When Sara and I celebrated our first blogiversary back in 2009, we did this fun little moment where we each shared a few of our favorite recipes from the other person. It totally felt like one of those tribute moments during the Oscars or something (I may have some delusions of grandeur here…)
Anyway, since we’re on this whole “favorite things” kick this week, we figured we’d do it again! I’m sharing 6 of my favorite Sara recipes through the ages and she’s sharing 6 of mine! Whether they’re old favorites of yours or you’re seeing them for the first time, we hope you’ll give them the very serious consideration they deserve. The Academy thanks you. :)
Kate’s Favorite Sara Recipes:
1. Grilled Pizza. I kept thinking, “Would it be super overly dramatic for me to say that this tutorial changed my life?” And then Sara sent me her favorites and said one of my tutorials changed her life, so I went big. I’m not lying. This is the best pizza you will EVER eat. I always thought that no matter how good of a cook I was, there were some restaurant favorites I’d never be able to replicate at home, but this recipe totally proved me wrong.
2. Cowboy Quesadillas. I’m kind of ashamed to admit that I had never made these until just recently. It was dinnertime and I had nothing planned and I had everything in the pantry to make these. Um, wowsers. I loved everything about them (least of all the fact that they took me about 10 minutes to whip up). Such great flavors, and I actually replaced the rice with a little leftover quinoa (because I didn’t want to cook up a whole batch of rice), and no one was the wiser that they were getting awesome whole grains along with their ranch and BBQ sauce.
3. Perfect Cupcake Frosting and Filling. Another life-changer here. Seriously, if you want to make friends, just fill an icing bag with this stuff and dollop it onto the fingers of passers-by. Especially if you add some almond extract.
4. Bruschetta. I could literally eat this up with a spoon and completely forgo the bread. And that’s saying a lot from the girl who’s fallen off the South Beach wagon more times than I can count.
5. Mango Quinoa Salad. I never knew how much I loved quinoa until I tried this salad. The fact that it’s virtually guilt-free is a major plus, especially if I’ve been into that frosting…
6. Easy Pumpkin Crumble. Yeah, yeah, I know it’s July and that we’re not even close to the neighborhood of pumpkin season. But sometimes I turn the air conditioner as low as I can without blowing a fuse and bake up one of these and pretend that I’m not living in a freaking jungle.
Sara’s Favorite Kate Recipes:
1. Streusel Topped Blueberry Muffins: I have literally spent years trying to perfect the perfect blueberry muffin. In fact, I spent an entire week a few months back making batch after batch trying to come up with the perfect muffin for our next cook book. Then I open the blog one day and bam! Kate has the perfect blueberry muffin recipe. Would have been awesome to know that, haha. Honestly though, after all of my trial and error, it was so amazing to bite into one of these. There are a million and one recipes out there for Blueberry Muffins and this is the best I’ve ever had, hands down.
2. Mediterranean Egg Scramble: I think this is one of the hidden little gems on our site that doesn’t get much attention but totally deserves it. The combination of flavors and textures is unexpected to what you’re used to eating in an egg dish and completely perfect. If you haven’t tried this yet, give it a shot. It’s become one of my favorite meals!
3. How To: Cut a Watermelon: This is saying a lot seeing as I don’t like watermelon (gasp!) But seriously, it changed my life. I tried it the first time and literally bought a watermelon on my next trip to the store just so I could cut it like this again and laugh like a giddy school girl when I saw all of the perfect little cubes fall out. Brilliant!
4. World’s Best Dinner Rolls: I snickered to myself when I saw Kate had titled one of her recipes “World’s Best,” something I never do because I’m sure somewhere in the world no matter how good my recipe is, there’s something someone would consider to be better. Then I made them. And I still thought it was a silly name. Then I gave them a second chance following the directions better and adding waaaay less flour than I did the first time (as in, I actually followed the directions this time) and who knew? They really ARE the world’s best rolls. My husband agreed they were the best rolls he’d ever eaten. Forgive me Kate, for doubting!
5. Chicken and Veggie Skewers: This has become one of my favorite summer meals. The homemade dressing/marinade is better than anything you can buy in any bottle. I absolutely love the bright colors of the veggies and the bright flavor of the lemon and herbs.
6. Spaghetti and Meatballs: Such a simple concept, it might get overlooked. Spaghetti and Meatballs are all the same, right? Wrong! Make this your go-to if you haven’t already. Take a venture on the wild side if you’ve never made your own sauce. It tastes like something fresh out of an Italian restaurant. It will warm both your tummy and your soul.
We hope y’all check out some of these old (and new…shhhh!) favorites!!
