I used to be really into cooking, but over the last few years that interest has diminished.

That all changed yesterday. Despite a busy work day, I made lunch and some yummy treats. I started with trying out Carol’s black bean soup recipe for lunch. The only ingredients other than the beans that I had on hand were the spices, so that’s what I used. It was really good but definitely needed a kick, so next time I’m going to make sure to use the onions and jalapenos. This definitely isn’t the best picture because I did a closeup since my kitchen was a mess and I didn’t have any garnish. But, it was super yummy!

I thought tortilla chips and guacamole would go well with the soup, so I whipped up a batch of guac. I put in hot sauce, red pepper flakes and garlic powder, but it still wasn’t spicy enough. Next time, I’ll have to add more.

After Lucy got up from her nap, I decided to try out a recipe for mini pineapple upside down cakes that I found in All You. I have never tried a pineapple upside down cake before, and I was pleasantly surprised at how they turned out. Sure, the cherries aren’t perfectly in the middle but I am pretty proud. And, they were DELICIOUS!

I used the leftover batter to make some cupcakes. I’m pretty sure Joe would appreciate me getting in a cooking mood like this more often!