Welcome to Strawberry Blondie Kitchen, where we celebrate delicious food and culinary adventures! As 2016 drew to a close, we embarked on a delightful journey to revisit the recipes that captured your hearts and taste buds throughout the year. This special roundup presents the Top Ten Most Popular Recipes of 2016, a collection that spans from invigorating drinks and satisfying sandwiches to comforting pasta dishes, decadent desserts, and sophisticated cocktails. Each recipe tells a story of flavor, creativity, and shared enjoyment. Thank you for being an integral part of our community. Your enthusiasm fuels our passion, and we invite you to stay hungry for more culinary inspiration!
Reflecting on a Delicious Year: Strawberry Blondie Kitchen’s Journey and 2017 Aspirations
The year 2016 was truly remarkable for Strawberry Blondie Kitchen. It was a period of significant growth, learning, and connection with all of you, our incredible readers. We poured our hearts into creating recipes that were not just delicious but also approachable, aiming to inspire joy in your own kitchens. Now, as we step into 2017, my vision for this blog is clearer and more ambitious than ever. The number seven has always been my lucky charm, and I’m channeling that energy into meticulous planning and passionate execution to elevate this “little” corner of the internet to new heights. This transformation begins with a renewed commitment from me, the heart behind Strawberry Blondie Kitchen.
While I often envision myself as a master planner, the reality is a bit more chaotic. I can orchestrate a child’s birthday party with the precision of a seasoned event manager, yet when it comes to consistently scheduling content for the blog, it sometimes takes a backseat to my many other responsibilities. Case in point: this very post, a roundup of our most beloved recipes from 2016, is making its appearance on the third day of January – a tad later than anticipated. In my defense, the holiday season was a whirlwind, and with my husband just returning to work today, it felt like the perfect moment to dive back into my own schedule with full force.
Today marked a crucial step in that direction as I dedicated time to planning two full months of content. Our upcoming culinary calendar is packed with an exciting array of dishes, from lightened-up recipes perfect for New Year resolutions, to hearty dinners, decadent desserts, refreshing cocktails, cozy lattes, game-day football snacks, and comforting soups. By openly sharing my planning efforts, I’m holding myself accountable to you, my cherished readers. This blog is more than just a collection of recipes; it’s a labor of love, a testament to how far we’ve come, and a profound expression of my unwavering passion for food.
Rediscovering the Essence of Good Food: Our Culinary Philosophy for the New Year
Often, when I’m brainstorming new recipes, I find joy in giving classic dishes a unique twist or reimagining them with an unexpected flair. While this creative process is incredibly fun and often leads to exciting results, I’ve decided that 2017 calls for a subtle shift in focus. My goal is to take Strawberry Blondie Kitchen a step back to its core, to truly hone in on what you, our incredible audience, are genuinely seeking: simply, really good food. I’m not planning to chase after fleeting food fads, although I confess a deep affection for kale and am intrigued by the buzz around cauliflower being the vegetable of 2017 – both of which I enjoy immensely. Instead, my primary focus will be on the kind of dishes you’ve consistently loved and gravitated towards over the past year and a half.
What I’ve observed is a clear preference for down-home, comforting, stick-to-your-ribs delicious food and drinks. These are the recipes that truly resonate, offering warmth, satisfaction, and a touch of nostalgia. This year, my commitment is to bring you more of these beloved, soul-satisfying creations, ensuring that every dish from Strawberry Blondie Kitchen feels like a warm embrace.
A Quick Look Back: Enduring Favorites from 2015
Before we dive headfirst into the highlights of 2016, it’s only fair to give a heartfelt shout-out to some of the perennial favorites that continued to dominate our charts, even from their 2015 debut. You truly have exceptional taste! Our Mango Green Tea Lemonade has been an undeniable sensation, holding the top spot as our most-pinned recipe since its refreshing introduction in August 2015. Close on its heels is the wonderfully warming Spiced Pear Moscow Mule, a testament to its unique and inviting flavor profile. And let’s not forget the ever-popular Grilled Shrimp Tacos, which remain a strong runner-up to these two stellar beverages. These timeless recipes exemplify the kind of deliciousness we strive for, and their continued popularity truly speaks volumes about their quality and appeal.
