I hope everyone’s holidays were filled with warmth, good food, and wonderful company. I spent the season surrounded by family and friends and feel incredibly grateful for the time we shared. It was a restorative and joyful break, and I returned energized and ready to tackle new creative projects.
Santa was especially kind this year and brought me a Fitbit One, which I’ve become totally obsessed with. I also received some new workout clothes from Lululemon—so yes, I’ve been very motivated to stay active. Between tracking steps, experimenting with new fitness routines, and trying out fresh recipes, my daily routine has been focused on wellness and balance.
All through 2013 I was in the kitchen testing recipes for my upcoming cookbook while continuing to post new dishes on the blog each week. There were many long days of recipe testing, late-night edits, and tasting panels with family and friends, and at times I wondered if I would meet my deadline. Thankfully, I did. The Skinnytaste Cookbook is scheduled for release in the fall of 2014, and in the weeks ahead I’ll be deeply involved in some of the creative elements like photography, book layout, and cover design—areas I’m genuinely excited about and eager to share with you as they develop.
As a gift to myself, I signed up for ten weeks of personal training during the holiday season to help keep my routine on track. I started sessions last month and have loved every minute—the workouts are challenging but rewarding, and I plan to continue training once the initial ten sessions wrap up. Investing in my health has been one of the best decisions I made this year.
I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you for being faithful followers and for allowing me to do what I love every day. Your feedback, emails, comments, and the food photos you share with me brighten my day and inspire new recipes. Seeing your recreations on Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook and reading your notes makes the whole effort worthwhile. Thank you for supporting this journey and for sharing your enthusiasm for simple, flavorful, and family-friendly food.
Below you’ll find the Top 25 Most Popular Skinnytaste Recipes from 2013. These recipes were the ones you cooked most often, pinned, shared, and loved over the past year. They represent a mix of vegetables, comforting casseroles, crock pot favorites, and healthier takes on classic comfort foods—perfect for weeknight dinners, meal prep, and family meals.
Top 25 Most Popular Skinnytaste Recipes from 2013:
- Baked Spaghetti Squash and Cheese
- Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
- Cheeseburger Casserole
- Spicy Cauliflower Buffalo Bites
- Crock Pot Picadillo
- Easiest Crock Pot Salsa Verde Chicken
- Butternut Squash and Spinach Lasagna Rolls
- Cauliflower Tots
- Skinny Mini Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
- Cheesy Baked Spaghetti Squash Boats with Grilled Chicken
- Healthy Cookies
- Crock Pot Turkey Breast with Gravy
- Crock Pot Kid Friendly Chili
- Crock Pot Creamy Tomato Soup
- Taco Stuffed Zucchini Boats
- Quinoa and Spinach Patties
- Guacamole Deviled Eggs
- Chewy Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies
- Superfood Triple Berry Chia Pudding
- Crock Pot Picante Chicken and Black Bean Soup
- Slow Cooker Jerk Pork with Caribbean Salsa
- Fiesta Bean Salad
- Crock Pot Italian Sloppy Joes
- Crock Pot Sesame Honey Chicken
- Butternut Squash Black Bean Enchiladas
If you’re curious about past favorites, here are the roundups of the most popular recipes from previous years for comparison and inspiration:
Top 25 Skinnytaste Recipes 2012
Top 20 Skinnytaste Recipes 2011
As 2013 comes to a close, I’ll leave you with a favorite quote that feels especially fitting for this time of year:
“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift; that’s why they call it the present.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
Wishing you a happy, safe, and healthy New Year. Thank you for reading, cooking, and sharing—your support continues to make this work meaningful and fun. I can’t wait to share more recipes, tips, and cookbook updates with you in the months ahead.