rosie cannolli

...cannollis from lyndhurst pastry shop in lyndhurst, nj are by far the best I've ever had...I was able to experience some of this legendary goodness from the comfort of my own home of yonkers instead of having to traverse to my hometown to pick up the goods...thanks to one of the best people around, rosie, who made her way to the pastry shop @ 7am to procure these delightful treats and train it over here...sometimes in the constant busyness of life, there is nothing as peaceful & comforting than being with an old friend so familiar that it is like being with family...here's to rosie! <3

...pumpkin goat cheese empanadas...

Drizzle a few tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil in pan, once heated add 1 clove of fresh crushed garlic, & one small finely chopped white onion...clean & chop 2 cups of portobello mushrooms& add to pan...toss all the ingredients so everything is coated with the olive oil...once the onion is translucent & the mushrooms have softened, add 1 cup of goat cheese & 1 1/2 cups of pumpkin puree...stirring slowly until all ingredients have combined & the result is a creamy & the color of a burnt sunset...if you are a carnivore such as I am, you can add shredded chicken now...i like to use chicken breast and thighs, lightly tossed in olive oil & sea salt & black pepper&then roasted...if you are a vegetarian just prepare without the chicken...
...remove from heat....
...you can make your own empanada dough or buy premade in the freezer aisle @ the supermarket....
have your dough ready to fill...you can fill with your dough right away, or refrigerate your filling until you are ready to use...place 1 heaping tablespoon in each dough disc...brush the edges with water, the fold the dough over for a half moon...seal the half moon by gently pressing down on the dough with a fork...
for the crispiest, tastiest option, fry in vegetable oil, until golden brown on both side...for a healthier option, brush the tops with egg whites..bake @ 400 degrees, until crisp & brown...

...makes 10 to 15 empanadas, depending upon how heaping your tablespoons are!...

...feeling blue...

...I used to love being sick...it's true...I'd get to stay home from school, lay around in my pajamas & have Grandma make me pastina & take care of me...now not so much...I mean I still like the laying around in pajamas part, but I'm a busy lady with lists to make & not follow, powerpoint presentations to prepare, libraries to visit, papers to write, & there is always an unending list of things to do @ my job...so now as I lay here in a state of under-the weatherness, thinking of the things I have to do, sounding like a chain-smoking-chipmunk, I have a list of "remedies" that always make me feel better:
1) I reread "the pleasure of my company" by steve martin...one of my favorite books, I laugh out loud & even tear up a bit @ moments
2) coffee...I bought illy coffee...its a little pricier that other brands, but the taste is unbeatable...& i don't really use that word freely...seriously I don't think you'll ever see me use it again
3) Gizmo! my favorite stuffed animal keeps me in good company...
4) Planes, Trains, & Automobiles...one of the best movies ever...laughter is really the best medicine, at least for me...
and........
5) COOKING...I don't care how sick I am...cooking will always make me feel better...
I prepared a pumpkin & sweet potato curry stew & served it to my roommate & myself with crusty whole wheat panella bread...
it was like spooning with a pumpkin, serious goodness, folks...I am all about the pumpkin this fall season...tonight I baked pumpkin-wholewheat-oatmeal-blueberry-honey muffins....little baked cups of nourishing amazingness...
sooo I am still feeling a bit not-so-delightful but amidst my hecticness I have a plan to prepare the following in the next week:
roasted pumpkin, pumpkin goat cheese empanadas...hummus with greek olives...blue velvet cupcakes...homemade granola...

...we had a time...

...dinner party preparations can take everything out of you...in every possible way, it is imperative to know what you are getting into...the importance of having enough food & drink cannot be stressed enough...i would feel like an epic failure if I hosted a fantastic get together & ran out of either...i would probably go hide in a dark corner & recite recipes as if they were hail marys...
this past weekend's get together was a success...we invited a bunch of people through the procrastination tool/distraction that is facebook & had a turnout that included a rotating cast of 24 awesome acquaintances & friends...you can never go wrong with a good time...
...menu & recipes will be posted soon...

...dreaming in coffee...

...sometimes you just wake up & all you can think of is coffee...it makes you forget your dreams from your slumber...it is the first thing on your mind when you grudgingly & clumsily roll out of bed, & it is what keeps you going as you prepare to leave your comfort of home to face the dust of the day...replacing one comfort with another...well, maybe this isn't how it is for you but it is definitely my experience...my cup of coffee is my constant, my push for the day, the life...

...feverishly lost in yonkers...

