Weekend Cooking: 6 Links for Food Lovers (#3)

Food over the last week has been all about comfort, because Mr. BFR was recovering from hernia surgery. For example, I made split pea soup, roast chicken, and a simple pasta dish.

On Valentine's Day, he wasn't ready to have a glass of champagne or to go out dinner, but I hated to let the day slip by completely unnoticed. Fortunately, I get the Smitten Kitchen email newsletter, and I found the perfect solution right there: Deb's incredible chocolate red wine cake: it's moist, rich, and insanely delicious, plus it comes together quickly. I left off the topping, but that marscapone cream looks awesome.

The photo is mine -- I always forget to pull out my camera when I'm enjoying my food.

Because this wasn't the week to try new recipes or check out a new cookbook or foodie show, I thought I'd share a half dozen links I've saved and thought you might have fun exploring.

• Make the Cheesy Bread That the French Nibble Nightly: I'm a big fan of Dorie Greenspan and her Washington Post column. Recently I spotted this recipe for a hearty quick bread, which seems to me to be an easy way to pretend I'm in Paris. Note too how many times the French sit down to eat and visit with friends and family. Sounds like heaven.
• Sugar, Explained: We're past the winter holidays and we're done celebrating Valentine's Day, but before we get too used to being without sweets, Easter will be upon us. Jelly beans, anyone? This article from Vox, complete with some easy to digest (ha!) graphics, may make you think twice before eating that chocolate bunny (or not).
• 7 of the Best Food Blogs for Eating on a Budget: Okay, so I'm not sure Huffington Post has truly unearthed the best of budget food blogs, but this list would be a great place to start if you're looking for recipes that won't empty your wallet. Although I was already familiar with three of the featured blogs, I was happy to add a couple more to my list.
• Why Isn't This Working? 5 Variables That Affect Recipe Timing: I almost always learn something new when I visit Serious Eats, and this article caught my attention. No huge surprises in this list, but I want to remember these points, especially when cooking in an unfamiliar kitchen.
• Jacques Pépin Says Following a Recipe Can Lead to Disaster: Master chef Jacques Pépin is no stranger to public television and the PBS Newshour. I love what he has to say about following recipes exactly and what happens when friends serve him a dish from one his cookbooks. The short piece ran last spring, and by clicking the link you can either watch a video or read the transcript.
• 11 Slow-Cooker Meals You Can Prep and Freeze Ahead of Time: The title of this article is slightly misleading, but the tips from Self Magazine for pre-prepping ingredients for slow-cooker meals could be a life-saver for busy cooks. I like the idea of cooking and freezing on the weekend so weekday meals can be put together quickly, when time is at a premium.

Hope you find at least one link that catches your eye. (Photo credit: Deb Lindsey / for The Washington Post.)