Between work and frequent weekend getaways, every week seems to be over more quickly than the previous one. We managed to fit plenty of fun and good eats into this one.

Evening Runs

I’ve always had a love-hate relationship with running. I love it because it’s a challenge, but I hate it because it doesn’t come naturally to me. I’ve been trying to run three days per week this summer and I’ve found my best runs are in the evening, just as the sun is starting to set. The temperature drops to a somewhat tolerable level and the sunsets make all of the sweat worth the effort. I tend to get really into the habit of running for a couple of months before runs disappear from my routine completely, so I’m trying hard to keep this streak going!

Bravetart: Iconic American Desserts

Our cat Lucia is clearly just as excited about this cookbook as I am! I put a hold on Bravetart at our local library and got my hands on it the day after it came out. Stella is a baking wizard and I’ve always admired the passion and precision she puts into her recipes. Her cookbook has recipes for classics like yellow cake with chocolate frosting and recipes for homemade versions of grocery store favorites, like Lofthouse-style cookies. The banana pudding is at the top of my list!

Parmesan Truffle Smashed Potatoes

I whipped these up to serve as a side dish with dinner last night because I wanted something that tasted like a treat. They did not disappoint! Smashed potatoes are my favorite kind because you get the soft inside and a crunchy skin — the best of both worlds. I’ll have this recipe for you next week.

Creekbend Vineyard

I finally made it out to Oliver Winery’s Ellettsville vineyard for Cork & Fork. The vineyard serves as the backdrop for live music that you can enjoy while sipping wine, munching on a picnic or grabbing a bite from a local food truck. The atmosphere is laid back and so much fun! We put a big blanket under the shade of a tree and had so much fun chatting all night while enjoying the gorgeous weather. I can’t wait to make a return trip!

What are you loving this week? Tell me in the comments!

The post Friday Favorites: Reads and Runs appeared first on The Broadcasting Baker.

Like with every Friday, I’m sharing some things I’m loving this week. I’d love to hear about some of your favorite things — tell me in the comments!

Birthday treats

I celebrated my 28th birthday this week and my friends, family and coworkers made it prettt amazing. I was showered with donuts from Rainbow Bakery and homemade brownies at work. And, James got me a chocolate peanut butter cake from Rainbow to celebrate after work. I’m a peanut butter fanatic, so James clearly knows the way to my heart  I’m still coming down from the sugar high!

Tuscan lemon tart candle

I’m a lemon lover, so I knew I would be burning this candle constantly. My parents gave it to me for my birthday and our house has smelled amazing ever since. I’m going to have to pick a couple more of these up next time I’m at the mall!

Korean BBQ

My parents came to town to celebrate my birthday a little early and we decided to try Korean BBQ for he first time. I was a big fan! We got a grill table at Mama’s Korean and all ordered different meats to try. The meat is served with rice, lettuce to use for wraps and eight Korean side dishes. You cook the meat yourself on a charcoal grill and I thought it was a blast! I love trying new foods and I know we will be going back for a date night soon. 

Ina’s Lemon Skillet Chicken

My mother-in-law got me Cooking for Jeffrey as a gift and I immediately made the lemon skillet chicken. I told you I’m a lemon lover! The recipe was so simple and absolutely delicious. I asked our butcher to remove the backbone from the chicken and butterfly it for me, which made this dinner come together even more quickly. I have a feeling this will become a staple in our meal rotation.

At-home workouts

Life’s been so hectic lately I’ve found myself having to squeeze in some workouts at home instead of spending an hour at the gym. I’m starting to really embrace the practice and find myself reaching for weights while watching TV instead of camping out on the couch. I’m hoping to make this more of a habit!

I hope you have a great weekend ahead! I’ll be back Monday with a recap of our weekend in Florida.

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Have you started your holiday shopping yet? I haven’t bought a single thing and I’m a little stressed about that. I’m one of those people who ends up at the mall December 23 frantically searching for gifts and vowing never to wait until the last minute to shop again. I’m hoping to knock out some shopping this week!