…so I’m on vacation…in Yonkers...kind of from work, yet I’ve already stopped by my job twice, & have a meeting tomorrow….but still it’s a vacation nonetheless, filled with homework, studying, & preparations for an epic dinner party happening this upcoming Saturday evening…so besides filling myself with endless coffee (French press, espresso, Turkish, iced & everything in between!), & trying to enjoy some of my time off, at some point I find myself cooking…needing something quick & easy to make in between the busyness, I happened upon one of my favorite & simplest dishes to prepare…get ready…it takes no time at all & tastes so ridiculously fantastic I would swear how awesome it is on my life…so here goes…
fire up a frying pan with a few generous splashes of olive oil…
throw in ½ cup chopped yellow onion, 1 large sweet potato, peeled & chopped into small cubes…generously season with coarse sea salt & fresh ground black peppercorn…choose your favorite protein or even tofu…I like to use 1 small chicken breast, cleaned & cut up into teany pieces…& finally add I cup of cooked (brown!) rice…feverishly stir it up & the result is tasty, nourishing, & even kind of healthy…welcome additions would be a handful of peas, or even raisins...sometimes simple is better…it’s true…get into it…

...curry love...

…fall never fails to be a season of beauty, comfort, & coziness…I can just step outside & immediately I cannot help but involuntarily smile, bundled up in my signature scarf & hoodie attire…breathing in the crispness of the autumn air always makes me forget about the dust of the day & live in the moment, soaking in my surroundings…fall makes me thankful…upon the arrival of the season, I tend to move towards comfort food…I love to prepare dishes that have the flavors & colors of fall…one of my favorites dishes to prepare is a hearty pumpkin stew…I have tried many variations over the past few years, & have to say this years stands out as the favorite…spices, flavors, colors all complementing then next perfectly…what is so awesome about cooking a hearty stew is that you can really be super creative with it…intensifying flavors to your heart’s desire, utilizing whatever you may have in your kitchen, using fresh produce from the market…the possibilities are truly endless…for today’s version I wanted to curry it up…soooo here we go…I began my journey with a blend of extra virgin & vegetable oil…I added some basamati rice, coating it in the oil…the trinity came next…chopped carrots, celery, onions…the smell was already awesome…I had the windows wide open…the cold air, the melting pot of colors, & the scent was pretty satisfying…I cut up some red potatos…yes I leave the skin on, I just cut of the not-so-nice parts….so the potatoes joined the madness & they all hung out for a bit!...vegetable broth livened everything up with pureed pumpkin& corn kernels sneaking in momentarily…next up…chicken!...i use boneless chicken breast that I trimmed the fat off & cut into meaty chunks…I seasoned the chicken with curry powder…I love the flavor of curry, but I think I really wanted to add the beautiful bright color of the powder…sea salt, freshly ground black pepper, cayenne pepper, & cinnamon were lovingly stirred in slowly one at a time...of course repeat tastings are necessary to the awesomeness of the final product…I made it happen…so here you go…pumpkin chicken curry stew…best served in a mason jar, with a cheddar cornmeal biscuit on the side…& of course stirred with love…

...a bit of a crush...

...I must admit, I've been crushing pretty hard lately...I've been so occupied with the craziness at work, & the impending start of classes again, that one would think I would have no time for much else...but there is always time to crush...this time I must admit, I am irrepressbly and undeniably in love with...organic shredded coconut...I know, I know, what is a girl to do these days...I can't help myself lately...I have spent the evening decompressing, listening to Motown, watching Pride & Prejudice, & experimenting with my unadulterated affection for coconut...tonight's passion ended up with a concotion of bananas, dark chocolate, & fluffy mounds of the object of my affections...what came to fruition were "cookies" that resembled muffin tops more than anything else, they were soft & sweetly delicious...the dark chocolate (from Trader Joes) was the perfect partner for the coconut...I never fell so hard...

...overheating in focus...

...overheating...

