The Crepes of Wrath

Honey Maple Cornbread Muffins

by Sydney on May 18, 2012

It’s been a pretty quiet week, for the most part, but I am ready for the weekend. Kramer and I started things a bit early with dinner at The Meatball Shop last night, followed by some drinks at home and our good friend, television. Tonight, we’re having some friends over for dinner, and then, on Saturday, it’s the day we’ve been waiting for for the past few months: The Great GoogaMooga! I can’t wait to wander around trying all kinds of food…which, to be honest, is not all that different from how we spend most of our weekends, but we’ve never been to Prospect Park before, if you can believe it, so at least there’s that. I’m especially looking forward to the dirty duck dog from one of my favorite restaurants, Colicchio & Sons. Is anyone else going to be there?

I made these muffins a few weeks ago when we had some friends over, and they are most certainly my favorite cornbread ever. It’s always a bit difficult to make the perfect cornbread – it can go horribly wrong very quickly. The biggest problem I find with cornbread is that it is often too dry and crumbly, but these muffins were perfectly moist and not too sweet, so you can eat them for breakfast with a bit of butter or as a side along with whatever you’re serving for dinner, be it grilled chicken or barbecue. I made mine miniature, but you can make them regular sized, jumbo, or even in a skillet, depending on your preference. There is just a touch of honey and pure maple syrup in these muffins, which I think helped make the crumb stick together in just the right way. Kramer and I popped a few of these in our mouths warm, straight from the oven, and let me tell you – that is how they were meant to be eaten. That’s not to say that they don’t keep well for a few days, though. We kept ‘em in an airtight container at room temperature for almost a week, and they remained tasty and delicious the whole time. These are Southern comfort food at its finest, and as grilling season gets underway, there’s nothing better to have in your arsenal than a good cornbread recipe.

[click for recipe…]

{ 3 comments }

Garlic & Lemon Broccoli Rabe with Bacon Lardons

by Sydney on May 16, 2012

It’s been raining for what seems like forever in New York, but in reality, I think it’s only been pouring since Sunday. All I know is that my horrible knees start to act up after more than a day of constant rain and humidity – I inherited this lovely trait from my mother and grandmother, so thanks, guys! Rowing in high school probably didn’t help my knee situation, but what can you do? Sometimes I feel like an old woman, and I have recently started having to wear a knee brace when I do exercise. I don’t remember my knees being so bad when I lived in Phoenix, but I guess when you walk absolutely everywhere you go, things are bound to be exasperated. Kramer seems to have fine knees, which he insists on rubbing in my face as he practically races down the subway steps with me lagging behind (although he always realizes that he’s going too fast, turns around, and patiently waits for me to catch up – what a gentleman).

So, on to broccoli rabe. Am I the only one who thinks of Andy Bernard and his a cappella group, “Here Comes Treble,” from The Office when you hear “broccoli rabe” (Andy’s group had a member called “Broccoli Rob” for you people out there who have lives and don’t spend your evenings in front of the television). No? Just me. Alright, then. Broccoli rabe is also known as rapini, and it is delicious. It’s got a bold, bitter flavor that contrasts well with crisp, salty bacon, fragrant garlic, and bright lemon. It’s a dish that even Kramer enjoyed eating (the bacon didn’t hurt, obviously). You can even make this a vegetarian dish by simply omitting the bacon and sauteing the broccoli in olive oil instead of bacon fat. It’s a great side dish to be serving along with roasted chicken for an easy Sunday meal, or at a picnic or barbecue, as it’s as tasty room temperature as it is piping hot. Take it from me; I was eating it all day, long after it had cooled, while I cooked the rest of our meal and photographed. There’s something addicting about this flavor combination, and if there’s something you should be addicted to, it’s broccoli!

[click for recipe…]

