Summer, List-ed.

I think you should know by now that I'm a list maker.  See here, here, and here.  I'd like to share my summer wishlist with you.  What am I missing?

1.  Eat my body weight in lobster: check!

Sammy, the lobster

2.  Take a vacation far, far away: check!

Les Calanques, France

3.  Take a hike above the clouds: check!

Le Pic de Marcelly, France

4.  Learn to swim properly: working on it.
5.  Ride a ridiculous roller coaster.
6.  Make blueberry cobbler.
7.  Read, read, read.  This book is currently making me laugh out loud!
8.  Drink rose at any chance I get.
9.  Go on a long bike ride.
10. Get back to blogging!
11. Eat more lobster... (I have no shame.)

Week end-ed.

What are you up to this weekend?

My sister is coming into town to run her first marathon this Sunday in Atlantic City.  I'm so ridiculously proud of her!

Tonight, we'll slurp down ginormous bowls of Mom's famous lasagna soup and then cuddle up on the couch and watch silly romantic comedies.

Tomorrow we'll drive down to AC in time to catch some college football (go UM!) and fill up on a huge pasta dinner before waking up early for the main event Sunday morning.  My running sneakers are packed just in case she needs a running buddy along the 26.2 mile route.

I hope your weekend is filled with good food, people you love and something to cheer about!

Life, Experienc-ed.

The boyfriend and I recently watched the much talked about documentary, Happy.  It was a truly thought-provoking film about what it means to be happy.  Some of it was scientific, citing domapine and other happy 'drugs' and some of it was experiential.  One of the most resonating tidbits that stuck with me is that the happiest people tend to consistently be those that to expose themselves to new experiences and continued learning.  It can be as simple as taking a different route home from work, or picking up a new book.  New experiences give us a rush and are more likely to produce the happy chemicals in our brains.

One of my favorite bloggers, Joanna Goddard, had the same reaction and has created a weekly 'Fall Challenges' series in which each week she challenges her readers to do or try something new.  This week was to give up TV (unfortunately, I failed miserably as the boyfriend and I are knee deep in a Game of Thrones marathon).

Similarly, at the beginning of this year, I had challenged myself to take one 'class' each month of 2012.  I can't tell you how rewarding the process has been. 

I've taken everything from new classes at the gym (Barre Method, Bikram yoga, Zumba) to a Food Discovery Tour of the Lower East Side.

This month's class was a Wine and Cheese course through Artisanal NYC.  We spent a wonderful two hours tasting cheeses, pairing them with wines and learning about the process and regions in which these cheeses are made.

I thouroughly enjoyed myself (though that could just be the wine talking...)  And I've officially decided this is a resoltion I will continue to uphold in 2013.  Experience is truly at the root of all happiness. 


Next up: Scuba lessons and a Knife Skills course

What new experiences have made you a happier person?  Any suggestions for classes I should take in 2013?

Melt-ed Cheese. Need I say more?

Last week, one of the meals on our menu was Raclette, a typical French dish that involves melting cheese (called Raclette) on a heated skillet tray and pouring it over boiled potatoes and assorted charcuterie.

If you can get your hands on a hunk of Raclette (we bring a big block back from France and keep it in the freezer) and a mini Raclette grill, like this one that we have (you can even take it with you camping and hiking), this is the perfect (and even easier) alternative to fondue.

 

 

 

And no meal is complete with out dessert...namely a molten chocolate cake baked in mini cocottes.  There were only two of us, but extra chocolate cake never hurt anyone....

 

 

 

 

All Plann-ed Out.

One of my favorite posts to read on other blogs is about meal planning.  I'm always interested to hear how other people plan out their menus for the week ahead.  (I told you I was a planner).

Lately, the boyfriend and I have been taking a few moments on Friday or Saturday to come up with a rough meal plan for the upcoming week.  It usually starts by laying out the days of the week, picking one night to go out or order in and then filling in the others backwards.  I usually cook to have leftovers for lunches, so we tend to cook something new every night or every other night.

We keep a little whiteboard on the fridge so we both know what our options are.  The meals aren't set in stone--we can be flexible--but it's helpful to know what ingredients we have on hand.

We also do our best to plan based on our schedules.  For instance, on the nights I have a late class at the gym, we plan something quick and easy--pasta, quiche, soup and salad.  Fridays usually mean a crockpot dinner or something I can stick in the oven and then collapse on the couch.

Sometimes it's as simple as 'something from the freezer' (we usually keep at least two different types of meats, plenty of microwaveable veggies, and a homemade soup in there at all times). 

As is usually the case, we have a few staples that appear again and again on the menu, but I try to incorporate one new recipe a week into the mix. It keeps in interesting and helps keep me out of a food rut without becoming overwhelming (or expensive).

