2017 52 Recipe Challenge

Super Bowl Party Grits Bar

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 sixth year of sharing food, recipes, kitchen catastrophes, and culinary creativity with friends far and wide.

2017 Top 5

1. Recipe 49- Dolores' Brokenhearted Chicken: Sometimes I wonder why we keep doing this 52 Recipe Challenge after all these years. This is why. This... was... amazing.
2. Recipe 33- Campfire Dutch Oven Sourdough French Toast: I was able to prep everything before leaving home for camping, putting it all in separate ziploc bags. Easy to assemble. I would encourage you to use the foil in the dutch oven as it was sticky, and the foil made clean up a breeze (which is nice when camping). Next time I'd increase the liquid just a bit (1/4 - 1/2 cup). We opted for maple syrup instead of the glaze. Delicious!
3. Recipe 51- Creamed Spinach: This one took some effort, but was very good, and was declared the best I've made.
4. Recipe 13- Hashbrowns: Loaded Steakhouse Hashbrowns. I used this recipe as a base, but added a half cup of green onion, half cup of homemade bacon bits, cup of cubed cheese. Oh, and i used frozen hashbrowns... I'm not that crazy! This was the star of Valentine's Day dinner.
5. Recipe 3- Grown Up Mac and Cheese: This was a huge hit at our New Year's Day Recovery Brunch Mac and Cheese Bar. I made mine with the recommended bacon and bread crumbs, and it was delicious, but I know other people at the party doctored theirs up with caramelized onions, langostino tails, tomatoes, and/or chorizo.

2017 Honorable Mentions

1. Recipe 23- Honey Mustard Glazed Ham: Made this for Easter and was told it was "my best ham yet". Note: I heated my ham up using the Alton Brown method (starting at 250 degrees for several hours). Also, my ham was 18 lbs. and I still had at least twice as much glaze as I needed. So feel free to scale back on the ingredients (seriously, I should have known better than to use a full cup of honey). A keeper!
2. Recipe 14- Sostanza Brown Butter Chicken: Like most chicken recipes I do these these days, I soaked the breasts in buttermilk to tenderize them before dredging and pan frying them. I also used a little wine to deglaze the pan before adding the chicken back in to bake.
3. Recipe 9- Slow Cooker Grits: These were really good. May become my go-to recipe for making polenta, er, I mean grits
4. Recipe 7-  Caramel Budino: Delicious. I used chocolate graham crackers as the base and did a basic homemade whipped cream for the top. The only complaint is you mess a lot of pots and bowls with all the steps.
5. Recipe 10- Spicy Stewed Beef: Very nice spice, easy to make.

1. Goat Cheese Quiche with Hash Brown Crust -
2. Classic Mac and Cheese +
3. Grown Up Mac and Cheese ++
4. Chinese Roast Pork +
5. Chicago Style Deep Dish
6. Two Ingredient Pancakes - - -
7. Caramel Budino +
8. No Knead Bread
9. Slow Cooker Grits +
10. Spicy Stewed Beef with Grits +
11. Cajun-Style Shrimp
12. Buffalo Chicken Dip
13. Hashbrowns+
14. Sostanza Brown Butter Chicken +
15. Classic Beef Pot Roast +
16. Sweet Potato Hash +
17. Cheesy Spinach Artichoke Bake
18. Easy Grilled Chicken
19. Garlic Shrimp +
20. Sous Vide Shrimp
21. Pioneer Woman Caesar Salad +
22. Alton Brown Fish and Chips
23. Honey Mustard Glazed Ham
24. Maid-rites
25. Pastrami Ribs
26. Ham Salad
27. Blackened Mahi Sandwiches +
28. Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus
29. Grilled Swordfish with Lemon, Mint, and Basil
30. Campfire Dutch Oven Beer and Sausages
31. Campfire Dutch Oven Mountain Main Breakfast
32. Campfire Dutch Oven Queso Fundido +
33. Campfire Dutch Oven Sourdough French Toast +++
34. Sriracha Grilled Chicken +
35. Coconut Macaroon Brownies +
36. Tangy Cucumber Salad
37. Creamy Cucumber Salad +
38. Old Fashion Pancakes +
39. Laquered Bacon
40. Butternut Squash Ravoli with Sage Brown Butter Sauce +
41. Carrot and Parsnip Puree
42. Brussels Sprouts, Sausage, and Spiralized Parsnips
43. Garlic Roasted Carrots
44. Honey Sriracha Roasted Carrots
45. Carrot Cake
46. Instant Pot Pork Ribs -
47. Buttermilk Biscuits 
48. Paleo Short Ribs
49. Dolores' Brokenhearted Chicken (Sherry-braised Chicken) +++
50. Ultra-fluffy Mashed Potatoes -
51. Creamed Spinach +++
52. Beef Wellington +

