Author Archives: coffeeandtacos

Homemade Funfetti Cake

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In college my girlfriends and I loved to whip up a Funfetti cake on a moment’s notice, using any and every excuse (from birthdays and good test scores to the completion of Rush week and Tuesday nights in general) to justify our cravings. Once the cake was cooled and frosted, we would all dive in to the pan with forks, no plates needed. As a result, Funfetti became our ubiquitous celebratory treat – it was festive and delicious and easy and cheap, which meant that it appeared on our kitchen tables on a weekly basis.

While we still do love treating ourselves to some out-of-the-box Funfetti cake, our tastes have certainly evolved and, along with them, our desire to bake from scratch has increased, too. Erin came up with this Homemade Funfetti Cake recipe, which she served at my bachelorette party (paying the perfect homage to our college days). It was an absolute hit, to say the least, and she passed the recipe on to me so I could recreate it forever and ever. So now I impart her glorious creation on to you, friends. Enjoy.

Homemade Funfetti Cake

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Cake Ingredients:

  • 1 and 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup light brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/4 cup yogurt (E recommends using Greek yogurt)
  • 3/4 cup milk (organic 2% is recommended)
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 2/3 cup sprinkles (not nonpareils; and, duh, rainbow sprinkles are preferable)

Frosting Ingredients:

  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
  • 3 – 4 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 and 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • Salt, as needed
  • Sprinkles!

Cake Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9-inch springform or baking pan (round or square) with nonstick spray. Set aside.
  2. In a medium bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
  3. In a large microwave-safe bowl, melt butter in the microwave. Whisk in the sugars vigorously, getting out any brown sugar lumps (the mixture should be gritty).
  4. Whisk in the egg, yogurt, milk and vanilla extract until combined.
  5. Slowly mix in dry ingredients until no lumps remain. Batter will be thick.
  6. Slowly stir in sprinkles, but do not over mix because the sprinkles will bleed their color.
  7. Pour batter into prepared cake pan. Bake for 20 minutes. Cover loosely with aluminum foil and bake for 13 – 17 more minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool.

Frosting Directions:

  1. As the cake bakes, prepare the frosting. Beat softened butter on medium speed with an electric or stand mixer. Beat for 3 minutes until smooth and creamy.
  2. Add powdered sugar and vanilla extract with the mixer running. Add salt to taste. Increase to high speed and beat for 3 minutes.
  3. Add more powdered sugar if frosting is too thin, or add more butter if mixture is too thick. Add 1/4 teaspoon (or more) of salt if frosting is too sweet.
  4. Frost cooled cake as desired and top with sprinkles.

P.S. To recreate the cake pictured above, just double this recipe to create a layered effect.

 

Sweatiquette

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Last Wednesday the doctor cleared me to move on from my removable soft cast into an ankle brace, which marks a huge step in my recovery process – I’m so excited! Since then I have taken a few celebratory yoga classes at my favorite spot, Bikram Yoga Dallas. Even though there are a lot of poses that I won’t be able to do for awhile, it feels so, so good to be back in the hot room – I swear that the heat and the postures are therapeutic not only for my body but also for my mind.

The Bikram Yoga studios in Dallas are truly the most beautiful (and clean!) I’ve ever done yoga in, and the vibe from the other yogis that I practice with is so invigorating and encouraging – there’s such a dedicated crew of people who consistently take classes and it really creates a good energy in the room. Sometimes, though, people do things in class that are disruptive, likely without realizing it. I know that I did these very same things when I first started practicing three and a half years ago. I wish someone would have told me what to do/what not to do right from the get go, preparing me for class and sparing the yogis around me from any annoyances incurred by placing their mats near a newcomer. (Actually, someone probably would have told me if I would have attended a New Student Orientation class that the studio offers, but that’s neither here nor there.) So here are some tips that I’ve learned over the years that I would impart upon a newbie yogi. Summed up their entirety, these rules are part of my self-proclaimed Bikram Yoga Sweatiquette.

