Tasty Bits and Pearls of Useless Wisdom

It's Been A While

2009-08-27T13:22:00.000-07:00

So I haven't posted in a long, long time, and that is for two reasons. A) Work caught up a little and then I went on vacation, B) I forgot I had a blog and had to see Julie & Julia to remember that I did.

This morning I woke up and there was an autumn chill in the air. For some people this means thinking about apple picking, and cider, and leaves changing, etc. I think of these things too, don't get me wrong. But as I stepped out of my apartment into the cool air for my morning run all I wanted was a cheap beer and a football game to go to. This is probably because school is starting up, and in past years that has also meant Saturday football games at Boston College. Swarms of college kids and alums in Maroon and Gold would be swilling back Natty Light and grilling in the Mods or at their tailgating spot. Though I am sad to see summer end so quickly, the fall does indeed have a lot to offer...

As a side note to this, if you read the Wall Street Journal this week you know that Bud Light is now producing beer cans in school colors and distributing them locally to the appropriate schools. While this is a genius marketing ploy (I would even put down my Sam Adams on game day to drink a Maroon and Gold Bud) one must wonder, "How low will they go?"

Tasty Bit:

Summer is still upon us and Labor Day weekend is the big finale. May I suggest a beer can chicken? Yes, you stick a beer can, 3/4 full with two slits at the top, up a chicken and grill it standing up. Put a nice curry and garlic rub on it and the beer evaporates into the chicken making it moist and delicious. Julia Child would be proud.

Useless Wisdom:

Back in the day they drank more beer than water because beer was sure to not have bacteria living in it that could kill you.

The Deadly Hour

2009-08-06T12:33:00.000-07:00

It's 1:30. You have just finished your lunch and lunch break. You feel a little sleepy and could use a nap and perhaps an episode of Real Housewives. But the day doesn't end until 5pm, and the afternoon looms in front of as this big, scary monster that is in between you and putting your feet up. This is the scary hour...

Why is it that from 1:30-2:30 pm I wrestle with trying to look busy and not fall asleep at the same time? It is exhausting and makes me think the Italians got it right. When studying abroad in Italy I thought it was absurd that Italy practically closes down from the hours of about noon until 2 for "pausa pranzo." This is so they can all go home, eat a big meal together, and rest before starting up the afternoon. I think this is a lovely idea, except as Americans we couldn't handle it. People would try to squeeze in errands, trips to the gym, doctor's appointments, etc. and that would defeat the purpose.

Fortunately, time does move eventually, and the afternoon saunters on...but I still need a nap...

Fishy Business

2009-07-29T06:11:00.001-07:00

There is a new edition to my desktop at home...

Fletcher the Fish. He is a bright red betta and we shared our first breakfast together this morning- me a bowl of Greek yogurt and Kashi Go Lean cereal, him betta pellets made of dehydrated shrimp. I also bought a betta kit, which came conveniently with a tank, gravel, plant, water conditioner, food, and instructions on how not to kill my new friend. All for the happy price of $23.

As Fletch and I were eating this morning, watching the Today show, I started reflecting on how fast the summer has gone. As a child I remember the two months of freedom stretching out in front of me as a limitless horizon of summer fun; one that one go on seemingly forever, with school in the fall far, far off in the distance. These were the days that my dad would leave work early and we would all pile into the station wagon and go to the pool for the night, or when we would sleep on the floor downstairs in the family room with fans on high blast to keep cool in my un-airconditioned house. The tinkle of the ice cream truck's bell was always around the corner, ready to inspire a mad dash into the house for 50 cents (perhaps this is how I started to become a runner?)

These days summer takes on a vastly different form. It has become a handful of weekends that one feels compelled to cram with as much stuff as possible in order to reap the benefits of the season. By June 15th I already had every weekend booked through the end of August, and even into September. As a coworker complained to me yesterday, "Why can't people stop scheduling things!?! I just want one weekend to sit and do nothing!" Instead she was traveling all up and down Southern New England going to beach houses, cookouts, sporting events, birthday parties, etc.

