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Saturday, December 31, 2016

2016: Review and Reflection

As 2016 comes to a close, I'm reflecting back on the past twelve months. What a magnificent year for Joyously Domestic it has been! This past summer, I entered my fifth year blogging here at JD. I say it every year when I compose these end-of-the-year posts, but I truly am blown away that I get to make blogging my "work." I just love sharing my love of food with all of you guys and creating this community along the way. I've gotten to know so many awesome people and I'm just so thankful that this is the job that I get to do on a daily basis.


Below you'll find links to my top TEN recipe posts from 2016. I truly appreciate all of the comments and emails that so many of you provide when you've made one of my recipes. I just love getting feedback (even when some of it at times isn't particularly positive) from my readers. And, it's helpful for other visitors when feedback is given after you've tried a recipe. If you haven't already, check out the most-popular recipes from the past twelve months.


 
I partnered with some wonderful companies this past year like, UncommonGoods and SeparAide. Back at the beginning of the year, one of my recipes was featured LIVE on The Today Show on NBC. (That was pretty darn amazing.) Elle Decor, the Food Network, the Cooking Channel and MSN, also, gave JD some "shout outs" this past year. And, I've got some exciting other things in the works for Joyously Domestic coming up in 2017, so be sure to stay tuned.
 
Our most-popular post of all time still remains my Slow Cooker "Melt In Your Mouth" Post Roast. My favorite recipe of this past year? It's probably a tie between my Apple Pie Croissant Pudding with Caramel Butter Foam Drizzle and Buffalo Cauliflower Bites.
 
And, since it really didn't get a chance to gain any momentum in 2016 due to being published just this past week, I have to acknowledge my Cheese Tortellini Party Appetizer for being like, a super amazing, super-duper easy appetizer that's just perfect for parties and holiday gathering. Give it a chance, guys ... it goes over swimmingly every single time I take it to parties. And, I'm, also, digging greatly this year on simple cheese boards for parties. Whatever cheeses, deli-style meats, fresh/dried fruits, crackers and the like that I either have on hand or am in the mood for, I load it all up with a little flair atop a huge wooden board. Simple as that.
 
 
Next, there's the FLOPS of 2016. The recipes that just didn't turn out. The photos I didn't share with you. The recipes that I either gave up on or the ones that still need more work.
 
This one sheet pan dinner looked soooooo much better prior to being cooked.
 
 
Then, there's these Cheesecake Gingerbread Cups that were already cracking even before they went into the oven. And, that filling ... oh, how it sank and melted into nothingness as it baked. (Maybe next year I'll get it right.)

 
And, lastly ... this looks pretty okay as I sit here and post it. But, when you accidently buy fiery HOT sausage and decide to give the recipe testing a "go" anyways, it makes it pretty difficult to even taste any of the other flavors you're trying to develop in this dish because well ... tongue on fire. (I never came back to working on this dish. Back burner, so-to-speak, I suppose.) 
 
 
Good thing being perfect in the kitchen isn't a requirement for having fun in it.
 
If you haven't already, I'd love to have you join me on social media. I spend a lot of time there ... posting behind-the-scenes photos as I test new recipes, sharing glimpses into family life in the JD household, sharing sneak peeks into upcoming posts and much more. Don't miss out!
 
 

Bring on 2017 and here's to hoping it's the most amazing year yet!
 
Angela
 


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