Bonus Recipes

• Ben and Jerry's Strawberry Ice Cream
• Pioneer Woman Cinnamon Ice Cream +++
• Bourbon Pumpkin Ice Cream +

+ denotes a dish we'll make again

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

2016 52 Recipe Challenge

2015 52 Recipe Challenge

2014 52 Recipe Challenge

2013 52 Recipe Challenge
2012 52 Recipe Challenge

2016 52 Recipe Challenge

The 52 recipe challenge is a 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 fifth year of sharing food, recipes, kitchen catastrophes, and culinary creativity with friends far and wide.

2016 Top 5
38. Crispy Chicken with Arugula
46. Braised Short Ribs
8.   Roasted Schweinshaxe (Roasted Pork Knuckle)
25. Soft Pretzels
49: Salted Caramel Pot de Crème

Honorable Mention
18. Vitamix Hollandaise Sauce
30. Italian Wedding Soup
40. Shredded Brussels Sprouts with Proscuitto

1. Pepper Crusted Prime Rib Roast
2. Creme Fraiche Mashed Potatoes
3. Spinach and Cheese Strata
4. Hot Chorizo and Cheese Dip +
5. Butternut Squash Sauce +
6. Calamari in Creamy White Wine Sauce +
7. Easy Tzatziki Sauce +
8. Roasted Schweinshaxe +
9. Mile High Hatch Chile Chili Verde +
10. Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding +
11. Sous Vide Pulled Pork +
12. Carolina BBQ Sauce- Food Network
• Carolina BBQ Sauce- The Meatwave +
13. Lobster Thermidor
14. Sous Vide Prime Rib +
15. Breakfast Sausage
16. Asian Salad Dressing
17. No-Knead Bread +
18. Vitamix Hollandaise Sauce +
19. Birthday Cake Pancakes
20. Chocolate Chip Pancakes
21. Cake Batter Birthday Blondies +
22. Strawberry Bleu Cheese Salad +
23. Waffled Hash Brown Croque Monsieur
24. Sous Vide Poached Eggs
25. Soft Pretzels +
26. Basic Polenta
27. Salted Pecan Bourbon Pumpkin Pie - - - 
28. Sous Vide Barbecue Ribs
29. Zucchini Fries
30. Italian Wedding Soup +
31. Vitamix Bearnaise Sauce
32. Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Jalapenos +
33. No-Bake Cake Batter Truffles
34. Caprese Skewers
35. Tarragon Chicken with Spring Greens +
36. Flank Steak with Saucy Mushrooms +
37. Cheesy Souffle -
38. Crispy Chicken with Arugula ++
39. Meringue Kiss Cookies +
40. Shredded Brussels Sprouts with Proscuitto + 
    
41. Alton Brown's Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies +
42. Parmesan Broccoli Rabe Bread Pudding
43. Arugula Salad with Winter Squash, Cranberries, and Pecans 
44. Jackie Kennedy's Herbed Chicken Paillard +
45. Jackie Kennedy's Chocolate Birthday Cake +
46. Pioneer Woman Braised Short Ribs ++
47. Cheddar Polenta +
48. Asparagus Gruyere Tart +
    
49. Salted Caramel Pot de Crème +
50. Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls +
51. Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Beef Tenderloin 
52. Pork Crown Roast +
53. Apple Pecan Stuffing (Dressing)
54. Alton Brown's Aged Eggnog +

+ denotes a dish we'll make again

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

2015 52 Recipe Challenge

2014 52 Recipe Challenge

2013 52 Recipe Challenge
2012 52 Recipe Challenge

2015 52 Recipe Challenge

The 52 recipe challenge is a 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 fourth year of sharing food, recipes, kitchen catastrophes, and culinary creativity with friends far and wide.

2015 Top 5

52. Beef Wellington

52. Beef Wellington: Impressive visually and tastes even better. Great special occasion dish.
37. Arugula, Strawberry, and Blue Cheese Salad: Amazing flavor combination. Became a summer go-to salad.
44. Short Rib Ragu: Comfort food. 
45. Hot Fudge: Tastes like it came from the ice cream parlor.
40. Kale and Sausage Soup: The best Italian restaurants in the world couldn't do this dish better.

