Today, I'm a little less wise...

...and a lot more medicated!

That's right, I had wisdom tooth surgery yesterday. So while I can't bear even the thought* of food at the moment, I just wanted to let you faithful few know that I am still here (and by 'here,' I mean glued to my couch for the next couple of days, hopped up on pills and Pinterest).

The past few weeks have been really busy - even busier than wisdom tooth surgery and moving into new home in Kentucky would suggest.

But let's be honest, it isn't just busyness that keeps me from blogging these days. The catastrophic failure of my hard drive about a month ago really took the wind out of my blogging sails. Add to that Matt's rapidly approaching deployment - just over a month away, now - and I just haven't had the urge to write.

I'm still cooking and baking (is it even possible to separate those from breathing?) but my blogstream is full of stale, half written posts and the photo file on this new hard drive is practically non-existent.

I know I'll find my feet again soon, but in the meantime, I wanted to thank each and every one of you for patience, concern and (miraculously!) continued interest during these past few weeks of downtime.

While it feels a bit disingenuous to be plying you with yet another apology post, I promise I've no intention of stringing you all along (in fact, I even have some exciting, blog-related developments in the works that I just can't wait to share!). I'll be back soon, and hopefully better than ever - if just a little less wise.

*Okay, I lied. I'm always thinking about food - I just don't feel like eating if for the time being.

After these messages....

Remember when those three little words were used to introduce commercial breaks? Well, you may have noticed that I've been away from my regular 'programming' for a couple of weeks. That doesn't mean I've been napping on the job; in fact, when things get quiet on the Traveling Spoon, you can be sure they're crazy-busy in 'real' life.

In the past couple of weeks, Matt and I experienced our first cruise vacation (to Bermuda, no less!), and spent a week visiting his parents in South Carolina. We've been back less than a full day and already we're preparing for the next big adventure - tomorrow we begin moving all of our things down the road to our first non-apartment home!

Our new place may be only 30 minutes away, but it's in a completely different state (we'll be living in Kentucky by the end of the week!), and since our entire lives are packed up in tiny shipping boxes, this move may prove to be rather challenging.

In other words, my 'commercial break' may have to last a little longer, but I hope you'll 'stay tuned' nonetheless. I'm hoping to share some great cruise-themed posts (yes, I basically ate my way across the Atlantic) and lots of new recipes - so don't go away, we'll be right back!

Biscoff Rocky Road

After several weeks of somewhat lackluster posting - thanks to busy schedules and, more recently, total hard drive failure - I knew I had to bring something special today. I also felt the pressure to step things up because Matt and I are about to go on a cruise, far away from wireless connectivity and kitchens, for the next week.  Oh, and did I mention that today is my little sister's 21st birthday? {Happy Birthday, Sarah!} If ever a day deserved dessert, it's today.

And this dessert, ladies and gentlemen, really is something special.

The sugary lovechild of rich, creamy Biscoff Spread and crunchy, chewy, oh-so-moreish Rocky Road, this candy may quite possibly blow your mind. What blew mine is that it doesn't appear to have been done before. You've got your Blonde Rocky Road, your Peanut Butter Rocky Road, your White Rocky Road and, of course, the lovely chocolatey Original, but as far as I can tell, there's never been a Biscoff version. So, if you've been waiting all your life for Biscoff Rocky Road, the wait is now over.

And just in case you thought these addictive little treats couldn't get any better, I've gone and added cookies. Not just any cookies, mind you - Girl Scout cookies! Their lightly spiced Dulce de Leche cookies are a perfect complement to the flavor of Biscoff Spread, but if you've already eaten all of your Girl Scout cookies (understandable, really) you can substitute other hard, crushed cookies such as shortbread, pecan sandies or, for a meta version, actual Biscoff Cookies!

For a recipe that tastes so decidedly decadent, these bars come together very quickly - and there's no baking involved which makes them a perfect summertime treat. They're perfect for taking to a potluck or picnic - just don't make them too far in advance or you might not have any left!

Biscoff Rocky Road

12 oz white chocolate, chopped
3/4 cup Biscoff Spread
2 Tablespoons butter
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
5 oz crushed cookies (about 1 1/2 cups)
2 cups mini marshmallows, divided

Grease a 8x8-inch pan, or line with greased foil.

In a microwave-safe or heatproof bowl, combine white chocolate, Biscoff spread, and butter. Using a microwave or double boiler, heat gently until the chocolate is melted and stir until the mixture is velvety smooth (for the microwave, heat in 45 second intervals on High power, stirring after each interval, until melted).

Once the chocolate mixture is smooth, stir in the vanilla and salt. Allow to cool for a minute or two (this should prevent your marshmallows from melting). While the mixture is still fluid, add the cookies and marshmallows, reserving 1/4 cup of marshmallows. Spoon the mixture into the prepared pan and spread evenly. Lightly press the reserved marshmallows onto the top of the bars. Cool in the refrigerator until set. Cut into small squares with a sharp knife, and try not to eat them all at once!

To Have and Have Not

Well, my friends, the worst that I had feared has come to pass. My computer is indeed dead, and while the lovely people at Apple got me up and running again with a new hard drive, all of the information on the old one was lost.

To be honest, I'm strangely okay with it. Yes, I'm sad that I lost all my photos (hence the lack of any accompanying picture), as well as lots of personal and professional documents. I'm disappointed that I lost some of my favorite tunes, and all of my settings and bookmarks, but sometimes being cut off from the trappings of our everyday lives can be strangely freeing.

Matt and I are (still) in the middle of moving, and as I spend my days packing boxes, leaving newsprinted fingerprints all over our white cupboards, and generally trying to make the sprawl of our existence simpler, tidier and more compact, I'm struck by just how much stuff follows us through our daily lives.

If I'm honest, few of these things actually get used on a regular basis, and yet I find myself unable to part with them. Some have sentimental significance, but more often than not, it's my I'll-use-that-one-day optimism that keeps me holding on.

Losing my computer was frustrating - as far as the blog goes, I'm irked that I'll have to essentially start building up content and recipes from scratch - but the whole unfortunate experience taught me some useful lessons:

1. Nothing in life is permanent - not even the material things I hold so tightly (or the thirty boxes currently crowding my living room!)
2. Our lives are not defined by the things we have, but the things we do
3. It's possible (and kind of refreshing) to react rationally to the irrational
and finally,
4. Always, always back up your hard drive.