Another year has gone by and, despite so little other work being accomplished on this corner of the internet, I have collected the best recipes that I tried out this year. The 2023 collection is a mix of family favorites and easy lunch ideas.
Easy Ham and Cheese Croissants – Joy the Baker
If I had a signature recipe in 2023, it was this one. I made it when we had company for lunch, I made it for my parents when they visited, I made it for breakfast on Thanksgiving weekend with my extended family. These sandwiches are, as promised, easy and one of the most successful crowd pleasers I’ve ever made. I generally use cheddar instead of gruyere and spicy brown mustard. I sprinkle the tops with Everything But the Bagel seasoning. I’ve tried various brands of puff pastry and they’ve all worked, though we prefer Pepperidge Farm’s. For picky eaters at Thanksgiving, I made some that were plain cheese and some without the bagel seasoning.
Buffalo Chicken Sweet Potatoes – The Car Mom {Instagram reel}
I don’t know why, prior to this year, it never occurred to me to top my sweet potatoes with protein. In fact, I was always a little lost regarding what to do with sweet potatoes. This recipe has been a great gateway to a reliable, easy, delicious lunch for Brian and I. I’ve also used other proteins (beans, grilled chicken) and sauces (barbecue, chili crisp) over sweet potatoes as a result of this inspiration.
Ground Beef Sliders – The Car Pool {Instagram post}
This Car Pool podcast “recipe” is also another opportunity for variation inspiration and there are tons of suggestions in the Instagram post comments. I made mine with ground beef, Hawaiian rolls, cheddar cheese and sautéed onions. Very easy to put together and a definite crowd pleaser.
Tempeh Crumbles with Rice – Bon Appetit
Prior to this year, I only had 2 tempeh recipes that I used on a regular basis. Now, I have 3! These tempeh crumbles are very easy to make and serve; we do plain white rice instead of coconut rice. I have also skipped the pickled cucumbers every time because I always forget about them and substitute with steamed broccoli instead. In other words, I just follow the instructions in Step 3, then serve over rice. Nevertheless, this recipe tastes great.
Summer Squash Pizza – Smitten Kitchen
If you find yourself with a bounty of summer squash or zucchini next summer, I highly recommend this recipe. It takes some time and a box grater, but the resulting pie is huge and delicious.
Want more inspiration? Check out the lists from recent years:
