I’m ba-ack! After five whole days with no wifi, I’m easing back into the blogging, tweeting, and emailing routine. My vacation was wonderful, but I missed you guys, and it’s great to be writing once again. Thanks so much to Bitt, Leslie, Mara, Melissa, Melody, and Anne for their wonderful guest posts!
I have some new recipes that I’m excited to write about, but today, as stare out onto the empty horizon of a new year, I thought it would be appropriate to survey the best of 2010.
2010 presented me with an avalanche of change. Within the course of twelve months, I quit my job of six years, decided to go back to school, changed career paths entirely, met someone important, and expanded CR to include animal rights talk. In another month, I’ll be moving apartments, too. That is a lot of disruption, but so far, I’m feeling very much at peace with it all. 2010 brought me a lot of good fortune, and I hope that I’ll do what I can to make good on it all in 2011.
As a lover of food and a food writer, I often recall my growth and experience through the meals I ate and the recipes I made. What better way to celebrate 2010 than with a look back on the best of what emerged from my kitchen?
Top Ten Recipes of 2010
1) Cheesy Red Pepper and Hemp Dip
2) Kale and White Bean Salad with Caesar Dressing
3) Swiss Chard Stuffed with Middle Eastern “Rice”
5) Tofu Burgers
7) Homemade Sunshine Burgers (Raw and Cooked)
10) Vegetable Based Salad Dressings
Top Ten Non-Recipe Posts of 2010
3) How to Build a Meal Sized Salad
5) The Whys and Hows of my Veganism
8 ) Did Veganism “Almost Kill” Angelina Jolie?
9) How to Deal with Unwanted Body Commentary
Wow. What a year. I hope that you all get a chance to try some of these recipes out in the new year, or that you repeat some of your favorites in 2011.
Did I miss anything? What CR recipes did you try and love in 2010? What were your highlights of the year?
xo
I'm a Certified Clinical Nutritionist, a former book editor, and a post-baccalaureate pre-med student at Georgetown University. I'm passionate about helping people to discover and enjoy plant based foods in a simple and healthy way. My name is pronounced like "Jenna." 
{ 35 comments… read them below or add one }
Love this post! I tried a few of your recipes in 2010, and absolutely loved the chocomole and banana softserve! Happy New Year Gena.
What a delicious and thought-provoking year, Gena!
I loved seeing the Sunshine Burger again. When I was a brand new vegan, and a lurker, I made that burger and loved it so! The butternut squash smoothie is another favorite — I started roasting and then freezing cubed squash to have on hand for smoothies!
I really enjoy reading about your balance between raw and cooked foods. It really has inspired me to “go more raw.”
Happy New Year!
I love the diversity of your content, and the depth and heart woven into every post. I look forward to following your journey through school as well.
I don’ t know if it was a 2010 recipe but I made your cashew cheese dip (with cherries and lemon) for a holiday party this year and LOVED it!
I’m excited to try some of these recipes! They look great!
All the best for 2011! Seems like it will be a big year for you!
Gena what a great recap of the recipes…
The 1st one, the Cheesy Red Pepper and Hemp Dip, and the goat “cheese”, and the tofu burger are all on my to-try list. I have a recipe for a cheezy red pepper hemp seed dip as well. I call it spicy doritos dip. You probably dont like doritos, but as a kid, I admit, I loved them so love any dips that resemble..red pepper, nooch, hemp seeds, always a good start as evidenced by your lovely looking dip!
Veganism/Angelina J post
Embracing our Appetite
Change gonna come
Whys/Hows
Ok all of them…they were all fabulous! It’s like a trip down memory lane reading this post b/c I remember where I was in my life when I read those posts.
I cannot wait to see what 2011 has in store for you, and how it unfolds on your blog!
I just love your blog! Can’t wait to see what 2011 brings.
i tried blended salad ‘soups,’ the carrot cayenne elixir, the carrot cake smoothie, and juice pulp crackers! i ate well this year but my highlight was a trip to paris in march. my god take me back!
love love love!!! I can’t wait to see all the fun and excitement that 2011 is going to bring you!!!
It’s been great finding and reading your blog this year. I admire your passion for veganism and for your perspective on raw food. You are a precious gem for the raw community and beyond! I’ve come to appreciate you more and more through this year. Thanks for blogging!
What a great year for you! I’ve loved being able to witness it through your blog. So glad you are staying in NY, my friend. Best of luck next week! xo
That is a beautiful photo of you at your friend’s wedding
And, great recipes!
I hadn’t heard about Angelina Jolie’s anti vegan stance and the backlash.. uugggh. it is so frustrating that people are so quick to blame the vegan diet. Geez, look at the health of American’s…! We are dying from preventable disease. Children are getting adult onset diabetes and heart disease before they are even 20 years old… uggghhh..