Add on top of all this the fact that K-mart, Walmart, etc. have now started running their back to school ads in early July, no wonder summer melts away quicker than a popsicle in this heat. But what are we supposed to do? You can't say no to a friend offering a hot dog and cold beer with open arms, even if it is on the one night you had scheduled to do absolutely nothing. So for the rest of the season I am going to try to savor every moment from watering my plants, to the 5 minutes I spend sipping a lemonade in between running here and there. If we can find the essence of summer in the little moments, like listening to Jimmy Buffet on the way to work or tuning out those pesky ads for backpacks, then maybe we can stretch the summer a little longer.

Hey, is that the ice cream truck I hear?

Tasty Bit:

When using lemons in cooking try to use meyer lemons- they are sweeter and have less of the bitter rind.

Useless Wisdom:

Not actually useless if you are a pet owner- the number one cause of killing your fish is over feeding it. Yes it is cool to see them eat, but fish (like some people with dessert...me) just can't say no to another bite and will end up eating themselves to death. Try feeding every other day to make sure their little stomachs can handle it!

Tardy Times

2009-07-23T06:30:00.000-07:00

Why does an extra half hour in the morning still make me 10 minutes late? Summer hours are a great way to show employees that you appreciate them and their time, and taking an extra half hour off the day in the summer is a great way to show them this. Unfortunately, I still find myself being 10 minutes late to work, even though I have more time in the morning!

Maybe it is because this morning I stood gawking at my new cilantro plant which sat happily next to the basil. Though plants are fun to grow, I have decided that herbs are the only way for me because I can eat them too. I would rather buy flowers and put them in a vase inside.

Maybe it is because I tried out my new smoothie recipe for breakfast. Mango, banana, milk, thick style yogurt, and whey protein. Smoothies are supposed to be easy and portable, but chopping up all that fruit and measuring everything is much more time consuming than my Special K!

Or maybe it is because I stopped to linger over the Today show and weather reports. I am supposed to run a 10 mile race tomorrow night, and doing it in the rain will not be fun for me or my iPod...

Maybe it doesn't matter how much time I have in the morning, I will perpetually be 10 minutes late because that's who I am... I can't sit and ponder this any more however, I am late to a meeting!

Tasty Bit:

Limoncello is a great summer drink for after dinner... or in the afternoon...or really whenever because when isn't it a good time for limoncello?! It is super easy to make too. Take the zest of three or four lemons and put them in a bottle or jar. Make some simple syrup (about 2/3 c of sugar boiled down in a cup of water) let it cool, and pour it over the lemon zests. Then add 1 1/2 cups of vodka. Screw the cap on tight, shake it up, and let it sit in a cool, dry place for 3 weeks. Chill before serving, and you may need to strain out some lemon bits, but it sure is good!

Pearl of Useless Wisdom:

The smallest bones in your body are in your ear and there are three of them and they vibrate back and forth from sound waves to help you hear. (lame, I know it)

You Don't Make Friends With Salad

2009-07-17T10:47:00.000-07:00

My boyfriend likes to say this whenever I suggest the proverbial Seinfield "Big Salad" for dinner. Though like Elaine I do enjoy a big salad, I have very similar feelings toward desserts. When dining at a restaurant for example, or perhaps at a summer cookout, and someone hints at a fruit plate for dessert with perhaps a little whipped cream, I get angry and think, "Where's the chocolate?"

Basically, dessert to me must include something chocolate in order to be dessert. Or, if there is no chocolate present, it better be because I am about to eat something with caramel...or gooey cinnamon...or peanut butter...