{ 5 comments }

Reptar Bars

by Sydney on May 14, 2012

We celebrated Kramer’s birthday all weekend – I had a great time, personally, and I hope that the man of the hour did, too. On Friday night, we headed out to begin the festivities. We stopped at Madison Square Eats for a beer and to enjoy the weather a bit, then headed over to DBGB Kitchen & Bar for dinner. It was still gorgeous outside, so we were able to dine al fresco, which made the meal just that much better. We had bone marrow, a seafood plateau with butter poached escargot, oysters, mussels, clams, lobster, and shrimp, then I had a medium-rare burger with pork confit and tomato jam while Kramer had incredibly delicious Thai sausages and another type that I can’t remember the name of, but I do remember that it had bacon and mushrooms inside of the sausage. We also took full advantage of the restaurant’s excellent draft beer selection – Kramer had one called What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (or something similar) that was slightly sweet and actually smelled a bit like grapes. After our indulgent dinner, we headed over to Under St. Mark’s Theater for a comedy show (featuring our good friend Morgan). Saturday we slept in a bit, then got brunch at Walter Foods, where Kramer had eggs benedict with a crab cake instead of an English muffin – if that’s not genius, I don’t know what is. We walked off our breakfast (or at least, attempted to) by heading over to Smorgasburg for some iced coffee and people watching, then ran around Williamsburg trying to find grapefruit bitters and returned home empty handed. We honestly tried 4 or 5 stores, with no luck whatsoever – who would have thought that it would be so hard to find artisanal bitters in Brooklyn? After some delivery from Roberta’s and a few episodes of Shameless, we went over to Burnside to meet some friends for drinks, fries, and fried cheese curds. We spent most of Sunday trying to recover from our weekend – bagels for breakfast, SNL, and then steaks for dinner, cooked up by Kramer himself. Another successful weekend, come and gone, but this week is already looking great, what with the beautiful weather and GoogaMooga to look forward to on Saturday.

I saw these Reptar Bars online at Adventures in Cooking a while back, and thought that they were the most brilliant things I’d ever seen. I was a huge Rugrats fan when I was a kid, and truth be told, was always a bit angry that nobody ever made Reptar Bars a reality. Thankfully, the internet pulled through for me, as it often does, and showed me that Reptar Bars were, indeed, possible. Not only that, but they are easy to make! Just melt some chocolate, spread some marshmallow fluff and caramel on top, and layer with another sheet of chocolate. You can add whatever you want inside the bar – I opted for simplicity, but use your imagination and create the candy bar that Tommy Pickles would have loved to eat. I brought these to a party and I think that everyone loved the look of the bright green marshmallow oozing out between two layers of milk chocolate. You can make these in true bar form, or, if you’re like me and are cooking for a crowd, just make them in an 8×8 pan and cut ‘em up. Either way, everyone will love this no-bake treat.

[click for recipe…]

{ 11 comments }

Mocha Muffins

by Sydney on May 11, 2012

Today is my handsome husband’s birthday, and I hope that he has a wonderful day. I woke up early to make him breakfast, which I think we was surprised by and I’m pretty sure enjoyed immensely. I know that he’ll be visiting Madison Square Eats for lunch with some co-workers, and because he can’t have all of the fun, he’ll get to go there for round two with me after work for a beer or two, followed by dinner at DBGB Kitchen & Bar (thanks to a gift card from my parents – somehow I always suggest presents that are mutually beneficial for both Kramer and me…I wonder why that is) and a comedy show after all of that. Tomorrow, we’ll probably go to brunch somewhere of his choosing (I assume it will be Pies n’ Thighs), followed by dinner and some bar hopping with friends. Kramer is a big part of this site, so I just want to thank him for being my support system, for putting up with my marathon television sessions, for being an honest critic and taste-tester, for listening intently to any and all of my feminist rants (trust me, I can go on for at least a solid hour without taking a breath) and, most importantly as far as this site is concerned, for being the most patient and thoughtful photography assistant that there ever was. Love ya’, baby! You’re all grows up, all grows up and, hey, you can finally rent a car!

There’s not much to say about these muffins – they are what they are: soft, chocolatey mocha muffins. They have not only ground coffee beans (I used Stumptown because I’m the worst, but any coffee is fine), but also coffee extract, making them the perfect companion for an iced coffee on a spring or summer morning, or with a tall glass of cold milk for a snack (be it afternoon or late night). I have to say, the crumb on these muffins is almost perfect. Light and airy, yet packed full of rich, chocolatey-coffee flavor. The best part is that, despite being so delicious, they don’t weigh you down like a scone or pound cake, plus they just melt in your mouth like a beautiful mocha cloud. Kramer and I bring my wares into our respective offices pretty often, and these were something that were both gone quickly and highly praised, so definitely make them yourself and see how fast they get eaten up! I know that you may not have coffee extract at home (I didn’t), but it’s worth picking some up because the difference is noticeable and it’s always fun to buy a new ingredient, right? Have a great weekend!

[click for recipe…]

{ 8 comments }

Mini Bourbon Chocolate Pecan Pies

by Sydney on May 9, 2012

This is, quite possibly, my favorite pie. I made it for the first time last year on Thanksgiving, and since I always double everything I make, I still had a ball of dough in the freezer that was begging to be thawed out and put to use a few weekend ago when we had some friends over. Obviously, I couldn’t help but oblige. There’s just something wonderful that happens when you pair bourbon, chocolate, and a caramely pecan mixture together in a flaky pie crust. It’s truly magical, so I thought, why not put all of that deliciousness into one compact bite? If you’ve ever been out to eat with me, you know that I like to try a little bit of everything, including the food on your plate (hey, we’re friends, right? Then share and share like, that’s what I always say). It’s just in my nature to want to try more than my stomach can possibly handle, which is why bite-sized food is up there on my Top Ten Favorite Things Ever list. I make miniature pies pretty often, now that I think about it, but when you have people over, the last thing you want to worry about it forks and knives and plates and napkins. It’s much more enjoyable to be able to walk around, carry a drink, and pop a treat or two in your mouth while you navigate the room.

