The Month in Review - June 2014

Excuse me but where did June go?  I mean, didn't it just get here yesterday?  I'm sure that each of the bitterly cold winter months lasted at least 8 or 9 weeks so I'm sorry to see how quickly the first of the summer months disappeared.  But, the lovely outdoor weather hasn't gone to waste and I'm taking every opportunity to be outside.  OK, I spend some time in my kitchen and then go outside.  And that has resulted in some pretty amazing new recipes.  Before we head back outside, though, let's take a look back at the good eats and drinks of June.  Enjoy!

Fruity Iced Tea Lemonade

This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Lipton, but all my opinions are my own. #bemoretea #pmedia  http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

When I think of cooling, refreshing summer drinks I think of iced tea and lemonade.  OK, I also think of frozen daiquiris but we'll discuss that another time.  Rum aside, there are usually beverage pitchers in my refrigerator, in various stages of steeping and cooling, so that I can have my favorite drinks handy.  As for the Keurig brewer, I've never paid it much attention since I'm not the coffee drinker in this house.  That is, until I recently discovered that Lipton makes K-Cups of iced tea for the Keurig.  Um...what?

Thirsty Thursdays: Frozen Apricot Daiquiri

Frozen Apricot Daiquiri

Check out today's post on A Cocktail Life for this sweet, frosty sipper!

Yogurt Fig Cake

This treat actually came about through circumstance and accident.  Over the weekend I met an old friend for brunch and stopped into a large gourmet market near the restaurant on my way home.  I'd already noticed that the local fruit vendors had figs for sale but they were too soft and wilted.  This market, however, had firm and perfectly ripe figs for sale and I couldn't resist buying them.  But now that I had them, I wasn't sure what to do with them.

Chocolate and Peanut Butter Whoopie Pies

I don't know if whoopie pies are normally associated with summer but they definitely are for me.  I've heard they're a southern treat but Maine stakes a big claim to them as well.  And it was in Maine that I first fell for these goodies.

Thirsty Thursdays: Cantaloupe Melon Martini

Cantaloupe Melon Martini

Check out today's post on A Cocktail Life for this sweet and summery drink!

Frozen Banana Berry "Cake"

It's very nearly summer.  It's hot.  Ice cream recipes are everywhere.  But for every rich creamy version out there, I've been seeing ones for 1 ingredient banana ice cream, 2 ingredient banana soft serve, etc.  They're basically frozen bananas with or without a touch of vanilla, blitzed in the food processor until the texture is similar to soft ice cream.  I had to try it.  And I always have bananas in my freezer.

Thirsty Thursdays: Lychee Martini

Lychee Martini

Check out today's post on A Cocktail Life for this exotic summer fruit drink!

Crunchy Quinoa Salad with Tahini Vinaigrette

With summer just a week away, I've been making a list of healthy and filling salads I can make ahead on weekends and keep in the fridge for easy lunches all week long.  Not just plain old lettuce type salads, though.  I needed something heartier that would hold up over a few days and be satisfying.

Mexican Tortilla Pie

I'm constantly thinking about the daily question of what's for dinner.  It's a meal that requires more planning than the cereal I pour into a bowl at breakfast and the salad I usually toss at lunch.  I have to make sure I have all the ingredients for whatever I'm going to make and that I've left enough time to prep and cook.  Otherwise, I sometimes get too hungry and just throw the ingredients back in the fridge while I eye the cereal box again.

Crispy Baked Onion Rings (aka Cooking Actress Onion Rings)

Last month, when some of my fellow food bloggers and I participated in Brunch Week, we had the good fortune to work with a number of terrific foods sponsors and sample their products.  So, while it might not sound all that exciting to get a bag of Vidalia onions in the mail, to foodies like us, it kind of is.

Thirsty Thursdays: Pineapple Mojito

Pineapple Mojito

Check out today's post on A Cocktail Life for this fun and fruity twist on a classic summer sipper!

Cherry Cheesecake Chocolate Truffles

Every vacation town we've ever visited has had at least one great candy shop.  It's always crazy busy (at least in summer) and there's a huge selection of lollipops, jelly beans and every kind of chocolate bonbon.  But the ones I want...um...OK, let's be clear that I really want everything, but the ones I buy are big chocolate covered marshmallows and chocolate truffles with creamy centers.  I had no idea how to recreate the truffles at home but I figured I could make the chocolate covered marshmallows.  Big fail.  And after a couple of sad attempts I gave up.

