Saying Goodbye to 2013. YUMs Year in Review!

December is fading fast. I can’t believe we are almost half way done. Where did this year go? I know a lot of us say that every year but this year went incredibly quick for me and the last few certainly seemed to drag on.

In December I do a lot of reflecting so by January when I am ready to write my “Reflections” posts I have a head-start.

As I say goodbye to 2013 I  look back over the year to see what I have accomplished. I stopped making New Years resolutions years ago because my life always went different directions and no matter how hard I tried it never seemed like I accomplished things on my list. It got discouraging so it just seemed like it was better to make a list of things I felt were accomplishments to remind myself of at the end of the year.  It also helps me out when we do our annual post at Work Place Like Home, a forum I have been a member of for 4 years. I don’t think I could have survived these last few years without that site.

Let’s get started, shall we?

In 2013 I….

• Slowly started to come to terms with my PCOS , fibroid’s, and age. I will likely never have kids of my own.
• Went to the dentist for the first time in 6 years. 1 due to fear and 2 due to lack of insurance. Proud to say I have conquered my fear.
• I did this ..

Did my first family 5k.

• Finished my MBA. In the last 5 years I completed my BA and then went right on after a 6 week break to start my Master’s degree. I graduated in June.
• Published 2 more tax books. My first, Easy Accounting for the Self-Employed (which I updated this year with new laws) was for my site Self Employed Writer, my second was Food Bloggers Tax Guide for YUM, and my third was Blogging for Dollars: Bloggers Tax Guide for the latest site I launched, Work at Home Living.
• Turned 38 in July and realized I was way too close to 40 and really needed to change some things about my life.
• I started a cookbook.
• Committed to the Dave Ramsey plan of paying off our debt.
• I went to Niagara Falls.
• I visited the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame.
• Stopped writing so much for others and started writing more for myself.
• YUM eating was born in August. Well, at least the domain and hosting was purchased.
• After 3 months of hard work YUM was signed with a national ad network.

Which brings me to this :

Here are my favorite recipes from 2013. This collection is a series of recipes from YUM eating as well as other websites that I either made, wanted to make and ran out of time, or just had some serious drool issues over their beautiful photos.

• Steak and Stilton Pies – anything meat pie..very Scottish/Irish I want to eat it. All of it. Many.
• Cranberry Orange Salsa (I’m a huge fan of Robyn’s)
• Turtle Cookie Cups. (Heather’s blog is heavenly.)
• Sugar-Free Chocolate PB Cookies (yeah, healthy and they’re mine)
• Irish Poached Pears with Chocolate Sauce and Guinness Sorbet (they had me at Irish. Ok, maybe Guinness.)
• Miso Roasted Duck (we all need a little duck in our lives)
• Miso Soup (you see a theme here?)
• Venison Pie
• Healthier Scotch Eggs (another one of mine)
• Melt-Your-Face-Off-Meatloaf (mine,too. Inspired by my trip to Niagara Falls)
• Roasted Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese Crouton (the best things come in pairs)
• Homemade All Natural Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream (I am so glad I learned how to make this in 2013!)
• Clean Eating Crockpot Breakfast Porridge (another one of this years creations by me)
• Homemade Beef and with Extra Barley (the hubs favorite , another 2013 hit)
• Paprika Oregano Roasted Chicken (this recipe taught me a lot about body image as we filmed its creation)
• Traditional Irish Potato Bread (another 2013 first and hit for me and my family. I love creating Irish traditions in my home)
• Crockpot Caribbean Steak (it’s a 2013 budget friendly hit in our house)
• Skillet Apple Cobbler (another one of my dishes)
• Royal Blue Velvet Cake (what can I say, its blue, its pretty, it reminds me of winter)

I encourage you to check out the collection and report back to me which one you think is the drool worthy one! 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I’m a foodie who is connected with Foodie.com through the Glam Media network. This was a sponsored post. Having said all of that – these opinions and of course accomplishments are 100% all my own. I picked these recipes because I enjoyed them and the others are my own.

Also, some links go to my other websites and some are Amazon affiliate links. I may make a few cents if you decide to make a purchase. Those few cents come back here to YUM to help fund with “Why I Write.”

I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”