Every January, I post out what are your favorite recipes on my site on my New & Old post. The ones that are the most popular and it is always a surprise! And of course, it gives me a lot of insight into what “you” might be looking for in a recipe. The problem is, that’s a collective “you” meaning it’s based on the number of visits to each recipe or post. Each view is a “click” that is added up by the “Jetpack” elves, Jetpack being a feature on my WordPress site, and WordPress is my “host” that I pay to keep my site on.
And sometimes a recipe does what we food bloggers refer to as “going viral.” It might be a post that’s popular because the picture is good, or it manages to come up first on a google search, or it might have been picked up by a Pinterest influencer. Those things make those posts reach a wider audience and a lot of “clicks” get added up. That’s wonderful for a food blogger, and I love all the recipes that pop up as my top 10 every year. They’re all deserving in their own way.
What those insights and statistics don’t tell me is what all of you that read my blog regularly, and visit often whether you comment or not, like. Your visits get outnumbered by the larger amount of “clicks” from the popular recipes if that makes sense. And that’s a bit of a shame, because just like at home when I make a recipe that family or friends love, I try to figure out what it is they love about it and make more of it, I try to do some of that, here.
I love it when anyone visits, but I love it most when you guys that follow me pop in. I wish sometimes there were a way to distinguish you from visitors that look at one recipe and never come back, because I think of you as a “community.” I suppose that would be invasive, though, even if it could be done. So keep commenting if you love a recipe because that does give me some of that insight and I’ll keep trying to find, make and develop more of what you love! (I think most cooks are people pleasers at heart!)
In the meantime, I thought it might be fun to highlight MY favorite recipes on my site. The ones I love and make over and over, so they aren’t necessarily the “fancy” recipes although I love so many of those, too. It’s just the opposite, these are some of the most “do-able” (and delish) ones on my site & most are longtime family favorites. And most of these aren’t very “popular.” Oh, this is going to be tough!! I thought I could pick just one from each category. I couldn’t – so this post is much longer than I imagined!
Click on the Label for each category to get to my menus. Or if you want to see all my recipes, start with my Main Menu.
Favorite Appetizer:
My all-time favorite appetizer is Red Lentil Dip with a Spanish Flair. It’s a little homely but out of this world delish! Among my friends and family, I’m known for this Savory Smoked Salmon Cheesecake that I often bring to parties. And when I want to go all out, like for a game day, I like to serve this pain in the patootie to make (it has taco meat, queso, and guacamole so it is a bit of doing to pull off) Bob Armstrong Dip. There’s my Mom’s Smoked Salmon Spread, always reliable, Salsa from Nothin’ that I whip up all the time and my new Easy Homemade Boursin Cheese. My most viewed appetizer of all time is Million Dollar Dip.
Favorite Beverage:
My favorite and I might say “Signature” Beverage is this Spiced Tea that can be served warm or chilled and can be turned into a punch with the addition of ginger ale or something else bubbly. It’s great for any time of year. Bring some to a sick friend. I am a sucker for this Apple Pie Moonshine and nothing beats this Best Hot Chocolate. I don’t mess around with my smoothies, see Build a Better Smoothie, I love Orange Julias and can’t resist a California Date Shake. The Most viewed on my site is Nonalcoholic Substitutes for Alcohol or Wine in Cooking.
Favorite Bread:
I love making this super easy five minutes to mix and rises overnight Crusty Bread. And this kind of filled sandwich, the Original Cheese Zombie (Lord help me, it’s filled with Velveeta but soooo good) just sends me over the moon. And even though it’s a Quick Bread, my Grandmother’s Pumpkin Bread is amazing. There’s no denying Milk Bread is special, I love Popovers in a Muffin Tin and don’t pass up on my family’s Parmesan Toast. Most viewed bread: Definitely Pat Nixon’s Date Nut Bread.
