Top 10 Recipes of 2014

2014 has been a super exciting year. Mostly, of course, because baby Olivia joined us right at the half-way mark. She's brought us so much joy and makes us very proud parents.

She also is the reason there was no year end list for 2013 (you can find 2012's list here). Due to a crappy first trimester I was on blogging hiatus at that time.

But she also is the reason this blog has had more posts (111 in total) and more traffic than ever before. Going on maternity leave has given me more time to dedicate towards developing recipes. But trying to balance motherhood and blogging is a juggling act I am far from having mastered.

Early in the year there was the name change from SpecialtyCakeCreations to Leelalicious. I had been looking forward to this change for a long time but was also very scared. Despite all the challenges that come with a URL change, I haven't looked back since.

Together with the name change I also introduced savory recipes to this former dessert blogs. And you absolutely loved it. Half of the top 10 rankings are taken by dinner recipes!

So let's have a closer look at your favorite recipes of this year. A number of recipes from previous years are still super popular. For this list however, I compiled only recipes published in 2014. Here is the 2015 Top Ten list, and 2020 Top Recipes.

#10 Lemon Pepper Tilapia

This sauteed Tilapia was inspired by my husband's cousin in Paraguay, who made a very similar meal on open fire while we were visiting in the Spring.

#9 Healthy Baked Apple Chips

I HAVE to make these apple chips again. Almost a year ago I was prompted by my apple abundance, to turn them into chips. Now I am blessed with a load of apples again (courtesy of my parents) and healthy snacks are always welcome here.

#8 Pumpkin Breakfast Cookies

Breakfast cookies are a major win in my books. And yours. There are 2 of them in this list!

#7 Coconut Strawberry Swirl Pops

It seems almost forever ago that we enjoyed frozen treats to cool down in the summer heat. But sooner or later, we'll have to chill out with these fruity popsicles again.

#6 Slow Cooked Quinoa Squash Stew

Healthy comfort food made in the slow cooker. Perfect especially in these cooler months.

#5 Gingerbread Oreo Cookie Balls

Interestingly enough, these Gingerbread Oreo Cookies Balls are the only non-healthy item to make the list. I am glad to see you are into healthy food but don't shy away from an occasional indulgence.

#4 Healthy Cauliflower and Broccoli Casserole

A healthier revamp of my mom's casserole with creamy cauliflower sauce.

#3 Healthy Breakfast Cookies

And there you are again, delicious, nutritious, hearty, filling cookies... for breakfast!

#2 Cauliflower Curry with Ground Beef

I was so happy to see this family favorite dinner recipe enjoyed by so many of you as well.

#1 Spaghetti Squash with Thai Peanut Sauce

This recipe won by a LANDSLIDE!! I am quite overwhelmed by how popular this post was, especially on Pinterest. To date this Spaghetti Squash with Thai Peanut Sauce has been pinned almost 72K times!!! Woahh!!

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Have you noticed a pattern in the list? You guys are into healthy food a lot! I am very happy to see that the new direction of delicious and nutritious real food with occasional indulgences is one you like, too.

Thank you all for your support this year and for going through all these changes with me. Your comments - be they feedback on recipes or words of encouragement on motherhood - they all mean the world to me!

I look forward to everything 2015 has in store. Let's go on another delicious journey around the sun!

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