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Appetizers
Beef
Sandwiches and Burgers
Beverages
Breads
Breakfast and Brunch
Condiments
Desserts
Pizza and Pasta
Pork
Poultry
Salads and Dressings
Seafood
Side Dishes and Vegetables
Soups and Stews
Kate is so right about her #1 choice! Life. Changing.
Perfect Cupcake Frosting and Filling changed my life too!! I’ve also been known to use it as cookie sandwich filling!! Thanks Kate! Yummo! Oh, and i have to thank Sara for the watermelon instructional. . .i always wondered how to cube it!
Hmmm, these sound awesome! I may need to bake again today – I had to bake before bed for no apparent reason other than an insane need for a good muffin for breakfast haha!
As many recipes as I’ve made on this site, I’ve never made any of the ones that either of you have picked! I need to remedy that quicky!
My five faves (I obviously come here for the deserts!):
1. Super Easy Chocolate Ganache
2. Caramel Toffee Fruit Dip (I’ve made this at least a dozen times!)
3. Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie
4. Chocolate Mousse Crunch Cake
5. Pizzookies
And a bonus NON desert:
Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Thanks you both for providing us with so much yummy stuff!
someone likes desserts! ;)
Both the chocolate and vanilla flour based frostings have changed my life. LOVE!!!
All of those things are now on my “to make” list! Some of my faves are:
Indian spiced pork skewers (except I make them with chicken) with coconut rice
Brazilian Lemonade
Taco Chicken
Flank Steak with the Fajita Marinade
Those are just a few of my favorites, but this WHOLE WEBSITE has changed my cooking, and thus changed my life!
Thank you girls for what you do :)
Yum, I have some new recipes to try! Some of my favorites are:
-Chocolate drizzled strawberry pie
-chili lime mango chicken skewers
-mint brownies
-creamy chicken taquitos
-chocolate chip cookie pie
There are so many to list I could go on forever but these are the ones I have made on several occasions and love! Thanks for all of the amazing recipes!
I too have not made any of the favorites listed above, but here’s my list of favorites from the Our Best Bites site (BEST BLOG EVER!):
1. Brazillian Lemonade (make all the time!)
2. Reese’s Peanut Butter Bars (yum!)
3. Pizzookies
4. Everyday Cinnamon Rolls (with the icing from an airport cinnamon roll recipe)
5. Foutisserie Chicken
Thanks for the wonderful recipes!
My top 5:
1. Colorburst Cupcakes – huge hit at my son’s b-day party!
2. Overnight Cinnamon Rolls
3. Creamy Baked Chicken Taquitos
4. Grilled Chicken Skewers
5. Baked Potato Soup
Love you girls and your recipes!!!
I could not possibly pick a favorite because every single thing I have tried has been fabulous! You have awakened the sleeping dog! I pour over your cookbook searching for what to make next like a giddy school girl. I gave it to my daughter-in-laws for Christmas. I know, it didn’t even come out until March so I gave them the really cute gift certificate (thanks!) and now I am discussing recipes, over the phone, with my son in Arizona! Thank you!
My husband and I love your coconut crispy chicken fingers, mango quinoa, teriyaki chicken salad and Reese’s Peanut Butter no bake bars and excited to keep trying more!
I just made Cowboy Quesadillas on Sunday for the first time. They were a big hit with my family and SO easy to make! My 2 year old gobbled them…what I did resembled more of an inhaling technique. Yum!
I love your blog and have really enjoyed trying out your recipes. This says a lot because I dont actually like to cook! I’ve only tried one of your top 12 recipes… now I’ve got some ideas a new recipes to try. My most favorite recipe ever: Lime Coconut Cheesecake. The most delicious thing I’ve ever tasted. Other favorites for me are: Cheesesteak Sandwiches, Baked Scones, Chili Lime Steak Salad, and The Perfect Cupcake Frosting (I have a love hate with this last one as it is the best frosting ever and yet sometimes it doesn’t turn out for me. Sara, PLEASE do a video demo making this!). The recipe I most want to try is the Pumpkin Cheesecake. Just waiting for Fall on that one. Thanks for sharing your cooking adventures.
I came to this site for the Pie-in-a-Jar, but my favorites are not the sweets.
1. Fauxtisserie Chicken (best way to make chicken EVAR!)
2. Creamy Chicken Taquitos
3. Grilled Pizza
4. Chipotle Pork Tacos (and I don’t normally like pork anything)
5. Baked Potato Soup
Pick a favorite? Are you kidding?! Our family lives by the Our Best Bites Bible! And doth mine eyes deceive me? Are you guys planning another cookbook? Cause I think that’s a GREAT idea?!
