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    Recipes Made Easy Pick of The Year 2017

    Published: Dec 29, 2017 · Modified: Mar 9, 2021 by Jacqueline Bellefontaine ·

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    Well 2017 has whizzed by and we will soon be welcoming in 2018.  Over the year I have really enjoyed sharing recipes with you on Recipes Made Easy, over 100 in fact and I thought it would be fun to look back over the year to remind myself of the recipes I have posted and pick out some of my favourites. So  here is my 12 favourite recipes from the past year one for each month.blank

    Recipes Made Easy Pick of the year 2017

    Vegetable and Lentil Bake

    Recipes Made Easy - Vegetable and lentil bake

    Last year my new years resolution was to eat more vegetarian meals aiming for more than one a week - I'm not sure I managed to keep that one, especially when my meat loving son returned from university after an enforced 3 months veggie life style due to lack of funds. I did manage to post some good vegetarian recipes over the year though starting with this Vegetable and Lentil Bake in January. It has proved very popular and I am not surprised, it's so tasty you don't miss the meat in this vegetarian version of a shepherds pie.

    Gin and Tonic Marshmallows

    heart shape gin and tonic marshmallows by recipes made easy

    In February I posted a recipe for Gin and Tonic Marshmallows in time for valentines day.  The recipe was spotted and linked from some other well know sites including I love Gin.com, Good House Keeping and Delicious, making it one of my most popular recipes ever!  beaten only by Coffee Truffles

     Sausage and Red Lentil Casserole

    Sausage and red lentil casserole by Recipes Made Easy - perfect for a midweek family meal.

    With the weather in the UK still pretty chilly in March my Sausage and Red Lentil Casserole is just the sort of dish that was needed to warm you up. Easy to make, cheap, tasty  comfort food which is popular with all the family. What's not to like.

    Chicken and Asparagus Tray Bake

    Chicken and asparagus tray bake shown in the tray by Recipes Made Easy

    I mainly write this blog in real time which means some post are written, tested, photographed and posted in a matter a days. And while sometimes it would be great to get ahead (and less stressful at times) the plus side of this means that I can post truly seasonal recipes. The British asparagus season traditionally starts on St.Georges day the 23rd April (although was a little earlier this year) and lasts about 8 weeks, so at the end of  April I wrote the first of several asparagus recipes  including this Chicken and Asparagus Tray Bake, a Foil roasted salmon and Asparagus   dish and  a simple Asparagus and Ricotta Tart

    Stuffed Pork Tenderloin Roll

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    In May I published this Stuffed Pork Tenderloin Roll recipe. Stuffed with sausagemeat and wrapped in bacon, it is both surprisingly easy  and cheap to make and is perfect for a family meal or  easy entertaining.

    Stem Ginger Ice Cream

    2 scoops of stem ginger ice cream in a bowl with second bowl in top corner.

    My favourite recipe published in June has to be my Stem Ginger Ice Cream. Try it and you will now why!  There's no need to churn which means it is simple to make. Delicious on its own, it also tastes fabulous with apple crumble or pie, among other things.

    Raspberry and Redcurrant Jam

    Jar of raspberry and redcurrant jam with spoon of jam resting on top.

    In July my mini allotment where I grow predominately soft fruits was in full swing so I was busy writing and making recipes using the fruit. I really got into jam making. Blackcurrant jam has always been my favourite but  this Raspberry and Red Currant Jam  comes a close second. The red currants really enhance the flavour of the raspberries and it set well.  I also found myself making blackcurrant cordial for the first time.

    Basil Panna Cotta

    Two plates of basil panna cotta with balsamic strawberries by Recipes Made Easy.

    I love playing with flavours and this Basil Panna Cotta was inspired by a dessert that I  had in a pub.  Although a herb more often used in savoury dishes it can work well in sweet dishes too especially those made with cream.  I served them with strawberries marinated with some balsamic vinegar. I wish I could say that I grew the strawberries too but I had a very disappointing crop this year.

    Sunken Pear and ChocolateCake

    Sunken pear and chocolate cake by Recipes Made Easy, shown with a slice cut from the end

    My father was a baker and his love of baking really rubbed off on me too. Any excuse and I will bake,  so the start of The Great British Bake Off  at the beginning of September was no exception and saw me writing a Bake Off inspired post each week throughout the series.  I made this Sunken Pear and Chocolate Cake after the contestants were challenged to make a cake with fruit. It's really easy to make but looks rather impressive.

