Cooking Through Magnolia Table In A Year: Year End Review

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While the first week of 2023 has almost crept by, I wanted to dedicate a post to a year end review of our cooking through Magnolia Table Vol. 1 cookbook in a year journey. When I began this bucket list challenge a year ago, I had no idea the ups, downs, and general turns that 2022 would bring, but I have to say, I have been thrilled to have this cooking journey along the way. My cookbook pages are splattered and my Cooking Through Magnolia Table In A Year Guide is worn with ratings, crinkled edges and marks of use, but each rating and splatter mark reminds me of the hours spent in the kitchen, Sunday dinners around the table, family gatherings, sweet neighbor interactions, laughs and JOY that came from this challenge.

As I mentioned in our kick off post last year, this cooking through a cookbook journey was born out of a bucket list desire inspired by the movie, Julie & Julia, and blended with Joanna Gaines’ purpose behind the Magnolia Table celebrating “the art of gathering”. Our mission of the joy of purposeful living goes far beyond fun vacations, entertaining and a beautiful home, but instead celebrates the joy that comes with living a life of intention inspired by and serving those we love. I would say that this cooking through the Magnolia Table challenge gave us just that. Purposeful meals, cozy nights in, and celebrations of good food with those that mean the most. Whether you have been following this journey from the beginning, or are just now wanting to start your own challenge, I hope the reviews and recipe favorites of the past 52 weeks will encourage you to take a chance, invite people in and bring both new food and guests around your table. So, without further ado, here is our year end review of the highs, lows and unexpected blessings of our cooking through the Magnolia Table Vol. 1 cookbook journey.

Cooking Through Magnolia Table In A Year: Year End Review

Highs

To start off our year end review, I wanted to celebrate the recipe favorites throughout the year! Each of these recipe ratings are averages of those around our table and were based on our rating scale (1 being that you couldn’t make it through and never want to see it again, and 10 being that seconds and thirds are not enough, you absolutely love it!). Charlie particularly liked to view the scale as how likely he would be to get a certain menu item at a restaurant. For example, a 6 or 7 means he would have been pleased and come back to the restaurant another time but not always get that specific dish, while a 10 would mean he would be ordering that specific item every time he came to that restaurant and probably was telling other people about it. Everyone had a bit of their own flair when rating dishes, however on the whole, it became a great launching point for our recipe discussions.

Favorites

That being said about the rating system, this next batch of recipes were items that gained an AVERAGE rating of 9 or higher! While there are many recipes that are loved by some and disliked by others due to personal preferences, these recipes were items that still gained an average rating of a 9 or higher after being rated by groups varying in size from 2 people to 20. Certainly I cannot guarantee that everyone trying these recipes will feel like they are worth a 9 average due to varying interests, however, on the whole, those in our circles that tried these dishes quite enjoyed them.

Average Rating – 9 | Week 2 | Green Beans Amandine (p.175)

Average Rating – 9 | Week 14 | Flatbread Pizza (p.87)

Average Rating – 9 | Week 15 | Cinnamon Squares (p.63)

Average Rating – 9 | Week 16 | Baked Spinach Artichoke Dip (p.139)

Average Rating – 9 | Week 19 | Orange Scones (p.61)

Average Rating – 9 | Week 22 | JoJo’s Biscuits (p.18)

Average Rating – 9 | Week 22 | Pop’s Strawberry Jam (p.20)

Average Rating – 9 | Week 26 | Peach & Almond Tart (p.270)

Average Rating – 9 | Week 27 | Gaines Brother Burgers (p.81)

Average Rating – 9.5 | Week 27 | Bacon Tomato Sweet Drip Jam (p.82)

Average Rating – 9 | Week 30 | Broiled Honey – Thyme Peaches (p.281)

Average Rating – 9 | Week 32| Mom’s Bulgogi (p.240)

Average Rating – 9 | Week 32 | Last – Minute Party Dip (p.149)

Average Rating – 9 | Week 33 | After School Banana Bread (p.69)

Average Rating – 9 | Week 38 | Brownie Pie

Average Rating – 9 | Week 43 | The Best Ever Fluffy Pancakes (p.51)

Average Rating – 9 | Week 43 | Cinnamon Swirl & Walnut Quick Bread (p.58)

Average Rating – 9 | Week 45 | Mocha Trifle Cups (p.289)

Honorable Mentions

For the honorable mentions, these recipes gained an AVERAGE rating of an 8 or 8.5. As it is very challenging to earn an average of 9 or higher, especially with a large crowd or company with varying interests, we did still have a plethora of recipes that were very well enjoyed and would be ordered consistently at a restaurant. Many of these dishes have already been requested to be made again, so I can say with quite a bit of certainty that they will be coming back to our table in the future and just might become family favorites!

