my boyfriend bakes

I think it is time for an update since our last post…a lot has changed. Keep an eye out for something tonight!

Samantha

Happy March everyone! Has ‘March Madness’ officially kicked in with you, yet? Sadly, Northwestern kind of blew it and now we’re No. 4 seed in the NIT, and well, I am not surprised. There’s always next year… :) 

Alex and I have been quite busy these last few months, for good reasons and also for not so great reasons. Let’s start with the good - we’re making a web series! It is called The Stoop Chronicles and it will be a series of 6 short films that will live online and take place on stoops! Check out our video! 

               

ABOUT The Stoop Chronicles from The Stoop Chronicles on Vimeo.

A few weeks ago, I went to my doctor for an annual check up and I told her that my goal for this year is to lose 20lbs, the amount of weight I have gained in the last year and a half. She noted this and said I must take a blood test to rule out any issues like thyroid issues or diabetes. Diabetes runs in my family but I didn’t think much of it because I didn’t consider myself “fat”. Sure I put on a bit of weight, but I don’t spend all of my time sitting on my couch eating 5 Big Macs and a large order of fries. All signs pointed toward a modified diet and exercise (which I had started on) and I’d be good to go by bikini season.

Well I thought wrong. My blood tests came back and not only did I have a Vitamin D deficiency (not a surprise - I work all day and don’t have very many windows in my apartment), but I also had slightly high blood sugar levels and glucose levels. The levels weren’t high enough for my doctor to diagnose me with diabetes, but she said I was at risk for diabetes unless I made a drastic life change. I am on the warning track…

       

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All I can say is MESSAGE RECEIVED! After many tears and minor panic attacks, I decided to suck it up and do something about it! And instead of heading to a diet plan, I have decided to do it the old-fashioned way. Better diet and a hell of a lot more exercise. [Note: I don’t doubt diets. I hear Weight Watchers is great and Alex has been very successful on Nutrisystem. But as a former Nutrisystem user, I know that it is not for me.]

With regards to my exercise regiment, prior to my “news” I would go to the gym 1-2/wk and I would do 20-30min on the elliptical. And that’s it. Lame, huh? Well those days are over. I have taken up spinning, which is for a lack of a better word, terrifying and painful…and all the same, amazing! 

  

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*I wish I looked that great spinning*

I have also taken up Zumba! That’s right, people! Zumba has hit and I just can’t get enough. Sadly, though, I am not the most coordinated Zumba-er. Where did my Latina-ness go?!  

        

(Source)

Most recently, I have taken on a personal trainer who I will be working with 2/wk. She said that in addition to my workouts with her, I will be clocking in 4 more days of hour-long cardio. I am anxious about starting this new routine this week, but nevertheless I am excited. I am seeing myself taking the steps to better my health!

I have also decided that I need to cut back on a lot of the foods I love- dairy (cheese), carbs (rice, pasta) and well…everything I would eat if I were stressed or tired (bye, bye cookies). Many of these “stay away” foods have been documented on this blog, actually! The only dairy I really have now is yogurt, which I pair with granola and fruit as my breakfast. 

I spend a lot of money each month on granola and I find (unless I get it from Whole Foods), the granola itself doesn’t taste fresh. I expressed this annoyance to Alex and he offered a simple solution - “Sam, let’s just make our own granola!” SO WE DID! 

We wanted to make something that was delicious and healthier than the others, so we went to EatingWell.com and found a great recipe for Maple-Nut Granola. So let’s get the party started with directions and, of course, PHOTOS! 

MAPLE-NUT GRANOLA (adapted from this recipe)

Ingredients

5 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

1/2 cup sliced almonds

1/2 cup coarsely chopped pecans

1/2 cup light brown sugar

1/3 cup unsalted pumpkin seeds

1/3 cup unsalted sunflower seeds

1/2 cup pure maple syrup

1/2 cup water

1/4 cup canola oil

Directions

Preheat oven to 275°F.

Combine oats, almonds, pecans, brown sugar, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds in a large bowl.

Oats

     

Pumpkin Seeds

     

Sunflower Seeds

     

Brown Sugar

     

     

     

*The original recipe also called for coconut flakes, dried cranberries and rasins, but we opted to go without it for this particular batch*

Combine syrup, water and oil in a medium bowl or large measuring cup and pour over the oat mixture; stir until well combined. For this occasion, I took out the girls to help measure the liquid ingredients. And no, I don’t mean those girls…I mean these girls!

Spread the mixture into a large (12-by-15-inch) roasting pan or large rimmed baking sheet.

Bake for 45 minutes. Remove from the oven, stir, and continue baking until golden brown and beginning to crisp, about 45 minutes more. Let cool completely before storing.

Voilà! Doesn’t it look delicious? I think so, too! I am so excited to start my morning with this fresh batch of granola and that I know EXACTLY what is in it. Alex and I also did the math and we figured that we’d actually save money by making our own granola than paying $5 for some at the grocery store. At the end of the day, everyone wins! 

I am happy that this blog has taken the turn from indulgent foods like cupcakes and brownies to granola and hopefully healthier foods. Alex is taking this healthy approach to life with me, and I am so thankful for that.

My trainer said that it takes 21 days to break a bad habit, so my challenge to you is to break your bad habit - whether it is smoking, eating out, drinking too much or even not opening your mail right when you get it.

She also said that when breaking your bad habit, don’t rely on motivation because motivation is a temporary emotion.

Approach it with COMMITMENT and that will make all the difference. So what bad habit will you try to break for the next 21 days? Do you have commitment? 

I know I do. I don’t have the option not to!

Who said New Year’s resolutions have to start in January?

Today feels like a the beginning of the new year.  January passed before our eyes, gone in an instant, yet filled with so much work.  I feel like I never got a clean break over the holidays to start anew, so I’m viewing today as the start of something new.  It’s time to lay off the sweets and start baking healthy meals!

From August of 2009 to March of 2010, I went the Nutrisystem weight loss plan.  It worked for me. I lost 50 pounds and felt great.  Since then, I’ve slid of the wagon a bit, but for the most part maintained a healthy eating regiment.  Once you start to ween yourself off the program, Nutrisystem provides you with a cookbook of low calorie recipes.  Recently, Sam and I tried one.

