The sun is setting on another year in blogging for me. 2017 was an adventurous year filled with a whole bunch of video content, yummy new recipes galore and some awesome brand collaborations. I did a bit of exploring and experimenting, a few hits, a few misses (failure is good, right?!) and it was just a jam-packed year of content.
So today I am happy to share this 2017 Year in Review as my final post of the year. Here are my top 25 recipe posts, honorable mentions, hits and misses, goal in 2018 and a few other end of year highlights.
Thank you for showing up for me in 2017, I am excited for the year ahead....
...bye bye 2017.
2017 Year in Review: Top 25 Recipes
1. Copycat Recipe: Unicorn Frappuccino® Ha! Kinda funny that this is number one. But, I'll take it. And yes, this Frapp was actually insanely yummy to DIY.
2. Creamy Tomato Pasta - Weeknight dinner fave.
3. Bean and Cheese Quesadillas - These are always a great idea. Super easy too. Vegan cheese options in 2017: YES.
4. Vegan Stuffing for the holidays - Holiday fave, veganized.
5. Vegan Chicken Soup - Feeling under the weather, this should help!
6. Vegan Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Loaf - Love this loaf, fluffy and delicious.
7. Vegan Peanut Butter Cookies - A fave dessert gets a new recipe. Chewy and fluffy texture. Love!
8. Vegan Carrot Cake with cream cheese frosting - Probably my fave cake ever. I might make this for my birthday in January. 37, here I come.
9. Santa Cruz Beach Burritos - One of my fave hometown inspiration recipes!
10. Peanut Butter Chickpeas with quinoa - Obsessed with these! I have made them soooo many times since August.
11. Best Vegan Nachos - Super Bowl snacking approved.
12. Vegan Mac n' Cheese with Broccoli - Comfort food win.
13. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream - Yes and yes. All time fave, DIYed.
14. Garlic Cauliflower Potato Soup with Chickpeas - Super cozy and delicious. Or soup-er..
15. Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Bars - These are a fun treat to make!
16. Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls - Obsessed. I made sooo many cinnamon rolls this fall + winter and do not regret a second of it. Ha.
17. Enchilada Casserole - Easy weeknight family feast! Flavorful and the leftovers are my fave.
18. Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies - Aka "mall cookies." Totally love these.
19. Spin on Butterfingers: Little Fingers - GOT I miss ya.
20. Blueberry Buckwheat Muffins - Fluffy little muffins of bluebery love.
21. Carrot Ginger Soup - A fave, made easy.
22. Cookies 'n Cream Ice Cream - Scoop and smile with this one.
23. Banana Bread Cupcakes with chocolate-peanut butter frosting - Love these even without the frosting on top.
24. Dijon Chick'n Sandwich - This is a cool vegan version to have handy!
25. Creamy Cashew Tofu Pot Pie Love love love this recipe. I think I am going to make it soon because oh my it is GOOD.
Honorable Mentions..
Vegan Ranch Dressing + the best salad
Spring Peat Toasts with pickled radishes
Vegan Eggy Breakfast Sandwiches
YouTube. I made a 2017 Year in Review Video PlayList for you to easily catch up. Subscribe to my channel to stay better in touch over on YT in 2018.
Hits + Misses "Learning Experiences" 2017
Hits..
- Videos. By far, this year was the year of videos. I posted over 45 videos on my YouTube channel and also my two Facebook pages (HHL + FindingVegan.) I am excited to continue posting videos for you guys. I hope you will subscribe to my YT channel and help me get closer to my goal of 10,000 subscribers.
- Chats with you. In 2017, I shared a few more personal posts. This year and every year - here on the blog and in my everyday life - I strive to stay authentic, open (and imperfect). You can browse my personal posts here and the tag.
- Travel. I have loved documenting and sharing my travel stories this past year. Dubrovnik, aka King's Landing, was definitely a highlight. I love a classic "relaxation trip" for some sun and chill time, but even more, I love experiencing new cultures, exploring how other parts of the world see veganism, treat animals, value family and the environment - and I just really cherish the act of expanding my horizons and challenging my comfort zone - in places far from the comforts and ease of home. New language, new norms, new perspective on the world.
- Matcha Chat Series. I have been so excited to partner with Encha Organic Matcha again this year, and produce a video series. I have chatted all about matcha topics - and a few life topics in there as well! Catch up on the series here.
- D23, working with Disney and DOLE was really special. I presented cooking demos all day long at the annual Disney Fan Convention, D23. It was exciting, scary and a big milestone for me when it comes to live public speaking + cooking - all mic'd up and in the center of a bustling convention center. The recipes I made were delicious too! I loved sharing vegan recipes with some folks who might not be exposed to them on a daily basis!
- Old is New Again. I updated a few old + popular posts with new photos and some videos. Revamping is also a great excuse to make some old fave recipes, like my Easy Energy Almond Butter Shake.
- House Tofu. Earlier in the year, I partnered with House Tofu to bring you guys (10!) tofu recipes as part of their 50 Plates of Tofu Campaign. It was a really cool project and I am really proud of how the recipes turned out. I love showing people that tofu is anything but blend and boring, if you know how to work with it.
- Collabs. Partnering with fellow vegan bloggers is always on my mind. It is not always easy to get together in person, so virtually is a great substitute. I have loved interacting with my Finding Vegan community online, as well as bringing you roundups like this one: 99 "School Night" Dinner Recipes.
