Best of As Good As Gluten Thus Far in 2012

I cannot believe that the year is halfway over and it is already July! Just like last year, this "Best of" post was hard to write because we've enjoyed really great food this year.

What have been your favorite As Good As Gluten recipes thus far in 2012?

January
Bacon and Butternut Risotto - This risotto recipe is A-MAZ-ING! It was my first time making risotto and my family inhaled it. This recipe also sent me into a risotto obsession, as I made risotto over and over again for a good two months straight! The flavors in this dish are phenomenal with the smoky bacon, sweet butternut squash, and creamy risotto.

Spicy Peanut Noodles with Asian Veggies - This Asian-inspired dish is healthy and tasty with the perfect balance of smooth and crunchy textures.

February
Coconut Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies - These 5-ingredient, decadent cookies are crunchy, chewy, sweet, and chocolatey.

Gluten Free Sugar Cookies - I was overjoyed when I developed this recipe for cut-out sugar cookies. They are made like, look like, and taste like a REAL (aka gluten) sugar cookie - sweet and buttery; tender and flaky.

Black Bean and Sweet Potato Tacos with Chipotle Sauce - Mike and I gave up meat for Lent this year, and this was our first vegetarian meal. This meal left us speechless at the dinner table, and we quickly devoured these über flavorful tacos.

March

Gluten Free Soft Pretzels and Pretzel Bites - This is my most popular recipe of the year, thus far. These pretzels taste like the real thing - soft, salty, and slighty chewy.

BBQ Portobello Pretzel Burgers - You all loved this recipe as well. The pretzel bun is salty and savory, which is topped with a meaty portobello mushroom, cheddar cheese, onions, and sweet BBQ sauce.

April

Nutella No Bake Cheesecakes - I discovered Nutella earlier this year, and I can't believe I lived without it for so long! This indulgent and delectable dessert consists of sweet and fluffy Nutella cheesecake on top of a bed of crunchy cookies, all topped with a layer of sinfully sweet homemade whipped cream.

Mexican Vegetarian Casserole - Meat lovers won't miss the meat in this tasty and creamy southwest casserole. This is one of my most popular recipes among vegetarian readers.

May

Hummus Chicken Lettuce Wraps - Hummus became my new favorite snack this spring, and I incorporated it into this fresh, healthy, and tasty dish that's simple to prepare.

Lemon Blueberry Cake (Flourless) - Mike loves my lemon white bean cake, and it remains one of my post popular recipes among my readers. For his birthday this year, I made a lemon blueberry variety that was moist, light, delicious, and super flavorful.

June

Mom's Mango Avocado Salsa - I am obsessed with this fresh, flavorful, and sweet salsa recipe from my mom. I've made it quite frequently this summer and it always disappears quickly.

Tex-Mex Bacon Cheeseburgers - This is one mess of a burger, and it is incredibly flavorful and delicious. The use of queso sauce on top sends this burger over the edge.

Best of As Good As Gluten in 2011

2011 was a great year for me, and I hope it was for you as well. My Best of As Good As Gluten in 2011 list below picks up from where I left off in July with my Best of As Good As Gluten Thus Far in 2011 list. I'm impressed with the diverse lists because before I became gluten-free, my husband and I had a short list of dishes we rotated through. In 2011, I cooked and baked many amazingly delicious gluten free recipes, 179 blog posts to be exact, and tried many new cuisines and baking techniques.

July
Black Bean Chocolate Cake (Flourless) - This delectable cake is not only my family's favorite, but also a favorite of my readers. If you've never baked with black beans before, start with this recipe. Everyone who tries it comments that it's honestly the best cake they've ever had!

Lemon White Bean Cake with Pistachio Lemon Topping (Flourless) - This cake is also incredibly delectable, light, fluffy, and flavorful. This is a favorite of both my family and my readers. I know my Black Bean Chocolate Cake earned the title of "best cake ever," but this cake also wins the title.

August
Healthier Buffalo Chicken Dip - This delicious appetizer is a crowd pleaser. It's easy to prepare and tastes phenomenal.

Eggplant Pizza - This recipe was my husband and I's addiction this past summer. I still stand by my claim that it is "the BEST pizza, meal, ever!"

Grandma's Peach Cobbler - I converted my Grandma's Peach Cobbler recipe into a gluten free version which is simply amazing. Every bite is pure oeey, goeey deliciousness.

September
Crispy Fish with Creamed Sweet Corn - I'm not a seafood or fish lover, so you must trust that meal is fantastic since it makes my "Best of 2011" list. The textures and flavors are well-balanced and tasty.

Vanilla Chai Tea Latte - Personally, this is the one recipe I prepared most often in 2011. I'm so in love with it that I'm often caught in the kitchen trying to hide all evidence that I made it so I don't have to share with my husband!

October
Pumpkin Snickerdoodles - This cookie recipe is my most popular blog post...ever! It's a delicious twist on a classic, family favorite cookie.

Black Eye Pea Salsa - This simple dip is addicting and uniquely delicious!

Meatloaf Cupcakes - This savory recipe is pure comfort food. This dish makes repeat visits on our dinner table this winter.

November
Mike’s 20-Ingredient Chili - My husband makes the best chili ever. It's unique and packed full of fantastic flavors.

Apple Pumpkin Salted Caramel Pie - This ultimate fall pie was very well loved my family and my blog readers. This delectable pie earns it's spot among my top 10 blog posts ever.