I'd say the three lifesavers I have when it comes to meal planning are:

1.  My crockpot - I can throw any mix of veggies in there with a little tomato paste, veggie broth and some spices and voila, we have a hearty vegetable soup.

2.  The grill - I bought the boyfriend a mini gas grill for our tiny balcony this summer and it has cut cook time in half!  I whip up a marinade for steak, shrimp, fish, chicken, veggies, etc. and a quick fire on the grill has dinner on the table in seconds.

3.  The boyfriend - having an extra set of hands in the kitchen really is a lifesaver.  Though I love to cook and find food prep extremely relaxing, having that extra help makes a world of a difference!

What are your meal planning secrets?  I'd love to know!

wd~50~ed

Speaking of celebrating...

Naturally, we decided the only way to commemorate three years together was to share a 5 course meal of gastronomic wonders at wd~50, a restaurant that has been on my list for quite some time.  The quirky celebrity chef, Wylie Dufresne, is known for his molecular gastronomy techniques in the kitchen, so we couldn't wait to see what he came up with.

We started with a foie gras terrine that looked pretty normal at first glance. But, when we sliced into it, a sweet beet-blood red sauce oozed out onto the plate (symbolism?).  Mix that with the sweet pea 'soil,' a green dust that tasted just like snowpeas, and the candied olives (my favorite), and I'd say this was a pretty banging dish: creamy foie gras, sweet sauce and soil, and salty olives.

Next, came a pressure-cooked pine nut cassoulet with boudin blanc (pork and chicken sausage).  The flavors of this dish were so perfectly balanced, the boyfriend and I both commented we wished we'd had more.

Venison with freeze-dried polenta and an asian pear/fennel slaw was the perfect anchor to the meal.

Dessert featured a carmelized brioche, apricot foam, buttercream ribbon and a lemon thyme sorbet.  WD knocked it out of the park with this one.  I somehow refrained from licking my plate.

Lastly was a black sesame shortbread cookie that had concord grape sorbet hidden inside.  Unfortunately, by this point the cocktails (a delish vodka, guava, mint and champagne cocoction) had caught up with me and I forgot to take a photo.

I hope you enjoy these photos as much as we enjoyed our meal.  If you're ever in NY and looking for an interesting culinary experience, stop by wd~50.  If you're a foodie, you won't be disappointed.

Soul Foo-ed.

What is it about eating outside in the elements that makes food taste so good?  This weekend, after a nice Saturday morning hike up the mountains of the Delaware Water Gap, the boyfriend and I broke for lunch.  We climbed out onto two rocks at the border of the Sunfish Pond and unwrapped our turkey sandwiches.  With each crusty bite, we alternated mmms and garbled “this is so gooooood.”

Maybe it was our primal instincts kicking in, maybe the added effort had peaked our appetites, or maybe there’s just something about the fresh air that enhances the taste of food.  But, without a doubt, that was the best dang turkey sandwich I’ve ever eaten.  And don’t even get me started on the fruit tart we gingerly carried in our backpacks and then devoured sans forks or napkins, licking our fingers and sucking up every last buttery crumb.

We trekked down the mountain with full bellies, lungs and hearts.  Sometimes all we need to feed our souls is a little fresh air, good company, and a turkey sandwich.

How was your weekend?

Peac-ed Out.

This morning on my way into work, I stopped at the small Rockefeller Center farmers’ market. I winded through aisles of ripe apricots, fresh greens, and homemade jams. I picked up a bunch of still mud-caked radishes, a loaf of freshly baked bread, and a handful of plums. This evening, the boyfriend and I have planned a picnic dinner on the Hoboken waterfront to celebrate the fall-like weather that has been gracing the Northeast the past couple of days. I wanted to pick up some fresh goodies to munch on (and it was a good excuse to indulge one of my favorite hobbies--food shopping).

Before I knew it, 30 minutes had passed. Thirty minutes sitting at my work desk feels like two hours. Twenty minutes wandering the farmers market, inspecting the produce, smelling for freshness, feeling for ripeness, passes like no time at all. I am never more at peace than I am when I’m with food. Perhaps it’s the earthiness or the sensory stimulation. Whatever it is, I could have passed the day there in those market stalls, tasting and wandering. This is what happiness tastes like to me on a Wednesday morning.

What makes you feel at peace? Is it reading a good book? Writing in a journal? Playing an instrument? Gardening? Running?

Mov-ed, Learn-ed, & Ate.

M O V E

L E A R N

E A T

I stumbled upon this series of 3 videos.  I think the description says it all: "3 guys, 44 days, 11 countries, 18 flights, 38 thousand miles, an exploding volcano, 2 cameras and almost a terabyte of footage... all to turn 3 ambitious linear concepts based on movement, learning and food ....into 3 beautiful and hopefully compelling short films....."