———————————————

Roasted Chicken with Asparagus

Serves 2 People

Prep Time: 5-10 min

Cook Time 25 min

8 oz Chicken Breast (skinless, sliced) or Chicken Tenders

1 tsp Olive Oil

1 ½ cups Asparagus, blanched, chopped in thirds

1 tbsp Almonds, slivered

1 tsp Garlic, minced

1 tsp Onion Powder

½ tsp Paprika

1 cup Brown Rice, cooked

Salt & Pepper, to taste

———————————————

Sam and I first chopped the Asparagus and blanched it.  To blanch we added the asparagus to boiling water and just boiled it for a couple minutes, until it turned bright green. 

To blanch we added the asparagus to boiling water and just boiled it for a couple minutes, until it turned bright green.  Then, we transferred it to a bowl of cold water.  Blanching helps lock in the vegetable flavor and nutrition and gives the asparagus the right amount of “prep” for baking.

Sliced the chicken next and add to the asparagus in a bowl. 

Add the seasoning and mixed it all together.

Bake for 25 minutes.

Remove from oven and top with slivered almonds.

Serve with brown rice and small side salad.  We ate a small arugula salad with fat free balsamic vinaigrette.

Each serving amounts to just 290 calories with 33g of Protien, 24g Carbs and 6.2g of Fiber!

As we enter our “new” year, Sam and I plan to decrease our amount of sweets, increase our amount of exercise and keep each other accountable so we can look and feel our best. I’m going to get back on the wagon with Nutrisystem while Sam plans to change her eating habits and hit the gym more.  We love to bake and eat cookies and cake, but certainly don’t want to end up as a character on Food Network’s new show, Fat Chef.  We’d rather remain viewers.

Now that we’re 32 days into 2012, how’s your New Year’s resolution going?  Do you have any resolutions for the next 11 months?

As summer slipped away and October rolled in, Sam and I made the most of the remaining warm weather and took a trip up to the Bronx Zoo with our godson, “Baby-Z”, his big sister “Chi-Chi” and their parents.  This was the kids’ first trip to the zoo, so they were very excited to see all of animals for the first time.  Well, Chi-Chi was quite excited, I’m not sure if Baby-Z processed how special of a day it was.  He is only 8 months old.  

We trekked all over the zoo and each new animal we saw was an exciting new discovery for Chi-Chi.   

First stop:  Madagascar!  This exhibit contained a slew of co-habitating animals from the island nation off the southwest coast of Africa.  The highlight of this exhibit was the lazy Red-ruffed Lemur, who seemed very comfortable sitting on his tree limb.  

After that, Sam took Chi-Chi out to see the sea lions, which really peaked her interest.  

Chi-Chi took advantage of the elevated view from atop her dad’s (Sam’s uncle) shoulders.

Outside the Monkey House, Sam snapped a shot of me with the lil Chunky Monkey.

After a nice sack lunch we ventured through the rest of the zoo to see giraffes, ostriches, snow leopards, and some tired lions. 

The lions were just waking up from a nap.  Lots of yawning and stretching going on.  

Speaking of naps, while we were walking around I caught Baby-Z catching some Z’s.

After a full day out and about, Sam and I went back to her apartment to cook some dinner.  To cap the night off, I made a simple sweet treat for her to take to work to share with her co-workers, Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake.  This recipe comes from my best source for sweets, Aunt Pat.

Ingredients:

1 package (18 1/4 ounces) Duncan Hines devil’s food cake mix

1 heaping tablespoon mayonnaise (not Miracle Whip)

1 cup creamy peanut butter

1 tablespoon canola oil

1 can (16 ounces) chocolate frosting

1 bag of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups (minis)

Put mayonnaise in mixing bowl. Add cake mix and other

ingredients as listed according to package. Mix cake batter

following package directions. Spray 13-in. x 9-inch x 2-inch

baking pan with Pan. Pour batter into pan. Bake as directed on

cake mix directions.

In a small bowl, combine peanut butter and oil until smooth;

spread over warm cake. Cool completely.

In microwave, heat frosting on high 25-30 seconds or until

pourable; stir until smooth. Carefully pour and spread over

peanut butter layer. Let stand until set.

Garnish with Reese’s Peanut butter cups, chopped.

Sam took the cake into work the next morning and by lunch time she sent me this photo from her office.

I guess this new recipe was a hit!  I certainly enjoyed it.  So, if you have leftover peanut butter cups from Halloween, this is a perfect way to enjoy them.

And if you can’t wait until Halloween, take this treat on the road! This October, The Bronx Zoo is holding ‘Boo at the Zoo’ where they encourage you to visit their bats, cats and creep crawlers. They also have hayrides and haunted safaris. Think ‘Fright Fest’ but not frightening at all. Best of all, if you’re 3-12 years old and come adorned in your Halloween costume, you will get in free! 

A great deal, a fun time and some delicious cake to take on the trip - that sounds like a perfect day if you ask me. Halloween is just around the corner so go while you can! 

Speaking of Halloween, are YOU dressing up? I don’t know about Sam, but I am channeling a certain someone in Dillon, Texas as my Halloween costume inspiration. 

Instead of recapping a weekend with a taste of brunch, we decided to start the weekend with one! 

While we’ve been opting for homemade brunches lately, we recently took a trip to the city for brunch at Nolita House. This is the second time we’ve been to Nolita House; the first time was with our great friends from Northwestern Travel Bug Robert (who was in NYC for the weekend) and new NYC transplant, Kat. Robert and Kat were some of the first people we met when we joined NSTV our freshman year, so they’re very special people to us. 

We had never heard of Nolita House, but Robert said it came highly recommended, not only for its food, but also for the live bluegrass music on the weekend. All you had to say was bluegrass and brunch, and Alex was there. 

We had such a great time at this little spot on Houston Street that we decided to go back with our friend Michael, who was in town from Chicago. 

Upon the recommendation from our fabulous and funky waitress, we ordered the sticky buns as our brunchetizer. 

Yes, that is an official MBFB word. The sticky buns were a perfect way to start off our brunch, and it was the perfect portion for the three of us to share. 

Just as we were licking our fingers from our brunchetizer, Fresh Baked Bluegrass, the Nolita House Sunday brunch band, started their set with lively bluegrass music. 

As you can see, Michael was just so excited to be in the presence of some great bluegrass!

