Well, everyone, it’s time to say goodbye to 2019! As I sit here on the eve of a new year I am so grateful to have spent another year sharing my passions for cooking and writing here with you all on Lemon & Mocha. Whether you are a family member, friend, fellow blogger, recipe seeker, Pinterest pro, or all of the above, I am so thankful for your support and presence here! On a personal note, 2019 brought both great highs and deep lows for my family with the birth of our son, Sam (more on that further down!), and on the loss of Diane’s mom (Nina to me) this past fall.

Nina had a sweet tooth so I think she would approve of 2019 on Lemon & Mocha being dubbed the year of cookies! Between the Food Network Magazine’s Calendar of Cookies and the first annual Lemon & Mocha’s 12 Days of Cookies this holiday season, there were twenty-one new cookie recipes posted on the blog this year. It’s hard to know where to start so I’d suggest quickly whipping up a batch of the Flourless Chocolate Walnut Cookies to snack on while you contemplate which cookie recipe to bake next. As much as I love sweets, the top ten list of most popular new posts from 2019 made it pretty clear that easy and healthy dinner recipes are a favorite category here on Lemon & Mocha. I already have a few in the works for the new year and I’ll be sure to work on even more for you all. Here are the top ten most popular new posts from this past year:

10. Skillet Balsamic Peach Pork Chops with Feta and Basil

9. Cheesy Barbecue Chicken Puff Pastry Bites

8. Skinny Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole

7. Balsamic Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Gorgonzola and Walnuts

6. Tuna Melt Egg Rolls

5. Parmesan Crusted Brussels Sprouts

4. Healthy Spinach, Goat Cheese and Quinoa Egg Muffins

3. Potato, Leek and Bacon Pizza

2. Birch Benders Pancakes Four Ways

1. Sheet Pan Parmesan Roasted Green Beans and Baby Potatoes

Welcome sweet Sam

Although it may have been the year of cookies here on Lemon & Mocha, my 2019 was definitely the year of Sam. We spent almost all year preparing for his arrival and Matt and I welcomed our sweet boy, Sam, on November 7th! That morning our hearts exploded with more love than I could ever imagine and ever since it’s been an incredible whirlwind of love, amazement, cuddles – and of course sleepless nights! I don’t like to divulge too much of my personal life on this public space so in 2020 I will have to continue working on that balance in my writing. It would be too difficult to write from my heart and not include the little guy who has it completely wrapped around his tiny little fingers! I wish you all a happy and healthy New Year and I look forward to sharing more recipes and stories with you in 2020!

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I have some exciting news to share on Lemon & Mocha today: our little family is growing! Matt and I are expecting a baby boy in November! Yes, as in next month! We could not be more excited and I’m so happy to finally share this news with you all 😀 We took these photos back in early August when I was 26 weeks along; my bump is quite a bit bigger now! Counting down the days until we get to meet our little guy 😀

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Time for another post re-do! Since Easter is this weekend I thought it was only fitting to give a refresh to my favorite Easter dish – Pineapple Bread Pudding. If you’ve never had Pineapple Bread Pudding alongside spiral ham then you are in for a treat! I’ve updated the post with new photos, some new content and minor recipe adjustments. Check out the updated recipe here. Below is one of the original photos posted in April 2014. The old photos were just, well, boring!  This time I photographed the whole mini Easter meal to provide some context for the dish. More colors and textures definitely lends itself to more interesting photos. If you haven’t made Pineapple Bread Pudding yet now is the time, especially considering it is the fourth most popular recipe on Lemon & Mocha!

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I’m back with another post re-do! This time I tackled my quick and delicious 10 Minute Mini Breakfast Tacos. I’ve updated the post with new photos, some new content and minor recipe adjustments. Check out the updated recipe here. Below is one of the original photos posted in August 2014. The old photos lack any sort of punch or contrast. Part of that was my editing at the time and part of that is that I put beige food on a white plate on a beige surface! I love the way the blue plate really livened up my new photos. I also loved having an excuse to make and eat these breakfast tacos – not that you need an excuse because they really are simple enough for a regular weekday meal!

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Chicken Cordon Bleu with Honey Mustard Sauce is one of my all-time favorite recipes and all you Lemon & Mocha readers agree! It is one of the top ten most popular posts on Lemon & Mocha so I figured it was long overdue for a post refresh. The post has been updated with new photos, updated content and some slight recipe tweaks. This healthy dinner dish may look fancy, but it’s secretly quick enough for a weeknight. Check out the updated recipe here! Below is one of the original photos posted in January 2015. Back then I was still trying to figure out this whole food photography thing – and I still am working more on it every day! The chicken looks good, but the photo is missing contrast and the lighting isn’t great. Also, the chicken looks so lonely on that big plate! I am loving the new photos on the updated post and I hope you all do, too!

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