I hate pie. Apple pie is the worst, followed by pumpkin( sorry everyone that likes pie.) One reason why Thanksgiving dessert for me is not that exciting. For Thanksgiving this year I was tasked with bringing a dessert!Finally! I get to bring something I like. Cue in cheesecake! I love cheesecake. All different kinds. Red velvet is my weakness so what better dessert to bring!Not to mention, it looks absolutely beautiful!

Cyber Monday Special: Gifts for Foodies!

So because I love receiving foodie presents so much for Christmas I thought I would share with you some of my favorites( and where to buy them) in case you need to buy presents for the foodie in your life or like me if you want to buy a nice gift for yourself!

Spicy Pumpkin Soup with Blue Cheese & Pancetta

Now that the weather is dipping below freezing in New England soup is a constant staple in my diet. I am always looking at easy soups to make because after I work the last thing I want to do is slave over the stove for hours. On a Saturday? Sure. On Wednesday night at 6pm? No thank you. Gosh, I feel like that has been my mantra lately.

Outside the Kitchen: Temple Downtown

I am always excited to try restaurants I have never been to before. What excites me even more is when they serve amazingly delicious food! My husband and I went to Temple Downtown located in the heart of downtown Providence, Rhode Island this past Friday. We don't mean to brag, but Providence was voted the best foodie city for food/drinks/restaurants by Travel & Leisure Magazine. Temple certainly helped with this title.

Garlicky Broccoli Pasta

 

Ahhhhh. There is something about a gigantic steaming bowl of pasta when he days get shorter and you have officially brought out your sweat pants for the season. Pasta is one of my go to meals in the winter because it makes me feel all warm and full.... and happy.. did I mention happy? 

Meatball Approved: Cinnamon- Honey Yogurt Treats

Meatball's Yogurt Mustache

Since my days are consumed with working and spending endless amount of time playing with our new pug puppy Meatball I figured I would share a recipe with you all that is super fast and easy.  When I was growing up, we would give our dog a frozen dog dessert that they sold in the market as a "special treat." No wonder why we didn't give it to him all the time! It was super expensive! I found an idea for a similar treat in Rachael Ray magazine that was super simple and used leftovers I usually have in my fridge.

Veggielicious Cauliflower Crust Pizza

Calling all veggie lovers! This was my first attempt at making the newly popular cauliflower crust pizza.I have heard horror stories about the crust not being crispy, about the loads of cheese in it and that it is just a pain in the butt to make. This recipe dispelled all of these pizza rumors. First off, there is not a boat load of cheese in the crust ( which makes my thighs happy.) This was actually really easy to put together and the crust actually held together pretty well!

Butternut Squash and Kale Enchilladas

Apologies for the busted photos. They just looked messy!

I have a butternut squash obsession. I had no idea where this obsession came from. I have always liked butternut squash, but never realized its versatility until now. Last week I made gnocchi with butternut squash and pancetta and today I am making enchilladas with it! Now that's versatility!

Happy Blog-aversary ! Gnocchi with Pancetta & Butternut Squash

First off, just want to say today is my one year blog anniversary! How insanely fast a year has gone by! I have learned alot in a year and realized how hard it is to gain readers and keep you guys entertained! Some high points of this year blogging has been writing for the Newport Tourism Bureau, having my recipes being picked by Buitoni to have on their Facebook Page and having a recipe be on the Pinterest Popular Page more times than I can count. I am so blessed to have a husband that has supported my blogging from day one and my friends and family that put up with me taking endless photos of food before eating and constant chatter about food. Here is to being a foodie and loving it!


 Now that it is getting chilly, pasta is my go to meal, especially gnocchi. Gnocchi are the most delicious, soft pillows of potatoes that basically go well with anything. If you have other pasta on hand or don't like gnocchi feel free to use whatever pasta you like! However, let me sway you to the side of pillowy gnocchi. The soft texture pairs nicely with the crunchy pancetta. Also, make sure you don't overcook the gnocchi! It does not need to cook as long as regular pasta. I bought a brand I have never tried and it got super soft very fast so mine were a bit mushy, but honestly it tasted so amazing I didn't care!

Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad with Lemon & Parmesan

I love Brussels Sprouts. It might actually be one of my favorite veggies. My husband who is a picky eater even loves them! Brussels sprouts are no longer the boiled gross smelling veggies your mom ( no offense moms out there) used to make. They are so tasty! Give them a quick saute and a squirt of lemon juice and they are delicious!Now, for another way to prepare this delicious veggie.

Meet Meatball & An Announcement!

Already Blogging

I am so happy to announce the new member of our family! Our new pug, Meatball! She is about eight weeks old and has such a personality already! We have only had her two days and we are completely enamored with her! With this being said, I will be having a whole section on the blog for home made dog treats!If you have any ideas comment and let me know!

Brocolli Rabe French Bread Pizzas

I feel like I say this with every recipe I write about, but I will say it again! I love easy weeknight meals. After working all day, working out and driving 2 hours round trip to get home I don't feel like spending  an hour cooking dinner. This french bread pizza is so easy! And if broccoli rabe isn't your thing you can fill it with anything! You can buy one loaf of french bread and make individual pizzas for each member of your family!

Ladies, Get your Men in the Kitchen!

My Amazing Hubby Making Fresh Pasta with Me

I love a man that can cook. There is something completely sexy about coming home and seeing your loved one making dinner for you. That, and you don't have to cook. Since we started dating, my husband has made me lavish breakfasts, and delectable dinners. I have to confess, I freakin love it. Cooking for a loved one shows you care and definitely wins you brownie points with the opposite sex.  

Goat Cheese & Beet Ravioli

Never thought you could make ravioli at home? You sure can my friends! This is a recipe from The Chew and it's actually really easy to prepare. You can even make the ravioli ahead of time and freeze them. The mixture is really simple and so flavorful! The earthiness of the beets and the pungent goat cheese pack quite a punch in such a little package.

Autumn Salad with Pears, Pecans and Blue Cheese

Now that Fall is in full swing I thought this salad would be perfect to show my readers since it uses ripe pears, cranberries, pecans and a super easy home made balsamic dressing. You can eat this salad for a quick weeknight lunch or dinner or for a pot luck!

Spicy Lentil Soup with Chickpeas & Quinoa

Holy Protein! Lentils, quinoa, and chickpeas are a protein packed punch when combined in this delicious and simple soup. I appreciate dishes where there isn't alot of prep time, you don't have to stand by the stove for hours and is insanely delicious. This dish is all that and more.

Whole Wheat Pumpkin Bagels

Could Fall get any better? First off, Fall is my favorite season because the weather is mild ( well in New England anyway), the leaves are starting to turn different colors and there is pumpkin..... in everything. Some of my favorites include pumpkin lattes from Starbuck's, pumpkin ravioli, and now these whole wheat pumpkin bagels.

Fiesta Quinoa Salad

I Love Quinoa. If you take a look at my recipes page you can see there are a ton of quinoa recipes. If you haven't heard the facts yet quinoa let me tell you a little something. Quinoa is a sort of super grain. Quinoa has a nutty taste and a ton of fiber. I was on a brown rice kick for awhile, but after reading the benefits of quinoa I have broken up with brown rice like a bad ex boyfriend. Quinoa has anti-inflamitory properties, high in protein, and has some omega 3 fatty acids so if you haven't tried it yet, try this recipe! 

Welcome to the New & Improved Around the Table

So I hired someone to redesign my blog about 8 months ago. After a very long time of waiting for it to be finished and 20 unreturned emails later I gave up.I sulked for awhile then I took matters into my own hands and did what little I could (hey I only took one HTML class in college) to make my blog better.

Banana Bread Faux Fro-yo

This recipe is sort of an anomaly. There is no milk in this so technically it isn't frozen yogurt really. I am calling this healthy dessert Banana Bread frozen yogurt because it is made out of bananas! Of course I saw this on pinterest and it blew my mind. If you chop bananas and freeze them then blend in a blender or food processor the texture is just like frozen yogurt. Genius! If you don't like bananas, maybe this isn't for you. Hey, fair warning.