What I love about Nolita House is that while it has a rustic/barn-like decor, the menu featured unique items far beyond the traditional fare, like Vanilla Brandy French Toast and ‘Green Eggs and Ham’. The other thing I love about Nolita House?  Every Brunch-Goer “of age” gets a free Brunch Cocktail.  Complimentary Mimosa?  Yes, please!

So what did we order? Well I will tell you! Ladies first…

I ordered the Chorizo & Eggs which consisted of scrambled eggs, Spanish chorizo sausage, serranos, tomatoes, cilantro and onions. It also comes with a side of salsa. 

I love chorizo but have never had it in a breakfast dish, so I was pleasantly surprised that it tasted so good! The chorizo and cilantro gave it a nice kick of heat, but it was never overpowering. 

Per our waitress’s recommendation, Alex opted for the New Orleans Style Shrimp & Grits - two sunny side eggs over blackened shrimp, grilled asparagus and cheese grits. 

I was not only impressed by the deliciousness of every component of the dish - from the spicy shrimp to the perfectly cooked eggs to the delicious asparagus - but I was also wowed by how nicely it was plated. Take a look from above!

Michael went for the most adventurous dish of the three of us and ordered the Mediterranean Baked Eggs. It was two eggs over ratatouille, spinach and cheddar with herbed flatbread. 

Ratatouille…that sounds familiar. 

I love that movie! The only ratatouille I had ever seen was on the big screen, so I was interested in seeing what ratatouille actually was and what it looked like. 

(All ratatouille is is stewed vegetables! Simple ingredients. Fabulous name.)

Michael wasn’t too impressed with the dish but appreciated the well-cooked eggs and pita. Perhaps it was the garbanzo beans. I personally love garbanzos, but they’re not for everyone. 

Nolita House has become a favorite brunch spot for Alex and me and we are so excited to share this place with you all—not only for its food but also for the atmosphere. It can get busy during brunch but you never feel squished or like you’re being forced to leave. 

It may be the fact that the bluegrass music sets a fun yet intimate tone, but it feels welcoming, relaxing and just a nice place to have brunch with good friends. 

Man, now I am in the mood for some chorizo and eggs. Perhaps I will try to make my own this weekend…or I’ll make my specialty: Cheerios and milk. 

What are YOU doing this weekend? Is brunch on your itinerary? If so, Nolita House is waiting for you! 

It has been a crazy few weeks here in the land of the boyfriend who bakes. With work, new projects Alex and I are planning, friends visiting/visiting friends and everything else in between, we have been dying for a free weekend. 

While we spent Saturday paying bills, reading through old issues of magazines, working on some fun websites (all the while watching NCAA football) and seeing Alex’s and my godson and his 2-year old sister (aka our fairy god daughter), we wondered if we could ever enjoy the restfulness of Sunday. 

Who says Sunday is a day of rest? Not New Yorkers, that’s for sure. And we weren’t the exception! 

Today, we took advantage of the sunny weather and headed to Queens to see the Mets face the Phillies at CitiField (aka the new Shea Stadium). One of the perks of the new field is that they included a Shake Shack, which for you non-New Yorkers is a great burger spot that has “tipped” in the city. You have to wait a long time for the ‘Shack Burger’ but it is totally worth the wait. And don’t get me started on their concretes! 

In an attempt to bypass the long lines, we got to CitiField early and in no time were enjoying our Shack Burgers and Fries. We were starving so we opted not to take pictures of us scarfing down our lunch. 

Thanks to my friend Reci we were able to score AMAZING seats for $7/each. 

Aren’t these seats awesome? They were the best seats we’ve had at CitiField and enjoyed them a great deal. It was a great “foul ball” zone - we had one come to our section! 

While the seats were great, the game was not. We were behind from the very beginning and ended up losing 9-4 Phillies. My favorite player, David Wright, didn’t play at all during the game. He only came up to hit in the 8th inning…and got out. The Phillies are currently the best team in baseball, so I can’t say I was surprised. 

After the game, we headed back into Manhattan - Little Italy to be exact. Upon the suggestion of my lovely mother, we went to the Feast of San Gennaro. And needless to say…we were one zeppole away from an Italian heart attack. 

A little about the Feast of San Gennaro…

The Feast of San Gennaro, originally a one-day religious commemoration, began in September 1926 when newly arrived immigrants from Naples congregated along Mulberry Street in the Little Italy section of New York City, to continue the tradition they had followed in Italy to celebrate San Gennaro as the Patron Saint of Naples. The main immigrant families observing this commemoration would have a café on Mulberry Street, between Grand and Hester Streets. They strung lengths of colored light bulbs across the street from building fire escapes and brought their business out onto the sidewalk. They erected a small chapel in the street to house the image of their patron Saint. They invited all to partake of their wares, asking only that the devoted pin a small offering to the ribbon streamers that are hung from the statue’s apron. This money was then distributed to the needy poor of the neighborhood. In that way they felt they could do charitable works and also pay homage to their patron Saint. The festival expanded and is now an 11-day street fair beginning on a Thursday in mid-September in the Little Italy area of Manhattan as an annual celebration of Italian culture and the Italian-American community. [Source - Wikipedia]

We were able to visit the Little Italy on the last day of the feast and it was great to see the festive, colorful lights still hanging throughout the streets packed with people. There is even a statue of San Gennaro outside the Most Precious Blood Church, where folks lit candles and left gifts for the Saint. 

Just as packed as it was with people, it was also packed with food and drinks galore. As we walked through Mulberry Street, we feasted our eyes on the variety of typical fair and Italian food. 

Our dinner “appetizer” was a deliciously roasted corn on the cob. 

Instead of opting for the traditional slab of butter on the cob, Alex suggested we try the ‘Honey & Spicy” sauce with some salt and pepper. 

Wow what a combo! It started off warm and sweet but then packed a punch of spice shortly afterward. Alex has become quite the spice-enthusiast and he enjoyed it immensely. I really enjoyed the corn as well, but ran towards the nearest lemonade stand to extinguish the flames in my mouth. 

We walked around the festival, starting at Mulberry and Spring and ending at Canal. On our way back to Spring Street, we stopped by an Italian food stand called Gigi’s.

Sausage and peppers is a staple amongst the food stands at the feast, but we chose this stand for our sandwich because…well check out this spread!

We ordered up a sandwich of sweet sausage and peppers right away!

Alex took the first bite out of the sandwich…

…and he loved it!