Apple Butter (Crockpot) - This amazing recipe is dangerously delicious. We enjoyed it on gluten free bread and, occasionally, by the spoonful!

Corn Chowder Mac & Cheese - My husband claims this is one of the best recipes I've ever made. I agree that it is a phenomenal recipe.

December
Aunt Julie's BBQ Beans - This meaty and sweet recipe is a family favorite that disappears quickly at any gathering.

Double Chocolate Fudge Cookies - 6 Ways - My flourless cookie extravaganza is indulgent and includes Double Chocolate Fudge Cookies, Fudgy Chocolate Crinkle Cookies, Hot Cocoa Cookies, Peppermint Patty Stuffed Chocolate Fudge Cookies, Double Chocolate Peppermint Ice Cream Cookie Sandwiches, and Peppermint Bark Double Chocolate Cookies.

Chicken Pot Pies - This simple twist on a traditional recipe delivers bite after bite of comfort food flavor.

Here's to a Happy 2012, I'm excited for the possibilities!
Lauren

Best of As Good As Gluten Thus Far in 2011

My Best of As Good As Gluten Thus Far in 2011 list below was really, really hard for me to write. I originally planned on limiting myself to 1 recipe a month or 11 recipes (for 2011), but I just couldn't bring myself to eliminate any of my new favorite recipes (thus far in 2011, of course)! I am completely okay with this "dilemma" because before I went gluten-free, I never cooked or baked as many diverse and amazingly delicious recipes in 6 months (let's be honest, probably in my life).

January
Lazy Baked Greek Chicken - Mike and I (as well as a lot of friends who have tried this recipe) love it! We've made this a few times since January, and I am now realizing it's been a few months since we've had it. I need to change that quickly!

Four Cheese Lasagna - This is one of my all-time favorite recipes that I have been making since I was a teenager. Everyone loves it, and I was so happy it easily converted into a delicious gluten-free recipe. Not only does my Dad love my lasagna, but my husband claims this is my signature dish!

February
Flourless Double Chocolate Torte - Decadent and rich are the words that immediately come to mind when I remember this recipe. I'm a chocaholic and LOVE it (as well as many chocolate loving family and friends of mine)!

Super Nachos with Butternut Queso - The butternut queso is what really makes these nachos stand out as a top recipe. Mike and I were just talking to my family about this recipe last weekend. Mike said the butternut queso is delicious and adds just the right amount of sweetness to balance out this recipe. And, it's healthier than tons of real queso sauce (and we don't even miss it)!

March
Pink Grapefruit Cupcakes - These flavorful, citrus-y, light and refreshing cupcakes are perfect for Spring. I never knew a chocaholic like me would enjoy this recipe so much, and develop the recipe from scratch perfectly the first time!

Santa Fe Chicken (Crockpot) - Mike and I seriously have this dish at least once a month; we fight over the leftovers! We absolutely love it and have come up with a variety of ways to alter it based on ingredients we have at home, or new flavor profiles we want to try.

GF Thin Mint Cookies - This cookie recipe may be my all-time favorite recipe of the year thus far. I am so overjoyed I could recreate my favorite Girl Scout cookie into a delicious gluten-free Thin Mint Cookie. Which reminds me, I think I still have a few cookies hidden in the freezer!

April
Cashew Chicken - This is another meal that Mike and I have had quite a few times since I first made it in April. We absolutely love it, and I'm honored my friend Jamie also loves it!

Apple-Chicken Salad - My first introduction to chicken salad was delicious. This is my go-to chicken salad recipe that I've also made a LOT since April. My husband, Mike, "thinks" he doesn't like chicken salad. I'm going to let him keep thinking that so I can enjoy this all by myself each time I make it!

Brown Rice and Flaxseed Pizza Crust - I've made this hearty and delicious pizza crust recipe numerous times with a variety of toppings for both my large GF family and Mike and I. Each time, it keeps getting better and better!

Black Bean Brownies with Creme de Menthe Frosting - I know if you've never baked with black beans before or tried a delicious dessert baked with black beans that this sounds disgusting. But, these brownies are the BEST brownies I've ever had. And, since I'm a chocaholic that has had more than my fair share of gluten-free and regular gluten brownies, I'm a good judge!

May
Strawberry Glaze Pie - This is my all-time favorite recipe from my childhood. My mom would make it for us multiple times during strawberry season. I am so happy that this was easily converted to a delicious gluten-free recipe!

Flourless Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies - I still haven't decided if I like the raw (safe to eat) cookie dough better or the baked cookies - they're both delicious! I've also made these recipes with one of my younger cousins, and this is definitely a kid-friendly recipe (for kids to help bake and eat)!

Mexican Sausage Casserole - Even though I only wrote this recipe a month ago, it is our go-to weekend breakfast recipe. We LOVE it and have made it at least 3 times since May!

June
GF Calzones - Even though I was traveling during most of the month of June (to D.C., to Mexico, and back home to see our family), I was able to finally perfect my GF Calzone recipe. I've been obsessed with gluten-free pizza lately, and LOVE the sweet flavor of this homemade pizza crust recipe! I've made it into delicious pizzas and calzones with a variety of different toppings.

Better than Sex GF Cake - I've made this cake once with a Devil's Food Cake and once with a
Flourless Black Bean Chocolate Cake. Mike claims this is the B-E-S-T cake he's ever had. Surprisingly, he thinks it's the best with the Black Bean Chocolate Cake. I couldn't agree more!

I can't wait to see what other recipes I come up with and come across during the second half of 2011!

Lauren