Average Rating – 8 | Week 2 | Perfect Roast Chicken (p.203)

Average Rating – 8.5 | Week 3 | Party Queso (p.135)

Average Rating – 8.5 | Week 4 | Tomato Basil Soup (p.107)

Average Rating – 8 | Week 5 | Fried Chicken (p.223)

Average Rating – 8 | Week 5 | Sticky Poppy Seed Jam (p.225)

Average Rating – 8.5 | Week 6 | Fresh Spinach & Leek Risotto (p.227)

Average Rating – 8 | Week 8 | Mina’s Lemon Bars (p.309)

Average Rating – 8 | Week 9 | Brussels Sprouts (p.165)

Average Rating – 8 | Week 9 | Balsamic Reduction (p.166)

Average Rating – 8 | Week 11 | Becki’s Mac & Cheese (p.169)

Average Rating – 8.5 | Week 12 | Savory Ham & Cheese Bread Pudding (p.37)

Average Rating – 8 | Week 12 | Shepherd’s Pie (p.246)

Average Rating – 8 | Week 13 | Sweet Pepper & Pancetta Frittata (p.95)

Average Rating – 8 | Week 15 | Baked Bruschetta (p.143)

Average Rating – 8 | Week 16 | Cherry Almond Crisp (p.279)

Average Rating – 8 | Week 19 | Three – Cheese Quiche (p.25)

Average Rating – 8 | Week 20 | Bevie’s Chocolate Roll (p.297)

Average Rating – 8 | Week 20 | Hot Fudge Sauce (p.298)

Average Rating – 8 | Week 21 | Homemade Whipped Cream (p.285)

Average Rating – 8 | Week 23 | BLT Sandwiches (p.75)

Average Rating – 8 | Week 23 | Lemon Angel Food Cake (p.303)

Average Rating – 8 | Week 24 | Blackened Fish Tacos (p.234)

Average Rating – 8 | Week 26 | Grilled Salmon (p.231)

Average Rating – 8.5 | Week 28 | Chicken Salad Croissant Sandwiches (p.84)

Average Rating – 8.5 | Week 28 | Aunt Opal’s Banana Pudding (p.287)

Average Rating – 8.5 | Week 30 | Garlic & Herb Tomatoes (p.183)

Average Rating – 8 | Week 34 | Jo’s Fatayar (p.244)

Average Rating – 8 | Week 35 | 1919 Pimiento Cheese (p.89)

Average Rating – 8.5 | Week 36 | Apple Cider Salad (p.119)

Average Rating – 8.5 | Week 36 | Apple Cider Vinaigrette (p.119)

Average Rating – 8 | Week 37 | Ricotta Pancakes (p.55)

Average Rating – 8 | Week 37 | Meat Loaf (p.259)

Average Rating – 8 | Week 38 | Pie Crust (p.28)

Average Rating – 8 | Week 39 | Potato Gratin Mini Stacks (p.179)

Average Rating – 8 | Week 40 | Sheet Pan Nachos (p.151)

Average Rating – 8 | Week 40 | Fresh Tomato Salsa (p.157)

Average Rating – 8 | Week 42 | Beef Stew (p.261)

Average Rating – 8 | Week 46 | White Bean Hummus (p.153)

Average Rating – 8 | Week 49 | Gaines Family Chili (p.256)

Average Rating – 8 | Week 52 | Chocolate Dipped Shortbread Cookies (p.311)

Wow! Looking at all of these recipes with 8’s or 9’s, I believe it speaks for itself in saying that we had a year of amazing food! While there were many other delicious recipes that came in just under with 7’s or 7.5’s, these were some of our favorite recipes throughout the cookbook.

Lows

As you can tell by the large list of amazing dishes that we have tried, I would not say that we have had many lows throughout the year. If you are looking for a great cookbook to have within your collection that provides solid delicious recipes, I most definitely would recommend this one! As I mentioned in my mid year 6 month review, I believe this cookbook has definitely been a blessing to those who have been able to try it, however there have been a few items that have been surprising to me and could be slight drawbacks for others looking to complete this journey. While I won’t recount the same items as I did then (you can read those HERE!), these next items are a few that I have discovered in the second half of this year.

Portion Sizing

First, while I absolutely love to cook (and eat! ha), many of the recipes within the cookbook make very large portion sizes. To be fair, Joanna Gaines’ family is a family of 7 and having grown up in a family of 6 myself, I love to cook for a crowd, hence our hosting Sunday dinners of college students and siblings, bible studies and get-togethers. That being said, if you decide to take on the entire cookbook challenge, be prepared to have people over frequently or eat a TON of leftovers because 2 people can only eat a 9×13 so quickly. Charlie and I probably felt this more the second half of the year due to hosting and traveling a little less during his chemotherapy treatments (which also caused crazy cravings and would leave me a whole 9×13!), so I most certainly recommend having a hospitable mindset (or a large family) when taking on these dishes.

Ingredient Availability

Similarly, be prepared to do a bit of hunting when it comes to ingredients. Between regional items not available here in South Carolina, item seasonality, supply chain shortages and general grocery store variations, I went on quite the grocery store goose chase for a few of these recipes to get just the right ingredients. Obviously this is not a fault of the cookbook itself, however it can add a complication to making the recipe if you can’t find (or have a hard time finding) the ingredients. That being said, some of these that were hard to track down, ended up being our favorites and expanded our culinary palettes the most, so if you are willing to take the time, I typically recommend trying it out at least once. You never know, you just might find your new favorite food!