The Month in Review - May 2014

Is May over already?  Boy, they go by fast or, at least, the warm months do.  Cold months just go on and on.  We celebrated Cinco de Mayo and Mother's Day with a group of us honoring our mothers with favorite recipes and stories.  We held a 'brunch week' with some cool giveaways and we unofficially kicked off summer on Memorial Day.  Seems we packed quite a lot into such a quick month.  But before we see how much we can cram into June, let's take a look back at some seriously good eats and drinks.  Enjoy!

Thirsty Thursday: Thyme and Nectarine Gimlet

Thyme and Nectarine Gimlet

Check out today's post on A Cocktail Life for this perfect blend of sweet fruit and savory herbs in a fragrant gin drink!

Kasha Varnishkes (Farfalle Pasta with Buckwheat)

Those of you who didn't grow up in a Jewish household with this delectable treat are probably wondering what on earth we're about to varnish.  Varnishkes is so funny sounding but is actually the Yiddish word for noodles.  Kasha, of course, is the English word for kasha or, if you like, roasted buckwheat kernels.  So, yes, we're varnishing the buckwheat and it's delicious!

Memorial Day Recipe Ideas

Happy Memorial Day!  Whether you'll be participating in patriotic celebrations or just lying on a beach or lawn chair, I hope you have a great day filled with good company and delicious food.  After such a long brutal winter, the unofficial start of summer is a very happy occasion.

Thirsty Thursdays: Creamy Frozen Nectarine Blitz

Creamy Frozen Nectarine Blitz

Check out today's post on A Cocktail Life for this sweet, fragrant drink!

Yellow Summer Squash Casserole

I love almost all squash.  Pumpkin and butternut and always on my shopping list in the fall and winter.  And they get replaced with zucchini and yellow squash in spring and summer.  Though not as sweet as their fall cousins, their flavor is mild and easy to incorporate into lots of dishes.  But I also love them enough to want to make them the star sometimes.

Grilled Chicken Salad with Creamy Greek Style Vinaigrette

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Pompeian for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

   

Did you know that May, in addition to being a lovely spring weather month, is also National Salad Month and National Vinegar Month.  I'd say this calls for a salad!  It's also right around this time that I stop craving hot soup to warm me up and start craving the fresh veggies I see in the market.  Dinner salads with some grilled chicken, a sprinkling of good cheese and a great dressing are just my style.

Thirsty Thursdays: Frozen White Pear Cosmo

Frozen White Pear Cosmo

Check out today's post on A Cocktail Life for this tall, cool and fruity play on the beloved Cosmo!

Herbed Salted Pretzel Bread Salad Bowls

Today I'm going to talk with you about salt.  And we'll also talk about pretzels.  And about homemade breads and bread bowls and stand mixers.  OK, we've got a lot to talk about.  Maybe you should sit down for a while and have a pretzel roll.  I love salty pretzels.  Growing up in Manhattan, my mother and I would go to the park and we'd get a big salty pretzel from one of the vendors and split it.  She sometimes flicked some of the salt off her piece but I thought it was the best part.  Nobody needs a naked pretzel!

Mango Berry Blast Smoothie

This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Nestle, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia  #BreakfastEssentials http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

People sometimes ask me if I'm a morning person or a night person?  Actually, I'm a busy person.  That means late to bed and early to rise so that, by the time the weekend comes, I'm a sleepy person.  During the week, though, I have no trouble getting up reasonably early and getting stuff done.  The trouble is that early is never early enough and there's always more stuff.

Chocolate and Hazelnut Linzer Cookies

Today I'm posting my final entry in the second annual brunch week co-hosted by Terri of Love and Confections and Susan of The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen.  From May 5th to 11th, a group of over 30 bloggers are celebrating the deliciousness of brunch.  In addition, we have some amazing sponsors who have donated great prizes for a gigantic giveaway so please see below for more information.

Thirsty Thursdays: Vodka Sidecar (Balalaika)

Vodka Sidecar (Balalaika)

Check out today's post on A Cocktail Life for this powerful yet delicious vodka version of a cognac classic!

Bacon and Corn Souffle

Today I'm continuing to participate in the second annual brunch week co-hosted by Terri of Love and Confections and Susan of The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen.  From May 5th to 11th, a group of over 30 bloggers are celebrating the deliciousness of brunch.  In addition, we have some amazing sponsors who have donated great prizes for a gigantic giveaway so please see below for more information.

Brunch Week Giveaway and Sponsor Information

Thank you so much to our wonderful sponsors for their generosity during Brunch Week.  We have an incredible giveaway below and we’d love if you would take a moment to read about them all and what you can possibly win!

