Top 25 Most Popular Skinnytaste Recipes 2014

As 2014 comes to an end, I find myself reflecting on the past 12 months, thinking about the journey, challenges, and lessons learned but also to remind myself to be thankful and count my blessings.

2014 had so many highs for me and Skinnytaste – the top of the list was certainly The Skinnytaste Cookbook making the New York Times Best Seller's List – holy cow!!! I also challenged myself to get out of my comfort zone and face one of my fears... public speaking! Still working on that but I've had lots of practice this year with video, TV and radio.

I can't express how grateful and thankful I am for all of your support. Your comments, emails, the photos you share with me on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook mean the world to me. None of this would be possible without you, so THANK YOU!

And now the best part.... here are the TOP 25 Most Popular Recipes from 2014 as well as links to the popular posts from previous years.

Top 25 Most Popular Recipes 2013
Top 25 Skinny Recipes 2012
Top 20 Skinnytaste Recipes 2011
Top 20 Skinnytaste Recipes 2010


Top 25 Most Popular Skinny Recipes posted in 2014:

1. Crock Pot Balsamic Pork Roast
This is so easy, flavorful and practically cooks itself while you're away!

 
2. Amazing Flourless (Black Bean) Brownies
One person commented "I just made this and I have to say that I am amazed! These aren't only delicious, they may be the best brownies I have ever made!"

3. Chicken and Asparagus Lemon Stir Fry
One commenter said "5/5 stars!! delicious meal with the perfect amount of flavor. :)"

4. Three-Cheese Zucchini Lasagna Rolls
Stuffed with zucchini, ricotta and Parmesan, then topped with marinara and mozzarella cheese – delicious, kid friendly and perfect if you want to feed a crowd.

5. Easy Macaroni Casserole
Baked pasta dish made with whole wheat elbows, ground turkey, veggies, marinara sauce and cheese – a great family friendly dish.

6. Cauliflower Fried "Rice"
A delicious low-carb alternative to rice!

7. Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches
Slightly modified from the Recipe Girl Cookbook, my husband loves this recipe!!

8. Easy Crock Pot Chicken and Black Bean Taco Salad
Delicious, high in fiber and protein all for under 300 calories

9. Zucchini Noodles (Zoodles) with Lemon and Spicy Shrimp
2014 was the year of the zoodle! Swapping zucchini noodles for pasta is my favorite low-carb swap.

10. Skinny Buffalo Chicken Strips –
One commenter said: "I am addicted. I have made them 4 times already and cannot get enough!!"

11. Chickpea Quinoa and Avocado Salad
This protein packed vegetarian salad is loaded with fiber and healthy fats!

12. Spaghetti Squash Primavera –
Easy, low-carb, gluten-free and perfect for Meatless Mondays!

13. PB&J Healthy Oatmeal Cookies
Made with just 4 ingredients, (bananas, oats, peanut butter and jelly) these cookies are best eaten warm right out of the oven!

14. Orange Chicken Makeover
Lighter in calories, but you won't be disappointed, it's so good!

15. PB2 Flourless Chocolate Brownies
These brownies have no flour, no oil or butter, but they are amazing!

16. Kung Pao Chicken Zoodles for Two
I replaced the noodles with zoodles (zucchini noodles) and the results were fantastic for under 300 calories!!

17. Blueberry Kale Smoothie
Antioxidant rich – trust me, it tastes better than it looks!

18. Quinoa Fiesta Enchilada Bake
My favorite way to eat quinoa!

19. Spiralized Raw Zucchini Salad
Amazing and no cooking required!

20. Spiralized Greek Cucumber Salad with Lemon and Feta
Another spiralized favorite!!

21. Picadillo Quesadillo
One word... YUM!

22. Turkey Meatball Spinach Tortellini Soup
Hearty, kid friendly and delicious!

23. Skinny Garlic Parmesan Fries
Baked with garlic, a little olive oil, kosher salt and black pepper, then sprinkled with freshly grated Parmesan and parsley – to die for!

 
24. Asparagus Egg and Bacon Salad with Dijon Vinaigrette
Sometimes the simplest things can be the best – like this salad...