Naturally, with this mindset I rarely order something for dessert that is fruit flavored unless chocolate is there to make darn sure what I am eating is indeed dessert. Imagine my surprise at liking, no, LOVING the strawberry cupcake from the Cupcakerie I just tried. The cupcake is a yellow cake, with local Rhode Island strawberries baked inside, and topped with a delicious cream cheese frosting. The buttery-ness of the cake, combined with the sweetness of the strawberries was delicious, and you could top just about anything in cream cheese frosting and I would eat it. Though there were other flavors to try most including some form of chocolate, I would easily reneg my "Where's the chocolate?" moto for this delightful little cake. Now all I need is a glass of champagne...

Tasty Bits:

Warning, this is inappropriate! For all of you who have not been on You Tube and seen the "I'm on a Boat" video by the Lonely Island, STOP what you are doing right now and watch it. I promise if you like Andy Samberg, boats or T-Pain you will love this.

Pearl of Useless Knowledge:

Beekeeping is actually called apiculture. Queen bees can live 3-4years.

Life is Short and So Am I

2009-07-16T07:31:00.000-07:00

This is a bit of a sad day for me. I am reminded by the sudden illness of a dear grandfather that one minute a person can seem fine and be walking around like every other day, while in the next moment they can be gone...

Sorry for the depressing thought, but there is good that can come from these experiences as well. I lost my grandfather this year, and what I took away from that time was a life lesson that I think is invaluable. Death is inevitable. It is the nasty clincher to the deal of life- and everyone must go through it just as everyone is born. What I remember most from those days with my family mourning the loss of my grandfather are the stories that were told of his life. In this way I learned the value of celebrating the lives of those we love, instead of dwelling on what was lost.

The other lesson I learned is a cliche, but always a good reminder. As Dave Matthews states, "Life is short but sweet for certain." I am reminded that life is short, but through all the ups and downs there is a sweetness in living the human experience that should not be ignored. I once read that people in our day and age spend too much time trying to avoid pain and upset. We have developed innumerable coping mechanisms for shutting out discomfort and redirecting our attention to "fun" thoughts again. The article suggested that pain and grief are just as important emotions as pleasure and ecstacy; they are just the opposite end of our spectrum of emotions. We should experience those emotions in their reality (not through a fleeting scene in a sad movie) and let ourselves exercise that side of the spectrum. Much can be learned from processing pain, and it is a healthy, natural part of existence.

So, today I suggest letting someone know you love them, or smiling at a stranger (yes, that can be awkward) or even just sitting and processing something that has been a downer in your life you may have been ignoring. We cannot change what happens to us in life, but we can change how we react to it. So when life gives you lemons, and it will, make some limoncello and toast to being alive!

Tasty Bit:

I heard yesterday that there is going to be a third installment of the Bridget Jones series. I am conflicted by this as a) there is no 3rd book, so it is being based on Helen Fielding's newspaper articles, and b) the second movie was a huge disappointment. Bridget was made into a bafoon, and that is not exactly how the 2nd book portrayed her. The appeal of Bridget is the fact that she is the embodiment of female neurosis, and this makes her relatable. The 2nd movie made her ridiculous, and therefore far less relatable (the audience was laughing at her, not with her). Hopefully, she will regain her "inner poise" and it will be a good flick!

Useless Wisdom:

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince became the best selling midnight premier ever...We all know someone who stood in line at midnight I am sure. My sister did so with chopsticks so she and her friends could pretend they had wands...

We can Work it Out

2009-07-14T06:22:00.000-07:00

Every morning that I go for my 7 mile loop around the East Side of Providence there is this one spot where an army of a thousand seemingly docile pigeons decide to fly up in my face right as I run by, nearly giving me a heart attack and causing me to yell out, "GAHHHHH!!!!"

So yesterday was my training session with Akon (not his real name, but he bears a striking resemblance to the singer so we will call him that). Akon met me at 6 and sat me down in an office to fill out some paperwork and get some info on me and my athletic background before taking me out on the floor to "train me." The questioning was fairly basic and expected- birthday, personal and family health history, athletic experience, etc. He then posed the question, "So if you could change or improve one thing about yourself what would it be?"

