Looking back at the last year is a funny way to start a blog. However, I’ve been meaning to write this for a while. It only makes sense to share a few delicious highlights of 2012.

January: A wonderful trip to Chicago. At the Wilmette Chuck Wagon, I enjoyed my first Chicago-style hot dog.

February: Made pasta from scratch for the first time. A rolling-pin played substitute for a proper drying rack. Fresh pasta is much tastier than the stuff you buy at the store. Ravioli are on my list to try next.

March: With the arrival of the endless supply of girl scout cookies purchased earlier in the year, little room was left for any baking. However, my rediscovery of the Dutch Baby at the Original Pancake House was glorious.

April: Harvesting carrots of the winter season was thrilling but the carrot size was a little disappointing. I have so much more respect for the farmers who sell carrots at the market.

May: Attended the Cooking for Solutions at the Monterey Bay Aquarium (highly recommend the event) with my wonderful mom. At the event we had the opportunity to go to the book signing of one of my cooking idols, Alton Brown.

June: My first batch of cucumbers became ready for pickling. The results were varied. I made the mistake of adding some sugar to one batch and was not happy to discover I’d essentially made bread and butter pickles.

July: My family jammed together. By that I mean we made a ton of jam together. The volume was somewhere around a gallon (maybe two). Flavors included peach, apricot and apricot-pineapple (the family favorite).

August: Enjoyed some amazing food at Outside Lands. However, the food highlight of the month was cake batter pancakes for my birthday.

September: Had fun making sugar cookies for a baby shower in duck and moon shapes.

October: Devoured an incredible surprise cake at Simply Hired. The chocolate was drool worthy. Thank you Simply Hired!

November: Thanksgiving was of course the food highlight. Found an awesome recipe for butternut squash soup that cuts the time down over normal soup (no squash roasting). My family also enjoyed the two giant loaves of bread that I picked up from Tartine. The olive bread was a treat.

December: Hosted a holiday gathering. Treats included a hot chocolate station with homemade peppermint marshmallows and star-shaped plain marshmallows, nutella fudge, the softest sugar cookies I’ve ever made (thanks Pinterest) and cookie dough pops. I’ve pinned all of the holiday recipes to my  Sweet Treats Pinterest Board.