So, on to describing how outrageously awesome this pies are. They are, of course, from the Baked: New Frontiers in Baking cookbook, which I use on an almost monthly basis and highly recommend grabbing a copy of. I’m not sure what inspired me to buy it one random day, but ever since I opened it up, it’s been my go-to for desserts. The crust is tender and flaky, and obviously freezes beautifully – I kept mine in the freezer for 5 months and it was just as perfect as the day I made it. The pies have dark chocolate on the bottom and are filled with a boozy caramel-pecan mixture that you will, quite literally, go nuts for (I should probably go compete in the Punderdome, right?). These are irresistible, either when they are warm and right out of the oven or a few days old – put them out and just watch them disappear.

[click for recipe…]

{ 11 comments }

Wild Ramp Pesto

by Sydney on May 7, 2012

I got some much needed rest this weekend, although I feel like I’m still a bit under the weather. It seems as though I’ve been sick for two or three weeks now, but Kramer hasn’t caught anything, so I guess it must just be allergies. I’m new to the whole allergy game – do they last this long? Either way, what can you do? Friday night, Kramer and I stayed close to home. We had a drink at a bar around the corner from us (The Tradesman), then headed home to continue watching Shameless, which we are halfway through the first season of and absolutely adore – Emmy Rossum is incredible in it, and so is William H. Macy, as always. Saturday morning, we got up early, made some breakfast, then headed out to see The Avengers. It killed at the box office this weekend (All previous records broken! The Avengers 2, 3, and 4 already green lit! Pigs can fly!), and I can definitely see why. I was sort of bored for the first half, to be honest, but the second half was packed with non-stop superhero fighting action, so what’s not to love about that? I think the ending was a solid 30-minute action sequence, and add that to a bunch of great Tony Stark zingers, and you’ve got yourself a guaranteed hit. I’m still much more eager to see all of the other summer blockbusters, though, like Prometheus and The Dark Knight Rises. I have a feeling TDKR will give that $200mm Avengers opening weekend a run for its money. After the movie, we met up with Kramer’s sister Rachel for cheap tacos and sangria at The Saint Austere near our apartment, followed by some fries and margaritas (those go together, right?) at Burnside Brooklyn – that section of Grand in Williamsburg is just crawling with fantastic bars, so they were all doing a little something for “Cinco de Derby”. Full and happy, we wandered over to our friend Lindsey’s apartment for a get together to celebrate her and her boyfriend’s move to the neighborhood. On Sunday, it was another early rise for us as we headed out to Kramer’s boss’s new apartment for our second housewarming party of the weekend, where we had perfectly chewy bagels (with lox, of course) and plenty of mimosas. We wandered around the Upper West Side for a bit, then headed home to watch the most recent Saturday Night Live (Eli Manning was fantastic, believe it or not) and eat banh mi from a spot near us called Nam Nam that we hadn’t tried since living in the neighborhood, but will definitely be ordering from often because the sandwiches were really good, as was the bubble tea.

I made this pesto last weekend, but I just took the photos off my camera this past weekend. We ate this pesto with everything – chicken, on sandwiches, salads…the possibilities are endless and always delicious. Ramps are only available in the spring, so they are a ~hot~ item among people who concern themselves with that sort of thing, and to be honest, they are a bit over-hyped. They do have a distinct flavor, in that they are not quite as strong as garlic, but more savory and flavorful than spring onions. I think that they are just highly valued because new and/or rare ingredients are always fun to play with, so when something is only available for a limited time, of course the prices will be inflated and people won’t be able to shut up about whatever happens to be the item of the week. Since ramp fever has started to wind down, I was able to score a bunch of them for $4, which is a deal considering I have seen them for for $8 or $9 a bunch, which is insanity. Seeing as how they are so “special”, I wanted to try to do something with them that really showed off their unique qualities. I figured a pesto would be the best way to go, as you can put it on anything and it not only enhances whatever you’re eating, but it’s also got great flavors on its own. Full disclosure: I even used this pesto as a spread for some crackers. Before ramps are completely gone in 2012, seek them out and make this pesto – it’ll certainly put you in the spirit of spring.

