2011 Comes to a Close

I can hardly believe that today is the last day of 2011. This year has been a rollercoaster ride, full of lots of highs and lows. The lows have seemed to be worse this year than in the past, but because of those lows, this year has disappeared in the blink of an eye.

The major lows for me from this year have been the loss of my mother earlier this year, and my boyfriend moving to Northern Cali {7 hours away}.

My mom, Carol at our favorite desert getaway, La Casa del Zorro in Borrego Springs, CA.

The major highs for me from this year have been meeting some amazing new friends at school, finishing up my first ever semester of college with straight A’s, and of course, starting my blog!

My BFF, Jess, and I on my 22nd bday!

I am not usually one for “New Year’s Resolutions”, but this year I am actually making some. Unfortunately, I am going to be one of those people that has “join a gym/start working out” on my list, but I am in desperate need of it. This past year I’ve put on a lot of weight, which I think is partly due to me being depressed about my mom’s passing. Food has always been one of my loves, but my appetite has really grown this year and I find myself eating a lot more than I have in the past, a lot more than I know I should be. I’m by no means “fat” or “obese” but I’m getting a muffin top… and it needs to go away! I love me some muffins, but not when they stick above my pants!!!

Some of my other resolutions are to really keep up with my blog, especially with my Sweet Saturday/Savory Sunday/Musical Monday posts that I planned to do a few months ago.

I also wanted to spend today reflecting on this past year, and decided to share my Top 10 most visited posts from this year, so I hope you all enjoy them!

#10 on my list. This Creamy Peanut Butter Pie was baked back in August when Jennie, a fellow food blogger, lost her husband and father of her children. A bunch of people from the online food community came together and all baked pies in memory of her husband.

#9 on the list is my World of Warcraft backstory. I posted this back in August because I wanted to share with everyone how I got into WoW, where I meant the love of my life and boyfriend of 4 years, and what had taken up nearly 6 years of my life.

#8 on the list is my grandma's Angel Food Cake Frosting. I baked these cakes back in May for Easter. I absolutely LOVE Angel Food Cake, but only with this frosting. Every year on my birthday my mom would bake me two of these cakes, one for the family, and one for me because I'm a piggy *snortsnort*

#7 on the list are the delicious Individual Gorgonzola Beef Wellingtons. I made these in August for my Dad for Father's Day. These are so simple and are a real crowd pleaser. Plus, these are sure to make you look like you're the best cook in the world if you serve these!

#6 on the list is this sweet Mixed Berry Tart. I made this in late July for a family get together and everyone loved it to death. It is definitely a keeper recipe, and if you like berries, you should check it out!

#5 on the list is this quick and easy Southern Chicken and Dumplings. It has minimal ingredients, and feeds quite a few people. All you need is a crockpot and a few hours.

#4 on the list are my Mom's Sugar Cookies that I baked this month for The Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap. My mom and I made these cookies for a lot of holidays, and are a family tradition. I hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

#3 on the list are the Ultimate Vanilla Cupcakes I helped crown by Cupcake Project. The other 49 Cupcake Explorers and I went through three rounds before we found this recipe, but it was well worth it. These really are the ULTIMATE Vanilla cupcakes.

#2 on the list are these moist Copycat Sprinkles Red Velvet Cupcakes by Carrot Top Mom. I found her recipe back in January when I was looking for a Red Velvet Cupcake to bake for my mom's 65th birthday. She was in the hospital, so I wanted something small and portable, and these were just the thing! I love them, and I know you will too!

And finally, #1 on the list is this amazing Bacon-Swiss BBQ Chicken crockpot recipe. Like the Chicken and Dumplings {from the same cookbook}, it has minimal ingredients, and is a wonderfully simple summer meal.

Well, that’s it everyone! Those are the Top 10 posts most visited on my blog since I started it back in April! If you want to visit the post and check it out, you can click on the picture.

I hope that you all have a wonderful and safe New Years Eve tonight. And don’t forget, please please please don’t drink and drive tonight! Stay safe, and call AAA if you need a ride, they will tow your car and give you a lift FOR FREE if you need it!!

Stay safe, and I will see you all in the new year!!

 

♥ and harp strings,
Kate

Savory Sundays: Cottage Pie

Welcome to my first every Savory Sundays post! This will be a great way for me to really force myself to try new things and you all will *hopefully* be benefiting from it!!

Speaking of benefiting, you are about to learn 2 things.

I’m a college student, so I do lots of learning at school, so I’d like to share some knowledge with you.

However, neither of these things were learned at school.

First, Cottage Pie is simply Shepard’s Pie, but with beef instead of lamb.

Did you know that? Because I didn’t before I stumbled across this entry about a super delicious Cottage Pie recipe over at Tasty Kitchen.

Now you’ve learned one thing. Time for the second thing.

Peanut Butter Pie with no Regrets

Today has been a day for pies. Not just any pies though. Today was a day for Peanut Butter Pie.

Jennie over at In Jennie’s Kitchen lost her husband, Mikey, very suddenly due to a heart attack. She has not only lost her husband and love of her life, but the father of her 2 little girls. :’(

Comments have been pouring into her blog asking what people can do for her, because everyone who reads her story is just heartbroken over her loss, and we all wanted to reach out and help take some of the pain away, even if it’s only for a little bit.

 

Jennie’s response to everyone was simple.

Bake a Peanut Butter Pie in honor of Mikey.

It was his favorite pie.

So that’s what everyone did. Take a look at the number of pies that were made today in honor of Mikey!

 

From reading her post asking everyone to make a pie for Mikey, I realized something. Too often do we put important things off for “tomorrow” because it will get done “eventually”. Unfortunately for some of us, “tomorrow” never comes. I have so many regrets with my mom. There are recipes that will forever be lost because, unless by some miracle, I doubt I’ll ever come across them.

I also regret never being able to move out of the typical “mother/teenage daughter” relationship that we had, where we both basically got on each others’ nerves. I so desperately wanted the relationship that my sister’s had with her. Talking everyday on the phone, being friendly, etc. But it was hard for mom and I because we lived together.

I never got the chance to be an adult in my mom’s eyes.

 

So, now I ask you guys. Don’t make the same mistakes.

That dinner recipe your mom/dad/husband/wife/boyfriend/girlfriend absolutely loves? Don’t shove it off because your busy. Put in the extra effort and make it tonight.

Those cookies that your grandma/grandpa/niece/nephew adore? Go out of your way to make it for them. Maybe even let them help!

The cupcakes that your best friend loves you to make them when they’re having a bad day? Make them when they aren’t having a bad day.

 

Live your life to the fullest.

Live your life with no regrets.

Because you never know what tomorrow may bring.