- Hashtag it. Tag me. Yes. I have been loving seeing you guys tagging me via my profile @KathyPatalsky or tags: #kathypatalsky, #findingvegan or my cookbooks: #healthyhappyvegankitchen #365vegansmoothies - mostly on Instagram, but sometimes on twitter (lunchboxbunch + findingvegan) and facebook too. Thank you for sharing your creations and enthusiasm with me! Posts like..
✨🙌 Loving these reader creations! Cinnamon roll magic happening this week. Keep tagging me in your posts! Ps. Get the recipe: https://t.co/ICL0odce2W pic.twitter.com/6ooFfXFPAx— Kathy Patalsky (@lunchboxbunch) December 26, 2017
- About Me. ICYMI, updated that page a bit.
Misses Experiments & More:
- Meal Plans. I tried doing a Meal Plan Sundays Series, and I received really amazing feedback from you guys, but honestly, it ended up being way too much work to add on to my additional content work.
Question.. Do you guys still want content like that? Are E-books + meal plans + private Facebook communities still alive and thriving for 2018?? Let me know if you want that from me. And if you want a more basic FREE program or a way more extensive PAID option with a more private community and bonus content? Let me know in the comments or message me on social. I appreciate your feedback!
Lesson Learned: As an entrepreneur, at some point, once you have a good groove of work and creativity flowing, you have to ask yourself these questions: "What projects (and people) get my energy? How do I spend my time? How do I distribute my energy to avoid burnout and stay inspired + motivated + practical all at the same time?"
If you answer those questions, boom, entrepreneurial happy place.
And to me, "success" means being able to spread my message and be creative - while also making a living.
What is my message? I go into that on my about page, but mostly, that plant-based meals can be accessible and delicious - for everyone. And that vegan recipe loving people come in all shapes, sizes and personalities - and eating styles. Embrace vegan recipes once a week or at every meal.
This week, I am thinking deeply about my 2018 goals. I guess we will see what I come up with in the coming months here on HHL.
- Books. Nope, no new books from me this year. Trust me, I think about it a lot. We will see. Luckily, my two books are available right now! Snag them on Amazon: Kathy's Author Page.
Ok. I guess I have rambled enough, yes?
Well, last ramble of the year!.. Thank you thank you for being here and sharing this space with me. Food + life.
Because this blog has always been about more than just recipes and photos.
Now more than ever before, "bloggers" are sharing, telling real life stories and creating a true impact on the emotional landscape of social media and the internet. Bringing authenticity to the table. Yes. It is a pretty cool phenomenon to watch unravel. Sure, we are all still finding our way in this strange new world of Instagram Stories and live videos and Twitter trends and information overload and how much do I share?? - but I think it is beautiful when bloggers unveil pieces of our true, unfiltered lives. People with loads of imperfections. And a few stories to share. We are all just trying to create safe spaces to share. And for me, it comes all in the context of gathering around a virtual table and sharing food and recipes and stories with each other.
My wish for my blog for 2018: I hope you always feel welcome and supported, inspired and uplifted, here, at my virtual table.
Happy New Year and lots of love into 2018! ~ Kathy Patalsky
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Cynthia says
Thank you for all you've created & shared with us in 2017! I am really into the idea of meal plans, because I've been experimenting with them a lot lately, which means I also know what a giant time-sink it can be to craft them, especially if you try to include lunches or breakfasts. I've been following your blog and rooting for you for years now- as you've come out with cookbooks and found amazing sponsors and continue to spread your wings and somehow bring us gorgeous photography, awesome writing, inspiration, and creative flavor combinations and so much heart no matter what life is throwing your way. I love and appreciate that you are still here & going strong & that you've found a way to share truly delicious, nutrient-dense vegan meals that are literally always not just edible, but delicious... and in a way that's affordable to me as someone with a disability (It doesn't hurt that I never have to throw food out or waste energy cooking something no one will eat!). I so hope you can continue all this amazing stuff you've been doing without a charge, especially as it helps our community and society as a whole to evolve when we all have access to wonderful nutritional information, encouragement, cooking methods, and seriously good eats... However, having your own business can be intense I'm sure, and riddled with tough choices, so I wish you all the best with whichever way it goes! =) I am really slow with things, but am absolutely happy to send you HHL Meal Plan ideas as I try them, if I can ever figure out what "Social" is. lol Your site is EXCELLENT for meal-planning, because you often gives us hints of cool ways to use leftovers and it's so easy to search leftover ingredients in your search engine. Maybe you could challenge us in the comment section sometime to come up with a fun week of HHL Meal Planning. Just a thought. ;D Thank you, again & a very happy 2018! (A little late!)
Stefanie says
Thank you so much for all the great vegan recipes and inspiration! I wish you a great 2018 and love your blog!
Kathy Patalsky says
Thank you so much Stefanie!
Lori says
I would definitely love to see some new, free meal plan posts for 2018...maybe even once a month? Thank you for your blog and all that you do...you are a lovely person and true vegan inspiration. Happy 2018😀
Kathy Patalsky says
Thank you for that Feedback Lori! It really helps motivate me with the meal plans projects. Happy New Year!
Giulia Lombardo says
Loving this post...happy NEw year dear:D
Kathy Patalsky says
Thank you! You too!
Liz S. says
ALL are amazing recipes, as always. Can't wait to see what you have in store for 2018! Cheers!
Kathy Patalsky says
Thank you Liz! Me too! Happy New Year 🤗