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December 29, 2014

Most Popular Posts of 2014:

Shutterbean 2014 Recap

Can you believe that 2014 is almost over? The year went by so fast.  I’ve been thinking about my intentions for 2015 for both my personal & work life (here are last year’s) but I feel like I can’t do so until I see what this year looked like. I went through and found all of my most popular posts from 2014 and here they are!

Let’s look back!

LEMON CHICKEN

My most popular post on Shutterbean this year was this lemon chicken post. More chicken in 2015?

HS: MEAL PREP FOR THE UPCOMING WEEK

This was one of my favorite posts to put together because I felt like I honed into one of my major passions- teaching people how to make things easier on themselves by putting a little time into planning. I’m thinking 2015 should have more organizing posts but I have to really think about what it is I’d like to work on around my house/in my life.  2014 was a year of evaluation for me. I tried out new things, got rid of old stuff, experimented with new organizing systems and started processing what was important in my life and what wasn’t. This is an area in my life where I don’t want any quick fixes and I don’t want to constantly de-clutter. I crave simplicity and I’m trying to understand what that looks like. Starting from scratch and building up my guest bedroom was a nice challenge. I felt like I could successfully evaluate/plan/complete a space in our house  and I hope to do more!

I’ve also been toying with the idea of doing a capsule wardrobe in 2015. I’m currently half way through reading The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing and can already see the shift happening in my brain. I’m excited.

THE ULTIMATE VEGGIE SANDWICH

More sandwiches in 2015. Also more healthy things. I’ve been contemplating doing a Whole30– but I just have to figure out when the best time for that is. I have a few trips coming up (that revolve around food!) so I’m hoping to carve out a month this Spring. We’ll see!  I also feel like it’s been a little too long since I’ve made a panini on my blog. It’s time to change that.

CRISPY SMASHED POTATOES

This one was real popular online and at home. Crispy potatoes FOR LIFE.

I might turn this into a fab appetizer in 2015.

HOMEMADE VANILLA ALMOND MILK

A game changer!  I loved working on this post because I got a lot of you to try making your own nut milks.

I love how these little tricks can positively shake up your week.

CUCUMBER GINGER GIN POPSICLES

Who doesn’t love a boozy popsicle? This one was a real winner. It definitely changed the landscape of my Summer.

SRIRACHA GLAZED CHICKEN

Another favorite. The glaze on this one is AMAZING over rice. Easy weeknight meals are the best.

PIZZA WAFFLES

I helped you amp up your pizza/breakfast for dinner game with this one. I’m already dreaming up combinations for 2015.

Is 2015 the year of the waffle? Who knows!?

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE ENERGY BARS

Healthy or Indulgent?  How about both?!  I’ve always loved making energy bars.

Maybe I’ll make some more? Let’s reverse engineer a Almond & Coconut Kind bar, OK??

AVOCADO SUPERFOOD SMOOTHIE

This one kinda blew up on the internet (thanks, Pinterest!). I love that I was able to introduce avocado into your smoothies. I was super stoked with how these photos turned out too.

S’MORES CUPCAKES

These were fun to make…and I also really loved how the photos turned out. In 2014, I switched over to a vertical photo for my opening recipe photo. It was a challenge for me at first because I spent a few decades being a HORIZONTAL frame only kinda person. Hooray for challenges. I’d really like to expand my photography even more in 2015- and work on studio lighting next. I was able to teach a few food photography/food styling classes in 2014 and hope to bring more of that to my 2015. More classes! More workshops! Let’s cook together.

WHIPPED COCONUT CREAM

One of my favorites.  I bust out this recipe whenever I want to cut down on the dairy and add more fruit into my life. Now you do the same!

I used the coconut cream in this Mixed Berry Crisp (makes a great breakfast!) and have always wanted to try it with this chocolate cake (which would make it 100% vegan!)

SMOKY KALE CAESAR SALAD

Cooper started liking Caesar salad in 2014 and has always been a fan of kale so I found this recipe to be a real victory in my weekly lineup. The dressing has a little bit of smoky spice to it so it makes for a really hearty salad.