The Highly Anticipated Countdown: Strawberry Blondie Kitchen’s Top 10 Recipes of 2016!
While we cherish our past triumphs, the moment has arrived to unveil the culinary superstars of 2016. Get ready to explore the ten recipes that captured your imaginations, graced your tables, and became instant favorites. These are the dishes that were clicked, shared, pinned, and recreated countless times throughout the year. Let the countdown begin!
10. Cranberry Apple Rosemary Sangria
Kicking off our top ten is the vibrant and festive Cranberry Apple Rosemary Sangria. This enchanting blend of tart cranberries, crisp apples, warm cinnamon, fragrant rosemary, and a medley of seasonal fruits made it the quintessential cocktail of autumn. Its delightful balance of sweet and savory notes, coupled with its stunning visual appeal, made it an absolute hit for gatherings, holiday parties, or simply a cozy evening at home. It’s a sophisticated yet incredibly easy-to-make drink that brought warmth and cheer to many throughout the fall season.
9. Brown Sugar Stuffed Banana Bread
Claiming the ninth spot is a true masterpiece of comfort baking: our Brown Sugar Stuffed Banana Bread. This isn’t just any banana bread; it’s an extraordinary quick bread featuring a super moist crumb generously ribboned with a luscious brown sugar cream cheese filling and infused with aromatic spices. The combination creates a rich, tender, and incredibly flavorful loaf that is simply irresistible. Many of you declared it the best banana bread recipe you’ve ever tried, and we couldn’t agree more! It’s perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a sweet afternoon treat.
8. Pumpkin Spice Cream Cheese Muffins
At number eight, we have the quintessential treat of fall: Pumpkin Spice Cream Cheese Muffins. These delightful muffins are bursting with the comforting flavors of autumn, packed with aromatic spices, generously stuffed with a creamy, tangy cream cheese filling, and topped with a sprinkle of sugared pepitas for a delightful crunch. They embody everything wonderful about the cooler months and quickly became a go-to recipe for breakfast, snacks, or dessert during pumpkin spice season. Their popularity is a testament to their perfect balance of sweetness, spice, and texture.
7. Banana Split Popsicles
Taking the seventh spot, these Banana Split Popsicles proved to be an irresistible frozen delight. Layers of fresh, sweet strawberries, creamy bananamilk, and rich chocolate bananamilk come together to recreate the beloved flavors of a classic banana split in a refreshing, handheld format. These popsicles were a massive hit with both adults and children alike, offering a guilt-free and incredibly satisfying way to cool down during warmer days. They’re simple to make, vibrant in color, and bursting with fruity, chocolatey goodness.
6. Arnold Palmer Cheesecake Bars
At number six, we have a truly innovative dessert that perfectly marries two classic flavors: Arnold Palmer Cheesecake Bars. These tangy, tart lemon cheesecake bars are beautifully topped with a sweet tea caramel sauce, creating a harmonious blend that captures the essence of the famous half-and-half drink. It’s a sophisticated twist on a beloved beverage, transforming your favorite thirst-quencher into a delightful dessert. The interplay of bright citrus and deep caramel notes made these bars an instant favorite for picnics, potlucks, or simply a unique sweet treat.
5. Veggie Stuffed Shells
Breaking into the top five is our wonderfully wholesome and satisfying Veggie Stuffed Shells. These jumbo pasta shells are generously packed with a vibrant medley of hearty vegetables and creamy, savory cheese, then smothered in a rich and delicious garlic pasta sauce. This dish proves that vegetarian meals can be incredibly fulfilling and flavorful. It’s so good, in fact, that even the most avid meat-eaters have been known to ask for second and third helpings! A perfect weeknight dinner that’s both nutritious and utterly comforting.
