Truly, farewell New York. The last three weeks have involved packing everything my husband and I own and driving down to St. Pete, Florida, our new home. I have stayed insanely busy, with no time to blog or reflect, or think for that matter. Now I seem to be adjusting just a tad, just enough to reflect and remember the last of my favorite New York restaurants, Risotteria. Continue reading
I know what you’re thinking. Those cupcakes don’t even look real. They look too good. Oh, but they are. They’re not too sweet, they’re softer than a Tempur-Pedic–and they’re filled with a lemony custard. Yes, they’re gluten-free and yes, these are the holy grail of cupcakes–the best you will ever try. I remember when I lived in Chicago in 2005 I learned baking before I went gluten-free. I made these blueberry cupcakes that melted in blueberry goodness and were so flavorful. They were sweet with sour notes. I was proud of myself that I had made the best cupcake I had ever tasted. Now, I concede. The marshmallow-meringue toasted topping, the lively lemon custard inside, the delicate sponge of lemon cake win.
For some Fourth of July means fireworks. For me it means barking. No rather, first fireworks, then barking. Unlike some dogs, my two little Miniature Pinschers are not afraid at all–no, they fully participate. My house is very festive on this day of the year. My little Ciel and Sarah tell off every firework pop that goes off. Then lie down on the couch triumphantly. Until another goes off. So sometimes on the Fourth I like to take them to the dog park or somewhere with a big back yard where they can run so that they will be too tired to bark, then I look for festive party treats.
It seems that the best restaurants and venues are always word of mouth. A friend of my husband’s who is gluten intolerant told him about Ms. Michelle’s Urban Gourmet in Bayport (NY). My love affair with chocolate mousse cake and peanut butter cups began. I don’t care if you’re gluten-free or not, this is an awesome bakery. Their flourless chocolate mousse cake is divine. It melts away upon tasting, but does not have an oily or heavy residue, most likely because the bakery is dedicated to quality organic ingredients. Their peanut butter cups are peanut butter mousse inside a chocolate shell with berry syrup on the bottom. And recently, they had chocolate strawberry shortcakes with a delicate whipped cream. The consistency of the chocolate shortcake was the lightest I ever tasted.
A balmy, hot day calls for a cool, tangy hibiscus lemonade. In winter, it’s just not the same. Today was the most perfect day to lounge, soak in the sun and enjoy one of these. Summer days seem to pass by with a whisper. If you have to work all day in a sunshine deprived office where the air conditioning is too strong, glued to your desk in a sweater in June…when you get home sit outside with a hibiscus lemonade. There are few pleasures like the discrepancy of temperature between a warm day and a cool flavorful drink.
Some days I just want to drink up the sunshine. Today was one of those days when the moisture of the air actually felt like it was touching the skin, the sun warmed the back yard and a neighbor stopped by. The dogs barked at the birds as I lingered on my patio with my lemonade. I swear there is something more thirst quenching in lemonade than pure water. The tang-iness hits the back of the throat and it’s just so satisfying…ahh. My peace was almost undisturbed until Ciel, my little Miniature Pinscher, got over excited and leaped onto my lap, spilling half my drink all over my pants, shirt and patio furniture. At least now I smell like hibiscus lemonade, not all too bad except that I’m sticky. Next time I’ll use stevia.
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A friend told us about Jac’s Bakeshop and Bistro in Hicksville, so my husband and I went to check it out one warm, sunny Saturday afternoon. As we were standing online waiting to order paninis, I drifted off staring at the armoire that contained cook books next to the wall. I didn’t hear anything until the world came into focus again and I just heard the remainder of my husband’s sentence “…so I’m ordering the cat.” I got a mental image of a gray tiger-striped cat with a fluffy tail. Alarmed, I asked him, “What are you ordering?” He said, “The Kat. Look.” There it was on the menu, a panini named after a Katherine. Continue reading
Is it wrong for advertisers to show luscious, glistening foods late at night? It should be. It’s always when you’re incredibly busy, exhausted, haven’t had much of a dinner and there it is–that steaming plate of some complex dish you have no ingredients or energy for. Of course, all the stores are closed and to match this dish would require some quality ingredients. This includes cooking shows. I don’t watch them. I can’t. They make me terribly jealous for whatever they’re making. It’s always a Parmesan lobster risotto or peanut butter creme cups. I look in the pantry…we have hard granola bars and a few left over tortilla chips. Oh, cruelty.