Guest Post: Nicole's Healthy Make Ahead (Healthy) Breakfasts

I am so happy to introduce all of you to one of my new foodie buddies Nicole from A Healthy Way to Cook. Her blog has an unlimited amount of healthy recipes, tips, and articles that can help you live a happy and healthy life.When she had an idea for make ahead healthy breakfasts I was so excited because I am such a grab and go breakfast eater. If it is already made( and healthy) I will gladly eat it!

Newport Food & Wine Festival

I am in a food coma. I am equally in a wine coma. Honestly, it's not a bad place to be. I just got back from the Newport Food & Wine Festival in gorgeous Newport, RI. This amazing event was in the backyard of the Marble House Mansion. That's right people. Former vacation home of the Vanderbilt's with the most amazing view of the ocean.Sounds like a perfect place to sip amazing wines and savor the most delectable cuisine Rhode Island has to offer.

Garlicky & Parmesan Crispy Smashed Potatoes

My husband now refers to these taters as "smooshed spuds." And smooshed they are. They are also delicious. Honestly, there was so much going on with these potatoes I didn't know what the heck to call them. There was garlic. There was Parmesan. There was truffle salt. Do I need to go any further?

Warrior Food: Cranberry Walnut Granola

This weekend I participated in the Bold r Dash at a local ski mountain. I'm sure everyone has similar 5k races with obstacles in their home town. It was such a blast! Never in a million years would I have thought I could complete a 5K never mind a 5K with military obstacles that seemed impossible. By the end I was covered in mud, wet, with a huge smile on my face.

Me & My Hubby!

Cinnamon Spiced Zucchini Muffins

This time of year makes me crave  cinnamon and pumpkin spiced everything. I'm pretty sure everyone and their mother has some large surplus of zucchini either from their own garden or a family member pawning zucchini off on them. I love having zucchini on hand because you can make sweet and savory recipes. Does it get any better?

Flying off the Grill ( with Good Beer in Hand)

Craving smokey, delicious barbecue washed down with refreshing Newport Storm Beer? Look no further than the Smoke House and Newport Storm Beer Dinner. This dinner's theme was flying off the grill, which included every delicacy you could think of with wings barbecued to perfection. Each course was paired with a specific Newport Storm beer that compliments the flavors in the dish. After each course, one of the founders of Newport Storm brewery spoke about the beer we were tasting and the pairing.

Drunken Spaghetti

Let's be honest. Pasta in a white wine sauce is divine. And no, the spaghetti is not actually drunk, but my husband came up with this witty title. How could I not use it? I thought about calling this Everything but the Kitchen Sink Pasta because it has so many possible  ingredients in it!You can literally add any protein or veggies that you have in your fridge. I had one link of sweet sausage, two chicken breasts, spinach, mushrooms,zucchini,peppers and onions. See what I mean? Everything but the kitchen sink. Add whatever you want, I dare you. I bet it would be good. Unless it's peanut butter and jelly. That does not belong in pasta. That's gross.

Eating my Way Through Montreal

For our first wedding anniversary my amazing husband planned a surprise trip to Montreal,Canada. I had only ever been to Niagara Falls so I was super excited to be traveling to Montreal. Just five hours later we were across the border into Quebec and we were ready for a foodie adventure!

Spicy Avocado Noodles

I love me some noodles. When I saw this recipe from Grubarrazi ( awesome blog totally check it out) I couldn't wait to try this dish. I have made many different rendition of noodle bowls and they are so easy to make for the tastes you have or what you have on hand. You can add whatever veggies you have on hand or even sauces that you prefer.

Super Snacks: Caliente Roasted Chickpeas

I love snacks. The saltier the better. I have been having a love affair with  potato chips for quite some time, but since their fat content knows no limit to my waist line I needed to find snacks that I could feel good about eating. If you have been looking for some guilt free snacks, look no further than this post.