...i honestly think the best times in life are the simplest...when you are with the people you love, when you can say that you wholeheartedly enjoy their company, & you can spend your time together having a night on the town, or just relaxing in your living room, content with just each others company...
I was delighted when one of my kindred spirits, the fantastic ivel told me she was coming to visit new york! a passionate vessel of love&creativity, ivel is a force of nature...from the moment we met i knew we would be present in each others lives for the long run...one of the reasons I love Ivel, is the shared passion we both entertain for cooking&eating...we decided to have a feasting celebration for her time here...as anyone who knows me can attest to, I believe you can never have enough food...especially when you are entertaining company...it can get expensive, tiring, time-consuming...it doesn't matter...its sooo worth it...when you have company & are being a hostess, you are showing your guests who you are by what you make for them...since cooking is my way of expression & my passion, I always want to express to my guests that I value their company & I want them to have the best time possible & experience my passion through the food...as always, one of the staples @ my dinner parties is empanadas! ...lately, potatoes have sneaked their way into the recipe on a regular basis...so its so very simple...a little vegetable oil, fresh chopped garlic & onion (red, yellow, or white! no food discrimination here, they all have great flavor!), after they get to know each other in the frying pan for a bit, i introduce them to the cubed potatoes, (i like red! i'm sorry), crushed spanish olives& the spices start to flow...cumin, paprika, sea salt, black pepper, garlic powder, sazon...after some caramelization, its time for the main event...the ground beef takes its place in the pan, soaking up the spices & making its presence known....I also did a vegetarian version for company with an aversion to meat using morningstar "ground beef" crumbles...I put my lovely sous chefs to work (ivel&jenny!), & they awesomely filled 40 empanadas for me, alternating between the meat & veggie versions, adding cheddar cheese to some to increase the awesomeness factor...as the empanada factory line was being worked, I worked on the gravy(sauce) for the homemade pizza...I had prepared the dough that morning using my grandmother's simple recipe...3 cups of flour, 1 tsp of salt, 1 package of yeast, & 1 cup of lukewarm water...kneading& rising are necessary...kneading is my favorite part, i love getting my hands dirty & working the dough...its an experiene everyone must have...my gravy is a little different every time, I like to change it up a bit, but it always has the smokiness i love...last night, i started with a few swishes of extra virgin olive oil, chopped garlic, & a few finely chopped carrots & celery...crushed tomatoes, & tomato paste jumped in accordingly...sea salt, crushed red pepper, bunches of fresh basil came next...then my favorite part....a giant red pepper, which I broke into pieces & gingerly dropped into the aromatic pot of goodness...
I doubled the dough recipe & had enough for one large pizza&five small pizzas...once the dough was rolled out & rested upon olive oil coated pans, I blanketed them in gravy, parmesan cheese, fresh mozzarella & even more fresh basil...okay so empanaadas& pizzas on their way to completion...I also had vegan chocolate cupcakes baking @ this moment...I surveyed the room of culinary wars & decided I needed something else...the cabinets were torn open & I fervently searched for what was next...I had creamy caesar dressing, pasta shells, chickpeas, & black olives...a pot of water was set to boil, & pasta salad was on its way to conception...ivel complemented all this with her refreshing sangria...fresh blueberries, strawberries, granny smith apples, apricots, & california peaches drowned sacrificially in a swirl of red wine, ginger ale, & peach schnaaps...three pitchers later & full tummies led to contentment& happiness...we didn't run out of food, guests went home with plates brimming with leftovers & good times...i fell asleep overheated from the overworked oven & the crowded apartment, but was smiling all the way...

...feed me inspiration...

..so many things to write about, so many tastes to savor and attempt to vividly describe, tweaked recipes to share...but where is my inspiration?...it makes me deliriously happy to cook for groups of friends & see the enjoyment in feasting with friends...but what about the times when you are home alone...or you have a day where you are covered in the dust tracks from the insanity of the day...sometimes simple is best...i haven't written in ahile for a mulitude of reasons...one being a lack of inspiration and a burst of self-doubt...so i return to this blog small & simple...last night was a startlingly hot one in our apartment, and with an impending scorching hot summer approaching, the last thing someone wants to do is spend hours in a hot kitchen...actually I don't mind so much! but on hot days, the last thing I want to do is fill myself up with heavy foods...summer makes me think of simple, light foods that depend on natural flavors and not too much meddling to prepare and taste good...last night my roommate jenny grilled zucchini and asparagus...i made sea salt and black pepper encrusted sweet potato fries...light, simple, filling and the food was just perfectly seasoned...with a glass of iced green tea overflowing with ice there is absolutely nothing more refreshing...when in the door today home from a 10 hour day at work today where nothing seemed to go right and I spent to much time wanting to please others the last thing I wanted to do was cook for myself...I was absolutely famished, yet grudgingly opened the fridge door...I knew there wasn't much to choose from, so I grabbed the gouda & some entertaining crackers to snack on while I sat watching Top Chef Masters (not as good as the original AT ALL!)...pondering what to make...i had some leftover brown rice & since I am trying to not be wasteful with leftovers settled on that...excited all of a sudden I grabbed a large frying pan,poured a couple of tablespoons of vegetable oil in and got cooking! brown rice...hmmmm...what next? perusing my starkly stocked cabinet, my eyes stopped on the garden peas...a few tiny scoops later& the sound of the sizzling pan caused my tummy to start to grumble again...i broke one egg into the waiting pan as if i was breaking someone's heart& scrambled away...a dash of sea salt & my simple meal was complete...now if someone could feed me some inspiration that would be great!