These three concepts (movement, learning and food) are what make the world go round. I hope these clips inspire you as much as they did me.
I love the upbeat solo piano music in the background.  The editing blows my mind, and the video quality is unmatched. 

Great job guys, just one question: next time, will you take me with you?

Where will you go? What will you learn? And how will it all taste?

Tailor-ed to your Taste & Waist



pic: weheartit

 Let's talk about food.

My dear friend over at hungry for living wrote a post per my request for some information about lactose intolerance.  She is a master ninja researcher with a special interest in healthy living, so I knew she'd do a great job. 

I am thrilled to see the increase in healthy eating, but even more excited to hear about the new trend in food awareness.  So many people don't pay attention to their own bodies, assuming that an 'upset tummy' is normal.  Food allergies are a very real issue and are extremely important to ensuring digestive health. 

Next time you eat your turkey sandwich at lunch, listen to what your body tells you after you eat it.  Does something not feel right?  Trust me, your diet should be just as tailored to your tastes as it should be to your health.

Vegg-ed Out.

A little late to be jumping on the healthy New Year's Resolution train, and a little early to be giving up chocolate (again) for lent, I'm chalking my new found healthy attitude up to a few wacky cravings.

This Sunday I had the day to myself--for the first time in a while.  At first I paniced.  How am I going to fill the hours?  Then, before I knew it, I realized I was on one of the best dates I've had in a very long time--with myself!

Me and myself took a chilly walk to knock off a few errands and ended up coming home with (of all things) a box of quinoa. 

I am by no means a vegetarian.  Meat still holds a special place in my heart, and stomach.  But, lately due to budgetary restrictions, some encouragement from a few fellow bloggesses, and a few strange cravings, I have started to incorporate more and more veg-only meals into my diet.

Yesterday's lunch consisted of roasted curry butternut squash and smoky paprika cauliflower served over quinoa (a protein-heavy grain).  I topped the dish with some chopped almonds for crunch.  It was one of the best things I've tasted in a very long time.  I'm trying out the whole food photography thing, so please excuse the close up.

I am not here to tell you that vegetarianism is cool or hip or healthy or environmentally correct.  But I do believe it is the easiest way to save a buck, a few calories, and some cholesterol points. 

Now, anyone out there have another idea of what to do with the rest of my quinoa?

Foo-ed.

I have always wondered if I was born in the wrong era.  Perhaps a time when chivalry was the law, or when ladies were courted and wooed would have been more appropriate for me.  I am by no means a feminist, so the standard womanly roles of cooking, cleaning, and child-rearing would have suited me just fine.  In an ideal world, my job would be to make delicious food for the people I love.

That said, perhaps this was the exact right time for me to have become a part of the world.  The entire universe has suddenly become obsessed with food.  It seems that more than half of the blogs out there are food-centric.  We now have entire television channels devoted to the art of cooking, and currently some of the biggest stars in pop culture are celebrity chefs.

Has food become the new fashion?  Eating the latest food trend--cupcakes, chocolate bacon, emulsified mushroom foam--is exactly that.  Trendy.

Last night the boyfriend and I finally tried Mario Batali's newest culinary venture, Eataly.  Trendy as always, he's created quite a revolutionary idea, incorporating a marketplace with several restaurants sectioned off by food type.  We noshed on the finest Italian cheeses and meats, while sipping on fruit-forward, light red wines.  This place is so trendy in fact, they can actually get folks (Americans, no less) to stand while they eat!

The boyfriend has learned that there is nothing sexier to me than good food and a smooth glass of wine.  Screw fashion, perhaps food has become the new sex?  Or maybe it always has been and we have finally entered an age of honesty.

Feed me, and I am yours forever.

Week, End-ed.

Finally, this long week has come to a close and I can look forward to a mini-break filled with the following:

An hour alone with my book, uninteruppted.

(No, that's not me.)

A birthday meal of shrimp and grits with Mom & Dad

(Happy Birthday Mommy dearest!)

Massive Crumbs cupcakes for Mom's sweet tooth.

A race along the river, baby sister's in the Big East!

 A long drive home in the rain, 

listening to Mom's jazz music.

 A lazy Sunday evening spent under the covers.

Re-Lent-ed.

The countdown has begun.  Fourty-five days from today, I will be lounging on a beach chaise, tropical rum punch in hand, boyfriend, good book, and good friends by my side. 

Fourty-five days seems like forever, but it also is the perfect amount of time to focus on sculpting the bikini body I picture in those beach dreams of mine.  Yesterday began lent #2, except this time I'm not sacrificing for God, I'm sacrificing for me, which ironically is a bit more difficult.  After overdosing on chocolate post-Easter, I've decided to give up sweets and junk food of all kinds, promising myself a good workout at least 4-5 days a week.  Though it's a bit of a vain project, I know it will help me think, move, and feel better.