Honorable Mention
15. Samoa Cheesecake: Visually impressive, 

15. Samoa Cheesecake

20. Chicken Tortilla Soup: My quest to find the perfect Chicken Tortilla soup came not at a restaurant, but this recipe.
51. Julia Child Garlic Mashed Potatoes: Don't let the number of cloves scare you, this is a beautiful side, and the garlic is mellow.
33. Key Lime Pie in a Jar: First attempt at dessert in a jar, very tasty, and cute idea for a party.
43. Balsamic Roasted Beet Salad: If you like beets, you will love this salad.

1. Grilled Cheese Bar
• Braised Short Rib Grilled Cheese
• Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese
• Thanksgiving Grilled Cheese
2. Parker House Rolls 
3. Steak Tartare
4. Pressure Cooker BBQ Ribs +
5. Oatmeal-Bacon Waffle Cookies
6. S'mores Cheesecake +
7. Spicy Asparagus Spears
8. Louisiana Cajun Deviled Crab Cakes
9. Tartar Sauce
10. Kung Pao Drumsticks +
11. No Fry Italian Fried Chicken -
12. Nacho Cheese Sauce -
13. Oatmeal Cookie Pancakes+
14. Rustic Chicken with Garlic Gravy+
15. Samoa Cheesecake ++
16. Caramelized Banana French Toast
17. Maple Doughnut Waffle Cookies
18. Kentucky Bourbon and Bacon Cookies -
• Maple Cinnamon Glaze
19. Chicken Flautas
20. Chicken Tortilla Soup ++
21. Slow Cooker Crock Pot Sausage and Egg Casserole
22. Shrimp Ceviche +
23. Pork Carnitas
• Spicy Chocolate Ice Cream ++
24. Jalapeno Poppers
25. Creamed Spinach 
26. Honey Mustard Chicken +
27. Flourless Chocolate Cake +
28. Summer Squash and Corn Chowder -
29. Snickerdoodle Waffles +
30. Jack Daniels Whiskey Grilled Chicken Wings
31. Honey BBQ Pork Riblets +
32. Strawberry Shortcake +
33. Key Lime Pie in a Mason Jar +
34. Chicken Scaloppine
• Crispy Chicken with Arugula Parmesean
35. Asparagus Mozzarella Salad -
36. Grilled Maple Mustard Pork Chops +
37. Arugula, Strawberry, and Blue Cheese Salad +++
• Strawberry Sorbet
38. Paleo Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken +
39. Peach-Mustard Pork Chops +
40. Kale and Sausage Soup +++
41. Pane Con Tomate +
42. Spinach Salad with Mushrooms and Sundried Tomatoes -
43. Balsamic Roasted Beet Salad +
44. Short Rib Ragu ++
45. Hot Fudge ++
46. Braised Pork with Red Wine
47. Julia Child's Potato Leek Soup +
48. Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies +
49. Swiss Hash Browns
50. Crab Risotto -
51. Julia Child Garlic Mashed Potatoes +
52. Beef Wellington ++

+ denotes a dish we'll make again

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

2014 52 Recipe Challenge

2013 52 Recipe Challenge
2012 52 Recipe Challenge

2014 52 Recipe Challenge

The 52 recipe challenge is a 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 third year of sharing food, recipes, kitchen catastrophes, and culinary creativity with friends far and wide.

Top 5 of 2014

2. Pumpkin Pie Bars- I brought these into work and had over a dozen people request the recipe

1. Sausage Gravy- I made this for a bunch of Texans and they were impressed

42. Pan-Roasted Swordfish with Tarragon Mustard Sauce- Better than anything in a restaurant

10. Mustard Braised Lamb Shanks- melt in your mouth, great marriage of flavors

53. Whiskey Praline Pecans- addictive, easy to make, great for gifts

Honorable Mentions
8. Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas- simple to prepare, leftovers great for breakfast with eggs
11. NYC Black and White Cookies- Spot on for the real thing
15. Chinese BBQ Spareribs- bright red ribs just like at a restaurant, tasty
35. Smoked Barbecue Baby Back Ribs- Fell off the bone, great flavor
46. Herbed Fauxtisserie Chicken- Excellent go-to chicken recipe

