My Top 15 Dessert Recipes of 2013

I saved the best for last.  I realized something this year . . . I made A LOT of good food :)  It was hard trying to narrow down all of my categories, but dessert was the hardest.  

Of course the majority of my favorites include frosting!!! 

#1 My go-to Vanilla Bean Cupcakes

#2 My Over-the-Top 30th Birthday Cake

#3 Lemon Dream Yogurt Cake with Lemon Marshmallow Buttercream

#4 Banana Chia Seed Cake with Vanilla Bean Frosting

#5 Homemade Birthday Cake Oreos

#6 Oh Henry Bars

#7 Camper Crunchies

#8 Candy Cane Kiss Sugar Cookie Bars with Buttercream Frosting

#9 Cutler's Frosted Peanut Butter Cookies

 #10 Mint Cookies 'n Cream Pudding Cookies

#11 Peanut Butter Cup Stuffed Soft Peanut Butter Cookies

#12 Aunt Patrecia's Yogurt Pie - No Bake

#13 Rocky Road Pudding Mousse

#14 Key Lime Pie Bars with an Animal Cracker Crust

#15 The Lion House Chocolate Cream Pie

My Top 10 Main Dishes of 2013

#1 Crunchy Shredded Pork Tacos

#2 Hash Brown Pork Chop Casserole

#3 Green Chile White Sauce Beef Enchiladas

#4 My Malibu Chicken

#5 Restaurant-Style Shredded Pork Enchiladas

 #6 Slow Cooker Fiesta Chicken

#7 Cilantro Lime Fajitas with Mexican Slaw

#8 Southwestern Quinoa Pepper Boats

#9 Perfect Pot Roast

#10 Easy Chicken Cordon Bleu Bake

My Top 10 Bread Recipes of 2013

This was the 2nd hardest category for me to narrow down, because next to cake and frosting . . . bread is my favorite.

#1 Lemon Zucchini Bread with Lemon Glaze

#2 Almond Poppy Seed Bread with Orange Glaze

#3 Secret Ingredient Snickerdoodle Muffins

#4 Orange Poppy Seed Zucchini Bread with Orange Glaze

#5 Easy & Fabulous Focaccia Bread

#6 Cream Cheese Pumpkin Bread

#7 Kelsey's Rapid Rise Rolls

#8 Cinnamon Biscones with Vanilla Glaze

#9 Banana Cinnamon Roll Muffins with Cream Cheese Icing

#10 Biscones

My Top 10 Soups and Sandwiches of 2013

#1 Baked Italian Sandwich

#2 Copycat Olive Garden Chicken & Potato Florentine Soup

#3 Leftover Turkey Cheesesteaks

#4 Copycat Denny's Moons Over My Hammy

#5 My Go-To Sloppy Joes

# 6 Fresh Garden Tomato Chili

#7  Creamy Tomato Tortellini Soup

#8 Smokey Mesquite BBQ Bacon Burgers

#9 Cajun Sliders

#10 Creamy Turkey and Bacon Wild Rice Soup

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My Top 10 Appetizers, Side Dishes and Drinks of 2013

#1 My Favorite Twice Baked Potatoes

#2 Copycat Fritos Bean Dip

#3 Diana's Cheeseball

#4 Roasted Ranch Veggies

#5 Easy Lo Mein

#6 Steve's Wife's Sweet Potato Casserole

#7 Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate

#8 Creamy Vegetable Medley Casserole

#9 Copycat Panda Express Chow Mein

#10 Potstickers

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Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate

I must say that I am very happy with the presents I got for my family this year.  Last year, I had zero inspiration and pretty much got everyone gift cards.

Nothing against gift cards, I actually love to receive gift cards, but this year I was able to find presents for everyone without breaking the bank.

It has been nice to be finished with my shopping so early this year and to be able to sit back, relax and drink some hot chocolate.  

This is exactly what you need to warm up your whole body, especially on a snowy day like today. 

The flavor is incredible.

You will love it.

This is my last post before Christmas and I hope you all have a wonderful Holiday surrounded by Family and Friends.  

Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate
adapted from: Real Mom Kitchen
(Printable Recipe) or (Printable with Picture)

1 c. heavy cream
1/4 c. light brown sugar
4 oz. chocolate and caramel squares
1/4 tsp. salt
4 c. milk

Optional Toppings
mini marshmallows
caramel sauce
whipped cream
sprinkles

Heat heavy cream, light brown sugar, chocolate squares and salt in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring frequently.  Once chocolate is melted and sugar is dissolved, add the milk.  Continue to heat over medium-low heat until warmed through.  Divide between 3-4 cups and garnish with desired toppings.

Jenn's Notes: I used a 4 oz. bar of Cadbury Caramel and Chocolate squares and the flavor was incredible.  You can use your favorite brand or you could even use different flavors (mint, orange, raspberry) or types of chocolate (milk, dark, white) to switch up the flavor.  

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Hash Brown Sausage Breakfast Casserole

Growing up, I honestly don't remember ever having breakfast on Christmas morning.  We were all about the toys and playing with them ALL DAY LONG while we munched on the candy and oranges that were stuffed in our stockings.  

Nowadays, my Mom usually makes a delicious Monkey Bread for a breakfast treat.

Since a lot of you guys love to serve breakfast on Christmas morning, I wanted to share with you a delicious Casserole.  Most of it will need to be prepared in the morning, but you could cook the sausage and onion the night before and refrigerate until the morning.  

I loved this casserole way more than I thought I would.  I was worried my hash browns weren't going to get crispy, but they DID.  I think my cast-iron skillet helped with that.

The flavor was awesome and we both went back for seconds.  

Not a sausage person?  Try bacon or ham.  In fact, maybe next time I will try half sausage for "The Mr." and half ham for me?

BTW - If you are wondering why half of it is speckled and half isn't,  it is because "The Mr." topped his half with red pepper flakes and all kinds of seasonings, while I left my half plain.  

Hash Brown Sausage Breakfast Casserole

adapted from: Taste of Home
(Printable Recipe) or (Printable with Picture)

1 (20 oz.) pkg. frozen shredded hash browns, thawed
3 Tbl. melted butter
1 teaspoon chicken bouillon powder (I used Shirley J)
pepper
1/2 Lb. ground breakfast sausage
1/3 c. onion, finely chopped
1 cup cottage cheese
3 eggs
4 slices American cheese 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a large bowl, combine the hash browns, melted butter, chicken bouillon and pepper.  Toss together to combine.  Press into the bottom and up the sides of a  10-inch cast-iron skillet.  Bake for 25-30 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.

Meanwhile, in a medium skillet, cook sausage and onion over medium heat until cooked through; drain.  Remove from heat and allow to cool for a few minutes.

In a large bowl with a pour spout, whisk together cottage cheese and eggs.  Tear up the cheese into chunks and stir into egg mixture.  Stir in the slightly cooled sausage and season with pepper.  

Pour into baked crust.  Return to oven and bake for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Slice and serve.  Makes 4 servings.   

Jenn's Notes:  I made this exactly as I typed it above and served with diced tomatoes, chopped cilantro, green salsa and hot sauce.  

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