The Best Recipes of 2022

What can I say about 2022? That it’s been a year? Because it has, despite the fact that it still sort of feels like 2020. (2020 version 3.0 if you will). We did a little bit of traveling this year, visiting family in California, and taking a quick fun trip with siblings and friends to […]

The post The Best Recipes of 2022 first appeared on Love and Olive Oil.

What can I say about 2022? That it’s been a year? Because it has, despite the fact that it still sort of feels like 2020. (2020 version 3.0 if you will).

We did a little bit of traveling this year, visiting family in California, and taking a quick fun trip with siblings and friends to Portland, Maine that provided to be a much needed mental reset (I’d really forgotten just how much I love to travel), although the… ahem… souvenirs I brought home (and subsequent 14-day isolation) weren’t quite as pleasant. We’re still not quite ready to head overseas again… Maybe in 2023? We’ll see.

The trend of me sharing fewer, more in-depth recipes in this space continues, with fewer new posts published this year compared to last, about half as many as published in 2018, and a third as many as in 2015. Which seems shocking, although if you compared the sheer number of words written in 2018 vs 2022 my guess is I’ve probably written way more overall (I don’t know a good way to calculate such things otherwise I’d prove my theory). Quality over quantity, right?

Part of the quantity decrease is that I’m apparently no longer capable of posting a recipe with fewer than 3 rounds of testing, 42 photos or 2,000+ words of narration. To be frank, it takes a heck of a long time to publish one recipe, so doing more than one a week is no longer feasible for me as it was once. Even once a week becomes difficult at times. I did take a few more breaks (so if you noticed a few weeks passing without a new recipe, that’s just me giving myself permission to stop pushing myself and take a break. Which is a lot harder then it seems and something I’m still working on for sure.)

Luckily, there’s no shortage of recipes to tide you over, 15 years worth to be exact. That’s over 1,500 recipes that I’ve published, which is quite astonishing actually.

I’ve always said I’d leave my old content and photos as is, because I like having that visual timeline of my progress and growth as a photographer, writer, and recipe developer. But perhaps this sentiment is misplaced. Some of those old recipes are really, really good, and maybe aren’t getting the attention they deserve because of the outdated photos and sparse information. I still haven’t figured out how to reconcile my desire to preserve my old work for posterity’s sake with the need to update old content for SEO and whatnot, though it’s definitely on my to-do list.

I did update a few recipes this year, including the Tequila Watermelon Popsicles and Olive Oil Rice Krispie Treats. Maybe I’ll continue doing more of this in 2023, to bring some of those older recipes back into the spotlight.

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Ultimate Foodie Holiday Gift Guide

Holiday shopping season seems to come earlier and earlier every year, so unlike previous years where I’ve waited until after Thanksgiving to post my gift guide, this year I somehow managed to get it done early so you can take advantage of all the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales (you’re welcome!) I scoured the […]

The post Ultimate Foodie Holiday Gift Guide first appeared on Love and Olive Oil.

Holiday shopping season seems to come earlier and earlier every year, so unlike previous years where I’ve waited until after Thanksgiving to post my gift guide, this year I somehow managed to get it done early so you can take advantage of all the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales (you’re welcome!)

I scoured the internet for the best gifts for the foodie in your life, and have divided this massive gift guide up into sections for anyone who loves to cook, loves to bake, loves to eat, loves to drink, or loves to entertain (I mean, it’s basically five gift guides in one.) Did I go overboard? Probably. But I hope someone out there finds it useful.

2022 Holiday Gift Guide for everyone who loves to cook and eat!

I originally set out to update my 2018 gift guide (hello, broken link city!) but ended up replacing many of the products with new ones. I thought it’d be quicker to update an existing gift guide versus creating a brand new one, but then it somehow managed to devour hours of my time. 

Everything in this gift guide is something I either own and love, or would love to own (I even pulled some of these gems right from my own wishlist).

Happy shopping (and even happier eating!)

(Note that this post is not sponsored in any way and no brands have paid to be included here, however we have worked with some of the brands here as part of past/present brand partnerships. There are also affiliate links in this post, FYI. And if you’re reading this post in RSS or email you might want to click through for easy clickable links to every item on this list!)

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The Best of 2021

Another year gone by. What can I say? 2021 seems, in many ways, to be an extension of 2020, somehow both flying by and dragging along at the same time. Almost like time has no meaning anymore. Would you believe I’ve been blogging for nearly 15 years? I threw a brunch party for the big […]

The post The Best of 2021 first appeared on Love and Olive Oil.

