Best of the Month June 2015

A recap of my most popular posts from last month (June 2015).

Shout out to my mom:  Happy Birthday Momma

I started my Best of the Month series in June of 2013.  So I have 2 previous best of Junes.  I'm so happy I started this.  It's fun to look back and remind myself of my popular recipes.  I have 455 posts so that's a lot of recipes and I don't right away remember all of them.  It's great to have this monthly review where I look back at my older posts.  I like to see how my writing and style has evolved and it helps me pinpoint posts that need updating.  I also hope that this is another way to introduce new readers to my blog and remind followers about my most popular recipes.  I love my Best of the Months and I hope you, my readers. do too.

Now for the best of the month:

2013's best of June

Ciabatta (Sourdough)

A crisp and chewy loaf of rustic bread made from a very wet dough.  Now has 361 views and 11 +1s.

#BestoftheMonth June 2015 | #Ciabatta (#Sourdough): 2013 #bestofJune via @joybeewhatsfor  [Tweet this]

2014's best of June:

Bananas Foster Pancakes

Whole wheat pancakes topped with sweet bananas in syrup. Now has 378 views and 63 +1s.

#BestoftheMonth June 2015 | #BananasFoster #Pancakes: 2014 #bestofJune via @joybeewhatsfor  [Tweet this]

Jalapeno Deviled Eggs

Hard-boiled eggs, split, and the whites filled with a spicy jalapeno yolk mixture. 513 views and 78 +1s.

#Jalapeno #DeviledEggs #incredibleedibleeggs | #BestoftheMonth June 2015 via @joybeewhatsfor  [Tweet this]

Honey Whole Wheat Hoagie Rolls

Soft, fluffy and sturdy half whole wheat rolls with a slight sweetness perfect for any submarine sandwich.  466 views and 16 +1s.

#HoneyWholeWheat #HoagieRolls they're #homemade | #BestoftheMonth June 2015 via @joybeewhatsfor  [Tweet this]

Beans and Rice Tostadas

Crispy baked corn tortillas topped with beans and rice, cheese, and other toppings.  453 views and 28 +1s.

#BeansandRice #Tostadas #vegetarian | #BestoftheMonth June 2015 via @joybeewhatsfor  [Tweet this]

French Onion Dip

A slightly beefy, very oniony, sour cream dip perfect for snacking.  Dad will love it.  It makes a great gameday snack too.  436 views and 85 +1s.

#FrenchOnion #Dip #gamedaysnack | #BestoftheMonth June 2015 via @joybeewhatsfor  [Tweet this]

Turkey Bacon Avocado Sub

Sliced turkey breast, crispy bacon, and creamy avocado stuffed into a soft chewy Honey Whole Wheat Hoagie Roll.  418 views and 23 +1s.

#Turkey #Bacon #Avocado #Sub #sandwiches | #BestoftheMonth June 2015 via @joybeewhatsfor  [Tweet this]

Check out my previous bests of June:

Best of June 2013

Best of June 2014

Linked to:  Pretty Pintastic, Best of the Weekend, Treasure Box, 2 Cup, Lou Lou Girls, Wonderful, Ticklemy Tastebuds, Wake Up, Full Plate, Freedom, Foodie Friends

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French Onion Dip

A slightly beefy, very oniony, sour cream dip perfect for snacking.  Dad will love it.  It makes a great gameday snack too.

Updated from original 10/4/13 (520 views and 34 +1s.) updated for content, pinnable image, minor editing, and links.
I thought this would be a great recipe to re-post for Father's Day.  I remember my dad frequently having French Onion Dip in the refrigerator when I was growing up.  I know my sisters and I loved the dip too, but we rarely got to eat it.  It was Daddy's special treat and we were not supposed to eat it.  I don't think we were ever told specifically not to but when I remember eating it, it was always with a sneaky guilty feeling and not getting to eat much.  Nothing ever lasts long with 6 people in the house and my dad can sit and snack like a champ so maybe that's why I don't remember getting much chance to eat any dip.  All I know for sure is that my dad really likes French Onion Dip with ruffled potato chips.  Understandably, this dip makes me think of my day and I think he will enjoy it as much as I do.

French Onion Dip for #Dad on #fathersday.  [Tweet this]

Now that I'm an adult I don't have 5 other people to share it with, just my husband (my dad probably thinks the same thing now that all of his kids are grown up it's only him and Mom).  It's probably not the healthiest, but it makes a wonderful treat. If you want to try and lighten this dip, it tastes great substituting (plain, nonfat) Greek yogurt for the sour cream.  It's not exactly the same, but it's close enough that it's hard to tell the difference.  You could easily make the substitution without telling anyone and I don't think they'll even notice.

Substitute #Greekyogurt for a #healthier dip.  [Tweet this]

French Onion Dip

Cook time:  10 minutes

Ingredients:

1 large onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound(16oz) sour cream or try non-fat plain Greek yogurt for a lighter dip
1 tsp Better Than Bullion Beef Base (you could probably use a bullion cube just crush it into powder first)
1/4-1/2 cup dried minced onions
few dashes Worcestershire sauce

In a large frying pan, over medium heat, cook the onion and garlic until soft and translucent.  Set aside to cool.

