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You are here: Home / Roundup / 2013 in review – my 10 favourite Cooksister recipes

2013 in review – my 10 favourite Cooksister recipes

by Jeanne Horak on January 1, 2014 19 Comments in Roundup

2013ReviewRecipes © J Horak-Druiff 2013

 

So how is everybody  feeling?  Dishes done?  Hangover receding from last night’s festivities?  Feeling a bit peckish again?  Yes? Excellent.  Because whereas yesterday I shared my favourite restaurant dishes of 2013 with you, today I’m sharing my ten favourite recipes that I made here on Cooksister (in chronological order of posting).  Are you sitting comfortably?  Then let’s go! 

 

Crab chilli pasta title © J Horak-Druiff 2013

 

1.  Easy crab and chilli pasta with rocket – one of the few recipes that I’ve found where you can use substitute crabsticks for real crab without (much) shame – a surprisingly light and zesty pasta dish.

 

NdujaBrusselsSproutsTitle © J Horak-Druiff 2013

 

2.  Sautéed Brussels sprouts with nduja and preserved lemon – for everyone who has ever said that sprouts are boring.  The smoky, spicy, porky goodness and the flavour spike of the preserved lemons raise these humble sprouts up to awesomeness.

 

StrawberryRhubarbCakeTitle © J Horak-Druiff 2013

 

3.  Strawberry and rhubarb spiced upside down cake – take two of the English summer’s most iconic crops and transform them into this rather grown-up spiced, caramelly cake. Easy to make and a huge hit at summer barbecues!

 

MintChocChipBrownies2 © J Horak-Druiff 2013

 

 

 

4.  Mint chocolate chip brownies – the result of trying to make space in my cupboards and finding a bag of choc-mint chips that needed using up. Chocolate brownies, but with the added deliciousness of a fresh minty twist, like the love-child of a brownie and an After Eight mint thin.

 

GlazedRadishDiptych © J Horak-Druiff 2013

 

 

5.  Glazed radishes on garlicky radish greens – a revelation for anybody who’s ever only eaten radishes in a salad.  Braising the radishes slowly with stock and sugar leaves a sweet-salty sticky glaze which is perfectly offset by the slight bitterness of the wilted greens.  Sublime.

 

PattypanPastaTitle © J Horak-Druiff 2013

 

6.  Pattypan squash pasta with capers, chilli and Parmesan – a light and summery pasta dish with added zing from the chillies and capers, and very pretty too!

 RhubarbCheesecake3 © J Horak-Druiff 2013

 

7 . Baked white chocolate cheesecake with rhubarb – another result of the glut of produce from Nick’s allotment, this time rhubarb.  Tangy rhubarb. Sweet white chocolate. A dense, rich baked cheesecake.  What’s not to like?

 

StuffedGemSquashTitle © J Horak-Druiff 2013

 

 

8.  Gem squash with a cheesy spice creamed sweetcorn filling – keeping it South African, this was a happy combination of Nick growing a bumper crop of gem squash and Ocado beginning to stock South African products including KOO creamed sweetcorn. A cheesy, spicy and delicious taste of home.

 

BeetrootRisottoTitle © J Horak-Druiff 2013

 

9.  Beetroot risotto with goat’s cheese, rocket and pine nuts – as a recent convert to beetroot, I am now determined to find as  many ways as possible to use it.  This classic combination of flavours works beautifully as a salad so I figured it woudld also work as a risotto.  I was right.

 ClementineCranberryCakeTitle © J Horak-Druiff 2013

 

 

10.  Cranberry and clementine upside down cake – ending the year on a high note with this easy but delectable upside-down cake filled with Christmas flavours.  A huge crowd-pleaser.

Stay tuned for the final of my “2013 in review” series where I will sum up my travels for the year – but before we finally leave the topic of food, here are some of my favourite recipes that my food blogging friends published in 2013.  Bon appetit!

  • Colleen’s spectacular salad of grilled avocado with prosciutto and pine nuts
  • Marie’s recipe for making your own boerewors spice mix
  • Kit’s chocolate pear tarts with Amarula ice-cream
  • Meeta’s beautiful Kanelbullar (cinnamon buns)
  • Michelle’s all-singing, all-dancing fabulous dal makhani (lentil curry)
  • Andrew’s Italian carrot cake
  • David’s gloriously simple fried halloumi cheese with olives
  • Jamie’s Assyrian spinach pies
  • Rosa’s fantastic farro salad with roasted pumpkin, dried cranberries and a ras el hanout vinaigrette
  • Barbara’s Kahlua pumkin-spice brownies with brown butter and kahlua frosting
  • Jackie’s awesome wild rice, pecan and cranberry salad
  • Rosana’s decadent fresh fig cake
  • Krista’s indulgent brioche with dark chocolate chunks 
  • Ilva’s hearty zucchini, pancetta and farro salad
  • Kalyn’s warming black bean chilli with lime and cilantro
  • Sarah’s lemon courgette pesto tart

More deliciousness for you!

