March 28, 2024. OK, so I say I'm not really a dessert guy. Don't get me wrong. I love sweets so much. My husband and I both are huge sweet lovers. But I normally skip on dessert at a restaurant.

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The other night, though, we visited a local place we'd been meaning to get to forever - Bar Loretta. We talked and made our way through whiskey braised pork belly, cripsy brussel sprouts with maple glaze, toasted pecans and queso fresco (YUM!), and a double cut porkchop with marshmallow sweet potatoes, pork jus and cranberry mustarda. Although our main course gave major Fall vibes, it was incredibly delicious.

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Given the fact that we only had one drink each and split dinner, we went ahead and ordered a dessert to share: double chocolate bread pudding with warm vanille bean cream. I swear, not ever having dessert and then ordering the best dessert was a great way to do it.

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I've not had this kind of treat in a very, very long time. It surprised me. It wasn't jiggly or it didn't have a weird texture. It was warm, fairly firm, and so tasty. The ice cream completed the entire dish.

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It was the kind of dessert that just made me sigh with satisfaction, and it made me want to try my hand at my own recipe! You can see it by clicking the button below. I'd have to say this bread pudding was definitely an inspiration, and a reflection on my roots where southern cooking, comfort, family and food always takes center stage.

March 11, 2024. Today's inspiration comes from the beginning of my cycling journey. It was about 2016 or 2017 when I'd gotten the urge to go buy a bike. I found one on Craigslist, and met the guy in a parking lot off I-10 and Huebner. I didn't have much cycling experience before that, though I did ride in Austin with Luke sitting in a seat attached to my top bar. But I seriously began riding when I got this used road bike, a Bianchi. I took off and it seemed like I didn't stop. I joined a bunch of groups around town. I remember being out in terribly hilly areas around and struggling so hard that when I finished (finally) I plopped down on the asphalt in a moment of desperation. I couldn't ride past 40 miles. That was my big wall. Soon, I signed up for some big rides. Katy Flatlands was my first 100 mile ride. I remember doing some metric centuries during Saturday rides. I rode a lot during the week with the groups around - Team Left Hand, Cyclones, H-E-B.

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I lost 50 lbs, and my life revolved around being on the bike. When my life changed dramatically, and then COVID hit, I wasn't riding much at all. The groups all stopped, of course. My habits changed, I got comfortable not riding, and I gained some weight back.

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Today, I am back on the bike. Not like I used to be. But recently I rode with a makeshift group and I got that feeling back. The one I used to feel frequently. It was surreal at the same time it was motivational and inspirational. I want to do more of that. I'm not sure that I want to be like that completely - where it consumes me. But I want to make sure that I do it because I love it, and because it's so healthy. I want to lose a little of the weight again... not all. And I want to just continue to be stronger, healthier, happier and be a better version of me, all because of my bike. It's something I'm good at, and I want to make sure I focus on it because I deserve it.