Favorite Recipes of 2013

With our first baby born at the beginning of 2013, it's been quite a year for our family - in a great, wonderful way.  And while I definitely haven't posted as much in 2013, we still had some great recipes.  After looking over all the recipes from 2013 and picking our favorites, my husband commented, "We ate well this year."  And I agree.

Favorite Recipes of 2013

Pumpkin Scones - I actually made these last year but never blogged about them.  But when fall rolled around, I made them (again) and thought (again) that they were just wonderful.  And since you can freeze them, they became a pretty perfect Saturday breakfast - simple and delicious, especially with a cup of coffee.

Almond Milk - A game changer. I was hesitant about switching from cow's milk to almond milk because some of the store-bought almond milk tasted off to me (and I didn't love the ingredients or price either).  But I love homemade almond milk and it's so simple to make!  We almost always have a jar in the fridge now.

Easy No-Knead Artisan Bread - This is pretty much the only bread I bake now.  Not only is it easy and I love the flavor but it gives it a great crust.  Plus, who can resist fresh baked bread?

Light Buttermilk Biscuits - I love, love, love biscuits.  And finding ones that have a little less butter but rise just as high and have an amazing taste.  Plus, you can make a big batch and freeze the extra dough for future meals!

Pizza Bites - We love appetizers and we love pizza.  So pizza bites definitely deserve a spot here.  They can get a little messy but so, so good.

Cast-Iron Skillet Pizza - This is a way to try to replicate a wood fired pizza at home.  I've had some flops with this but most of the time, it comes out so soft and delicious with the slightly smoky taste that wood fired pizza gives.

Cajun Cod with Praline Sauce and Dirty Rice - We need to have this again soon.  All the ingredients work really well together in this dish but the praline sauce is what makes it really amazing.

Chicken Fajitas - I've always loved chicken fajitas and so finding a recipe for at home was a must.  And since most chicken fajitas are done on a grill, this is a bonus that it can be done in the oven instead. Plus, you can pile this high with guacamole, salsa, and Greek yogurt.

Pasta with Kale, Cranberries, Feta & Kalamatas - My husband and I were both a little concerned when I decided to make this but somehow, it just works with the combination of salty and a little sweet, and some great texture.  My husband's favorite pasta dish.

Pecan Pie Bars - While I only got to try one bar of these, they were wonderful.  All the flavor of pecan pie but we loved the shortbread crust even better than tradition pie crust.  Definitely a favorite of ours!