Game Day Food Round Up

You may have heard that this Sunday is kind of a big deal. Guys, there are commercials on tv. I know! Some of them may even be funny. It's hard to wrap your head around, so, go ahead, take a moment.

The best part of these commercials is the food you are expected to eat for the duration. (oh, and beer. I think there's beer involved.) I've collected a few options I think might be worth trying.

Guacamole, kind of a no-brainer, yes. Why don't you try it with some homemade chips to up the wow factor?

Black Bean & Sweet Potato Chili is easy, healthy, and sure to please palates.

Spicy Gingerbread Cookies - vegan

There are those who would say that cookies are not for January. They advocate celery sticks. There are those who would say that gingerbread cookies are not for January. They sequester gingerbread to the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas. They are missing out. Also, we're probably not bffs, so they're really missing out.

Luckily, some of us are pro-cookies any time of the year. And, yes, I most definitely fall into that camp as well as the one that believes cookies are acceptable for breakfast, at least some of the time. Mr Official Taster? Well, he could eat (and has!) gingerbread morning, noon, and night.

Cinnamon (optional raisin) English Muffin Bread - vegan

It's January, which means it's cold, cloudy, hibernating weather pretty much everywhere in the country. (I like this visual) Perhaps you've hunkered down with some hearty chili or savory paella? Well, I think you should add this loaf to your winter repertoire, especially if you are new to bread baking. This is a yeast bread, which I know scares some people, but it's super easy and you don't even need to knead it.

Happy Birthday Card Round Up - free printables

Guys, it's my birthday weekend! I'm psyched to eat cupcakes and have two days off from work to spend with Mr Official Taster and the puppies. In case you need a card for someone, here are a few cute ones I found via Pinterest (where else?).

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I hope your weekend has some fun cupcakes!

The Bakery Chronicles

People, I can't make this stuff up.

Actual conversation with customer:

Me: Can I help you?
Him: Do you have any sugar free cakes?
Me: Hmmm, no it looks like we're out, but we do have some no sugar added pies.
Him: Do you have vegan cakes?
Me: [probably too incredulously] Vegan and sugar free?
Him: No, just vegan.
Me: Sure, here in this case. Today we have German chocolate, vanilla, and a chocolate torte. The German chocolate is the best.
Him: What about your cheesecakes? Do they have egg in them?
Me: [working on expressionless] I'm pretty sure they do- let me double check the ingredient list....yes, they have eggs. [no eye rolls, no eye rolls, no eye rolls]
Him: ok. I'll have the German chocolate vegan cake then.

People. People. My advice today is this: if you are trying to fit a dessert into a diet, just let the poor worker bee helping you know at the beginning of the conversation. It'll go much better for everyone, I promise.

Hello again

So, hi. It's been awhile. In fact, I haven't said "hi" since last year (har har). But, really, I've been absent and I know it.

It turns out that an absent spouse does not, in fact, mean more blogging as I thought it would. You see, Mr Official Taster, was in Stockholm (yup, in Sweden) for five weeks. He left in mid-November and returned right before Christmas.

I had plans, people. I was going to blog a lot and take Roomba on a lot of long walks and Christmas-ify the apartment and redecorate and generally Super Single Woman it up. I tried to tackle blog things, really, I did. I have some recipes drafted without photos and some photos waiting for recipes. I thought about posting, and I felt guilty for not. Plans sort of evaporated; you see, a household that formerly functioned with two (alleged) adults doesn't just simplify itself for one. One tired-all-the-time-full-time-baker-in-the-chaotic-season adult. It was an educational five weeks, because, as it turns out, I can't do it all, all by myself, all of the time. I think that's a good lesson to learn heading into a new year.

So I'm going to finish up my vacation, guilt free, and then come back next week to start my fourth (!!) year of blogging. If you need some virtual warm breezes to cheer up your (snowy?) January, follow me on Instagram @ ShortandSweets

What did you learn in 2012?