Another year gone by. What can I say? 2021 seems, in many ways, to be an extension of 2020, somehow both flying by and dragging along at the same time. Almost like time has no meaning anymore.

Would you believe I’ve been blogging for nearly 15 years? I threw a brunch party for the big 1-0, perhaps I’ll figure out a different (more socially-distanced) way to celebrate this new milestone come February. Because 15 years is no small feat in the blogging world, I’m practically ancient!

I may have posted a bit less this year than in past years, but I feel like the quality of my posts and recipes has continued to improve. Or maybe I’m just becoming more of a perfectionist as I get older, leading to me scrapping recipe ideas that I would have deemed perfectly acceptable in years past.

Longer posts, more photos, more thorough and obsessive recipe testing… the sheer amount of hours that go in to a single post boggles my mind sometimes, especially when compared to my… er… brevity in earlier years (I used to just throw up a single image, a paragraph or two, and call it day. Imagine that.)

I definitely get frustrated at times, when I’ve tested a recipe 5 times and it’s fine but I know it could be better, or when the light isn’t cooperating or the final product doesn’t look as appetizing as it should be. I fully admit to taking my frustration out on some baked goods on more than one occasion.

But then I remember the reason I do this: because feeding people is my love language, and since I can’t possible invite you all over for dinner, sharing recipes in this space that’s essentially a virtual dining table, recipes that you in turn share with your families? That’s what makes it all worth while for me. (I won’t deny the fact that getting paid to bake is a pretty sweet deal too, I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t part of the reason I’m still here. And for that I thank you for your continued support; every click and comment and like supports me and allows me to take that time to continue to create new recipes for you.)

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The Best of 2020

It feels strange to write a ‘best of 2020’ post when this year was anything but the best. In fact, it’s really been the absolute worst. But we made it through, and we feel all the more fortunate for it. I saw something recently that said that 2020 wasn’t the year to get everything you […]

It feels strange to write a ‘best of 2020’ post when this year was anything but the best. In fact, it’s really been the absolute worst.

But we made it through, and we feel all the more fortunate for it.

I saw something recently that said that 2020 wasn’t the year to get everything you wanted, it was the year to appreciate everything you have, and that is certainly true.

From the tornado back in March to the Christmas morning bombing and everything in between, Nashville has been through a lot this year and us along with it. On a more personal note, we lost our cat Kalypso back in April and that is probably the thing this year that hurts us the most. We miss you, sweet girl.

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New Items in the Shop!

It’s a perfect time to get a jump on the holiday shopping season! In lieu of a recipe today (last week was… less than productive and I wasn’t able to get a recipe finished for today, though I do have a sponsored recipe scheduled for Thursday that I think you’ll just LOVE). But I wanted […]

It’s a perfect time to get a jump on the holiday shopping season!

In lieu of a recipe today (last week was… less than productive and I wasn’t able to get a recipe finished for today, though I do have a sponsored recipe scheduled for Thursday that I think you’ll just LOVE). But I wanted to pop in here anyway to quickly share a few new items I’ve made available for sale recently in the L&OO shop!

Peachy pattern dishtowel on a marble background

This adorable peachy towel is based on the design from my Drunken Peach Jam labels. It’s printed on a super-absorbent microfiber towel (we are super picky about our kitchen towels, and this one definitely makes the grade).

Buy it now on Zazzle.

Peachy pattern dish towel hanging on an oven door

It’s my intention to add some additional designs in the future to make an entire fruity series! Thinking… lemons? Maybe some figs? Stay tuned!

Additionally, I’ve added two sets of original photo greeting cards, one fruity, one jammy (featuring some of my favorite images from That’s My Jam). I only have a limited number of each set available, so don’t wait too long! The cards are all blank inside which would make them perfect for holiday cards or any other occasion (I always like to have blank cards on hand when the need arises).

These will ship directly from me… so why not save on shipping and add a set of fruity notepads too while you’re at it? We use these notepads all the time for our recipe notes and weekly grocery lists. They’d make great stocking stuffers or holiday gifts for friends and family!

Speaking of holiday gifts… I probably won’t be doing any gift guides this year, but if you’re looking to get a jump on some holiday shopping, my past gift guides and kitchen essentials posts are a great place to start!

As always, a huge thank you to all our readers for your continued support!

Beyond the Kitchen: Not so Far Beyond, Actually, Edition

Hello, friends. How are you doing? I mean, truly. How are you? Hanging in there? March was a month, I’ll say that much. First a devastating tornado ripped through Nashville, mere blocks from our house, leaving us with a broken window and no power for 5 days (though we feel extremely fortunate that the contents […]

Hello, friends. How are you doing? I mean, truly. How are you? Hanging in there?

