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Hi blogfriends!
At this point, I'd be surprised if there are any of you out there since my posting schedule has been so erratic (read: nonexistent) lately. I promise that this won't become the new normal, but I hope you'll bear with me for the time being. There are lots of reasons for my delinquency - none of which are really good enough, but one of which looks a little like this:

That's right, you're looking at Chicago pizza...because by the time most of you read this, I'll be on my way out of town. I'll be spending a few days visiting family - and hopefully eating lots of tasty things that I'll eventually get to blog about.

My other excuses are less delicious, and a lot less cheesy. I'm not sure if I've mentioned this before, but Matt is gearing up for another all-expenses-paid trip to Afghanistan, courtesy of the U.S. Army. This will be his third deployment, and while we still have a few months before he leaves, his pre-deployment activities have been in full swing since February.

Practically speaking, this means lots of nights out in the field (for him), a second helping of the single girl life (for me), and lots of stumbling over a growing pile camouflaged-colored stuff (for both of us). It also means a lot less cooking and baking - especially since Matt will be gone for all of the next four weeks. I've been trying to keep things exciting in the kitchen, but it's all too easy to get into a rut - especially when it now takes me 3-4 tries to finish each meal!

Our final excuse is a bit more celebratory - Matt and I are moving into a bigger place! We've been waiting for this for almost a year, so while I don't relish the idea of packing up all our things right before a deployment, I'm excited about the prospect of settling in a bigger - and brighter - space. I can't tell you how excited I'll be to have more natural light  - no more struggling to get photos in front of our single accessible window!

So you see, there's something good in this for you guys, after all...you know, just in case these gratuitously cheese-covered photos aren't enough...

Butterscotch Bagel Bread Pudding

That's a lot of B's, right? But what a great title for a simply delicious dessert. I mean, when a confection combines butterscotch, bagels, bread, and pudding, what's not to love?

In fact, there are few desserts so wonderfully satisfying as a thick, rich, and solidly sweet bread pudding. Supermodel of the dessert world it isn't, but its indulgently creamy texture and syrupy sweetness belie its rugged and wholesome appearance.  Paired with a drizzle of cream or a few warm spoonfuls of sunny yellow Bird's Custard, this family favorite is as comforting as a warm embrace.

Bread pudding may be the food equivalent of fuzzy slippers (right up there with cookie dough and macaroni and cheese), but it's also a blank canvas. Switch out bread for bagels and raisins for butterscotch chips and you've got a whole new dessert - one that mixes salty and sweet, crisp and custardy.

You may be thinking that bread pudding is traditionally a winter recipe - and you'd be mostly right - but it's also an Eastertime favorite of mine and, given the chilly turn of the weather over the past few days, a welcome addition to my dinner (or breakfast - don't judge!) table. I love traditional versions that slip in generous handfuls of raisins alongside a liberal dusting of cinnamon and nutmeg, but this particular recipe is a new twist on those old favorites.

Bagel pieces replace most of the bread, which gives the pudding a nice crisp top, while cooked butterscotch custard stands in for the more seasonally spiced version, lending this dessert a more intense milky sweetness. It's a great combination to be sure, but the best part of this recipe is the smell during baking. I couldn't believe how rich and warm it was, each breath brimming with the scent of cream, sugar, and vanilla - it rivals Cinnabon in crave-inducing power (and anyone who's ever walked a mall or airport knows that siren song!).

I dare you to make this recipe and not be tempted to devour it all at the first scent of doneness. If by some feat of superhuman strength you manage to resist, the final product is heavenly when eaten warm from the oven, and equally lovely eaten in thick, cold slices. It might be even better eaten straight from the pan...with a spoon...for breakfast. Don't worry, I promise I won't tell.

The Varsity (The World's Largest Drive-In), Atlanta, GA

I'm sorry I've been a bit MIA lately, but I promise I have a good excuse. You see, while everyone else was unpacking their Easter baskets, Matt and I were making our way to Atlanta, to the world's largest drive-in fast food restaurant, The Varsity.

While others were gorging themselves on chocolate bunnies and sharing marshmallow Peeps with family, Matt and I were noshing on juicy burgers, crispy onion rings, and The Varsity's signature chili dogs. Okay, so our real business in Georgia involved visiting family, too, but our trip to The Varsity was a nice perk!