10 WAYS TO ENHANCE ANNIE’S MAC & CHEESE

I had an idea about 5 years to do a post of all the ways I like to enhance a box of Annie’s Mac & Cheese. It had been sitting in my brain forever and I pitched Annie’s the idea and they loved it. A lot of people appreciated my simple ideas on how to switch things up– and it also made me realize that we’re all just looking for good shortcuts. More food shortcuts in 2015.

THE BEST CREAMED SPINACH

I finally shared this creamed spinach recipe. My gift to you in 2014 🙂

A lot of your made it during the holiday season and OMG that made me SO HAPPY. Thank you.

FRESH SPRING ROLLS

One of Casey’s favorites brought to the blog. I’ve been wanting to shake up my spring roll game with more flavor combinations so maybe I’ll do that in 2015.

I dunno!

THE PAINKILLER COCKTAIL

This drink got a lot of you drunk and I am so happy for that. More boozy recipes in 2015. I have BIG plans for tequila! #shutterbeanbreakfast

On my Instagram (@tracyshutterbean), I came up with a few hashtags to keep me motivated and remember the things I love.

#shutterbeanbreakfast categorizes all of my home cooked breakfasts.

There are a lot of eggs in that stream…

#shutterbeanschoollunch

#shutterbeanschoollunch

Making lunches for school can get old easily.  I try to put the fun back into making  Cooper’s school lunches by documenting the process. It challenges me to come up with new ideas and break out of the ruts I easily get into with school lunches. I like to include a little note/joke in his lunches. I don’t post them every day…

#shutterbeandinner

#shutterbeandinner

Like the breakfast hashtag…this one is all about dinner.

You can see what’s in our dinner rotation and how I alter some of Cooper’s dishes with a few little tweaks.

Some meals he eats something entirely different…and some meals I’m all healthy while everyone is indulgent.

It’s just real life.

#shutterbeanmealprep

#shutterbeanmealprep

This one is always fun. I like to spend Sundays in the kitchen making things out of what’s leftover in the fridge after the week. I find that it’s been a good way for our family to face the new week with a fridge full of labeled things. There was a chunk of time where I didn’t do meal prep and I could tell that things were thrown OFF. Being busy in the kitchen makes me happy and I find meal prep and the challenge to come up with new things from what I have to be absolutely therapeutic.  In 2015, I want to add new things to our rotation. I want to play in the kitchen and feel inspired again.

So there you have it! A little recap of my most popular posts in 2014.  As always, I want to thank you for your continued support.

I really appreciate your comments & feedback and if there’s anything you want to see more of/less of in 2015, let me know!

 

  • maci

    there’s a reason that lemon chicken recipe was most popular… because it’s really good, and also i clicked on it a lot 🙂

  • Millie | Add A Little

    I adore shutterbean meal prep: total organisation porn!! Also love the healthy recipes you post: the spring rolls are life and love the lemon chicken!

  • Allyn

    I loved and have made the lemon chicken and spring rolls, and I’m definitely a fan of more flavor combos with the rolls! Perfect light meal.
    I meal prep in a different way, but still love seeing what you do. I could see myself shifting to your style more once we have kids (when I know that cooking a full meal, start to finish, every night won’t happen). I even started adding vanilla to my homemade coconut milk due to you.
    I’d say that our most used of your recipes is your carrot coconut soup, which we’re obsessed with. Love messing with the flavors too (hello, red curry paste).
    Aaaaand I’ve apparently become a big of a fangirl. No shame.

  • Emily

    I made the lemon chicken and the painkiller! Thanks, Tracy, for all the inspiring and delicious things you share with us throughout the year.

  • Brian @ A Thought For Food

    Marking all of these… especially almond milk. Have been meaning to make that for a while!

  • India

    Yes please on reconstructing a coconut & almond Kind bar. Those things are so good! My favorite posts are meal planning because it makes me feel like I’m not the only one trying to do it.

    One way my life changed because of you in 2014? Cute masking tape. I’m obsessed. I want more colors. 🙂 Love what you do to Cooper’s lunchbox!

  • Maia

    I am surprised not to see the turkey meatball subs in here! I have made the meatball part of the recipe a dozen times, and always double it because the man in my house will eat a whole batch in one sitting! Love the lemon chicken and all the food prep posts too though!

  • Heather

    Tracy, thank you so much for what you do! Shutterbean is one of my absolute favorite sites to visit, and I am always so excited to see what amazing things you come up with!