.nashvillesquared.

...holiday in nashville...

…On my way to Nashville! Beyond excited is how I would describe my feelings this week. A few days off from work & a spontaneous trip to see one of my oldest & dearest friends was in order & I was in dire need of both. As I write this now I have gravy simmering on her stovetop, & my pizza dough hiding underneath a dishcloth, experiencing growing pains…I wanted to thank my friends, Ronee, & her fabulous husband, Bill, for their superior hospitality & what better way to do that than to open my heart & cook them one of my favorites? So as I am patiently awaiting the various components to culminate in an awesome flavor explosion, I will tell you about our culinary adventures since I arrived yesterday.
Airplane food: Besides the tiny can of carbonated goodness they offer you on the flight, airplane food is virtually nonexistent these days….I brought Jamba Juice & an oatmeal cookie as my flight food of choice with me…good times…Upon arrival in the Nashville airport I was delighted to see familiar faces of good friends..first order of business with Ronee & Bill was food! I was famished & they were sure to make sure every place they brought me to dine was simply great food….we rushed from the airport to make it in time to Gaby’s before they closed at 2:30pm…we faced detours, Nashville drivers (I thought no one could be worse that Jersey or Yonkers drivers but I was proved wrong within minutes!), & a bit of traffic….we arrived at 2:15, just barely making it before closing time….Gaby’s is a burger & fries joint located on Humphreys Street in downtown Nashville…it’s a small shack of a building with indoor & outdoor seating and a simple menu of burgers, hot dogs & fries…sometimes that all you need…Bill profusely thanked the staff at Gaby’s & apologized for us coming in so close to closing time…I followed Ronee’s lead & ordered a cheeseburger with everything & sweet potato fries….the burger was made to an almost greasy meaty perfection…the lettuce & tomato were fresh, the melted cheese dripped appropriately & tasted entirely heavenly…the sweet potato fries….I love making sweet potato fries…Gaby’s were by far the best I’ve ever had…they were golden, dark brown slabs of sweet potato goodness…paired with a wasabi mayonnaise mixture, this was reason enough to want to relocate to Nashville…this was the beginning to a great time in Tennessee…. Fabulous greasy fare to order…how can you go wrong? Simple ingredients for a simple yet tastily prepared menu….you know when something totally hits the spot & all of my spots were hit at Gaby’s….
For St Patricks Day, we had reservations at September’s in Hendersonville, TN…September’s is named after its owner who stopped by our table to make sure we were enjoying our dinner…which we definitely were…Ronee & Bill suggested their favorites, Filet Mignon, Macaroni & Cheese, Shepherd’s Pie…I went with one of Ronee’s suggestions, the Polynesian Strip Steak with a side of Mac&Cheese…I ordered it rare, and it was seared on the outside with a sweet glaze, & covered in grilled pineapple…the tenderness of the strip was appreciated…the side of Mac&Cheese was delectable…there was a hint of earthy smokiness that revealed bacon in the recipe, & I tasted sharp cheddar, gouda, & parmesan...I made sure to take note of all the flavors before the celebratory shots of whiskey clouded my culinary memory…2 awesome places fully recommended by me to sample their delicious lunch/dinner fare…Gaby’s & September’s!!!! I have yet to be impressed by any bakery items, or any dessert items here in Nashville…I had dessert at September’s and cupcakes from local famed bakery Gigi’s and would have to pass on both…I am hoping to experience cupcake greatness before I leave here! My culinary adventures today are limited to yummy homemade pizza with great friends….followed by a trip to see Johnny Cash’s home & gravesite in Hendersonville, which was an adventure in it of itself…. I <3 John R. Cash ! <3
…more adventures to follow........btw the pizza turned out delish! <3

...eating words at the Culinary Institute of America...