Now, I am not a Perfect 10 Model by any stretch of the imagination. But after a little over two decades on this earth and a lot of help and experience dealing with self perception, I am pretty content with how I look and my body. I've come to accept that there is no perfect, and I think that makes me more interesting. So as I sat back in my chair and thought about Akon's question, I had a hard time coming up with things I wanted to "Improve". I ended up saying that it might be nice to have a little more upper body strength, and a six pack (but I backed off on that one, women with six packs verge on creepy after the awe wears off) and joked that if he could prevent my little Irish skin from getting blistered in the sun that would be great.

Now, Akon is an attractive guy...very attractive. But then, most personal trainers are; I mean, they work out for a living. So naturally he draws some attention when walking around the gym floor. What started to irk me throughout the session however, was that Akon, though in the middle of a professional training session with me, took every opportunity to flirt with any woman on the floor who batted an eyelash at him. This was more than a little annoying...

Akon then weighed me in the middle of the gym ( I am tiny, but standing on a scale in a gym during the afterwork rush hour was not my ideal scene) and then proceeded to calculate everything he could about me outloud, as he wrote apparently everything that mattered about my health down on a chart in a series of numbers that meant little to me. The next step was to take me over to the mats where he gave me a 20 minute lecture on how I could improve my running (note: I said specifically at the beginning of the session in his office that I run for fun and am not interested in improving my times, etc.). Every time I tried to remind him that I just run because it makes me feel good he would tell me that was "subjective" and if I really wanted to improve I should do what he was telling me. Reminding him again that I didn't really feel compelled to improve only set him off on another tangent on how I could improve. Akon finished up the session by watching me bend and balance and almost fall over in a series of odd poses that he used to determine that I have what he called "a weak butt".

When the "training session" was finally over, Akon proceeded to tell me that for $70 he could "improve" me in three sessions. I kindly told him at this point I am living off of beans and peanut butter I am so poor, but thanks anyway. Akon took this opportunity to tell me to lay off the peanut butter because it was going to eventually make me fat, and "have you heard of portion control?"

Sitting in my apartment later that night I sat glumly eating my 1/2 cup portion of non-fat frozen yogurt feeling out of shape and stressed out. I had started the day feeling confident and strong. In Akon's office I hadn't been able to really come up with things I really cared to improve about my body. Now, I felt my butt was weak, and I was one spoonful of peanut butter away from a saturated fat induced heart attack. Apparently what I felt was "subjective", and therefore, not as real as Akon's numbers.

As I continued to stew in that, I started to get really angry. How had I let this professional meat-head tell me that his numbers were more important than what I felt? How had I let him turn my confidence into dissatisfaction? The concept of "self improvement" is a dangerous one, and I had let this pretty boy tell me that what I was fine with was apparently not good enough. I wanted to scream back in his face, "I ran two marathons damnit!!! I am strong and beautiful and I run to feel the wind in my face, not to improve my oxygen intake or ATP usage!!!"

You see, numbers really last only as long as you can see them, but how you feel about yourself is what you have to live with. I am healthy, I workout regularly, and I am happy with myself. Realizing this I took a deep breath, got up from my state of gloom, and happily got myself a second scoop of frozen yogurt...and a spoonful of peanut butter to wash it down.

Woot Woot For Toaster Ovens!!!

2009-07-13T06:37:00.000-07:00

This weekend was the first stretch of time in a long time that was a) good weather, and b) I had not much I had to get done. It was a nice change of pace, and I was able to enjoy the quiet solitude of my apartment and do some things that were fun but meaningless. As usual, I went for a long run Saturday morning, taking adavantage of the fact that I was in Boston to do my favorite loop through BC, BU, Red Sox Nation, and Coolidge Corner. I followed up this run with a much needed ice cream from J.P.Licks...so good.