In a food processor, fitted with the chopper blade, add the sour cream, bullion, dried onion, Worcestershire, and the cooled onion/garlic mixture.

Turn on the food processor and chop/mix until ingredients are thoroughly combined.

Remove the dip to a seal-able container and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.

Makes about 3-4 cups of dip (plenty for a gathering or for two to snack on all week maybe).  Serve with plain ripple potato chips or if you must it would be good with vegetables too (that's just so disappointing).

Enjoy.  Happy Father's Day.

Other dips Dad might like
(you can lighten all of these by using Greek yogurt instead of sour cream):

Loaded Baked Potato Dip

Three Onion Dip      -

Beefy Horseradish Dip

Linked to:  Sat Night Fever, See ya in the Gumbo, Merry Mon, Two Cup, Lou Lou Girls, Teach Me, Tasty Tues, Tickle my Tastebuds, Whimsy Wed, Wonderful Wed, Yuck Stops Here, Cook Craft Share, Full Plate, Eat Create, Freedom Fri, Foodie Friends, Pretty Pintastic, Best of the Weekend 

Linked to:  Treasure Box, 2 cup, Loulou Girls, Tickle my Tastebuds, Wakeup, Whimsy, Pin Worthy, Full plate, Foodiefriends, Freedom, Bestof the Weekend, Pretty Pintastic

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Best of the Month October 2013

A review of my most popular blog posts from October.

I really enjoy looking back to see which posts were the most popular every month.  I don't like to check my stats daily because I feel like it's 'watching the pot that won't boil'.  Instead I like to review once a month and sometimes I'm surprised about what was popular or how popular something was.

I'm still trying to grow my social media presence and it seems to be working.  I am getting more views, more +1s, more likes and just a little more notice.  I enjoyed blogging before but it is so much more fun and exciting knowing that more people (other than just my family) are reading my blog.  I don't expect to get famous but I enjoy sharing my recipes and ideas and I hope to inspire others to cook more.

Slow Cooker Roast Beef Sandwiches

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Beef roast slow cooked in broth and beer until tender then placed on a baguette and topped with melted cheese.  The cooking liquid can be used as a dipping sauce.  These sandwiches were delicious but I can't take all the credit for this recipe I found it on another blog Five Heart Home.  This post received 512 views and 21 +1s.

Best Burger Buns

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This is another recipe I found on another blog Utter Epicure.  These burger buns are so soft and delicious I had to share them.  These are soft, fluffy burger buns that don't fall apart or leak and they are the best I've ever made or had.  There is no more need to ever buy store bought burger buns again.  This post received 309 views and 52 +1s.

Spicy Vegetable Fried Rice

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Finally a Joybee original recipe.  This is a spicy fried rice made from leftovers.  Main ingredients are cabbage, onion, bok choy, and carrot, plus eggs for protein.  Recipes like these are why I started blogging.  I love to use leftovers in new ways so I don't waste any food.  I love when others like these kinds of recipes too.  This post received 292 views and 20 +1s.

Baked Vegetable Spring Rolls

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 Yay, another leftover recipe.  For these I was using up leftover Asian slaw.  They are crispy spring rolls filled with cabbage, daikon, and carrot, then baked instead of fried.  This post received 232 views and 52 +1s.

French Onion Dip

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I love dip recipes.  This is a slightly beefy, very oniony, sour cream dip perfect for gameday snacking (or any day). Yum yum I need to make this again soon. This post received 190 views and 22 +1s.

Thanks to all my followers and those who stop by occasionally.  Enjoy.

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French Onion Dip

A slightly beefy, very oniony, sour cream dip perfect for gameday snacking (or any day).

I believe I mentioned in an earlier post for Three Onion Dip that my Dad always liked french onion dip.  While I loved my 3OD, and it was very oniony, it did not taste exactly like the french onion dip I remembered.  Slowly I began to form a plan based on my knowledge of how to make French Onion Soup.  This dip would make my Dad proud, I think I got the flavors just right.

French Onion Dip

Ingredients:

1 large onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound(16oz) sour cream
1 tsp Better Than Bullion Beef Base (you could probably use a bullion cube just crush it into powder first)
1/4-1/2 cup dried minced onions
few dashes Worcestershire sauce

In a large frying pan, over medium heat, cook the onion and garlic until soft and translucent.  Set aside to cool.

In a food processor, fitted with the chopper blade, add the sour cream, bullion, dried onion, Worcestershire, and the cooled onion/garlic mixture.

Turn on the food processor and chop/mix until ingredients are thoroughly combined.

Remove the dip to a seal-able container and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.

Makes about 3-4 cups of dip (plenty for a gameday gathering or for the two of us to snack on all week).  Serve with plain ripple potato chips or if you must it would be good with vegetables too (that's just so disappointing).

Enjoy.

Linked to:  Sat Night Fever, See ya in the Gumbo, Merry Mon, Two Cup, Lou Lou Girls, Teach Me, Tasty Tues, Tickle my Tastebuds, Whimsy Wed, Wonderful Wed, Yuck Stops Here, Cook Craft Share, Full Plate, Eat Create, Freedom Fri, Foodie Friends, Pretty Pintastic, Best of the Weekend 


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