Best of 2013: My Favorites

On Friday I brought you your favorite recipes from 2013 and today I'm bringing you my favorites. There were a few from your favorites that were also my favorites, which made coming up with this list more difficult. I tried a bunch of new recipes this year and a lot of them ended up being family favorites that I remake often.

13. Chicken with Prosciutto, Brie and Arugula

This is one meal I wish I could remake more often, but I've had a heck of a time finding arugula that doesn't spoil before I get it home from the store. This may have to be a summer-only dish when I can find arugula in my local farmers markets vs. the supermarket.

12. California Club Blue Cheese Chopped Salad

Whenever I want a dinner-size salad I turn to this recipe. We all love it and it's easy for me to prep all the ingredients ahead of time.

11. Grasshopper Mint Brownies

This is one of my top 3 favorite desserts. I made them for St. Patrick's in 2013 and I'll be doing the same this year. I love the minty flavor and the green color, plus they're insanely good.

10. Bang Bang Chicken Skewers

I've only been to Bonefish Grill a handful of times but we always get an order of their Bang Bang Shrimp. This version uses chicken instead, which is more economical for me, and grills them rather than fries them, which is much healthier. We had these quite a few times this summer.

9. Avocado and Cucumber Tartine

This tartine was one of my staple lunches in the spring and I can't wait to make it again. There's nothing like a crusty roll slathered with mashed avocado topped with sliced cucumber. It may sound like an odd lunch but it's positively delicious and surprisingly filling.

8. Broccoli Pesto Pasta

This is another family favorite. I love that it's meat-free but I also love how the broccoli is pureed to make a sauce rather than left whole. Very homey and satisfying.

7. Homemade Chicken Nuggets with Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce

I need to find a recipe for pickle juice so I can make this recipe more often. Soaking the chicken pieces in the juice and buttermilk before breading and frying them imparts such an intense, briny flavor. These are addictive, especially with the honey mustard sauce.

6. Grilled Chicken Caesar Flatbreads

I must have made these flatbreads a few dozen times this summer. It's a simple meal that I could throw together quickly and we all loved it. I'm looking forward to many more of these this summer.

5. Taco Rice

The beef mixture in this recipe is now my go-to for tacos of any kind, but I'm especially fond of this rice dish. It's all my favorite things about a taco in one bowl. There's something so satisfying about eating this and I especially love the contrasting flavors and textures.

4. Salted Fudge Brownies

Another of my favorite desserts, these brownies are special because of the sea salt mixed into the batter. I love that salty and sweet combo and these are fudgy, rich and delicious.

3. Citrus Chicken Burritos with Cilantro Lime Rice

These are, hands down, my favorite burrito of all time. I took two of my favorite recipes and combined them to make these burritos. While all the various components make them very time-consuming, I have to make them at least once a month to satisfy my craving. Perfect in every way.

2. Sausage and Spinach Egg Bake

This egg bake has become my go-to weekday breakfast. I keep a batch of these in the freezer and just heat up a slice and serve it with mayo mixed with hot sauce. So satisfying and delicious, plus it's easy to make.

1. Flatbread Pizzas with Roasted Tomatoes, Mozzarella and Spinach

We ate these flatbreads (and another variation with sausage) almost every Friday from June to September. I couldn't get enough of the oven-roasted tomatoes with the spinach and the fresh mozzarella cheese. I'm counting down the days until tomatoes are in season again so I can bring these back to the meal plan.