Lemon Cakes for a Snowy Day

Today I made Joy The Baker's lemon-drenched lemon cake. And then I ate half.


It's cold and snowy again. I've reached that point in the winter where I simultaneously believe spring is just around the corner and that it will never be warm again.

To celebrate/cope, I created a pretty fantastic Pandora station. I've been pretty pleased with today's soundtrack. It makes me feel like I'll see the sun again.

Happy January!

Last night some of my truly wonderful friends from the farm visited. We had a great time playing The Game of Things... (Thanks, Betsy!) and watching Friday the 13th.

We also made lentil curry bowls and they were incredible! Really, you have to try this dish. We had to make some adjustments based on what spices were available at the store (tandoori masala and green thai chile paste, for example), but it turned out well even so. It was also fun to make the dish with my friends because we all work well together.

This was a perfect start to 2015.

Roasted Beets

This post, written by my husband, was originally featured on our currently-dormant food blog, Feeding My Love. It's such a great simple recipe for the fall and winter, I just had to share it here.


Beets can be a somewhat vexing vegetable to tackle if you are unfamiliar with them.  They have a fairly sweet flavor that takes ownership of most dishes in which they are incorporated, and the ruby red color will infiltrate anything that you add them to (and do a number on skin and clothing, as well).  I find that the easiest way to cook them also results in the tastiest results, so I roast them whole.  Less work, less mess, delicious end product.

When selecting beets, try to get a group that are uniform in size, which will simplify the cooking process even further.  A larger beet will take longer to cook then a smaller one; it's as simple as that.  Choose beets that have fresh, vibrant leaves still attached and that are heavy and very firm.

Get the beets home and cut off the stems very close to the beets themselves.  I save the greens to put into soups and other dishes.  Wash the beets thoroughly, place them whole in an oven safe dish, and bake for about an hour at 375F.  Pull them out and let them cool down enough to peel, then slice and serve them.  Roasting the beets intensifies the flavor, as opposed to boiling them.  Cooked beets are also easier to peel and much, much easier to slice  We like them as a hot side dish to roasted chicken, or served cold the next day for lunch with egg salad (or some of that leftover chicken).

Healthy Homemade Popcorn

I have a confession.

I'm pretty lazy when it comes to food. 

By the time I get home from a full day of teaching, I just want to curl up on the couch until Jesse comes home from work and feeds me.

I can't do that every day though. Sometimes he works until ten or later. I'd die!

So when I say this popcorn method is fast and easy, understand where I'm coming from.

It's not only simple to make, it's also better tasting and better for you than bagged popcorn (Fake butter? Ew).

It's really an all around win.

Healthy Homemade Popcorn

1. Melt 1-2 tablespoons of bacon grease (or olive oil if you're not into that) in a THICK bottomed pan over medium heat. The thick pan will prevent burning.
2. Add 1/4 cup popcorn kernels. Give the pan a swirl to disperse everything evenly.
3. Cover pan for about 3 minutes. 
4. When you hear it start to pop, give it a little shake every 45 seconds or so. This will keep the popped corn from burning and help move the kernels around.
5. Once the popping slows down (you'll know) turn off the heat immediately. Let stand for another minute with the lid on to prevent rogue pops from throwing popcorn all over the stove. Not that that's ever happened or anything.
6. Transfer into a large bowl and sprinkle with salt. Done!

You can also try some fun flavor variations!

• Pop the corn in olive oil with a sprig of rosemary.
• Add chocolate chips for a salty-sweet treat.
• Serve with a dash of BBQ rub for a hot and smoky snack.
• Bacon: it makes everything better.

Do you have any favorite add-ins for your popcorn?

Do you like things that are delicious?

Then check out the blog Jesse and I created where he makes yummy things for me to eat:

Feeding My Love

Microwave Cheesecake Brownie in a Mug

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Start here to learn more about this blog!

This fudgey treat is quick and easy to make.

What you need:

4 tbsp flour

3 tbsp sugar

2 tbsp cocoa powder

1 pinch sea salt

2 tbsp milk

2 tbsp vegetable oil

1 tbsp cream cheese

ALL the ingredients!

1. In a mug, combine the dry ingredients. Mix well.

Dry ingredients

2. Mix in the milk and oil. Be sure to get the corners of the mug, where pockets of dry ingredients might hide.

Delicious chocolate goo

3. Fold in the cream cheese. Don't overdo it - you just want a swirl of cream cheese throughout.

Creamy cheese

4. Microwave for one minute, until batter firms up, but is still moist and gooey.

Hot and yummy.

5. Dig in as is, or enjoy with a scoop of ice cream on top!

San Francisco Part 5: The People

This whole trip couldn't have been possible without the generosity of my awesome cousin Steph. I really had fun hanging out with her, and she helped us make the trip amazing.

We also met a few neat people.

Rainn Wilson and Steph.

Cooking up an awesome dinner.

Lars Rasmussen, one of the guys behind Google Maps. Also a really rad dude. Be still, my geeky heart.

I can't wait to go back.

San Francisco Part 4: The City

We explored San Francisco in the best ways: walking and eating. The weather was beautiful, so when we weren't riding the cable cars or with Steph, we walked and explored.

Steph took us to the market where we had the most decadent, luscious hot chocolate ever and a delicious Mexican-y breakfast plate. 

Wandering around SF at twilight.

The famed cable cars.

The most un-straight road in the world (or so they say).

You haven't been to the West Coast until you've had an In-N-Out burger

We walked across the Golden Gate Bridge.

Then we kept walking.

Then we walked even further.

Hanging on to the side of a cable car.

I fell in love with this city.

San Francisco Part 1: Google

Update:  Check out my more recent posts here on Chocolate and Bacon. I write about travel, crafts, education, history, books, and more! If you're looking for recipes, check out my other blog, Feeding My Love.

This post has been a long time coming. Last Thanksgiving Chris and I made plans to visit my cousin Steph in San Francisco. When we got back to school we booked our flight out. 

Early one January morning, my future brother-in-law drove Chris and I to Newark. We left behind a New Jersey winter and said "hello" to the mild climate of Northern California.

Our first adventure was touring the YouTube and Google offices. It was better than Disney for a Google fan-girl like me.

My sister was in Dubai, so we thought we'd visit, too.

The last time Steph and I were on vacation together, we went to Disney World. Ten years later we revisit my favorite ride.

Spacecraft hanging form the ceiling, nbd.

Oh yeah, Rainn Wilson was there, too.

The food alone is reason enough to visit. We opted for an Asian-themed lunch.

Bikes to help you get around the campus quickly.

Where are we?

Yes, I could name all the desserts.

Bonus! Tour of Stanford University. Very Sunnydale ;)

And that was all just the first day!

Homemade Chai Syrup

Update: If you're looking for more recipes, check out my other blog, Feeding My Love. Also, check out my more recent posts here on Chocolate and Bacon. I write about travel, crafts, education, history, books, and more!

Very tasty! I eyeballed the ingredients. Also, it doesn't get syrupy, exactly. More like a little thicker.

Original post.