I thought it was great too! The peppers and onions were my favorite parts of the sandwich. 

After our dinner, we walked around the feast some more and checked out the various clothing, jewelry and kitchen gaget stands there. We even bought a nifty kitchen gadget that is sure to get you excited to grate basically anything. But more on that some other time…

While we were enjoying ourselves at the feast, our lovely New York Jets were doing anything but that during their game against the Raiders. After their loss, we decided to treat ourselves to zeppoles to ease the pain. Alex had never had zeppoles (aka fried dough with powdered sugar) before, so we headed to the first place that looked good. And Pete’s was it!

Don’t they look delicious?

Since this was a special occasion for Alex, I decided to capture it on camera! Check it out -

 

As you can, we had quite the day - filled with sports losses and food gains. A co-worker of mine asked how Alex and I aren’t 1000lbs, and based on our menu today I can see where she is coming from. 

In the coming weeks, we will get back into the kitchen and share some healthy baking recipes we’ve come across in our travels. We are totally excited to document these on the blog, but sometimes we need to indulge in the foods we eat. And by the looks of the food we had at the San Gennaro’s feast, we’re probably all set on indulgences until the feast comes around next year. 

Until next time, 

I wonder if whomever created the expression “Better late than never” has ever encountered a couple of workaholics like Alex and myself. 

It has been way too long since we updated you on our adventures, but we hope to catch you up by sharing what may very well be the best brunch we’ve ever had. 

Let’s get started with part deux of our Chicago Trip: Summer 2011! 

We left off having visited Hot Doug’s and enjoying their gourmet dogs and sausages. Later on that day, Alex, Michael and I headed to Union Park to attend the Pitchfork Music Festival with Alex’s brother, Andy. Andy had purchased tickets to see one of his favorite bands, Fleet Foxes, and asked us to come along. At first I was a little hesitant to go to Pitchfork because 1) I didn’t know Fleet Foxes; and 2) I didn’t know if I wanted to spend an entire evening standing around. 

Thankfully, my reservations were completely ridiculous. The festival was great! I was able to do a good amount of people watching, which I love to do. Also, Fleet Foxes delivered an amazing show and I can now consider myself a fan. Check them out: 

Apparently, the Pitchfork Music Festival has become a “Chicago” event, so by the end of it I didn’t regret going. Who knows - if they have just as good of a lineup next year, Alex and I might make a trip out to Chicago just for the festival! 

Enough of that…let’s get to the good stuff! 

As you know, I am a sucker for brunch; so when Katie told us about The Publican (and how it was allegedly the best brunch spot in Chicago), we take to see - and taste - it for ourselves. We brought along our friends Jenn, Bobby, Michael, Andy and Katie along to experience it with us. 

While their menu is simpler compared to your typical diner/brunch fair, The Publican packs a punch with the uniqueness of their menu items. 

We started off with a round of mimosas (or as I am beginning to call them “yumosas”). There’s nothing like spiked fresh-squeezed orange juice to start off your Sunday!

Andy opted for a heftier brunch beverage, ordering the bloody mary - publican mix, house-made celery bitters and accompanied with a glass of Old #38 Stout. 

While Andy’s drink did look tasty, I stuck with my yumosas. 

Instead of jumping into the entrees, our table ordered an appetizer. Out waitress and Katie (who had visited The Publican before) both insisted that we order the ricotta & zucchini bread, which was drizzled with wildflower honey, hazelnuts and black raspberries. 

What a savory appetizer! The bread was fresh and perfectly moist. The zucchini wasn’t very overpowering, which I appreciated; and the black raspberries gave it a sweet contrast. Alex is nutty for nuts and loved the hazelnuts sprinkled over the bread. 

It wasn’t long after we scarfed down the bread that our entrees came. Here is a look at what we all ordered: 

Alex, Bobby and Katie went with one of staples from The Publican, the soft shell crab sandwich, which consisted of biscuit, cheddar, crispy bacon, fried egg, potatoes and braised greens. 

Here is what Alex had to say about the sandwich: “It was one of the craziest breakfast sandwiches I’ve ever had but definitely one of the best. Everything in the sandwich came together nicely, but it was really the biscuit that made it so worthwhile.” I will take Alex’s word for it - did you see the crab legs?! Bah!

Michael and Jenn opted for the omelette, which changes with the seasons. During our trip, the [summer] omelette consisted of cauliflower caponata & pecorino. 

While the omelette looks delicious, I can’t stop looking at that toast. I love that it is just a wee bit burnt.

I took a more traditional approach to brunch, ordering the waffle which had roasted apricot jam and honey butter. I am a bit disappointed that I didn’t take any risks with my brunch but the waffle itself was good. I would say, though, that the jam and butter somewhat brought down the lightness of the waffle. 

Andy ordered the red wine poached egg which consisted of la quercia prosciutto, sourdough & béarnaise. 

Is that not the most beautifully plated dish? The béarnaise over the potatoes simply looks delectable. 

The belle of the brunch, though, was the MASSIVE publican bacon - basically the thickest slab of pork I have ever seen and braised with Burton’s maple syrup.

Heart attack of love anyone? Yes, indeed! 

After a brief post-brunch hunger coma, Alex and I bade Andy, Katie and Michael farewell, and continued our Chicago adventure with Jenn and Bobby all the way to Wrigleyville…

Jenn and I have fond memories at Cubs games from our time at Northwestern…

…so we thought it would be great to see the Cubbies play the Marlins with “our men.” 

Even though it was very hot that day, we lucked out with great seats in the shade. 

And the Cubs won!

As you can see, the four of us were ecstatic by the win. Can’t you tell by the lovely glisten on each of our faces? 

(Source)

The game was an absolute blast! Jenn and I spent as much time watching the game as we did listening to other spectators’ conversations and catching up. And we were just fine with that! Jenn and I don’t get to talk as much now that our “adult” lives have kicked in, so we were happy to have the time to spend with each other. 

Our trip to Chicago was MUCH needed, LONG overdue, and we enjoyed every single moment of it. From our egg adventures to standing in line for hot dogs to a very delicioso brunch, we really took advantage of the sights, sounds and tastes of Chicago. More importantly, we took advantage of the time we spent with our friends. 

It is always good to get away for a few days and explore a city the way we did, and we hope to do so in other cities in the future. 

