Top 15 Of 2015 – A Recipe Roundup

I just remembered in time to post my annual list of the best recipes posted this year. I did a Top 14 of 2014 last year, so this time it will be the Top 15 of 2015. See what I did there?!!

2015 has been a huge year for ‘ze blog. I ditched the wordpress.com tag and registered my own domain as happyandharried.com. It was scary and fun at the same time. A big thanks to all my readers who have accepted the change and stood by me, providing me with valuable feedback.

I’ve had lots of fun this year, improved my food styling and photography, and learned along the way that it is a constant process. One doesn’t become perfect overnight. So bear with me as I (still) learn the ropes. But most importantly, I cooked, served and ate some delicious food. So, here are my favorite recipes from this year, in no particular order.

1. Paal Kozhukattai {Rice Flour Dumplings In A Coconut Milk Pudding}

This is probably the most cherished recipe that I recorded on the blog this year. It is a family favorite and a traditional recipe from my mom’s side. I always wondered how ultra-traditional recipes will be received, but gladly, this recipe seems to have piqued a lot of interest on the blog, on FB and elsewhere. I am glad I did it. If you are a blogger and you ever feel that a recipe may be too simple or too traditional or too hard to style for your readers, hold those thoughts. Such recipes are what I personally love to read and as I found, so do countless others. Find recipe here.

2. Cilantro-Orange-Sriracha Chicken

As much as I love planning our meals for the week and feeding them traditional family favorites, sometimes one must experiment. And what a joy when said experiments turn out as delicious as these roasted chicken drumsticks. The marinade for the chicken was put together on a whim and I loved how the cilantro, orange and sriracha made this one of the most delicious chicken recipes I’ve ever made. Find recipe here.

3. Milk Tea, Cardamom And Rose Cake {With Brown Butter And Cardamom Glaze}

Talking about recipes created on a whim, how can I forget one of the best cakes I’ve made till date? This delicious Indian chai inspired creation has quickly become our favorite, receiving rave reviews from the boys every time I make it. I used hot-brewed milk tea, cardamom and rose in the cake to make it truly exotic and added a decadent brown butter glaze to top this beauty. A must try. Find recipe here.

4. Pokemon Birthday Cake {Yellow Layer Cake With Chocolate Buttercream}

While we are on the topic of cakes, I absolutely loved how this 6th birthday cake for the little one turned out. It is a classic birthday cake with three layers of yellow vanilla cake frosted with chocolate buttercream frosting. A true classic, a stunner and extremely delicious, of course. Find recipe here and DIY tips for the home baker on putting together a homemade birthday cake here.

5. Shrimp Hakka Noodles

The best recipes are the ones that take the minimum amount of time to put together, require one pot to prepare and is high on the deliciousness scale. The shrimp hakka noodle recipe is one which checks off all these boxes. Easy enough for a quick weeknight dinner and fancy enough to feed a crowd, make sure you save this recipe. Find recipe here.

6. Sri Lankan Chicken Curry

Okay, so I don’t know how I made it to number 6 without mentioning curry even once. This year, I tried so many different varieties of curries, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian. This fiery, red-hot, delicious chicken curry inspired by the cuisine from the island nation of Sri Lanka has to my latest favorite. A bowl of steaming hot rice, curry and a side of simple vegetable poriyal (Indian stir fry) is what you need for a delicious meal. And make sure, you have time for a siesta after. Find recipe here.

7. Blueberry Limeade

The past summer was brutal, like all Texan summers are. We had way too many fruity drinks to cool us down. This colorful berry limeade was my favorite. I love how I could whip up a big batch of the juice concentrate and use it over the course of a week. Because the last thing you want to do after a hot day in the sun is to be juicing limes and berries, right. With this recipe, it is as easy as pour, mix and drink! Salut!!

Find recipe here.

8. Lentil-Spinach-Eggplant Fritters With An Avocado-Herb-Yogurt Sauce

This summer, I had the cutest assistant a blogger could ask for. He whisked, mixed, tasted and posed without complaint. What more could I ask for?

And oh, those pan-fried fritters are to die for. They are chock full of nutrients from the lentils and vegetables, served with a healthy creamy avocado-yogurt sauce. Yum! Healthy eating habits begin at home. Find recipe here.

9. Saag Paneer (Indian Cottage Cheese And Greens Curry) With Instant Naan

Speaking of healthy eating, raise your hands if you like ordering naan from your favorite Indian restaurant. Raise your hands if the thought of all those white carbs makes you cringe. This year, I perfected the recipe for my very own homemade wholewheat quick naans. And of course, we need a delicious curry to mop up. This spicy and tangy saag paneer is just the ticket! Find recipe here.

10. Rose-Almond Nankhatai (Indian Shortbread Cookies)

Let’s take a break from the healthy recipes and talk about Christmas cookies, shall we? I had so much fun this cookie, err… Christmas season. These Indian shortbread cookies called nankhatai remain a favorite. These are crispy and nutty and full of flavor. Don’t wait for Christmas to whip up a batch of these scrumptious treats. Find recipe here.

11. Caramelized Banana Crepes

I suddenly remembered that it’s been a while since I made crepes. I created these beautiful and delicate crepes with a caramelized banana filling for a Valentine’s Day article. Keep this recipe handy to treat your loved one to a delicious breakfast-in-bed this V-Day. It’ll be here before you know it! Find recipe here.

12. Egg Vindaloo And String Hoppers (Idiyappam)

Vindaloo is a spicy and tangy Goan curry usually made with pork or chicken. I learnt a recipe for egg vindaloo in the early days of our marriage, and decided to recreate this meal for the hubby. Silky soft idiyappams or string hoppers are another favorite of his. You know what they say about the way to  a man’s heart, right? It’s true!!

Find recipe here.

13. Fresh Orange Muffins

There is something about citrus in baked goodies. Lemon bars, orange cakes, cookies or even muffins, they add such a delightful freshness and flavor. These fresh orange muffins are probably my most-shared and most-tried recipe from this year. Find recipe here.

14. Pho-Inspired Asian Noodle Soup

I love taking elements from other cuisines and using them in my everyday recipes, rather than copying said recipes as such. I think it is this sort of inspired improvisation that make a recipe truly special and personal. This Vietnamese pho inspired noodle soup made with homemade broth has nourished and warmed us on many cool evenings. Find recipe here.

15. Caramel Apple Cupcakes

So, probably the year should have been something like 2025 or 2032. That way, I could simply go on sharing recipes with you. But this is the end of 2015 and I promised to leave you the top 15 recipes of the year. So, I will end the list with this decadent treat that I made for Thanksgiving this year. From a whole bunch of shredded apples in the fluffy cupcakes to the cream cheese frosting to the sweet homemade caramel sauce, this is one dessert that’s sure to please everyone! I could go on and on about these decadent cupcakes, which are every bit as delicious as they are pretty! Find recipe here.

That wraps up my list of Top 15 recipes of 2015. Which one is your favorite?

So, how was 2015 for you? What are your plans and goals for 2016?

I wish you all happiness and success in the New Year. Have a good one, filled with good food, laughter and lots of happy moments with your loved ones!!

Thank you for reading my blog and trying out my recipes. I pray you continue to support and encourage me in the future too. Let me know what more you would like to see on the blog. And don’t forget to subscribe to get free email updates!

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I am sharing this over at Fiesta Friday, FoodieFriDIY and Saucy Saturdays.