25. Sweet and Spicy Asian Glazed Grilled Chicken Drumsticks
Marinated overnight, grilled and finished with a yummy glaze

Quick Mussels Fra Diavolo

Mussels in a spicy red marinara sauce – simple and elegant, best served with lots of whole wheat crusty bread for dipping into the delicious sauce.

Seafood on Christmas Eve is a holiday family tradition. This can be served as an appetizer with bread for dipping or over pasta as a main dish or even over zoodles to keep it low carb. I usually use my own homemade marinara sauce (I never use jarred sauce) when I make this, but I tried this with Delallo's Pomodoro Fresco and I have to say I was very impressed, and so was my husband! It tastes just like my homemade sauce and this dish came together in less than 15 minutes.

If you've never made mussels before, you'll be surprised how easy this dish is. The mussels should be alive when you purchase and cook them. Any mussels that are cracked should be discarded, and any mussels that don't open after cooking should also be tossed.

Click Here To See The Full Recipe...

Sausage, Cheese and Veggie Egg Bake

Eggs baked with sweet Italian chicken sausage, broccoli, roasted peppers and mozzarella cheese. I love the convenience of making a large breakfast casserole when I have friends and family over for breakfast or brunch. I also set out some fruit, a yogurt bar, coffee and juice. You can use any combination of vegetables to make this casserole, but I love how the broccoli and roasted peppers mimic the festive Christmas colors.

I worked with Ziploc® to create a sponsored post sharing a recipe, their containers and some "life lessons". I thought I would share a few things I learned from all of YOU blogging these past few years.

One of the things I love about blogging is that I really got a chance to learn what's important to you. Your comments and feedback only make me a better recipe developer and blogger. Last year I shared this recipe for a Ham and cheese breakfast casserole, and one of the questions everyone asked was if it could be assembled in advance.

So Lesson # 1 - this year I kept that in mind and prepped all of my ingredients and even cooked the sausage in advance so all I had to do in the morning was a quick saute while the oven heated up and into the oven it went.

I used Ziploc®'s Holiday Storage Bags for all my prepped ingredients and kept them in the refrigerator so in the morning I can just toss them out – no extra dishes to wash.

Lesson # 2 – I learned through the years some of you hate mushrooms, or cheese, or maybe even sausage! So here's the deal.... you can use whatever you want here!! Swap mozzarella for Swiss cheese, Feta, cheddar OR leave it out. Swap mushrooms for asparagus, or swap sausage for ham. There are no rules, use what YOU like.

Lesson # 3 – Several of you will always ask me if you can use egg beaters – my answer is yes. I personally prefer to use whole eggs with a few egg whites to lighten it up a bit. Too many egg whites I learned gives me a spongy texture, so finding the right balance of whole eggs to egg whites is crucial, plus the yolk is good for you so don't forget that!

Lesson # 4 - One of the questions I get the most from people is if a dish can be frozen and how. Here's what I do – I cut the leftovers in portions and freeze them. This way whenever I need breakfast in a hurry, I reheat them and know exactly what my portions are. These Ziploc® Containers with One Press Seal come in all sizes and stack easily in the freezer to save space. To reheat simply thaw the night before or you can heat it up in the microwave or oven set to 350°F until heated through.

I hope you enjoy and have a Happy Holiday!!

Click Here To See The Full Recipe...

Pressure Cooker Pozole (Pork and Hominy Stew)

This stew made with pork, hominy and spices is so comforting, especially on a cold winter night. And leftovers taste even better the next day. Topped with avocado and a squeeze of lime, it's the perfect balance of flavors and textures.

This recipe is ever so slightly adapted from Martha Stewart's new cookbook, One Pot. When I say ever so slightly, all I did what reduce the amount of oil used. We all loved how it turned out, excellent dish for a chilly night. Her book has everything from slow cooker, pressure cooker, stock pot and skillet recipes that only require one pot – brilliant idea!