This weekend we are heading not too far north to West Point for the Northwestern-Army football game. Alex, my parents and I are going up in the RV so expect some fun ‘camping’ stories to be shared. Now that it is almost fall, I anticipate a great and cool weekend ahead. And maybe we’ll break out the hot chocolate!

What are you doing over the weekend? Are you excited for fall? 

We sure are!

// ]]>

Well it has been almost an entire month, but I have finally found time to get you all caught up on our adventure to Chicago. Between work, movies, work, bbq’s, work, getting started on new projects, work and reality tv marathons, it has been somewhat difficult to get our thoughts and awesome photos together. Nevertheless, we finally did it, and boy am I excited to share with you what we did on our trip. 

If you know Alex and myself, you know that Chicago is a place that we hold close to our heart. We met while attending college at Northwestern.

We had our first date 5 years ago (eek!) at the famous Berghoff Restaurant where Alex introduced me to the deliciousness that is chicken schnitzel and apple strudel. Not together, though. That would be strange.

(Alex outside the Berghoff on our first date!)

As you can see, this city holds a special place in my heart. Chicago has such great character that it really is hard not to fall in love with it. I would even go so far as to say that it is my favorite city right after Paris and New York. 

Since we graduated and relocated to NYC, Alex and I try to find time to visit Chicago at least once a year. We try to return to NU, reunite with friends such as Eating Bender and take in as much of Chicago as possible. Even though we lived in Evanston for 4 years, we still try to visit as many new places as possible, so every trip is an exciting one. 

This go around our main focuses were on the double F’s - FRIENDS & FOOD. I started off the weekend early, flying into Chicago on Thursday night - just in time to catch a midnight showing of HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HOLLOWS PART 2 with the my Chi Passionistas, Jenn and Jill!

(Source)

Nice scarf, Jenn. :) The movie was certainly an epic end to an epic series. While we didn’t end up getting to bed until around 2-3am (close to 4am NYC time), I was so happy to have seen it with them. 

On Friday, I visited Northwestern with one of my oldest college friends, Lauren, and then grabbed dinner with Jenn and one of my best buds, Katie, at The Purple Pig. The wait was long but the food was unique and delicious. Can’t go wrong there! (Note: Try the Pork Neck Bone Gravy with Ricotta!!!)

Since Alex had to work on Friday, he ended up flying in to Chicago that evening, where we met up with Alex’s former roommate and great friend Michael, and Alex’s brother Andy. Let’s just say that one awesome thing Chicago has over NYC - cheaper nightlife! Nothing says a Friday night in Chicago more than an Irish pub visit followed by a midnight stroll into a honky tonk. 

Saturday was our day of FOOD FOOD FOOD, and we started with an early morning breakfast with Michael, Andy and Alex’s dad, Gene. Alex and I are suckers for eggs, so we were stoked to dine at ‘Over Easy,’ a popular breakfast spot in Ravenswood. 

While we had to wait a good 25-30min for a table, the restaurant kept their waiting customers happy with complementary coffee outside. While I am not a coffee drinker, Andy and Michael certainly appreciated it. 

‘Over Easy’ is a typical breakfast/brunch spot, but its menu has a strong emphasis on eggs…thus the restaurant’s name. You can order french toast or pancakes, but if you really want to enjoy your experience, order some eggs! 

Alex and Gene ordered the “Bernsten Brothers’ Scramble,” which has eggs scrambled with smoked ham, applewood-smoked bacon, tomatoes, chives, & cheddar cheese, served with red potato hash & toast.

I am going to take a stab at this dish one day because it is just too delicious to never have again. 

Andy and Michael ordered the “Sassy Eggs,” and there is no doubt that they were indeed sassy! The Sassy Eggs consisted of two eggs served over chorizo-potato hash with cheddar cheese, red peppers, jalapenos, guacamole, sour cream, & ancho ketchup.

Doesn’t that sound and look just delicious?

I went for a spicy omelet called the “Nueva Mexicana Omelet” - eggs, corn, tomatoes, red onions, cilantro & goat cheese topped with salsa verde & sour cream, served with red potato hash & toast. It was muy caliente but also muy delicioso! In addition to the roasted potatoes, the dish also came with an orange slice - a great way to cleanse one’s palette after a spicy meal.

I would definitely recommend ‘Over Easy’ if you are in the area. It is on the smaller and more intimate side of the breakfast/brunch spots Alex and I are used to, and our waitress was very nice and personable. The food came out quickly, yet we never felt rushed during our dining experience. Not something you see all the time in NYC. 

An hour or two after breakfast, Michael, Alex and I hit the road to our next food stop and one of Alex’s favorite Chicago eateries - Hot Doug’s. Hot Doug’s is the self-proclaimed ‘Sausage Superstore and Encased Meat Emporium.’ This off-the-beaten-path corner joint is not accessible via the El, but that doesn’t mean people don’t flock there almost every day to try their classic dogs (including the Chicago-style hot dog) and their specialty sausages (i.e., a kangaroo dog!).

(Source)

At first I didn’t understand why we had to rush to Hot Doug’s, especially after we had just eaten breakfast. However, once we got there I fully understood why - the line was tremendous! We got there at around 12pm and met Katie, Jenn and Lauren to brave the Chicago heat together…For more than two hours…With the sun beating down on us…And no shade. 

The only upside to the long wait? It gave us time to catch up and have impromptu photo shoots!

(Lauren, Jenn and me)

 

 (Me and Katie)

(Alex and Michael)

(my boyfriend (who bakes) and me!)

While we were able to occupy our time taking photos and chatting, standing in line for HOURS in 90deg heat and in heels (for some of us) made us a little bit frustrated, tired and - in my case - a bit stir crazy! Were we even going to make it in before they closed at 4pm? 

WE GOT IN! And we were greeted with their, er, unique menu…

It took us a while to decide what we were going to order, but Jenn knew right away which specialty dog she would be trying out. 

I never knew you to be a mountain man, Jenn!

The special of the day was the ‘Elisabetta Canalis.’

That name sounds familiar, right? By golly, that’s George Clooney’s former flame! 

(Source)

If having one of those GUARANTEED that I may have a shot with Dr. Ross, I would have bought every Elisabetta Canalis sausage in the restaurant!

