Strawberry Banana Bread

with a tender crumb and crunchy crust

I love my new office because it’s located in a great neighborhood in the city. I’m right near Union Square, the Flatiron, and Gramercy. Of course that means that there is good food all over the place, but more importantly, it’s a fantastic walking neighborhood. This is the first place I’ve worked where I didn’t have to request permission to go out to lunch (usually I just ate at my desk and didn’t leave), so I’m loving the opportunity to be able to get outside for even just 20 minutes, especially when it’s nice outside…and even when it’s not. On my first day, my new boss even took the time to come to my desk around lunch and say that I should really leave, that it’s good to get out of the office, etc. I was surprised and couldn’t believe that she was encouraging me to go outside of the office for a break. I’m realizing how important it is to step away from your desk for a bit, now that I actually have the option. At my last company, I once asked my two bosses if I could go out to lunch with my husband for an hour on a slow day. I was told that I could go, but the next day I got called into each office separately to be reprimanded for it. Now, granted, it was a job in finance, and like so many jobs in that industry in New York, lunches were paid for by the company. It was great to be able to order food from anywhere I could possibly want, but I soon came to understand how a big plate of sushi or fancy pizza is not worth being shackled to a cubicle. Some people like it, though, so you know, whatever floats your boat.

It’s interesting to see how different companies operate in that sense. What’s okay, what’s not okay, how people interact with management, how important it is to stay late and be the last one there so that you look like you’re working the hardest…I think that is becoming the norm everywhere. I know from experience and from stories of friends that New Yorkers certainly have grueling work weeks, especially in finance. Now that I work for a website on the operations side of things, my quality of life has improved greatly, even in the two weeks that I’ve been here so far, but that’s not the same for everyone else and it’s sad to see. I know some people love their work and couldn’t imagine being in the office less than 80 hours a week, and if that’s the case, that’s great! I’m really lucky in that I feel like I’ve finally found a company where I feel like I belong. People have a similar sense of humor, and that’s probably due to the youth of the place. As you would imagine, a website has a younger staff that a financial firm would have, and I’m loving it. Ideas move fast and there’s no politics. It’s refreshing.

So, in the spirit of new things, how about a new take on banana bread? I know that the good old strawberry and banana combination is nothing new, but I rarely see the two mixed together in a bread. Believe me, I’ve done every variation of banan bread humanly possible, and when I see those ripening bananas on my counter, I honestly try to think of something different to do with them, but they usually get thrown away because really, how much banana bread can you eat? Well, with the addition of strawberries, I’ll tell you: quite a lot. The bread itself is moist and tender, thanks to the water and sugar content from both the bananas and the strawberries, while the crust is nicely caramelized and just slightly crispy, the way I like my quick breads to be. There’s nothing fancy about this; just put it all together, bake, cool, and slice. I sliced this into individual portions and kept it in the fridge for a week, nibbling on it here and having it for breakfast there. If you make it, I can’t even begin to tell you how good a slice of the stuff is with some creamy peanut butter spread on top. It makes for quite the indulgent Friday morning breakfast, and hey, it’s Friday, so I think you deserve to indulge!

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Miso Kale Salad

with apples & walnuts

It was finally a beautiful weekend in New York, with plenty of sunshine and reason to be outside for as much as possible, even if it was incredibly windy and still a bit cold. I’m fine with that. I haven’t worn shorts since September, people – September! I am ready. Although I am not ready to be stuffed onto the subway with hundreds of other sweaty people. I guess you can’t have everything. Our friend Danny came to stay with us for a few days last week while he hit the Internet hard on a job hunt, so our weekend got started a bit early on Wednesday night. Danny and I met up with Matt at Daddy’s, where we had a few drinks and I got to have my favorite hot dog (pretzel bun and Meat Hook hot dogs make for the world’s most perfect hot dog, along with plenty of mustard and a pickle). On Thursday night, we went out again with Matt and some of his friends to The Magician for a truly magical happy hour of $3 beers until 9 PM. You can’t beat that! We celebrated our clever financial maneuvering after drinks with soup dumplings at Shanghai Cafe, which is definitely nothing special at first glance, but their xiaolongbao are amazing. They even make them with crab, which Kramer and I couldn’t get enough of, not to mention their tasty beef noodle soup. On Saturday, we slept in, had brunch at Roberta’s, then walked home and I surprisingly did some work on the blog on a Saturday before having drinks with Kramer’s sister Rachel and her fiance Eric and then going to a friend’s birthday party, which we left early because we are all terrible partiers and loud music mixed with cramped quarters and large crowds do not make me feel super comfortable. Although we sucked it up and stayed for a while because, after all, you do that kind of thing for friends on their birthdays (even though I’m sure he would have been just fine without our presence).

