The Best of 2013 from Carrie's Experimental Kitchen

Happy New Year! I hope you all enjoyed celebrating over the last couple of weeks, but now it's time to start fresh and write some new chapters in the coming year. I'll have some new recipes for you next week, but wanted to share some of most viewed recipes I created in 2013.

Top 15 Side Dishes

I'll be taking the next couple of days off to prepare for our Thanksgiving feast and spend time with family and friends, so I compiled a list of the 15 Most Popular Side Dish recipes on the blog. Stop back on Monday for a post you won't want to miss where some of my blogging friends and I will be giving away a $600 Visa Gift Card just in time for your holiday shopping.

Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving from my kitchen to yours! 

Top 5 Recipe Recap (12.16.12) and Support for Sandy Hook Elementary

Before I share the Top 5 Most Viewed Recipes from last week, I wanted send my condolences to all of those affected by the senseless shooting in Newtown, CT this week.  26 people lost their lives; 20 of them elementary school children (including several children of my husband's coworkers). Like most of the nation, we are still in shock at how devastating this is and can't even imagine what would possess someone to do this gruesome act of hate. It is truly a parents worse nightmare and I personally cringe every time I get a call from our own school system just waiting to hear the worst. This is definitely not the same world I grew up in as a child and it's so frightening. Please keep the family and friends of all those lost in your thoughts and prayers in the coming weeks. 

Charlotte Bacon, 6

Daniel Barden, 7

Rachel Davino, 29

Olivia Engel, 6

Josephine Gay, 7

Ana Marquez-Greene, 6

Dylan Hockley, 6

Dawn Hocksprung, 47

Madeline Hsu, 6

Catherine Hubbard, 6

Chase Kowalski, 7

Jesse Lewis, 6

James Mattioli, 6

Grace McDonnell, 7

Anne Marie Murphy, 52

Emilie Parker, 6

Jack Pinto, 6

Noah Pozner, 6

Caroline Previdi, 6

Jessica Rekos, 6

Avielle Richman, 6

Lauren Rousseau, 30

Mary Sherlach, 56

Victoria Soto, 27

Benjamin Wheeler, 6

Allison Wyatt, 6

If you would like to send a condolence message to the families and victims, you can do so at We Are Better Than This, a national conversation on how we can prevent gun deaths and injuries. 

Thank you also to The Huffington Post for the following information:

Find out how the area’s nonprofits are getting involved in the relief effort and how you can help:

Newtown Youth and Family Services 
Newtown Youth & Family Services, Inc., a nonprofit mental health clinic, will be open Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for emergency counseling for families, community members or staff involved in the Sandy Hook Elementary school tragedy. All donations made to the organization will benefit those affected. Find out how you can help here.

Newtown Parent Connection
The Newtown Parent Connection, a nonprofit that addresses issues of substance abuse, also offers bereavement group counseling on the first Wednesday of every month. The organization told The Huffington Post that it’s going to try to bring in additional counselors to accommodate the needs of those affected by the Sandy Hook shooting. Find out how you can help here.

The American Red Cross
The American Red Cross of Connecticut immediately responded to the shooting scene and provided more than 50 units of blood platelets and plasma to the Danbury Hospital, where some of the victims were transported, spokesperson Melanie Pipkin told the Huffington Post. The aid organization has also distributed food and water to first responders and is setting up a family reception center that will provide initial grief counseling. The aid organization is not seeking blood donations at this time and doesn't anticipate any additional need. Learn about how you can help here.

Each week, I see what the top viewed recipes are here on the blog. And surprisingly, they are not necessarily what I happened to post that week. To view the recipe, click on the recipe name to be taken to the original post.  Also, if you are looking for a specific recipe or food type, type the name into the search bar on the right hand side of the page. 

Top 5 Viewed Recipes for December 15, 2012

#5 Spinach, Mushroom & Goat Cheese Stuffed Pork Loin 

#4 White Chocolate Dipped Oreo Truffles

#3 Eggnog Cookies

#2 Copycat Panera Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

And the #1 Most Viewed Recipe was

Homemade Kahlua

Top 5 Recipe Recap (12.09.12) and Interview with Ally's Kitchen

Before I share the Top 5 Most Viewed Recipes from last week, I wanted to remind you to check out the foodie interview I did with Ally's Kitchen today. She did a fantastic job and it was such a pleasure to share a bit of myself with all of you. 

