Recipe: BLT Egg Muffins

I like making things in muffin tins. (Exhibit A) I also like easy/healthy/filling breakfasts that I can eat on the go (Exhibit B). So when a friend posted a drool-inducing Facebook post about bacon and egg muffins, I quickly decided that I wanted to create a bacon, lettuce and tomato (BLT) version.

These are good on their own but I think these would be even better topped with fresh avocado slices and a few drops of your favorite hot sauce. I think that avocado and hot sauce make most things better.

Oh, and while you could use regular bacon, I opted for turkey bacon and still found them to be delicious. According to my calculations, each egg muffin, without toppings, is approximately 115 calories. Two of these are a perfect, substantial workday breakfast for me.

Makes: 8 muffins

Ingredients:
8 slices turkey or regular* bacon
8 whole eggs or egg whites
A handful of arugula, chopped
2 tomatoes, seeded and chopped
Garlic powder
Avocado and hot sauce for topping (optional)

Nonstick spray

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Spray muffin tin with nonstick spray. 
3. Wrap a piece of bacon around the inside of each cup of the muffin tin. Divide the chopped arugula and diced tomatoes between the cups. 
4. Crack an egg into each cup (or pour in egg whites) and top with a pinch of garlic powder. 
5. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until eggs are set. Let cool slightly and then pop out muffins to eat immediately or pack up and refrigerate for a future grab-and-go meal. 

* If you use regular bacon, you will probably want to transfer the cooked muffins to paper towels to soak up some of the grease.

Cuba, te quiero!

Since I last posted, I went to Cuba! It was amazing.

Let me repeat that. It. Was. AMAZING.

Sunset over Old Havana. View from one of the rooftop bars at our hotel.

I have been asked a lot of questions but I find it challenging to put how incredible the entire experience was into words. Hence the reason for the delay in this post as well. Since words can't quite capture the trip, I decided to share a selection of my favorite photos and I am including captions to provide at least some level of detail.

If you find yourself thinking of specific questions, please please please feel free to post a question (or ten) in a comment section and I will respond as I am able. If I don't know the answer, I'll try my best to point you in the right direction.

Our hotel. SO fancy.
Yes, there are old American cars all over the place.

Life in Old Havana.

Perfume shop. Old Havana.

Strolling down Obispo Street in Old Havana.

Patty-cake and bananas. Old Havana.

One of the restaurants where we consumed mass amounts of rum and food.

All of the food we ate was DELICIOUS.
Pictured above: cheese plate,
chicken with sour orange sauce, black beans and rice,
and a grilled lobster tail. 

Visiting an organic farm.
While 75% of the food consumed in Cuba is imported,
about 65% of the produce is grown within the country.
This farm provides the produce for our hotel.

"Papa Hemingway" daiquiris at Floridita and the bell at his house.
(If he liked you, he would ring the bell and let you in.
If he didn't like you, he would hide.)

Cretin's Corner at the Revolution Museum.
Our tour guide: "We didn't really like Bush."
Us, in unison: "Neither did we!"

Lunch in Piñar del Rio, one of the most beautiful places.

The "Mural de Prehistoria" in Piñar del Rio. Got to love the 1950s.

Visiting with a tobacco farmer.
Piñar del Rio is the "Napa Valley" of tobacco.

Our childfree family enjoyed this sign.
Hotel Nacional, Havana.

Vamos a ir a Cuba!

We are going to go to Cuba! If it isn't translating well to the interwebs, let me make it clear that I am extremely excited. Not only because I have never been there but also because it has been almost three years since our last international trip (our honeymoon) and we planned this trip almost a year ago. Oh, and it is CUBA! 

Our trip preparation has been primarily focused on getting accustomed to the food and beverages that we will hopefully encounter. 

Practicing our mojito drinking and ceviche and plantains eating.

Alright, we haven't just been drinking and eating. We have also been reading lots of articles and watching programs about Cuba. Which has only increased my excitement. Needless to say, I will be taking LOTS of photos. 

When I tell people about our trip, there are a few questions that come up most often. These include: 

FAQ #1: Is that legal?!?

Answer: Yes. There are some extra steps (for Americans) to go but it is completely legal. You have to fill out paperwork, as part of the "research license" process, but it isn't shared unless asked for when returning to the states. No big deal. We are also going as part of a group through a travel company which makes travel there a lot easier. Our group is only 12 people, all of whom know each other through at least one other person in the group. Once we arrive in Cuba, we have a local guide and an itinerary that is a nice balance of tours and free-time. 

FAQ #2: How are you getting there?!?

Answer: Um...a plane? Isn't that how you would get there? We happen to be flying through Mexico and are spending a few days there on the way. (Side note: I have also never been to Mexico!)

FAQ #3: Are you going to go scuba diving? 

Answer: No. (Seriously, this has been a frequently asked question.)

I will report back, with photos, after our trip!

Recipe: Chorizo & Black Bean Chili (Vegan and Gluten-Free)

This is a healthy and hearty vegan and gluten-free chili. It can be whipped up in under an hour although I recommend letting it simmer longer, because chili only gets better the longer the flavors have to get to know each other.

I considered taking more photos while cooking this dish but I wasn't sure if it would turn out all that good and, at the time, thought to myself, "if it turns out to be delicious I will just make it again and do a better job at documenting the process." Well, it turned out quite tasty and I didn't want to wait to share it. So there you go, that photo above is all you get.

We served this chili for a dinner and game night as part of a baked potato bar. In addition to the baked potatoes and chili, we laid out various toppings for our guests to choose from, including: diced avocado, crumbled bacon, shredded cheddar and pepperjack cheeses, light sour cream, salsa, hot sauces, corn "scoop" chips, and chopped green onions and chives.