Your eyes doth not deceive you! It’s in the works! :)
We just grilled pizza for the first time a few weeks ago. I didn’t think there was any way it would work but it totally did! Awesome when it’s so hot outside! Gotta admit the frosting changed my life too. Planning some Mango Quinoa soon, Costco has had them super cheap so I’ve got some to use up :) Thanks for all your fabulous ideas girls!!
So many favorites! I love your site and I’m always looking forward to what new recipe you guys are going to post that day. Of course I have your cookbook and people are always surprised that I have cooked something since I didn’t use to really cook until I discovered your website and bought your cookbook. Thank You!
1. Creamy Chicken Taquitos
2. Tortellini Soup
3. Chili Con Queso
4. Yummy Breadsticks
5. Homemade Pizza on the Grill or Oven
Just made the blueberry struesel muffins…YUM. The lemon zest is such a great ingredient and not one I would have thought of using in something like this! I used half all-purpose flour and half whole-wheat, and also omitted the oil and added 1/2 cup of yellow squash puree instead (yep, I hide veggies in my kid’s food and I am NOT ashamed!). They turned out SO good! Thanks!
SOOO excited to learn that your 2nd cookbook is in the works!!
Since we’re posting our favorites…. ;o)
1. Spicy Honey Chicken
2. Creamy Baked Chicken Taquitos
3. Fresh Squeezed Lemonade
4. Cheddar Broccali Soup(from the book!)
5. Caramel Corn (and the Monster Munch is always a HUGE hit!)
I must try the World’s Best Dinner Rolls and Perfect Cupcake Frosting and Filling. :o)
Ooh. Grilled pizza has changed our lives, too. Those chicken and veggie skewers look wonderful too, I need to make those! I’ve been wanting more oven-free recipes, it’s at the point in the summer when I almost refuse to turn on the oven at dinnertime (even with AC). :)
It was so fun meeting you both in Rexburg. I’m the one you said looks like a friend of yours…Kara I think you said? :)
Every time I make something now people ask me if it’s from Our Best Bites, and it always is! I have loved everything I have ever made from here, but the absolute favorite in our house has to be the Slow-cooker French Dips! Those and the sweet potato fries happen almost weekly in our house! You guys are so amazing!
I too make your recipes all of the time. It is my favorite recipe source. I can’t wait to try some of your favorites too.
Ok, so that pizza does look life changing!! I can’t wait to try it!!
Just had to tell you how much I enjoy reading your blog! I don’t cook but I do read recipes (yours) and buy cookbooks (yours) and I do drool over the food pics you have on your blog. I also email your posts to my kids (those who learned to cook out of sheer survival and who now LOVE it) and tell them which recipes I want them to make for me – like that scrumptious chocolate cake with chocolate fudge frosting you posted a month or two ago. I told them I want that for my birthday in August. (We’ll see which one loves me the most. Hopefully there will be at least one!!) Anyway – I love your blog and your humor – it’s pure joy and entertainment!
Agreed that the blueberry muffins and the pizza are life changing. Every single time I make either I get accolades from my family. One day when I didn’t have fresh buttermilk, I used buttermilk powder stirred in to the flour, and regular milk for the liquid. Worked great and I didn’t notice a difference in texture.
I just recently fell in love with cooking. Getting a year supply of food and trying to make it exciting and edible has gotten me very excited to learn to make lots of fun and healthy foods. I would love you book.
The spaghetti and meatballs was a deal changer in my house. I will no longer buy bottled sauce when I can make it cheaper and it tastes better! I add mushrooms or squash or any other veggies in season to change it up from time to time. My husband doesn’t really like spaghetti, but he will eat this, as long as I make extra meatballs just for him! It makes so much I can freeze it in mason jars, and on nights when I don’t have a lot of time, it is like opening a can of Ragu, just A LOT better. Thanks so much!
As much as I love sweets, I’m proud to say that three of my favorite recipes from your website are main dishes. It’s so nice to get out of the rut of making the same dinner menus year after year!
Spicy Honey Chicken Thighs
Creamy Chicken Taquitos
Brazilian Lemonade
Teriyaki Turkey Burgers
Buttermilk Syrup
I love the grilled pizza too!!! I tell people about it all the time and they are so surprised. I am so glad to see your top picks. I have made many a thing from your site, but a lot of those recipes up there I have never tried. I’ll have to get cracking! Thank you both for all you do to inspire me in the kitchen!
yeah, that watermelon tutorial is amazing and after you cut up that first watermelon you think duh…brilliant! =D
I’m SO jazzed about this–I’m semi-new to your blog but I already love it, and I had been wondering what recipes to try out. It’s perfect timing that you pointed out your favorites–seeing the recipes you picked (and how absolutely amazing they look) makes me want to try all of them at once!!