On Sunday, we went to Fette Sau for a friend’s going away party before meeting up with Eric and Rachel again for a Mets game. It was our first game of the season and even though it was borderline freezing when you factored in the windchill, the game was great and hey, the Mets even won! We had beers, margaritas, sausage and peppers, and, of course, cracker jacks, so I was quite happy. The sun even peaked out through the clouds for a bit, and the park was a bit more empty than it is during the summer, so we had a pretty good view of the game for the entire time we were there. Kramer and I considered going out afterward, but used our better judgement and came home to watch Saturday Night Live, followed by more of my favorite and yours (I’m sure), chronologically Lost.

Now, while I am incredibly lucky to be able to not only live in a city surrounded by good, wholesome food, but also in the position to be able to purchase it in the first place, I think that it’s important for me to share with you a new project called The Giving Table. The idea behind it is to “to good with food” and to bring attention to the fact that there are people going hungry in the United States every day. I wanted to share a nutritious, easy to make, and relatively inexpensive recipe with you to celebrate the importance of this cause and do what I can to bring notice to hunger in the US, so I bring to you this miso kale salad. You don’t need to know much about cooking to make this dish; in fact, it requires no actual cooking or heat source at all. Just mix together your dressing, pour it over the kale, apples, and walnuts, toss, and enjoy. It’s even vegan if you substitute the honey for agave. Picky eaters may even be tricked by this tasty salad; my husband is not a big fan of kale, but he ate his entire plate of salad and even went as far as to tell me that it was, and I quote, “delicious”. I hope that you’ll give this kale salad a try, but not before letting Congress know that you believe nutrition programs for our nation’s children are incredibly important and can’t be left behind in today’s society. For more information, read this article on Food Bloggers Against Hunger and if you are a food blogger like me, share this project with your readers! Let’s get as much national attention as we can to fight hunger in our country today.

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Steamed Mussels with Mushrooms & Tomatoes

with crispy fries

I had a fantastic first day of work. I got up with Kramer, made some good coffee and had a big bowl of yogurt, honey, and walnuts, then headed into the office. The best part about my new job is that the commute is so much better than what I’ve been doing for the past few years, which is schlepping into the heart of midtown Manhattan. I had to transfer trains, walk endless flights of stairs, and honestly, it starts to wear on you after a while! Now, I only have to take one train from Brooklyn into Union Square, then walk a quick five blocks. Obviously it won’t be quite as lovely when the weather is bad, but it’s a small price to pay to be able to get out of the subway much faster than I’m used to. I also love Union Square. There’s tons of great food, a farmer’s market that I know I will be visiting often, and it’s nice to have a little “me” time while I walk and listen to music instead of pushing past people trying to get to the uptown F train. I’m excited to check out new restaurants and bars, and maybe even have lunch with Kramer, as his office is only seven blocks away.

Kramer waiting for the train on Sunday night.

After work today, however, I was apparently in the mood to punish myself, so I took an outdoor bootcamp class at McCarren Park. It was painful! We started off jogging a few blocks to the park, which already felt like it should have been enough of a workout for me, as I am absolutely not a runner. I am slow and uncoordinated, so of course I was the last one in the group to get there. Whatever! I’m trying, alright? They always say that it’s all about putting in the initial effort. Well, I was breathing hard and was immediately ordered to do jump squats, burpees, sprints, push-ups, about a million sit ups, more sprints, and more burpees, all in 40 degree weather for which I was completely underdressed in knee-length workout pants, a t-shirt, and a thin sweater. Even the instructor kept looking at me like she felt bad…not that I was given any opportunity to give up or rest. I got home and took a piping hot shower, which was maybe the best shower I’ve ever taken in my life, then ate a giant bowl of chicken soup that I made on Monday with plenty of Sriracha. It was heavenly.

I would have been just as happy with a big bowl of these mussels, though. Kramer and I had a pasta in mushroom broth at Antica Pesa a few weeks ago, and I haven’t been able to get it out of my mind since. While I didn’t have the time to make fresh pasta, I did have some lovely mussels and figured that I could make some French fries pretty easily, so I got to work. The fries were easy to make because I fried them once, then baked them, so I didn’t have to worry about standing over a hot pot of oil while trying to cook the rest of my dinner. Soaking dried mushrooms in water makes for a delicious broth, to which I added some leeks, tomatoes, and garlic, then steamed the mussels in it all. Kramer and I devoured all of the mussels and the broth; all of the flavors and textures are perfect for a cold evening, but since it’s all made on the stove top, it’s great for a spring dinner, too. You’ll feel like you’re sitting in a fancy French bistro as you eat, hopefully with a cold Kronenberg or a chilled glass of dry white wine.