A Few Random Notes From the Weekend:

Benjamin Button-Saturday night I finally sat down and watched the Curious Case of Benjamin Button. I must tell you that this was an incredibly daunting thing for me, seeing as the movie runs almost 3hrs long and I am frequently done with movies after 3ominutes. The time easliy slipped by however, as I watched Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchet portray two people caught in an unfair trial of love, life and death. The movie was engaging, and yet uncomfortable at times, provoking thought on what exactly age means in the context of one's life. It undeniably deserved the Academy Award for best makeup and costume design.

Cupcakes- Sunday morning I went to the Pawtucket Farmer's market, as usual to buy a cupcake from the Cupcakerie, not to buy produce ;-) As I approached the stand the nice lady who owns this gem of a cupcake business goes, "Oh, its my regular!" Sad but true. This time I tried the "Wake Up!" cupcake- a mocha cake with cream cheese espresso frosting and a chocolate covered espresso bean. The cake was delicious, but was lacking the strong coffee flavor I was searching for. The cream cheese frosting stole the show, once again not because of an overpowering coffee flavor, but because of the smooth consistancy and tangy sweetness of the cream cheese.

NYC Prep- I went to the gym Sunday, ususally my day off, not to work out, but to watch last week's NYC Prep that was on replay at 2pm. I guess when all else fails, the opportunity to watch free Bravo will get me to the gym. The show was as usual, an appaling display of immaturity and wealth dressed in designer lables. At one point Taylor, a 15-yr-old mind you, started weighing her dating options between Cole who was nice, and Sebastian who is wealthy. What 15-yr-old is already thinking about marrying rich!?!?! I hate myself a little more every time I waste an hour to watch it, and yet I can't stop...it is television crack.

Pepper jelly- One of the delicious things I have discovered from the farmer's market is Hot Pepper Jelly. It pairs wonderfully with goat cheese and crackers. However, at $7 a 4oz. jar it doesn't quite fit into my budget. Yesterday, I finally set out to make my own. I used red, orange, yellow, and jalepeno peppers. It wasn't that difficult, and the jars sealed (meaning when I pressed down on the center of the lid they didn't pop back) so I should be good to go. Unfortunately, I won't be able to taste it for a week, as it takes that long for the pectin to set, so they could taste like crap. We will see...

Pizza Pizza- For Sunday dinner I decided to make my new favorite treat- a grilled pizza. However, in my unending quest to make the thinnest crust possible, I ended up making it too thin... I watched in horror as my new charcoal (not brickets but charcoal woodcuts which apparently burn hotter) began to burn a hole through my pizza dough in a matter of seconds. I did what I could to salvage it, but it was useless, so I yanked the half uncooked, half scorched dough off the grill and tried to figure out what to do. I took the pizza inside, and figured I would cut out the burned part and cook the rest of it on 350f in my oven. This is when I realized that my oven is apparently broken, because it never started to heat up. I ended up finishing my pizza in the toaster over- the most reliable cooking appliance I used all night. The dough was cooked, the cheese melted, and there was very little cleanup. Woot Woot for Toaster Ovens!!! Still my favorite appliance!

Tasty Bit:

This is a shout out to my sister, who called me yesterday to let me know she was spending her Sunday walking around the best Whole Foods in the country I am sure (Chicago, full bar, wine bar, steakhouse, 3 floors, you get the idea) with a beer (yes, that is allowed and encouraged there) getting free samples...Libby, way to go...

Pearl of Useless Wisdom:

Apparently Billy Joel refuses to ever play Uptown Girl live again because it was just too over done, sad but true. Justin Timberlake likewise refuses to ever sing Sexy Back live again... I think Billy Joel and JT should rethink that...

The Joy of Cooking...Hot Dogs that is

2009-07-09T09:33:00.000-07:00

I have eaten way more hot dogs than any person should in a short period of time...