Today I’m sharing another gift guide, this time for the guys in your life. They can be hard to buy for sometimes, right? James and I are just doing stocking stuffers for each other for the second year in a row. We would rather spend our money on home improvements or trips than expensive gifts. This gift guide features ideas for every budget.

Milwaukee M18 Compact Drill Kit

My parents lent us this drill when we were tackling a few projects around the house and it quickly rose to the top of James’ Christmas list. It’s powerful, rechargeable and cordless. You can also opt to buy the drill without the kit for about $80 less.

Grilling Apron

This is something a lot of guys would never spend their own money on, but it comes in really handy if you know men who love to cook. I’m a big fan of the aprons from PCBHome, which feature fun plays on words. Williams-Sonoma is also running a sale on aprons, which you can pay a little extra to monogram. I plan on gifting a few of these this year!

Bose QC35 Wireless Headphones

If you’re looking at the price of these headphones and thinking, “Why would you spend that much on headphones?”, I totally get it. I’ve been using the same pair of beat up earbuds that came with my iPhone for two years. But, many of my friends and family members have much higher standards when it comes to headphones. And they all swear by Bose. These headphones are noise canceling and wireless. A great gift for music enthusiasts!

Sporting Event Tickets

I’ve said this before, but I think gifting experiences is the best way to go. It’s one of the most personal gifts you can give. And, it doesn’t have to be expensive! If you can afford to get your guy tickets to a NFL or NBA game, that’s great. But seeing a development team like the Mad Ants play can be a ton of fun. You can also snag relatively cheap balcony tickets for a few IU games in December and January.

Slippers

Slippers are another item I don’t think most guys would buy on their own but love getting as gifts. I bought James some fleece-lined moccasins a couple of years ago and he wears them nonstop around the house. There are so many varieties out there, but I always look for slippers with a thick sole so they can be worn outside for quick chores like taking the trash out.

Beer of the Month Club

Many of the guys I know are big craft beer enthusiasts. My dad, brother and husband love perusing liquor stores in different places to try and find new, unique brews to try. There’s a Beer of the Month Club that will ship recipients a variety of microbrews to try. I love this idea because you can choose how many shipments you want to gift and what kinds of beers you want included. Is there anything better than coming home from work to beer on your doorstep?

Stitch Fix

This is the perfect gift for a man who loves fashion or just needs a wardrobe update. Stitch Fix is an online styling service that sends you a box of five hand-picked items based on the preferences you indicate in your profile (you can read more in my review from a fix last year). You pay a small styling fee, which can be used toward any of the items in the box you keep. It’s so much fun to see what stylists pick out and I’ve always kept at least one item from each box. James hasn’t tried the men’s services from Stitch Fix, but I’ve heard good things from friends!

Professional Massage

Who doesn’t have this on their Christmas list? Most people I know spend so much time focusing on their careers, families and friends that they don’t take enough time to focus on themselves. A gift card for a professional massage is a present that everyone appreciates.

Zip Lining Tour

This is another experience that would be so fun to gift to the adventurous guys in your life. You’ll have to research the options available in your area, but I know Explore Brown County offers tours for those in South-Central Indiana. Many of these businesses are seasonal, so the recipient of this experience may have to wait a few months before cashing in.

Leather Boots

Men’s boots have come so far over the past few years when it comes to style! I live in leather boots every winter and snagged James a pair at the outlet mall last year that he loves. I especially love this pair from Bass because they’re stylish and practical. You can’t go wrong with L.L. Bean’s classic boots, either.

What gifts do you get for the guys in your life? Tell me in the comments!

The post Holiday Gift Guide: Guys appeared first on The Broadcasting Baker.

Are you still nursing your Turkey hangover? We are headed to Thanksgiving number two today to celebrate the holiday with James’ side of the family. Our house smells amazing because I threw together some pumpkin bars last night and the scent is lingering. That’s a smell that never gets old! I’ll have a full recap of all the Thanksgiving festivities for you on Monday.

It’s hard to believe, but we are now less than one month away from Christmas! I love everything about this time of year — the traditions, food, sounds. And, I love hunting for unique gifts for family and friends. I think the best gifts are those that are most personal. It’s easy and appreciated when you get someone a Starbucks gift card, but there’s just something special about hand-selecting a present.

