Food Lush

The Top Ten Most Popular Food Lush Posts (Ever)

By Jennie

I wanted to end this wonderful site on a fun note, a note that looks back on some of the delicious content Food Lush has produced over the years. Here, for you, on the last day of the site (at least for a while), let me share with you the Top Ten Most Popular Posts!

10. Tim Tams are Here!

How have I not tried these Australian cookies that hit U.S. store shelves, yet? Think I need to fix that soon.

9. Chicken Bacon Ranch Bake 

I love that some of these posts really need no description. Yeah, that recipe sounds delicious and like it should be one of the most popular. Kudos, Ariel!

 

 

8. How to Make: Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies

One of the very first posts (posted in the very first week of Food Lush's life!), Jen shares her very good tips on making delicious cookies. In fact, this is the post that inspired me to buy my first Silpat. 

7. Recipe Knock-off: Campbell's Bean with Bacon Soup

Katie recreated a childhood favorite and it seems she helped out a lot of other readers do the same. 

 

 

 

6. The Best Chicken Breast Recipe EVER

Seems like some readers agree with Dani (and the Barefoot Contessa) on this delicious recipe. 

5. Rotting fruit? Sugar it up!

We are a bunch in need of keeping our fruit fresh. Just wait...

4. Strawberry Brownies

Jen shared a Pinterest success! Oh, Pinterest. What did we do before you?

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. The Fluffiest Chocolate Chip Cookies Ever 

Okay, I think it's safe to say that Food Lush readers really like their desserts. (My kind of people.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Simple Cream Cheese Danish

Every one of these words is awesome. String them together? Even better!

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. The Key to Preventing Moldy Berries? Vinegar!

This post got a lot of views, obviously, but it also got featured in some fun places. See, Food Lush likes their desserts AND their fresh fruit.

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There you have it! You've seen our favorites and our most popular posts. Tell us, on the last post you'll see for a while, what's your favorite Food Lush post?

And, to end this beautiful internet ride, let me say a sincere thank you to our readers. If I could thank you each of you over champagne, I would in a heartbeat. Goodbye. 

A Hard Goodbye

By Jennie

Food Lush was created over two years ago, as a spin-off to Style Lush. We thought food deserved its own space and we sure filled this space with some delicious dishes, didn't we? What I have always loved most about Food Lush is that the food feels real. It's not too fancy, and it's made up of recipes, snacks, products, etc., that an actual person can incorporate into their life and kitchen. 

We launched in October of 2010 and I wondered how turning one site into two would go, but Food Lush is the little website that could. It's grown and grown and made me so proud. It far surpassed my expectations and while it's part of a family, it has its own success story.

Turns out people really like food. My kind of people, that is.

See, without you reading, there would be no reason for this site to have kept on going. So, I can't possibly thank you enough for visiting, for pinning, for making our dishes and reporting back to us how they turned out. Every time someone mentioned they found a recipe on Food Lush, I would smile. I really would. It made me beside myself with happiness and gratitude.

It's with that gratitude that I must share the sad news that Food Lush is closing its metaphorical doors for the indefinite future. Our last day of new posts will be February 1st (next Friday) and while our archives will live for the foreseeable future (please visit and search often; it will bring us a lot of comfort to know we might continue to serve your kitchens in some small way), our days of bringing you new (and delicious) posts are ending.

Unfortunately, managing both sites has become something I can no longer do. It's hard when your desire doesn't match your resources, when the ideas flow freely but the time falls short. My offline life has been calling me to give it more attention, and it's a good life. It deserves to be heard.

I've been part of the blogging community for almost six years and the gifts it has given me are countless and deep and beautiful. Nothing more so than this site (and Style Lush), and the sites' writers and readers. Thank you for reading, commenting, and supporting us over the years. It feels so small, so tiny, in comparison to how I feel, but thank you all the same. Thank you.

I ask that you continue to support the writers, as they start new online adventures. They are gifted and talented and funny and worthy of getting to know better, if you don't know them already. You can find them here: Jess, Nora, Katie, Elissa, Jen, Slynnro, Elsha, Julie, Ariel, Dani, Caitlin, Tara, Tara, Erica, Maura, Jess, and Sarah Anne.

Again, there will be new posts next week (and a few of those posts will be a fun look back at the past two years) so please stop in during our last full week.

After that, please accept our most heartfelt and grateful goodbye.

(If you know me aside from the Lush sites, I have written another goodye on my personal blog.)

A Food Gadget Must-Have: The Grapefruit Knife

By Jennie

I'm eating a lot of grapefruit these days. Oh, January, and your delightful resolutions. When on earth will cupcakes be the key to skinny jeans? Anyway, grapefruits are one of my favorite fruits (right up there with blackberries and pears), so I've been buying them in bulk. 

And I could not eat a grapefruit without a grapefruit knife. 

(Photo from crateandbarrel.com)

Seriously, if you like grapefruit, you need this thing. Especially at a time when you might be eating a few more than usual. And it's only $5.95! I need one for work and home at that price point.

(In fact, a grapefruit knife was briefly mentioned a couple years ago in this post!) 

What's YOUR must-have food gadget?

