3 days

Day Out: Ile St. Louis

It's the wee small hours of the morning on Sunday so I can say that the day after tomorrow!! we leave for Paris! WOW

I love this article from the NYTimes. I cannot wait for our own "Day Out".

I'm currently debating between a fashion related souvenir or a kitchen related souvenir. Decisions decisions.

Christmas Music!

I love love love Christmas music. Any and all of it. Faith Hill, Sarah Brightman, Andy Williams, a Church Choir - you name the song I probably have 3 versions of it on my iTunes "Christmas" play list. Which, currently, has 116 songs. My personal favorites are below. What are yours? 

• Sisters, Rosemary Clooney (from the movie White Christmas) 
• Silver Bells (included on our Christmas card this year)
• Silent Night
• Away In a Manger (my parents and I performed this back when I was 5 years old at our church holiday talent show) 
• White Child Is This?/Greensleeves
• Baby Its Cold Out There
• Dominick the Donkey - I mean really? How can you NOT love this song?!?
• Carol of the Bells - mannheim steamroller does it best
• The 8 Polish Foods of Christmas - veggie tales - word.

Gift Giving 2008

I did not do my Christmas shopping online this year. Today, while waiting on a slow & long line at Staples to ship a box to my family I really regretted my decision. So here are some gifts I coulda, woulda, shoulda sent!

Infinity tea-light holder from Red Envelope. Emblazoned with the phrase “The light you carry within you shines infinitely". Beautiful.

'Smores soap. You have to see it to believe it!! Trendyshoppes.com

Cutest little strawberry mug from an adorable shop in Kansas City, Bon Bon Atelier! I love everything on their website.
Penguin towels. Seriously. How cute! From Shanalogic.
Hello Kitty sewing machine in green from Target. Compact size, 6 built in stitches & button holes. If I paid any attention when my mom was trying to teach me to sew that would mean something to me. Alas, I was happier to play with the box of buttons she kept nearby.

Tea Code for your to-go cup of warmth in the morning. The button on the side allows you to attach your tea bag to the side of the mug.
Philosophy's the Gingerbread House collection. They always have the yummiest scents!

Soup and sandwich tray from Uncommongoods. Ohhh my perfect most favorite meal!!! Genius idea.

Another Williams - Sonoma post

Williams - Sonoma did not disappoint this weekend with their Flappin' Jack Pancake Mix. Light & Fluffy totally worth the $9. I took some pics which I will have to upload tomorrow.

I am however going to have to have words with them if I go back next time and there are still no Moravian Ginger Spice or Sugar cookies. All they had Wednesday was a gift set of 3 funky flavors and I was less than pleased. Seriously they are THE BEST cookies to buy for the holidays. I love to have 2 or 3 every night with a cup of tea. Ok, I could eat a whole tube in one sitting too but that's besides the point. I really hope this gift set is not the new norm for WS, as it's the only place here I have found the cookies.

Black Friday: Nintendo DS

Nintendo DS has got to be my favorite hand-held video game system. I also love the Wii but that's another post for another day. DS - not only does it come in fun colors (like pink!) but it has a step by step cooking 'game'

Not only can you search through 245+ recipes but if you are out of something you can just tap the ingredient and add it to your Shopping List, which seems like a fun & useful feature. You can also browse recipes by whether or not you've made them before, which would help me and any other people in a dinner rut. 

When it comes to actually cooking the recipe the game gives you step by step directions which can be repeated if needed. The commercial with Lisa Kudrow making chinese food with a little one is adorable and the food looks yummy. Buy it on Amazon!

If I can make it here....

The City Cook, edited by Kate McDonough says it so well - the "I can't believe I'm here" feeling so many people have when they come to NYC for the first time. We're lucky enough to live here, work here, play here and best of all EAT here! Thank you God for all our blessings, mainly each other.  I suppose sometimes we take it all for granted and need a day (or 2) every year to be reminded of it. 
I really do heart NY in a big big way...as evident from the picture taken before dinner tonight. That's the Empire State & Chrysler Buildings behind me.
 

Thanksgiving in NYC  by the City Cook

10 years go by so fast...

Thanksgiving week 1998 - my grandma had a stroke. She recovered and lived for 6 years after. Please educate yourself & your loved ones on the warning signs of a stroke.  <3

American Stroke Association

Gobble Gobble

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!