Breakfast & Brunch:
I love so many of my Breakfast & Brunch recipes! If you were going to throw me off a cliff if I didn’t choose just three, I’d have to say: these Big, Beautiful Muffins have never let me down and there are dozens of variations. My go-to is Egg in a Mug, a two or three-minute microwave recipe. A longtime family fave is my Scottish Oatmeal Pancakes. But oh, Tanya’s Hashbrown Omelet, these Silver Dollar Pancakes, and these Featherbed Eggs. Ok, don’t toss me off a cliff – I’m stopping, I’m stopping! The most viewed and an excellent recipe is my Baked Hotel Eggs. They’re pretty amazing! Game-changing, even.
Condiments:
Some things you just can’t buy and a special condiment can make the meal! There’s Pride of Deercamp Barbecue Sauce and it will take the hair off your chest. I always have a jug. This Sweet Magnolia Barbecue Sauce, so different. My Asian Dipping Sauce is another I always have on hand. I use to dip & to put in other recipes. This Fire Roasted Tomatillo Salsa is something special, you’ll fall for this Garden Chili Sauce and you’ll want Cilantro Lime Crema on everything. The most popular? Cook’s Illustrated Cheater’s Demi-Glace. Who knew?
Desserts:
Alright, now I am seriously doubting my ability to pick just a few! Uffdah! I know our favorite go-to birthday cake, Cafe Latte’s Turtle Cake deserves a place. And my Inner Sanctum Chocolate Cake, minutes to make needs to be here. As for number three, after scanning through every recipe, I have to choose Three-Berry Shortcakes that I make for any summer holiday. It’s red, white & blue without any dramatics. I’m sneaking in Bill’s Chocolate Chip Cookies, the best on the planet, and my fave brownie, Hershey’s Ultimate Double Chocolate Brownie and this fab new Chocolate Meringue Brownie Cake. By far, the most popular for years and one of my most requested to bring somewhere is my Banana Sheetcake.
Mains:
I’ll just pick one from each category: In the beef category, I have made this Mexican Shredded Beef or Pork for decades in the oven or slow cooker & taken it to many parties and potlucks. Stole from the Galloping Gourmet by my Mom, this Basque Chicken is simply outstanding. A longtime fave, perfect for winter, Minnesota Bean Pot Cassoulet has two kinds of pork & chicken. I’m crazy wild for this Shrimp Curry with Cauliflower Rice. My meatless Sparrow Tavern Veggie Burgers are a pain but I make a bunch & freeze them. Casseroles are a tough category for me to choose from. I gotta say that this Shepherd’s Pie from Leftover Pot Roast is the one that makes my mouth water. While I love risotto, my favorite rice dish is this Porcupine Skillet. I’m just crazy about this one-skillet meal. And choosing a pasta dish was tough. I’m torn. I chose Vera Hinman’s Noodle Dish, a childhood fave but Slow Cooker Bolognese is a close second. Leading the pack, my most viewed Main Dish recipe is Instant Pot Pork Chop One Pot Meal.
Salads:
You know I have a lot of salads on my site, both main dish and side salads of all kinds, from lettuce, to pasta, chicken, and rice. My favorite main dish salad is hands down, Taphouse Salad. Surprise, there is a Smashburger in it & a lot of components but so worth it. My fave side salad is Summer Bean Salad…it’s a little fussy too but one taste will convince you. Winning in the potato salad category is this Loaded Potato Salad. My go-to slaw is a family fave, Vinegar Based Slaw. I’ve been making it for about 40 years. This old fashioned Tuna Mac Salad gets me every time & is a go-to pasta salad when it is too hot to cook. My fave salad with fruit is also a main dish salad, Arugula & Peach Salad with Bacon & Feta. My go-to need a little something to round out lunch or dinner is this Bell Pepper & Tomato Salad. And the salad with the most views, ever? This much-copied Honey Citrus Vinaigrette with Salad Options. Yes, I see you, other bloggers with my recipe! It IS that good!