...its been a long time!...this girl has been working hard...my mind & heart are overfilling with thoughts, recipes, & experiences I am desperate to share on here...but alas my time management skills are not to be envied...i wish there was a recipe for that...
tonight i prepared a filling dinner of grilled cheese&turkey with oven baked sweet potato fries...the first time i ever experienced sweet potato fries was at tempations cafe in nyack...ive been a follower ever since! besides tasting fabulous they are healthy for you too! i will never forget my mother always telling me how great they are for you (i think she would always say they were beneficial to your skin?)...& I can still hear her now admonishing me to eat the sweet potato skin...sorry mom i didn't leave the skin on tonight :(...my roommate jenny & i just discussed the shortcomings of boys...which always leads to fabulous baking..so thank you boys for inspiring this girl to bake! I am just now enveloped in the aroma of fresh homemade peanut butter chocolate chip cookies...<3<3<3
this past week has been ridiculously full of excitement, & this upcoming week will be even more amazing...I'm headed to Nashville on Wednesday to spend time with one of my bestest, Ronee! I cannot wait for he culinary adventures that await me there...especially excited to go to the Loveless Cafe!...there will be plenty to write about on here when I get back...
this past Wednesday (it seems like Wednesdays are my special day lately!) I was fortunate enough to visit the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY...wow...what can I possibly say to begin with...the hour and a half drive passed by relatively quick...when I turned on campus I was totally impressed by the beautiful campus...with roads named "thyme terrace" & "parsley avenue" I wasn't in Kansas anymore, I mean Yonkers...From the second I stepped onto campus I did not want to leave...As I passed the students in their chef's uniforms I just wanted to be one of them so badly. I stopped myself from walking up to each of them & inquiring what they had cooked that day & if they wanted to hang out with me & cook together..I walked with purpose to the Conrad Hilton Library...I was there to interview the Reference Librarian and take a tour of the library for a class assingment....as a library science student, one of my classes focuses on librarians in specialized settings, such as medical or law libraries...I chose to visit a culinary library. yeah go figure, big surprise, I know. all i can say i was seriously smiling uncontrollably the entire time i was there...the lovely Christine was my host, my librarian, my hero...to me she had the perfect job...i entered the llibrary building...the upstairs filled with thousands & thousands of culinary books...cookbooks, history books, magazines...MENUS....yes menus...they have boxes&boxes overflowing (well not overflowing, this is a library, so they were neatly organized but overflowing just sounds much more fitting) with thousands of menus from restaurants & cities all over the world...so I could see what was served at a bistro in France in 1912 if i wanted to, & yes i want to ...to say I was entranced by the wealth of information at the library would be a sad understatement...very sad...so I won't say it, but yes I was entranced/overwhelmed/excited/enamored...thats it! i was ENAMORED with my surroundings...any culinary question or concern I could ever have possibly had was within my reach...forget the internet for a second, there were hundred years old manuscripts that had been studied & followed faithfully, & brand new publications with innovative techniques all there with me...Christine was passionate about her role & you could see the contentment & love she had for her job...it was definitely inspiring...& made me long for that feeling...
thank you Christine!!!!!!!
...next up was a visit to the Apple Bakery Cafe! the CIA has impressive restaurants available for visitors, but reservations are required...the Cafe was an informal reservation-free way to experience the student's cooking fare...the Cafe was heaven...the air was thick with the mingling scents of freshly baked bread & pastries, french pressed coffee & grilled cheeses & pomme frittes...i was beyond satisfied with my ginormous grilled cheese...thick&toasty slices of crunchy french bread stuffed with cheddar&gouda, bacon&apple slices...again, still grinning like a complete&total food nerd...good times...
next stop...the Bookstore! while a small store in size, every available space was packed with foodie addictions: yes the prerequisite cookbooks were present, but it was the whisks, cake decorating tips, cheese slicers, spice jars, & aprons that caused my eyes to widen & heart to fill...I walked the store repeatedly carefully, strategically deciding what to purchase...I picked up objects of interest, things I did not need, things I definitely wanted, overpriced items, & objects of great desire...i settled on a CIA apron, a spice jar with a space where you could scribe what spice you lovingly filled the jar with, a shot glass that actually served as a measuring device for teaspoons/tablespoons, a coffee guide, and a poulty/fish guide...the guides are laminated pages that provide basic, but necessary information on these oh so important subjects...i was greatly pleased with my finds, & yes I am wearing my apron as I type away on this blog...its true...my visit was a smashing success...I am planning to go there again very soon & spend the day walking the campus, savoring the views, & imagining my future.
& seeing Julia Child's handprints just sent me over the moon...

