As the year draws to a close, I find myself reflecting on the highs and lows of 2012 and looking ahead to what 2013 might hold. Today is a gift to be embraced—our faith, family, health, the comfort of home, and the food on our table are the true essentials. Everything else is a welcome bonus. That perspective has shaped much of what I’ve shared here this year and keeps me grateful for the community that has grown around these recipes.
This year brought some exciting milestones for Skinnytaste, the biggest being a book deal with the publisher Clarkson Potter. I’m thrilled and humbled by the opportunity. Since the announcement, I’ve been deeply involved in testing new recipes for the cookbook, refining flavors and techniques, and planning the photography and overall book design. There’s a lot of creative work ahead—recipe development, styling, photography, and cover design—and I promise to keep you updated as each step unfolds.
I can’t overstate how thankful I am for your support. Your comments, emails, and the photos you share on social media brighten my days and inspire new recipes. Seeing your recreations and hearing your feedback is what makes this work meaningful. Nothing would be possible without you, and I appreciate every message, photograph, and kind word.
Skinnytaste also received several honors this year that I’m proud to share. Highlights include recognition from Fitness Magazine as a top healthy eating blog, placement on Babble’s list of top mom food blogs, mention among notable diet and nutrition experts in Huffington Post Living, and inclusion in The Daily Meal’s roundup of top food blogs for 2012. These mentions were deeply encouraging and helped introduce the recipes to many new readers.
On a personal note, I also made a concerted effort to be more active and started running more consistently this year. It’s been a rewarding challenge and something I enjoy improving at every week. A modest goal for 2013 might be to run a 5K—time will tell, but I’m excited to keep making progress.
Top 25 Most Popular Skinnytaste Recipes of 2012
Below are the recipes that resonated most with readers this year. These were the most viewed and most frequently made dishes in 2012, representing a mix of comfort food, healthier twists on classics, breakfasts, snacks, and crowd-pleasing dinners.
- Skinny Baked Mozzarella Sticks
- Cajun Chicken Pasta (on the lighter side)
- Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps
- Chicken and Broccoli Noodle Casserole
- Skinny Green Monster Smoothie
- Skinny Chocolate Chip Buttermilk Scones
- Skinny Texas Cheese Fries
- Bangin’ Grilled Shrimp Skewers
- Cheesy Jalapeño Popper Baked Stuffed Chicken
- Baked Oatmeal with Blueberries and Bananas
- Avocado Egg Salad
- Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
- Zucchini Tots
- Skinny Overnight Oats in a Jar
- Sausage-Stuffed Zucchini Boats
- Kalyn’s Stuffed Cabbage Casserole
- Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps
- Chicken Enchilada Stuffed Zucchini Boats
- Asian Edamame Fried Rice
- Insanely Good Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins
- Skinny No-Bake Peanut Butter Pie
- Crock Pot Chicken Cacciatore
- Oven “Fried” Pickles with Skinny Herb Buttermilk Ranch Dip
- Skinny Salisbury Steak with Mushroom Gravy
- Spicy Black Bean Burgers with Chipotle Mayonnaise
If you’re curious about earlier favorites, there’s also a roundup of the top Skinnytaste recipes from 2011 that offers more inspiration and shows how tastes and recipes evolved from year to year.
Thank you again for reading, cooking, sharing, and supporting this little corner of food and wellness. Wishing you a happy, safe, and healthy new year—may it be filled with simple pleasures, nourishing meals, and moments of joy spent around the table with the people you love.