( i love charlie brown & snoopy! )

Yummy Fall Smell

Having the windows closed now make the apt stuffy. I hate stuffy. I love candles and such but every now and then I need a good clean smell to clear the air. 

My mom makes this magical pot of spices & water to make the kitchen/dining/living room all smell delicious (it's one big great room! i miss home...). It's not an exact recipe I guess since it's all guessing & playing with whatever spices & smells you like the best. 

Fill a pot at least half way if not more with water. Add a 3 whole cinnamon sticks, a handful of whole cloves, some star ansie & orange peel. Bring to a boil - watching the water level so there are no accidents. After it boils you can turn down the heat & keep the delicious smell coming thru the whole house. I find that due to the layout of our apt I have to carry the pot thru the other rooms if I want the smell somewhere besides the kitchen. 

More cake pans from WS

Williams-Sonoma has done it again!

First it was the Giant Cupcake pan (perfect for a kid's birthday party) then the Beehive pan (ladies lunch dessert worthy). 

Now we've got the Build a Bear cake & an Igloo cake (just in time for the holidays!). 

What's great about the BaB cake is there's a video with directions for cooking and decorating the bear with great tips! 

DJ play that song

I'm a big fan of themes, especially meals with a theme. Everything from the food - the drinks - the dessert - to the music. It's a great way to easily plan for a dinner party. 

Tonight I got 2 of those the food & the music - Chicken tacos (in yummy healthy low carb, no trans fat wraps) and music by the Buena Vista Social Club. I realize BVSC is Cuban and not Mexican but it's as close as I have. Sometimes you just have to make due with what you have.  iTunes Essentials has some great playlists that are themed & some just for any dinner parties, where you can buy one song or as many as you'd like.

 OYE COMO VA!!!!

xoxo

comfort foods

Ummmm I had a pb&j last night for dinner and it was the best dinner I've had in a loooooong time. I love comfort food!

We made pudding today in my classroom as part of our How-To unit. Delicious! 

Fall Food

Now that it's fall, the days are shorter, the rain comes more often, the wind comes by a little harder and I'm excited for the following "fall foods"

• Apples - I lurve how crisp & delicious a Cortland is in the Fall
• Chocolate Chip Cookies - before the holiday season of sugar & gingerbread a freshly baked choc. chip is wonderful!
• Red Wine - need I say more? We got so many whites out on LI this summer, I wish I had some goood reds. Any suggestions?
• Beef - ahhhh red meat how I love thee. With peppers & onions over a bed of fluffy rice. With a side of baked potato. With a glass of red wine. 
• Oatmeal - maple brown sugar or with some syrup stirred in. Perfect on chilly mornings.
• Tomato Soup & Grilled Cheese Sandwiches - for those cold rainy nights when you cannot get out to pick up dinner

What do you love eating in the fall?

Halloween...a little late

I've uploaded a new user pic from our pumpkin carving extravaganza. Check out the rest of pumpkin carving 2008! Flickr!

It's been over a week (possibly 2) since I cooked a meal & instead of cooking I've cleaned.  Low and behold what do we see this weekend? A mouse. Twice.  All kinds of crazy. The cost of all the sonic noise repellers & 'humane' traps could have been spent on a ticket to see the real Mickey. I love urban living!!!!!

NYC food quiz

Yum NYC style! 

Small Kitchen? Read this!

How To Max Out Your Tiny Kitchen 

thank you SmittenKitchen!!! I have been trying to figure out some storage solutions & a way to get some prep space. Right now I whisk, mix, chop and prep everything on our small hand me down table. BUT an ISLAND? Something small and on wheels could work. I see a trip to Target in our future...

Fabulosity!

Watching Life in the Fab Lane, up muuuuch later than I should be. She's at Whole Foods shopping for organic & locally grown foods! FUN! FRESH! YUMMY!! 

I heart PB

I love waaaay too many things in this picture Pottery Barn emailed me. Sigh.

Ohhh I've got a craving now...

The opening of NPR's Prairie Home Companion's The News from Lake Wobegon included an add for Pilsbury's HomeBaked Grands biscuits. MMMMM I love the 'can' of dough, tearing off the wrapping and hearing the POP and trying so so so hard not to eat any of the dough raw. They are awesome. 

And now Garrison Keillor is talking about big mid-western breakfasts of eggs & sausage. YUMMMM

Catalogues

I have a strong love for catalogues. I blame my dad's mom for having the Sears Wishbook when I was little. We'd go upstate to visit for the holidays, wear warm pajamas and eat crazy food - and I'd spend hours looking at every page in the catalogue. 