4. Butterfinger Cheesecake Pie
Taking the fourth spot is a dessert lover’s dream come true: the Butterfinger Cheesecake Pie. This indulgent creation is a symphony of textures and flavors, featuring layers of a rich chocolate cookie crust, a creamy peanut butter cheesecake, generous chunks of BUTTERFINGER® Cup Eggs, a decadent chocolate ganache, and a fluffy peanut butter frosting. It’s an absolute showstopper and a guaranteed hit for anyone who adores the classic combination of chocolate and peanut butter, especially with that signature Butterfinger crunch. This pie is pure bliss in every single bite!
3. Slow Cooker Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato Soup
Earning the bronze medal is our incredibly comforting and flavorful Slow Cooker Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato Soup. This recipe starts with garden-fresh vegetables, perfectly roasted to enhance their natural sweetness and depth. These flavorful ingredients are then lovingly placed in the slow cooker to simmer until tender, resulting in a soup that is both rich and profoundly satisfying. Topped with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and fragrant basil, and served alongside a chunk of hearty bread, it transforms into the perfect fuss-free weeknight dinner. Its ease of preparation combined with its gourmet taste made it a standout favorite.
2. Pillsbury™ Girl Scout™ Baking Mixes: Caramel & Coconut Blondies and Thin Mints® Brownies
Securing the second spot, this post celebrated an exciting collaboration that brought pure joy to countless kitchens: Pillsbury™ Girl Scout™ Baking Mixes. Who can possibly resist the iconic flavors of Girl Scout Cookies? This ingenious partnership allowed us to enjoy the familiar and beloved taste of Thin Mints® and Samoas (Caramel & Coconut) cookies throughout the entire year, long after cookie season ended. We showcased how these Pillsbury mixes perfectly capture the essence of Caramel & Coconut Blondies and Thin Mints® Brownies. Pillsbury truly “nailed it,” bringing these cherished flavors into our homes in an easy-to-make format. We even shared printable “Welcome to the Neighborhood” tags, encouraging you to share these delightful treats with your new neighbors!
1. Bacon, Havarti and Peach Wafflewiches
And finally, the moment you’ve been waiting for! Crowned as the absolute most popular recipe of 2016 from Strawberry Blondie Kitchen is the incredibly unique and utterly delicious Bacon, Havarti and Peach Wafflewiches. This unexpected combination quickly became a sensation, proving that sometimes the best flavors come from the most creative pairings. Crispy, savory bacon, melty, buttery Havarti cheese, and sweet, juicy peaches are perfectly sandwiched between golden waffles, creating an ultimate “wafflewich” that both kids and parents simply couldn’t get enough of. These wafflewiches come together in a snap, making them an ideal choice for a quick breakfast, a satisfying brunch, or even a light and flavorful dinner. Their harmonious blend of sweet, salty, and savory notes, along with their ease of preparation, made them the undisputed champion of the year!
And there you have it, our wonderful community – the most celebrated, drooled-over, pinned, shared, and truly delicious Top 10 Recipes of 2016 from yours truly, Strawberry Blondie Kitchen. It has been an absolute pleasure revisiting these culinary highlights and reflecting on the flavors that defined our year together.
I cannot thank you enough for being with me through this incredibly tasty journey. This little space on the interweb, Strawberry Blondie Kitchen, is more than just a blog to me; it’s a creative outlet, a passion project, and a growing archive of cherished family recipes. My deepest hope is that one day, my own children will be able to cook from these digital pages, much like I cherished my grandmother’s handwritten cookbooks. While those dog-eared, stain-splattered pages perfectly encapsulated the hard work, love, and devotion she poured into every single recipe, I believe this modern format offers its own unique legacy. It’s a living cookbook, continually evolving and accessible to future generations, demonstrating the same love for good food.
From the bottom of my full and happy stomach, thank you for making 2016 such a wonderfully delicious year! I look forward with immense excitement to 2017 and all the new flavors, techniques, and culinary discoveries it has in store for us. As we move forward, I encourage you all to stay hungry for knowledge, stay adventurous in your cooking endeavors, and remain ambitious in pursuing all your passions. Best of luck in everything you undertake in 2017! Here’s to a year filled with delicious moments and cherished memories. Cheers!