[click for recipe…]

{ 12 comments }

Citrus Braised Veal Short Ribs

by Sydney on May 4, 2012

Sometimes I’m faced with a harsh reality or two when living in New York. One of those realities made itself clear yesterday, when I was on my way home from work, which is that if you’re alone, you’re own your own out there. I’ve had bad allergies all week, and as much as I keep trying to avoid pumping myself full of Claritin, I had to bite the bullet and just take some yesterday, as I could hardly breathe and just wanted to get through the day. I decided to work out quickly before heading home, which went fine, but then as I was heading out, I felt a little woozy and light headed. I figured I was just tired, and the sooner that I got home, the better. As I was walking to the subway, though, I started to feel really light headed…but what can you do? It was around 6 PM in midtown – there was no way I was going to be able to get a cab (they switch shifts around this time, combined that with the fact that everyone and their mother is also trying to hail a cab), and it’s not like I could just call someone to come pick me up (who owns a car in New York?). I grabbed some hard candies, figuring maybe the sugar would help, and just went down into the subway, where I immediately felt like I was going to pass out. I sat down on a bench, which I never do because they are disgusting, and just focused on the fact that I’d be home in 20 minutes. The train came, and I flung myself onto a seat, closed my eyes, and just tried to breathe. At this point, I’m sure that I was half dizzy, half panicking. I was mostly worried about passing out and hitting my head or losing my belongings or something like that – I figured if my fellow passengers saw me go down, someone would help me, because New Yorkers are actually good, caring people (mostly). I transferred to my next train, and again, was lucky enough to grab a seat. That subway ride home was the worst ever, especially because it was raining a bit, meaning it was going at a snail’s pace and all I wanted to do was fall into my apartment. Obviously, I got home alright, and immediately crashed on the couch in my coat and workout clothes where I slept (or passed out? who knows) for half an hour before getting up and feeling mostly alright. Sometimes this kind of thing can be a bit scary, but it also makes me a stronger, more resilient person, right? Next time I feel that way, though, I’m definitely not going to get on the subway.

Now, on to bigger and better things – short ribs. This is one of my favorite cuts of meat; they are easy to cook and always come out fall-off-the-bone tender; I’ve never needed to use a knife with short ribs, and neither will you. This recipe is pretty fool proof, and a great way to cook short ribs if you’ve never done it before. I again, used blood orange juice, as I did last week with my machaca tacos, but regular orange juice will do just fine, too. The sweet, citrusy glaze on top of this dish is something that almost anyone would enjoy, especially with a side of grilled vegetables or even white rice. It’s still pretty chilly in NYC, so I’m going to keep braising away until I can’t take the heat, and I hope you do the same, as I’m sure this summer will be another scorcher and you won’t want to be turning the oven on at all!

[click for recipe…]

{ 17 comments }

Mint Juleps

by Sydney on May 2, 2012

Last night after work, Kramer and I grabbed a quick slice from Tony’s, washed it down with a $3 beer from Harefield, then walked over to The Brooklyn Kitchen for a sausage making class. It was maybe the most fun that I’ve had on a weeknight in a long time. We started out tasting some of the sausages that they make at The Meat Hook, which is an awesome butcher shop attached to the store, then got to work mixing and casing some sausages. We made parsley and Parmesan sausages, then some red wine and rosemary sausages. Each kind were absolutely delicious, and we each got a few links to take home (which I am quite excited to eat for dinner tonight). Of course, Kramer and I walked out with not only sausages, but also with the proper KitchenAid attachments to make our own sausage at home, so hopefully by posting that we did, indeed, buy these pieces of equipment, we will actually use them. I posted a few photos of our meat-centric adventure, and if you find yourself looking through the kitchen’s list of classes, I highly recommend taking one or two. We had a great time, both of the instructors were helpful and funny, and we made some friends in our group of people from all over the country – it was a win-win-win.

I think that sausage, while it goes well with beer (obviously), can be paired up with bourbon, too, which leads me to this Mint Julep. The Kentucky Derby will be taking place this upcoming Saturday, and while Kramer and I will most likely be found at Maison Premiere, sipping some juleps and listening to the race, instead of actually at the event itself, I think it’s a fun American tradition that is certainly worth celebrating. To make this julep extra special, I made a quick mint syrup by steeping fresh mint leaves in hot simple syrup for about an hour, on top of muddling more mint leaves for the drink. This cocktail requires a lot of ice, as it’s meant to be sipped and the water helps make an otherwise extremely strong drink quite light and refreshing. You don’t need to have julep cups to enjoy this summer beverage, but I have to admit, it will make you feel extra fun and fancy when you do!

As a side note, I’d like to mention that today is my mom’s birthday! Happy Birthday, Mom! Love you!

[click for recipe…]

{ 13 comments }

← Previous Entries