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2013 Year of Food Survey

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I hope everyone who celebrates had a wonderful Christmas holiday!  And now that New Years is on the brain, it would not be right if I did not share a 2013 wrap-up post focused on one of my favorite topics and the main topic of this blog: FOOD!  This was my first year following a completely vegetarian diet, and it was also a year of transitioning to a mostly plant-based (vegan) diet.  The transition was actually easier than I originally expected, and it has been a good and oh-so delicious one.  In celebration of my year of good eats, I decided to create a survey to review my favorite recipes and food experiences in the year of 2013.  Because honestly, who doesn’t love food and a good survey? 😉

2013 Year of Food Survey

1. What was your favorite breakfast recipe that you created this year?

I did not really start creating and sharing breakfast recipes until the end of this year, but even still, I had a hard time deciding.  Therefore, I will leave you with my two favorite breakfast recipes:

banana pumpkin breakfast cookie

The Banana Pumpkin Breakfast Cookie

chocolate zucchini bread pancakes 4

and the Chocolate Zucchini Bread Pancakes for One

2. What was your favorite sandwich recipe that you created this year?

This was another tough one to narrow down, especially since I made several grilled cheese and grilled pb & j-style sandwiches, but I think my favorite one was definitely this one:

tempeh reuben 8

The Tempeh Reuben Sandwich

3. What was your favorite soup recipe that you created this year?

You know how I love my soup!  It doesn’t matter what time of the year it is, I eat it year round.  This one was by far my favorite for 2013:

pea carrot rice soup 8 y

Slow-cooker Pea and Carrot Rice Soup

4. What was your favorite entree recipe that you created this year?

Nothing immediately stood out when I began thinking about my favorite entree, possibly because I have posted so many.  But after searching through some of my past posts, a few really stood out:

bbq pulled tofu 4 y

BBQ Pulled Tofu Sandwich with Spicy Sriracha Coleslaw

vegan crab cakes 7y

Vegan “Crab” Cakes

vegan lasagna 11

and my Vegan Vegetable Lasagna

5. What was your favorite faux “meat” recipe that you created this year?

As a vegetarian who eats a mostly plant-based diet, I have A LOT of favorites in this category.  But I have  narrowed it down to two:

tempeh nuggets 2 edited

Tempeh “Chik’n” Nuggets with Sriracha Ketchup

pepper jelly tempeh 5

and my Hot and Sweet Pepper Jelly Tempeh

6. What was your favorite dessert recipe that you created this year?

I know, I know…I just posted this one.  But let’s be honest, I do not have very many dessert recipes on here! 😉

salted nut roll cookies 3

Salted Nut Roll Cookies

6. What snack did you eat most frequently this year?

I ate a whole lot of fresh fruit and raw veggies with hummus, but who wants to see more of that?  Instead, let’s focus on my more indulgent snacks!  It definitely has to be a tie between these two:

WIAW 121113 7

Popcorn…lots and lots of popcorn

WIAW 103013 6

Sweet Potatoes with Justin’s Maple Almond Buttah!

7. What is your favorite holiday-inspired recipe that you created this year?

I am doing really bad at narrowing it down to just one when answering these questions, but can you blame me?  I am a foodie :).  This year I really loved:

butternut squash lentil loaf 3

Butternut Squash Lentil Loaf

vegan pumpkin pie 4

and Vegan Pumpkin Pie

8. What kitchen appliance/product did you use the most this year?

ninja blender

I absolutely fell in love with my Ninja Ultima blender this Fall.  I use it almost every day, especially for my green smoothies.  I might be slightly obsessed.  How cool is it to be able to be obsessed with spinach?

9. What food product did you try, obsess over, and eat the most this year?

There are probably a lot of products that I could mention here, but I am just going to keep it to one- my one. true. love.

justins maple ab

Justin’s maple almond butter.  Enough said.

10. What new restaurant did you try this year and love?

I have tried a lot of new restaurants this year since moving to Omaha and I have loved so many of them.  However, the one that truly sticks out in my mind is Kitchen Table.  They have some darn good food.

kitchen table 5

I have tried their vegetarian tacos and their vegetarian curry so far, and I have my eye on SO many of their sandwiches.  They post pictures every day on their Facebook page and they always make me hungry!  I’ll definitely be frequenting here again in 2014.

11. What recipe from another blogger did you cook the most this year?

This is an easy one!

pad thai spaghetti squash

Robyn’s Spaghetti Squash Pad Thai was by far my most eaten meal.  I did not discover this recipe until October, but even still, I have cooked it at least four times and already have plans to make it again next week.  Yyyup.  This one is definitely my favorite of the year from a fellow foodie!

