Top Ten Favorite Recipe Finds of 2010

I made so much seriously awesome food in 2010, mostly thanks to Gina's Skinny Taste website, that it was hard to narrow it down to ten recipes. Nevertheless, I managed to condense the list. These are in permanent rotation now--tried and true. I've linked to the recipe wherever possible, otherwise I've provided the recipe below.


1. Pork Carnitas with Cilantro Lime Rice and Pico de Gallo (serve with light sour cream, guacamole, and tortillas if desired)

2. Rosemary-Lemon Meatballs & Tomato Sauce (from Martha Stewart's Everyday Food, Fresh Flavor Fast)
1 tbsp olive oil
1 small onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 cans (28 oz each) whole, peeled tomatoes
1/4 tsp dried oregano

Heat oil over medium in pot. Cook onion and garlic, stirring, 2-4 minutes. Add tomatoes (with their juice) and oregano. Simmer, breaking up tomatoes, until thickened, about 20-30 minutes. Buzz with stick blender, if desired. Season with salt and pepper. Meanwhile, make meatballs.

8 oz ground beef
8 oz ground pork (all beef is okay, too)
1 1/2 cups panko bread crumbs
1 egg
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tsp fresh (or 1/2 tsp dried) rosemary, finely chopped
1 tbsp finely grated lemon zest, plus 1 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 tbsp olive oil

In a large bowl combine all ingredients except the oil. Shape into 12 meatballs. Heat oil in large skillet or pot, and brown meatballs for 10-12 minutes, turning the balls as needed. Carefully pour sauce into the skillet, bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, simmer 8-10 minutes or until balls are cooked through. Serve with or without pasta.

3. Barbecue-Glazed Turkey Meatloaf
1 1/4 lbs ground turkey breast
1/3 cup dried, seasoned breadcrumbs
1/4 cup shredded, lowfat cheddar cheese
1/4 cup onion, minced
1 egg
1 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
2 tbsp ketchup
2 tsp light brown sugar
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp spicy brown mustard

Line bottom and side of slowcooker with foil. Mix turkey, bread crumbs, cheese, onion, egg, oregano, salt, and pepper in medium bowl with hands until well combined. Shape into a loaf and place on foil in slowcooker. Cover slowcooker and cook 3-4 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low. Combine ketchup, sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and mustard in a small bowl. Spoon mixture over meatloaf, spreading it out smoothly. Cover slowcooker and cook until glaze is set, about 30 minutes longer. Using the foil to help, lift the meatloaf out and cut into 6 slices. 

4. Shepard's Pie, Lightened Up (serve with a dollop of light sour cream that has been flavored with a bit of tomato paste)

5. Suet
This one is not for humans. And I can't find the recipe. But I've really enjoyed, for two years in a row, watching my children make homemade "suet" cakes for the birds in our backyard. My dad leads them in this task. It involves peanut butter, Crisco, and getting your hands dirty. I'll need to get the recipe from him to post here. My kids are seriously into the backyard birds because of this. I love it.

6. Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting (from the Usborne Children's Book of Baking)
2 medium carrots, grated
3 eggs, lightly beaten
3/4 cup sunflower oil (I used canola)
1 cup sugar
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 350. Grease a small cake pan (7x11 inches) with spray. Line with parchment if desired. Beat oil and sugar together in large bowl. Add beaten eggs and beat well. Stir in carrots. Sift flour, powder, soda, cinnamon, ginger, and salt over mixture. Gently fold everything together. Spoon mixture into pan. Bake 45 minutes until well-risen and firm. Allow to cool, in or out of pan as desired.

1 cup powdered sugar
8 oz lowfat cream cheese, room temp
1 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp vanilla

Sift sugar into a bowl. Add cream cheese, lemon juice, and vanilla. Beat well. Spoon onto cooled cake and spread it out.

7. Spicy Chicken Cakes with Horseradish Aioli (found this one on DailyPlate)
2 (1 1/2 ounce) slices whole wheat bread
1 lb skinless, boneless chicken breast
1/4 cup chopped, fresh chives
3 tbsp lowfat mayo
1 tsp Cajun seasoning
1/4 tsp salt
2 egg whites
2 tsp canola oil

Place bread in food processor, pulse 10 times or until crumbs measure 1 cup (discard remaining crumbs). Set aside. Place chicken in processor. Pulse until ground. Combine chicken, chives, mayo, seasoning, salt, egg whites, and breadcrumbs in medium bowl. Form into 8 cakes, 1/2 inch thick. heat oil in nonstick skillet over medium heat. Cook patties 7 minutes each side.

2 tbsp lowfat mayo
2 tsp prepared horseradish
1 tsp bottled, minced garlic
1/8 tsp salt

To prepare aioli, combine the above 4 ingredients in a small bowl. (I usually double the amount.)

8. Garlic Roasted Broccoli (best side dish ever)

9. Dijon Roasted Potatoes
2 tbsp mustard
1 tsp olive oil
3/4 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp dried thyme
1/4 tsp pepper
1 1/2 lbs uncooked new potatoes, red or white, quartered or halved

Preheat oven to 425. Coat 9x13 pan with cooking spray. In a large bowl, whisk together the mustard, oil, paprika, salt, thyme, and pepper. Add potatoes and stir to coat.  Transfer to baking dish and roast for 15 minutes. Stir. Roast for another 15 minutes.

10. Poulet Au Vinaigre (Made this one for the first time tonight. It is an instant keeper. In fact, it is all I can do to stop myself from going out there and eating the leftovers. Right. Now.)

Happy Eating in 2011!