Hi friends.

I’m going to dump on you a little bit here mmmk? You cool with that?

1. I’m sorry I haven’t shared a recipe with you in so long. I’ve been in the kitchen, making deliciousness, wanting to share it with you. But it’s so damn dark around here! Daylight savings happened, and now it is dark before I even set foot outside of the hospital at the end of the day. I arrive at work, it’s dark. I leave work, it’s dark. Somebody help me. My biggest concern should be the lack of daylight my poor self will be seeing for the next 6 months, but instead, I am most troubled by how this darkness affects my ability to take decent photos. I despise using a flash. Hmmmf. Help.

2. I want to make and eat all of these. In one sitting. And these. Help!

3. Long ago, someone sent me an email entitled “The Most Dangerous Cake Recipe!” – a 5-minute microwave chocolate cake recipe. As in, you make a chocolate cake in a coffee mug, in the microwave. I made one, due to some mad cravings (see #2). I’m not going to lie, it was pretty terrible. I would much rather put in the hour-long effort required to make a real chocolate cake, but clearly I was desperate. It reminded me of the cakes I made as a kid with my Easy Bake oven…a weird, spongy texture, not very much flavor. But I still ate half of it. And now I feel sick. What is wrong with me?! Help!!

4. I am moving in exactly 18 days. And I haven’t started packing yet. Help!!!

5. I have ventured back into the mysterious world of dating. Help!!!!

6. But seriously, HELP!

Phew, that feels better. Thank you for listening.

Now, on to the good stuff. Free stuff! This is the very first giveaway on Once Upon A Recipe! Aren’t you excited?!

Who wants a one-year subscription to Cook’s Illustrated magazine? Yeah you do!

Cook’s Illustrated is one of my favorite foodie magazines. Best. Recipes. Ever. Foolproof.

To Win: Leave a comment below (say hi, tell me what your favorite foodie magazine is, tell a crazy story, whatevs) and subscribe to Once Upon A Recipe. It’s that easy. Open to everyone. ‘Cause I love you. Enter before November 30, 2011 at 12:00pm Mountain Time. One winner will be randomly selected and announced after Nov. 30. Good luck!

And whatever you do, don’t make that microwave chocolate cake. Bad idea.

*Giveaway sponsored by me, myself, and I. ‘Cause I love ya!