Remember when I mentioned kangaroo dogs? Well I wasn’t kidding…

When we got to the counter, we spotted Hot Doug’s display of accolades and souvenirs. I wish I could have graduated from Hot Dog University. 

And then it came down to decision time. What were we going to order? Michael was skeptical of Alex’s order.

And here is the man of the hour! Hot Doug’s own…Doug! Obviously he was just as happy to take Katie’s order as she was to give it!

Jenn was all smiles while she waited for her dog in the air-conditioned restaurant. 

Alex took a more relaxed approach. He has been to Hot Doug’s before so he knew the lay of the land. 

Mr. Hot Doug runs his restaurant like clockwork because it didn’t take us a long time to be seated.

(Source)

Before no time, we were greeted with an order of duck-fat fries. 

At first I was hesitant to try these fries because…well…they’re fried in duck fat. But believe it or not, they were delicious! Not too different than ‘regular’ fries - just a bit more savory. 

However, we didn’t wait two hours in line for duck-fat fries. We came for the DOGS!

As a New Yorker, I am a fan of the plain ole hot dog with ketchup; but I put that aside to try “The Dog” AKA a Chicago-Style Hot Dog. It is a charred hot dog with yellow mustard, white onions, relish, tomatoes and a sliced pickle on the very top. 

Under normal circumstances I would REFUSE to eat this hot dog. Pickles - ew. Relish - ew. Mustard - double ew. But when combined it was quite tasty. For me, it tasted like Chicago. A combination of different ingredients that don’t seem to fit but they actually do very well. The pickle gave a lightness and crunchiness to the hot dog, which was something I had never really experienced when eating a dog. Or maybe I was so tired from waiting in line, I would have eaten anything. 

Needless to say, “The Dog” was the most normal dog amongst the dogs we ordered. Hot Doug’s is known for their specialty/gourmet hot dogs and we took advantage of its colorful menu items. 

Katie and I ordered “The Badger” - Beer and Cheddar Pork Sausage with Coca-Cola BBQ Sauce and Wine-Garlic Cheddar Cheese.

This was a very rich sausage/dog and the cheddar cheese gave it a nice bite. It was too rich for me to finish, though. I would have it again, but perhaps as my only item. 

Katie and Alex tried the “Elisabetta Canalis” dog, which was a smoked crayfish and pork sausage with cajun remoulade and goat cheese, drizzled with honey.

This dog was jam packed with flavor that was both rich and sweet. The cajun remoulade gave it a nice kick but it wasn’t over powering, which is probably in part to the savory goat cheese and sweet honey. 

I thought Michael had the “Philly Cheese Steak Beef Sausage” which comes adorned with cream cheese mustard, caramelized onions and smoked provolone cheese. However, I was MISTAKEN because this delectable dog is the Corned Beef Dog. If you ever meet Michael, ask him what is in this baby…

I am not a fan of corned beef anything, so I wouldn’t know :)

Jenn, as you know, ordered “The Mountain Man Sausage” - (a damn tasty combination of Elk, Antelope, Buffalo, Venison and Caribou) with Roasted Yellow Pepper Mayonnaise and Tetilla Cheese. In her words it was “ridiculously good-a.” 

Lauren, by far, was the most adventurous with her selection. She chose the “Foie Gras and Sauternes Duck Sausage with Truffle Aioli, Foie Gras Mousse and Fleur de Sel”.

Excusez moi? Yes, you heard right!

Some people may find it controversial but Lauren mostly found it tasty. I commend her for trying it out! You know what they say - “When in Hot Doug’s, do as the Douggers do”. 

As you can see, we had a jam packed day of FRIENDS & FOOD. While we certainly enjoyed the food we ate, Alex and I were more grateful for the time we spent with our friends. We don’t get to see them as often as we’d like, so even though we had to spend hours in the heat waiting for something we could normally get at a stand on a street corner, it was worth every minute. 

I know we’ve said this before, but dining experiences are exponentially better when you have good company to enjoy it with you. These folks are some of our closest friends and to be able to try something new with them was very special for us. 

So what’s up next in part 2 of the epic Chicago adventure? A bangin’ brunch, a ballin’ baseball game, and a beautiful last day in Chicago! 

Stay tuned! 

..BLOG!!!!

Alex is visiting/vacationing with his family for the next few days, which means I am flying solo on this VERY LONG OVERDUE POST! 

It’s been rainy here in NYC but I am excited to share with you our sunny weekend trip to Chicago. Remember that trip? Back in July?

Check back tomorrow for Part I of the Chicago weekend recap! 

I’m dealing these posts out in rapid fire this week!

Sam and I returned to baking the weekend before last with a brunch treat that’s easy and quite delicious—omelette cups.

Muffin pans are very versatile tools.  You’re not limited to just muffins and cupcakes. One of my favorite food blogs, Kevin&Amanda, used a muffin pan in a very cool way.

Inspired by Mini Lasagna Cups, I thought it would be a good idea to try an omelette rendition in a muffin pan.

The recipe is pretty simple and very versatile.  Here’s one that will feed a couple folks, and probably could have fed three!

Omelette Cups

       

Ingredients:

6 eggs

1/2 cup sliced ham

1/2 cup sliced green onion

1/2 cup diced red pepper

1/2 cup shredded cheese

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

Breadcrumbs

Directions: 

Preheat oven to 375°F. While the oven is preheating, slice 1/2 cup of ham, 1/2 cup of green onion (aka scallions) and 1/2 cup of red pepper. Place in a separate bowl for each.

Then, grate 1/2 cup of cheddar cheese and place into its own bowl. We ended up getting pre-shredded cheese (a cheddar/colby mix), which is helpful when you don’t have the time to grate a block of cheese. (For a tasty and healthier substitution for the cheddar cheese, try using mozzarella.) 

       

       

In a medium mixing bowl, beat the 6 eggs thoroughly and let it sit for a bit. Sprinkle some salt and pepper - about 1/4 tsp of each. 

       

Next, layer the sliced ham, veggies and cheese in a greased muffin pan.

       

       

Then, pour the egg yolk into the muffin pan, up to 3/4 full. Our cups were packed with meat and veggies so our 6 eggs filled about 8 cups. 

       

After the cups have been filled, we took a fork and stirred through each cup, ensuring that the ingredients were distributed equally. Sam also lightly banged the tray on the counter to make sure the cups weren’t lopsided. 