Recipe Round-up: (Multiple) Cupcakes and Other Things Too

By Jennie

(Photo used with permission from Elly Says Opa)

Coconut Curry Butternut Squash Soup by Our Best Bites

Turtle Cupcakes by Annie's Eats

Cheesy Ham & Broccoli Quinoa Bites by Mel's Kitchen Cafe

Ultimate Mexican Hot Chocolate by Tasty Kitchen

Roasted Red Pepper & Feta Skillet Scones by Joy the Baker

Lasagna Soup by Elly Says Opa

Banana Bread Tres Leches Cake by How Sweet It Is

Jerk Chicken Drumsticks by Eat, Live, Run

Spicy Beef & Sweet Potato Tacos by Poor Girl Eats Well 

Homemade Hostess Cupcakes by Brown-eyed Baker

First 2013 Recipe Round-up: New Year, Still Finding Delicious Dishes

By Jennie

(Photo used with permission from Skinny Taste)

I thought about a round-up of nothing but salads but pretzels, shrimp, and pancakes just sound better than that!

Blueberry Maple Corn Cake by Naturally Ella

Soft Pretzels by Brown-Eyed Baker

Epiphany Cake by The Pioneer Woman 

Garlicky Shrimp Avocado Sandwiches by Annie's Eats

Peanut Butter Pancakes by Eat at Home

Ethereally Smooth Hummus by Smitten Kitchen 

Chocolate Orange Buttermilk Scones by The Sweets Life

Spicy Buffalo Cauliflower Bites by Skinny Taste

Vegan White Bean Chili by A Cozy Kitchen 

Do you have a recipe you'd like to see featured? Send it to [email protected]!

Champagne Flutes Revisited (Cast Your Vote!)

By Jennie

In October, I mentioned adding two different champagne flutes to my holiday wish list. Then I went and added "buy new champagne flutes" to my 2013 to-do list. Then an awesome friend gave me a Crate & Barrel gift card for my birthday, so I'm thinking the latter will help fund the former. 

Unfortunately, one of the sets of flutes I first posted about is no longer available (darn!), but there are plenty cute sets of flutes where those came from. I thought I'd toss a few sets your way, so you could tell me which is the most fabulous.

Top to bottom, left to right: Verve Flute; Paloma Flute; Cora Sparkling Wine Glass; Bellisima Flute.

Which would you buy with a gift card in your pocket?

Recipe Round-up: Ho Ho (Ho) Cake, Soup, + Linguine

By Jennie

(Photo from Iowa Gril Eats)

Spinach and Artichoke Linguine by How Sweet It Is

Salty Brown Tassies by Bake or Break

Loaded Crock Pot Baked Potatoes by Iowa Girl Eats

Panettone Muffins by Baked Bree

Creamy Sundried Tomato Soup by Love & Lemons

Ho Ho (Ho) Cake by Brown Eyed Baker

Chicken, Squash, and Chickpea Salad by The Sweets Life

Cranberry Crumb Bars by Homesick Texan

2013 Food Goals: One Cookbook Recipe a Week!

By Jennie

Every year, I put together a year to-do list with specific goals (some easy like update my passport and some a little harder like visit a new state). Some require some serious self-discipline (PR in a 10K) and some just require me to clear an afternoon and get cracking (paint the living room). 

I'm in the process of putting together this year's list, and a few food-related goals have popped up on it. One that I wanted to specifically share here, in case you'd like to join me:

Cook one recipe a week from my cookbook collection.

I own a lot of cookbooks. I enjoy buying and collecting them. I enjoy flipping through them. Then, as my past has shown, I enjoy tossing them on top of my fridge to collect dust. So, I'm not allowing myself any new cookbook purchases in 2013 (this is going to be HARD) and I'm going to focus on making recipes from my current crop. Don't worry, I probably have close to 30-35 cookbooks, so I won't run out of inspiration.

I'm going to share as many of the recipes I make here as I can. Maybe you'd like to do this too? One cookbook recipe a week, that's not too impossible. Who's in?

What are some of your 2013 goals--food-related or otherwise?

Official Food Lush Gift Guide GIVEAWAY Winner!

By Jennie

What a great gift guide giveaway! It was fun to see all the comments (and what you might pick) trickle into my inbox. Our winner is:

Congrats April! I'll be in touch.

Recipe Round-Up: Risotto, Oatmeal, and Cake (Veggies too!)

By Jennie

(Photo used with permission from Coffee & Sunshine)

Cheddar Tailgating Bread by Tasty Kitchen

Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Glaze by Naturally Ella

Roasted Sweet Potato Risotto by How Sweet It Is

Cranberry Orange Bars by Tasty Kitchen

Pesto Bruschetta Spread by Eat at Home

Pumpkin Oatmeal by Coffee & Sunshine

15 Top Cheesecake Recipes! by Mel's Kitchen Cafe

Cauliflower-feta Fritters with Pomegranate by Smitten Kitchen

Shrimp Enchiladas with Roasted Poblano Sauce by Annie's Eats

Roasted Brussels Sprouts & Goat Cheese Pizza by Naturally Ella

Gingerbread Loves with Lemon Glaze by Pinch of Yum

What recipes are you loving this week? (Or, what recipe of YOURS should we feature next week?)