I have been brainstorming about what to write for this post for a while. The perfect words to sum up 2015. A mix of reflection and looking forward. Something personal but with a nod to the yumminess of the year. Its been many days of thinking and not much writing.
Of course the inspiration finally hit me at 1 a.m. the day before I had to wake up at 5 a.m. for a road trip. But when the words start flowing, the need to sleep can’t stop them. So with one day of 2015 to go, I’m sharing the favorite recipes of the year as chose by you plus some thoughts on life, blogging, and gratitude. But let’s start with the food…
10. Vanilla Date Breakfast Bars
9. Snickerdoodle Sweet Potato Blizzard
7. Black Bottom Banana Cupcakes (gluten-free, fruit-sweetened, oil-free)
6. Apple Upside Down Cake (gluten-free, fruit-sweetened, oil-free)
5. Vanilla Blueberry Muffins (oil-free, gluten-free)
3. Vegan Gluten-Free Snickerdoodles
2. Everything-Free Cinnamon Cupcakes with Apple Frosting
1. 5 Ingredients Flourless Dark Chocolate Cake
The number one recipe didn’t surprise me one bit, but a few of the others did. For anyone who is new to my recipes I point them straight to that flourless cake. It is decadence embodied in a bite! Still one of my favorite recipes, and I’m glad you guys agree.
Seeing your recreations of these recipes always lights up my day! And my face. Seriously you should see the big goofy grin that takes over my face 🙂 Thank you to every singe one of you who has tagged me on Instagram or left feedback on the blog or just quietly made one of my treats in your home even if you didn’t tell the whole internet about it. Thank you for baking along with me!
Here are a few from the year…
A few other things I am feeling very grateful for in this moment…
Graduating. Finally. College has been a long road of frustration, doubts, and questioning why the hell they think group projects are a good idea. But all those bumps made the end of the road even sweeter.
Fruit. This is my sweet tooth talking.
This crazy warm winter. Yes yes I know its really bad and sad and not rad–global warming and all that stuff. But Christmas day at the beach in shorts was still awesome. Just let me have my moment please. All fingers crossed that January isn’t extra chilly to make up for December.
Yoga. The only type of movement that appeals to me sometimes. Even when I’m feeling lazy, stiff, and unmotivated, the thought of down dog can usually lure me to my mat.
People. Especially family, but all people. Interacting with each other is the reason we are all on this big rotating ball, right. Really connecting with someone and exchanging words, thoughts, and emotions is a high like none other.
Laughing. The kind that makes it hard to breathe. I’ve never been sure if happiness leads to laughing or laughing leads to happiness, but whichever way they are entwined I love every moment I spend in laughter.
Blogging. Having a reason to be creative every damn day. And the never-ending learning curve that comes along with it.
Without this blog, I wouldn’t have a reason to pick up my camera every day–constantly challenging myself to take a better photo than I did the day before. I wouldn’t be constantly learning and experimenting, sometimes failing but sometimes succeeding. And I wouldn’t have so many amazing blogger friends who inspire me and teach me and support me constantly. It gives me hustle. It gives me drive.
For me the blog isn’t really even about the food, it’s about all of those things.
And YOU! I am incredibly grateful to you for trying my recipes and watching my videos and being right here right now reading this. Your support means more to me than you even know.
P.S. If you aren’t already a blogger but maybe want to kick your own creativity into gear in 2016 then check out my fellow blogger Howie’s 3 step guide on How to Start a Food Blog. It’s super helpful and could’ve saved me SO much time in the beginning.
If you are a blogger already, then I definitely recommend his eBook The Complete SEO Guide for Food Bloggers. Super helpful stuff and very interesting too. I read the whole thing in one day and learned so many actionable tips from it. It definitely makes SEO seem a whole lot simpler!
I wish you a wonderful New Years!
A wonderful round up of your delicious recipes – that chocolate cake always makes me DROOOOOOOOL!!!
Happy New Year!!
Haha me too! Thanks dear, Happy New Years 🙂
OMG! So many of my favorites from you made the top 10 list! Not that I am surprised. 😉 Your blog and recipes are amazing and I am in awe of how creative you are in the kitchen!! Okay, and how did I miss that you graduated!? I thought you were graduating in May like me!? Congrats girl! That is awesome! Here’s to an even better 2016!
