Food and Drink
01/22/2013
01/15/2013
Oreo Macarons
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I'm obsessed with cooking competitions. My most recent favorite is the Next Great Baker on TLC. I love Buddy from Cake Boss and his no nonsense attitude with the contestants. What does this have to do with Oreo Macarons? Well it's because during Christmas break I was watching one of the episodes where the contestants had to make a dessert using Oreo cookies. As usual, everyone was crazed, trying to reinvent the wheel - in this case, the Oreo - but I was amazed how no one thought to make a macaron!
That was all the inspiration I needed to run to my grocery store and pick up a pack of Oreos. As discussed in previous posts, making macarons is hard - but they become easier with practice. Once you get the gist of it, you can turn almost anything into a macaron! (Hmmm...I've wonder if anyone has ever tried to make a bacon flavored macaron?...)
01/09/2013
I'm currently obsessed...
...with Next Issue. This is by far my favorite app on my iPad! If you're obsessed with Magazines as much as I am then you'll LOVE this new app. It's basically Netflix for magazines. For as little as $9.99 a month ($14.99 if you want weekly magazines) you can read any magazine! Any magazine - such as Vogue, People, Elle, Food & Wine - you name it!
I'm finding myself reading magazines I've never thought I would even like! You know how women read 50 shades of grey on their iPad or Nook so people can't see that they're reading? - that's how I am with these magazines. I'm reading issues I wouldn't be caught dead reading on the subway platform, like Good Housekeeping (which is actually good magazine - who knew!)
And if you like to collect recipes (like me!) all you have to do is take a snapshot of the screen (press the power button and the select button at the same time) and voila! I have an Evernote notebook dedicated to all the fashion and food finds I've collected from this app. Evernote...that's another app I'm obsessed with - I'll save that excitement for another time...
01/08/2013
The Kitchen Sink Smoothie
Here's a healthy way to start the new year - make a smoothie!
Ever since I got my immersion blender, I have been obsessed with making smoothies. I call this concoction the Kitchen Sink Smoothie because I practially add every fresh produce I could find in my fridge. You have to have a healthy breakfast in the morning - it's so important - but sometimes I just don't have the time to eat. When I'm really busy, the idea of sitting down to chew something drives me insane - especially when I just need to jump into a creative project. So I serve myself a liquid breakfast instead!
It's a great way to get all of your healthy essentials out of the way. Chomping away at salad makes me feel like a miserable rabbit. When I drink this smoothie, I don't feel so guilty if I forget to eat my greens later on in the day. Plus this drink is the PERFECT CURE FOR A HANGOVER! That's because I've added coconut water and other key ingredients to help you recover after a long night of partying.
Check out my recipe for Kitchen Sink Smoothie below. If you have a similar concotion - please share, I'm always opened to new and different ways to get me going in the morning!
12/18/2012
Rainbow Cookies
Rainbow cookies! One of my favorite Italian pastries. Also known as seven-layered cookies, I could eat these yummy delicacies for days and days and days. And although rainbow cookies are available for any occasion, I closely associate them with Christmas. They make wonderful holiday presents and are perfect for cookie swaps (this one recipe makes about 4 dozen cookies!)
One Christmas, my girlfriend Betsy surprised me with a trip to Long Island where her soon to be sister-in-law, Jill Feingold taught us exactly how to make these enticing treats. It was one of my favorite Christmas presents from my best friend - not to mention such a valuable learning experience - rainbow cookies are very tedious to make! But the results are so delicious that it makes the whole thing worth it!
12/11/2012
Holiday Gingerbread
"Gingerbread makes me miserable" - said no one ever.
I'm just wild about anything gingerbread. For me, it marks the sign that Christmas is almost here. I've searched high and low for the perfect slice of gingerbread and this recipe, adapted by Ina Garten, is by far absolute my favorite to make. It's so quick and easy to make. The cake texture is so moist and the flavor is packed with powerful spices. Not to mention that this recipe also makes the perfect present for fellow gingerbread fanatics like myself!
12/06/2012
The Holidays at Bryant Park
One might say that Christmas at Bryant Park is like the red-headed stepchild of Christmas at Rockefellar Center. Actually, no one would really compare city attractions to red-headed children (who in their own right, are actually very cute.) But while everyone and their mother, brother, and accoutant are cramming themselves at 30 Rock to "Say the 'Tray," I prefer to saunter through the holiday festivities of Bryant Park.
The holidays at Bryant Park are extremely underrated. I would even go as far to say it's the best kept secret if it weren't smacked right in the middle of Midtown - but in many ways, it really is! For starters there's FREE ice skating! And FREE CIDER! And holiday shops galore! And SPACE! Yes! You can have the quintessential Christmas-in-New-York-City experience and not have to feel like a packed sardine!
The other day I found myself strolling through Bryant Park on my way to the subway and I thought to myself, "you know, I really don't appreciate this place enough!" I'm looking forward to coming back when my family is in town - in the meantime, I hope you enjoy these delightful moments I caught a long the way...
11/20/2012
Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms
In my family, stuffed mushrooms play a big role at our Thanksgiving table. Coincidentally, they play a big role in my husband's family too! Not sure if this is an Italian thing (if it is, please let me know) but for our first Thanksgiving as newlweds it was inevitable that stuffed mushrooms would be making an appearance. This recipe by the Barefoot Contessa is perfect and so easy to make. Ina Garten is my go-to during the holiday season because she has so many delicious recipes perfect for hosting and party serving. Whenever I find myself flustered in the kitchen I calmly say to myself, "WWID" aka "What Would Ina Do?" And the answer always presents itself in one of the many cookbooks I cherish so dearly by her.
11/13/2012
Butternut Squash Glazed Tart
It's at this point of the Autumn season that I tend to get a weeee bit tired of butternut squash. I mean, hey - there's only so much soup and side dishes you can consume featuring this abundant veggie. But when I came across this recipe I was so intrigued I had to try it. I had never thought of using the b'nut in a dessert. I'm sort of inspired to see what other sweet dishes I can make (I mean - heck! My freezer is packed with extra squash - I would hate to see it go to waste!) Anyways, I hope you enjoy making this quick and easy recipe as much as I enjoyed devouring it!
11/06/2012
Nutella Bars
What I love the most about this time of year is the abundance of yummy baked goodies...all waiting to be devoured...unfortunately in one sitting by this lady right here! Nutella (aka European Coco Crack) is a guilty pleasure of mine. I tend to bake with Nutella more frequently during the holiday season. I think it's because it has such a warm chocolatey flavor and a gooeyness that sticks to your sides. And also because it's winter and I don't have to worry about wearing a bikini! Here's a great recipe for fudgy nutella shortbread bars - WARNING: they are highly addictive!
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