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« Key Lime Pie Cookies
Asian Chicken Salad with Peanut Vinaigrette »

Top Posts of 2012 and a Giveaway!

December 31, 2012 by overtimecook 75 Comments

Giveaway Closed!

It’s been a fabulous year here at Overtime Cook. There have been loads of highlights…too many to list. But I am going to be a total cliche and list some of my most popular posts. First, starting with plain stats- here goes:

Scroll all the way to the bottom for the giveaway!
Healthy Oatmeal Pumpkin Pancakes on Overtime CookHealthy Oatmeal Pumpkin Pancakes: It’s funny how things work out sometimes. I made these on a whim, and happened to take a nice picture of them. Months later and it’s still usually the most popular post every day. Also, it’s totally my favorite breakfast! And my blog’s most popular post!

zucchini-wedges

Spicy Baked Zucchini Sticks: These are among my favorite real-life recipes, but they are also the first ever recipe on Overtime Cook to go “viral.” I still remember the feeling of checking my stats and yelping when I saw that they had gone up by a gazillion percent. Or something like that. Probably one of the best moments of the year for me, as a blogger!

homemade fudge-2

Homemade Milk Chocolate Fudge: This one’s popularity is pretty much due to pinterest. It’s kinda funny, because after I posted it, I regretted not adding the words “2 ingredient fudge” to the picture. I mean, who wouldn’t repin that? Turns out, folks don’t need those words to repin this. They were right to, I should add, because this is amazing.

flourless chocolate cookies-1

Flourless Chocolate Cookies: I often wonder if the popularity of these cookies was due to my describing them as “chocolate clouds” or because gluten free is just that in style. Either way, I can’t believe how popular these were, and continue to be, but they sure are delicious Passover cookies!
S'mores Cheesecake 3

S’mores Cheesecake: I absolutely love this. It was one of those things where I knew from the second I dreamed it up that it would be a smashing success. I mean, just look at that! You know you want to eat it!

chewy choc chip cookies 2

Best Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies: Everyone loves the classic chocolate chip cookie. This recipe claims to make the best, chewiest cookies ever. Is that true? Well, loads of readers think so. Try them and see if you agree!

Mini Apple and Honey Tarts on Overtime Cook

Mini Apple and Honey Tarts: Another stroke of genius, if I do say so myself. This dessert screams fall, is super easy to make, and drew a gazillion of you to my website.

Zebra Bundt Cake 2

Zebra Bundt Cake: Bundt cakes are among my favorite desserts to make for a crowd, because they are beautiful and don’t require much effort. This one is extra special because the beauty really shows when you cut it open… Plus my handy little graphic showing step-by-step directions to make the zebra effect was repinned once or a thousand times.

iced mochaccino 1 words

Homemade Iced Mocchaccino: I don’t know what to say about this one, other than it deserves a top spot. Winter, summer- who cares? This is a delicious drink, and it takes less than five minutes to make!

Mini Quinoa Pizzas

Mini Quinoa Pizzas: I am so glad that these barely squeaked their way into the top ten list. Honestly, I thought these would revolutionize the entire food world. (Hah!) I mean, the idea of a pizza on a crust of quinoa (hello? gluten free?) and relatively healthy is just mind blowing to me. I’m glad quite a few of you discovered the awesomeness of these!

There’s another kind of popular, and that is recipes which I received a ton of feedback on. I don’t have the stats to show it, but some of the recipes which I received the most feedback on, that people actually made and enjoyed the recipes, are:

Healthy Mock Breaded Cauliflower: One of my favorite dishes ever, and a reader favorite too. Every time someone tells me they made it, I kinda want to run to my kitchen and make it again. Yep, it’s that good.

Garlic and Shallot Topped Smashed Potatoes: I don’t think you have to look much further than the name of this recipe to start drooling and understand just why so many people have told me they made and enjoyed this. Best part is, they look impressive, but they don’t actually require that much work.

Creamy Orange Vegetable Soup: This is a real family favorite, and it’s no wonder so many people have made this and let me know how much they loved it. It isn’t difficult to make, but it’s delicious, filling, healthy and just so awesome.

Mini Shepherd’s Pies: I don’t think it’s hard to figure out why these are so popular. They are beautiful thanks to the nicely piped mashed potatoes on the top, but they are delicious comfort food under the pretty little exterior.

Chanukah Style Peanut Butter Blossoms: These cookies, along with my newer version of chocolate coin cookies (published in Ami magazine) were made by loads of people all over the world probably because they are so darned cute.

Lemon Glazed Honey Cookies: Honey cookies don’t have the greatest reputation, so I am glad lots of you gave this updated version a try. Trust me, these are simply…amazing.

