Things I’m totally crushing on lately:

• I was excited when I finally got a Snuggie for Christmas (I think my brother was sick of me always talking about it, so he finally gifted me with one.  I’m wearing it RIGHT NOW.)  But then I saw THIS:

Hello perfect Valentine’s day present.

• When I was home for Christmas, I talked my dad into giving me his pressure cooker.  They don’t use it and I read one too many articles about how BPA in canned goods will kill me (or make me fat).  I was initially a little scared to actually use it- the idea of a kitchen appliance that could potentially blow up our house was a little bit intimidating- but then I made black bean soup from dried beans in 20 minutes and was instantly in love.

Tonight I used it to cook hulled barley (note: NOT that pussy pearled stuff).  Combined with collard greens, sweet potatoes, sausage and carmelized onions, I made the best dinner I’ve made in a week in 35 minutes.

So.  Freakin’.  Good.  Plus I have lunch for the rest of the week.

• Speaking of food, I have been obsessed with dates lately.  It’s a problem.  I can’t stop eating them.

I actually made a really good faux dessert the other day with chopped dates, cocoa powder and almond butter- it tasted like fudge and was less guilt-inducing than what I usually crave.  Unfortunately, while it’s completely delicious- it totally tastes like fudge- it also looks like poop.  So I can’t take a picture of it until I figure out how to make it look a little more presentable.

That’s all.  I’m off to bond with my Snuggie and eat some more poopie chocolate date surprise.  Night kids.