*starcrossedcupcakes*

*baking love*

*we all sigh for paella*

...alas, i am currently baking cupcakes whilst listening to the arcade fire on my flour encrusted ipod...but the cupcakes will have to patiently wait for their turn on the blog...because just last week I attempted to make VEGETABLE PAELLA!!!!! its true...
now paella is commonly known as a hearty&cozy thick stewlike Spanish dish brimming with crusty rice goodness & schools of fish...as I am sadly allergic to shellfish, & one of my lovely dinner guests was a impressively faithful vegan, it would be best for all involved to not include the fish...but I wanted to desperately achieve the satisfaction of making something hearty & rich that we could all enjoy & where one could see & taste the effort & love that went into the food...basically I wanted to prepare a passionate meal...I view cooking as art...not only in the way it is presented but in the way it tastes....trying out new flavor profiles, varying combinations, figuring out what foods truly complement each other, & not merely just following directions, but instinct...
I had seen a few segments on the Food Network and the Travel Channel, where foodies prepared & savored paella dishes & was undeniably excited to try my own...I researched about ten different recipes & each one had its own unique take on the dish...I was sure of 2 things... no fish, & plenty of rice! Some of the ingredients from the recipes included red&green peppers, onions, garlic, celery, carrots, a multitude of colorful & expressive spices...some called for preparing the paella stovetop, then baking it for its popular hot&crusty texture...others suggested simply serving it from the stovetop...I contemplated...& then set to work, taking bits & pieces from the recipes, spinning through out extravagant spice rack, chopping furiously, tasting, stirring, shaking, mixing, dancing, tasting again...i started with a ginormous pot, guestimated a few tablespoons each of vegetable and extra virgin olive oil (sorry Rachel Ray! I HATE saying EVOO...i cringe each time i try. the extra 3 syllables are not a hassle for me to say)...i cleaned, scraped, & faithfully chopped bunches of garlic, yellow&red onions, celery & carrots & sauteed in the oil...next up...peppers! I wanted my paella to be resplendent with rainbows, so I used red, greed, & yellow! one of each immediately added flavor& vibrant color...2 cups of long grain white rice joined the party...once all was fully coated with the oil, I added 4 cups of vegetable broth&1 cup of water...a handful of raisins jumped in, 1 bag's worth of chopped-with-the-skin-on baby red potatoes were very happy to join in, & then 2 cups of peas...already the apartment had filled with the magnificent scent of passionate cooking...the spices came next, causing the hallway to fall victim next to the marvelous smell...no one and no place was safe from these aromatics...i shook, spooned, & measured:sea salt, black peppercorns,rosemary, thyme, cumin,chives, & fennel seeds...um, yeah...that scent i was speaking of before, became this overwhelming blanket of goodness that you never wanted to take off...
...as the veggie paella cooked, produced aromas of pure delight, & just simply increased our hunger's anticipation of dinner, my fabulous roommate jenny was preparing a beautiful roast chicken...i also made tostones, one of my absolute favorite things to make ever...peeling the green platains, slicing them into inch-thick circles...frying in vegetable oil until bronwed on both sides...i did not have a tostoneria to smash them with, so i found a glass jar with a perfectly flat bottom that would do just fine...I took pleasure in pressing down firmly on each piece, only to drown them again in the cracklng oil to a crip delightful golden brown...then a brush of garlic&olive oil with a light dusting of adobo...so worth the plantain skin still wedged in my nails from the peeling...tostones are always a welcome addition to any heaty meal...our lovely friends Tovah&Meredith came bearing gifts fit for feasting:wine for toasting & crusty bread to soak up the paella's goodness...we were set for an evening of open hearts, conversation, & washing off the dust of the day in each other's company...there truly is nothing better.

jersey girls in new york...part 1.....