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Strawberry Bourbon Lemonade

with a sprinkle of cinnamon

Today is my day of relaxation before I start my new job tomorrow, so I had a bit of a late start. I woke up with Kramer, then loafed around on the couch a bit before going out to get a massage. I know, fancy, right? I felt fancy, even though the masseuse was really into new age stuff and kept telling me to breathe weird. She got all of the knots out of my back, though, so I guess I can deal with monk chanting music and the smell of incense, which normally I have no tolerance for. After my massage, I walked around Williamsburg a bit, got a coffee, picked up some ingredients for cooking later on, and now, here I am, drinking some kombucha and watching reruns of television shows. I wouldn’t mind being lazy for a few more days, but I think it’s best to start work and not get too used to this kind of a lifestyle. Besides, I’m really eager to start my new job and get to know everyone that I’ll be working with. It’s an entirely new industry to me, and the prospect of doing something different from what I’ve been doing for the past three and a half years is beyond exciting. I’ll get to spend some time in the kitchen later, maybe do a few chores around the apartment, and my favorite, prep lunches for the week. There’s something about getting organized when it comes to upcoming meals that I absolutely love.

My excellent Star Wars themed outfit from last week, shiny silver skirt and all.Kramer and I had a pretty full weekend, despite the fact that we don’t really celebrate Easter or anything like that. The weather was mostly gorgeous and we tried to get out of the apartment as much as possible. On Thursday night, we celebrated my last day at my old job with dinner at Salvation Taco, followed by drinks at Harefield Road and The Shanty. On Friday, we both had the day off, so we slept in, had brunch at Egg, then dinner at Suzume with our buddy Joel, followed by our friend Morgan’s improv show. I know it seems like all we did was eat and drink this weekend, and honestly, you’re not wrong! That’s what holiday weekends are for. We carried on on Saturday, but only after a quick trip to the gym where I took a bootcamp class that I’m still feeling today. We had brunch at Walter Foods, where I got a giant plate of scrambled eggs and chorizo, and followed that up with a mint julep with blackberry jam (freaking amazing) at Maison Premiere. I meant to do a bit more cooking and work on the blog a bit later that day, but Kramer and I lost all of our motivation and came home, watched Lost, and ordered a pizza. I think it was a good decision to call it an early night, as we woke up early-ish the next day, cleaned, and shot a new web video with Diana from Appetite for China! It was a lot of fun and I can’t wait to share the finished product with you. She’s got a book out right now, too, which is full of drool-worthy recipes, so you’ll probably want to pick up a copy, especially after you see our video.

In the spirit of a long weekend, brunch, and beautiful weather, I give to you this Strawberry Bourbon Lemonade. This cocktail is part of my ongoing partnership with McCormick, whose Pinterest board is bursting with great recipe ideas for the spring. This season, McCormick is focusing on making your get togethers fast and easy so that you can enjoy yourself along with your guests! So far, I’ve made Butternut Squash and Leek Latke Benedict and Brisket and Matzo Breakfast Bruschetta, and I figured I’d finish things off with a beverage to wash it all down. With a pop of beautiful color from the strawberries and the option to make a big punch bowl of this cocktail so you don’t have to make them one by one, you’re sure to be the center of attention at your party in no time at all. I’m a big fan of bourbon (obviously), but I wanted to go for something a little more lighthearted than the usual old fashioned (although my love for an old fashioned is undying). The sun is shining and spring fruits are popping up at your grocery store, so I hope you’ll put them to use. I pureed the strawberries, added some maple syrup, a sprinkle of McCormick cinnamon, lemon juice, bitters, and, of course, bourbon, then topped everything off with some club soda, although if you have prosecco, do yourself a favor and use that. The result is the perfect drink for a casual afternoon get together, be it brunch or just hanging out with friends. Bourbon doesn’t have to be used in only strong, sprit-forward drinks. You can get creative and celebrate the season with this Strawberry Bourbon Lemonade, or whatever else you dream up! Cheers!

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Brisket & Matzo Breakfast Bruschetta

with soft scrambled eggs

I’ve been waiting to share this exciting news with you all, but seeing as how the big day is fast approaching, I figure that I can spill the beans. Today is my last day at my current job in the finance industry! I am starting a new, more creative endeavor next week, and I cannot wait. I’ve been working in finance since I first moved to New York over three years ago, and I think it is time for me to finally move into a field that better suits my interests. I can’t wait to start at my new company. Everyone seems incredibly nice, the atmosphere is upbeat and energetic, and I think that whatever talents lie within will be able to be better utilized in my new position. I have met a lot of absolutely wonderful people where I work right now, many of whom I hope to continue to be friends with and chat about good food with for years to come. I appreciate all of the opportunities that have been provided to me over the years in this industry, and I know that they will be put to good use in my new career path. It’s going to feel strange not trekking into midtown Manhattan every morning, but I think that somehow I’ll manage. My new office is fairly walk-able from Union Square, and I’m really looking forward to being able to enjoy that walk each day.

