TOP RECIPES FROM 2019

You may have seen the “top posts” list from last year, which was a great review (see it here).

This is a bit of a different assortment.

Here we are featuring top recipes only.

I love viewing top recipes.  I think they give you some good inspiration.  If these are the most visited, they could be the most often prepared.  And, let’s face it, we don’t make things more than once unless we love them.

Here are the top recipes from 2019 and a few thoughts on each of them

Ultimate Beef Brisket

There are no words to do this dish justice.

I always make it for company because it feeds a large group and it will make everyone swoon.

Homemade Cherry Turnovers with Fresh Cherries!!!

Homemade Cherry Turnovers!

“It is like eating an angel.” – Tim Hawkins (on Krispy Kreme Doughnuts).

If you ask me these cherry turnovers are even better.  The filling is tangy and tart.  The dough is light and flakey beyond belief.  AND the buttercream drizzle!!!!

I only make these once a year when the cherries are ripe, and they are so amazing.

Osso Buco – In the Crockpot

Osso Bucco is so good.

This is tender and heavenly – perfect over grits or polenta.

Fresh Salsa – How to Make & Can

Perfect Simple Spicy Salsa

There are so many salsa recipes out there.  I have made most of them.  This recipe hits the nail on the head.  It is not too sweet (ack – I don’t like sweet salsa) and has a nice kick.

Cream of Chicken Soup Healthy Substitute

Sometimes you just need a can of cream of chicken soup.  If you are a real-food, foodie, you probably don’t consume the garbage canned soups.

This is a homemade replacement for the canned stuff that is made with real ingredients.  It is healthier and tastes better!

Creamed Potatoes

Good golly, these will change lives.

This creamy, potato side dish pairs perfectly next to anything.  And I mean anything.  If you have ever dined at one of those fancy steak houses who serve the “family-style sides” they usually have a potato option like this one.

Creamy and dreamy.

I must warn you that if you serve these, no one will notice anything else on the menu.  And don’t expect leftovers.

Potatoes Normandy

This is another potato dish that will make grownups squeal and moan.

I prefer the creamed potatoes (recipe above), but this little gem made it in the top 10 from 2019, so I didn’t want to leave him out.

I don’t think you can ever go wrong with bacon, cream, and potatoes.

Venison Street Tacos

Street tacos are a lovely meal.  I adore that I can shove everything in the crockpot (or Instapot) in the morning and not think about it again.

With street tacos, all you need is a plethora of toppings to make the world happy.

This is a great meal to serve if you are having a group over for supper.  It can feed an army without any extra work.

Banana Bread Recipe

I know there are a milling banana bread recipes in the world – but I love this one.  It is simple and light.

So many banana bread recipes are more like moist, dense loaves.  No thanks.  This bread is airy and won’t weigh you down.

If you have some overripe bananas sitting on your kitchen counter, this is a great use for them!

Venison Back Strap with Mushrooms & Red Wine Pan Sauce

If you have a hunter in your realm – make this.

OH, but the venison backstraps must make a cycle through the freezer for best results.  This means that you need to process the meat, freeze it, thaw it, and then cook it.

No one enjoys eating rigor mortis.

Ice Cream with Raw Milk – BEST EVER

This recipe has been on the blog forever.  I still get letters from folks with and without milk cows raving about this recipe.  There is no way to improve this ice cream.

So rich and creamy.

It is the only ice cream I will eat.

Baked Ham Steak

I didn’t even know what ‘baked ham steak’ was until a few years ago.  When you have your animals butchered (or do it yourself) you end up with interesting cuts of meat.

One of the glorious results of raising pigs was giant thick ham steaks.  Thank goodness for old cookbooks and adventures in eating.

This recipe is so weird – the ham is coated in milk (what the heck?), rubbed with dry mustard (huh?), and topped with brown sugar.

The results are mouth-watering.  And I have received feedback from many folks older than I am telling me that this was a dish they ate when they were young.

Bringing back the originals.

So dang cool.

Best Venison Burgers & How to Grind Your Own Meat

We harvest anywhere between 4 and 7 deer in a season.  I have a houseful of hunting enthusiasts.

Ground venison has many purposes.  We use it for chili, soups, sausage, meatballs, AND BURGERS.

Venison burgers have a reputation for being dry, gamey and flat tasting.

Not these.  Thanks to the pork fat, added with the venison into the grinder, these burgers melt in your mouth.

Cheers!

Candi