Caramelized Onion Tart

Today I have the pleasure of participating in the second annual brunch week co-hosted by Terri of Love and Confections and Susan of The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen.  From May 5th to 11th, a group of 32 bloggers will celebrate the deliciousness of brunch and bring you their best from cocktails to dessert.  In addition, we have some amazing sponsors who have donated great prizes for a gigantic giveaway so please see below for more information.

Mom's Extra Tall Sponge Cake

Today I'm joining my favorite group of holiday food bloggers to discuss a topic that's near and dear to everyone's hearts - my mom.  OK, maybe my own mom is only near and dear to me but I'm sure you all have your own moms to focus on and celebrate when Mother's Day comes.

Thirsty Thursdays: Tropical Fiesta Cocktail

Tropical Fiesta Cocktail

Check out today's post on A Cocktail Life for this refreshing rum and fruit drink that's perfect for celebrating Cinco de Mayo!

The Month in Review - April 2014

After a chilly and rainy April, I'm happy to say that spring seems to have finally arrived in New York.  The trees are flowering, the tulips are in bloom and the days are getting wonderfully long.  I've come to love the hour between 7:00 and 8:00 pm the most.  The work day is done but there's still plenty of light, a gentle breeze coming in through the open windows and dinner is on the stove.

And speaking of dinner, the month brought plenty of the cooking and cocktail making that go on regularly in my kitchen.  April saw a whole bunch of veggies, a few cookies and lots of cheer.  Enjoy!

Lemon Cornmeal Shortbread Cookies

I don't know if it's possible to truly dislike any cookie but there definitely are two schools of thought.  The soft and chewy cookie lovers versus the crunchy cookie lovers.  I am completely in the second group.  Not even thin and crispy but, rather, thick and crunchy.  And that means shortbread.  Wonderfully, buttery, thick, crumbly, sweet but not too sweet shortbread!

Thirsty Thursdays: Mint Julep

Mint Julep

Check out today's post on A Cocktail Life for this Kentucky Derby classic!

Baked Chocolate Hazelnut Doughnut Holes

A while back I was playing around with a little baked chocolate doughnut recipe.  It needed some tweaks but somehow other projects ended up taking priority and I put my notes away without remaking the recipe.  But a little spring cleaning turned the notes up and I was suddenly really in the mood for them.

Roasted Squash and Gorgonzola Phyllo Tart

I love Greek food and still remember the dish that started my interest in those flavors.  Spanakopita is the traditional Greek appetizer of spinach and feta cheese wrapped in layers of crispy phyllo dough and I loved it the moment I tasted it.  Of course, a dessert of baklava didn't hurt either.  But although I've learned to cook with those flavors and spices, I've never tried working with the dough.  Something about all those cooking shows advising great care with the delicate "leaves" made me stick with my own, much less finicky, pastry dough.

Quinoa and Feta Stuffed Baby Bell Peppers

Last week when I stopped by our local fruit cart (is this a Manhattan thing?), I saw that they had bags of colorful baby bell peppers.  They looked so good and I was tempted but I already had some holiday menus planned and knew I wouldn't have a chance to use them.  So I passed but now my head was full of potential pepper recipe ideas.  Happily, I came home the other day to a delivery from Baloian Farms containing those very same colorful baby bells.

Thirsty Thursdays: Gin and Cucumber Smash

Gin and Cucumber Smash

Check out today's post on A Cocktail Life for this refreshing drink.

Strawberries and Cream Trifles

Have you found that, with the arrival of spring, you crave lighter fruit based desserts instead of rich chocolate and peanut butter type treats?  Yeah, me neither.  I crave them both!  But when I was out walking Hadley the other day, I passed our local fruit cart man and was lured in by the sweet smell of fresh strawberries and had to have them.

Happy Passover!

Tonight is the eve of Passover and the time when Jewish families gather for a Seder.  Ours will be a simple one this year with a small group of family and friends.  As with most holidays, it's a time for people to come together and bond over some delicious traditional food.  The matzo ball soup is always the highlight at my table but below are some of the Passover foods I've prepared in the past.  Enjoy and have a happy holiday, whichever you're celebrating.

Falling in Waffle Love at Wafels and Dinges

New York and food trucks definitely go together.  Hot dog carts and salty pretzels are long time staples but these days the array of sweet and savory food truck offerings is amazing.  When the Wafels and Dinges truck came on the scene I noticed on their Twitter feed that one of the trucks spent Sundays parked about ten blocks from my apartment.  That was just far enough away to resist regular temptation but close enough to maybe go check them out sometime.

Thirsty Thursdays: Pear & Thyme Gin Fizz

Pear & Thyme Gin Fizz

Check out today's post on A Cocktail Life for this aromatic sweet and savory drink.