* denotes a dish we'll make again

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

1. Sausage Gravy ***
• Biscuits and Gravy Casserole
2. Pumpkin Pie Bars ***
3. Mussels in White Wine -
4. Samoa Bars *
5. Acorn Squash Fritters *
6. Butternut Squash Ravioli with Sage Brown Butter Sauce
• Ravioli Dough
7. Cold Sesame Noodles *
8. Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas **
9. No-Knead Bread *
10. Mustard Braised Lamb Shanks ***
11. NYC Black and White Cookies **
12. Crispy Udon Noodles -
13. Asian Chicken Slaw *
14. Shrimp Toast 
15. Chinese BBQ Spareribs **
16. "Chinese Take-out" Crispy Beef -
17. Shanghai Chicken Wings 
18. Firecracker Shrimp *
19. Pork and Chive Dumplings *
• Coconut Ice Cream *
20. Stout-Braised Short Ribs -
21. Parmesan Grits *
22. Corn * and Flour ** Tortillas
23. Raspberry Chocolate Chip Muffins *
24. Tuscan Vegetable Soup
• Wonton Chips
25. Truffled Mac and Cheese *
• Watermelon Mimosas *
26. Yellow Cake with Fudge Frosting -
• Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream
27. Bourbon Brined Turkey *
28. Creamy Baked Asparagus with Aged Cheddar
29. Scalloped Potatoes with Ham *
30. Waffles
31. Ham and Asparagus Frittata *
• Maple Bacon Bourbon Ice Cream - 
32. Softshell Crab Sandwiches
• Tartar Sauce
33. Broccoli Rabe with Sausage
34. Orecchitte with Sausage and Kale
35. Smoked Barbecue Baby Back Ribs **
• Watermelon Jalapeno Margarita *
36. Tequila Glazed Chicken with Jalapeno **
37. Jalapeno Honey Garlic Chicken *
38. Fennel Garlic Chicken Legs *
39. Arugula, Beet, and Blue Cheese Salad
40. Roasted Shrimp with Chile Gremolata *
41. Blue Cheese and Bacon Tomato Salad
42. Pan-Roasted Swordfish with Tarragon Mustard Sauce **
43. Pioneer Woman Marinated Flank Steak *
44. Bacon and Onion Swiss Chard
45. Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread
46. Herbed Fauxtisserie Chicken **
47. French Onion Soup *
48. Hollandaise Sauce -
49. Broccoli Strascinati (Broccoli with Garlic and Hot Pepper)
50. Beer-Roasted Pork Shoulder *
51. Braised Pork Steaks *
52. Slow Cooker Cinnamon Sugar Almonds -
53. Whiskey Praline Pecans ***

2013 52 Recipe Challenge
2012 52 Recipe Challenge

2013 52 Recipe Challenge

Recipes 36, 38, 39, and 40

The 52 recipe challenge is a 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. We had so much fun chatting online about food, recipes, kitchen catastrophes, and culinary creativity that we decided to take on the challenge again in 2013.

1. Shellfish and Tomato Stew on Soft Polenta **
2. Cappesante al Forno (Baked Scallops with Parmesan) -
3. Baltimore-Style Crabcakes *
4. Remoulade Sauce
5. 40 Garlic Clove Chicken ***
• Served w/ Mashed Garlic Cauliflower *
6. Crab and Butternut Squash Gratin *
7. Cozze Al Forno (roasted Breaded Mussels)
8. Bobby Flay Sausage Jambalaya
9. Buttery Crab Bread Pudding
10. Parmesan Roasted Asparagus
11. Slow Cooker BBQ Ribs
12. Sweet Cream Cake
• Condensed Milk Chocolate Frosting
• Cinnamon Ice Cream
13. Asparagus with Pancetta
14. Buffalo Pot Roast 
15. Hershey's Chocolate Cake 
• Hershey's Chocolate Frosting 
16. Dry Brined Roasted Turkey  *
17. Crab Lasagna
18. Broccoli Rabe with Garlic and Red Pepper *
19. Sesame Grilled Asparagus *
20. Roast Provençal Chicken *** 
21. Greek Chopped Salad *
22. Steak Fajitas *
23. Adobo Chicken
• Strawberry Ice Cream
24. Butter Braised Onions -
25. Grilled Maple-Chile Chicken *
26. Homemade Almond Butter
27. Red Lettuce Salad with Balsamic Onions *
• Basil Gelato
28. Spiced Grilled Chicken with Duck Sauce *
29. Summer Panzanella *
30. Pesto Genovese -
31. Rolled Flank Steak with Prosciutto and Basil *
32. "Sun"-Dried Oven-Dried Tomatoes *
33. Sautéed Swiss Chard with Sun Dried Tomatoes and Feta *
34. Grilled Carrots *
35. Tomato, Watermelon, and Cucumber Salad
36. Guinness BBQ Sauce *
37. Cucumber Fennel Salad with Yogurt Dressing -
38. Alton Brown's Smoked Pulled Pork *
39. Steven Raichlen's Texas-Style Smoked Brisket *
40. Jalapeno Corn Bread *
41. Brown Butter Bacon Chocolate Chip Cookies *
42. Coq au Vin *
43. Spiral Baked Potatoes -
44. Damn Fine Paleo Chicken *
45. Lamb Osso Buco *
46. Cucumber Salad
47. Zinfandel Braised Beef Brisket -
48. Basic Breakfast Potatoes *
49. Pasta in Creamy Crab and Wine Sauce -
50. Risotto with Butternut Squash and Sausage *
51. Chardonnay Braised Chicken Thighs with Parsnips *
52. Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Bars *
53. Baked Oatmeal *
54. Winter Squash Overload
• Delicata Squash Oven Fries *
• Parmesan Roasted Acorn Squash *
• Butternut Squash and Leek Soup
55. Braised Veal *
56. Crock Pot Apple Butter *

