pork

NTTC’s Best Dishes of 2012

I became a huge fan of Pinterest in 2012. I find new recipes, craft projects, beauty tips, and save everything I love on the world wide web to my boards.

Many of you have also started pinning NTTC recipes to Pinterest this year, bringing new readers to NTTC and introducing more people to the healthy recipes I feature every week.

So, which NTTC recipes are most popular on Pinterest? Are they sweet recipes? Savory recipes?

The top ten that I report below are the Top Ten “Pinned” Recipes. The most popular posts are a combination of sauces, desserts, crockpot recipes, and even a few beverages!

To see a full listing of all of my healthy recipes of the year, click here. To follow NTTC boards on Pinterest, click here.

And… To check out the countdown, scroll down! You can click on the images below to review the recipes. Enjoy!

10. Healthier Cake (AKA Diet Cake)

9. Cafe Rio Creamy Tomatillo Ranch Salad Dressing

8. Arctic Zero Milkshake

7. Slow Cooker Mexican Pork Tacos

6. Asiago-Crusted Pork Chops

5. Cafe Rio Shredded Chicken

4. Cracker Barrel’s Grilled Chicken Tenderloin

3. Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate

2. Cake Batter Martini and Red Velvet Cake Cocktail

1. Red Velvet “Better than Sex” Cake

Not surprisingly, that decadent Red Velvet Cake was everyone’s #1 favorite. It’s one of my favorites for the year as well!

Cooking is one of my true passions. I absolutely love creating new healthy meals, and I appreciate that you guys are pinning and saving my recipes to prepare later. It’s such an honor to help you prepare meals to feed your family. There are MANY awesome recipes coming in 2013. Stay tuned!!! xoxo

What is your favorite NTTC recipe of the year? If you haven’t tried any, which one will be you be adding to your grocery list this year?

Bethenny's Asian Slaw

Faux-Fried Green Tomatoes

Skinny Taco Dip

Sweet-and-Spicy Chili Pork Chops

Last night, I had REALLY good intentions of going to the gym… and I may have supplemented it with a workout during my drive home.

I’ve mentioned my sister-in-law Beth before, but I haven’t yet shared that she is HILARIOUS. Her story from Virginia was that my niece and nephew contributed to her having a rough day today.

Between us friends, I can’t imagine that either of them misbehaved. They are PERFECT ANGELS and the apple of their auntie’s eye, afterall.

By the time I called Beth on my way home, the kiddos were banished to their bedrooms for the evening due to some fighting that took place at the pool. Because I’m a horrible influence, I encouraged Beth to plan a downstairs party that the kids could hear and be sad that they were in their room.

Next thing I know… she’s shouting out: ”Oh, I think I’ll have a hot fudge sundae and eat it while taking a bubble bath.”

Then, she says loud enough for them to hear, “Then, I’ll watch Brave on DVD and eat yummy popcorn.”

Apparently, my little angels heard this and assembled at the top of the stairs to share their objections. Oh, torturing the little guys from afar with their mother… the joys of being an aunt.

I mentioned that I got a workout. As she was going through her shenanigans, I was laughing so hard that my stomach was hurting, like I was doing little crunches in the car while driving home. Oh, pilates… you did what you said you’d do! My core ~~hurts because of~~ hearts you!

Look for this cookbook in your local grocery store in the magazine aisle. So many good recipes in there. Like this one!

I ended up coming home before going to the gym and that was all she wrote. I quickly settled in and decided to make a delicious dinner instead. I’ve been cooking from my new Weight Watchers cookbook… and had spicy asian pork on the brain. It was SO good! Check out the details below!

Sweet-and-Spicy Chili Pork Chops

From Weight Watchers

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

Cooking Spray

4 (4-ounce) boneless center-cut loin pork chops (about 1/2 inch thick)

1 Tbsp. brown sugar

1 Tbsp. lower-sodium soy sauce

2 Tbsp. sambal oelek (ground fresh chile paste)

1 Tbsp. hoisin sauce

2 tsp. rice vinegar

1/4 cup diagonally cut green onions

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add pork; cook 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Remove pan from heat; let pork stand 30 seconds.

2. While pork cooks, combine brown sugar and next 4 ingredients in a small bowl.

3. After port stands, add sauce to pork in the pan, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Notes: I used siracha sauce instead of the chili paste. Also, the sauce will thicken quickly. Keep an eye on it.