The Tao of Tahini...with Roasted Beets

Both of my European parents spent a few years living in Israel before they met.  And both fell in love with Middle Eastern cuisine.  Years later when they married and moved to New York to raise a family, they retained their love for the food.  Tahini is a staple of Israeli menus and it was frequently on our table when I was growing up.  I loved it then and now.  Beets also made appearances thanks to my mother's Russian heritage but I admit I didn't develop a taste for them until I grew up.  What I don't recall is ever seeing them paired back then.

Chocolate Chip Hazelnut Bread

Chocolate hazelnut spread is a close second to peanut butter in my favorite treats category.  So, when the nice folks at Bob's Red Mill sent me a bag of their hazelnut flour to experiment with, my mind immediately conjured up thoughts of that spread.  And I wondered, if I used it to bake a sweet bread and included chocolate chips, would the flavor resemble the spread at all.

Cauliflower and Gruyere Gratin

Today I am bringing you yet another of my many, many cauliflower recipes because I seriously never get tired of cauliflower.  It's actually hard to get tired of it just because it is so versatile and can be made to taste so many different ways.  Every time I try a new method of preparing it, I think it is my favorite.  At least for a while, until my next new favorite way.  So, today, this is my new favorite way!

Thirsty Thursdays: Carrot Cake Cocktail

Carrot Cake Cocktail

Check out today's post on A Cocktail Life for this fun twist on a springtime classic.

Mediterranean Chickpea Salad and the Art of Parties

This past week, the New York Times Sunday Magazine ran a lighthearted article that looked into the typical refrigerator contents of a few chefs and it made me consider what's always in mine.  Eggs, butter, yogurt, milk and cheese are the constant and, interestingly, was for them as well.  Although the article didn't glance into their pantries, I would hope it included chickpeas.  The NYT asked the chefs if they could pull together a meal for an unexpected guest and most said yes with those ingredients.  I could, too, and while chickpeas would probably form the base, the cheese would elevate it and that holds true whether I have a surprise dinner guest or invited party guests.

The Month in Review - March 2014

Last month when I did my recap, I complained bitterly about the cold weather.  Note that me complaining about cold weather is a running theme in my life.  I remember saying something about March coming in like a lion and going out like a lamb.  Sadly, it's frozen lamb.  We're also getting a little drenched in rain these days but I noticed that its causing the tulip bulbs to start popping up.  So there is hope....

In the meantime, there is cooking.  Lots of tasty and healthy recipes were created last month along with a couple of sweet indulgences and, of course, a cocktail or two...or four.  So let's take a look back at March while we try to get this lamb thawed out.  Enjoy!

French Onion Spaghetti Pie

 

Spaghetti pie is typically a pasta baked in tomato sauce and cheese.  It sounds good and has been on my to-do list forever now.  But when I saw this French onion version in Good Housekeeping, my head turned.  Sauteed onions in the pasta?  My mom used to do that with egg noodles and I loved it.  Gruyere cheese?  One of my absolute favorites!  White wine sauce?  How gourmet!  This had to be made ASAP.

Thirsty Thursdays: Frozen Fluffernutter Martini

Frozen Fluffernutter Martini

Check out today's post on A Cocktail Life for this adult take on a children's classic sandwich!

Chocolate and Peanut Butter Crumb Parfaits

Today, 30 of my fellow food bloggers and I are celebrating the most amazing made-up holiday you've never heard of.  Yes, we have declared it Chocolate and Peanut Butter Day because such a thing needs to exist.  Our little movement is hosted by Carla of Chocolate Moosey and Miriam of Overtime Cook and sponsored by some amazing companies.  Follow #chocPBday on social media and our Pinterest board for lots of amazing recipe ideas.  And be sure to enter the raffle where 3 winners will receive prizes from OXO, King Arthur Flour or Peanut Butter & Co.

Swedish Meatballs

When I was growing up, my mother almost always cooked our dinner.  But, every once in a while, I was allowed to choose a pre-packaged frozen dinner.  Somehow that was a treat back then although now I can't tell you why.  My choices were pretty predictable, though.  Either I'd want that perennial kid-favorite, Salisbury steak, or Swedish meatballs with noodles.  For me, it wasn't even about the meatballs but rather that creamy brown sauce, so different than the tomato sauce I was used to seeing with meatballs.

Simple Apple Cake

Sometimes you need simple, easy to make cake.  Not box mix easy, fresh made easy.  With a moist, just-sweet-enough batter, perfumed with vanilla, and a thin layer of cinnamon apples and powdered sugar on top.  Really, really good simple cake.