Best Of the Blog 2015!

Since the close of the year is always about reflecting back, I thought I’d do the same here and share the top picks on Mom’s Kitchen Handbook for 2015. As I did last year, I took a look at what grabbed the most interest based on blog traffic, reader comments, along with popularity on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook. I may have thrown a few of my own personal favorites in the mix, too.  Here goes:

Most Popular 2015 Recipe

Slow Cooker Indian Tacos

I was surprised and pleased that this not-exactly-mainstream slow cooker recipe beat out more typical fare. Proof that our kids’ palates are progressing? (Big props to the Zen of Slow Cooking for sharing yet another of their fabulous recipes).

Most Popular 2015 Non-Recipe Post 

A Healthy Food Guide to Shopping at Costco

This one outpaced every other non-recipe post by a long shot. Perhaps it’s not a surprise, since it was my Trader Joe’s Shopping Guide that won the popularity contest last year.

Most Popular on Pinterest

Gorgeous Greek Chicken with Potatoes

This pin took off when someone named Jane Wang pinned it to one of her boards. Turns out she’s got nearly 8 million followers (and also happens to be the mother Pinterest’s co-founder). I think she might need to become my new BFF, no?

Most Popular on Instagram

Zucchini Noodles with Walnuts and Parmesan

My maiden voyage with the Inspiralizer resulted in this bright bowl that went over big on Instagram. Anything vegetarian, gluten free, or raw never fails to attract the Instagram love

Healthiest

Roasted Carrots with Harissa and Yogurt

I didn’t exactly run nutrient analyses to determine if this, indeed, qualifies as the healthiest recipe, but it is pretty darn good for you and more importantly, darn delicious. It’s one I make year-round, subbing in a variety of other vegetables for carrots, alongside lemony yogurt.

Most Decadent

Double Dark Chocolate Toffee Cookies

This could also qualify for the “Silliest” category, since the recipe and post were inspired by “Cookie” a fictional television character on the show Empire.

Kid Favorite

One-Ingredient Grape Granita

This became a summer favorite in our house and I’ve heard in some of your houses, too. I love that it’s just one ingredient and looks like something out of a snow cone machine (minus the sugary syrup and artificial colors).

Most Popular Series 

My Take on Five Trendy Foods 

The first in a two-part post that takes a look at what’s trendy in food and nutrition along with my thoughts on the healthful upsides (or downsides, as the case may be).

Most Practical

Why Tape is my New Favorite Kitchen Tool

My love for blue tape lives on. The only problem is that, like so many things in my kitchen, the kids swipe it for craft projects and then it goes the way of the socks in my dryer. Poof.

Popular Nutrition Post

Must I Ban the Bacon?

When a World Health Organization report grabbed major media headlines and much alarm over the link between meat and cancer, I added my two cents to the conversation in this meaty little post.

Trendiest

Cauliflower is the New Kale

We will have to see if my prediction is borne out in 2016, but I’m certainly enjoying cauliflower in so many new and creative ways.

Most Personal

The Bittersweet Side of Parenting

A recipe for making hot and cold chocolate accompanied by a story of parental pride and heartache that I always find so very bittersweet.