My favorites too 🙂 Well I said I was a senior but I guess I didn’t say I was graduating this semester. Idk but yeah I graduated early. Thank you for being such a sweet friend, it’s been wonderful connecting this year. And road trip to California in 2016?? 😉
YES YES YES YES YES!! I am in! I’ll be there in July for BlogFest! You should come too! 🙂
What a great collection of recipes. Happy New Year!
Thank you Becky! Happy New Year to you too 🙂
What a delicious year!! So happy to have connected with you this year Natalie, I can’t wait to see what’s to come for you and your blog this new year.
It has been wonderful getting to know you too–trying multiple of your recipes and realizing we have such similar tastes 🙂 I’m looking forward to 2016 too, especially seeing what direction YOUR blog goes in with the internship and whatever else life has coming!
Natalie,
Feeling grateful for getting to know YOU 🙂
What a fun year you’ve had, and I had no idea you GRADUATED this year?! That’s awesome!
And I completely agree on the reasons for blogging. Beautiful way of putting it.
Happy new year, lil’ lady! Big hugs from my frozen solid part of the world 😉
Yes, so very grateful for all the chats we have had this year! Swapping inspiration and support, you are a wonderful friend Audrey 🙂 And yeah I just graduated a couple of weeks ago yay! Happy new year to you! You have achieved some amazing things this year, and I’m sure you have even more coming 2016! After you defrost that is 😉
A year of sweet deliciousness, that’s what 2015 was!
I’m making a reader request….I want to see more savory things! It’s my 2016 challenge to you my fruity friend! As that could be even better, some savory fruit dishes! BAM!
I have a savory recipe idea I’m working on RIGHT NOW actually! I shall try 🙂
What a fantastic year Natalie! I’ve enjoyed so much getting to know you better and I love you and your blog. Always so creative. I love your videos so much too. I’m not surprised one bit by your #1 recipe, who can forget that blueberry cake?! Congrats on graduating, you are even more amazing in my book! Here’s to another awesome year in 2016! xx
Thank you Brandi, I’ve enjoyed connecting with you over the year and I always appreciate your support <3 No shockers here really haha! I keep reading so many of these posts where the bloggers are surprised by what makes #1, but my list was pretty predictable 🙂 Can't wait to see your top ones!
What a great post! That creme brûlée looks absolutely to die for! It has been lovely getting to know you and your food. Can’t wait to see what 2016 brings for all of us! Happy New Year!
Thank you Jenn! It has been wonderful supporting each other on our blogging journeys this past year. It’s weird to think that we didn’t even know each other before 2015, and now we interact almost daily 😀 Happy 2016 to you!
Yays!! My Christmas tree gingerbread picture is there!! And my favorite is the Flourless Chocolate Cake. Seriously like fudge but 1000x healthier and filled with antioxidants!!
Keep up the fabulous work, Natalie <3
Yes of course I LOVE your cookies! Thank you dear for all your support this year, you are amazing <3
Snickerdoodle Blizzard!! How cool does the name sound already?!
Also thanks so much for including my ebook into your 2015 throwback!!
Of course! I really love your ebook and got a lot out of it. It’s making me think differently about blogging. Less about cranking out content and more about making the most out of every post and trying to maximize reach and always being on the lookout for the chance to get backlinks 🙂 Thanks!
Natalie!!! What a delicious, wonderful 2015! I’m SO incredibly grateful for YOU! I truly love you, your blog, YouTube videos and all of your thoughtful comments. I enjoy reading all of your posts as they seem to really come from the heart and you do a fantastic job of pulling us right into the kitchen with you. I absolutely cannot wait to see what 2016 has in store for you. Congratulations on graduating!!!! What a huge accomplishment! I loved reading your grateful list…I can relate to pretty much all of it. Happy New Year, sweet friend. Lots of love!!! xoxo
Aww Mandy your comments are my favorite. Chatting with you on Instagram is my favorite. It has been so fun swapping recipes with you this year–trying out yours and seeing your recreations of mine. Thank you for always supporting me 110%. And thank you for getting me hooked on your body butter this year too 😀 haha You are truly one of the sweetest people I have ever met <3 Thank you for being such a wonderful friend! Happy new year!!! xoxo