Living on a bit of a tight budget I am subject to eating a) what is on sale, or b) what is free, and considering the 4th of July was less than a week ago and hot dogs were abundant as both on sale and free, the previous statement is very, very true. It is amazing how creative one can become when one is hungry. The hot dog has been my culinary canvas this past week (the result of a free pack of hot dogs from my parents weekend BBQ). My favorite creation by far and away from the pack of dogs is the Mr. Lang special, though this is not a new recipe and I cannot take credit for it. The Mr. Lang special was passed on to me by my father's side of the family, who would make these little wonders for lunch in the summer. As a child I can remember going to visit my grandparents on the Cape, and they would serve these up along with a side of lays potato chips (which were stored in a very old Lay's can under the cupboard). I can remember thinking when I was served this treat, "Who is Mr. Lang and why does a Chinese guy make such great hot dogs?" As I grew up I learned "Lang" is an Irish last name, not Chinese, but the hot dogs are just as tasty as always.

Mr. Lang's Specials
Preheat oven to 350f. Take each hot dog and slice down the middle. Stuff with cheese. Take a slice of bread, roll it out flat, and smear with mustard and ketchup. Roll cheese stuffed dog in bread, and pin closed with a toothpick. Smear the outside with butter. Bake until cheese melted and serve with chips, coke, and family from Cape Cod.

Tasty Bit:
Today I use organic Applegate Farms turkey dogs. They are lower in fat and calories and are nitrate free. They spice them well, so the taste is great and the consistency is just like a normal hot dog.

Useless Wisdom:
Some people say if you eat more than 15 hot dogs a year it can cause cancer...I think those are the same people who say it takes 7 days to digest a doughnut (obviously not true seeing as doughnuts are a simple carb and get digested quickly, hence you can eat 5 and not notice).

The first hot dog stand opened in 1867 on Coney Island, NY by a German guy named Charles Feltman who orginally made pies.

The Nathan's Hot Dog eating competition is held every 4th of July- Joey Chestnut has won three years in a row now eating between 59 and 68 dogs in 10 minutes...eww.

Sugar and Spiced

2009-07-08T13:31:00.000-07:00

Last night was the third episode of Bravo's NYC Prep, but unfortunately because I do not have cable, I could not watch it. I am looking forward to seeing it while on the treadmill on Sunday seeing as my gym has cable and Bravo is replaying the episode all weekend- love Bravo for that.
Side Note- Bravo is saving my $1.99 because that is what iTunes is charging these days for trashy tv...lame...
Instead of watching the deliquency of American youth and the downfall of the family structure in our society, I spent my evening a)Re-watching Entourage Season 2, and b) reading my new book Spiced by Dalia Jurgensen.

First, let me say that for all y'all Entourage fans out there, can we agree that the early seasons really were the best. There was none of that crap that came after their movie flopped, and the plot just was brimming with possibility. Hopefully, the show can redeem itself, because I do love those boys so much. It is the male Sex and the City and I love it.

Second, if you are looking for a good read I highly suggest Jurgensen's Spiced. The book chronicles the experiences of Jurgensen in the New York food world. After an extreme career change she goes from working 9-5 in marketing, to nearly burning her hand off on a hot sugar crust on a fresh creme brulee. It is easy to read, but be warned, your mouth will water, so read with dessert or at least a cappuccino ;-)

Tasty Bit:
I just found my new sweet fix- dark chocolate covered ginger. It is sweet and spicy at the same time and pops in your mouth like an M&M. I used it as a topper on frozen yogurt and it was delicious.

Useless Wisdom:
Cricket is the national sport of England...sorry all you futballers and ruggers.
Also, the new Top Chef takes place in Las Vegas and starts at the end of August- woo hoo!

For a good laugh...

2009-07-07T07:49:00.000-07:00

http://www.antimonkeybutt.com/

Yes, this is a real product, a real website, and you can buy it at Rite Aid on sale this week.

The Rhode Island Edition

2009-07-06T06:36:00.000-07:00

Great weekends require nothing more than good friends, good food, good weather, and maybe a bottle of wine or two thrown in for good measure.