Over the next couple of weeks I’ll be sharing a few gift guides to make the hunt a little bit easier. Naturally, this first one is for the foodies in your life.

Cravings: Recipes For All The Food You Want to Eat

This is my favorite cookbook of 2016 because I use it at least once a week. I love that there are recipes I can easily throw together on weeknights, but also more elaborate meals I can cook up for a special occasion. The coconut rice, chili and Pad  are among our favorite recipes. I can’t wait for her second cookbook!

Le Creuset Dutch Oven

I’ve been lusting after these dutch ovens ever since I used one while cooking at a friend’s house. She’d had her dutch oven for more than ten years and you’d wouldn’t ever know — there wasn’t a single chip or scratch. These pots are extremely versatile and perfect for making winter comfort foods. I’ve never cooked with a Lodge Dutch Oven, but my cast iron skillet is the same brand and my all-time favorite pan.

Local Cooking Classes

I’m a huge fan of gifting experiences and cooking classes are so much fun! Locally, Bloomington Cooking School and Muddy Fork Bakery offer some great workshops that give participants the chance to learn new techniques and cuisines. I’ve also seen some Groupons in larger cities for sushi making courses!

Penzey’s Spices Gift Boxes

My family’s been buying spices from Penzey’s for years. Someone gave my parents one of their gift boxes years ago and it came along with a catalog that featured recipes and stories from home cooks, which made me fall in love with the company. You can also find the recipes online, and even nominate a cook you know to be featured! You can’t go wrong with any of Penzey’s gift sets, but I think the extract box and grill and broil pack look especially good.

Williams-Sonoma Wood Spoons

Anyone who cooks often knows you can never have too many wooden spoons! These are tools used everyday in many kitchens and this set from Williams-Sonoma holds up especially well.

Crate & Barrel Small Ramekins

These small, classic dishes are an inexpensive but extremely useful gift. Some friends gave us a set of these for our wedding and I use them at almost every meal. They’re perfect for serving appetizers or condiments, but also a great size for making portion-controlled desserts.

Gold Medal Wine Club Subscription

Is there any gift that’s better than wine? I do get nervous when it comes to choosing wine for other people because tastes vary so much. A girlfriend of mine has a subscription to one of the Gold Medal Wine clubs and says she’s discovered dozens of new, amazing wines as a result. Local wineries in your area may also offer clubs, similar to Oliver Winery’s program.

KitchenAid Stand Mixer

This is the Cadillac of kitchen tools. KitchenAids are expensive, but worth every penny in my experience. I’ve had mine since graduating from college and my mother’s had hers much, much longer. The mixer itself makes doubling recipes, kneading bread and many other baking tasks so much easier. And, there are lots of attachments available to help with other cooking needs.

Unique Dining Experience

You’ll have to do some research if you’re outside of Indiana, but getting a gift card for a special dining experience is a great gift for any food lover. Many local breweries host dinners that feature a gourmet menu paired with different beers. I’ve always thought dining at Table One, the chef’s table at West Baden Spring’s Hotel would be a real treat.

Personalized Apron

An apron is one of those things I’d never buy for myself but use nonstop ever since receiving one as a gift. My mom had a blue apron embroidered with the name of this blog on the front and I get so many compliments from people when I take it along to cooking classes. I find aprons especially useful around the holidays, when you’re trying to balance hosting duties with looking nice for the celebrations.

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Whether you’re celebrating the holiday or just enjoying a routine Thursday, I hope your day is full of love, laughter and plenty of good eats.

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Being able to add a week of vacation on to the end of my fellowship worked perfectly. My parents and I had a wonderful time in London and enjoyed every moment. Here are a few of my favorite sights and bites from our trip:

Churchill War Rooms

This was one of our first stops in London and among my favorite museums in the city. My dad and I are both fascinated by WWII and really enjoyed learning more about Winston Churchill’s life and seeing the underground bunker where he made many decisions during the war. The museum focusing on Churchill’s life contains many interactive exhibits that let you learn more about his political career and childhood. My favorite part came at the end of the tour, when you get to see the massive map room.