————————

And lastly I thought it would be fun to draw some attention to the least popular posts of 2012! These posts are delicious, so head on over and give them the love they deserve!

Oatmeal Butterscotch Cookies: I can’t believe these have been so un-popular on the blog, because in real life, they are the most popular I make. No jokes. I don’t take it lightly when I make the claim that I make the best oatmeal butterscotch cookies. In. The. World.

Spiced Corn Fritters: These are from the early days of my camera when I really had no clue what I was doing, so the pictures are kinda lousy, but the fritters are delicious. In fact, I am totally putting them on this week’s menu!

Homemade Strawberry Lemonade: I am totally sad that this isn’t more popular, because it’s not only one of my most ingenious ideas, but it’s one I make all the time in the summer. I know it’s winter, but I am craving some now!

Chewy Molasses Ginger Cookies: Ok, so these are one of the first recipes ever posted on this blog, and the picture is positively cringe-worthy, but believe me- these cookies are gooood.

Peanut Topped Peanut Cookies: Poor little peanut butter cookies… the least popular of the year. Sad, because these are simply a delicious peanut butter cookie, with a little extra decor with the peanuts on top. Totally delicious.

And there you have it folks, the most (and least) popular recipes of 2012! I want to thank each and every one of you for reading, commenting, baking and cooking. It’s been a fabulous year, and my little blog has grown in leaps and bounds that I never would have dreamed of! I can’t wait to see what next year brings, how about you?

And now…to thank all of you awesome readers in the way that a blogger does best: A Giveaway!

Last year, during the holidays, I picked up this fabulous special interest publication from Better Homes and Gardens entitled 100 Best Cookies. Naturally, I knew I had to buy it. Not only did I love it, but I baked about half of the cookies in this publication. So this year, when I saw they were selling it again, I knew I had to pick up a copy to give to a lucky reader!

Giveaway Details:

Prize: 1 copy of Better Homes and Gardens 100 Best Cookies Magazine 2012

To enter: leave a comment on this post telling me what recipe or recipes you have made from my blog over the last year!

Giveaway ends: January 7th, 2013 at 11:59 pm eastern time

Limit 1 entry per person.

Prize can only be shipped within the US.

Giveaway is sponsored by me, and is not connected with better homes and gardens!

Good luck, and don’t forget to check out all of my links above! -Miriam

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Filed Under: Giveaways, Holiday, Life on the side, Uncategorized Tagged With: food, giveaway, Recipes


Comments

  1. chaya says

    December 31, 2012 at 1:09 am

    Ive made the spinach/cheese/pasta pie. was absolutely amazing!! Thanks so much!!

    Reply
  2. faigy says

    December 31, 2012 at 1:13 am

    I made 2 of your bundt cakes – the zebra & chocolate with cream cheese filling. The sugar cookie recipe you used for the rccs party is my new favorite!

    Reply
  3. Sara S says

    December 31, 2012 at 1:38 am

    I made so many things, hope I can remember them all! .. the zebra cake, zucchini sticks, broccoli kugel muffins which were a huge hit, dijon roasted broccoli, the amazing pomegranate chocolate cake, the pastrami pockets… and that’s all I can think of right now! thank you!

    Reply
  4. malaysianfoodhub says

    December 31, 2012 at 3:30 am

    Reblogged this on malaysianfoodhub.

    Reply
  5. bakingbeardy says

    December 31, 2012 at 4:45 am

    As you well remember, I had a bit of trouble with your two ingredient chocolate fudge! But once I mastered it, it was great, and I still make it all the time.

    Reply
  6. St says

    December 31, 2012 at 7:59 am

    The ginger honey snap peas. Apple kugel muffins. Creamy Orange vegetable soup. Pastrami stuffed capons. Everything’s always delicious.

    Reply
  7. brucha says

    December 31, 2012 at 8:08 am

    I made the pesto pinwheels and the mini brownie pecan pies! Both delicious!

    Reply
  8. Rachel Neuman says

    December 31, 2012 at 8:09 am

    I want to try this zebra cake…. 3 stick margarine is a bit much! Any good alternative??
    Thx!

    Rochel Leah Neuman

    Tales of an Overtime Cook wrote:

    overtimecook posted: “It’s been a fabulous year here at Overtime Cook. There have been loads of highlights…too many to list. But I am going to be a total cliche and list some of my most popular posts. First, starting with plain stats- here goes: Scroll all the way to the “

    Reply
  9. Mystery Woman says

    December 31, 2012 at 9:30 am

    I made so many of your recipes, but interestingly, I only made one of your most popular (zebra bundt cake), but almost all of the things you got a lot of feedback on.

