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!!