As we say good-bye to 2016, I would like to send you and your family my warmest wishes for a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year!
This entry marks the two-year anniversary of this blog and of my first, online recipe. As “Marilena’s Kitchen” enters its third year, I want to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for reading my posts, visiting my site and trying my recipes. I enjoy getting your feedback, seeing the photos of the dishes that you made and I appreciate your continued support and words of encouragement more than you know! I am deeply grateful and I can tell you that your responses and views motivate me to continue to do research, dream up, cook, style and photograph new recipes in the new year.
Many new recipes for 2017 are already in the works and in different stages of testing and they will arrive in your mailbox this month. Nevertheless, I would still appreciate your comments, ideas and suggestions for the recipes (and types of dishes) you would like to see presented here in 2017. Do you have any favorite family recipes that are in regular rotation at your house? I would love to know; you might even see them featured on this blog!
The first dish I made this year is this Greek, New Year’s cake (Vasilopita), a traditional orange-infused cake that every family in Greece prepares for Saint Basil’s Day (01 January). This cake contains a special, hidden coin. The person who finds the coin is supposed to have good luck in the year ahead. Click on the link for this recipe, which appeared at this time last year: Greek New Year’s Cake.
In looking back over the past year, I thought that it might be interesting to put together a roundup of my Top 10 blog posts of 2016, based on the number of total views. The number one on that list is my recipe for spaghetti alla carbonara which was even featured in the food section of “Buzzfeed”, and has since gone viral! I would love to know which one of these 10 (or any of the others) was your favorite–please leave a comment at the end of this post!
Top 10 Recipes for 2016
2. Traditional Greek Spanakopita
3. Roast Beef with Pan Gravy and Creamy Scalloped Potatoes
5. One Pan Tortellini with Pancetta
6. Semolina Bread with Sesame Seeds
7. Apple and Cinnamon Pull-Apart Bread
10. Sweet Custard Filo Pie (Bougatsa)
You are the Master of bread-making, Marilena. I loved both the Apple Cinnamon Pull-Apart Bread, as well as the Cheese-Stuffed Bread, and found both easier to make than I had anticipated. My very favorite among these recipes, however, is the Bougatsa. It is almost impossible to find custard-filled pastry in America. All I’ve ever found here is pastry stuffed with whipped cream. I long for the custard, and am so grateful for this recipe that shows me how to make the custard, rather than just whipping cream! Thank you! And congratulations on reaching the three-year mark with your blog posts!
Thank you so much for your note Sara and for your kind words. I am so glad you tried two of my bread recipes – they are really not hard to make, it just takes a bit of time and patience. Also, it is good to know that you liked the Bougatsa! A good custard is such a comfort dessert isn’t it?
I can’t believe it that I am entering my third year writing this blog. I enjoy every minute of it and knowing that my readers are trying my recipes makes me very happy! ? I love the feedback so thank you very much for taking the time to write, my friend!
I absolutely love the focaccia. I think I could live on bread alone! Of course, it goes very well with the one-pan tortellini with pancetta. How to choose just one favorite??? I love all of your food, and the Bougatsa is such a wonderful dessert. Just writing this has made my decision about what to make for dinner tonight (haha) minus the dessert. It is the new year after all. ?
Me too! I can live on bread alone and pasta dishes are on regular rotation in my house. That tortellini recipe is the one my kids ask for all the time….. So glad you are trying my recipes – thank you Joanne! ?