    Reply
  10. Esti says

    December 31, 2012 at 9:48 am

    I made the peanut butter blossom cookies for Chanukka and they were a huge hit!! I also made the dijon broccoli and it was so delicious that I ended up eating the whole thing straight from the pan! I love your blog!

    Reply
  11. Dini says

    December 31, 2012 at 9:49 am

    I made the cinnoman buns with the cream cheese frosting and they were out of this world! I must’ve given the recipe to a dozen ppl! Thank u

    Reply
  12. tovar says

    December 31, 2012 at 10:37 am

    i made the butternut squash soup and the oreo cookies.

    Reply
  13. Allison says

    December 31, 2012 at 10:44 am

    The “breaded” ccauliflower- delicious!!

    Reply
  14. Carla says

    December 31, 2012 at 10:49 am

    Ok so I haven’t actually made anything from you, but I have your honey cupcakes and Snickerdoodle cupcakes bookmarked! And I made that ice cream I guest posted for you 😉

    Reply
  15. faigy says

    December 31, 2012 at 10:59 am

    I made your spinach spaghetti pie and your cookies with oreos in it. Love your blog!

    Reply
  16. d m says

    December 31, 2012 at 11:03 am

    zebra bundt cake!

    Reply
  17. Tzeril says

    December 31, 2012 at 11:10 am

    I made the butternut squash fries and the mousse from your cannolis. Want to do zucchini sticks soon!

    Reply
  18. following accounts (@followingaccnts) says

    December 31, 2012 at 11:15 am

    ur potato pinwheel thingy…!

    Reply
  19. idy m says

    December 31, 2012 at 11:20 am

    i’ve taken a lot of ideas from your recipes… never made an actual recipe, though,
    then again, when do i ever stick to a recipe?

    Reply
  20. Rosa says

    December 31, 2012 at 12:30 pm

    The zebra bundt cake, was a big hit!

    Reply
  21. Naomi Stroock says

    December 31, 2012 at 12:31 pm

    I love your blog. I have made zuchinni sticks, confetti cookies, Chanukah coin cookies, tri pepper salad and the zebra cake.

    Reply
  22. gittel white says

    December 31, 2012 at 12:32 pm

    I made your deliciously heavenly butterscotch cake!

    Reply
  23. Esther M. says

    December 31, 2012 at 1:03 pm

    I love your blog! Ive tried and shared so many of your recipes and love them all! Every morn when I check my inbox first thing i look for is if there is a new post 🙂 If I had to choose a favorite I’d say the mini pecan fudge pies but there are so many others that come awfully close…Thank you for all the yummy food!

    Reply
  24. Moshe Statman says

    December 31, 2012 at 1:26 pm

    Will it count if I try something tonight? !!!
    But *you’re “smashed potatoes are awesome!”

    Reply
  25. Jennifer Rose says

    December 31, 2012 at 1:45 pm

    I made the iced raspberry cookies as a “non-chocolate” option for those *gasp* who don’t like chocolate. They were soft and beautiful. I made some the same way you show on your site and the other half sprinkled with powdered sugar. Thanks for the variety!

    Reply
  26. esti w. says

    December 31, 2012 at 2:26 pm

    i made the mock breaded cauliflower and it was a success!

    Reply
  27. nechama says

    December 31, 2012 at 3:27 pm

    If I didn’t make anything (yet) can I still enter?

    Reply
  28. BE says

    December 31, 2012 at 4:57 pm

    love ur blog!! the most recent favorite in my family is “Healthy Crockpot Turkey Meatballs in a Tomato-Spinach Sauce”
    we love it cuz we all work, so if its put up in the morning we come home to awesome dinner all done– just have to cut salad 🙂

    keep it up im hooked on ur blog!

    Reply
  29. Sarah Massry says

    December 31, 2012 at 5:19 pm

    I’ve tried lots of things on your blog- all of which came out great! Thanks a ton. Can’t wait to see what’s in store for 2013!

    Reply
  30. Nechamah says

    December 31, 2012 at 6:31 pm

    All of your recipes are amazing. Keep up the good work.

    Reply
  31. grace. says

    December 31, 2012 at 8:12 pm

    I recently disovered this blog but check it often i made the potatoe pesto pinweels and zatar cauliflower, both delish!

    Reply
  32. miriam says

    December 31, 2012 at 11:51 pm

    Made spinich spaghetti pie and chanukah cookies. both were great!

    Reply
  33. Mirjam says

    January 1, 2013 at 8:58 am

    The ginger honey snap peas! This is my first time seeing the mini quinoa pizzas and they are now in my meal plan for next week!

