2014 has been an amazing year for A Side of Sweet! Traffic around here has more than doubled and I’ve had my recipes pop up everywhere from A Fabulous Fete to the Huffington Post.
Even more important than that though, is the increased engagement and connectedness I feel with the community I’ve built around A Side of Sweet. I’m talking every comment, every email and every hashtag. At the end of the day, that’s why I blog. It’s about a sense of community – and y’all are truly the best darn thing.
People ask how I manage a busy ‘real life’ job with the time commitment that blogging takes. I always give the same answer – it’s so much fun to contribute to this amazing online community and connect with people across the world. I feel like I’m getting energy from blogging instead of expending it. So thank you, and here’s to so much more fun in 2015!
Without further ado, here are the top recipes and DIYs this year:
10. Millionaire Bars: Ooey, gooey and perfectly decadent. A shortbread crust and the ingredient that makes anything better – sweetened condensed milk. One of my favorite desserts to pass – and you agreed!
9. Baked French Toast with Chai Candied Pecans: Definitely worth getting out of bed early for! Thanks to this make ahead recipe, you don’t have to though! Do most of the work the night before.
8. Pefectly Chewy Homemade Soft Pretzels: Boiled in a baking soda wash, these pretzels are sure to please on gameday or as an after school snack.
7. Honey Sea Salt Popcorn: A healthy snack recipe that is the perfect mix of salty and sweet.
6. Easy DIY Elastic Hair Ties: It blows my mind how expensive these are to buy. Make a handful in seconds for just pennies. They make a great party favor.
5. Homemade Whipped Body Butter: So decadent and does wonders for your skin! My bare legs don’t leave home without it – it’s like do it yourself airbrushing!
4. Smoky Sweet Potato Black Bean Tacos: Healthy and chock full of flavor. One of my all time favorite dinner recipes. You can also see how I made the soft taco shells hold their shape as I take you behind the scenes of food blogging.
3. Healthy Homemade Fruit Snacks: Skip all the nasty additives and make your own fruit snacks with just gelatin and juice! No corn syrup needed here.
2. Black Cherry Buttermilk Ice Cream: Once you add buttermilk to your ice cream, you’ll never go back. Perfectly tangy and with the addition of black cherries, so pretty to look at!
1. Vegetarian Ramen Bowls: Thanks to a shoutout by the Huffington Post, this was my most popular post of 2014! I’m obsessed with ramen and this recipe is better than anything I ate in a restaurant this year. Definitely my favorite recipe of the year too!
Jill @ Champagne for Everyday says
January 2, 2015 at 6:49 pmSuch awesome posts and gorgeous photography!! That baked french toast made me totally drool – going to make it for my bf for his bday (this is a big deal, because I’m a horrendo cook).
xx
Jill
Latest Post – Resolutions-shmalutions: How to Crush Your Goals Year Round
Kelly Egan says
January 3, 2015 at 5:38 pmThanks so much Jill! It’s so great! I need to make it again too! This post has reminded me of all those great recipes I need to enjoy again.
Aimee @ LMLDFOOD says
January 2, 2015 at 8:58 pmThese all look great! I can’t wait to try some of them! And homemade fruit snacks? Definitely hanging on to that one for when my son gets a little older!
Kelly Egan says
January 3, 2015 at 5:39 pmThanks so much Aimee! I love them because they are so pretty and also skip all the additives.
Maryanne @the little epicurean says
January 2, 2015 at 10:22 pmThat vegetarian ramen bowl has my name all over it! Happy 2015! I wish you another delicious year! 🙂
Kelly Egan says
January 3, 2015 at 5:39 pmHaha – it’s SO good! Happy 2015 Maryanne!
Miranda | Miranda's Notebook says
January 3, 2015 at 4:58 amHappy New Year to you! I’ve been so happy to have discovered your blog recently. All those recipes and DIYs look great. I especially like the look of that ramen soup -yum!! xxx
Kelly Egan says
January 3, 2015 at 5:40 pmI’m glad we connected virtually! Happy 2015 Miranda!
Tracy says
January 5, 2015 at 4:23 amThose look delicious! Happy New Year to you too!
http://fashion-soup.com/
Kelly says
January 5, 2015 at 12:14 pmThanks Tracy! xo.
Alyssa says
January 6, 2015 at 2:07 amOh my goodness, honey sea salt popcorn is happening tonight.
Kelly Egan says
January 9, 2015 at 4:14 pmYay! Did you do it?
Kelly @ Life made Sweeter says
January 6, 2015 at 5:02 amHappy Happy New Year, Kelly! 2014 was such a great year! Love seeing what made it to this list. I am definitely craving for some sweet potato tacos and a big bowl of that ramen too! They look amazing!
Kelly Egan says
January 9, 2015 at 4:14 pmHappy New Year to you too, my fellow Sweet blogger! Sharing this round-up has definitely made me crave all these old recipes!
Sarah @ Snixy Kitchen says
January 8, 2015 at 4:01 amCongrats on a delicious 2014! Especially that black cherry ice cream – yum!
Kelly Egan says
January 9, 2015 at 4:14 pmThanks Sarah! I couldn’t have done it without you!
Nancy says
January 11, 2015 at 7:13 pmWhoa. I must’ve not known about your blog when you did a DIY hair ties post! These are the only hair ties I use in my hair now, and for the life of me didn’t know what kind of elastic (nor did I really seek out to find out what kind was used) in these cute bands! I’m buying a few yards tonight man.
Also – huge thanks to your little note + MCDONALDS CARD you surprised me with!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kelly Egan says
January 12, 2015 at 11:01 amYou’re welcome!!!! Let me know how the hair ties turn out! They are SO easy I can’t believe people pay ridiculous amounts of money for them!