Goodbye 2018, hello 2019!

Except not quite that fast…we need to recap the year in recipes! I will forever be a broken record saying time and time again, “where has the time gone?!”

2018 was another year of growth both personally and for Fork in the Kitchen. In my food blogging life, I attended my first blogger conference, Tastemakers. It was amazing and I loved connecting with bloggers IRL.

I also worked on my photography game and enrolled in Foodtography School.

Top Recipes of 2018 | Fork in the Kitchen

I also had an amazing year creating all your new favorite recipes. It was no surprise to me to see some of your classic favorites were still at the top of the list this year (looking at you, Pumpkin Bars and Grandma’s Apple Crisp).

Let’s dive in and see what was at the top for 2018. If you’re curious about last year’s favorites, check out the 2017 post. Want to know the top recipes of 2016 and 2015? Subscribe to the newsletter to receive them in eBooks!

Your Favorite Recipes of 2018

1. Vegetable Lo Mein for Two

Vegetable Lo Mein for Two - better than take-out, this classic Chinese dish is a quick dinner and can easily be doubled! | Fork in the Kitchen

It’s no surprise this recipe ranked highest in 2018 – it’s incredibly easy to make, full of flavor, and better-than-takeout!

2. Pesto Tomato Burrata Spread

overhead plate with pesto, tomato jam, and burrata next to baguette and basil

What an elegant appetizer that is SO EASY to make – especially if you take the quick route and use some store-bought tomato jam and pesto. Hey, sometimes we need to save some time!

But for the ultimate experience – Simple Roasted Tomato Jam was also on the “top 10” list for 2018!

3. Broccoli Butternut Squash Soup

spoon scooping from bowl of broccoli squash soup

A healthy, easy soup made with broccoli and butternut squash – vegan and comforting!

4. Gruyere Scalloped Potatoes

gruyere scalloped potatoes with spoonful overhead by fork in the kitchen

Technically, this decadent dish was posted in 2016. But in 2018, the photos got a makeover and we all fell in love with it again. It’s worthy of being a front runner yet again.

5. Balsamic Bruschetta on Crostini

Tomato bruschetta on cutting board.

Ok, so here’s another recipe that goes waaaaay back. Back to 2015 (FITK’s first year in existence!). It’s been a favorite for many, many years. Again, in 2018 the photos got a facelift and a video was added. And yet again, we all fell in love with it.

6. 5-Ingredient Blistered Tomato Pasta

5 Ingredient Blistered Tomato Pasta | Fork in the Kitchen

One of my personal favorites – a light, buttery sauce with lots of garlic and blistered tomatoes. Such an easy weeknight dinner!

7. Angel Food Cake with Strawberry Filling

Angel Food Cake with Strawberry Filling | Fork in the Kitchen

A childhood favorite made homemade and in a loaf pan instead of a bundt pan.

8. Lemon Poppy Seed Bread

Lemon Poppy Seed Bread with Vanilla Bean Icing | Fork in the Kitchen

A perfectly light, moist, and bright lemon bread with pops of poppy seeds and topped with a vanilla bean icing – aaaamazing!

9. Chipotle Cilantro Dressing

Chipotle Cilantro Dressing | Fork in the Kitchen

It’s no surprise this creamy, spicy dressing was a hit! It’s super versatile – a dressing, a dip, or a marinade! We used it in Spicy Chipotle Shrimp Salad!

10. Lemon Lavender Scones

lemon scone on cooling rack

Whoa, whoa, whoa. These scones are bright, with a hint of lavender and a sweet glaze on top. Excellent for brunch!

Shoutout: Summer Strawberry Pie

Summer Strawberry Pie - a sweet, no-bake summer dessert made without gelatin! | Fork in the Kitchen

While Summer Strawberry Pie did not make its debut this year, it did win a Driscoll’s Berry Contest! Which is why it deserves a special shout out for 2018!

Becca’s Favorite Recipes of 2018

In addition to the most viewed recipes by YOU, I wanted to share a few of my personal favorites that weren’t on the list.

To be honest, choosing favorites is kind of like choosing your favorite child. It was so hard to narrow it down because I truly love them all (I’m not going to go post something I don’t love or that isn’t tested to perfection!).

Many of these recipes are favorites because of memories they evoke for me, or the challenge they gave me to create a blog-worthy version – read on!

1. Vietnamese Egg Coffee

Vietnamese Egg Coffee with cookies - the most luxurious coffee you'll ever have! | Fork in the Kitchen

My trip to Vietnam was spectacular – head to the recipe post and the travel post to read more about this to-die-for coffee!

2. Soft M&M Cookies

Soft M&M Cookies - the perfect balance of soft, slightly chewy cookies with the crunch of an M&M shell with melty chocolate inside. A quick, one bowl, small batch cookie recipe! | Fork in the Kitchen

I make these on the REGULAR! They are by far my go-to cookie when I need a fix STAT. They’re small batch, and are amazing with chocolate chips too (because who always has M&Ms on hand? If it’s you, I’m jealous).

3. Small Batch Banana Chocolate Muffins

Small Batch Banana Chocolate Muffins - a quick, easy breakfast! | Fork in the Kitchen

Again, I make these at least once a month. Since I’m still a single-gal living the dream, the small batch is the perfect amount – I have some for breakfast and save some for the next day!

4. Vegetable Potstickers

Vegetable Potstickers with Ponzu Sauce - homemade vegetarian potstickers that are easy to make, and full of flavor! Serve with homemade ponzu sauce for a gourmet appetizer! | Fork in the Kitchen

I’d been sitting on this recipe for so long since by brother first made them a year before, that I was SO excited to get it up! Ironically, yes. They’re also one of my favorite things to eat!

5. Sweet Corn Caramel Ice Cream

Sweet Corn Caramel Ice Cream | Fork in the Kitchen

This falls in the challenge category, but it also falls in the “yes, I love creating unique recipes” category. And it falls in my forever sweet spot for sweet corn category.

6. Mini Carrot Corn Dogs

Mini Carrot Corn Dogs in serving container with ketchup on newspaper

I’m surprised these aren’t the ONLY thing on my favorites list. I’m obsessed with corn dogs – and these are MEATLESS! O.M.G.

7. Spicy Parmesan Garlic Popcorn

bowl of popcorn next to wine bottle and wine

Hello, best snack ever!

8. Cheesy Potato Croquettes

Cheesy Potato Croquettes in a pile by fork in the kitchen

I couldn’t have even imagined how amazing these would turn out. I thank the Boursin.

9. Apple Cider Streusel Muffins

apple cider streusel muffins on cooling rack with drizzle by fork in the kitchen

When nostalgia mixes with moist, tender crumbed muffins with REAL APPLE PIECES, you’re in for a breakfast dream come true. Not to mention the double streusel and drizzle topping, if you so please!

10. Romesco Breakfast Bagel Sandwich

Romesco Breakfast Bagel Sandwich - easy to make and full of flavor! #recipe #forkinthekitchen #brunch #vegetarian | Fork in the Kitchen

There is no other easy, simple, quick breakfast that I CRAVE (or literally walk a mile to whole foods to get a bagel for). It’s 1,000 percent amazing, and can be made SO EASILY with the romesco sauce you keep on hand in your freezer. 😉

Now that we have all that covered, what was your favorite recipe of 2018? Leave a comment and let me know! While you’re at it – what are you looking for in 2019?

HAPPY NEW YEAR!