My current favorite? The Vermont Country Store! I used this company to buy the yummy maple sugar candies we gave as favors at our wedding last October. I still get & love the catalogue. There's some ... interesting things (like ultra thick socks original prell shampoo & camay bar soap to name a few) but I see so much good stuff!!! The holidays are really the best time for shopping catalogues & online - no muss, no lines, no rude people, no fuss. What do I love? Here's my little list. 

Beeswax fall candles - turkey & pumpkin shaped, great as a table decoration

Turkey shaped glass toothpick holder reminds me of knick-knacks in an old ladies house - love it!

Holy & Ivy salt & pepper shakers - I have a hidden desire to collect unusual shakers, odd I know.

Biggie Lip Smaker - in all the fun flavors!

Cozy Warm Sheets - in so many fun patterns - snowflake, sock monkey, yay flannel!

Vermont Cheese, Maple and so many other fun products

Butternut Squash Soup

This was a huge success. If I could I'd make it every Sunday!! Delicious!!!! 

A great little DIY crafty idea for the upcoming gift giving season...

Marble Magnets

Cupcake Christmas

My husband is already asking when we are going to set up our Christmas tree. He loves sitting on the couch and watching the lights. 

I rolled my eyes at first but the next day I was in my Loehmann's and spotted this adorable ornament from Juicy Coture. I cannot wait to hang it on our tree the day after Thanksgiving!! 

Smitten Kitchen

I love love love Smitten Kitchen. The recipes always look yummy, the writing is insightful and the pics that accompany them are BEAUTIFUL. I'm considering ordering some prints. 

The latest post about her trip to Paris makes me SO excited for OUR trip. 2 months from tomorrow night we'll be leaving!! I cannot wait for the food & wine...

To Make

Butternut Squash Soup

I got some already cubed from the market yesterday. Something to try.

Modular Mates & the Shape Toy

In the midst of hard economic times, it's good to see that Tupperware is still going strong. 

The Party Is Still On

Walls

I want something for our bare walls in the living room. I love the idea of words as art but I'm not sure these are it.  From UncommonGoods.com These are made from recycled materials. 

Milk

We were running out of milk today. I was at Garden Gourmet but already had a full basket so I txted dear husband asking him if he could bring home some. 

Our bodega only had quarts of whole milk :( 

I should love all milk, my dad grew up on a dairy farm, but I really cannot stand whole milk. For a while I was on a Silk kick too. Usually we get 2% or skim. But whole??? Ewww. 

to try

These sound SO good!!!

Caprese Salad (dying to try this)and Turkey Burgers

Juice!

Half cranberry half OJ...yummmm

Anniversary Dinner at Blue Hill

Last night's dinner at Blue Hill was so good I didn't take pictures. It was that enjoyable. Everything from the semi-private back dining room, to the yummy pinot noir, the farm fresh cauliflower, the corn ravioli, the grass fed lamb, the cheesecake...

But, as we noticed when we left, we did not feel overly fed. Blue Hill's portions are exactly as they should be - not too small not to large. The flavors and the quality of the food make it so you didn't have to have a huge hunk of meat or an appetizer so big you weren't hungry when the main course came out. As much as I love a steakhouse this is always the problem there. The food is always in huge portions and you leave feeling like you should be rolled home al a violet in willy wonka and the chocolate factory. I hate that!!! 

We left Blue Hill full not stuffed. There is a difference and it is soooo worth the extra money that comes with a restaurant that gets it right. I wish more places did. 

The food makes Blue Hill a place you want to eat at every night but the price makes it a bit difficult. It's a great place to celebrate and we did just that! <3

Kitty!

How can you not love Kitty?? I love all things pink & cute. And with strawberries?!?! YAY

13oz Sigg Kids Bottle. I got mine from Whole Foods Columbus Circle last night.  Available online at Barefoot-Eco

I use a large alum. bottle for water everyday at work but I think this smaller version will be great for running errands, quick trips, etc. 

Target finds!

I'm kinda in love with this alphabet tray from the John Derian collection for Target. Most of his stuff is very nature-y with birds & butterflies aka not my style. This however, is so super

cute. 

I also picked up the wooden pear & apple that I have been eyeing for a while now. They are the same size, despite what blogger is doing to my images. On the shelf above my sink. 

