The Top 10 Recipes of 2015 and What to Expect in 2016!

I’m back! Did you miss me? I missed writing, cooking and photographing while I was gone, but it sure was nice to take a break from the blog for a bit and recharge over the holidays. I realized a few days ago that this was the first real break I’ve taken since I started this food blog in 2013, so it was probably long overdue. I didn’t quite take a full break though. I was busy behind the scenes finally working on a new and improved site design (coming soon!), and the editorial calendar for the first part of 2016. 

Thank you to everyone who participated in my reader survey last month! I’ve spent some time reading over the responses and planning through what 2016 will look like for Sustaining the Powers as I balance my food blogging here and working at my web design business, Powersful Studios.  Nearly everyone said they weren’t using the shopping lists or they planned to re-use last years, but a majority said they still enjoyed the links to new recipes.  I also had an overwhelming request for more slow cooker recipes, more simple hospitality posts (party planning, hostessing, gift ideas, entertaining tips, etc), and more side dish recipes.

So with all of that in mind, here’s what I’m planning for StP in 2016: 

Mondays: New recipes! – I’ll try to make sure there’s at least 1 slow cooker recipe per month, 1 side dish recipe per month, and the other weeks will be wild cards. You’ll also still get my newsletter updates on Mondays. 

Wednesdays: Twice a month I’ll share a simple hospitality post and maybe throw in a printable or recipe from time to time. I’m still working out the schedule and the exact content, but you’ll hear about it first in the newsletter, so be sure and subscribe! 

Fridays: My Meal Plan Monday series will now move to Fridays, and will be links to what I have on my meal plan each week (no shopping lists) and maybe some updates from my personal life/what I’ve been up to outside the kitchen. (Maybe I’ll share some of my art journaling with you too. Would y’all like that?) I think I’ve mentioned here before that we’ve been struggling with infertility for a couple years, so my doctor now has me on a more low-carb/net-carb diet to hopefully help with that, so you’ll probably see more low-carb recipes on my weekly meal plan.  

And now for the moment you’ve been waiting for – The Top 10 Sustaining the Powers recipes in 2015!  

#10 – Coconut Oil Fried Plantains (Maduros) 

#9 – Slow Cooker Ham and Spinach Frittata

#8 – Roasted Beet Salad With Goat Cheese and Beet Pesto Vinaigrette

#7 – Walking Dead Brain Cheesecake

#6 – How To Make Your Own Filled Chocolates/Bon Bons/Truffles + White Chocolate Peanut Butter Ganache

#5 – Bacon Marinated Pork Loin Stuffed with Fig, Sage, and Goat Cheese

#4 – Mini Mushroom, Feta, and Spinach Frittatas 

#3 – Starbucks Copycat Protein Bistro Box 

#2 – Bean and Cheese Pupusas  

And the crowd favorite of 2015: 

#1 – Greek Zucchini Noodles with Feta, Olives, Artichokes and Tomatoes

 

Some of these really caught me by surprise with their popularity – like the pupusas and zucchini noodles – others are some of our household favorites too.

What has been your favorite StP recipe of 2015? Any fun goals or plans for the new year? I’d love to hear about them below!