  1. We will all sweat a lot in class – after all, the room is heated to 104 degrees and the humidity is jacked up to 40%. But if you’re an extra sweaty person, do everyone a favor and bring more than one towel to sop up the water around you. I understand that we may all fling a bit of sweat on each other throughout the course of the class, especially if the room is packed, but I’ve sometimes been in classes where I’m several feet away from my nearest classmate and still a terrifying stream of sweat makes its way towards me. This, of course, is unpleasant always but especially during savasana when my face is on the ground and uncomfortably close to the aforementioned sweat stream. Just, please, practice some awareness while you practice your yoga.
  2. Drink water in between postures, not during them. At our studios, there are three designated water breaks throughout class, and drinking water is discouraged before the initial break, as it prevents your body from warming up efficiently. Make sure to take swigs of your water afterwards while you’re transitioning between postures, not while your classmates are currently engaged in them. It’s distracting and, of course, jealousy-inducing – everyone else around you would probably rather be drinking water, too.
  3. Leave your phone and your watch in the locker room. It’s so nice to take a break from your cell phone/e-mail/text messages, and it actually makes the class go by faster if you don’t know what time it is. If you have a clock or to-do list to stare at, you’ll only focus on how long you have to hold an uncomfortable posture instead of shifting your thoughts onto how wonderful you’ll feel once class is finished.
  4. Stay home if you’re sick. Some people believe in taking class even if they’re unwell, and while I understand that some yogis may like the idea of sweating out their sicknesses, it’s not a good practice (for the yogi or for the people in class with said yogi).
  5. Hydrate properly prior to coming to class. I cannot stress this one enough. Drink plenty of water and consume lots of electrolytes – you will be grateful for both, especially at the beginning of your practice when you’re still getting used to the heated room. Also make sure to eat something healthy and light about an hour prior to class, even if you’re practicing early in the morning – it will be very difficult to get through the 90-minute sweat session without some gas in your tank. Even when I don’t think I can get a banana down before the 5:30 a.m. class, I make sure to drink some Spark so that I have a little boost of energy and a few additional calories to burn. This way you can make sure to stay in the room throughout the entire class. There is really nothing more distracting than someone leaving the room to refill a water bottle or get a drink. If you’re feeling really crummy and you need some more liquids, ask your instructor to get something for you – they’ll be so happy that you didn’t leave the room that they’ll have no problem grabbing you something to make you feel better.
  6. Bring fresh clothes to change into after class (even if you don’t have time to stay and take a shower). This seems like a no-brainer but I didn’t do this after my first class and I desperately wished that I could make some dry clothes appear out of thin air. I like changing into a bathing suit cover up that’s light and airy, and that doesn’t stick to my sweaty self.
  7. Tell your instructor if you have an injury that will prevent you from doing the postures correctly. This helps your teacher keep an eye out for you in case something happens and it allows him or her to make suggestions in the (highly likely) event that you need to customize certain postures. If you don’t mention this initially, your instructor won’t know that you’re hurting and he or she will give you instructions that will push you further than you should go (which isn’t their fault if they don’t have any advance warning – they’re just being good, motivational teachers).
  8. Every day will be different in the room, so don’t worry if you feel like you’ve taken a step backwards – some days you’ll be on your way to teacher training, and other days you’ll need to take lots of extra savasanas. All that matters it that you came to class. Seriously. Remember what I said about the heat being therapeutic for both your body and your soul? Real talk. If you’re still feeling fed up, keep your exasperation to a minimum and emote quietly – I have been in many a class where a yogi is so visibly and vocally frustrated that it’s distracting.

There you have it, folks. If you have other questions about Bikram Yoga, the FAQ page on the studio’s website is super helpful. Now get to sweating!

