Opening the vault: 26 years of our best recipes


(Los Angeles Times)

JUST A BITE: One of our most popular recipes from 2006 was this appetizer for bruschetta with burrata and radicchio marmalade. Click here for the recipe.

The L.A. Times Test Kitchen tests hundreds of recipes a year. So coming up with our favorite recipes of 2010 was not an easy task. As the L.A. Times Food staff winnowed down the list to 10 favorites, we decided to throw open the vault and show the "best of" years past.

-- Rene Lynch

Want even more recipes? Check out our online collection at www.latimes.com/recipes -- and bookmark that site. We're constantly adding new recipes.

You can also follow our test-kitchen triumphs and the occasional mishaps at our food blog, latimes.com/dailydish.


<b>Top 10 recipes of 2010 (plus five runners-up):</b> Hickory-smoked baby back ribs, a grown-up rice pudding, dumplings, Paradise bars and more.

Top 10 recipes of 2010 (plus five runners-up): Hickory-smoked baby back ribs, a grown-up rice pudding, dumplings, Paradise bars and more.

<b>Top 10 recipes of 2009:</b> Pizza Margherita, sizzling shrimp, quinoa salad, shortcakes, chewy bars, potato gratin with caramelized onions and prosciutto and more.

Top 10 recipes of 2009: Pizza Margherita, sizzling shrimp, quinoa salad, shortcakes, chewy bars, potato gratin with caramelized onions and prosciutto and more.

<b>Top 10 recipes of 2008 (plus five runners-ups):</b> Maple bacon biscuits, walnut and raisin pie, halibut baked in parchment, basque-style chicken and more.

Top 10 recipes of 2008 (plus five runners-ups): Maple bacon biscuits, walnut and raisin pie, halibut baked in parchment, basque-style chicken and more.

<b>Top 10 recipes of 2007:</b> Lemon upside-down cake, shrimp tacos with pumpkin seed sauce, brown sugar pound cake, <i>paletas</i> and more.

Top 10 recipes of 2007: Lemon upside-down cake, shrimp tacos with pumpkin seed sauce, brown sugar pound cake, paletas and more.

<b>Top 10 recipes of 2006:</b> Open-faced manchego and fig sandwich, monkfish with clams and chorizo, roast chicken with truffles and more.

Top 10 recipes of 2006: Open-faced manchego and fig sandwich, monkfish with clams and chorizo, roast chicken with truffles and more.

<b>Top 10 recipes of 2005:</b> Lentil and duck salad, slow-roasted pork, chef Nancy Silverton's burgers, pear and cardamom upside-down cake and more.

Top 10 recipes of 2005: Lentil and duck salad, slow-roasted pork, chef Nancy Silverton's burgers, pear and cardamom upside-down cake and more.

<b>Top 10 recipes of 2004:</b> Spinach and parmesan tart, fig and almond tart, vegetable ragout, crisp-skinned salmon and more.

Top 10 recipes of 2004: Spinach and parmesan tart, fig and almond tart, vegetable ragout, crisp-skinned salmon and more.

<b>Top 10 recipes of 2003:</b> Pear cobbler, cardamom sweet rolls, grapefruit granita, chile poblano polenta and more.

Top 10 recipes of 2003: Pear cobbler, cardamom sweet rolls, grapefruit granita, chile poblano polenta and more.

<b>Top 10 recipes of 2002:</b> Mac and cheese, burgers, artichoke stew, dinner rolls, chocolate sparkle cookies and more.

Top 10 recipes of 2002: Mac and cheese, burgers, artichoke stew, dinner rolls, chocolate sparkle cookies and more.

<b>Top 10 recipes of 2001:</b> Sun-dried tomato-stuffed eggs, peanut butter cream pie, heirloom tomato risotto, grilled halibut, hazelnut crisps and more.

Top 10 recipes of 2001: Sun-dried tomato-stuffed eggs, peanut butter cream pie, heirloom tomato risotto, grilled halibut, hazelnut crisps and more.

<b>Top 10 recipes of 2000:</b> Cauliflower curry, upside-down cranberry cake, pork ribs, roasted artichokes and more.

Top 10 recipes of 2000: Cauliflower curry, upside-down cranberry cake, pork ribs, roasted artichokes and more.

<b>Top 10 recipes of 1999:</b> Grilled pork chops with a poblano cream sauce, date squares, oven-steamed salmon, Christmas bread and butter pickles and more.