My awesome coworkers gave me a proper send-off.Starting a new job is already a little nerve racking. Meeting new people, figuring out new systems and programs, and thinking, “I hope they like me!” I love change, though, so even if I have some butterflies in my stomach the night before I start, I know that I’ll wake up with lots of energy, ready to go. If I wasn’t a fan of trying something new, I guess I wouldn’t be in New York in the first place! Kramer and I had always loved the city, and visited together a number of times before deciding to take the plunge and move here, but we had never lived in a major metropolitan area before and it certainly took some getting used to. Getting rid of our cars was a huge step in itself. How were we going to go to the grocery store or buy an air conditioning unit? Obviously we found a way, but it took a bit of navigation and more than a few screw-ups along the way. I remember my first grocery expedition in New York, and it wasn’t pretty. I bought myself one of those granny carts and walked down to the supermarket in icy February, back when snow would actually stick to the streets for more than a day or two. I was pushing my giant haul back to the apartment when I slipped on a patch of ice and went flying, landing directly on top of my cart and smashing a number of items, including milk and eggs. People saw me fall, but of course, nobody helped, so I gathered my things and my pride and limped home. After that, I got my groceries delivered. The $5 delivery fee is more than worth risking another tumble! Not that I was too embarrassed – everyone falls, right?

How do you think I cheered myself up when I got home from the store that day? Breakfast, of course, and a big one at that. Breakfast is my absolute favorite meal of the day, so much so that we’ll often eat it for dinner, too. I’ve partnered with McCormick this spring to share with you some of my favorite brunch and breakfast recipes, and I’m thankful for the inspiration! I already showed you my Butternut Squash and Leek Latke Benedict, but I figured that scrambled instead of poached eggs were in order this time around. I made Homemade Matzo this past weekend, and I wanted to use it in a recipe for McCormick. They have some awesome spring gathering and party tips and recipes on their Pinterest board, so I perused those to get some ideas. I wanted to create something that could be served buffet style, as suggested for big parties, and while Kramer and I happened to be alone the day I made this, I laid everything out and we had fun assembling our own bruschetta. To make things easier and in the spirit of McCormick’s suggestion to plan ahead, I made the brisket in my crock pot, which made my life a hell of a lot easier by not having to check on anything while it cooked. I just threw the meat in the slow cooker and let it go. The sliced brisket is moist and tender, alongside my crispy homemade matzo, fresh cherry tomatoes, and soft scrambled eggs, Kramer and I devoured these appetizers one after another, until we were both full and happy. These are hearty, crowd-pleasing appetizers or hors d’oeuvres, so celebrate spring (or a new job) with some brunch – you deserve it!

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Homemade Matzo

with goat cheese & jam

I keep telling myself that it’s almost spring and that I should really start at least attempting to exercise regularly in the event of waking up one morning to discover it’s shorts-weather, but it seems as though mother nature is giving me a break because it’s freezing and apparently supposed to snow today. Thanks for looking out, Earth. Now I get even more time to make excuses for not joining that new gym that opened up near me. Huzzah. Besides, I’d much rather spend my free time blogging for you fine people, and in the interest of keeping things just barely interesting, I need to go out and do things. Or at least that is what I tell myself in order to not feel guilty about being so lazy. Whatever. Moving on. Last week was busier as we headed into the weekend. We went with Morgan to 92Y on the Upper East Side (a really boring neighborhood, if you ask me – I try to never go up there due to its lack of good restaurants and decent bars) to see a “conversation” (or a lecture…I’m not really sure what to call it) between Michael Cera and David Cross. It was fun! Kramer and I saw Cross once before years ago as part of a tour alongside Patton Oswalt and Brian Poshen, and although he can be kind of a pain in the ass, what with his “I’m not a sell-out” philosophy (roll eyes), Cera was adorable and hilarious and was able to steer the conversation away from being overly preachy.

Hanging out at the bar with Rachel on Saturday.Friday night, Kramer and I had the foresight to buy tickets in advance and went to see Spring Breakers. It was exactly what I expected, so I loved it. If I’ve heard any complaints about it, it’s that it wasn’t serious enough or that it wasn’t as good as Korine’s other work, but look, people – take it for what it is and just enjoy it! I thought it was absolutely insane and for that reason, had a great time watching it. After the movie, we met up with some friends for drinks then called it an early-ish night. Saturday, we were able to sleep in, have breakfast, then grab an early drink and a game or two of shuffleboard before hitting up yet another movie. This time we saw Stoker, which I also really liked. It’s rare that we’ll see two movies in one weekend, let alone two good movies, but we lucked out, it seems. I love Mia Wasikowska and Stoker was sufficiently creepy, which made up for any fear factor that was left out of Spring Breakers. We had a late sushi dinner, then headed out and caught up a bit on The Americans before dozing off. On Sunday, we went for brunch at a restaurant I won’t mention because of the insanely slow service; we kept watching people who showed up after us be served food while we sat there for over half an hour (my life is so hard). Thankfully, when we actually got the food, it was delicious. I had smoked salmon, of course, as I have at least once every weekend. We ran a few errands after brunch, then when we got home, I cooked while Kramer studied for his midterms (poor guy).