Image via Tumblr Gym: Yoga

 

Week & End

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Happy Friday! What are you up to this weekend? We are heading to James’s family’s ranch in Cross Plains, and, as always, I’m excited for fresh air, home cooking, and lots of relaxation. Also, word on the street is that the local rodeo will be in town…

Enjoy your days off as well as some fun links from around the world wide web!

I can’t wait for Wit & Delight’s party collection to debut at Target on Sunday! I am so excited to see what fun, decorative, and creative pieces that Kate Arends came up with for her personalized collection, Craft Social. I am not-so-secretly jealous of everyone who got to attend the Wit & Delight for Target launch party this week – it looked amazing (especially that pie bar, reminiscent of our wedding desserts!).

I finally took the plunge and purchased this lamp (in white/gold) from One Forty Three for my home office. I had seen it on my friend Natalie’s blog nearly a year ago and had been waiting for just the right time to purchase it. I sold my previous office desk lamp at last week’s garage sale (where we raised $5,238 to benefit Touch A Life’s Fence Fundraiser campaign, exceeding our goal of $5,000 – so exciting!!), partially because I wanted to accumulate as many items as possible for the sale and also, subliminally, because I wanted an excuse to buy the One Forty Three lamp (if I don’t have a desk lamp anymore then I have to buy a new one, right?). I also snagged two of these Ikea lamps (in white as well), after having observed them all over the blogosphere and admiring the minimalist style and cheap price tag. I got one to top the dresser in our master bedroom and one for my office at work. Let there be light!

So many good movies are coming out soon! After reading This Is Where I Leave You, I am stoked to see the movie, and I also am looking forward to seeing The Skeleton Twins. Kyla and I have plans to check it out the latter film on Monday – we’ll let you know what we think! P.S. If you haven’t seen Chef yet, you absolutely must – it may very well be my favorite movie of the year!

This really well-written article about the Ebola virus a bit of a somber link but it’s a really important one. Reporting on the epidemic in West Africa has really lessened over the past few weeks, and in some ways, that’s a good thing. But we can’t lose sight of the fact that this is the worst Ebola outbreak in the history of the world (according to the article, “there has been more human-to-human transmission in the past four months than most likely occurred in the last 500 to 1,000 years”) and we need to start being proactive instead of reactive. Some good food for thought.

Let’s end on a positive note! Las week on A Cup of Jo, Joanna Goddard shared this post about the most brilliant Friday night tradition. I immediately e-mailed it to James with the subject “LIFE GOAL.” I so want to replicate this at our house someday!

Five Years

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Five years ago today I piled up my car, said teary goodbyes to my best friends, and began the long road trip from Los Angeles to Dallas. I was moving to Texas for my job at Touch A Life and though I was totally daunted by the transition and anxious about what lay ahead (I had only been to Dallas a handful of times, and I knew hardly anyone besides my coworkers), I knew that taking this step would allow me to live out the plan that God had set out for my life. And now, looking back, I see how vivid and rich that plan was, and I truly can’t imagine my life any other way. By moving to Dallas, I furthered my career, came into my own as a woman, and, most importantly, met my husband and made some of the very best friends in the world, establishing community that I truly could never live without, regardless of where I live.

Of course, I know that September 11th marks a very sad time in our country’s history, and I’ve been thinking about and praying for those affected by the terrorist attacks continually throughout the day; nothing could ever change or trivialize what this day means to us as American citizens. But as far as my personal journey goes, September 11th has come to mean something else, something about trust and hope and promise. I’m reminded to live every day with intentionality, following in the path that God has laid out before me. I’m reminded to never take a single second of this sweet life for granted and to trust that everything, indeed, can be redeemed and made beautiful in His time.

Photo via Heather Hawkins from our engagement photo shoot last year – click on the link to check out more photos from that fun session!

