2012 was a year of growth.
Growth of this blog – AnnaShortcakes reached 20,000 views and featured 253 new posts.
My cousins and I at Big Ed’s Pizza in Oak Ridge, TN.
Growth of this novice chef – I tried new things like wine tasting, smoking meat, canning Pear Vanilla Jam and Lemon Curd, gardening on my own (normally done with my extended family), and traveled to new places like Mount Vernon, Virginia and Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia.
I can’t wait to see what the New Year holds. I am adding a new monthly post called “In My Kitchen” inspired by Fig and Lime Cordial‘s Celia. I have already added a Twitter account; you can follow me at @annashortcakes. I also plan to travel more, try new foods, and continue my search for fantastic new recipes.
In my kitchen…
… is the KitchenAid Stand Mixer Attachment Pack that includes a slicer, a grinder, and sausage stuffer attachment. A gift from my thoughtful hubby. I cannot wait to try it out. If you have meat you want fresh ground, we can go halves on the meat. I hope someone brings me a deer carcass. I am going to use the grinder to quick chop all kinds of summer vegetables to speed the canning process for my mother-in-law’s tomato soup recipe.
In my kitchen…
… is a gorgeous Pampered Chef baking stone. Thanks to my in-laws for this awesome gift. I can’t wait to bake like crazy!
In my kitchen…
… is a bowl full of real Florida grapefruit. Picked by a family friend from the tree in their yard, these grapefruits are way better than any you might buy in the store. And the uglier they are, the better they taste.
In my kitchen…
… is a bottle of Cranberry-Lime Infused Vodka ready for me to buy the limeade concentrate so we can try the crantini.
What is in your kitchen this month?
AnnaShortcakes 
I love those ugly grapefruit!
You got some nice kitchen gifts- Pampered Chef stoneware is great- and I love to keep a pizza stone in my oven to help regulate the temperature.
Thanks for sharing your kitchen this month!
Thanks for visiting my kitchen. Be sure to come back soon!
Hi Anna, That cranberry infused vodka looks interesting. I have never seen a fresh cranberry before (only dried ones). Very cool indeed.
It’s a shame you don’t have any fresh cranberries to try…
I can’t wait to see more too. You had a fantastic year. Here’s to 2013.
Thanks Greg!
Thanks for the infused vodka. It taste great straight!!!!!!
Anna, thanks for playing, it’s great to peek into your kitchen! The cranberry infused vodka looks great, and I think you’ve just inspired me to try a new brew! The kitchenaid attachment looks great – we have an old mincer on our Kenwood and use it all the time, but I’d dearly love a sausage stuffer as well!
All the very best for a wonderful 2013!
IMK is such a fun post to do! Enjoyed seeing into your kitchen…love the Vodka!
Sorry it has taken me so long to reply to your comment. Somehow it slipped through… I love the IMK posts too. Seeing the environment in which people prepare their posts is neat. It’s kind of like driving past a house at night and looking through the windows of their living rooms. It tells you so much about those who live inside…