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  • Saturday Snapshots #276Saturday Snapshots #276

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  1. Krista says

    January 1, 2014 at 11:20 pm

    So much deliciousness!! 🙂 I’m especially intrigued by the Brussels sprouts. 🙂 I love them, but have never tried them this way. Thank you for including my brioche! I was just craving that again this week. 🙂

    Reply
    • Jeanne says

      January 7, 2014 at 1:19 pm

      That brioche was just spectacular… And yes, do try sprouts this way! The earthiness of the nduja and the brightness of the lemon are a fantastic combination!

      Reply
  2. [email protected] says

    January 2, 2014 at 12:06 am

    I am still full from yesterday and today’s gluttony but that beet risotto and sauteed brussel sprouts are really stirring me up!!

    Lovely round up Jeanne! Looking forward to the travel one! 🙂

    Reply
    • Jeanne says

      January 7, 2014 at 1:20 pm

      Hahaha – and you can even convince yourself that the beet risotto is healthy (ish!) and therefore allowed after the excesses of Christmas 🙂 Travel roundup now available – hope you enjoy it!

      Reply
  3. Rosa says

    January 2, 2014 at 2:02 pm

    Fabulous recipes.

    Looking forward to following you in 2014!

    Cheers,

    Rosa

    Reply
    • Jeanne says

      January 7, 2014 at 1:20 pm

      Thanks Rosa 🙂 Thanks also for all your lovely comments and support during 2013 – always hugely appreciated.

      Reply
  4. Rosana @ Hot&Chilli says

    January 2, 2014 at 3:59 pm

    Great round up of recipes, Jeanne. Thanks for the mention too 🙂 Happy 2014 and cheers to more foodie adventures! Rx

    Reply
    • Jeanne says

      January 7, 2014 at 1:30 pm

      My pleasure! And yes, look forward to many more laughs and foodie adventures together in 2014 🙂

      Reply
  5. Charlotte says

    January 2, 2014 at 6:19 pm

    Oh yum. I want to try them all, but especially 3 and 4. I made your flourless chocolate cake for a birthday party recently – such a hit!

    Reply
    • Jeanne says

      January 7, 2014 at 1:40 pm

      Hello lovely! Do try them all – each is rewarding in its own way 🙂 And oh yes, that flourless chocolate cake is always a hit! Have you tried the chocolate orange cake? Also flourless! https://www.cooksister.com/2011/01/decadent-spiced-chocolate-orange-cake-forever-nigella-indeed.html

      Reply
  6. Barbara | Creative Culinary says

    January 3, 2014 at 10:36 pm

    I want them ALL!!! I can not wait to start some serious cooking in my new home and I’ve got some new inspiration now too!

    Wishing you a VERY Happy New Year Jeanne!

    Reply
    • Jeanne says

      January 7, 2014 at 1:41 pm

      Hahaha – they do make a rather tempting array! 🙂 Wishing you a VERY happy new year and an abundance of joy in your new home (yay! At last!!)

      Reply
  7. Jamie says

    January 4, 2014 at 1:10 pm

    Lovely! But how can you choose? Everyone of your recipes always blows me away and I only wish that you could make them for me. That cranberry and clementine upside down cake is just calling my name.

    Wishing you and Nick an amazing, joy-filled 2014 xoxo

    Reply
    • Jeanne says

      January 7, 2014 at 1:42 pm

      Aww, thanks chica! I have to say, you should not delay in making that cranberry clementine cake – so simple and so spectacularly delicious without being too rich. All the best to you, JP, the boys and Marty for 2014 xx

      Reply
  8. Sarah, Maison Cupcake says

    January 5, 2014 at 12:49 pm

    Gorgeous selection! I especially want to try the sprouts with nduja. Thanks for the mention of my lemon and courgette pesto tart and happy new year! 🙂

    Reply
    • Jeanne says

      January 7, 2014 at 1:43 pm

      Glad you like it – and do try the sprouts. They’re sprouts… but not as we know them 😉 Wishing you, N and T all the very best for a happy and successful 2014 and look forward to meeting up soon 🙂

      Reply
  9. Jonker aka Firefly says

    January 13, 2014 at 11:52 am

    With all the recipes you’ve posted I would love to know how you could even start to choose only 10. Mouth watering

    Reply
  10. Jonker - Firefly says

    January 13, 2014 at 11:59 am

    I don’t even want to start to wonder how you managed to choose only 10. Mouth watering.

    Reply
  11. Helen @ Fuss Free Flavours says

    January 14, 2014 at 6:47 pm

    Beautiful recipes Jeanne,

    In awe of all of them and the amazing photos. This could have also been a favourite photos list too.

    Reply
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Jeanne Horak is a freelance food and travel writer; recipe developer and photographer. South African by birth and Londoner by choice, Jeanne has been writing about food and travel on Cooksister since 2004. She is a popular speaker on food photography and writing has also contributed articles, recipes and photos to a number of online and print publications. Jeanne has also worked with a number of destination marketers to promote their city or region. Please get in touch to work with her Read More…

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