...the last two tuesdays have been two of the most amazing days in the short time that is known as 2010...there are two very specific reasons for this claim to utter satisfaction&ridiculous happiness...one being I was able to spend time with one of my true, sweet, loyal friends/kindred spirits/soulmates, rosana silvia ortiz....the second being able to partake in wondrous, fabulous food...honestly you cannot ever go wrong with good food & good company...these are the necessary components to a happy & content life...its true...surround yourself with truly awesome people & you will only become more awesome, share good food&drink, & it only enhances the enjoyment of the company you're with...<3<3<3
rosie is one of my nearest & dearest....we both grew up in dirty jersey, she in newark, myself in lyndhurst...yet we didn't meet until we were both students @ nyack college...we passed each other numerous times walking to classes, darting through the halls to (mostly) uninteresting classes,& in the cafeteria, &feasting on nothing that i feel is worth mentioning here...
we didn't ever converse until we both signed up to go to Los Angeles Film Center in Burbank, CA, for a fall semester(of my senior year)...we were the only two students from our school to go there, so we quickly made sure to become a united front in case we were bombared with valley girls upon arrival...first impressions can never be trusted. ever. she thought I was a crazy girl who incessantly chattered & was inherently excited about every absolute thing in the entire universe...i saw her as a quiet&conservative girl who was terrified(of me!)...somewhere between now&then we have changed/blossomed/grew/failed&succeeded & completely lived up to & shattered those impressions...&with that I can say she is completely my family...when you reach that place in my swollen heart, I tell you I would do anything for you, regardless of time, place, disagreements, distance...she's there, which made out adventures in manhattan all the more awesome.
we started off our food adventures meeting @ grand central terminal...i'm there at least four times a week for classes, & i can tell you it never gets old, standing in the main concourse, lifting my eyes & travelling the ceiling, following all the constellations, attempting to do this & not get trampled during the rush hours is difficult but i make it happen...
first stop...Magnolia Bakery...we went to the one located near Rockefeller Center...yes it was teeming with tourist, but also with plenty of New Yorkers looking for their sugar fix...let me say I am obsessed with cupcakes....baking cupcakes from scratch is one of my absolute favoritest things to do Ever...its true...I'm always searching for the best cupcakes ever, & new ideas to build my cupcakerie repetorie...this was not to be the day...I always enjoy their frosting, it is marvellous, sweet, vanilla sugar frosting that you just cannot get enough of...the cupcakes themselves, sadly are like the kids who are picked last in the dodgeball game during gym class...no cupcake love here...we decided to just suck it up & soldier on &have another cupcake..this time red velvet...I am partial to red velvet cupcakes...they are fun& easy to bake...one time I baked a ginormous batch, decorated & boxed in teenty bakery boxes for a friend's baby shower, & i've been in love ever since...yeah not so much...just as Rosie & I were about to bite into our red velvets, I overheard a customer who had just stuffed her mouth with one complain how dry it was...okay no surprise, but I had faith the flavors would be there...by far the most tasteless cupcake these usually positive tastebuds have ever encountered...but the frosting was sure to be a success....no, no way, didn't happen...the enire red velvet experience was momentarily tainted...we secretively disposed the remainders & were on our way to the next stop...TEANY...located on Rivington Street...this is tradition for us...every time Rosie is in NYC we always make time for Teany...owned by Moby (definitely not the reason we go), they have hundreds of varieties of tea, fabulous vegan/non-vegan fare, & a cute (sometimes annoyingly hipster) atmosphere...we arrived to find that it was closed for renovation...not so excited about that...for those of you who might want to visit there, i always can happily rely on the chai latte&peanut butter vegan cake...their scones &clotted cream are also delectable...
next stop...Chinatown & Little Italy...i didn't tell Rosie but I was definitely in the mood for some Italian...she kept suggesting places in Chinatown, but I would just make lame excuses as to why I didn't want to eat there..."uh I heard they're super expensive", "I heard the Chinatown in Queens is the Real Chinatown, Chinatown in Manhattan has nothing on them"...as we strolled the streets & entered Little Italy, we were bombarded by young gentleman bundled up for the weather, attempting to draw us into their restaurants...they were probably hoping we were tourists with money to burn & tummies to fill...we ended up in Cafe Napoli...the decor was a bit old school, I almost felt as if I was in my Grandma Julia's basement, still decked out with Mediterranean themed couches from the 1970's(I have the pictures to prove it)...our waiter was fantastic to converse with & we didn't really mind looking @ him either...we started off with a pinot grigio after a few false starts with the wine menu...we wanted to take our time...for a truly enjoyable meal, you need to take the time, appreciate who you are dining with, & appreciate the food & the people who are preparing it for you...next up is mozzarella carroza...i ordered it for us because I remember my mother making it for me when I was younger...she would fill the bread slices with mozzarella & capers...soak it in beaten eggs, and then fry in olive oil to a golden crisp perfection...i hoped for the same at this place...i wasn't let down...Rosie & I marvelled at the soft&gooey center, & the crunchy exterior...they didn't use capers, but it was satisfying all the same...the entrees were standard & not worth mentioning here. i only mention truly worthwhile experiences! haha...which is why i will mention the "ad finitum" of the meal...ITALIAN CHEESECAKE!!!!! we were going to have cannolis(another tradition with us)...but upon inspection of their bakery case, we saw they were "prefilled", & we all know you don't ever want a prefilled cannoli...unless you are one to enjoy a soggy shell...entirely up to the feasting individual...right after i had mentioned the fact that the cannolis were not fresh, a lady with spiky bleached blonde hair marched in...I recognized her as a celebrity chef!...she has graced many shows on the Food Network...she at first seemed as if she had a countenance of self importance, but I soon learned she was on a mission...her first words were "I need a cannoli to go"...as the host reached for one from the bake case, she firmly stated, "No." Her next words were, "Those are prefilled...I want a fresh one, I want you to fill it NOW in front of me."...a foodie after my own gourmand heart...I smiled in understanding& this only enhanced the rest of our experience at Cafe Napoli...the Italian cheesecake by the way was SUPERB...if that doesn't get my point across, let me tell you, my eyes lits up, my tummy sang a song of unadulterated joy, my heart was full...no kidding. Our meal lasted two hours (not nearly long enough!) , but the impressions on my heart our time of enjoying somewhat awesome food, was only increased in awesomeness by the company & the cheesecake...Good times!!!!