World’s Best Dinner Rolls!!! And your site is the best ever…
Favorites? I have tons!
Quinoa Mango Salad (I could live off this!)
Spicy Honey Chicken
Italian Turkey Soup(I almost do live off this in the winter)
Grilled tomato/Corn Salsa
Quick and Easy Black Beans
Sweet Potato Fries and sauce
I had never used lime or cilantro before I started cooking from your blog. It’s so fun to add completely new flavors to my family’s meals. Thanks for all the delicious meals! (And I love your cookbook, I’m so glad there are pictures of every recipe.)
I now want to make all of these recipes!
I’ve had a few of these recipes: the muffins (I TOTALLY AGREE, in fact my husband and I tell all our friend that they are the best we’ve ever had!), and the frosting. So thanks for the dinner menu for next week! we’re going to try the spagetti and meatballs, veggie skewers, brushchetta, and cowboy quesadillas, and probably the pizza (but we have an indoor grill). Thanks!
Can’t wait to try ALL of them! Just found you two a few weeks ago and LOVE your blog! So made me want to cook and enjoy it. When I read the How to cut a Watermelon, I got one the next day too! It worked! AMAZING!!! I then froze the cute little squares and am now using them to make Watermelon frosties for a cool treat during the heat! thanks girls… now it is cooking time..
I think those are my favorite Kate Recipes too!! But of course I also love the thai peanut noodle salad, grilled fish tacos, teriyaki chicken skewers and recently trying out all your ice cream recipes … yum. yum. yum. So glad you girls taught me how to cook :-)
I made the spaghetti and meatballs last night, (froze half) delicious… they really are the best meatballs I have ever had. I believe this will be a goto recipe for me for many family functions and potlucks. Yummy is all I have to say!
My 5:
1) Candied walnut salad + dressing/ southwest chipotle salad + dressing are tied for the best salads EVER. And I love the Greek dressing also.
2)Thai peanut noodles. My husband is a park ranger and this is his favorite meal for the trail. . . odd?
3) Mango Quinoa salad. Love it. I use brown rice when I don’t have Quinoa and it is delish.
4) broiled Brussels sprouts– I thought I hated them until I tried ya’lls.
5) Whole Wheat pancake recipe
My number one favorite and go-to recipe is the flour tortillas…I will NEVER buy tortillas again-and haven’t since I found your recipe!
Then, in no particular order because they are ALL amazing:
Worlds Best Rolls
Pizza tutorial
Colorburst Cupcakes
Streusal Topped Coffee Cake
Oven Steak Fries
Hmmm…I guess I really like bread… :)
Those were some of the ones on my list to make in the near future. It will help to have a new husband to cook for. My current favorites are:
Thai peanut noodles (I even blogged about it-and gave you credit for sure)
Terijaki chicken skewers
Italian turkey soup, and
Fruit salsa with cinnamon chips
I’ve tried a ton of your wonderful recipes but some of your favorites I haven’t tried. I really need to get on that!
just made the blueberry streusel muffins, and i’ve never made a muffin with such beautiful batter consistency! i’m letting them cool as we speak before i take a bite. thanks for sharing all your fantastic recipes!!
This blog has totally changed my life! You have brought joy and excitement back to my kitchen. I make your recipes all the time, especially when I need to impress:) The recipes that always get accolades:
1. cilantro-lime ranch dressing
2. the flour based frosting
3. black beans
4. thai peanut noodles
5. buttermilk whole wheat pancakes.
I could go on and on! Love you ladies!
I’m so glad that you posted your favorites. I’ve really enjoyed the recipes that I’ve tried from your site, but I haven’t tried any of these yet. They will be going down on my next menu.
I’m hosting a pizza party Friday night and want to use your dough recipe. Every link I’ve tried is broken. Is it the same recipe as the breadsticks? Please help!
I made the Mango Quinoa Salad (I added some store bought roasted chicken to mine) for a RS potluck last night and it got rave reviews! Thanks for a delicious healthy recipe.
I just have to say that the cutting of the watermelon is the best! I LOVE watermelon. My husband knows if he doesn’t eat it the day I buy it then he will not get any. When I read the tutorial it totally changed my life (I know dramatic but I serious eat A LOT of watermelon) and saved me a lot of time. In the summer we have at least 1 watermelon a week if not more. It used to take me 45 minutes to an hour to cut it & now I can get it done in less than 20 mins! I love a lot of your recipes but this is by far my favorite! Thanks!!!
Southwest Stuffed Bell Peppers are the best ever! Love them! I already have 2 amazing blueberry muffin recipes but I guess I can try one more! Thanks for the great recipes!