Happy New Year – Top 12 Posts of 2012

Happy New Year!  I couldn’t be happier with the community that has grown for Spain in Iowa in 2012.  Thank you for making this a great year and here’s to a healthy and prosperous 2013.

Tomorrow I plan on sharing my personal and website 2013 resolutions along with more information on the new Organic Menu Plan on a Budget I plan on rolling out January 15th.  It’s going to be a great year.

January – How to Make Homemade Mayonnaise with 4 Simple Ingredients

Homemade mayonnaise is easy and quick to make.  You can make it with 4 simple ingredients and feel great knowing exactly what’s in your Mayo.  Real Food.  Read the tutorial here.

February – Live Stress Free Through Organization and Free Printables

The beginning of the year is a great time to organize your day in order to live stress free.  This post walks you through a home management binder including free printables.  The menu plan was such a hit, it was even included in an ebook! Read the post and download the printables here.

March – Naturally Sweetened, Chewy Oatmeal Raisin and Cranberry Granola Bars

Chewy granola bars – Sweetened with raw honey, real maple syrup and dried fruit. Get the recipe here.

April – Morel Mushroom Hunting 101

Apparently, I’m not the only one that loves to hunt morels.  This post shares tips for newbie foragers looking for morels.  Read the post here.

May – Mexican Taquitos

Mexican taquitos make a perfect midweek meal that you can make in about 30 minutes.  I use grassfed beef stew meat or a small roast that’s been cooked in the crockpot during the day. The crock pot makes it easy to cook your meat while your away or at work and come home to softened beef ready for shredding.  Get the recipe here.

June – Little Mama Joins Our Family

I didn’t have any posts to share in June since little mama decided to join our family 2 weeks early.  The greatest blessing of the year.

July – Cool Off With an Horchata, A Mexican Rice Drink

One of my favorite summer time drinks is a Mexican horchata.  An icy cold rice drink with a splash of vanilla and cinnamon. Get the recipe here.

August – Chewy, Dark Chocolate, Cherry, and Almond Granola Bars

I never would have thought these granola bars would be such a huge hit.  I’m so happy so many other families are able to enjoy these with their families.  Get the recipe here.

September – Naturally Sweetened, Oatmeal Jam Bars

With the success of the granola bars, I decided to share these oatmeal jam bars that I also make for my family.  Naturally sweetened with raw honey and pure maple syrup, they take about five minutes to prep and 25 minutes to bake. Get the recipe here.

October – How to Begin to Teach Your Children About Real Food. A Mac & Cheese Lesson.

My husband and I never speak badly of any foods within our home. We don’t call boxed foods, junk. We don’t call hydrogenated foods, cancer in a tub. Instead, we choose to lead in our home by example.  Read the post here.

November – 20 Tried and True Natural Remedies For the Cold and Flu

… She then told me that the best thing about treating naturally is that we’re strengthening their immune systems.  Not that they will never get sick again, but that when they do, their immune systems will be stronger and able to heal quickly. Read the post here.

December – A Healthier Fudge for the Holidays

Contributing author, Halle, from Whole Lifestyle Nutrition shared her recipe for a naturally sweetened fudge.  The star ingredient in this recipe is coconut butter.  Get the recipe here.

It was a great year and I’m excited to jump right into 2013.  What were your favorite recipes or posts of 2012?  I’d love to know what inspired you!