Each week, I see what the top viewed recipes are here on the blog. And surprisingly, they are not necessarily what I happened to post that week either! To view the recipe, click on the recipe name to be taken to the original post.  Also, if you are looking for a specific recipe or food type, type the name into the search bar on the right hand side of the page. 

Top 5 Viewed Recipes for Week Ending December 8, 2012

#5 Garlicky Stuffed Mushrooms

#4 White Chocolate Blueberry Biscotti

#3 Homemade Kahlua

#2 Copycat Panera Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

And the #1 Most Viewed Recipe was

Eggnog Cookies

PLEASE VOTE!!

I have also been nominated for the FriendsEAT Best Recipe Food Blog! 

Please vote for me by clicking the LOVE button below before December 17, 2012.  

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THANK YOU! 

Top 5 Recipe Recap (week ending 12.02.12)

Good Sunday Morning! Each week, I see what the top viewed recipes are here on the blog. And surprisingly, they are not necessarily what I happened to post that week either! To view the recipe, click on the recipe name to be taken to the original post.  Also, if you are looking for a specific recipe or food type, type the name into the search bar on the right hand side of the page. 

I have also created a monthly newsletter. If you subscribe via email and have not received it, please check your spam folders. If you would like to receive monthly update pertaining to upcoming news and events, helpful tips and other fun foodie info, please enter your email address in the box under Subscribe to Email Newsletters on the right hand side.  

And now, here were the Top 5 Viewed Recipes for 

Week Ending December 1, 2012

#5 Braised Chicken and Red Potatoes in a White Wine Rosemary Sauce

#4 Three Cheese Mac & Cheese

#3 Baked Broccoli and Cheese Arancini (Italian Rice Balls)

#2 Copycat Panera Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

And the #1 Most Viewed Recipe last week was

Bacon and Havarti Quiche

Which one was YOUR favorite?

Top 5 Recipe Recap (11.18.12)

Good Sunday Morning! Each week, I see what the top viewed recipes are here on the blog. And surprisingly, they are not necessarily what I happened to post that week either! To view the recipe, click on the recipe name to be taken to the original post.  Also, if you are looking for a specific recipe or food type, type the name into the search bar on the right hand side of the page. 

I also wanted to mention some new tabs up at the top of my page called "CEK in the Media" and "Announcements & Events". Here you will find articles about CEK's "15 Minutes of Fame", including the most recent feature in a local paper called "In the Kitchen" and upcoming local book signing events. 

And now, here were the Top 5 Viewed Recipes for 

Week Ending November 17, 2012

#5 Balsamic Roasted Zucchini & Mushrooms

#4 Chocolate Hazelnut Pumpkin Banana Bundt Cake

#3 Spinach, Mushroom and Goat Cheese Stuffed Pork Loin

#2 Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms 

And the #1 Most Viewed Recipe last week was

Copycat Panera Chicken and Wild Rice Soup 

(This is also the most viewed recipe on the blog and has been viewed over 6100 times.

 This post also includes a recipe for Copycat Olive Garden Breadsticks)

Which one was YOUR favorite?

Top 5 Recipe Recap (11.11.12)

Each week, I see what the top viewed recipes are here on the blog and thought I'd share them with you  in case you missed any posts. Simply click on the name to view the recipe!

Here are the Top 5 Viewed Recipes for 

Week Ending November 10, 2012 

#5 Braised Chicken with Cremini Mushrooms 

in a Frangelico Cream Sauce

#4 Berry Burst Oreo Heart Truffles 

(Wow, this one is a shocker since it was originally posted in February 2012!)

#3 Twice Baked Lime Sweet Potatoes

#2 Chicken Stroganoff (Reduced Fat)

And the #1 Most Viewed Recipe last week was

Copycat Panera Chicken and Wild Rice Soup 

(Also includes a recipe for Copycat Olive Garden Breadsticks!)

Which one was YOUR favorite?

Top 5 Recipe Recap (10.21.12)

Each week, I see what the top viewed recipes are here on the blog and thought I'd share them with you  in case you missed any posts. Simply click on the name to view the recipe!

Here are the Top 5 Viewed Recipes for 

Week Ending October 20, 2012 

#5 Fried Green Cherry Tomatoes with

an Avocado Ranch Dipping Sauce

#4 Lightened Up Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownie Bites

# 3 Pumpkin Spice Kisses Sugar Cookies

#2 Mustard & Sage Potato Encrusted Pork Cutlets

And the #1 Most Viewed Post was: 

Copycat Panera Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

Which one was YOUR favorite?