Chorizo & Black Bean Chili

Serves: 8 - 10

Vegan and Gluten-free

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1 yellow onion, chopped
• 2 red bell peppers, seeded and chopped
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
• 12 ounces soy chorizo (this one is our favorite) 
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 1 tablespoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 3, 15-ounce cans black beans, drained and rinsed
• 3, 15-ounce cans diced tomatoes (no salt added)
• Approximately 1 cup vegetable broth 
• Salt and pepper
• Toppings of your choice

Directions

1. Heat oil in a large dutch oven or pot over medium heat. Add onion and bell peppers and cook, stirring occasionally until softened and the onions are beginning to brown, approximately 10 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds, until nice and fragrant.
2. Remove the chorizo from the casing and crumble into pot. Cook, stirring often, until heated through, approximately 5 minutes.  
3. Add chili powder, cumin, paprika, black beans, diced tomatoes, and vegetable broth (amount of broth depends on your desired chili thickness). Stir to combine and bring to a simmer. 
4. Simmer uncovered for at least 20 - 30 minutes to combine flavors. Salt and pepper to taste. 
5. Serve with your favorite chili toppings. I highly recommend diced avocado and fresh herbs. 

January Cure -- Day 23 | Celebrate!

Day 23: February 1
Assignment: Enjoy your first weekend in your "cured" home.

I thoroughly enjoyed participating in the January Cure and am really happy with the outcomes. I revisited my project list from Day 1 -- crossed off the things that were completed, added and crossed off the additional things that I accomplished, and added some things that I realized I wanted to do through this process.

Project List Update:

Entry
Deep clean floors
Clean out/reorganize hall closet
Outbox

Living Room/Dining Room
Deep clean floors (these are the same ones as the entry)
Deep clean living room
Put away holiday decorations
Reorganize china/booze cabinets
Hang mirror

Kitchen
Deep clean floors (see above)
Deep clean kitchen
Hang NOLA signs above stove
Hang paper towel holder
Purchase/hang light(s) above sink (under cabinet lighting?)
Hang photo canvases

Family Room
Clean out/re-organize DVDs/Blu-rays
Paint shelves

Office
Hang diplomas
Hang guitars
Fix closet doors
Declutter and reorganize books
Declutter and reorganize paperwork

Guest Room
Hang Bosnia photos
Clean out/reorganize closet
Hang mirror

Bedroom
Deep clean bedroom
Reorganize dresser
Print, frame, and hang photo(s)
Clothes and shoe repairs

Bathroom
Deep clean bathroom
Declutter and reorganize under sink cabinet
Purchase/hang new towel rack(s)
Purchase/hang wall cabinet

I'm feeling great about how much I got done over the last month and I am hopeful that the rest of the list will be crossed off sooner rather than later.

As for this weekend, we have lots of fun planned which I report back about soon. 

January Cure -- Day 22 | Shop for Get Together

Day 22: Thursday, January 31
Assignment: Pick up the things you need for your get together this weekend

Well, this one is easy since we aren't having a get together this weekend. See Day 7 for details.

Tomorrow, after work, my honey and I will pick up the ingredients for a yummy dinner. Just the two of us. The rest of the weekend will be dedicated to a 5K Mud Run (Saturday) and avoiding sports (Sunday).

So is this the last day of the January Cure? I mean, that would make sense, seeing that today is the last day of January.

...

But what if I'm not ready for the January Cure to end?

...

It feels a bit anti-climatic.

...

Now what?

January Cure -- Day 21 | Speed Clean

Day 21: Wednesday, January 30

Assignment: Give your entryway, living room, kitchen and bathroom a quick clean

This assignment is intended to be preparation for the end of the January Cure celebratory get together. Although we aren't having a formal get together this weekend, I still gave this assignment a shot. 

When I read the Day 21 post on Apartment Therapy this morning, I laughed out loud at the part that said, "resists getting distracted..." I am SO easily distracted. However, I am also speedy. Let me take you through the 40ish minutes I spent completing this assignment. 

5:10 pm -- Arrived home from work, unpacked lunch bag & put my lunch dishes in dishwasher, changed into comfy non-work clothes.

5:20 pm -- Cleaned toilet, sprayed counters and sink in bathroom (to be left on for 10 minutes).

5:25 pm -- Put away a few clean dishes from dish drying rack.

5:28 pm -- Distracted by the fact that there were no paper towels sitting on the counter (we still need to hang our paper towel holder, by the way).

5:29 pm -- Went to garage and got two rolls of paper towels. Put one out on the counter and one under the kitchen sink.

5:31 pm -- Took out kitchen and bathroom trash and recycling.

5:32 pm -- Distracted by really weird looking bug on the wall by our recycling bin.

5:33 pm -- Went back inside to get my phone to take a photo of the weird looking bug. Photos:

Weird looking bug.

Seriously, what is that?!

5:34 pm -- Distracted by text from my honey, asking if we need anything from the store, and an e-mail...Returned text and e-mail. 

5:39 pm -- Put away rest of the clean dishes. Except for the wine pour thingy. 

5:42 pm -- Opened a bottle of wine and poured a glass. 

5:44 pm -- Sort mail on our "landing strip." 

5:49 pm -- Clean kitchen counters. 

5:52 pm -- Go back to bathroom to clean counters and sink. 

5:54 pm -- Took a photo of our "green" cleaning products. Photo: 

5:55 pm -- Dusted family room, living room and entryway. 

6:00 pm -- Sat down with the glass of wine from 5:42 pm.