2015 Year in Review - Liv Life Top 10

Summarizing 02015 for a girlfriend, the year didn't seem to be one I wanted to recap.  She asked if I really wasn't going to write our annual Christmas Letter, something I've done with zeal for as long as I can remember, and I shook my head no.  Memories filled with emotion, hospitals and loss flashed through my head as tears pricked at the corners of my eyes.

But further reflection warmed my heart as I recounted successes experienced by my kids, the kindness of friends, warm days on the beach shooting sunsets, puppy kisses, and the love of my family.

And then there's Liv Life and the blog world I'm ever so thankful for.  Friends from around the world who touch my life with frequency and share my passion for food warm my heart even more.  Touching the life of people I've never met with a new recipe or health tip, or perhaps opening someones eyes to a new way of eating continues to ignite my passion to share.

While a holiday card didn't make it into the mail this year, I did take a peek at our 2015 stats out of curiosity and found this year's focus different than in years past.

Admittedly my focus on food and ingredients changed to a more healthy and mostly plant-based style last year, but we still brought tempting treats as well as a cocktail or two.  Amazingly, those cocktails and treats weren't the overwhelming popular posts as in prior years.  This year the posts that "went viral" included Green Tea and Marinated Sweet Peppers.  Gone were the Strawberry Margarita Tequila Shots, though the Margarita Roundup did have quite a run near Cinco de Mayo.
I'd like to think there is a healthy trend in the food world, but perhaps it's simply the change in my focus.  In any case, I can't thank you all enough for supporting Liv Life and continuing to feed my passion.  Each and every comment touches my heart and inspires me with renewed love and ideas.

So Cheers to a new year - hopefully one filled with health and happiness for all. And now we bring you the Liv Life Top 10 in 2015!

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11 ~ Vegan Vanilla Crispy Belgian Waffles

I know I said 10... but these Crispy Belgian Waffles sit at 11 and rank up there as on of our favorite recipes ever.  Oft requested by Liv and her girlfriends, I simply had to share again!

10 ~ Coconut Sweet Potato Soup with a touch of Lime 

A recent post that seemed to pique interest as the 2015 weather turned chilly, this sweet potato soup sings with a touch of lime.  Silky smooth with coconut milk, this warm weather soup transports you to the tropics when you close your eyes.

 9 ~ Coconut Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

Ice Cream... always a favorite in the Liv Life household and this coconut version is no exception.  Dairy-Free so everyone can enjoy - but your non dairy-free friends will never miss the heavy cream.  

8 ~ Grilled Corn California Mexican Quinoa

A homework project turned new favorite meal... I've never been so thankful Liv chose to take Spanish as when she needed a dish from a "Spanish speaking country" for her final project.  Putting our heads together we added some of our favorite ingredients including avocado, quinoa and lime, and then topped it all with a our favorite Lime Crema for the win.  And the bonus??  She got an A on the project.

7 ~ Almond Butter Chia Protein Balls

 Trying to heal while in the hospital with "hospital food" falls into the "not gonna happen" category.  So, when dad spent a few days recovering from knee replacement surgery last summer we brought in most of his food.  Tops on the list?  These protein balls he and his roommate dubbed "Awesome Balls"!

6 ~ Blueberry Banana Almond Smoothie

Blueberries, Bananas and Almond Butter... who knew the combo brings a concoction so heavenly no one will know it's healthy?!  A new Liv Life favorite, I feel good fueling Liv with antioxidant-rich fruits and a decent dose of protein.

5 ~ Not-so-classic Margarita Round Up

Ahhh... the classic margiarita!  A favorite of mine since my college days, but does it always have to be "classic"?  Apparently not - and we've brought 10 not-so-classic versions to tempt you.

3 ~ Classic Brownies with Maple Coconut Whipped Cream

Classic Brownies, a treat most people (especially me!) can't resist.  But how does one get that shiny crust on top??  We've got the secret with this classic recipe!

2 ~ Marinated Grilled Mini Sweet Peppers

 Simply marinated and then tossed on the grill, this easy appetizer ranks as a favorite just about everywhere we go.  Dipped into a zesty Balsamic Garlic Vinaigrette these cute little guys are practically irresistible.

1 ~ Green Tea with Ginger and Mint

 Who would have guessed a Green Tea Detox Drink would rank as our number one viewed post this year?  But with restorative health benefits, I can totally see why.  Lovely on a hot day but also perfect after a late night with perhaps a bit too much imbibing - Green Tea, Mint and Ginger are number one in our book.

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And there you have it!  Our 2015 year in review... and not such a bad year when I look back at these recipes that have become regulars in our kitchen.  Our heartfelt thanks for visiting Liv Life, and here's wishing you a wonderful and healthy 2016.