Westminster Abbey

We decided to visit Westminster Abbey during the weekly Sunday organ recital and I’m so glad we did. Hearing Bach played in such a large, beautiful church was surreal.  We lined up outside around 5:10 p.m. and snagged seats in the first row. This a great way to see the church — and it’s free!

Tower of London

As former English teachers, my parents have always been especially interested in Medieval history. Seeing the Tower of London was something we were all really excited to do. There’s so much history here because the castle served as both a palace and prison. We tagged along on one of the beefeater tours that run every half hour and the guide was wonderful. He gave us an overall history of the castle before we wandered around on our own. Of course, seeing the crown jewels is a must.

The Making of Harry Potter WB Studio Tour

Whether you’re a casual fan or die-hard Harry Potter nerd, you can’t miss the WB Studio tour that showcases the actual sets, props and costumes used during the filming of the movies. The studio is located just north of London and easily accessible by train and shuttle bus. We spent about three hours here and were in awe the entire time. The tour takes you through some of the most famous scenes of the movie and gives you an idea of just how creative the crew had to get in order to make movie magic. Don’t miss the butterbeer and butterbeer ice cream that you can get in the cafe halfway through the tour! It tasted just how I imagined after reading the books.

Tea at Kensington Palace’s Orangery

My mother and I originally made plans to have afternoon tea elsewhere. But when we heard you could do so at the palace, we changed our reservation. What better place to partake in this English tradition?! The orangery is beautiful and we were able to easily get a reservation. My mom had traditional English tea and I chose the royal tea, which included a glass of rosé. We both agreed the scones and clotted cream were our favorite part. We toured the palace afterward, which I would highly recommend. We learned more about Queen Victoria and saw a wonderful exhibit about royal fashion.

Maitre Choux

We stopped by a couple different bakeries for afternoon treats in London, but Maitre Choux was by far my favorite. This place specializes in cream puffs and eclairs and it was so hard to pick our flavors. The treats are just as beautiful as they are tasty. The bakery is in the South Kensington neighborhood, making it the perfect spot to refuel after visiting the palace or museums.

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But social media can also be powerful in a really good, amazing way. I was reminded of that this week.

Our realtor sent us a text about someone who posted a photo of our new home on Facebook. The man, named Jim, wrote about how happy he was to see the former home of his paternal grandparents restored. They lived there from 1932-1953 and Jim and his brother have many fond memories of the home before his family moved out and it eventually fell into disrepair. We ended up connecting with Jim through e-mail and he sent us an impressive history of the home, along with several photos.

James and I both love older, historic houses — it’s part of what drew us to this place. The architecture and quirks give older homes so much character. So we were tickled to learn about some of the stories behind our house.

Jim sent us so much amazing information about the home and the neighborhood. But, I’m going to focus on the people. As my husband says, “Buildings are made of wood and stone, but homes are made of memories.” Here are some of the memories from Jim’s time at 322:

The home at 322 belonged to his grandparents, Harvey and Myrtle Terman, for two decades. It was built before they moved in, sometime during the 1920s, and featured white siding and a garage in what is now the full basement.

The Terman family moved from Johnson County to Bloomington after Harvey got a job working at the prominent Jewel Tea Company. They had two sons, Bill and Howard. Howard worked for Central Business College in Indianapolis and Bill joined the Indiana National Guard. By the time Bill’s unit was activated in 1941, he and his wife, Leota, had one son named James William, or Jim. They spent much of their time at 322 between assignments to army camps. During the same time period, Howard married his wife Shireen.

Bill’s unit was activated in 1943. By 1944, they were in the South Pacific. That same year, Leota went into labor and their son Phil was born in the front room of the home. The expanded family moved around the corner while Harvey and Myrtle remained in the bungalow. At times, the couple rented a room to IU students or employees.