Love love love Target! Say it with me now - Tar-gey!

just call it 4bucks

Pumpkin Spice Lattes are back at Starbucks!

They also have Signature Hot Chocolates out too. 

And did you know you can go on the website & see all the nutrition info for your fave. drink depending on the size & type of milk you choose?? Sweeet indeed!

It's all good

I haven't been following any recipe lately and I am very proud to say it's turned out aok. 

I usually cook at least once a week now, not as much as I would like. But it's something. 

Mostly it's chicken. It has been awesome lately, but sadly I don't think I cold ever do it again exactly the same way. I use whatever I have. Olive Oil of course. Lemon juice (either fresh or from the cute little lemon bottle) S&P and some herbs, either dried or fresh. Garlic if I have it. A chopped vine tomato. So so so good. 

Usually served with either rice (I'm trying to cut back on the carbs after 7pm so this isn't too often) or a steamed green veggie. Tonight it was fresh string beans. 

I made delish. choc. pudding tonight. And ate most of it via a strawberry not a spoon!! :-)

Snacks

Yummmy trail mix! 

Raisins, peanuts & M&Ms....so so so good!

take a sip

Perrier ~ my favorite alternative to bubbly champagne! 

So excited!

YAY

Resy @ Blue Hill for our anniversary! Can't wait for next month :) 

yummmy

Carvel giveaway Sept 20th! Click here.

What's for dinner tonight?

Marinating as we speak - chicken in lime and olive oil (salt and peppers to taste)

Cooling off as we speak - Dr. Oetker's organic brownies. I still hate my oven so these were made in my mini-tins in the toaster oven

I think I'm making a veggie too. Something's in the freezer or I can add some baby carrots I know have in the fridge. 

I love Mondays! 

On the last episode of a Gilmore Girls rainy day marathon.

"I can cook anything in a tube!" - Rory after making cinnamon buns. 

I suddenly have the need for some sweet sticky goodness! 

The urban whisk has joined Twitter! Follow my (somewhat) up to the minute food consumption updates there at 

http://twitter.com/theurbanwhisk

will still be blogging too!

a sad break from whisking for a moment

Sometimes the big urban jungle can be a scary place. 

Missing Harlem Teacher Hannah Upp. Story Here. She vanished, leaving behind her ID, ATM & Subway card, just a few days before the start of school. She's 23. Someone Somewhere knows Something. 

Be safe out there kiddos! 

Really interesting City Room piece in the NYTimes today about the "Cupcake Craze" 

Personally, I hope it never fizzles out!! 

Will Cupcakes be the Next Krispy Kreme?

Brown Bag!

I have started, what I hope will be a good and helpful habit for myself now that it's back to work. I have only 50quick minutes for lunch, some of this time is almost always taken up by something else. So really half an hour is more like it. It's too early for pizza (and too unhealthy) and the deli line is getting to be a long wait. So I'm bringing my lunch. Here's what I've got for back to school. 

~Whole great bread

~Honey Turkey

~Swiss

~Lettuce

~Tomato

~Avacado

~Mustard

The avacado is just a treat for this week. But it's a yummmy treat. I've been trying to bring some fruit & gold fish as well. Luna bar too yummmy my healthier way to get something sweet. And of course water. No more twice a day habit of vitamin waters. So I'm drinking water at lunch and saving the sweet drinks for dinner. I'm making small changes that I hope to start to feel better from. Happy lunching! 

End of Summer Treat

Mmmmm cupcakes. MMmmm Magnolia Bakery Cupcakes - even better!!! 

My favorite was the chocolate. Vanilla & Red Velvet were yummy but I heart chocolate!

Olympic Fever!

Do you have Olympic Fever? Besides the sports, there's always the hot athletes to make it worth watching!

I've been visiting the fam for a while enjoying mom's cooking & possibly gaining 5lbs from pb&j sandwhiches alone. Oh well c'est la vie.

We're having a bit of our own olympics party tonight. More food - yummmy! Here's our menu

brie baked on baguette topped with rasp. spread
olive tapanade with an assortment of crackers & pita chips
spring rolls - from the frozen food section of Publix, we chose the healthiest
rolled up tacos - again, frozen food section to the rescue
mini cheese ravioli
veggies & dip
fruit & dip
perrier & my beloved diet coke

Everything's available at your local grocery store if you'd like to get in the game. Or there's always chinese take-out! Don't forget to mind your manners with a little 'xie xie' pronounced 'shay shay' to show your thanks & mini knowledge of Mandarin!