Cheers to you! 

Classic Brownies with Maple Coconut Whipped Cream (Dairy-Free)

The older your kids get the harder they are to impress.  However, when the UPS guy stops at your door and drops a box of Brownie Baking Love complete with the coolest little powdered sugar dusting wand  your coolness factor definitely increases.  Combine the brownie love with OXO's sponsorship of Cookies for Kid's Cancer and the project coolness doubles.

Loving this OXO pro non-stick pan!!

The words childhood cancer bring fear straight to the heart of every parent, and just sitting here I never feel there's much I can do to help.  Enter OXO and their work with the blogger outreach program to donate $100k to the Cookies for Kid's Cancer campaign and I'm thrilled to do my part - especially when my part includes baking.  In exchange for a $100 donation on our behalf, OXO sent us baking products (pan, spatula and super cool dusting wand) and has asked us to create a brownie recipe for the cause.

As my coolness factor was riding on an unusual high, Liv actually took time away from high school social activities to help me come up with a recipe.  Trying to be healthy, we made a vegan version with black beans.  Good, but not awesome (no, you can't taste the beans!).  Next we tried avocado.  Also good, but her first bite didn't bring that smile of love and I felt my coolness factor slipping.

So I went back to basics and settled on creating a classic brownie with that gorgeous sheen on top.  My first attempt tasted fabulous, but no sheen.  How the heck does one achieve that classic brownie sheen anyway? 

Powdered sugar dusting

Internet research led me to one of my favorite baking blogs from King Arthur, Flourish, and according to PJ Hamel, the secret to a shiny brownie is in the chocolate.  

A fan of cocoa powder, I've always used cocoa powder for the chocolate in my brownies and sprinkled a few chocolate chips into the batter before baking.  PJ used a similar recipe resulting in the same dull surface.  However her experimentation making brownies using chocolate chips in place of the cocoa hit the jackpot and brought a gorgeous shiny crust to her brownies.

Back in our own kitchen I followed PJ's lead and used chips in my recipe, and eureka!  We too have a beautiful, classic brownie with a gorgeous shiny crust.  While I don't understand the science behind the chips/cocoa query, I'm not questioning it.  I just know these classic brownies are totally awesome, and my coolness factor is creeping back up where I want it to be.  For the moment anyway.

Want to be cool like me?  When shopping for baking goods keep an eye out for the OXO Cookies for Kid's Cancer sticker and grab those products.  OXO is making donations for each product purchased and you too will be doing a part in helping to fund research for cures for these devastating diseases.  (Read about the dedicated OXOnians who started the program here)

For this project OXO sent us one of each of the following for the perfect brownie baking set:

• Pro Non-stick 9x13 Cake Pan
• Perfectly angled Brownie Spatula
• Baker's Dusting Wand

I already owned the Pro Non-Stick 9x9 pan (something I reach for often) and I can attest to how easily baked goods release.  Many brownie recipes call for lining a pan with parchment paper, but with these pans the paper step isn't necessary.  The pans cook evenly and help create beautifully baked goods that release from the pan easily with each and every use.

The brownie spatula is something I've seen, but never picked up.  After using this one though, I'll never be without one again!  Perfectly angled to pick up the brownies without bending them, I served nicely cut brownies with ease.

And lastly the dusting wand.  Can I gush a little here??  This wand immediately became our new favorite kitchen gadget and I'm seriously considering buying a case of them to give as Christmas Gifts.  Absolutely an item no kitchen should be without, the wand is extraordinarily useful, but even more than that it's fun.

Super cute all on it's own, the wand scoops up powdered sugar and drops a perfect dusting onto anything.  What would you use it for??  How about crepes?  Waffles?  Brownies?  Or most fun of all... dusting cocoa onto cappuccino!

Liv is somewhat addicted to the adorable gadget, and she'll  be mortified if she finds out I'm sharing that she simply scooped a tablespoon or so of powdered sugar and dusted it into a bowl just for the fun of it.  (Note... the higher you are from the item you are dusting the less precise it may be.  Just saying - if you are a foot or more over a small bowl you may not make it in... :)

Thank you OXO for donating $100 to the Cookies for Kids Cancer campaign on our behalf, we're honored and humbled to be part of this wonderful program.  And on a side note?  Thanks for making me look good.

Kahlua Brownie Kisses

Receiving the motivation I needed a few weeks back, I've kicked myself into the holiday spirit.  According to Liv, there are moms out there (and apparently I wasn't one of them..) who allegedly make the holidays super fun with their sheer joy in everything holiday.  Well... starting with Halloween I've been working on my attitude.  We had Halloween decorations and desserts to share, and then moved smoothly into Thanksgiving with family and friends and a home filled with fabulous food cheer.