Taco Stop

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This morning was one of the really great ones. I felt invigorated and all sorts of hopped up on endorphins, thanks to an early personal training session with one of my City Surf instructors (who took pity on my measly ankle and offered me some one-on-one time to get me back into action). While on my way to the training site, I spotted a pretty little taco shop that I’d never visited (or heard of) before, and I knew that my post-workout breakfast plans were set. My instructor confirmed that the place was delicious, so after getting my sweat on, I excitedly drove a few blocks to Taco Stop.

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Let’s pause and take a moment to appreciate the fresh, bright decor at this lovely little place. Doesn’t it look pretty in the morning sunlight?

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I ordered two breakfast tacos – one with bacon and eggs, and one with potato, cheese, and eggs – and one of each of the salsas (green and red, of course). I added a bubbly, refreshing Topo Chico to the mix and the kind gentlemen working in the kitchen threw in a fresh black coffee for free (!!!). The tacos were piping hot and, as expected, totally delicious. I liked that the tacos were on the smaller side, too – you know that I love me a beast of a taco like the ones that are served at Good 2 Go but I usually reserve those treats for weekends when I can take a nap afterwards. The smaller tacos are certainly way more conducive to having a productive workday (as is the black coffee, which I am slowly but surely acquiring a taste for) – they’re filling but not so rich that I enter into a food coma immediately after consuming them.

I took a minute to reflect on my morning as a whole while I noshed on my tacos. I felt invigorated by doing something out of the norm, even though it was something as simple as trying a new local spot. I savored the quiet time I had to sit and enjoy my breakfast as the world hurried on by. It’s nice to pause in the middle of the work week to  treat yourself to some peace and quiet (and coffee and tacos) every now and then, isn’t it?

P.S. I am going to continue bookmarking all of these recipe & restaurant-related posts in my Taste & Try folder on the sidebar but I’m going to remove the T & T verbiage from the blog post’s titles (just to keep things simple and clean). I hope you don’t mind! All of the content and foodie goodness and Taste & Try vibes will remain the same, I promise.

Fall Reading List

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I have always loved to read but there’s something particularly special and invigorating about the beginning of the new school year that causes me to line up a bunch of new titles to devour. I was so thrilled when I recently learned that my favorite author, Shauna Niequist, is working on her next book, Present Over Perfect – even though it won’t be published until 2016, you can bet your bottom dollar that this spurred on my passion for gobbling up a whole shelf’s worth of books while I wait for her next creation to come out. She’s also releasing a devotional next spring that I can’t wait to get my hands on. In the meantime, here are some books that I’m looking to add to my reading list this fall (plus, see the rest of the books I’d like to read [and have read!] here on my Shelfari profile):

  • A Million Little Ways: Uncover the Art You Were Made to Live, Emily Freeman – I admit, we were supposed to read this for our book club in January but I only got through the first few chapters. The content is so good but I got sidetracked by a really delicious novel and didn’t ever get back to the rest of A Million Little Ways. As I seek out inspiration heading into this new season, I can’t think of any better way to dive right in than by reading this book.
  • I Am Malala, Malala Yousafzai – My sister-in-law gave me this book for Christmas, so it’s been on my list for a few months now. I’m so excited to dig in to this inspiring memoir.
  • The Circle, Dave Eggers – I love all of Dave Eggers’s books so The Circle definitely makes this list. This novel, set at the world’s most powerful internet company, is described as a “heart-racing novel of suspense, raising questions about memory, history, privacy, democracy, and the limits of human knowledge” – intriguing, no?
  • Rework, Jason Fried & David Heinemeier Hansson – I have heard so many great things about this book and the way it transforms the reader’s concept of work, business, time management, and efficiency. I definitely think it will give me a kickstart, work-wise, as we head into our busiest season of the year and corresponding fourth quarter donation push.
  • Speak: How Your Story Can Change the World, Nish Weiseth – Speak is “a book about the power of telling our own stories and hearing those of others to change hearts, build bridges, advocate for good, make disciples with grace, and proclaim God’s kingdom on Earth today.” Boom.

What’s on your back-to-school reading list? Got any great book recommendations?

