Baking My Way Through 2010

Don’t you just hate the whole “new year’s resolution” thing?

Eat less, go to bed early, learn a language, run a marathon.

It’s like a beauty queen promising world peace.

Not a chance.

If you are like me then the list is made and broken in pretty much the same day.

Frankly, who needs to start off the new year with more failure. Better to treat today just as you did yesterday and if the 20 ends in 11 instead of 10, well that’s just what it is. A number.

Personally, I’d like to carry on the merriment of the Christmas/New Year period a little longer. Okay, it’s exhausting and at times full on. But similarly it’s all about family and friends having fun together. We get to laugh and hug and eat together and drink. With maybe some music and dancing thrown in. Exchange presents, cards, sentiments of affection. A kiss or two under the misletoe.

I like watching movies with my OH and kids in the late afternoon. Fire roaring, blankets on laps, legs stretched out. Tea, hot chocolate, biscuits, cheese, chocolates, crisps & dips to snack on. Something with Santa in it…or the Grinch.

What’s not to like?

So no new year’s resolutions for me. At least not the ones that hurt.

Most Read Recipes of 2010

based on you, my readers and what you’ve been clicking on

In number one place is Banana Rum Cake. Bribing friends with cake was clearly a popular choice with readers.

With Devil’s Food Cupcakes & White Chocolate Icing I had a bit of a whine & a moan about the whole University application process. Well several months later we’re four offers in and still waiting on the fifth. It all seems pleasantly irrelevant now!

Ginger Cookies got us discussing competitive parenting. No not a new game at the Olympics just mums and dads boasting about themselves their children. Enough already!

White Chocolate Brownies with Raspberries was written in the rush of last year’s February half-term break. We’d lost our chickens to that nasty fox. Unfortunately we’ve lost them twice more since and are now on a break from “poultry farming”.

Beetroot & Chocolate Loaf had me describing a childhood memory brought on by the change in season & weather through the medium of poetry.

Seeing the post on Mini Pink Pavlova at number six on the list was a real surprise. This was one of my first posts written in February 2009. It’s got some really helpful hints on making meringues if you want to have a look.

The theme was “self-portrait” over at Tara Cain’s gallery the week I made Lemon Syrup Cake. My portrait was entitled “the confused artist”. Did I want to sell cakes for a living and if so, how could I make it financially viable? No further along in that one I am afraid.

I think Apple Cake with Maple Icing was as popular for the debate on “is curvy the new fat?” as it was for the recipe.

The whole family enjoyed Banana Coconut Ice Cream Pie during our perfect summer’s day in June.

There was more about the pro’s and con’s of dieting in the tenth most read post on Low-fat gluten-free apricot cake.

But we’re not talking about dieting. That would be too close to a resolution that hurts.

Goodbye 2010! Here’s to a lot more love & laughter in 2011 for us all.