I’m glad you had a nice vacation. Welcome back!
Ha Ha Ha . . . I made a lot of those recipes. And now that I’m reminded of it, I want the cheesy red pepper dip again soon. But my absolute fav is your Indian Spiced Wrap. The veggies by themselves . . . the spread on anything . . . oh my . . . that stuff is the shizzle. Thank you again for all that you do!
I love your butternut squash smoothie! This was such a great post! I did not find your blog until about the middle of 2010 but I am so glad I did. You always have such great recipes and tips! Thank you so much
Awesome post, so glad you’re back and you had a nice vacation! What a year indeed. Happy New Year!
I’m a new reader..but I’m definitely going to check out these posts!! Happy New Year!
This recap just reminds me what a fabulous blog you have here – such awesome posts and amazing variety. I know it was from 2009 originally but I’m going to throw chocomole in there too though (changed my life)!!
Keep inspiring us, and all the best for the New Year and the changes that are coming with it, how exciting!
I love when you review restaurants, too… Great year at CR!
May 2011 bring just as much joy and as many delicious recipes as 2010:)
Welcome back from your very well-deserved break, Gena.
I loved the nutrient dense salad building post – such a creative array to spark our own imaginations! And,your red pepper, hemp, nooch dip recipe has become a favorite in my household.
Yet, I most appreciate your unique talent for analyzing a complex topic, fairly, while also passionately voicing your own views. I learn so much from all of these narrataives; this past year, you shared a wealth of immediately useable information on nutrition and offered us such insightful thoughts on body image. You are the best teacher around!
Happy New Year Gena!
May I recommend the 11th entry for your Top 10 Recipes for 2010? I am an ultra big fan of your Vegan French Toast — simple, so easy to make and yum!, tastes oh-so-good! I have prepared it about 15 times since your post.
Howard
I liked the carrot pump falafels a great deal, but I’m not sure what year they were… and banana soft serve is a staple in our house.
Glad you got a break and equally glad you are back to blogging!
I tried banana soft serve and kale salad for the first time this year and I love both of them! Hope you have a happy new year, Gena!
While I hope to try many more recipes in the new year, I was wondering: Do you have/use a microwave? What are your feelings on them in regards to nutrition and safety? I love reheating frozen soups but I wonder how safe that is or if there is a better way.
Another question–do you always use raw nuts, or can roasted nuts substitute in your recipes?
Thanks a bunch!
Susan =)
Glad your back into the online social world
Hope you had a good new year and Christmas, Gina!
What a year indeed! I added Vega, chia seed pudding, and homemade energy bars to my repertoire directly from your posts. Your savory posts I often replicate less faithfully but take inspiration from some combination of ingredients or method of preparation.
I love how you expanded your philosophy of food this year, and shared so much of your evolving thinking on raw/cooked, veganism, and balance. I liked having more cooked recipes. I appreciated your post on fiber and all of your appliance posts as well- I finally ordered a rice cooker this past weekend!
That wedding pic of you is definitely a best-of; it’s gorgeous!
My best-ofs were publishing my first paper, traveling to Israel, and beginning to plan our wedding. Working with a great ND and beginning hot yoga were the other definite highlights!
Thanks for mentioning the “Unwanted Body Commentary” post again. That’s the one that sold me on your blog. I was a sometimes-reader before that, but that post made me a 100%-devoted follower. It has a permanent bookmark in my “Mental Health” folder, and it is well-deserved.
Love all your recipes lady! Thanks for sharing. It was quite the year all round!
Good timing with this post! I was going to email you to wish you a very happy new year! Happy New Year!!! Lots of love xxx
PS Since IBS is something that I struggle with heaps, I always like your posts dealing with such issues.
Can’t wait to keep reading in 2011 Gena. I’ve learned so much from you this year.
I’m so excited for all the positive things going on in your life. I wish you the best of luck!! Glad you had a nice vacation unplugged. xo
Hi Gena! As I type this, I am thoroughly enjoying leftover raw tortilla soup, which might just be my and my hubby’s favorite CR recipe ever!!
My other favorites are the indian spiced wraps (thank you for introducing me to collard wraps – yum!), the raw vegan goat cheese, and the fig and pistachio salad…of course, I love so many of your pre-2010 recipes too! I’d love to see more raw blended soups this year, because I absolutely love them – they are easy, they are nutritious, and they are delicious!!
Love, the meal side salad post is so amazing and creative!
Great recap of 2010!! Can’t wait to see what you bring for 2011
This was my best new year’s ever.
Eating a nutrient dense salad right now, my #1 favorite post. Thank you!
Thanks for the hot tips from some things that I missed last year Gena!
I am always so inspired reading your blog and feel honoured that you share your wisdom and recipes so willingly with all of us. Cant wait for a health-ful and energised 2011….