March was a month, I’ll say that much. First a devastating tornado ripped through Nashville, mere blocks from our house, leaving us with a broken window and no power for 5 days (though we feel extremely fortunate that the contents of our fridge and freezer were our only major losses).

We were actually in New Orleans the night of the tornado, and were planning to spend a few days there for my birthday. But as soon as we woke up to dozens of messages and texts from friends and family, we quickly realized that home was where we needed to be. So we cut our trip short and headed home.

And now? For different reasons entirely, home is where we still need to be… for as long as necessary.

With the exception of fewer trips to the grocery store, our day to day schedule honestly hasn’t changed much at all, and yet, everything just feels different. We’re still working, carrying a mostly full workload, or trying to at least (please tell me I’m not the only one having trouble focusing).

We feel extremely fortunate to be able to work from home, to have a safe and comfortable place in which to isolate ourselves, a stocked pantry to nourish ourselves, and some friendly felines who are relishing the extra attention.

In times like these community is more important than ever, and I consider you all part of mine. As scary as things are, I can’t help but smile seeing you cooking and baking for your families. I’ve been tagged in countless instagram stories from folks making my recipes, and it makes me smile every time.

I know a lot of you out there may be in unfamiliar territory suddenly having to cook for your family every meal. If you find yourself in a pickle (or in search of a recipe for pickles lol), please reach out to me in the comments, send me an email, post in our Facebook group, or DM me on Instagram or Facebook. I will do my best to answer each and every one to the best of my ability, or direct you to appropriate resources when my knowledge falls short.

We’re all in this together and I’m here to help from afar in whatever way I can.

If anything I’m optimistic this experience will make us better. At least I hope it does. I hope these new habits we’re developing now out of necessity will become a permanent part of our futures, from reducing food waste to simply being more kind and caring for one another.

Tell me… what do you want to see in these coming weeks (or, gulp, months?) I’m here for you, so please tell me what kind of content I can put out that would be the most helpful to you during these times!

Anyway.

If you’re looking for something to cook…

I put all my favorite pantry recipes in one place for your convenience. These are recipes that rely mostly on shelf-stable ingredients, with little to no fresh perishables. Out of over 1000 recipes on this site… it’s surprisingly… sparse… and has truly made me realize just how much we rely on fresh, seasonal produce for our weekly meals. But don’t worry, we’re cooking from our pantry right now just like you are, so you can definitely expect to see some new, pantry-friendly recipes real soon.

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The Best of 2019

Another year come and gone, another batch of delicious recipes tested, shot and shared. I’m really proud of the recipes we put out this year, both the recipes themselves as well as the photography. The past few years have really seen a shift from quantity to quality, with fewer, longer and more thoroughly tested posts […]

Another year come and gone, another batch of delicious recipes tested, shot and shared.

I’m really proud of the recipes we put out this year, both the recipes themselves as well as the photography. The past few years have really seen a shift from quantity to quality, with fewer, longer and more thoroughly tested posts and recipes. I still can’t figure out how I used to post 3-4 times a week (now I’m lucky if I get 2 recipes published).

What’s in store for 2020? Well, if my list of recipe ideas is any indicator, it’s going to be a tasty year!

(Also, because I don’t mention it here often enough, be sure to join our facebook group if you haven’t already! It’s a friendly community and fabulous resource and for anyone looking for cooking tips and recipe inspiration. Join us, won’t you?)

2019 by the numbers:

  • Posts published: 75
  • Comments received: 587
  • Words written: 74,042
  • Average post length: 987 words
  • Photos taken: 19,475 (622GB worth!)
  • Most liked: Chocolate Maraschino Layer Cake (14,050 likes!)
  • Most pinned: Strawberry Cake Roll
  • Books read: 64
  • Countries visited: 5

Without further ado, here are most popular posts from 2019 and from the past decade (be sure to click through to see all of them, including the most popular images from Instagram!)

Your Favorite Posts this Year

These were the top visited posts published this year according to Google Analytics.

The Most Popular Recipe Posts of 2019

1. Sourdough Crackers with Olive Oil & Herbs / 2. Reverse Sear Steak / 3. Strawberry Cake Roll / 4. Crispy Oven-Roasted Broccolini / 5. Matcha Amaretti Cookies / 6. Ultimate Chocolate Cupcakes with Chocolate Cloud Frosting / 7. Chocolate Amaretti Cookies / 8. Chocolate Pistachio Cream Thumbprints / 9. Homemade Cheese Crackers

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