oops I forgot it's 8:30pm and I need to bake a cake for tomorrow

Yes, the Queen of planning sometimes gets lost in the calamity that is life.  That and since my 3 year old woke up from his late nap, he has been joined to me at the hip.  Looking at the clock at 8:30pm I realized oops I forgot, it's 8:30pm and I need to bake a cake for tomorrow.  What to do?  Not a problem, dig out my trusty new bundt pan and grandma's chocolate cake recipe and hop to it.  Flour and cocoa sifted, coffee brewed and all ingredients combined and in my oven by 8:48pm.  New record for me, as in between I was updating this blog!  With the right weapons in your arsenal (bundt pan, and a full pantry) preparing a cake in 18 mins is a snap. I dare you to try!

Latte anyone?

For years I have been longing for an espresso machine that would keep me in the caffeine high I am accustomed to without the high prices of "Starsbucks" as my 3 year old calls it.  To make an investment of this amount it took some debate and heaving consideration.  The math was done and when I found a machine that was refurbished at $400 less it weighed it seemed to tip the scales in my favour.  What to do next???  Select my coffee of course.  Having my roots originating in Costa Rica there was no doubt where I would be getting my espresso beans from; Cafe Britt!  The coffee arrived in a few short days and well before I had a chance to go purchase the machine, was this the order I should be doing things in? No worries too late now...  I finally got over the delightful (insert sarcasm here) upper respiratory infection and was able to pick up my machine.  Lucky for me there was one left with my name on it!  The math said that if we made 2 lattes a day for 11 weeks instead of going to a cafe it would pay for itself in savings.  Now how fast do you think it would pay for itself if we upped that amount to 4-6 per day????  It's hard not to have more than one when the espresso is smooth and not bitter and the milk is heated to the right temp and the foam is plenty.  I even went as far as to pick up all my favorite syrups and sprinkles.  It makes getting up a little easier, even when you've only had a few hours sleep.  Best part; the commute is no existent and pj's are acceptable attire.  Second cup?  Of course!

Beef & Barley Stew

As the weather changes it's time to spruce up those dreary winter days.  A great way to do this is a warm and hearty stew.  Not just any stew, a beef & barley stew with red wine!  Since I posted this photo I have already had the recipe request a couple of times so here it goes....

Ingredients:
1 kg stewing beef, cubed, rinsed and pat dried
1 bottle of a hearty red wine (I used a Chilean Cab Sav)
Chopped or dehydrated garlic
2/3 cup Pearl onions
3 Carrots
1 Red pepper
1 small sweet potatoe, peeled
9 nugget yellow flesh potatoes
1 can sliced mushrooms
1 can diced tomatoes or 1 cup grated fresh tomatoes
2 TBSP Italian Seasoning (basil, oregano, marjoram, rosemary)
1/2 cup barley (pearl or pot barley both work fine)
Stock or water
Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 400F
In a dutch oven or other oven proof pot with a lid brown beef with 2 tbsp vegetable oil, salt and pepper.  Once brown add wine and stir to deglaze pan.  Continue cooking at med/high until 1/2 of the wine boils off. 
Chop veggies into similar sizes, if the nugget potatoes are small and tender no need to peel.  You can substitute regular potatoes but those should be peeled.  Add all veggies & barley and stir to coat.  Add seasoning and salt and pepper to taste.  Add enough stock or water to come up to the 3/4 full mark on your pot.  Cover and put in the oven for 45 mins.  Check occasionally to ensure there is enough liquid and add stock or water as needed. 

Serve with a crusty Italian bun or loaf and watch the dreariness disappear!