...to jersey & back...

...after a late eventful saturday night, attempting to rise early on sunday to head to jersey was just as hard as it sounds...when i finally made that happen, i was excited to see my family after not seeing them for a few weeks...all my visits there start out the same...I think about how much I love my family, and however flawed we may all be, how ridiculously much we all love each other and would do absolutely anything for each other...then when I arrive, this unadulterated loved is usually mixed with the requisite nagging of each other about mundane things, everyone getting on each other's nerves, and the "loud talking" mistaken by ignorant outsiders as yelling...I'll be the first to admit my flaws, and the uniqueness and craziness that is my family...but I'm the only one that can say that, if you're not part of the family, believe me, you're not allowed to call us out! we'll be brutally honest with each other, and to others, but thats our claim...thats just how it is. my loud jersey crazy Italian family. This Sunday I was particularly looking forward to going home because it had been sooo long & my nephew Paul Brandon was going to be there& I really wanted to see my mom (&dad too)...sometimes I feel like my family feels like I left them...my parents always tell/ask/demand that I move back home, &tell me how much easier my life would be, so on & so forth...at times it may seem a bit tempting, but for the most part not tempting at all! I have built a life that is still growing & unfolding & moving back to jersey, for me, would feel like I was going backwards...sooo apparently the highlight of the day would be that my Grandma Julie was making eggplant...this is what my mom had told me on the phone, "Jessica! Grandma wants to know if you're coming! Cause then she'll make eggplant for you." When that was said I almost felt as if it was my duty to go to jersey, I couldn't let my family down when there was the prospect of my Grandma making eggplant!
so I went, & there i was in Lyndhurst, home of the best Italian pastries in jersey, home to my Grandmother's perfect cooking, & home to my small town dreams...I brought with me some leftovers from Saturday night's feast, my insecurities, & of course all of my laundry.
after incessant hugs, questioning by my Dad about how my car is running, how much gas did my car have, does the heat in my car work, why is the gas tank so low, why is my car so messy, & the questioning of my questionable love life, I retreated downstairs to see my Grandma....what started off by inquiring about her famous pizza dough recipe turned into an all day event...She was happy to have my attention...one time I remember my mom telling me that my Grandma had said to her, "Its so nice to have Jessica home again," hoping I hadn't forgotten them...Grandma told me the very simple recipe from her memory, & then excitedly offered to make the dough with me at that moment, & show me all the intricacies & specifics of exactly how she mixes the dough, the way she turns it in and beats, & kneads it with her weathered hands...how you have to have just the right amount of flour...how to oil the pizza pans her & my Grandpa used that I seem to remember from birth...her eyes lit up as she explained everything in great detail & as I peppered her with questions...once the dough was put aside to rise, she took out her 2 two very old tins, filled with scraps of paper scrawled with various recipes for cakes, cookies, bearnaise (sp?) sauce, rice pudding, easter meat pie...just to name a few...we spent time poring over these recipes, I faithfully jotted down what interested me...my little Paul was there with his own pen&paper pretending to also be taking notes, repeating everything we said...I was joyful to be spending this amazing quality time with my Grandma...we were both savoring the moment, & both thinking of my Grandpa Giulio...mixed in with the recipes was one of his newspaper clippings...a yellowed & tattered news page with his picture & a writeup of one of the restaurants he was a head chef at during his career...the restaurant mentioned was Villa Capri in Jersey City, & the article was dated from May 1972...some of the mentiones of Grandpa include...

"All the major dishes at the Capri are prepared individually by Julio (sp.) and it is his years of experience that turn ordinary food into fine Northern cuisine. His deft handling of foods coupled with an expert knowledge of ingredients make dining at the Capri a unique experience."..."In the kitchen, it is not infrequent to see guests standing side by side with Julio, feverishly scribbling down notes on cooking and recipes to be later tried at home."..."Perhaps the loving appreciation of his followers motivated Julio to request the "kitchen table"...Julio himself assumes personal responsibility for service at the table, which seats from 2 to 10 people. He greets his guests warmly, lights the tall candle, and invites them to order 'anything you want, I'll make for you.' Mother never treated you better...or cooked better."...

reading the clipping brought a flood of all the memories of Grandpa & how much I absolutely loved & respected him...if anyone ever thought someone to be close to perfect, he is the one person in my life that I saw that way...& I still see him that way...I could go on about him but I feel that would be another blog entirely & I could never even to begin to say enough about his great character & beautiful heart & insanely amazing cooking abilities...he loved his family, & as his only granddaughter, I looked to him as my hero...he is one of the main inspirations for anything good that is in my life...