Hot in the City

Whole lotta hot out there in the Big City. Be sure to stay hydrated kiddos! Drink plenty of water, lay off the caffeine & alcohol, find some shade, wear sunblock, you know the drills. 

Summmer <3

yummmy

I think Oysters, especially Blue Points from Long Island's North Fork are about as patriotic as you can get. There's are from Claudio's in Greenport. 

Hope you've had a good 4th!!

I love Glam!

I confess...my inbox gets a little...cluttered. I love getting newsletters & updates from other websites, blogs, stores, etc. I recently started reading Glam, a network of all things fabulous. Glam has it all - hollywood gossip, fashion, beauty, and best of all food & recipes! 

Today's glam.com newsletter is Recipe Roundup - "because food should always be fabulous". Love that! Anyway, it links to some great recipes for the Fourth of July weekend from  hostessblog - cocktails, breakfast, burgers - yummy. Check them out! 

Both Glam and Hostessblog have so much content it'd be easy to waste a few hours browsing all the great ideas & articles. So grab a cool drink & settle in :) 

Picnics

There is nothing better than a picnic! The NYTimes Dining & Wine section has a great list of suggestions of foods to make for your next picnic...

101 20-minute Dishes for Inspired Dishes

Enjoy!

what have I been eating

I've been using the always handy cell phone camera this week to snap some summer food photos....enjoy!

Delicious summer salad from must-eat & HH spot, The 79th Street Boat Basin. Celebrated the last day of school there with my co-workers. This salad had it all - greens, fruits, feta cheese. YUM. After a long last day of cleaning up I was full after this hearty bowl. And a few Coronas. 

Great views of the Hudson, worth the wait for a table during the busy evenings & weekends. A must must must for the summer.

Wbrunched at Community Food & Juice in Morningside Heights Saturday. It was a bit late for eggs, so I opted for the Heirloom Tomato salad. It was good, but portion wise it was too tiny. I'll try the eggs or waffles next time. 

lunch box from Tomo, Morningside Heights. I love veg. tempura! Mmm sweet potatoes & zucs!

I also love when I get the 2 roll lunch special and get to snack from my husband's plate :) He hates the seaweed, but I can't get enough!

Green

I'm a bit late to the Oprah sensation that is Dr. Oz. Tho I love to catch him on a show I don't think I've blogged about his good ideas. Oh wait that's Martha...oh well. Anyway, Dr. Oz has a great sounding recipe for a green drink that was featured on the "go back in time" health episode. Oprah called it a "glass of fresh" which is good enough for me!

What's in Dr. Oz's green drink?

• 2 cups spinach
  
• 2 cups cucumber
  
• 1 head of celery
  
• 1/2 inch or teaspoon ginger root
  
• 1 bunch parsley
  
• 2 apples
  
• Juice of 1 lime
  
• Juice of 1/2 lemon

After everything is combined in a blender, this recipe makes 28 to 30 ounces—about three to four servings.

les fraises

How delicious does this sound?? Not only is does this recipe call for my most favorite fruit, the strawberry, but it's frozen and just in time for summer!!

Strawberry Granita with Cracked Black Pepper

• 6 cups ripe, cleaned, and quartered strawberries
  
• 1 cup sugar
  
• 2 cups water
  
• fresh, coarsely cracked black pepper
  

Boil all the ingredients (except the black pepper) together on a low flame until the fruit is tender and the liquid is a syrupy consistency.

Strain the mixture into a shallow glass baking dish that can fit into the freezer. Be sure to mash as much fruit through the strainer to maximize the flavor.

Freeze for 20 minutes or until ice begins to form around the edges. Begin to stir the mixture every 20 minutes until you have shaved crystals.

Serve in ice cream sundae cups with a generous sprinkling of cracked pepper and a dollop of creme fraiche. Garnish with mint. Enjoy!

yummies! If the strawberries ever last beyond a day (i love love love snacking on them as my dessert) I'll be trying this recipe!

Glitz, Sparkle & Shine

Sparkles yay!! I cannot express fully how much I love this photo & concept. There comes in a point in a girl's life when she deserves a special night out & this night was one of those. The guest of honor looked lovely and by the looks of the other pics had a wonderful evening . I should say we all had fun because really how can you not when there's sparklers & some yummy beverages. Yes that's actually a sparkler on the bottle. They bring every bottle out that way. Talk about making you want what someone else has!