    And please count this as a vote for 2015: The Year of the Waffle. I just bought a new waffle iron for Christmas and I’m quickly becoming obsessed with finding the perfect waffle and I’ve only used it twice!

  • Claire @ Lemon Jelly Cake

    Three cheers for that AWESOME lemon chicken! I have made it so many times . . . I think I made it about once a week after our son was born because it is so easy and delicious. I would prep it in the morning so that it was ready to cook during the fussy dinner hour. 😉 I hope 2015 is a fantastic year for you and your family, Tracy!

  • Carolina

    We just made the lemon chicken the other night for dinner!
    I love your blog – the recipes, the photos and your style. Looking forward to what you bring in 2015!

  • Robyn @realfoodwholelife

    Loved so many of these posts. Can’t wait to see what you come up with in 2015! Just marked that chicken recipes, too, to add to a Real Food Meal Plan soon. Yes to weeknight recipes!

  • wendy

    I love everything about your blog and would love to see more organizational posts. For example, how do you do all you do and have a job outside the house?
    Thanks and Happy New Year!

  • Emily @ Life on Food

    What a great round up! Your preps are so inspiring. And I have almost worked my way through all of the Mac and Cheese recipes. Now if only someone would make me a s’mores cupcake 🙂

  • Amy H.

    Tracy, you are such an inspiration! I love your organizing posts. Thank you for being so honest about your life and work. You work so hard! Happy 2015!

  • Jenn

    Your blog is a source of inspiration for me, thank you! (Btw, I’m a vegetarian, but have shared your lemon chicken recipe with non vegetarian friends!)

  • Kate Shu

    Happy New Year! Love your blog so much! Thanks for all the inspiration- that painkiller got tons of clicks from me

  • Joy

    Thanks for all that you posted in 2014! I love your blog so much and think your photos are amazing.

    I especially love your meal preps (and the jokes that go along with the lunches for Cooper) because they inspire me to do the same.

    Happy New Year to you and your family!

  • Jenn

    #shutterbeanmealprep is a game changer in my life! I too feel off center whenever I do not get it done on the weekends. Plus, I eat like crap and end up packing a hodgepodge of lunches that make no sense. Thank you for the inspiration!

  • tanja

    ALL your posts are great ! Keep up the fantastic work! Many people are following you here in Quebec, Canada!

  • Caitlin

    Tracy I want to tell you that yours is my favorite blog on the whole internet! I also just started listening to your podcast (thanks Serial for getting me into podcasts) so now I’m just a super fan; you’re so funny! Also – PLEASE reverse engine an almond coconut kind bar! That would be awesome.

  • Melissa

    More panini posts, or anything to make with the griddler. I got one for Christmas just because of you!!!
    Happy new year!!!

  • Chelsea

    More organization posts would be greatly appreciated!

  • Hilary

    <3 <3 your blog and can't wait for another year of awesome posts!

    (i'm in favor of dessert, panini, and organization posts!) 🙂

  • Krissy

    Tracy, I love your blog! Your photos are so beautiful and every recipe of yours I’ve ever tried has been a winner. I guess this lemon chicken needs to happen next. Happy New Year!

  • Lori

    I’ve read your blog for years, but I found it to be one of my favorites in 2014! Your blog inspires me to spend more time in the kitchen. I especially love your infused booze ideas and your meal prep posts. Cheers to a happy 2015 that holds all the success you deserve! ❤️

  • dana

    such a great year for you, Tracy! Loved following along. Can’t wait to do it all over again in 2015!! xoxo

  • MB @ Bourbon and Brown Sugar

    I love this end of the year round-up… I find it fascinating that your readers loved such a eclectic collection of posts. Must try that lemon chicken – yum!! Your blog became one of my favorites in 2014 – looking forward to following your culinary adventures in 2015!

  • Inspiration from My Internet Wanders… | Bourbon & Brown Sugar

    […] how I had fun perusing the 2014 Reader Favorites on some of my favorite food blogs… Check out Shutterbean, Cookie and Kate, Blogging Over Thyme, and iamafoodblog.  Oh, the mouthwatering […]

  • Lindsay

    Maybe it’s just me, but I would love to see your weekly meal prep along with the meals that it helped make each week. A weekly prep is definitely something I need to try to incorporate into my life, yours are so inspiring!

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