5 Ingredient Breakfast Cookies

Cookies for breakfast? Heck yeah! I saw these little morsels of goodness on Watching What I Eat.  I like the idea of having a breakfast that I can grab on my way to work and eat it whenever I want to. It is so hard for me to get up in the morning and cook myself a full breakfast so anything that can be cooked ahead of time I am game!

Coconut Shrimp with Mango Sauce

I was watching my favorite guilty pleasure The Chew recently and I saw them make their own spin on coconut shrimp. Remember those shrimp caked in coconut flakes and fried to perfection with a sweet dipping sauce? Yup, me too. I think they are delicious. I did however like the idea of making what's already good better.

20 Minute Meals:Spicy Chickpea & Quinoa Bowls

I love meals that come together quickly! I started kickboxing recently ( what's up I <3 Kickboxing!!!) and my body is so exhausted when I get home I need a meal that is nutritious and easy. This meal actually reminds me of a meal I had in Paris with my sister in law Marjorie in her apartment. I remembered how delicious and easy it was so I decided to share it with you.

Baconey Guacamole Pizza

Picture everything you love about guacamole, crumbled bacon and goat cheese on a thin crispy grilled pizza crust. Yup, that's what this is. The smokiness of the bacon paired  tangy goat cheese and creamy avocado is delicious!I was in the mood for grilled pizza, but I wanted to change things up a bit. Instead of making one big pizza I made 5 small pizzas or pizettes ( which I think sounds much more fancy). This is perfect for couples or families that can't decide on the same toppings for their pizza. After all, toppings are very particular to each person. I really like bacon, pineapple and jalapeno or margherita. My husband on the other hand only likes pepperoni or four cheese and are you ready for this.... no sauce. Yup, he hates sauce. So usually we always order two pizzas, however pepperoni is growing on me.

Cookies & Cream Bark

I could have entitled this post easiest dessert that you will be addicted to for the rest of your life. Or simply, food crack. My husband is in love with cookies and cream anything so when I saw a recipe for this I got some inspiration. After tasting it, I know why he loves it so much. It was amazing. What makes this even better? It has two ingredients! Yup, two. You can even use this as a base recipe and put your family's favorite toppings in it.

The Storm's a Brewin'

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Calling All BBQ and Beer Enthusiasts:

I am so excited to talk today about a dinner I am going to on August 21st at The Smoke House in Newport, RI. We are in the dog days of Summer in Rhode Island and what better way to beat the heat than at a BBQ dinner at the Smoke House and pairing each course with Newport Storm beer!

Baked Buffalo Zucchini Fries

I love french fries. I love french fries more than many things in this world ( no, not my husband.I love him more.)I prefer thick cut steak fries, curly fries and most of all tater tots. I hate shoe string fries. Ugh, gross. Unfortunately, my thighs hate french fries. They probably scream every time I bite into the hot, crispy spuds. My thighs will forever be grateful for this creation. Baked zucchini fries are a great alternative to french fries because like their potato counterparts they are crispy on the outside and soft and pillowy on the inside.

Roasted Tomato & Pesto Pasta

I had been craving pasta for the past few days. Spaghetti especially. Have you ever realized that people have certain aversions to specific types of pasta and love others? That always is so funny to me because pasta is always made of the same ingredients. For example, my husband loves bowties, but I hate them. I love spaghetti and I have learned many people don't. Whaaaaaat? I can't imagine not liking spaghetti. Either way, if spaghetti is not your thing, feel free to use whatever pasta you prefer in this dish.

I'm Back! Portland's Foodie Scene!

Hey Guys!! So sorry I have been sporadically posting lately. My last week of grad school was last week  and I had three finals in one week! I also traveled to Portland,ME for an amazing wedding of my friend's Ashley & Blake. I always love checking out foodie scenes in other states so take a look at what I found and let me know if there are any other foodie stops of note in Portland.

Married to a Food Blogger: How the Other Half Lives

Hi Everyone! I am currently in one of my last semesters of grad schools and am completely consumed with all of the finals I have this week. I thought it would be fun to get the prospective of my other half, my husband Toby and have him write a post about being married to a food blogger. Now this should be interesting....