Believe it or not, I love my pressure cooker even more than I like my slow cooker. Why? Because it cuts the cooking time in half, especially when making stews that use tough cuts of meat and the pressure cooker makes them very tender, fast. Plus, nothing beats the flavors you get from cooking in the pressure cooker. That being said, I know a lot of people are scared of the pressure cooker. I've been using my stove top Presto for years and never had an issue. I purchased one of those fancy electric ones but have yet to use it, but either one will work.

Could you make this in a pot or Dutch oven? Sure, you will need to add a little more liquid and let it simmer, covered at least 2 hours before adding the Hominy.

Click Here To See The Full Recipe...

EASY 5-Ingredient Nutella Almond Butter Cookies

These cookies are amazing!!! And so easy to make,  you don't even need a mixer! 

I recently discovered that Nutella has just about the same amount of fat as almond butter, which gave me the idea to add them to my nut butter cookies. I played around and found using half Nutella and half almond butter is the perfect combination which created the perfect texture and flavor. Enjoy!

Click Here To See The Full Recipe...

3-Ingredient Almond Butter Cookies

These flour-less almond butter cookies are SO good, and made with only 3 ingredients (almond butter, raw sugar and an egg)! They are so easy to make you don't even need a mixer, so these are perfect for any beginner baker.

I participated in The 4th Annual Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap to raise money for Cookies For Kids Cancer, a wonderful non-profit organization that raises money to help kids with Cancer. I swapped cookies with three bloggers, all of which requested a cookie made with no white flours or white sugar and that could handle shipping without the need for refrigeration. These cookies came to mind because they use no flour and can last for weeks in a cookie tin. They are also naturally gluten-free. I tested them a few times to see how little sugar I can get away with using and found 6 tablespoons was perfect.

I've been making peanut butter cookies for years using these same three ingredients, but this was my first time trying them with almond butter instead. I love Justin's Maple Almond Butter so I used that and they turned out wonderful. Honestly, you can use any type of nut butter you like, try it with cashew butter, pistachio butter, or you can just stick with natural peanut butter.

Click Here To See The Full Recipe...

Loaded Cauliflower "Mash" Bake

Creamy mashed cauliflower made with a touch of whipped butter, buttermilk, garlic and herbs and topped with cheese and bacon – you'll swear it's loaded with fat!

A few weeks ago I stopped to eat lunch with the family at Pizzeria Uno. I ordered a burger and somehow the waiter talked me into getting the loaded mashed potatoes – OMG! Yes, it was a moment of weakness but some of my best ideas come from those moments. This version is so so good, lower in carbs and makes the perfect side dish to any meal. Enjoy!

Click Here To See The Full Recipe...

Mini Greek Spinach Pies

These bite-sized spinach pies are a fun twist on one of my favorite Greek dishes, Spanakopita. These are great appetizers for the Holidays, football games, or anytime you get together with friends and family.

Delicious and simple to make. You can make the filling a day ahead then assemble and bake right before serving. The shells can be found in the freezer section, and now they make them already baked.

Click Here To See The Full Recipe...

Gingerbread Christmas Tree Cookies and a Special 3-Week Meal Plan with New Cookbook Purchases

The Gingerbread cookies are made with a fraction of the butter – yet they still have the same great flavor and texture.

Although I'm personally not a fan of gingerbread cookies, Madison LOVES baking them, decorating them and eating them so I bake them every year. I've been using this Low Fat Gingerbread Cookie recipe for years with perfect results every time.

This year I wanted to make them into Christmas tree. No cookie cutter required, all I used was a knife to cut them into triangles!

And speaking of cookies, the holidays are here again! And while it’s a wonderful season to spend with family and friends enjoying delicious (and seemingly endless) food and drink, it’s also the time of year when many of us pack on a few unwanted pounds. Since holiday weight gain is pretty universal, why not give the gift of Skinnytaste this year? It’s the gift that keeps on giving!

From now through January 1 (for all you late gifters!), if you buy a copy of The Skinnytaste Cookbook as a gift for a loved one, you’ll receive a FREE 3-week, 1,500-calorie meal plan featuring recipes from the book that you can share with them (only eligible for new purchases). That way, once the celebrations have ended, you can resolve to start the new year off right. Together! Follow the instructions on this page to get started.

Happy holidays!

Click Here To See The Full Recipe...