Bacon Jam

1 lb good-quality bacon 1 small onion, chopped 4-5 garlic cloves, chopped 1/2 cup packed brown sugar ... 1/2 cup brewed coffee (hot or cold) 1/4 cup maple syrup 1 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar (optional) 1 Tbsp. grainy mustard (optional)

Roughly chop the bacon and cook it in a heavy pot; transfer to a bowl using a slotted spoon, draining off most of the drippings. Saute the onion and garlic cloves in the rest for 5 minutes, until soft and starting to turn golden. Return the bacon to the pan, add the brown sugar, coffee, maple syrup, vinegar and mustard and cook over medium heat for half an hour, or until deep golden and thickened to the consistency of jam. If you like, cool and pulse in the food processor for a finer texture. Serve warm or cold.

recipe marked! thanks!

I'm kind of irritated that it didn't rain. I could have gone to another parade! But then I have to admit that the effort involved probably would have been too much. But then I see that other people are out getting fun and I get sulky.

Haaaaa, yes. I seriously feel so awful though- sore all over, sore throat, headache, road rash pain. I don't know if I'm getting sick or if it's just Mardi Gras symptoms. Sore throat = yelling for throws. Headache = hangover. Sore all over = fall off my bike plus the increased amount of riding, walking, and standing for hours on end.

Thank god there aren't parades till nighttime tomorrow. I feel so broken I can hardly sit in a room with people.

I can't read in cars or any other moving vehicles, which really makes plane rides annoying.

How do you fly without reading? It's the only thing that gets me through flights. It's like a white noise-filled reading room for me.

Why is my sternum super sore and tender to the touch?

That area gets sore when my lungs start heading towards asthma land. If that helps.

I have never considered that but it makes sense. Some yoga things stretch that area and it's sore the next day too. But those same yoga things often get me trying to take deeper breaths than my lungs are partial to so it's possibly a chicken and egg thing. Duck and egg, erin is allergic to chicken eggs.

Cass, the iPod is the only way i get through flights. Lots of music and occasionally an audiobook.

Bacon jam is divine! I had some on a fancy-schmancy burger in Charlevoix, MI. The restaurant also put Brie on it. Mmmmmmm.

At least I can read on planes, just not other vehicles. Even catching up with email in the car does not go well.

I am hanging in the west palm courthouse. My son has a hearing scheduled now. Only defendants allowed inside. I am dumb though because I forgot to bring a tablet to work or read. Oh well., off to find a newspaper.

Oh my. Best of luck, Laura.

There looked like there was only one or two before him so it should be quick.

I skipped finding a newspaper and am working on Natter. The court room is on the 9th floor with east facing windows. The ocean is calm as a lake. Alas no skipping work today to be a beach bum.

So, this norovirus is a pain in the ass.

(See what I did there?)

I don't even know where I picked this up, but my whole GI tract is staging a coup. It's not as bad as the stomach virus that landed me in the ER several years ago, when I got horribly dehydrated because I couldn't stop barfing. But still, this isn't awesome.

And I have a headache from no caffeine because I didn't want to try drinking my coffee this morning. So now I am attempting some coffee and trying to figure out what I want to watch. I wish I knew where my Invader Zim DVDs were, because that seems right for today.