Click for Homemade Kahlua recipe

Transitioning to the somewhat shortened Christmas season, I'm hereby making the most of these few short weeks with the house sporting its holiday finest, spirited baking adventures in the kitchen and gift wrapping already in progress.

I have to admit that the gift planning part is one of my favorite activities of the holiday season, and finding that perfect gift for those I'm thankful to have in my life truly brings joy to my heart. 

And now, I have these fabulous Kahlua Brownie Kisses featuring a splash of this year's fresh batch of Homemade Kahlua.  Rich, chocolaty and somewhat irresistible, these little kisses are the perfect treat for a holiday get together or a last minute hostess gift.  See below for the recipe.

A wonderful way to share a taste of holiday cheer, these ultra luscious and Kahlua laced ganache brings a lovely topping to these rich, fudgy brownies.  Easy to make and a definitely a chocolate lover's dream, these kisses make a fabulous addition to any holiday platter and will bring a smile to the face of someone special.

Rich Glazed Brownies with Porter

A "good beer" used to mean a frosty Corona... always out of the bottle.  Topped with a lime on a hot day, I couldn't see how beer could get any better.  Over the years though, I've discovered an entire new world of Craft Beer and as I've matured, a wholly new array of flavors and nuances has pleased my palate.

A chance stop at the Kona Brewing Company on the Island of Oahu, my husband and I not only enjoyed fabulous food, but enjoyed tasting seasonal craft brews only available in the islands.  With a surprise favorite being a ginger brew featuring big island grown ginger, a close second was the Pipeline Porter.  Enhanced with 100% pure Kona coffee, the beer brings rich and balanced flavors while not being too heavy.  My favorite porter of all time, I'm ever so thankful to now find it in my local San Diego stores.

While I'm not always in the mood to drink heavier Porter-type beers, I've found that baking and cooking with them adds a lovely depth to chocolate treats as well as meaty dishes such as stews or chilis.

With last night's 49er super win, I'm even more excited for our annual Super Bowl Party, now only 2 weeks away.  Planning my super menu, I couldn't help but add these Rich Frosted Brownies with Porter to the list.  However, I did feel the need to test the brownies before game day... you know, for quality assurance purposes.

Inspired by a recipe that I had clipped and lovingly saved from last February's Bon Appetite magazine , I put Kona's Pipeline Porter to work.  Reducing the porter and then adding it to chocolate, butter, sugar and eggs, the brownies bring a deep, rich flavor that no one will know came from beer.  With notes of coffee in the beer, the brownies gain a richness that melds beautifully with a hot cup of coffee, or, if you are so inclined, a nice frosty brew.

Nutella Fudge Brownies

I really wasn't going to bake for a few weeks.  Well, maybe just bread for breakfast or a biscuit for dinner.  But not desserts.  However... today I was perusing my inundated Foodbuzz inbox and came across Lynn's, I'll Have What She's Having, blog post and I simply couldn't help myself.  One bowl, no mixer, 4 ingredients and the main ingredient being Nutella.  Wow!

A little research on this recipe led me to Abby Dodge's website and her new book Desserts 4 Today: Flavorful Desserts with Just Four Ingredients.  While I haven't actually put my hands on this book (yet!), I'm thinking it would be an undeniable treat.  With only 4 ingredients completing each recipe listed, this book has been described as ideal for novice bakers looking for less complex recipes or for the seasoned baker looking to take a bit of a break while still serving an excellent treat.  If this recipe is any indication, the above sentiments are right on.

My husband laughed as I gushed about Abby's covers on Bon Appetite, and he commented that it wasn't like she was "on the cover of the Sports Illustrated's Swim Suit Edition, or anything".  In mock shock I informed him that her cover was far better!

With our new found love for Nutella, these little treats were a must try.  With the total assembling, mixing and baking time under 20 minutes in combination with smiles all around, they are a must keep.  Thanks, Abby!!

Grand Marnier Brownie Bites, Chocolate Covered Eyeballs and Bony Fingers

Grand Marnier Brownie Bites dressed for Halloween!  Change the sprinkle color and you have an excellent Christmas, Hanukkah, or New Years treat.

Every neighborhood needs that special person who brings those of us who are a little more reserved out of our doldrum ways to celebrate Halloween in a big way.  For us, that special person is Claudine.  The first time she sent out invites for a costume party many of us were not so thrilled to dress up.  A few of us may even have looked at it as a bit of an inconvenience.  However, over the years us party goers have come to not only embraced this annual event, but to begin planning for it months in advance.

