honey chamomile cake.

The truth is, my mind has totally been freaking out lately. It all stems from the fact that I only have one semester left of college and, in my minorly self-deprecating opinion, no idea what I'm doing with my life. I've been trying to practice mindfulness, reminding myself that everything will work out, to focus on one day at a time, and I am indeed talented.

Don't get me wrong, I'm so supremely excited to see what the rest of my life will be like. For now, the eternal amount of possibilites whizzing through my brain sometimes seems to be too much. I wish they'd calm down and remember that what matters right now is right now.

My lovely love told me this week that "the future is just a bunch of tomorrows". He might of thought it was a little funny, I thought it was a lot wise. The thunderstorms in Minneapolis last night came at a good time as it seemed like a warm invitation to spend a night alone and release some negative energy. I threw on my new Laura Marling vinyl, and baked a cake.

This honey chamomile cake is really nice. A classic nighttime soother takes the form of a simple cake. I hope you'll use good quality honey; the flavor will really come through. I enjoyed my piece with some homemade jam. It was nice.

This a a wonderful day. I've never seen this one before. // Maya Angelou

Honey Chamomile Cake

1 cup good quality honey

1 egg

3 Tbs melted coconut oil (sub butter or canola oil)

1/2 milk, barely boiling

The contents of three chamomile tea bags

1/2 tsp vanilla

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prepare one eight inch cake pan.

Empty contents of tea bags into milk and let steep for ten minutes.

Place honey in the bowl of a stand mixer and beat on high for three minutes. Add egg, coconut oil, milk (with tea leaves), and vanilla and beat for one more minute.

Add flour, baking powder, and salt into mixer and beat until combined. 

Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 35 minutes or until a toothpick, inserted, comes out clean.

Let cool completely before slicing. (dust with powdered sugar, if desired)

blueberry cornmeal bread.

I made you bread because it's almost summer and I'm into it. My excitement relating to farmer's markets is unmanageable, I actually can't believe I've gotten one of my seedlings to sprout, and the amount of desire I have to wear shoes equals zero.

I also made you this bread because after a weekend of long car rides and flight delays, when I got home rom the airport at 11pm, all I wanted to do was bake. I realize no one does this but hope some people do.

Blueberry Cornmeal Bread (adapted from Joy the Baker)

Makes one standard loaf.

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup whole wheat flour (or sub more AP flour)

1 cup cornmeal

1/2 cup sugar

1 1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 C butter, melted

1/2 cup honey

1 1/4 C buttermilk

2 large eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1-1 1/2 C fresh or frozen blueberries. Or any other fruit, really.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and prepare one loaf pan.

Whisk together flours, sugar, baking powder, and salt.

In another bowl whisk together honey, butter, buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla.

Combine wet ingredients into dry, stirring until just combined.

Gently fold in blueberries.

Bake for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick, inserted, comes out clean.

ampersands and amperSAM FELD.

My junior year of college is officially over and in about an hour, I'll make my way over to the airport so I can see my sister graduate. 

Time goes by pretty fast.

There's lots to be learned from this sister of mine. Lots concerning mindfulness, creativity, stress relief strategies, and taming curly hair. We share affinities for trashy television, cookies (surprise.), Degrassi, The Spice Girls, and socks. 

THERE'S THAT LITTLE NUGGET OF A SISTER.

She's an incredible artist and human and sister &&&&&&&&&&&& she's got a permanent spot on my top five list of loveliest souls.

Oh, we're crafting?

I made you an ampersand ring. I hope you like saying "ampersand" as much as I do.

DIY Ampersand Ring

Materials: four inches of wire, one bead, and pliers.

Step One: Slip bead onto one end of the wire and make a loop around it using your pliers.

Step Two: Make another loop about 1/4 inch up from the bead. Maybe a tad more.

Step Three: If you're using round-nose pliers this is super simple. Wrap the wire around the base of the nose (Is this correct terminology. Do I care.).

Step Four: Grab something to mold your ring around. The easiest thing for me is a tube of chapstick. Hold the ampersand in place and wrap the wire around the chapstick.

Step Five: Trim if necessary and make a loop at the end of the wire to finish.