Sometimes I Want Baked Beans
I definitely haven't been myself this past week.
I haven't worked out at all. Zero.
I chewed bubble gum from a machine the other day. It was nutty.
I almost didn't watch Top Chef Desserts. I was this this close to not watching it. But then I did watch it. I'm glad I did, because seeing Seth kicked off totally made my night. What a nutcase.
I've been cooking more than I have been baking. I made baked beans.
Wait… they're baked… so I guess I have been baking.
I've been crock potting. My first crock potting experience.
I borrowed my parents' crock pot (circa early 1980's) and have been using it. I cooked some dried chickpeas in it and it went well. I've never cooked dried beans before. It was kind of magical.
Beans are the magical fruit. The more you eat…
… the more protein and fiber you gain. I bought some dried cranberry beans. Aren't they beautiful? I've never had a cranberry bean before. I think I'm going to crock pot them.
What would you make with cranberry beans? I was thinking a salad… or risotto. Soup? The possibilities are endless.
I made kabocha squash soup the other day. It was probably the best soup I've ever made in my life. I ate it for three days straight. Now I don't want soup for a while.
Beans, beans, back to the beans. I don't usually make baked beans, but the other night I had a strong craving and rolled with it. I picked up a few ingredients on my way home from work: maple bacon, maple baked beans, yellow onion and tomato paste. The other ingredients I used I already had at my house: brown sugar, molasses, hot sauce, chili powder and smoked paprika.
They're easy enough to make… cook the bacon (MMM OMG bacon!!), cook the onion, stir everything together and bake! After patiently waiting 45 minutes, you are rewarded with sweet, smoky, delicious baked beans. I recommend serving them with Jalapeno-Bacon Corn Muffins and barbecue chicken.
These baked beans are a little spicy, yes indeed. That's how I like 'em.
Everyone (Me, Me!) who has allergies could you a dose of spicy baked beans.
Emily's Spicy Baked Beans
Printable Recipe
3 strips maple bacon
1 cup finely chopped yellow onion
1 large can maple-bacon baked beans
1/2 small can of tomato paste
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons molasses
2 teaspoons hot sauce
1/2 teaspoon ground chili powder
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Cook bacon in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until crisp; remove from skillet and coarsely chop. Return skillet to heat, stir in onion, and cook 6-8 minutes or until golden and tender.
In an 8×8-inch baking dish, whisk together bacon, onion, baked beans, tomato paste, water, brown sugar, molasses, hot sauce, chili powder and smoked paprika until well combined.
Bake 45 minutes or until bubbly and a bean skin forms on top. 🙂…
Read MoreInvention: ATM for Books: Espresso Book Machine (EBM) Launched in Australia
The first Espresso Book Machine (EBM) was recently launched at Angus & Robertson (A&R) bookstore, Bourke Street in Melbourne, Australia. This machine, dubbed as an "ATM for books" can print and bind a paperback book at the press of a button. It is the first in-store print-on-demand book in Australia to be installed in a retail environment.
Angus & Robertson's launch is collaborated with Central Books Services, the Australian book wholesaler and supplier of the Espresso Book Machine in Australia, and On Demand Books. A&R is the first Australian book chain to use what Time Magazine has referred to as an "ATM for Books." EBM will be marketed in-store as "The StoryMaker."
People Behind EBM: Jeff March, Epstein and Neller
The company behind Espresso Book Machine is On Demand Books, founded by book editor Jason Epstein and Dane Neller. The technology, however, was developed some eight years ago by Jeff March, technology advisor for New York City-based ODB (ondemandbooks.com).
Espresso Book Machine (EBM)
The Espresso Book Machine holds a huge digital library in its memory, especially out-of-print titles. In less than ten minutes it can simultaneously print, align, mill, glue and bind not one, but two books. It also includes full-color laminated covers. EBM can print in any language and accommodates right-to-left texts by putting the spine on the right.
Espresso Book Machine customers can walk up to this photocopier-sized system, order their book and the print perfect bound book is ready.
Espresso Book Machine Recognition
In 2007, Time Magazine named Espresso Book Machine as one of the “Best Inventions of the Year”. It takes few minutes to print and bind a paperback book and is expected to increase the range of books previously unavailable to the reading public. Many out of print books will be made accessible, along with range of books physically impossible to be carried in a book store.
EBM and Australia's Angus & Robertson
According to Angus & Robertson Managing Director, David Fenlon, “Authors, publishers and distributors will work with Angus & Robertson to explore how the Espresso Book Machine can enhance the availability of books for our customers.”
Currently, there are more Australian books out of print. Using the Espresso Book Machine will offer opportunities for authors and writers to have their books back in production. It would be a big day for book lovers, when the print-on-demand from EBM will cost the same or perhaps less than the shelf price of one paperback.…
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