One of the things that I made yesterday was this matzo, which we enjoyed with cheese and preserves that we picked up on our way home. Matzo is incredibly easy to make, and even if you aren’t observing the food restrictions that come along with holidays like Passover (obviously we are not), it’s still fun to make and can be enjoyed in a number of ways. I salted mine, making for what was almost a lighter-tasting saltine. Kramer and I couldn’t stop breaking off pieces of the stuff while we worked on other things throughout the day, especially when paired with the lovely goat cheese and strawberry-peach jam that we procured. If you’re looking for something a bit different to serve with your appetizers or in your usual bread basket, matzo is the perfect thing. There’s no yeast, no refrigerating, not a single special step at all is required. Just combine your dough ingredients, roll out as thin as possible, and bake for a few minutes until golden and bubbly. I used half whole wheat and half all-purpose flour, but you can use whatever ratio you like. I’d imagine that some fennel seed or dill would be a happy pairing in these unleavened treats, especially if you’re going to serve it my favorite way, with cream cheese and smoked salmon. Seeing as how Kramer and I have plenty of leftover matzo, I think I may have to pick up these very ingredients to have for dinner this week. Who says lox are only for breakfast?

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Momofuku’s Roasted Brussels Sprouts

with fish sauce vinaigrette

I know that a lot of people are upset that it’s still freezing cold and snowing in New York, but I love it. I don’t want it to be hot, sticky, and sweaty, which is more often the case than not during the summers here. I like being bundled up, being able to wrap a blanket around myself on the couch or bury myself in my comforter on my bed, instead of having to beg the air conditioning unit to pump out more cold air, and faster, and gingerly blow-drying my hair so that I don’t work too fast, start to get hot, and then have the nicely straightened and styled locks of hair stick to my neck and become curly and frizzy again. Nope, not looking forward to that at all. I’ll deal with the snow, and I know that humid, 90-degree weather is only a couple of month away, so I will enjoy each brisk gust of wind and my trudge through the streets with an umbrella held directly in front of me to stop freezing rain from smacking me in the face as I push forward. I guess I do miss sunshine; I think that the last really nice, sunny weekend was about two weeks ago, and people went nuts! All anyone could talk about was going to the park, sitting outside, enjoying the clear weather, and honestly, it was only about 45 degrees, but the sun was so welcoming that people went without jackets, anyway.

There was just a bit of snow on Monday night.Obviously, this was not the case on Monday night, but Tuesday was slightly better. Monday, however, Kramer and I actually went out, despite the odd “spring time” weather. We met with our friends Matt and Diana at Beecher’s Cellar – I had tried to go there previously on a Friday night, only to find the place completely packed, but thankfully 6 PM on a Monday night is not exactly the most happening time of the week, so we were able to get seated right away. I really want to go back and try their more extensive menu, but we got a little cheese plate to snack on and a few cocktails, all of which I really enjoyed, especially my old fashioned that they made with rye and some kind of fig syrup. Mom, if you’re reading this, they have that cheese you like that’s wrapped in tree bark (or at least they did when we were there), so we have to go next time you and Dad are in town! My parents are definitely cheese-crazy; I was with a doubt the first of my elementary school aged friends to know (and enjoy) something like brie, which my mom used to make most holidays covered in pecans and dried cranberries, served with water crackers and of course, gobbled up immediately. Brie may sound commonplace now, but when I was living in suburban Chicago in 1996, it was definitely more exotic and fancy that it is today. Brussels sprouts, on the other hand…I don’t know that I started willingly eating those until college, but damned if I don’t absolutely adore them now.

I hopped on the Brussels sprouts train and at the time, Kramer only begrudgingly followed me. Now, though, he can’t get enough of them. When they are in season, we eat them at least once a week, if not more, and I don’t think that I will ever get sick of them. They have the starchiness of a potato, but are full of fiber and vitamins that tubers lack. Plus, when you slice them and a few leaves fall to the wayside, be sure to add them back to the mixture because those little babies get all crispy and delicious when roasted, and the texture is incredible. The nearly blackened leaves are, admittedly, my favorite part of roasted sprouts, especially when eaten with this fish sauce vinaigrette from David Chang. I actually made these for Thanksgiving last year, and Kramer took the written recipe, stuck it on the fridge, and wrote in big, red letters “make me again!” on the front. Message received! We’ve made this a few times and it is simply irresistible. The vinaigrette is almost addictive, to be honest. I have to stop myself from dipping carrots or lettuce leaves or whatever other veggies are laying around in it while the Brussels sprouts finish cooking, or else I’d probably suck down the entire bowl. The fish sauce is salty and pungent, but when paired with sugar, lime juice, garlic, and spicy peppers, it takes on a rich, sweet, and savory flavor that is beyond compare. I save any leftover vinaigrette and use it throughout the week, but honestly, I drench my sprouts in the stuff if given the opportunity because it is unbelievably good. Have I talked up this recipe enough, yet? Good, because this is without a doubt my favorite way to eat (see: inhale) Brussels sprouts, and it will soon be yours, too.