Last nights event was no different.  Arriving at her house I entered a new world... cobwebs and spooky photos (think Harry Potter) decorated the walls, black netting hung from the ceiling, the movie Poltergeist flashed on a high wall, and a brew of Black Vodka bubbled away in a decanter next to a plate of white chocolate covered eyeballs.  In attendance were Lady Gaga, Paris Hilton in prison garb, vampires Bella and Edward, Dorthy and the Cowardly Lion, a Chilean Miner and his mistress (the wife of the couple was the miner, the husband made a "lovely" mistress!), a magician and his assistant, assorted Top Gun crew and a pair of really tacky Hawaiian tourists.

Hours of work had gone into the decorations and food prep for this elaborate event with our contribution adding a fairly large number of calories to the table. White Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Butterfinger Eyeballs (courtesy of a last minute suggestion from Joe at Culinary in the Desert), vanilla and almond flavored Bony Finger Cookies and a decadent plate of Grand Marnier Brownie Bites (I've blogged about them before, but they are worthy of another mention!) added to the spooky flair.

Joe's pre-Halloween blog post highlighted the Butterfinger Eyeballs.  They take a bit of prep work, but from the groans of pleasure I witnessed on more that one occasion, the prep is completely worth it!  Creamy peanut butter is mixed with powdered sugar and a good dose of chopped up butterfingers for a treat that is swoon-worthy!  Dipped into white chocolate, topped with Reese's Pieces or M & M's and then decorated with some sparkly red gel, the eyeballs make the perfect creepy centerpiece.  I can't thank Joe enough for this suggestion!  The peanut butter/butterfinger combo was pure heaven and I'm definitely going to work this into our Christmas cookie tray (minus the creepy eye ball look, of course!)

Peanut Butter -Butterfinger Eyeballs

A simple butter cookie dough flavored with almond and vanilla flavors provided the base for our Bony Witch's Fingers.  Rolled into finger shapes with little cuts along the knuckles for a realistic look and finished with a whole almond attached with a dab of melted chocolate, the fingers were laid over a bed of candy corn and drew quite a few comments from the party goers.  Even my 14 year old son gave an appropriate  "EEwww!  Those really look awful!" comment as he helped fill the plates.

Bony Witch's Fingers

Our third and most decadent contribution is an old favorite, Halloween decorated Grand Marnier Brownie Bites.  I've written about these once before, but they are worthy of another mention.  Deep, rich, orange scented brownies are topped with a luscious layer of Grand Marnier enhanced ganache and would be an excellent addition to your Christmas or New Years festivities.  Cut into small bites they make a lovely addition to any table and will most certainly draw that oft hoped for look of extreme pleasure and more groans of satisfaction as your guests enjoy them.  Truly a treat for a special occasion.

Grand Marnier Brownie Bites

Once again, a special thanks is extended to our Party Mama, Claudine - oops... I mean Lady Gaga!  Thanks for getting us all out of our comfort zone and into the party mode with another amazing evening.  I'm already planning for next year!

Grand Marnier Brownie Bites

Who doesn't like the nicer things of life?  Breakfast prepared and served to you... an early morning run along the beach... a day at the spa??  Combine all three and you most certainly have a day worthy of a rich, decadent treat. 

With our spa appointment set for 10 AM, breakfast was prepared before the sun was up and the bowl licked clean.  Off to the beach, luck was with us when we found an old, yucky tennis ball that someone else had lost in the tossing waves.  But as they say, someone else's loss might be our treasure!

For 45 minutes we frolicked in the foggy mist and shared the beach with the occasional surfer entering or exiting the chilly ocean, but we made sure to let them know that this was our beach and not to get too close.  Now thoroughly wet, tired and sandy we made our way just a few miles south along the coast to Leucadia and the best spa we have yet to find.  Ahh... just imagine... getting our nails done, a special oatmeal shampoo and conditioner, hair completely styled, and our teeth brushed.  Yep... the Grateful Dog does it all!  

Life is good!

Kona and Tavo, our 10 month old Maltese adolescents had "the works" done at the Doggie Spa, but were apparently a bit out of hand and not really enjoying their spa treatments as much as they enjoyed that yucky, used tennis ball at the beach.  Luckily the groomers are patient and loving, and we came home with two adorably clean, beautifully smelling, exhausted puppies who enjoyed a quick snack and proceeded to sleep the afternoon away.

Kona (left) and Tavo after a day at the spa!

While the Grand Marnier Brownie Bites may not be the perfect doggie treat (chocolate is toxic to dogs!), this sumptuous chocolaty treat sounded absolutely divine to me.  Rich chocolate brownies embellished with a touch of grated orange peel and layered with a luscious Grand Marnier enhanced ganache for a bite of pure decadence.