It’s probably an understatement when I say that I CAN’T WAIT for 2014 to be over. It’s been a pretty hectic year for my family, including four emergency room visits over the last half of the year, ranging from minor to life-threatening. Teeth were lost, fingers were nearly severed, kidney stones were passed and a severe stroke was survived. Yeah, not a good year.

So, you can easily imagine how happy I am to wave farewell to 2014 and welcome in 2015.

But before I move on, I must admit that 2014 did have some happy memories too. So I’m going to focus on those as I close out the year.

(Leading off with my favourite thing from 2014) In 2014, Paul and I celebrated our 10th anniversary with a return trip to Hawaii (the same locations where we spent our honeymoon). Oahu and Kauai were just as beautiful as we remembered. The food! The beaches! Those sunsets! But more importantly, I celebrated 10 years married to my best friend – the one who puts up with my crazy ideas, weird shenanigans and obsession with food and still loves me for it. I’m a really, really, REALLY lucky gal.

Waikiki Beach, Oahu, Hawaii from our 2014 #HawaiiFrolic

Iolani Palace, Oahu, Hawaii

Valley of the Temples, Oahu, Hawaii

lobster and shrimp from Kickin’ Kajun

poke from Nico’s at Pier 38

malasada puffs from Leonard’s

cocktail from House Without a Key

garlic shrimp plate from Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck

Hawaiian Sunsets from Oahu and Kauai, Hawaii from our 2014 #HawaiiFrolic

In 2014, I moved my little food blog, kitchen frolic, from Blogger to WordPress, finally bought my own domain name (kitchenfrolic.ca!) and started taking this a little more seriously (ie. I went from blogging every two months to maybe once a week, sometimes *gasp* more!). The results were pretty great – I’ve met so many more food-loving friends, tried new things in the kitchen and even started reviewing cookbooks on here, something I’ve wanted to do for years!

In 2014, I finally started grilling on the BBQ and managed to win the Ontario Gas BBQ Challenge this summer!

masala chicken drumsticks

grilled figs with vanilla-orange mascarpone

pulled pork pitas

grilled breakfast quesadillas

grilled vegetable stir-fry

In 2014, I kinda went overboard with the “chef selfie” but I did manage to meet a Michelin-starred chef, an Iron chef, two awesome Matts and award-winning BBQ book author! Also, my signed cookbook collection exploded.

(Ending with my second favourite thing from 2014) In 2014, I met the most awesome group of friends I never knew I needed in my life. Through some very random online and offline encounters, the Belly Monsters came together and became a family. We laugh, cry, support, tease, argue and eat together… just like a real family. Adrienne, Chanry, Davindra, Judy, Justin, Sid – I can’t say anything more but – THANKS!

All the Belly Monsters together for the first time at our November pot luck (photo credit: Sid Friedman)

Ok, so my 2014 wasn’t all bandaids and hospital food…. but I still am happy to see it end. Come on 2015! Let’s get things started!

Smoked Paprika Corn Fritters (as cooked by me!)