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Crock Pot Chicken & Chickpea Curry

set it and forget it

Welcome to another week, ladies and gentlemen. I hope that everyone had a fantastic weekend, because, surprise, surprise, I did! Can weekends be bad? You get to sleep in, hang out, and eat brunch, so I don’t really see how, unless you’re me in college who worked at least one Saturday or Sunday each weekend, which I absolutely loathed. Looking back, even though the jobs weren’t exactly a dream come true, I think that everyone needs to have some kind of painful, service-oriented job in high school and college. It builds you into a stronger person who can never be shaken because you had to help a woman pick out a pair of jeans for a screaming toddler while she changed his diaper, or make smoothies for steroid-riddled muscle men who insist that there’s not enough protein powder in their Peanut Butter Blaster McMuscle Shake. My first real job ever was a cashier a when I was in high school for a summer, which was awful. I won’t name names, but try and guess where it was that I was working. They wouldn’t let us have any drinks, including water, by the registers, I had to wear ill-fitting khakis, an ugly, oversized red polo, and my boss had the shrillest, thickest Boston accent that drove me nuts. Working at a place like that is honestly a lot like a sitcom. There were, of course, a sprinkling of regular people who just needed a job, but then you had the one person who was always trying to wrangle everyone into starting some kind of uprising against management for their favorite injustice-of-the-week, the creepy security guard who was constantly hitting on all of the teenage girls working there (there were a lot of us), and then in contrast, there was the less creepy but overeager and younger security guard who thought he was always working some kind of beat and tried to catch people shoplifting constantly, even when they weren’t. He’d seriously follow people around the store, although I guess when you’re young and bored like that, you’ve got to find something to entertain yourself. Then there were the night shift people, who were almost like magical elves that you’d only catch a glimpse of once in a while, or if you had an early shift, and of course, the manager that believed that everyone working there part-time had just a big a stake in the success of the store as the CEO did. I still remember the horrible, sterile smell of the place, the fluorescent lights, and how we were made to call all of the people in the store “guests” instead of “customers” or “shoppers” or whatever comes naturally to most of us. It was so long ago, it almost seems like some kind of mild nightmare. What was your first real job? You know, the one where you finally had to memorize your social security number?

Del Posto treats that I was gifted; a great start to the weekend.So, reminiscing aside, as I said, I had a lovely little weekend. On Friday night, Kramer and I headed to our favorite spot, Mission Chinese, for dinner with our friend Lindsey and her friend visiting from LA. After dinner, Lindsey recommended this place called Attaboy nearby, saying it was a new cocktail bar. When we sat down, I was a little suspicious. The door was unmarked, it was dimly lit, and all of the bartenders were wearing old-timey suspenders. Our waiter came over and explained that the bar operated thusly: tell him what kind of flavors and spirits you like, and they will craft a custom cocktail just for you. My suspicion did not wane. In fact, I believe my exact thoughts were “Oh, brother.” However, the cocktail that they brought me was exactly what I would have ordered if I could have dreamed up the perfect cocktail for my mood that evening (blackberries, bourbon, and bitters – amazing), and everyone else were just as pleased with their custom creations. The service was helpful and friendly, they really guided you by asking helpful questions regarding your tastes, and I could not have been happier with my experience. Just goes to show you that just because something looks like it’s some kind of Meatpacking District hell-spawn doesn’t mean that it is, and thanks to Lindsey for showing Kramer and I the light. After a second cocktail (a smoky mezcal number with lemon and vanilla), Kramer and I met up with Morgan and his family for karaoke. It was awesome – I always love me some good karaoke. I am an absolutely horrific singer who cannot carry a single tune, but karaoke is my favorite. The next day, I got a much needed haircut and Kramer and I tried to go glasses shopping for him, but it suddenly started snowing like crazy and we gave up after the first store. Shopping in Manhattan is a nightmare because you can’t just go to one central location, you’ve got to walk around everywhere, and when the weather is bad, it’s even more miserable. We went home and I took a seriously amazing nap (it was one of those naps where you actually sleep for an hour straight instead of waking up every 10 minutes and lightly dozing off), then we had dinner with friends and drinks at an overly crowded bar afterward. Kramer and I couldn’t handle it and left after about an hour, leaving our more adventurous friends to enjoy their evening. Sunday was cooking day. I made meatloaf (for lunches this week), mussels, French fries, and muffins. It left my kitchen in total disarray, but Kramer and I were definitely fat and happy at the end of the day.