With my Virginian companion by my side, we took full advantage of everything this tiny state of Rhode Island has to offer two girls looking for a good time. The Hope Street Farmer's Market Saturday morning was a great way to start the day, as we sampled and oogled food all grown right here in Rhode Island by our local farmers. A trip to Narragansett Beach was next; a visit that wasn't complete until my friend had tasted her first piece of "party pizza" (cold pizza, pizza strips, whatever you choose to call it). Walking in to Calvitto's little Italian Bakery, the smell of fresh Italian bread and spinach pies was overwhelming; as was the flow of people in and out with their trays of Rhode Island pizza. We also indulged in an ice cream from Nana's in the Pier Marketplace and then took the scenic route home. Along the drive my friend's comment that "Wow, Del's lemonade really is everywhere," made me smile.

Dinner that night was accompanied by Trinity IPA from Trinity Brewhouse in Providence and Newport Storm Amber Ale.

Sunday was spent sampling the fruit of the vines from Sakonnet Vineyards in Little Compton. We enjoyed a gorgeous drive along the coast, and followed it with the Sakonnet wine tasting. I highly recommend visiting the vineyard whose white wines are particularly good. We followed up the generous wine samples with a bottle of the Petite White (a mixture of Vidal Blanc and Gewurztraminer) on the front lawn over looking the vineyard.

All in all, a great weekend with great friends, great food, great weather (finally!) and our fair share of great wines and beers all from little Rhody.

Tasty Bits:
Rhode Island clam chowder is considered the clear- but we all know the white is better. Among other great Rhode Island treats- coffee milk, Del's, party pizza, Allie's Donuts, and the Newport Creamery Awful Awful. (The Big Blue Bug can currently be seen sipping a giant one!)

Pearl of Useless Knowledge:
Rhode Island is the smallest state with the longest name- The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. Also, we are one of the few states where alcohol can not be purchased in the same store as groceries, but prostitution is not illegal indoors...

Chenin Blanc is the New Chardonnay

2009-07-03T18:12:00.001-07:00

Today while standing on the corner waiting for my pedicure to dry a girl in a red convertable drove by and yelled, "Hey, are you two twins?" Yes, Katie Gallivan is here, cupcake addict extrodinare, and why a random stranger had to yell that at us is beyond me. I did in fact yell back "yes" however, if nothing else but to mess with her and embrace the fact that my best friend was here and found that as odd as I did.

Happy Eve of the Fourth!!! Our evening started with a wine flight at La Laiterie, a division of Farmstead Inc. As Katie said, "it was a good decision to go there..."

In case you haven't heard of Farmstead, it is the place to get your cheese on. Honestly, if need a place to eat drink and be merry, I highly recommend it. We each did a wine flight, complete with a white, rose, and red. The outstanding wine of the night was far and away the Chenin Blanc from Washington state. Eric, the wine guy, told me he bought all of it on the East Coast, so I guess you will have to go to La Laiterie to taste it. The experience overall is highly recommended.

Tasty Bits:
Grilled Pizza is easy and cheap and delicious. Tonight for dinner I made one with shrimp, corn, tomato, mushroom, fresh mozzarella, parmesan, feta, and my fresh basil- very good.

Pearl of Useless Wisdom:
Chenin Blanc was the "it" wine of the 1980's but lost its appeal after the grape was too heavily distributed. Today it is making its come back. Try a variety from South Africa, or in this case from Washington. Great paired with light grilled food or goat cheese.

Am I Green or Too Cheap to Pay for Gas?

2009-07-02T11:39:00.000-07:00

Not using a car for a little over a month now has been an interesting experience. People don't love bikers on the road next to them- we make them nervous and irritated that they are a) going to be late because we are in their way, and b) might accidentally kill us and then they will really be late. This morning however, I learned again that there are nice people in this world who will go out of their way to help you.