Bonus
• Peanut Butter and Banana Dog Biscuits *
* denotes a dish I'll make again
- denotes a dish we didn't like


Top 5 of 2013:
1. Shellfish and Tomato Stew on Polenta
5. 40 Garlic Clove Chicken
20. Roast Provençal Chicken (Picnic Chicken)
33. Sautéed Swiss Chard with Sun Dried Tomatoes and Feta
54. Delicata Squash Oven Fries

2012 52 Recipe Challenge

We've gotten into a food rut and our way to break out of it is to make 52 new recipes in one year.

Liege Waffles * German Dijon Chicken * Stuffed Calamari Chicken Marsala * Sally Lunn Bread  Beer Braised Pot Roast - Paves vu Mail (Pan Braised Steak in Mustard Sauce) * Cajun Chicken Pasta * Italian Sweet and Sour Chicken * Dulce de Leche Ice Cream Tuscan Lamb Shanks with White Beans * Spicy Whiskey BBQ Sliders * Grilled Panzanella Salad * German Style Grilled Pork Tenderloin Amaretto Ice Cream * Caponata * Chocolate Chip Bread Scalloped Squash, Corn, and Red Pepper Gratin Dark Chocolate and Peanut Butter Ice Cream Spinach Salad with Hot Bacon Dressing * Jack and Coke Slow Cooked Beef * Chili Dusted Kale Chips - Mesclun and Fresh Herb with Goat Cheese Salad - Porterhouse Steaks with Arugula and Parmesan Cheese * Cucumber Salad * Savory Corn Bread Alabama Pulled Pig - Chopped Vegetable Salad with Feta and Olives * Hot Fudge Perfect Pancakes Pumpkin IceCream * Bourbon Marinated Flank Steak Roasted Chicken w/ Tomatoes & Olives * Nacho Cake Heirloom Tomato Bloody Mary Sherried Tomato Soup * Make Your Own Mini Fritatas * Braised Leg of Lamb * French Baguettes * Pumpkin and Shrimp Bisque * Pumpkin Chocolate Chips Bread * Perfect Pound Cake - Roasted Pumpkin Cheese Fondue * Chocolate Fondue * Roasted Butternut Squash and Caramelized Onion Tart * Slow Cooker Cola BBQ Pulled Pork Squash and Tomato Bake * Short Rib Ragu French Apple Tart Vanilla Creme Anglaise Semolina Pasta * Cacio e Pepe (Cheese and Pepper Pasta) * Pane Siciliano * Cannnoli Ice Cream * Eggnog Ice Cream * Porkchops with Garlic and Wine Sauce - Slow Roasted Salmon Crab Imperial * Slow Roasted Rack of Lamb * denotes a dish I'll make again - denotes a dish we didn't like Top 5 of 2012 11. Spicy Whiskey BBQ Sliders 47. Cacio e Pepe 32. Sherried Tomato Soup 25. Chopped Vegetable Salad with Feta and Olives 39. Roasted Pumpkin Cheese Fondue

1. Swedish Liege Waffles 11. Spicy Whiskey BBQ Sliders 42. Slow Cooker Cola BBQ Pulled Pork 39. Roasted Pumpkin Cheese Fondue 33. Muffin Tin Mini Fritatas