Top 10 recipes of 1999: Grilled pork chops with a poblano cream sauce, date squares, oven-steamed salmon, Christmas bread and butter pickles and more.

<b>Top 12 recipes of 1998:</b> Steamed corned beef and cabbage, a turkey tonnato sandwich, cinnamon buns, a cassoulet and more.

Top 12 recipes of 1998: Steamed corned beef and cabbage, a turkey tonnato sandwich, cinnamon buns, a cassoulet and more.

<b>Top 10 recipes of 1997:</b> Blackberry ice cream, lemon meringue pie, a Chinese twist on turkey, pho, risotto and more.

Top 10 recipes of 1997: Blackberry ice cream, lemon meringue pie, a Chinese twist on turkey, pho, risotto and more.

<b>Top 10 recipes of 1996:</b>Mexican paella, grapefruit ice, lamb shank korma, old-fashioned strawberry shortcake, wild blueberry buckle and more.

Top 10 recipes of 1996:Mexican paella, grapefruit ice, lamb shank korma, old-fashioned strawberry shortcake, wild blueberry buckle and more.

<b>Top 10 recipes of 1995 (plus three runners-ups):</b> Ribs, apricot-almond clafoutis, balsamic squash puree, pork shoulder stuffed with prunes and plums and more.

Top 10 recipes of 1995 (plus three runners-ups): Ribs, apricot-almond clafoutis, balsamic squash puree, pork shoulder stuffed with prunes and plums and more.

<b>Top 10 recipes of 1994:</b> Dal, saag and garbanzos fritos, old-fashioned milk chocolate cake and more.

Top 10 recipes of 1994: Dal, saag and garbanzos fritos, old-fashioned milk chocolate cake and more.

<b>Top 10 recipes of 1993:</b> Grilled beef salad, Minorcan-style duck, June blueberry pie and more.

Top 10 recipes of 1993: Grilled beef salad, Minorcan-style duck, June blueberry pie and more.

<b>Top 12 recipes of 1992:</b> Chocolate-buckwheat tarts, roasted duck with sauteed apples and honey, and chicken with walnuts and more.

Top 12 recipes of 1992: Chocolate-buckwheat tarts, roasted duck with sauteed apples and honey, and chicken with walnuts and more.

<b>Top 10 recipes of 1991:</b> Caramel corn, Georgian cheese bread, seafood in coconut milk, bourbon-chocolate-pecan cake and more.

Top 10 recipes of 1991: Caramel corn, Georgian cheese bread, seafood in coconut milk, bourbon-chocolate-pecan cake and more.

<b>Top 10 recipes of 1990:</b> Apple and cream crumb cake, bagna cauda, vegetarian red bean stew, holiday fruitcake, Eureka butterscotch pudding and more.

Top 10 recipes of 1990: Apple and cream crumb cake, bagna cauda, vegetarian red bean stew, holiday fruitcake, Eureka butterscotch pudding and more.

<b>The Top 12 recipes of 1989:</b> Autumn crisp salad with persimmon dressing, lemon squares, chicken curry salad, something called "Molded Chick-A-Roni Coup" and more.

The Top 12 recipes of 1989: Autumn crisp salad with persimmon dressing, lemon squares, chicken curry salad, something called "Molded Chick-A-Roni Coup" and more.

<b>The Top 12 recipes of 1988:</b> A chocolate chestnut gateau, potato, leek and fennel soup, eggplant parmigiana, crackerjack shrimp and more.

The Top 12 recipes of 1988: A chocolate chestnut gateau, potato, leek and fennel soup, eggplant parmigiana, crackerjack shrimp and more.

<b>The Top 12 recipes of 1987:</b> Fluffy orange rolls, Donna's beef pot pies, soft chocolate chip cookies, prawn rolls, barbecued chicken and ribs and more.

The Top 12 recipes of 1987: Fluffy orange rolls, Donna's beef pot pies, soft chocolate chip cookies, prawn rolls, barbecued chicken and ribs and more.

<b>The Top 12 recipes of 1986:</b> Fairy pie, beef paprikash, Camelion's creme brulee and more.

The Top 12 recipes of 1986: Fairy pie, beef paprikash, Camelion's creme brulee and more.

<b>The Top 12 recipes of 1985:</b> Nachos, chianti pesto, buttermilk cinnamon coffeecake, oatmeal coconut muffins and more.

The Top 12 recipes of 1985: Nachos, chianti pesto, buttermilk cinnamon coffeecake, oatmeal coconut muffins and more.

Copyright © 2012, The Los Angeles Times

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