Sandwiches & Burgers:
Think quality, not quantity. I don’t eat a lot of burgers and sandwiches, so when I do post one, ya gotta know I think it’s the best. I’m in love with Kaltenbach Farms Sloppy Joes – they make a lot and they’re good & zesty. This Thai Chicken Burger is outstanding & ya gotta love a good sandwich from leftover Roast Beef, this Bourbon Bacon Barbecue Pot Roast Sandwich. I made this Chicken Avocado Salad first for Arepas and make it all the time for sandwiches. If you’re in the mood for a burger, think Copycat Smashburgers & the extravagant Beer Can Burgers are not your everyday burgers but are great for a cookout party. Oven Roasted Burgers are one of the top viewed posts on my site.
Hearty Sides & Vegetable Sides:
On the hearty side, these Simple Rustic Mashed Potatoes are a go-to; nothing fancy, just everyday goodness. I gotta give a shout out to my Mash in the Pot Instant Pot Cauliflower Rice. These Braised Chickpeas are a game changer. I toss chickpeas into a lot of salads & eat them as snacks. 1/2 cup a day. Stupid Simple French Fries are the answer to frozen and a fraction of the cost. If you want fancier, Hasselback Au Gratin Potatoes are amazing! For other veggies, Oven Roasted Broccoli is a staple at my house, Summer Squashes with Herbed Yogurt Sauce are almost a meal, and I’m crazy about Grilled Veggies with Tonkatsu Sauce. No Tonkatsu? No worries – it’s easy to make. I make this sauteed medley, Sweet Potato, Bell Pepper & Corn as a part of my Wild Rice & Smoked Turkey Chowder, but it’s so good I make it all the time on its own. Most viewed is this method for making canned refried beans Taste Like a Restaurant’s.
Soups, Chowders & Chilis:
It’s no secret I love me some soup! They are all faves but I’ll try to pick my most favoritest! Every time I see this soup on my site, I swear a craving starts, Cabbage Roll Soup. BBQ Chicken Chili uses all the liquid left from making pulled Chicken. Crazy good. My favorite Chicken or Turkey Noodle Soup is a standard. Creamy White Chicken Chili is amazing. I love to pour the juice from my pickled jalapenos in it. For your leftover ham, Cajun Ham & Rice Soup. There is more than Pho – try this Vietnamese Pork Noodle Soup. Smoked Sausage & Cabbage Soup is heartwarming! A long family favorite, I just love this Classic Split Pea. And I can’t live without my Denver Green Chili. I won’t leave out this Cà Ri Gà Vietnamese Chicken Curry even if it’s not technically a soup. And one of the top all-time posts on my site is my New Mexican Pozole.
Forgotten Arts:
I have a catchall category on my site, full of things I think are helpful or maybe just obscure. It includes my Spice & Packet Substitutions, a few Cultured Dairy recipes, and Pickled & Fermented Items. There are things like Making Your Own Brown Sugar, Homemade Bisquik and Canned Soup Substitutions just to name a few. Check it out – I think it’s full of fun stuff you might enjoy. The most popular recipe from this category is my Homemade Chorizo. It takes minutes to whip up with a food processor.
So this post is sure a lot longer than I ever dreamt it would be. And I sure used the work “love” a lot more than I ever have in my life. When I had the idea, I really thought I’d come up with about 10 recipes. I thought I could pick one favorite appetizer, one favorite beverage and so on. And of course, picking a fave is hard, too, because I have too many faves, and sometimes I might like a recipe for a while, even years, and then it falls out of the rotation. Most of these have stood the test of time at my house. Some I’ve been making for decades.
If you care to comment, I’d love to hear if any of my recipes have become a favorite at your house, and I’d love to know if you have if you have an all-time fave recipe of your own you’d like me to post here. Email me at frugal.hausfrau@gmail.com & I’ll take a look! Because you know, I’m always looking for my next favorite!
22 thoughts on “My Top Favorite Recipes”