I have been trying to make more interesting lunches to take to work, so that means cooking a bit more on Sundays so I have less to worry about during the week. This crock pot curry was one of the recent dishes that I made on a Sunday to portion out throughout the work week, and I think it was absolutely delicious. I had a few other things to take care of that day, so I decided that the slow cooker was definitely the way to go. I just threw everything in, stirred it up, and let it go for eight hours on low, then stirred in a can of chickpeas (overcooking legumes in the crock pot can lead to dry, burned beans), viola! You’re all done. This heats up really well, leaves you full and satisfied, and will certainly make your coworkers jealous as they hunch of their bagged sandwiches or soggy salads. Make some rice or bring some pita bread for a side dish, or honestly, just enjoy it on its own. Obviously this makes for an excellent dinner, too, but let’s all get a little more creative and bring some inspiration back to lunch time, shall we? You can use any vegetables you like, adjust the heat factory per your tastes, and really make it your own. Feel free to use pork, beef, or make it entirely vegetarian, too! Just promise me that you’ll start remembering to pack a lunch!

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Spicy Thai Shrimp Soup

with coconut milk & rice

The most important thing for me each morning is to make sure that I wake up a little early and put aside at least 10 minutes for me to sit down and have a cup of coffee. I don’t feel human without this ritual, and I’m a morning person anyway, so it’s never been too bothersome to me. I can’t just rush out of bed, throw my clothes on, and run down to the subway. I need a few minutes to goof around on my computer and finish my coffee. I know some people think that even two extra minutes of sleep is completely worth it, but I’m fine waking up at 5:30 AM if that means I get to do what I am doing right now, which is sitting comfortably on my couch curled up in the thick crocheted blanket that my mom made for me when we first moved to New York, and sipping on some coffee in my favorite Stumptown mug (I don’t know what it is about their mugs, but they have the perfect weight and minimalistic design that just puts me in a good mood in the morning). I will admit, I do set my alarm for 5 AM initially, because hitting snooze is absolutely necessary. If you don’t hit snooze at least once each morning when you wake up, I may suspect that you are some kind of robot. Eventually, though, I roll out, turn the heat on, and make myself coffee (pour over, of course, because I live in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and therefore must perpetuate every stereotype that comes along with that). I’m not really a coffee snob, though. We get our coffee from the coffee shop next to our building, which is $13 for a pound of fairly fresh beans and actually pretty damn delicious. Kramer is more of a coffee aficionado, and he’ll buy Stumptown or Blue Bottle if given the chance, but I feel like those two places are in a competition with one another to see who can burn away what’s left of my stomach lining first. If I want fancy coffee, I love Toby’s Estate, where their brew is a bit more mellow, or MyWayCup, which is in Manhattan and run by the nicest Israeli boys ever (they always say ‘hello’ and ‘goodbye’ to every customer; people notice that kind of thing!), but at home, I’m good with my neighborhood beans and my mom’s blanket.

There’s never enough coffee, is there?Sometimes I think that people who have a hard time waking up in the morning, who claim to not be “morning people” are only like that because they are rushed. There’s nothing worse than have to run out of the house in the morning. It can’t be good for you! Whenever I feel like I am going to be late, it puts me in the absolute worst mood, and that’s a hard thing to shake. It probably doesn’t help that I rarely get myself together the evening before. I can’t pick out what I am going to wear the next day; New York weather changes so quickly that there’s really no point. And I rarely put my gym bag together the night before, well, because I can hardly wait to crash on the couch the moment that I step foot in my apartment and I park myself there until it’s time to go to bed. I work better in the morning, anyway. My head always feels fuzzy and I am exhausted by the time I’m done with work, but after my glorious cup of coffee first thing in the morning, I feel focused and energized…or as much as I possibly can be before the sun has come up.

One thing I do plan ahead for, though, are dinners. As I mentioned, I am just dead tired after getting home from work, so I don’t want to spend too long in the kitchen. I made this Thai shrimp soup on Sunday afternoon, then Kramer and I ate it for dinner on Monday and Tuesday night, plus I froze some to eat on a night where Kramer has class. I love Thai soups. The richness of the coconut milk and cleanness of the ginger cuts through the heat of the peppers and spices, while the shrimp and rice make it hearty and satisfying. I remember when I first moved here, I thought that shrimp in soup was weird – I had never had it before and it was an odd combination to me. Now, though, my love for shrimp is unwavering and if you can add it to soup, all the better. Your house will smell absolutely lovely as all of the aromatics waft through the air while this soup cooks. I do recommend adding just a tiny bit of fish sauce for depth of flavor, but again, if you’re like me five or six years ago and you don’t think that fish sauce is for you, feel free to omit it…but give it a try if you’re adventurous! A little goes a long way and it definitely makes the dish more authentic. You can obviously substitute chicken for the shrimp, or add more veggies to make it vegetarian. This soup is versatile and can be made to suit just about anybody’s tastes, and it makes a lot, so invite some friends over to share in this tasty Thai creation.