I woke up this morning and decided to tempt the elements and run to the gym rather than drive. The weather had a different plan. As I went to run home from the gym I noticed a small cluster of people gathering at the gym door staring outside with looks of shock and awe on their faces. I looked up to see what appeared to be the Four Horseman of the Apocolypse coming out of the sky- black almost purple clouds pouring rain so hard it looked like the woman running frantically to her car was actually being shot. Lightning added a nice touch to the scene, and I thought to myself, "Oh crap." Luckily, a very nice woman who works at the gym felt my distress and offered to drive me home. It is nice to know people will still go out of their way to help you when you have been a dumbass and decided to run instead of drive on a day predicted to have thunderstorms. Maybe I just thought the weather couldn't possibly get any worse...

Tasty Bit:
Greek yogurt is a delicious way to get your protein and it can be jazzed up with good stuff to make it more interesting. Mix in some cinnamon and top with a little Agave Nectar and flax seeds for a healthy breakfast or snack.

Pearl of useless wisdom:
There is a gas station in New Providence, NJ that is selling gas right now for $2.42/gallon. I just paid $2.699...ick

The number of New Yorkers who ride a bike to work has risen 77% since 2000.

In case you were interested...

2009-07-01T09:34:00.001-07:00

http://www.thecupcakerie.net/

My Basil is Singing in the Rain

2009-07-01T08:33:00.000-07:00

So today is the first day of the second half of 2009. (yes, the Today show actually started by stating that fact this morning). Once again New England is shrouded in a thick cloud of ugly rain that threatens my bike ride to and from work. Last time this happened I found myself stranded in Kennedy Plaza holding a cupcake under a tent at the Farmer's Market, and praying my leather shoes could hold up against the rain. This scene ended with me in the backseat of a stranger's car with her four year old talking about dinosaurs...
So now my lunch time walk to CVS is questionable and I can't help but think this must be what people in England feel like all the time with the rain. My basil plant, the first of 4 which has yet to die under my care (fingers crossed), is thriving, which tells me some good can come of all this crappy weather. Hopefully by the 4th of July we will all be frolicking in the sunshine, drink in hand and ready to see fireworks!

Tasty Bits:
The cupcake was from the Cupcakerie based out of Warwick, RI. The bakery has no store front, but you can find them at the Kennedy Plaza Famer's Market on Friday's and at the Slater Mill Market on Sunday's. The first one I tried was the Cinco de Mayo. It was a rich chocolate cake spiced with a bit of chilli which gave a surprising heat to the dessert, topped with a Mexican vanilla buttercream and shavings of chocolate and cinnamon. The cupcake was moist and delicate but firm, able to hold the dollop of frosting on top of it. It was pleasantly chocolatey, not merely brown cake, and the heat from the chilli, at first surprising, blended nicely. The frostong on top was sweet, but not too sweet, and creamy. There was a very slight sugary crust to the frosting, and the cinnamon and chocolate brought the whole Mexican theme to a delicious conclusion. It was so good in fact I went to get another on Sunday, and this time tried the Diva- chocolate cake with shocking pink frosting and silver sprinkles. Though I was disappointed by the lack of flavor options (I arrived at the end of the market) and felt I had to settle for this simple cake, I found myself licking (yes, I licked) the inside of the container to get the last bits of buttercream. This weekend my very best friend who is admittedly a cupcake addict (we have been known to eat 10 in a weekend) and I will perhaps try the mini cupcake tray- a sampler of the many flavors....I will keep you posted.

Also, if you have not seen it and want to, NYC Prep is available to download free on iTunes, and can be watched on BravoTV.com. This is Bravo's newest way to a) point out how messed up our society is and b) waste an hour of my life in a way I love and hate. Highlights include sibilings raising themselves on the Upper East Side while mom and dad live in the Hamptons, and a girl who may quite literally combust if she doesn't get in to Harvard. It is the proverbial train wreck you can't look away from...

Pearl of Wisdom:

There are over 17 types of basil, including one called Magical Michael basil...make some spaghetti with that!!!