A Year in Review: Top Posts on Simple Bites
Tomorrow at midnight, we’ll ring in 2012 and a whole new season of blogging here on Simple Bites. I’ve got so much in store – new series, fun tutorials, health tips, and plenty of recipes – and I can’t wait to get started!
Just for fun, however, let’s look back at the year that was 2011 here on the blog and some of the popular articles from the 200-or-so published posts.
Top 10 Most Visited Posts in 2011 on Simple Bites
Thanks to Google rankings, SEO, Pinterest and good old relevant content, here are the posts from the archives that drew the most traffic in 2011.
I love the DIY theme that emerges from this list. Obviously more and more people want to can their own pickles and tomatoes, or whip up pizza sauce and pancake syrup from scratch. And homemade eggnog? I’ll toast to that.
- How to Make the Best Muffins Ever
- Eat Well, Spend Less: Homemade Substitutes for Grocery Staples
- Pursuing Your Passion For Pickles (Recipe: Garlic-Dill Pickles)
- How to Make the Best Zucchini Bread Ever
- Preserving Autumn: Pizza Sauce Three Ways
- Canning 101: Home Canned Tomatoes
- How to Make Homemade Eggnog
- The Best Way to Roast a Turkey (the simple way)
- Butternut Squash Gratin: A New Family Favorite Side Dish
- Five Simple, Natural Recipes for Homemade Pancake Syrup
Top 10 Most Commented Posts
Giveaways, blog parties and Q&A posts aside, the articles and recipes that sparked the most conversation were practical, personal, and a tad controversial. Here are the top 10 most commented posts on Simple Bites that were published in 2011:
- Eat Well, Spend Less: Homemade Substitutes for Grocery Staples
- Healthy Fats Make Healthy Children
- Cooking for Others: A Guide to Giving Sympathy Meals
- Discovering Raw Milk
- My Top Five Frugal Meals (Recipe: Lentil Shepherd’s Pie)
- Five Simple, Natural Recipes for Homemade Pancake Syrup
- Eat Well, Spend Less: Simple Bites Goes Shopping
- Bwaaakk! Our Journey to Backyard Chickens
- A Virtual Easter Dinner (vlog: Potato Rosemary Strudel)
- Eat Well, Spend Less: Back to School Breakfast (Recipe: Baked Oatmeal)
My Picks: 10 Favorite Posts from 2011
Picking a handful of favorites is not an easy task, after all, how does one choose between a perfect strawberry sundae and an impeccable strawberry shortcake? There is just no way to make a logical decision.
However, here are a few posts published in 2011 that I am particularly proud of. Some of them told a story, a few allowed me to lecture in a friendly fashion, and others included newly developed recipes that I love to make over and over. All are worthy of a read.
- Why (and How) You Should Create a Healthy Food Culture for Your Family
- Simple Bites in the Big Woods: A Sugaring Off Story
- 7 Ways to Get Your Act Together for the Canning Season
- Cooking School: How to Make Perfect Yorkshire Pudding
- A Simple Summer Appetizer (Recipe: Creamy Homemade Ricotta)
- Help Me Help You: Sharing the Cooking Load
- A Healthier Autumn Cookie (Recipe: Pumpkin Spice Snaps)
- What You Need to Know About Buying, Storing, and Cooking with Spices
- Frozen Treats: Roasted Strawberry Sundaes
- Three Favorite Pancake Recipes (Buckwheat, Cornmeal & Whole Wheat)
Honorable Mentions
- Most Pinned! Roast Potatoes Two Ways: Polenta-Crusted and Rosemary Hash Browns
- Most Buzzworthy! Mid-Summer Update and an Announcement! (baby news)
A huge thank you to all my readers in 2011! Your warm enthusiasm on my wide range of topics has been an enormous encouragement to keep writing, cooking and blogging.
See you in the New Year!
What was your favorite post on Simple Bites in 2011?
These are all so great! I love seeing everyone’s recaps — makes you realize how many new family favorite meals you’ve found in the past year, and how many more are out there just waiting for us to try them in our own kitchens!
Would you consider linking some of these recipes up to our Best Recipes of 2011? They would be a great addition! Happy New Year!
So many wonderful posts! It’d be hard to pick my favorites. Have a happy new year Aimee. Looking forward to what you’ll share in 2012 🙂
I love this wrap up. Revisiting them now!
Happy New Year Aimee! One of my goals for next year is to leave more comments, this blog included. I come by and visit and read all the wonderful posts but I leave quietly. Love your blog and your commitment to real meals and healthy food for your family. Keep up the wonderful work.
Oh, what a lovely post! My ADD is kicking in and I am jumping all over the place. I had to write and thank you for the post about bringing food to friends; I have wondered what to do, what to bring, etc. Thank you for such wonderful suggestions. Also, I am an oatmeal lover and have been admonishing myself for my poor breakfast choices. I am going to try your oatmeal bake for myself.
Sending you a huge cyber hug and best wishes!
Loved seeing you this year… it was this year, wasn’t it? Time is flying so quickly these days. I keep coming back to your “how to roast a turkey” post and the one you did on apples… and which apples are good for cooking in what. Your site is one of the best 🙂 XO and Happy New Year!
My favorite would have to be the Baked Pull Apart Pumpkin French Toast as it made for a very memorable Christmas morning brunch. Second would have to be the spice post. It motivated me to start purchasing whole spices to grind myself.
Happy New Year Aimee!