    Reply
  34. Jamie says

    January 1, 2013 at 9:01 am

    I made the smashed potatoes!

    Reply
  35. Ginger says

    January 1, 2013 at 10:51 am

    just found the blog, key lime pie cookies, thanks for the chance

    Reply
  36. Miriam Lipnick says

    January 1, 2013 at 2:11 pm

    I made the gelt cookies on channukah with my kids- they were a huge hit!
    I have been eyeing many of your recipes and I am very eager to give them a try!

    Reply
  37. SH says

    January 1, 2013 at 2:22 pm

    I made the spicy baked zucchini sticks!

    Reply
  38. malkie says

    January 1, 2013 at 3:51 pm

    I’ve made your broccoli zucchini soup, but I have many more of your recipes that I’d like to try

    Reply
  39. sima Katz says

    January 1, 2013 at 3:51 pm

    Hi Miriam,
    I just went out and got the ingredients for the chocolate toffee, I also did the sugar snap peas simply delicious!
    sima
    http://Www.theheimishebalabuste.blogspot

    Reply
  40. chaya fuss says

    January 1, 2013 at 4:28 pm

    I made the basil dip, roasted red pepper soup, orange soup and mini hamburgers! I will def make more : )

    Reply
  41. tzivi jakubovic says

    January 1, 2013 at 4:42 pm

    so many! cauliflower,,, bundt cake,,gelt cookies (sent u a pic) soup, wanna try the zuc sticks tom!

    Reply
  42. Sara G says

    January 1, 2013 at 5:03 pm

    I really love your site. All recipes I’ve tried were YUMMM!! We made broccoli kugel muffins, smashed potatoes, strawberry lemonade-definitely a keeper. I’m sure I’ve made others too but these are the ones that come right to my mind 🙂 Love your blog!!

    Reply
  43. Devorah says

    January 1, 2013 at 5:09 pm

    I love your blog, and have tried many recipes. Most recently, your Glazed Raspberry Cookies were a real hit! Looking forward to more! 🙂

    Reply
  44. Bracha says

    January 1, 2013 at 9:09 pm

    i absolutely love your blog. I have it bookmarked and check it almost every day to see whether a new post is added. I just have to comment that I made the cheesecake smores and was so excited about it, but it didn’t come out good. The chocolate part became and short of picking it up with ur hands and biting into it, it was impossible to eat. Other than that, I’ve had great success with ur recipes!! Keep on posting more!

    Reply
    • Bracha says

      January 1, 2013 at 9:10 pm

      became hard*

      Reply
  45. albertgenau says

    January 2, 2013 at 4:34 am

    Reblogged this on albertgenau.

    Reply
  46. Brina Sachs Gonzalez says

    January 2, 2013 at 10:27 am

    What havent I tried? I love the honey ginger glazed snap peas, the mock breaded cauliflower was delicious, recently tried the lemon glazed honey cookies, and dijon broccoli next on the list.

    Reply
  47. Ruchiccio says

    January 2, 2013 at 11:44 am

    I made the triple chocolate chunk cookies several times, but I did use your blog for food inspiration many times. I like looking at food, what can I do?
    P. S. Make me win!!!

    Reply
  48. Amber says

    January 2, 2013 at 11:50 am

    I’ve made the pumpkin oatmeal pancakes. They were very tasty and had a nice flavor (and we didn’t feel guilty about eating them!). I have several of your recipes bookmarked to make in the future!

    Reply
  49. Frimchie Fuchs says

    January 2, 2013 at 12:31 pm

    I made your chanukah cookies with the chocolate coins. It was a hit!!! Thanks 🙂

    Reply
  50. yiddish child says

    January 2, 2013 at 7:35 pm

    I enjoyed making your ‘fritlech’ (don’t remember how they’re called in english.

    Reply
  51. gigi says

    January 2, 2013 at 8:57 pm

    all of these look like awesome dishes. will be checking out these links later for ideas. also, just wanted to let you know that I tagged you in the versatile blogger award http://gigikkitchen.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-versatile-blogger-award_2.html feel free to do the tag as well if you would like! xx. gigi.

    Reply
  52. Jennifer Stott (@JenSto2t) says

    January 3, 2013 at 9:28 am

    That Zebra cake is calling my name. Along with a few dozen of the other recipes! 😀

    Reply
  53. tf says

    January 3, 2013 at 10:52 am

    zucchini sticks. thanks!