The thing is bottle service is great, but really it's not. Ok maybe it's 50-50. Great things - a table to sit down at, not having to deal with the long line at the bar, security guard who will take care of you (Hi Steve!) all in all, basically getting to be a princess for the night. Not so great thing - the crazy overpriced bottles. 

But the sparklers - worth every penny! 

Cheers!! 

great shop & blog!

Three Potato Four - just the name alone sounds cute. Please tell me ya'll know the song this name comes from? Anyway. 3P4 has so much cute stuff for house & home.

I am in love with the cafe mugs: mugs that come with a little mini dish for a yummy sweet treat with your coffee or tea. Personally I'd go with tea, always tastes better with a cookie! I'm a fan of the pear too. 

One word of caution about the site. Ok 2. 1) it's sooo addicting and 2) stay away from the sold part of the site, the stuff that's gone is so great it'll break your heart, but luckily not your wallet! 

It's the cheesiest...

Had a great Italian meal Saturday night with great conversation, laughs, food & wine.  Accademia Di Vino, my review is up on Yelp already. While we did not get a cheese plate to share, it's one of my favorite things (along with Montepulciano D'Abruzzo, Fonteluna, Abruzzi 2005..a delicious red, even I liked!). I love to be the one in charge of ordering the cheeses to share and thankfully dear husband, in true Libra fashion, doesn't mind one bit that I make these types of decisions. 

Urban Whisk's Picks for a Yummy Cheese Plate

• Jarlsberg - how can you go wrong with the Swiss?? Cow's milk at it's best (besides ice cream of course) Jarlsberg has a thick dark yellow rind and a light yellow interior. It has a very mild flavor which you may want to spice up with a flavored cracker. It has holes, but they are pretty irregular. 
• Parmigano - Reggiano - can't get more Italian than this! Made in a few areas in Italy included Parma & Reggio Emillia, this is a hard cow's milk cheese as well. Has a sharp, sort of fruity/nutty taste and a slightly gritty texture. I love it on a crusty slice of bread.

These are my two stand-bys. Something basic in taste, the Jarlsberg & a good basic Italian cheese with the Parm - Regg. Since most cheese plates ask for 3 selections or more, I get adventerous from here on out. Ask your server for a suggestion. Try something different. There was a Vermont made cheese on the menu Saturday that bore a name very special to me, would have loved to try some! Pecorino is a good choice, as are Piave for it's full bodied flavors, or Bra Tenero for it's softer texture. In addition to the Swiss & Italian cheeses I love to try something made locally! 

Staying Cool

The hot weather is upon us! I'm doing my best to drink as much water as I can to stay cool & comfy. I've also started using Propel Fitness Water's Powder Packets. They are a great way to get a yummy hint of flavor, vitamins & cool refreshment. And at 10 calores??? YES! If you don't know about powder packets yet - many of our favorite drinks are available now in these easy to use single servings. It literally is a packet of powder that you add to your water bottle, glass, etc of water, mix & enjoy. So great.  I use my 14oz Nalgene bottle for mixing up my powder packets. 

happy cuppycakes!

Can't stand the heat

Summer heat makes me not want to spend a single second in the kitchen, no matter how hungry I get. Yesterday was our first really humid day and it was awful. I had wine and popcorn for dinner, no lie. 

Today it's cooler and I'll probably make something with the chicken I got on Monday & repeat the tomato & green bean salad from last week since it was so so so good.

I'm also on the hunt for a fun snack to bring to friend's housewarming this weekend. Hmmmm. Smittten Kitchen has a great post about this for summer events, tons of salads & slaws & treats all in one place. I'll be sure to post pics when I think of something....

Stay classy & cool Whiskers!

New Things!

are these bees not adorable??

Salt & pepper shakers from Target from a run up there earlier last week and today I ordered a Grill Pan from Macy's with their Memorial Day sale price. Cannot wait for this to come in the mail! I have moved my old clear salt & pepper shakers to over on the stove for easy access when cooking. The bees look much prettier on the table. 

Spice up your chicken

Tho I did not Grill this delicious recipe, it came out so so so good.  Simply Recipes is one of my favorite food blogs and probably one of the first ones I found as well. I like this recipe bc you can make the marinade ahead of time, put the meat in and leave it sitting in the fridge during the day. Dinner gets ready while you're at work - genius! 