The Varsity looms large in Atlanta lore, and also in the fast food world (it even has its own extensive Wikipedia article - which is naturally the pinnacle of culinary achievement), but I have to admit that Matt and I approached the place with a somewhat critical eye. When it comes to fatty, greasy, fast food goodness, Matt's allegiance belongs securely to The Beacon Drive-In, in Spartanburg, South Carolina. So as the dutiful wife, I promised to be scrupulous and stringent in my evaluation of The Varsity - which makes it even more impressive that the place gets my thumbs-up seal of approval.

Like The Beacon, The Varsity has a storied past. Although it has moved and expanded several times since - there are now several satellite locations in the Atlanta area - the original Varsity was established back in 1928. At that time, it was called 'The Yellow Jacket,' but booming business and expanding clientele earned the place its current location and its current, more inclusive name (for more info, you can check out the snazzy interactive timeline on their website).

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The Varsity is famous for its chili dogs and Frosted Orange drinks, but like The Beacon, it also has its own deeply-ingrained and much-loved culture. While signs at The Beacon urge you to' 'Call it,' The Varsity's ordering catchphrase is 'What'll ya have?" There's also an unofficial menu - in which a 'Walk a Dog' is a hot dog to-go, a 'Bag of Rags' gets you potato chips, and a 'Squirt One' is the famous Varsity Orange soft drink.

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The Varsity boasts a lot of fast food choices - mostly variations of burgers and dogs - but Matt and I kept it classic, with a pair of chili dogs and a cheeseburger, respectively. Of course, we just couldn't resist adding an order of onion rings on the side (that's 'sideways' in Varsity lingo).

We'd arrived some time after lunchtime, but the place was still packed - hardly surprising for a Friday afternoon on a holiday weekend. Nevertheless, the service was swift and before we knew it, we had our food in hand. Matt found us a table in the elevated dining room overlooking the drive-in and the parking deck, or 'Lunching Pad' (an amusing nod to John Glenn's space flight). This proved to be the perfect spot, giving us an entertaining view of all the non-stop hustle and bustle below.

Of course, we weren't really there for the view or to be entertained - we'd come for the food, and we weren't disappointed. The onion rings were pretty amazing: thick with juicy strips of onion, and breading that was suitably greasy but not too overpowering (I like my fast food to feel indulgent, not endangering!). With a bit of ketchup, they were pretty close to fried perfection. Matt seemed more than pleased with his chili dogs and my burger really hit the spot. It wasn't huge or fancy, just a good, solid burger - and that's not something I get to say very often.

So how does The Varsity stack up against Matt's cherished Beacon? Well, for being so outwardly similar, they're actually quite different. Where The Beacon serves up heaping plates of fresh-from-the-fryer fare, The Varsity's offerings are a bit simpler - dressed down burgers and dogs with simple sides. The food is a little less greasy (which is usually good) but also a lot less filling (which is usually bad). If Matt and I weren't headed for dinner at his sister's we'd have had to order seconds. Thankfully, their menu is pretty inexpensive so if you're really hungry, a second burger won't break the bank.

With dinner in mind, Matt and I decided to forgo dessert, but The Varsity also caters to the sweet tooth, offering their famous 'fried pies,' brownies and ice cream, as well as frosted beverages. Their Frosted Orange looked especially thirst-quenchingly delicious - I guess we'll just have to order one next time!

Liebster Blog Love!

Well folks, I can't believe Easter is almost here. I had so many Easter-themed post ideas to share and somehow I've completely run out of time! I probably won't be blogging between now and Easter (Matt and I have family to see, including our brand new niece, Adair - so excited!) but before we disappear, I have some very important, very exciting blog business to take care of.

Yep, that's right, this blog has once again been nominated for the Liebster Blog Award (the last time was only a week or so ago!). This time, the award comes from the lovely Diane of Simple Living with Diane Balch and I'm so very grateful! I haven't got my list of 5 more blogs yet (I just did this last week, after all - and you can check out my awesome nominees here!) but I wanted to be sure to thank Diane properly. It's always great to know there are people out there reading my posts and enjoying my recipes. Thanks so much, Diane!