    Reply
  54. Nester Wasserman says

    January 3, 2013 at 3:59 pm

    ok, do i qualify if i just found ur blog a few wks ago and will iyh be making mock breaded cauliflower and zuccini sticks? i love that you have a mix of healthy and nonhealthy stuff on ur blog! just my style! and i love that you seem to love what you do! ( and i feel like i know u – im from monsey. BYM?? lol) thanks and lots of luck!

    Reply
  55. Miriam says

    January 3, 2013 at 8:23 pm

    zucchini sticks, broccoli kugel muffins, Carrot muffins, a lot more. Thanks and keep them coming.

    Reply
  56. IR says

    January 3, 2013 at 11:45 pm

    Can I enter even if I just recently found your blog and haven’t made anything from it yet? I was very excited to see your flourless cookies (pesach) in the best of list, but alas, my wheat-allergic son is allergic to eggs too!
    All is well though. I have a great flour substitute mix and just use it in my regular recipes in place of the flour for him!
    The sugar snap peas (or were they snow peas?) looked great last week, but I haven’t had a chance to try them yet. soon, soon!
    Thanks!

    Reply
  57. Chani says

    January 4, 2013 at 7:50 am

    Great recipes, love so many of them, especially your smashed potatoes they are amazing!

    Reply
  58. chavie says

    January 4, 2013 at 9:05 am

    i love your blog! the most recent thing i made were the oreo stuffed cookies, dipped into different colored sprinkles. they were a huge hit, everyone loved them!

    Reply
  59. Rivki H says

    January 4, 2013 at 11:35 am

    Some of your recipes have become my favorites-
    two color squash with shallots and herbs
    chanukah style cookies
    spicy baked zuchinni sticks
    triple chocolate oreo chunk cookies
    roasted smashed potatoes
    i think theres more but i dont remember…

    Reply
  60. rbtzn says

    January 5, 2013 at 9:15 pm

    I made the bakery style cookies! <3

    Reply
  61. Estée says

    January 5, 2013 at 9:42 pm

    I like the Oreo strawberry cream cups and zucchini sticks.

    Reply
  62. chanie says

    January 6, 2013 at 7:04 am

    i tried the brocolli florets with the dijon dressing mixture

    Reply
  63. Anne says

    January 6, 2013 at 10:37 am

    (I commented once, but I think the internet ate it before it posted, so I’m going to try again. Sorry if this is a duplicate.)
    Since I just found your blog today, I have yet to try any of your recipes, but after browsing your archive, I’ve marked some to try. Examples: The Basil Potato Salad for the summer when my basil is flourishing, and within the next few days, the Cinnamon Sugar Scones. Mmmm, scones.

    Reply
  64. Calligrapher says

    January 6, 2013 at 4:43 pm

    still lvoeing your quina pizza! thanks!

    Reply
  65. deb says

    January 6, 2013 at 4:59 pm

    I love your recipes though I don’t think I’ve actually tried one since I found your blog. Can’t wait to try that cauliflower though, it looks amazing!!! (Do you think it would work with broccoli?)

    Reply
  66. Leeba says

    January 6, 2013 at 9:10 pm

    I just found your blog a few minutes ago through the what’s for supper group in Facebook and I’m in love. Already got the ok from my husband to try the orange soup and want to try the pumpkin oatmeal pancakes and zucchini sticks this week! Reading through all the comments I see I have hours to look forward to on your blog. Thank you

    Reply
  67. pragmaticattic says

    January 7, 2013 at 8:26 pm

    As you know, I’ve been loving the roast broccoli recipe.

    Reply
  68. lilmisscakes says

    January 7, 2013 at 8:44 pm

    I want to make all of these! I love how you highlighted some of your least popular posts. They need love too?

    Reply
  69. M Barber says

    January 7, 2013 at 9:27 pm

    Chanukah Style PB Blossoms.
    They were such a hit, thank you!!

    Reply
  70. Rena says

    January 7, 2013 at 10:52 pm

    I’ve only recently found your blog but that cheesecake is first on my list of things to try!!! Will check out a bunch of other recipes you’ve showcased here as well!

    Reply
  71. GE says

    January 8, 2013 at 2:18 am

    Is strawberry n cream bundt cake yours? I LOVE that cake! Your blog is awesome, so many things I still have to try…

    Reply
  72. Frimchie Fuchs says

    January 8, 2013 at 9:27 am

    Chanukah Style PB Blossoms!!!!!! Delicious!!!

    Reply
  73. Frimchie Fuchs says

    January 8, 2013 at 9:29 am

    And the mini shephards pie!!! Was a hit!

    Reply
  74. Lailey says

    January 8, 2013 at 11:11 am

    I tried you zucchini wedges and they were delicious. It was gone within just a few minutes of serving them:-)))))

    Reply

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