I wasn't so sure how we'd like the spicy flavors of the cilantro, cumin & paprika so I didn't use as much but it still had a little kick. And I used vanilla yogurt, not the regular plain. 

I wasn't sure what to make as a side. I ALWAYS do brown rice. I didn't want to make a potatoe...so I mixed balsamic vinegar & olive oil, added some dried herbs, S&P and tossed with green beans and cherry tomatoes. I quick cooked the green beans and tossed them in last. 

Start here for the pics on Flickr...

Sunday Shopping

I love our local grocery store. The large welcoming produce section as you walk in the door, good selection of ethnic items, the store brand of natural and organic products - it's all great. Here's what we picked up today.

Chicken breasts & tenderloins 

Cherry tomatoes & green string beans - for a great looking salad I want to make this week

Apples, bananas, mangoes & avocado

Vanilla Yogurt

Activia cheese - single serve mozzarella yummmmm

Special K cereal

Spices for a recipe I want to try - paprika & cumin

Cilantro & a mixed container of 'poultry herbs"

4 pack of cranberry juice 

V8 low sodium

We got a bunch of coupons this time around which is cool. Funny tho since they are all for health & beauty products, which we didn't get today and rarely buy at the grocery store anyway. 

I'm off to make a marinade - pics of the final product tomorrow!! 

Balsamic Chicken & Rice

balsamic chicken & brown rice

"I don't know if it's any good"

recipe inspired by rachel ray's

but not as fancy I guess.

I did the always good 'sandwich bag' marinade. Olive oil & Balsamic Vinegar in a storage bag. Add in chicken and let sit. Bunch of rosemary chopped up & added to the mix. Yum I love love love rosemary.

All of it's dumped into my trusty two-handled pan and slow cooked over low heat. I chopped up one garlic clove into about 5 pieces and added that too.

Brown rice takes forever to get fluffy & yummy. But it's so worth it. As evident from the clean plate club!!! 

For the mommies

For the women who taught me how to cook....Happy (day after) Mother's Day. The gardenia is a very special flower for us ladies in the Whisk family.

Before I go on to list some great things various women have taught or showed me how to do that relate to food, I would like to share one great food memory involving my very own Mommy. It involves us eating an entire box of Mallomars while grocery shopping. How very awesome indeed. And yes we paid for the box!

Things I've learned about food from some very great Women

use the good China

use a fancy glass for any beverage

silverware engraved with your initial

grapefruit spoons & corn on the cob holders

artichokes & pomegranates

bon-bons

birthday cake

kielbasa, perogies and gwumkies

hot dogs, peppers & rice

eggplant parm

the joy of a freshly picked tomato with salt

"the weekend of bread"

cosmopolitan, dirty martini & corona light

coffee

fun cake pans

monster cookies

chinese delivery 

Nathan's hot dogs 

cold cut platters on new year's day& the lamby cake at easter

the picnic table & umbrella that tilts

subway at the beach

whatever you want on your birthday

twist the pastry bag closed before you start piping

cookie parties with my middle school BFFs

progressive dinners, fellowship dinner, and all other 'church food'

aprons

breakfast can be dinner

sunday lunch = anyone's welcome over

always have baked goods on hand

set up a screenhouse outside in the summer

you can make s'mores inside!!!

the missy cup & tommy tippie

tupperware & corelle

placemats & cloth napkins

bendy straws

Mc Donald's on Friday nights

sauce from a jar is ok

have a pretty teapot for serving guests

buffet= everyone's happy

start the meal with a glass of water as your beverage

pancakes & french toast weekends

carvel ice cream 

folding a cloth napkin into a dolly - wish I remembered how to do this

clams, oysters and all kinds of yummy shellfish

afternoon tea with huge sugar cookies

if you can - get it fresh from the farmstand in the summertime

taco night, pasta night and everything else

I thank you & love you....

Yummy Birthday Cake!

Boys ask silly questions - like "do you want to go to dinner tonight?" when it's your birthday. 

Best birthday cake in a loooooong time!

I think I have graduated to a point in my eating where I can eat a 12oz steak too. Just had the 8oz last night and could have had more. But it was nice to not feel soooo stuffed after bread, salad, steak & the baked potato (and some red wine of course). Why worry about carbs on your birthday??? I was home & sound asleep by 9:30 which was a great way to end all that eating! 