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Blackberry Bramble

lemon + gin + berries

I’m making an attempt to be more outgoing during the week. It’s really easy to just come home and drop onto the couch after a long day of work, but I moved to New York for a reason and I don’t want to waste my time doing a whole lot of nothing. This most certainly means that I am tired more often than not. I’m usually running on around five hours of sleep, maybe six, but rarely seven, on any given day, but I’m 24 years old, so I’ll sleep when I’m dead, right? I know some people out here who are much older than me and still kicking it every night, so I have absolutely no excuse other than my penchant for acting like an old fogey and wanting to stay in on the couch, wrapped up in a blanket, eating popcorn and watching television. Which is completely fine and something I do fairly regularly. Monday night, I pushed myself to go out, make new friends, and afterward, stayed out just a touch longer than I should have, but hot dogs in pretzel buns and tall, cold beers were calling my name. This bar near us called Daddy’s sells hot dogs from The Meat Hook wrapped in excellent pretzel buns, smothered in mustard and pickles. The snap back from the casing of that hot dog is literally the stuff that dreams are made of. Whenever I don’t know what bar to go to now that I know these hot dogs exist, Daddy’s is surely my answer. I think that they sell beef jerky, too, which as I explained in my last post, is something that I adore and have been known to eat for breakfast as the salt and protein make it an unbelievable hangover cure. I guess I can try to save some room in my stomach next time I go to try the jerky and still enjoy my favorite hot dog.

Me sleeping while Kramer played with our new 90mm lens.While Monday was all about brews and brats, last night, I decided to go against all sound logic and reasoning and go to the gym. Dun dun dunnnnn. I’ve never been an athletic person. I rowed crew in high school, but there is no running involved in that, plus it’s a team sport, so you’re in a boat with other people and you’re working together while some tiny person at the front of the boat yells at you. It’s a lot of fun, plus you get to go on trips and meet new people. Now that I am older and a part of the working class society instead of some mooching teenager in high school living fun and fancy free, I need to exercise. Ugh. I hate the ritual of changing into gym clothes after work. You’re tired, your head is a little fuzzy from staring at a computer screen all day, and you just want to go home! But, as we all know, adults today work too hard and don’t take care of themselves, so with that in mind, I found myself at the gym. I opted for a spin class because the other option was an outdoor bootcamp class and it was raining. I knew if I took that class, I’d inevitably slip and fall on my ass, break my tailbone, and have to stand at my desk while hunched over my keyboard at work. No thanks. Spin it was. I go through phases during each workout where I think to myself, “I am seriously going to pass out,” to “This part is okay, I guess,” and back to “Oh jeebus, I really can’t do this,” etcetera etcetera. Obviously I lived to tell the tale. It was fine. I will go back. Although I am definitely going to have to bring a padded cushion for those cycle seats because they are hard as rocks! I guess no matter how hard I try, I’ll always be just a bit of a curmudgeon.

I worked out, so I deserve a treat! Who in the world hasn’t uttered or at least thought that very same thing? Well, here’s your treat, people: a Blackberry Bramble. I had one recently when we were out with Kramer’s dad a few weeks ago, and it was so good that I immediately made one at home the next day. The berries are simmering in plenty of sugar, a cinnamon stick, and cloves, which make for a richer flavor with a warming aroma that, while this is a cold drinks, makes it more appropriate for this winter to spring transition that we’re all experiencing this time of year. All you need are berries, aromatics, lemon juice, gin, and club soda. You could get really classy and top this off with prosecco instead of club soda, which, being the fancy girl that I am, I would have absolutely done had I thought ahead, but I didn’t, so I used club soda here. I love a drink that you can eat, and this is definitely that drink, just make sure you fish the cloves out because there is nothing more horrible that I can imagine than chomping down on a whole clove. I had more than a few of these the day that I made them because there’s nothing like a pretty, fresh drink on a cold, gray day. The berries are great for other uses, too: pancakes, ice cream, yogurt…the list goes on. They’ll keep well in your fridge for a week, so go ahead and make yourself a bramble! You deserve it.

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with a tender crumb and crunchy crust

with apples & walnuts

with crispy fries

with a sprinkle of cinnamon

with soft scrambled eggs

with goat cheese & jam

with fish sauce vinaigrette

set it and forget it

with coconut milk & rice

lemon + gin + berries