Image via Pinterest

Week & End

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Three cheers for short work weeks! We are putting in lots of hours helping with the garage sale that my friend Jessica is hosting to benefit Touch A Life this weekend, so we’ll certainly be celebrating with some ice-cold cocktails after our hard work is done tomorrow evening. Our small group took a summer hiatus and we’ll be starting up again on Sunday, so I’m definitely looking forward to getting back into a routine of getting together after church for lunch and fellowship. Other than that, there’s not much else on the agenda! Do you have big plans? I hope your weekend is wonderful!

Just for fun, here are some great links from around the web:

This post and this post make me want to take a trip to Big Sur as soon as possible. Like, tomorrow? I’m craving some ocean air in a major way.

These fresh peach and yogurt biscuits look so delicious! They’d be perfect with a hot cup of coffee for breakfast or as an afternoon snack.

I love reading the blog Sugar & Cloth, so I am super obsessed with this tour of her studio space – it’s so gorgeous! This is totally the look I am going for in my own office at work, which you may get to see online soon and very soon…(teaser!).

I am stoked about the impending release of Camille Styles’s entertaining book! I’m also hoping she’ll come to Dallas during one of her book tour dates.

In the mood to do some Christmas shopping in September? We just posted our Christmas wish list for the Touch A Life children in Ghana! Visit our list on Amazon.com and select a gift to send to a child in West Africa. Your contribution will truly make a child’s Christmas a memorable one!

Image via Glitter Guide

Life Lately

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WHOA. September 2nd already?! I’m so sorry for my lack of posting recently. Two weeks ago I broke my ankle and have been recovering at home in a haze of aches, pains, and medication, and I’m finally on the mend! My recovery process has actually gone so swiftly and well, thanks largely to my amazing husband, family, and friends. I’ve been so grateful for the encouraging words, the thoughtful visits from loved ones near and far (including Mom’s three-day journey to Dallas from Chicago when James had to make a last-minute trip to Ohio!), and the fun, uplifting gifts (wine & candy included, natch). I’ve always known that my people are the very best, but these past few weeks have really reaffirmed that.

After lots of time snuggling on the couch with Callie, watching TV marathons on Netflix, reading lots of books (This Is Where I Leave You was an instant favorite), and snacking on delicious treats, it feels good to be back in the swing of things. I’m thankful to have a job that allows me to accomplish tasks remotely, but it does feel nice to be back in the office today – there’s something motivating about having an office space to go to and get work done in, I think.

I love this time of year. Even though I’m no longer a student, I’ve always felt more refreshed by the entrance of fall than I have by the coming of a new calendar year. I still find myself living according to the timeline of a student, planning my schedule and calendar accordingly (spring break, anyone?). I appreciate that my favorite season, summer, technically still has a few more weeks left in the limelight, meaning that there’s more time for cocktails on patios, swimming, barbecuing, and evening walks (pending the removal of my cast, of course), but I still can’t help but be invigorated by the entrance of a new school year, a chance to start fresh, to re-evaluate goals, and to make more plans (and, naturally, to stock up on new “school” supplies, like these amazing sushi erasers). In fact, I love this time of year so much that you’ll see me writing about this very topic on Darling Magazine’s blog soon, soon, soon – so stay tuned. (And in the meantime, check out my most recent post about planning the perfect staycation.)

I really and truly appreciate your patience. I’m officially back and at ’em, so I’ll see you here tomorrow. Thanks for reading!

Image via eHow Crafts

Steve Martin & the Steep Canyon Rangers

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A few weekends ago, James and I went to see Steve Martin & the Steep Canyon Rangers at the Winspear Opera House with Laura, Curtis, Korena, and Ian. I was so excited to see Steve Martin perform and, okay, I admit, I was hoping to hear some Father of the Bride-related anecdotes, too. I was also so happy to see another show at the Winspear, my favorite venue in Dallas. We’ve seen Bon Iver there (which was undoubtedly the best concert of all time – I just got emotional thinking about it) as well as a fun Modern Family panel and a theater performance of Peter & The Starcatcher. The acoustics are amazing and there is truly no bad seat in the house. Also, they serve cocktails in what I fondly refer to as adult sippy cups so you can enjoy your libations during the show, which I think is just brilliant.

