2020 52 Recipe Challenge

Steak Oscar, Recipe Number 7

The 52 recipe challenge is way of bringing together our friends far and wide who love to cook and share their successes and failures in the kitchen. The challenge; to make 52 new recipes in a single year. This is our ninth year of sharing food, recipes, kitchen catastrophes, and culinary creativity with friends far and wide. Our Facebook group, which started with 7 people, is now over 225 foodies. It is an invite group, so everyone is connected to someone in the group, but after 9 years, there are a bunch of participants who I don't know at all- a community of people connected by a desire to cook great meals at home. The group grew over two dozen members in March 2020 as many people were forced to cook more and learn ingredient substitutions due to COVID-19 Stay at Home Orders.  

2020 Top 5

1. Vietnamese Stir-Fried Sweet Shrimp (19): Covid shut down Vietnam, and cancelled our trip to visit family there. On the day we were supposed to fly out, we made a Vietnemese meal. The discovery of this recipe is bittersweet, but it was the best new recipe of the year. Easy and Delicious. 
2. Sourdough Crackers (37): Like so many families in Covid quarantine, we began a sourdough starter. The weekly discard felt so wasteful, and another 52 recipe challenge friend posted this sourdough discard recipe. Amazing. Especially with Trader Joe's Everything Bagel seasoning. It's now a weekly staple.
3. Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Popper Stuffed Chicken (48): We made grilled jalapeno poppers and had way too many leftovers. What to do with them. Stuff them in a chicken and wrap that in bacon and stuff your face. Delicious. We made too many of those too, and vacu-sealed those leftovers and had midweek sous vide leftovers on a busy night.
4. Scallops with Avocado Salsa (30): This was easy and delicious. The avocados really round out the dish beautifully. Great way to respond to the "oh my goodness, the avocados are about to go bad" dilemma. 
5. Mini Cheesecakes (46): Incredibly delicious. Super easy. Cheesecake. 

Honorable Mentions

• Sourdough Starter (39): We named her "Miss Cleo." This was our new Covid pet to keep alive. She's still kicking. 
• Vietnamese Fried Rice (18): Excellent with the number one recipe of the year, the Vietnamese Stir-Fried Sweet Shrimp. Excellent pairing.
• Fried Pickles (55): We missed attending fairs, and these helped subdue the craving. A decent substitute for Covid shutting down the Minnesota State Fair.
• Creamy Confetti Corn (54): Confession- I hate creamed corn. It's so many calories for something that's frankly so boring. This recipe doesn't solve the calorie issue, but it's definitely not boring. Great holiday side dish.
• Bourbon Glazed Pork Chops (33): Quick. Easy. Tasty. Double the sauce, it's delicious.
• Love at First Sight Chocolate Cake (22): Best chocolate cake we've ever made. We don't make cake often and remember why, we ate the whole thing.

1. Immersion Blender Hollandaise Sauce +
2. Spicy Whiskey BBQ Sliders  +(2012 re-do, must add to rotation!)
3. Flourless Chocolate Torte
4. Mini Corn Dog Bites
5. Ranch Seasoning Mix
6. Cold Crab Dip -
7. Steak Oscar
8. Cocktail Sauce
9. Sous Vide Shrimp +
10. Remoulade +
11. Copycat Chipotle Barbacoa +
12. Alton Brown Pancakes +
13. Soft Pretzels + (2016 re-do, made into buns instead!)
14. Potato Chip Omelet
15. Puff Pastry Croissants
16. English Muffins -
17. Italian Herb Bread +
18. Vietnamese Fried Rice +
19. Vietnamese Stir-Fried Sweet Shrimp ++
20. Pistolet +
21. Yellow Birthday Cupcakes 
22. Love at First Sight Chocolate Cake +
23. Crunchy Tocino
24. Egg Noodles +
25. Brown Butter Banana Bread +
26. Bacon Peanut Butter Banana Bread +
27. Cedar Plank Salmon +
28. Perfect Pot Roast
29. Mignonette Sauce +
30. Scallops with Avocado Salsa ++
31. Grilled Marinated Swordfish +
32. Crispy Shredded Hashbrowns +
33. Bourbon Glazed Pork Chops +
34. Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi +
35. Hot Bacon Vinaigrette
36. Dijon and Herbs Grilled Chicken Thighs +
37. Sourdough Crackers ++
38. Sourdough Starter +
39. Remoulade 
40. Maryland Crab Cake -
41. Strawberry Shortcake
42. Miso-y Grilled Potatoes +
43. Lacquered Ribeye
44. General Tso Sauce
45. Rhubarb Crème Brulee -
46. Mini Cheesecakes ++
47. Crockpot Shredded Beef
48. Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Popper Stuffed Chicken ++
49. Croutons
50. Crock Pot Breakfast Potatoes ---
51. Aged Eggnog + (2016 re-do, worth the effort)
52. Haitian Chicken +
53. Creamed Spinach
54. Creamy Confetti Corn +
55. Fried Pickles +
56. Beer Battered Cheese Curds +
57. Creamy Cole Slaw Dressing +
58. Shredded Brussels Sprouts +
59. Vitamix Béarnaise Sauce (2016 re-do)

denotes a dish we'll make again

- denotes a dish we didn't like or wouldn't make again

Best of 52 Recipe Challenge
2019 52 Recipe Challenge

2018 52 Recipe Challenge
2017 52 Recipe Challenge

2016 52 Recipe Challenge

2015 52 Recipe Challenge

2014 52 Recipe Challenge

2013 52 Recipe Challenge
2012 52 Recipe Challenge