    Beef Stiffado

    Serving of beef stifado on a plate with peas and oven chps

    We cannot live on cake alone so on chilly winter nights its hard to beat a good casserole.  Beef Stifado is a Greek casserole  that I have eaten on holiday and loved,  so despite being ideal for colder days it can still evoke memories of summer. I have since learnt it was traditionally made with rabbit but is now more frequently made with beef as rabbit can be difficult to get hold of now.

    Craquelin Choux Buns

    close up of craquelin choux buns with brandied apples on a cake stand

    These Craquelin Choux Buns with brandied apples and cream, were another bake inspired by The Great British Bake Off posted in November towards the end of the series. I made these because although I have made many many choux pastry bakes before I had never come across this craquelin top made by baking a biscuit mixture on top which cracks as the choux pastry bakes. I found it really effective and others must think so to as it is one of my most liked images on Instagram.

    White Christmas Rocky Road

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    I love writing Christmas recipes. Its an excuse for some fancy baking as well as a chance to share some of my experiences of cooking at Christmas over the years and hopefully passing on some helpful tips and tricks. It was hard picking a favourite recipe but in the end I have opted for Nicola's White Christmas Rocky Road recipe. Nicola is an old friend, we studied Home Economics together many years ago. She now lives in Sydney, Australia,  so I don't get to see her much. This years visit was a little last minute and unexpected, so we had such fun making this. My boys enjoyed tucking into it when they got home so it was a win win.

     

    I hope you like my pick of the year and look forward to sharing more recipes with you next year. If you have made any of the recipes  or any other recipes from Recipes Made Easy, I would love to hear how you got on. What are your favourites?  Do let me know in the comments below.

    Wishing you a Happy New Year – Jacqui x

     

    Im linking this recipe to #CookBlogShare Hosted this week by Kirsty on Hi-jackedby Twins

    « Christmas Day Dinner Countdown
    Marinated Chicken with Cauliflower Couscous »

    About Jacqueline Bellefontaine

    Jacqueline is a member of the Guild of Food Writers and has been a cookery writer and food stylist for over 25 years. She has written over 15 cookery books, in addition to writing for several major magazines. She likes to champion good basic home cooking and as the daughter of a master baker, she is passionate about home baking.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jo Allison / Jo's Kitchen Larder

      January 04, 2018 at 3:06 pm

      Happy New Year Jacqui! What a fabulous selection of yummy recipes! I do love the sound of your Beef Stiffado and Sunken Pear and Chocolate Cake simply speaks for itself and looks amazing ! To even more delicious 2018!

      Reply
      • Jacqueline Bellefontaine

        January 05, 2018 at 4:48 pm

        Thank you, Jo and happy New Year to you too. Cheers to a delicious 2018!

        Reply
    2. Louise - Cooking with kids

      January 02, 2018 at 11:13 pm

      Some great ideas here, will be giving the lentil and sausage casserole a go, and the basil Panna cotta sounds really interesting too. Thanks for sharing x

      Reply
      • Jacqueline Bellefontaine

        January 03, 2018 at 1:14 pm

        Thank you, Louise. If you like the panna cotta try my basil ice cream too

        Reply
    3. Corina Blum

      December 29, 2017 at 4:50 pm

      I love looking back at recipes from the past year and remembering them all. I especially like the look of your sausage and lentil casserole. It looks perfect as a warming winter meal. Happy New Year!

      Reply
    4. Midge @ Peachicks' Bakery

      December 29, 2017 at 4:15 pm

      Happy New year lovely! What a fab selection of recipes, love love the Chocolate & pear cake... Stunning! Looking forward to keeping up with what you create in 2018! X

      Reply
      • Jacqueline Bellefontaine

        December 29, 2017 at 4:53 pm

        Thank you midge HappY new Year

        Reply

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    Jacqueline Bellefontaine.

    Hello I'm Jacqui
    I believe that great tasting home cooking need not be hard work, so I like to write and cook recipes that are as easy as they can be. But I won't compromise on taste!

    This blog is written and photographed by me at home and it's all about my favourite recipes, that I make for family, for friends and for fun. I hope you like them too.

    More about me →

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