Best of 2010: My Personal Favorites

Yesterday it was really fun to share the recipes that were the most popular in 2010 among you, the readers.  While many of my personal favorites made the cut, several did not, and today I wanted to highlight those recipes.  I hope you discover something you may have missed this year that will become a new favorite in your house!  So, here they are, in no particular order:

Flat Roast Chicken -  This recipe helped me conquer my long-standing fear of roast chicken.  Not only is it simple and faster-cooking than if you roasted the chicken without flattening it, but the meat is tender and juicy and the skin couldn’t be more crisp. 

Thomas Keller’s Oreos – I don’t even have to go out on a limb to say this is hands-down the best cookie I made this year.  Crisp and sandy with an intense chocolate flavor, these cookies are sandwiched around a smooth, sweet white chocolate ganache – quite simply, perfection.  

Pepperoni Pan Pizza – This pizza is sure to please those who, like me, love thick, chewy crusts.  It’s an indulgence (though I guess that could be said about all pizza), but a worthwhile one every now and then.  

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies – Pumpkin treats always seem to be popular, and these were no exception.  Moist and spicy little cakes enclosing pumpkin’s perfect match – cream cheese frosting.  Definitely a worthy addition to your fall baking plans.

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork – This has been the most popular recipe at our house yet this winter; I think I’ve made it 3 times already since the weather got cold.  You can’t beat the simplicity – a spice rub is applied to the meat and then your slow cooker does the rest of the work.  It makes a ton of food so unless you’re feeding an army you’ll have plenty of leftovers, but I don’t think you’ll mind.

Three-Cheese and Bacon Macaroni – A simple mac and cheese that’s nice to have in your repertoire, especially for those nights when you just want quick comfort food, this one relies on evaporated milk and eggs rather than a roux.  Oh, and did I mention there’s bacon? 

Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies – I think everyone has their own idea about what makes the perfect chocolate chip cookie, it’s probably one of the most subjective goodies out there.  For me, this one can’t be beat.  The cookies are moist and chewy in the center, crisp on the edges, and pack a rich toffee flavor.

Homemade Puff Pastry – I’m fairly cheap so when I discovered how expensive all-butter puff pastry was in the store, the only solution was to learn to make it myself.  Luckily, it wasn’t difficult at all and this simple recipe turns out light and flaky pastry every time. 

Chocolate Malted Cupcakes – I’ve loved chocolate cake for as long as I can remember – it was always my preference over yellow cake – so these chocolate malted cupcakes were an easy decision to include on this list.  The cupcakes are intensely chocolatey but my favorite thing about them is the light, fluffy texture.  Paired with a malted chocolate frosting, they’re the perfect sweet treat for chocolate lovers.  

Chocolate Babka – When the year began, I didn’t even know what babka was, but now I wonder how I ever lived without it.  Tender yeast bread studded with chocolate, cinnamon and nuts – yes, please!

Lemon Scented Pull Apart Coffee Cake – I’d never made a yeasted cake before attempting this lemon-scented pull apart coffee cake, and this was a very nice introduction.  Layers of sweet brioche-like dough are filled with a citrus paste and baked then topped with a tangy cream cheese icing.  You’ll find yourself reaching for one slice after another – I promise this won’t last long.

Mum Cupcakes – So, this isn’t a recipe so much as a technique and it’s all about presentation here.  These cupcakes, decorated to look like mum flowers using mini marshmallows and a little sanding sugar, are a show-stopper for sure, and you don’t have to let anyone in on the secret about how easy they were to make!

I hope you all enjoyed these round-ups as much as I enjoyed putting them together.  It’s been a very delicious year and I look forward to more culinary adventures in 2011!  Cheers to a fun New Year’s Eve – I’ll see you all in the New Year :)