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from Steve Martin & the Steep Canyon Rangers, even though I knew I would love the music, which is bluegrass. I was absolutely blown away by the group’s musicianship from the moment they started playing. It was other-wordly. Edie Brickell joined the crew for several songs, and her voice is incredible, compounding the already gorgeous sound with her swoon-worthy vocals. Steve Martin had a stream of hilarious commentary that he peppered throughout the set, which kept the entire audience in stitches. The Steep Canyon Rangers are amazing in their own right (they won multiple Grammy Awards even before combining forces with Steve Martin) and they got to play some songs on their own, which were majestic. Their harmonies may or may not have brought a tear to my eye.

Just when I thought the whole experience couldn’t get any more magical, Steve (we’re on a first name basis now, he and I) casually mentioned that his friend, Paul, was going to come out and join them all for a few numbers. What he meant was that the legendary crooner (and Edie’s husband!), PAUL SIMON, was entering the stage to blow our minds all over again. The collaboration was absolutely perfect, the cherry on top to an already unforgettable evening.

If Steve Martin & the Steep Canyon Rangers are ever in your neck of the woods, please buy a ticket to go see them – you will absolutely love the show. I would go see them again in a heartbeat. And you never know, Paul might even decide to show up, too.

Image via American Songwriter

Blueberry Sugar Cookie Crisp

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I originally saw this recipe in a copy of Oprah Magazine and later tracked it down online when I found myself craving it. This treat is just so very good. Blueberries are some top contenders in my favorite fruit category, and they are in their prime right now, making them plump, juicy and flavorful. The sugar cookie topping is an unexpected and drool-worthy twist on the standard crisp topping variation, making it quite the shining star. Be sure to note that you’ll need two+ hours to let the berries sit and soak before you top them with the sugar cookie dough. Also, let this cool a bit before digging in – I couldn’t resist and started chowing down on my treat right when the crisp came out of the oven, but I must admit that the dessert tasted more flavorful and complex when I let it cool significantly, as the sugar cookie topping had soaked up some of the tasty blueberry juice. As you’d imagine, this crisp pairs perfectly with vanilla ice cream.

Blueberry Sugar Cookie Crisp

Recipe via Lisi’s Luscious Desserts (original recipe via Oprah Magazine)

Blueberry Sugar Cookie Crisp

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt, divided
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 and 1/2 cups sugar, divided
  • 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 4 pints (about 2 lbs) blueberries
  • zest of 1 lemon
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions:

  1. In a large bowl, combine berries, 1/2 cup of sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, lemon zest, lemon juice, and cinnamon. Stir, mashing slightly. Cover and refrigerator for about 2 hours.
  2. Combine the flour, baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Set aside.
  3. With the paddle attachment, beat the butter, remaining 1 cup of sugar, and brown sugar. Beat until light and fluffy; then scrape down the sides of the bowl and beat again.
  4. Add the egg and vanilla and mix until combined. Stir in the dry ingredients and mix until combined. Wrap in plastic wrap and let rest until berries are ready (you can also make this ahead and keep it in the fridge).
  5. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  6. Strain the berries and save the juice (if you don’t have any juice, no worries – it is not crucial, just an added bonus). Boil the juice until it reduces by half. Put the berries in a 9×13 baking dish and pour the liquid over the strained berries.
  7. Take the sugar cookie dough and flatten between palms to about 1/2 inch thick. Lay flattened balls of dough over the berries to almost cover. Sprinkle with a pinch of sugar.
  8. Place dish on a baking sheet and bake for about an hour, or until the top is golden.