12. What was your most searched/popular recipe that you posted on your blog this year?

It seriously cracks me up every single time that I look at my most viewed and most searched recipes.  At any one time, these two are always at the top:

carrot dogs 6

Vegan Carrot “Hot Dogs”

tater tot casserole 2

Vegetarian Tater Tot Casserole

Apparently people really like their vegan “hot dogs” and tater tots.  Don’t worry, I do too! 🙂

13. What recipe did you share on your blog that you are most proud of?

I must say that I am pretty proud of the Carrot “Hot Dogs,” but I don’t want to be repetitive.  I am proud of many of the tasty dishes that I have developed over this past year and narrowing it down to just one seems almost impossible.  But, if I had to choose then I would pick…

Thai chickpea pizza 9

My Thai Chickpea Pizza on a Cauliflower Sweet Potato Crust

And now that I think about it, I really need to make this one again ASAP.

14. What food picture are you most proud of taking?

My pictures are nowhere near “professional,” but lately I have been trying to put a bit of extra effort into my photography.  My proudest photography moment is actually a recent one:

gingerbread almond cashew butter 5

I really love the way the pictures for my Gingerbread Almond Cashew Butter turned out.  My recipe was even accepted on Finding Vegan, which I thought was pretty cool!

15. What food did you try this year that you expected to hate, but actually loved?

Since becoming a vegetarian, I have found many foods that I love but once hated.  Your taste buds really can change!  One of my favorite foods that I used to hate but now love is sauerkraut.  I like it so much that I will literally eat it straight out of the can.  Oh how things change! 😉

16. What are you main food goals for the year 2014?

I have a few…

Continue to eat a mostly plant-based diet.

Try to eat fewer processed foods.

Attempt to cut out artificial sweeteners whenever possible.

Eat out more frequently- Omaha has fantastic restaurants that need to be enjoyed!

Bake more vegan treats!

Fellow foodies: Feel free to fill out this survey for yourself.  There is no such thing as too much food talk, right?