Like his brother, Howard also spent some time in the Army, working in the finance division. He and Bill spent time together in the Philippines while deployed. They were both discharged by 1946. But, nearly two years later, Bill reactivated his army commission after tiring of his work as an accountant. He was deployed to occupied Japan in 1949, where Leota and the boys would eventually join him. Bill was transferred to a combat unit in Korea the next year and Leota, Jim and Phil headed back to the states. They stayed with Harvey and Myrtle at 322 before reestablishing themselves.

One afternoon while Jim and Phil were at their grandparents’ home, a taxi driver showed up and refused to speak to anyone but Leota. The taxi driver was redirected to the home of Leota’s mother and the rest of the Termans followed. It was then they learned Bill was killed in action on August 22. It would have been Leota and Bill’s 13th anniversary.

Leota took a job at IU when she felt ready and eventually built a home of her own, leaving 322 to Harvey and Myrtle. The senior Termans decided to downsize and left the bungalow in 1953.

“Thus, after 20 years of many events and changes wrapped up with the relationship between a family and a particular residence, the connection was broken,” Jim wrote in his history of the home. “That connection, however, remains deeply planted in the minds and feelings of two small boys.”

Jim says when they last visited the home in 2012 it was nearly impossible to see from the street, thanks to overgrown bushes. It served as a rental property for some time before it was renovated.

“Overall the house looks darker, older, and more squat; in short it looks its age, which in a short time will be 100 years,” Jim wrote of the home before it was renovated. “We like to think, however, that its Terman years were its good years.”

Here’s hoping 322 sees just as much happiness during the Brosher years. As the first home of our own it already has a special place in our heart.

The post Our House: Inside These Walls appeared first on The Broadcasting Baker.

I don’t hate winter, but I absolutely love every other season. Bloomington is the best place to live when it starts to get warmer out — we’ve got great state parks nearby, a couple of nice biking trails and plenty of amazing outdoor restaurants and bars. It’s what I love most about this town! I’m going to try and soak up as much sun as possible before its colder again later this week.

I’m also spending part of the day trying to better prepare myself for what is already shaping up to be a very busy week at work. Getting back on that meal prep train! I’ve been especially bad about eating breakfast the past couple of weeks, so I’m trying to set myself up for success this week.

I stocked up on groceries this morning and plan to prep some meals tonight in order to make weeknight dinners easier. Because there is only two of us, I can usually get by with cooking four big dinners during the work week. We still have plenty of leftovers to take for lunches and usually will rely on them for dinner one night of the week, too. I’m heading to Minnesota Friday through Sunday to visit a friend, so that makes this week in the kitchen a little easier!

Here’s what I’m planning to put on the table this week:

Breakfast

• Toasted Coconut Overnight Oats
• 3-Ingredient Pancakes
• Smoothies

Lunch

• Dinner leftovers
• Almond butter + jam sandwiches
• Salads

Dinner

• Turkey tacos made with homemade taco seasoning
• Ground beef and pasta casserole
• Pesto chicken (recipe coming soon!)
• Smoky pork tenderloin with roasted sweet potatoes

I hope your weekend’s been full of sunshine! What’s on your menu for the week?

The post On The Table 2/21/16 appeared first on The Broadcasting Baker.

Good morning from the Indy airport! We’re waiting to catch a flight to JFK and then hopping on a plane to Rome for our honeymoon. We’ve been planning this trip almost as long as our wedding, so I can’t believe it’s finally here.

This trip was inspired by my favorite author, Adriana Trigiani. I got hooked on her books in high school when my mom brought home a signed copy of Lucia, Lucia from the Printer’s Row Book Festival. Since then, I’ve read and re-read all of her work. Her books have transported my mind to Rome, the Amalfi Coast and the blue grotto of Capri. I’ve dreamt of traveling to those beautiful places for years. I can’t wait to get there! 

We’ll spend five nights in Sorrento, where we can easily catch a train or boat to explore other towns along the Amalfi Coast. Then we’ll head to Capri for a night and finish the trip with four days in Rome. I plan to truly disconnect and relax, so you won’t see any blog posts over the next couple of weeks. I’ll be too busy eating pasta, sipping limoncello and soaking up the amazing scenery with the love of my life. 

I’ll tell you all about it when we come back later this month — if we decide to leave. Until then, ciao! 

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