Cooking Through Magnolia Table In A Year: Cinnamon Squares

Unexpected Blessings

Meal Planning

While I mentioned this blessing in my mid year review, I just have to state again how great it was to have our meals already planned out. Gone were the days of guessing what we were having for dinner! In the past, I have not planned out our meals beyond a couple of days out, so having a list of recipes already ready for me was so helpful for grocery shopping and keeping us out of a rut of recipes. By already having set recipes, I knew exactly what we were having (especially when planning for people coming over!), what the base of my grocery list would be and then how I might fill in with other items around it. Now that we are finished, Charlie and I already are better at meal planning to help keep away the mental stress of meal prep.

On a slightly different note, I have been so encouraged by the ways that I saw the Lord work through our meal planning. Despite having set out the schedule in December of 2021, the Lord saw fit to make our meals exactly what we needed come Charlie’s chemo in the fall of 2022. After Charlie’s very first treatment, he became so sick and all he wanted to eat was potato. In God’s providence, our recipe that week was Potato Gratin Mini Stacks which I had just made the night before and at that moment, Charlie said they were the best thing he had ever eaten! So if you have ever wondered if the Lord can work in the small things to use our plans for our good and His glory, be encouraged sweet friends that even a simple cooking through a cookbook journey can be a blessing more than we ever could have imagined.

Journeying Together

Similarly, I believe one of the biggest blessings of this cooking through Magnolia Table cookbook in a year journey has been the pleasure of sharing it together. Whether sharing a post each week with you all, a dessert with our neighbors or a meal with family and friends, I have been encouraged by the conversations, laughs and joy of being together. The routine of cooking and trying new dishes has helped me to not be afraid to try new things and invite people in, even if everything doesn’t go as planned. This journey gave life to a rhythm of sharing our everyday together in a way that I hope never ends. I have had the privilege to get to know the likes and dislikes of a group of college students who were willing taste testers at our Sunday dinners every other week.

I now better understand my in-laws preferences and have been reacquainted with the interests of even my closest family. While preferences might seem small, this journey has allowed us to treasure those in our life and invest even deeper, because truly, life is about the small things and those you share it with. Even if a dish fills the house with a smoky haze, takes 30 minutes longer than expected and half of our company finds it unappealing, the time together discussing our days, laughing, opening our home and savoring the moment overrules a perfectly planned evening. If hospitality has ever been your interest, but you don’t know where to start or what to make or if it will all go well, I encourage you to take the leap. Find a group of friends, family or college students (who I promise will eat ANYTHING!) and just try it. It may not be perfect, but it will be memorable and the more you enter into it, the more comfortable and enjoyable the process will become.

Culinary Ability

Lastly, but certainly not least, if you are looking to mix up your cooking style, branch out of a rut, or find a few new family favorite recipes, I most definitely would recommend this challenge as it certainly will expand your culinary palette and abilities. Even if you decide not to take on the entire year long challenge, maybe choose 10 to 15 recipes that you might not normally try and see how they go! We have found many new favorites that we previously wouldn’t have imagined enjoying or probably wouldn’t have picked out to try, but I am so glad that we did.

Magnolia Table Vol. 1 Cookbook Overall Review

When looking at the Magnolia Table Vol. 1 cookbook overall, I have to say: it is a winner. With an overall average recipe rating of 7.44, these recipes have been enjoyed by most over a wide range of audiences! While certainly there were recipes that we enjoyed at times more than others (mostly due to personal food preferences), on the whole, the book has predominantly high ratings. Most of the recipes have thorough instructions and even images to help guide the appearance of the final product (which is always a bonus for me!). Similarly with this book including a wide variety of cuisines ranging from southern and Tex-Mex to Korean or Middle Eastern inspired, you never will feel you are in a rut.

Final Thoughts

With that… the 2022 cooking through Magnolia Table in a year challenge is complete! While I won’t be taking on another cookbook at the moment as I will be instead learning how to cook in a new country (after our move to Germany!), I honestly am a bit sad to see this challenge come to an end. Even so, I hope to take all the things I have learned into this year and I am confident I will savor the memories from this experience forever. For me, this challenge was a bucket list goal and most certainly I feel amazed at having accomplished it. But even more, I stand amazed at how the Lord worked through it all and the blessings He poured into our life throughout. I am so grateful to Joanna Gaines for putting together such a fabulous cookbook and for having the mission of “the art of togetherness”! Her courage inspired mine and I hope it might also inspire you this upcoming new year. Or do you know someone who might be inspired through it? Share this post with them! This cooking through a cookbook in a year resolution may not help you achieve your health goals, but I promise it will push you out of your comfort zone, provide joy, fun times with friends and family and new ways to approach sharing life with those around you. In the end, this journey has been entirely worth it.

Happy cooking!