Back to the cake - 6 layers of vanilla goodness and delish lemon icing & filling. 6layers!!! I hardly ate any at the restaurant and am planning on eating most of it tonight! 

Looks are so deceiving!

This looks like a big old mess....but seriously...baked eggs with parm cheese & sauce, good crusty bread on the side. So so so good. Paired with a bellini and a beautiful spring day - delish. 

Little Frankie's Pizza - East Village NYC

So cute!

Kikkerland shop is officially one of my favorite websites for cute house stuff. How cute are these honyebear salt & pepper shakers & the campfire votive? Adorable! 

I've been doing a lot of online browsing and have a few websites to share over the next few days hopefully. Stay tuned! 

Bryant Park

As much as I love packing a lunch (or picking up lunch) to take to the park, I was happy to enjoy something a little more high class last night. I fear tho, that we just had drinks and were a bit squished in like sardines. Oh well. One of the first beautiful Thursday nights in the City what can you expect! Some gal pals and I stood in a long but moving line and finally were able to grab drinks from the lovely & very outdoor Bryant Park Cafe. 3 ladies in the education field, enjoying Spring Break, among the suit & high heel types - it was fun! 

The park always has a great number of chairs & umbrella tables, which are great for grabbing snacks from 'wichcraft which sells really yummy sandwiches. The Cafe is in the middle of the Park, on the Upper Terrace. You can look up and see the NY Public Library and even further up, the sky! Like their website says, "When you first discover it, nestled in its canyon of skyscrapers, it's like an oasis - a refuge of peace and calm". So very true.

If you're far from our great city, you can check out the webcam! 

Kitchenette!

I admit it. I get in Food Ruts.

Pink Vitamin Water. Cheddar cheese on Triscuits. Salad dressing marinades. Rice as the main & only course. And cereals - oh. my. this is SO easy for me.  I blame my father really, same shredded wheat every morning for as long as I can remember. Tho rumor has it he eats oatmeal now too. Figures, the man leaves the cold north east for Florida and starts eating oatmeal...oy. Freak. love ya daddy!

Anyway, I think we as Urban dwellers easily get into food ruts. More specifically, Restaurant Ruts. We have our favorites for everything possible in the food and drink department. And for somethings that's great. The work gals & I have our 2 places we usually go to for HH on Friday afternoon. Husband and I have our favorite sushi place. And don't get me started on Pizzzzza. It's as much a religion to some of us as the Yankees. :) 

Brunch is one of those meals that just makes it easy to get into a RR. You have your nearby place with strong coffee & mimosas, good greasy eggs and toast just tan enough. I won't mention my brunch RR place, but let's just say it was time for a change. 

Enter Kitchenette! Cute is not the word to describe this place. Every inch of the design was so carefully thought out (perhaps tho not the U shaped dining area, kinda weird but very Urban I think, where space is so so so valuable). So much cute fun stuff. A lot of pink & poka dot details. We were seated after only about 15min waiting and after we ordered we were shocked at how quickly our food came. I had delicious huevos rancheros and a yummy mimosa. Can't wait to go back - the menu has SO much on it! No RR here :) 

Pizza AND a bagel!

What's more better than a bagel AND pizza?? 

I really think pizza bagels are up near the top of my comfort foods list. SO so so good! 

sidetracked

This post is a bit off topic for The Whisk, but since it's April & Earth Day is approaching, I feel the need for a little Green. 

I'm trying to do my part and fill up a re-usable bottle with water rather than buy bottled. We can ALL do our part - even with our makeup! 

I've only begun to use eye-make up in the past year. Wearing glasses, I don't usually wear much everyday and even when it's a special occasion I don't wear a lot. But I am trying! I love Urban Decay's Primer Potion because as much as I try I always tend to rub my eyes during the day or find more eyeshadow on my glasses or worse, somewhere off my lids.  SO UDPP has been my first step whenever I go to put anything on my eyes. The funky purple bottle with it's genie in a bottle shape makes it SO fun to use. The only problem is that the applicator only goes up and down meanwhile the tube inside is curved to fit the fun shape. So there's tons of left-over product inside.

Clumps of Mascara first blogged about this...or rather this is the first place I have heard about it. The pretty packaging is very deceiving. I've also found a cool youtube video about this as well. 

Think of all that lost product!! SAVED! Think of all the plastic (or whatever the tube is made of) SAVED! More pics are on Flickr.