       

Give each cup a finishing touch with a pinch of breadcrumbs on the very top. 

       

Once the oven was ready, we placed it in and let it bake for 25 minutes. When it was done, we took it out the pan and let it cool for about 2-3 minutes. We stuck a toothpick in the muffins to make sure the eggs were cooked thoroughly as well. 

       

Next…well you know what happens next…       

       

While we were enjoying our light yet savory brunch, I realized that this was one of the first times within the blog that I myself did not do a majority of the baking. In fact, I acted more as a director, guiding Sam as she whisked and sliced away. It gave me the opportunity to snap away with my camera, which I loved. 

One of the goals Sam has is to bake more herself, and I am glad that we were able to take that first step and enjoy the outcome. 

The weekend is almost here, which means new adventures inside and outside of the kitchen. But don’t worry - we didn’t forget about our recap of our fantastic Chicago adventure from last week. Keep an eye out for it come this weekend. 

In the meantime, let us know what adventures YOU have been on or are planning to go on this summer!

 

Hi Internet, it’s me, Alex.  Sorry for not writing sooner.  It’s been a busy time here in the city and I’m just now getting an entry written for the month of June.  We have some great entries coming up from July, so we better catch you up to speed.

To expedite this post, let me fill you in on 5 things that are definitely worth your while here in the greater NYC area and beyond.  These 5 good finds also happened to be experienced during Sam’s birthday weekend (June 10th-12th… AHHH! So long ago!), so I’ll catch you up on that fun stuff. 

1.  Chocolate S’mores Fondue at The Melting Pot

This is one of the best desserts I’ve had in a good while.  Sam wanted to do fondue for her birthday dinner, so we went a few blocks from my apartment in Hoboken to The Melting Pot.  Now you might think it’s against our grain to eat at a chain restaurant, but boy was this place tasty.  Expensive?  Yes.  Quite good?  Most certainly.  The highlight of the night was definitely the chocolate s’mores fondue with a dip-able dessert plate packed with fruit, rice krispie treats, marshmallows and cake.  If you’re not a fondue person, you’ll change your mind when you try The Melting Pot for dessert.

2.  ETSY

In the vast landscape of the internet, online aggregators not only collect news, reviews and places to buy shoes, but they also allow the little man—the small market artist, musician, filmmaker, craftsman, etc—to find an audience and customer base.  A champion aggregator of handmade goods is etsy.com.  I’ll admit, Sam showed me Etsy and I fell in love.  Half the items on my birthday list came from Etsy.  When it came to finding a unique gift for my one-of-a-kind girlfriend, I turned to Etsy.  I found two very cool pieces of jewelry at fullofcraft and amajewelry—two stores on Etsy.  Sam loved her vintage button ring from fullofcraft.

       

                                                     photo via fullofcraft

3.  Homemade Pizza Company

Ok, I know.  Another chain.  Sam and I drove past one for 4 years while we studied in Evanston and never brought a pie home to make ourselves.  Yet, when the laundromat just 3 doors down from my apartment ended their lease and was replaced by a Homemade Pizza Company, we decided to give it a try.  The Saturday after Sam’s birthday we strolled around Hoboken during their “stay local” weekend.  After a tiring day of walking from boutique to antique shop to boutique, we picked up The Miesian pie at Homemade Pizza Kitchen.  When we made our first purchase they automatically enrolled us in their rewards program where we’ll earn a free pizza after 10 purchases.

       

The pizza was easy to make.  We just kept it on the parchment paper and baked it for 15 minutes.

       

       

It was pretty tasty, too.

       

       

To top it off, the folks there gave us a free cookie and then emailed Sam a $5 coupon!    

       

       

The cookie came out great.

       

4.  All-You-Can-Drink Brunch

They are all over NYC.  I imagine other cities have their own installments.  The truth about these nap-inducing weekend guilty pleasures?  It’s all about the “all-you-can-drink” and not so much about the brunch.  Sam and I enjoyed around 5 mimosas before noon and made the responsible decision of passing on the additional, post-check, complimentary mimosa at the bar.  After consuming a couple mimosas before the food arrived, we really lowered our standards for the cuisine.  It’s definitely sustenance, but nothing to capture photographically for the blog.  

           

If you’re interested in this good deal, check out the Sunburnt Calf on 79th & Broadway.

5.  Dogs at Liberty State Park

In the years that I’ve known Sam, she’s voiced the same mantra about New Jersey.  That is, it has the best views of Manhattan.  And there’s not a more pleasant place to take in both the Statue of Liberty and  Lower Manhattan than Liberty State Park in Jersey City.

       

       

The week after Sam’s birthday, we took her dogs to the park to work off some of the culinary indulging from the week prior.  Bosco and Pepsi loved it.  

       

       

They ran off some steam and, by the middle of the afternoon, were some real Hot Dogs!

       

So, there it is.  That’s basically the month of June in a post.  We’re close to getting back on track.  Stick around this week to see some more hot dogs as we ventured to Chicago!

Last weekend Sam and I returned to Brooklyn to attend a spring BBQ hosted by our friends, Russell and Talia.  It was a potluck of sorts, so I spent Saturday afternoon at my place preparing our contribution while Sam was out and about getting last minute additions for our new godson’s baptism the following day.

I enjoyed my day at home alone; I got to relax, do a little cooking and held a movie marathon. When it came time to cook, I looked around my place to see what ingredients I had handy to whip up a baked good.  Based on my supply, I decided to bake oatmeal raisin cookies.  I found a recipe on another food blog, accompanied by some mouth-watering photos.  Hoping that I could replicate those same cookies, I went for it and followed this recipe:

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Ingredients: 

1/2 cup butter, softened

2/3 cup light brown sugar

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla extract

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp. baking soda

3/4 tsp. cinnamon

Dash of nutmeg

1/4 tsp. salt

1 1/2 cups old fashioned oats

3/4 cups raisins

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a small bowl, add the raisins and cover with water. Let them sit for five minutes to plump them up.

In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, egg and vanilla until smooth and creamy.

In a separate small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.

Add the dry ingredients to the butter/sugar mixture. Blend until combined. Stir in the oats and raisins.  Here, I realized I had left over quick oats from my Chocolate Chip Ranger Cookies didn’t have have old fashioned oats.  I said c’est la vie and went forward with what I had.