Of possible interest: Last Year’s Review of my Favorite Recipes of 2012

Share Good Eats
{ 36 comments… add one }
  • Andrea @ Pencils and Pancakes December 26, 2013, 10:19 am
    Those vegan hot dogs are genius! I'm not a vegan or vegetarian but I bet that would be way healthier than processed hot dogs anyway! And Justin's Maple Almond butter is like crack.... I could not control myself if I had it in the house Andrea @ Pencils and Pancakes recently posted...Merry Christmas 2013My Profile
    • ClnEatingVegGrl December 27, 2013, 8:07 am
      Yes, WAY healthier and you actually know what is in them ;). And you are right, Justin's AB is seriously like crack...SO addicting!
  • Becky @ Olives n Wine December 26, 2013, 10:40 am
    Okay, I was already thinking about lunch before reading this post and now I am absolutely STARVING!!! I can't wait to head out and find something delicious :) Oh and keep those breakfast recipes comin' - you know I love them! Becky @ Olives n Wine recently posted...Confessions, Part IVMy Profile
    • ClnEatingVegGrl December 27, 2013, 8:07 am
      Haha, yes you sure do and I SO appreciate your love for them! :)
  • Nicole @ FruitnFitness December 26, 2013, 10:57 am
    Bad, ba idea to read this when I wa already starting to get hungry for lunch. I love surveys and food, and this one has me drooling. I'm making your lentil butternut squash loaf again for my family while I'm home next week. I'm excited for them to try the meatless meal. Nicole @ FruitnFitness recently posted...White Chocolate Cranberry BreadMy Profile
    • ClnEatingVegGrl December 27, 2013, 8:08 am
      Yay! That is awesome!! I love that you love it as much as I do. I'm actually going to be eating some for lunch today that I had frozen after Thanksgiving at my parents' house. It tastes just as good reheated :).
  • meredith @ The Cookie ChRUNicles December 26, 2013, 11:28 am
    Just this morning I was thinking I need to post my favorite foods from the past year - we always think alike! meredith @ The Cookie ChRUNicles recently posted...Thinking Out Loud – Cookies, Keurig and Cold RunningMy Profile
    • ClnEatingVegGrl December 27, 2013, 8:09 am
      We sure do..and yes you NEED to do that!!! Feel free to borrow this survey should you choose to :).
  • Katie @ running4cupcakes December 26, 2013, 11:57 am
    super cute idea!! And I love that tator tots is on your "most searched list!"
    • ClnEatingVegGrl December 27, 2013, 8:10 am
      Isn't that SO funny?? I crack up every time that I see that.
  • Brittany (Healthy Slice of Life) December 26, 2013, 2:06 pm
    mmmmm this makes me hungry! So many delicious food options... :) Brittany (Healthy Slice of Life) recently posted...Christmas at HomeMy Profile
    • ClnEatingVegGrl December 27, 2013, 8:34 am
      Thanks so much Brittany!! :)
  • Amanda @ .running with spoons. December 26, 2013, 2:15 pm
    There it isssss! I was wondering how Justin's was going to make it into this list, and I'm glad to see that it got one of the best mentions :D I'm still obsessed with that stuff too… They really need to put a warning on the jar -- severe dependency may ensue.
    • ClnEatingVegGrl December 27, 2013, 8:35 am
      Haha, that is SO true!! Have you noticed on the label that "Justin" says it is HIS favorite flavor too?? :)
      • Amanda @ .running with spoons. December 27, 2013, 8:47 am
        :lol: Yup! I definitely picked up on that as well. Have you tried the vanilla one yet? Amanda @ .running with spoons. recently posted.... a very important decision .My Profile
        • ClnEatingVegGrl December 27, 2013, 7:48 pm
          Not yet! I still have a whole jar of maple in my pantry so I am telling myself that I can't buy the vanilla until it is at least halfway gone ;).
  • Maria @ Little Miss Cornucopia December 26, 2013, 4:16 pm
    Wow! so many wonderful things all wrapped up into one post! That Gingerbread Almond Cashew Butter seriously looks sooooo good! Maria @ Little Miss Cornucopia recently posted...merry christmas!My Profile
    • ClnEatingVegGrl December 27, 2013, 8:35 am
      Thanks so much Maria!! Let me know if you try it :).
  • Casey @ Salted Plates December 26, 2013, 5:04 pm
    I feel like I must have missed that pizza recipe before but I need to make it asap! Casey @ Salted Plates recently posted...Merry Christmas!My Profile
    • ClnEatingVegGrl December 27, 2013, 8:39 am
      You REALLY need to!! It is definitely one of my absolute favorites :).
  • Jessie December 26, 2013, 6:39 pm
    This was such an awesome post. I'm so happy you mentioned the recipe for the Thai Cauliflower Sweet Potato Crust pizza. I'm sure I saw it before, but had never saved it. Now I have it. Thanks! Jessie recently posted...Happy 5th Anniversary, JoshuaMy Profile
    • ClnEatingVegGrl December 27, 2013, 8:40 am
      I am glad that I mentioned it too because it seems like several people had not seen it..and it is a MUST make! Let me know if you try it :).
  • Arman @ thebigmansworld December 26, 2013, 10:19 pm
    I opened up this post full. I am now hungry. Thanks for that. Arman @ thebigmansworld recently posted...He Thinks….Out Loud.My Profile
    • ClnEatingVegGrl December 27, 2013, 8:41 am
      Haha, too funny!! That is one of the best compliments a food blogger can receive, so thank YOU for that! :)
  • GiGi Eats Celebrities December 26, 2013, 11:36 pm
    I am sooooo overwhelmed! There is too much deliciousness on this blog! ;) GiGi Eats Celebrities recently posted...Gluten-Free: Not You Too Santa!My Profile
    • ClnEatingVegGrl December 27, 2013, 8:41 am
      Haha, too funny!! Maybe I should have put a warning message/disclaimer on this post ;).
  • Stephanie @ My Freckled Life December 27, 2013, 9:02 am
    I love this! I only recently found your blog, so I love being able to look back on some of your old (and most favorite!) posts and recipes! Thanks!
    • ClnEatingVegGrl December 27, 2013, 8:01 pm
      Thanks so much Stephanie!! I am so glad to hear that!
  • Elyse @ Lizzie Fit December 27, 2013, 7:46 pm
    Oooh I am heading over to check out that spag squash pad thai right NOW! And that carrot hot dog. I love this post idea. Maybe next year when I have a larger collection of recipes I'll do a survey! Elyse @ Lizzie Fit recently posted...Fit Friday: Leg DeathMy Profile
    • ClnEatingVegGrl December 27, 2013, 8:02 pm
      Yes, you definitely need to check out both of those. I have a feeling you would like them a lot!
  • Danica @ It's Progression December 29, 2013, 10:53 am
    This survey is so fun! I fell in love with Justin's nut butters this year, too - I go through each jar I open very quickly :) Danica @ It's Progression recently posted...Christmas 2013!My Profile
    • ClnEatingVegGrl December 29, 2013, 5:27 pm
      It is seriously SO addicting. It's pretty much impossible not to fly through a jar once it is open. Do you have a favorite flavor?

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