During my project, I've quickly realized what is effective and what simply won't work.  It is essential to set a goal, lay out the exact parameters, and challenge yourself to meet the goal.  Without a conscious effort, nothing can be achieved.

It's also important to track your progress.  An analysis of how you're doing serves as great motivation to keep going.  So on that note, I've started using the Self Magazine food/workout log to track my caloric intake and burn.  I highly recommend signing up. (It's free and easy!) 

What are your springtime resolutions?

Ah, spring, what a perfect time to eat like a rabbit.

Shar-ed the Love.

The boss is out and I've been taking advantage of the free time to obsessively check my Google Reader feed.

Who knew that my dream job was waiting for me just around the next cyber link?  I've always wondered, how could I (realistically) combine travel, food, writing, and romance into one career that--and here's the key part--I could actually get paid for.  The only solution I kept coming to was a sugar daddy.

But, it looks like CNN has found it for me--a professional honeymoon tester.  Travel to luxury, exotic locals with your other half, write up a review, and move on to the next hotel suite, Mai Tai in hand.  Yes, please!

I have a hard time believing this is actually a real deal, so if you have another solution for me, or encouraging words to go ahead with the webcast application and start convincing Frenchie to quit his job, I'm all ears.

In the meantime, show me your love by spreading the love.  The more readers I have, the closer I am to my goals.  Would you be so kind as to pass this link on to a friend who hasn't yet experienced the -ed chronicles?  Because, after all, we're all in search of something...

pic: weheartit

Nothing Achiev-ed.

5 o'clock. It's quitting time.  Lots done, and nothing achieved.  The real goals I shall save for this evening:

Have a really good, belly-aching laugh.

 pic:weheartit

Eat a light, belly-pleasing meal al fresco.

via sfgirlbybay

 Enjoy a glass of crisp Sauvignon Blanc at a sidewalk cafe. And wax poetic.

 pic:weheartit, 20 under $20

Take a long walk in the cool sunset residue. His hand in mine.

pic:weheartit, remember him?

Gear up (aka loosen belt) for Macaron Day on Saturday...what a delicious idea!

 pic:weheartit, Macaron Day

Enjoy your weekend! What will you accomplish???

First tim-ed.

This morning.

Corn beef and cabbage is simmering away in my beloved crock pot as I type this to you from my cubicle 23 floors in the sky.  It is the first year that it isn't Mom making it.  Truly embracing my Irish roots (that would be potatoes), I do believe this trumps making my own turkey.  Isn't it funny how much weight the little things carry sometimes?

Do something for the first time today.  The first time may not always be the best, but it will never be the same again.
And green is the color of new beginnings, what better day to start something new than on St. Patty's?
pic:weheartit

Imperfect, perfect-ed.

My sister always jokes that I want the greatest life that has ever existed. Every time someone brings us flowers, I make a comment about always wanting fresh cut flowers in the house to brighten up the rooms. I make lists of books I think will enrich my life. I wade through thousands of slides, looking for a piece of art to put over my bed, but never can decide on just one. I choose what I eat not based on nutritional value or caloric content, but by how pleasurable it feels on the tongue, how satisfying it is. Sometimes I think I spend so much time trying to create the perfect life that I forget about all the perfectly imperfect things that make life so beautiful.

Was it wrong to want all of these things in my life? Perhaps not at all. In a way, I believe they all stand for something greater—-a material representation of things that are difficult to identify and nearly impossible to recreate. The books may stand for the knowledge and enlightenment I actively seek throughout my life. The flowers may represent a simple, natural beauty I long for in all aspects of being. The sweets and fresh fruit and delicious, satisfying meals are the ultimate basic pleasures—a way of indulging the senses, exploring a realm of delectable treats.

Through all of this, the writing has always been there. An outlet, a pastime, a love. And perhaps, if all else disappears—if the books are all read, the flowers wilt and die, the food looses its taste, the writing will still be there to live, to love me back. Because, after all, I've perfected imperfect.

Crav-ed.

I crave you.  At work, at home, on the train, in a plane.  Sometimes I wish the world was made of you, just so I'd always be in sweet surrender.  But then again, the world melts when I think about you, so perhaps it would get a bit messy. 

Mmm, but what a delicious mess.

Wast-ed Away.

Things I hate about being hungover:

1. The pounding headache
2. The tendency to binge eat carbs and grease
3. The "did I really do that last night?" feeling

Things I LOVE about great nights out:

1. Dirty martinis with your roommate
2. Free hot dogs that come with a cheap pitcher of beer
3. Getting told you have beautiful skin by an Adrian Grenier look-alike who then asks for your number. Yum.