Spoon the dough (about a tablespoon) onto a baking sheet. Place each dough ball about 2 inches apart, leaving space between each cookie. Bake them for 10 to 12 minutes at 350 degrees. Take them out when they are golden at the edges and still soft in the middle. Let them sit on the hot baking sheet for five minutes before transferring them to cooling rack.

My one small substitution seemed to make a big difference.  The quick oats caused the cookies to have a different texture, yet on first taste I felt these cookies were missing something else.  They lacked a certain pizzazz.  Maybe they didn’t have enough cinnamon or salt.  I packed them up, crossed my fingers and hoped they’d be good enough for the party.

In addition to the cookies, I also prepared some summer dijon mustards.  I found the recipes in Better Homes and Gardens (June 2011, page 166).  In one mustard I combined chopped pecans and Grey Poupon and in the other, I sliced up a roasted red peppers and stirred it into Grey Poupon.  I enjoyed the roasted pepper mustard on a grilled hot dog topped with coleslaw. 

The oatmeal raisin cookies I baked were pretty good.  Our friend Dan* liked them well enough.

*Dan is single, a comedian and has awesome talents with balloons. 

Sam was a bit harsher critic.

These oatmeal raisin cookies might not have worked out the best.  I’ll be sure to cook with old fashioned oats next time around, or follow one of my fail-proof family recipes.  Dessert wasn’t a total loss, though.  Our friend Shannon, host of our first Brooklyn party on the blog, stole the show with some very tasty ice cream sandwiches.

Her ice cream sandwiches consisted of cherry ice cream held between two double chocolate cookies.  **Shannon’s tip to fellow bakers:  When making ice cream sandwiches, don’t use salt in the cookie recipe.  It will cause the ice cream to melt when you make the sandwich.**

Sam seemed to enjoy the sandwiches a bit more than my cookies.

I did, too. 

Well, you win some and you lose some.  The cookies went over fine, but could have been better.  I knew and Sam certainly let me know it.  I don’t know about you, but I feel reassured to have someone so close to me that I can trust to be my most critical reviewer.  It certainly motivates me to do better, not only in the kitchen, but also in my professional and creative endeavors.

How about you?  Who do YOU rely on for constructive criticism?  How do they push you to be better?

What happens when you combine a birthday, a national holiday, a baptism and another birthday?  A late blog post, that is what you get!

After being caught in the hub bub of a busy 3 weeks, we are finally back for what we expect to be a 3-part recap of everything that’s been going on in our lives and the foods we have along the way.  We have already recapped Alex’s birthday, so let’s move on to the next big event - A Roadtrippin’ Memorial Day Weekend.  Ready?  Set?  Let’s go!

As a resident of Hoboken for a little over one year, Alex has finally come to terms with the fact that having a car is pretty much pointless; especially since he takes the PATH to and from work and lives across the street from a food market.  That said, we decided to take it on one last road trip before giving it up. And what better place to go than to ILLINOIS!

No no, we did not return to Evanston to participate in the Northwestern Dillo Day festivities…(Learn more about Dillo Day here) Instead we opted for a more fun hometown trip to Alex’s parents home in southern Illinois. When Alex and I first started dating he said that he lived in SOIL..as you can see, I have more of a knack for comedy ;)

Nevertheless, we commenced our trip on the Friday afternoon before Memorial Day after a short day at work. I was skeptical as to how far we would get since the NJ Turnpike is mayhem on weekends like that. Believe it or not, we hit traffic for about 20 minutes and then were smooth sailing on I-78 headed West. 

Now usually we’ll play games like the Kevin Bacon/6 Degrees of Separation game or do film/actor association games (are we film geeks or what), but we instead were absolutely amazed (and saddened) at how much carnage we encountered on the road! Here is how we documented the events on Facebook.

(Sidenote: Please drive carefully, especially at night! Seeing dead animals really stinks…pun not intended, but actually sort of intended. It just made me think of Bambi, and that should be enough to convince you to drive carefully and be aware of your surroundings.)

After a total of 14.5 hours of driving over the course of 2 days, we finally made it to Alex’s parents house. Alex’s brother Andy was also there to welcome us after the long drive. Needless to say we were exhausted, so we were A-okay with a quiet Saturday night at “home.”

Did I ever mention that Alex grew up on a farm? A huge farm. With cattle. And hay bales. And a farm cat with a peg leg who I appropriately named Peggy. So while it was nice to be in the peace and quiet of the countryside, it was also terrifying in a serial killer-ax murderer-get you in the dead of the night-type of way. I made sure to say a quick prayer that I wouldn’t wake up in a “Saw” sequel.

Once Sunday came along, we (we = Alex) tackled the daunting task of baking close to 50 red velvet and chocolate cupcakes. Alex’s parents got him a set of colorful silicone cupcake liners so we were excited to test them out. Thankfully we were BOotB (Baking Out of the Box) so were able to get right to it.

Alex began mixing the chocolate batter and then moved on to the red velvet.

Doesn’t the swirl make your mouth water? Yummm

After 20 minutes of baking at 350ºF, the cupcakes were ready to be frosted!

And after a good Milk Chocolate frosting, they were ready to go up on Alex’s mom’s fancy schmancy cupcake tree! Feast your sweet eyes on these!

Delish!!

Alex had a bit of extra batter from both batches and decided to make an impromptu birthday cake for Sharon (a close family friend who had recently celebrated her birthday) and himself. First he put the batter into small Corningware bowls and baked them for a few minutes. He made 2 chocolate batches and 1 red velvet.

Once they baked, Alex placed them on a server and carved them to flat layers.

For the frosting, Alex decided not frost it with chocolate icing but rather with vanilla frosting in between the layers.

Instead of frosting the top of the cake with vanilla, Alex opted to frost it with the rest of the chocolate frosting.

(Handsome huh? Sorry ladies, he’s taken!)

I call this the “Tree” cake because it looks like a tree trunk with its ridges. One candle for Sharon and one for Alex.

Our trip to Illinois was short but we enjoyed every minute of it. Baking cupcakes and sharing our hobby with Alex’s family was definitely a highlight as well.  While we had a simple BOotB experience, it was just what we needed and what worked for the occasion.

On the next occasion, you’ll see what happens when a certain someone’s baking doesn’t go as smoothly. Since Game 6 of the NBA finals has officially started, we’ll get back to you in a few more hours with that story. Go Mavs!