Lately Favorites (in links)

Hi All!
I'm so, so sorry I've been missing from this space for so long. Sometimes life gets busy and the last few months have been super crazy. However, I'll be back for good! I even photographed a recipe for you this evening (hallelujah for more daylight hours) that will be coming soon along with a few other updates to the blog. Stay tuned for that! In the meantime please enjoy some links of things that inspired me/made me laugh/made me want to spend all my money!

Blueberry Bundt Cake tea - I splurged on a canister of this stuff and it is bonkers delicious. It truly is cake in a cup, and satisfies my sugar craving in the late afternoon at work. So perfect!

I'm OBSESSED with the tv show Lost. And yes, I realize it ended 1,000 years ago, but I just can't stop. I think I originally got pulled in because Ian Somerhalder is in it and...well...yes to his face (Hi Ian! Call me!), but I'm seriously addicted now. I dream about coming home from work, removing my makeup, and watching Lost from my bed for the remainder of the day.  Someone help!

When I'm not watching Lost, my brain is intrigued by The Body Book written by Cameron Diaz. It's funny, easy to read, and seriously interesting. It's all about how your body works and how food works with your body to keep you healthy. So interesting and a really great way to think about food. 

Along with my new found interest in nutrition (drum roll please).....i've started running! I thought I hated running, but I don't! It makes me feel good, and for me, I think it was all about finding a place I was comfortable. I don't really like going to a gym and running outside where everyone in my small town could see me isn't really my deal either. So, I started running in the little community behind my house. The people are friendly, and it's nice to get outside! Just to keep it real, I tried to figure out how I could watch Lost while I'm running...I really do have a problem. 

I'm also trying to drink more water. Heck, who isn't trying to drink more water? I guess the trick for me is a cute cup...why does that even surprise me? I've been keeping this one at my desk, and averaging about 60 ounces of water per day by 5pm. In case you're wondering, that's also approximately 8,954 bathroom trips by 5pm too. 

See you soon! :)

root beer bundt cake with fudge frosting

We're starting the week off right with a chocolate cake that's spiked with root beer and topped with a thick layer of the fudgiest frosting you'll ever have. 

I can hear you all being weirded out that there's root beer in this cake, but everyone hold your horses. The root beer brings out a really rich chocolate flavor, and gives a really interesting spice kick. It's actually really delicious and I may just end up adding root beer to all my chocolate cakes from now on..really! It's that delicious.

Can I also just say how absolutely crazy it is that it's already the third month of 2014?! I hope we move quickly through the rest of the snow and cold temperatures and then slow wayyyy down when the warmer weather arrives. Ahhhh. I've been dreaming of hikes, days spent out on the lake, and flip flops. I bet this cake would be perfect for a picnic too. The icing sets a little so it would be perfect for traveling. Plus, root beer just reminds me of summertime.

Root Beer Bundt Cake with Fudgy Frosting

recipe from the Baked Cookbook

For the Cake

2 cups root beer (don't use diet!)

1 cup dark unsweetened cocoa powder

1 stick unsalted butter

1 1/4 cups sugar

1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. While the oven heats spray the inside of a bundt pan with nonstick spray and set aside. Also set out an additional stick of butter to soften for the frosting!

Meanwhile, heat the root beer, cocoa powder, and butter over medium heat until the butter is melted. Add both sugars and whisk until dissolved. Remove pan from the heat and let cool.

In a large bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, and salt together. Set aside.

In a small bowl beat eggs slightly and then whisk into the cooled root beer mixture. Pour the liquid ingredients into the flour. Gently fold the wet and dry ingredients together into everything has been combined. The batter will be very lumpy - just make sure all the flour has been incorporated.

Pour batter into the prepared pan and bake for 35 to 40 minutes until a knife inserted into the cake comes out clean. Transfer cake to a wire cooling rack and cool completely. Remove cake from the pan and prepare to make the frosting.

For the Frosting

2 ounces dark chocolate, melted and cooled

1 stick unsalted better, softened

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup root beer

2/3 cup dark unsweetened cocoa powder

2 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Put all ingredients into the bowl of a stand mixer. Start incorporating the ingredients on low speed so the cocoa powder and powdered sugar don't explode all over your kitchen. Once those two ingredients are incorporated turn your mixer up to high and beat for a minute or so.

Frost your cooled cake in a thick layer and decorate with whatever you want - I used pink gum balls!