Dear Friends,
I hope your holiday is going swimmingly. I'm just here...checking in real quick, and asking if it's okay if I take another week off? Pretty please? I'm just not ready to come back to work. You see that sweet little babe wrapped up in a towel after her bath? I need more snuggle time with her. Plus, I decided to throw a last-minute New Year's Eve party, we have 2 kids' birthday parties coming up, and I have company this weekend. My bestie from middle school is coming to town, and I couldn't be more excited for him to meet Camille! I need more time to cram in these wonderful life moments.
So, in the meantime, I'm checking in to share the top recipes of 2015. It was a fantastic year filled with 2 dogs, 2 cookbooks, and 1 baby.
But what did we eat this year?
Let's take a look back!
Your #1 favorite recipe this year was these big ass salty caramel chocolate chip cookies. I made these after I stood in line at Magnolia Bakery to order pretty little cupcakes, and my husband ordered the salty caramel chocolate chip cookie. I took one bite of his and knew he made the right decision. (He always orders better than me!). So, I came home and recreated them. I love them and make them a few times a month.
I guess all those salty cookies made you thirsty, because you guys raved about this Rosé Lemonade. It couldn't be simpler--equal parts leftover rosé and lemonade. Make your own lemonade if you wanna, use store-bought if you gotta. It all tastes good here.
It took me months, but I finally mastered a small batch of croissants for you. And then what did I do? Stuff them with chocolate and make chocolate croissants! You guys loved these even more than the plain croissants!
Since I'm trying to take over the world with my small-batch empire, I started sharing cooking videos with you this year. It's all part of my master plan to replace Giada on Food Network. You know this. You can check out all of my videos here, but the one you guys loved the most is when I showed you exactly how to make my S'mores Dip!
I wrote 'eat more sweet potatoes' on my New Year's resolution list last year. It was so easy with these Melting Potatoes. They're baked entirely in the oven, and the maple-pecan sauce is entirely optional except it's not.
2015 was the year of the marshmallow! I scaled down marshmallows and made them in a bread loaf pan. When they're diced, they make 8 big fat marshmallows. While my original small-batch marshmallow recipe is popular (and so are the corn-syrup free marshmallows made with maple syrup), these chocolate marshmallows were your favorite by a landslide. I don't blame you one bit.
Oh, and berry-swirl marshmallows? Get outta town!
Do you guys really like chocolate, or do you really like chocolate? I made this fudge-bottom chocolate cake as an homage to one of my favorite bloggers, Mel. You loved it! And I love you!
I teamed up with Martha Stewart online this year, and scaled down some of their most popular recipes. This gluten-free chocolate pie with coconut crust was irresistible! You guys loved that the recipe only has 4 ingredients. Yes, FOUR!
My girl Sarah recently pointed out to me that I'm the queen of easy yet indulgent desserts. Well, she didn't exactly call me a queen, but I gave myself the title because I'm fabulous like that. But these no-bake cheesecake parfaits prove just that--the cheesecake is made with melted white chocolate, cream cheese and a touch of sugar. You can whip it up in less than 5 minutes. The blackberry sauce on top is the icing on the cheesecake.
I'm not sure if you guys really like chocolate, or if you just really liked staring at my pregnant belly in the photo shoot for my Mini Chocolate Layer Cakes. Babies and chocolate are both pretty great, if you ask me.
Psst! More belly peeks in my Mini Lemon Layer Cakes post!
You were probably starting to feel guilty after all that chocolate, because y'all loved my Roasted Vegetable Lasagna. I make a small lasagna in a bread loaf pan for two very generous servings. Since then, I've made two versions of skillet lasagna to make it even faster. Check out my White Skillet Lasgane and my classic meat sauce Skillet Lasgana.
So, there's no recipe for my #12 most popular post in 2015. I shared the news that Dessert for Two was becoming Dessert for Three, and shared photos of my very pregnant self stuffing my face with chocolate cake perched on my very pregnant 6-month belly. I meant to share the cake recipe with you, really, I did. But, I ate it all so fast, it just wasn't possible. Sorry about that.
Thank you guys for all the sweet, supportive comments on that post. It still makes me cry to this day. When I shared photos of Camille when she was 4 days old, and the internet monsters came out to attack me, you guys lifted me back up. I can never thank you enough for your support. I love you guys to the moon and back.
I'll see you guys in a few more days...just as soon as this dreamy vacation is over.
Love and cupcakes,
Christina
Melanie | Melanie Makes says
Wishing you only the best for you and your sweet family of three in the new year, my friend!
Jane S. says
Enjoy this time with your family! You deserve it! Best wishes to all of you!
judy says
Please replace Giada. But keep your boobs covered.
Abby @ The Frosted Vegan says
Lots of love to you my dear! So happy that we got to hug and chat in person this year, you are a gem! xo
Monica says
Enjoy the time with your family and precious baby girl. She is adorable!
I received your dessert book for Christmas and I'm so excited to bake more of your recipes. They are awesome - those red velvet cupcakes have made a few appearances at my house (there are just 3 of us). Thanks so much for doing what you do. I appreciate it and wish you much happiness in 2016!
ChristineM says
Congrats on a very successful and wonderful year Christina! I absolutely love your site, and made a few of your desserts recently and just love them all.
Christina Lane says
Thank you so much, Christine! It's nice to meet you :)
Devona says
Happy New Year! Take your time and enjoy that little beauty..we'll be here waiting patiently for more fabulous recipes when you return!
ankita says
Beautiful website! Loved it! Congrats on stepping up from two to three! Cheers! :)
Janabelle says
Thanks so much for the reminder on these recipes. I somehow missed the sweet potato recipe and now it's all I can think about. Must do this tonight.
Happy New Year!
Christina Lane says
Haha, well that's a shame! Glad you got it now. It's my favorite :)