Pumpkin Shaped Mini Chocolate Pumpkin Cakes

Which came first, the pumpkin or the pan? Well, truthfully, the pan. I saw this Wilton Dimensions mini pumpkin pan, and with my pumpkin obsession, knew I had to have it. Once I had it, though, I had to decide what type of cakes to bake in it.

Chocolate Pumpkin-tini

If you've ever tried the combination of chocolate and pumpkin then you know that they go beautifully together! But why restrict that yummy flavor to baked goods? As tasty as a pumpkin martini is, the chocolate version is simply scrumptious. It's creamy and decadent tasting with just enough pumpkin and chocolate flavors so that you taste both but neither overwhelms you. Serve it to holiday guests on chilly fall evenings... or just make one for yourself after a long day of work. Cheers!

Pumpkin Scones

I love how these pumpkin shaped scones turned out. But... truthfully, that wasn't exactly what I set out to do. Over the weekend I'd planned to bake a batch of pumpkin flavored scones - just basic scones with a little glaze on top. But somehow the dough was just too loose and there was no way to pat it out and shape it.

Autumn Delights!

Apple picking at Harvest Moon Farms

We took advantage of a lovely Columbus Day weekend to take a drive upstate, watch the leaves turn and visit Harvest Moon Farms in North Salem for some apple picking, pumpkin picking, the smell of cider doughnuts and delighting in the season. With baskets of apples and pumpkins now on hand, we re-visited our favorite old and new recipes. We hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

Creamy Banana Daiquiri

When I was growing up, my favorite flavor was banana and I still do love it. But, as an adult, why not give it a little kick? Frozen banana daiquiris are fine but usually too sweet and too light on alcohol so it's like drinking a milkshake.

Healthy Batter "Fried" Broccoli

I love fried zucchini (what's not to love?) and am constantly being tempted by recipes that promise the same taste from an oven rather than a deep fryer. I try and try these recipes but the result is always soggy. Each time I vow to give up on the idea but then I find myself staring at a recipe's photo that looks so...so...crispy and I fall for it again.

Spinach and White Bean Tart

So there I was with a day off on a rainy Friday... Brian at work...  me snuggled in bed with my furry sous chef... watching an Animal Cops marathon on TV... watching people starving their horses and abusing their puppies while I'm hugging the stuffing out of my own pup. I gotta stop watching this because it's making me so mad.

Grace's Trattoria

201 East 71st Street, New York, NY 10021, 212-452-2323 www.gracestrattoria.net

We've shopped at Grace's Market for years but only recently stopped in to the trattoria for Sunday brunch.  The menu is fairly extensive and features far more than standard brunch fare.

Creamy Pumpkin Martini

I'll pause a moment to mourn the official passing of summer on this, the first day of fall. In reality, we pretty much say goodbye to summer after Labor Day and the past week or so has brought some delightfully autumnal weather to New York. Summer may be my favorite season but fall comes a close second and the appearance of pumpkins in the market makes me happy.

The Goddess Goes Light

Green Goddess salad dressing is an old classic recipe, thick and creamy and reminiscent of the great salads you'd get at a steakhouse. Most of the time, I'd be just as happy to skip the steak in favor of a giant portion of salad with extra creamy dressing and thick buttery bread.

The (Belated) Hurricane...... aka The Natural Disaster Cocktail

As you may have heard, New York, usually blissfully free of natural disaster (unless you count political scandals) recently got a double whammy. We were treated to a little earthquake mid-week and then spent the weekend in a hurricane.

Noah's Restaurant

136 Front Street, Greenport, NY 11944, 631-477-6720 www.chefnoahschwartz.com

After strolling around the town of Greenport for a few hours on a lovely warm day, we came to Noah's Restaurant. Hungry, we quickly scanned the menu outside and saw lots of tasty sounding offerings plus the outdoor seating looked quite inviting.  An excellent waiter appeared immediately, showed us to a comfortable table and brought a big carafe of cool water.

Greenport on the North Fork

We spent one of the last warm days of summer strolling around the town of Greenport on the North Fork of Long Island.

The area is known for it's many wineries, farm stands and delightful little towns.  At it's tip is Orient Point where you can catch the ferry to New England.

Frozen Key Lime Daiquiri

We left for our Labor Day weekend getaway thinking we'd be drinking our beloved frozen peach daiquiris. But, we still had a full bottle of Midori on hand and were still freshly enamored with our recent key lime martini recipe, so we were in the mood to experiment. It took a few tries to come up with this delicious and cool blend of lime and melon but the result was well worth it. Cheers!

Spinach and Artichoke Dip

We rarely eat dip in our house, nor will you find the accompanying chips in our cupboards.  Just too tempting!  So we keep hummus and carrots and broccoli at home and save our indulgences for vacations.

Honeydew Melon Martini

A while back I had a rather poorly made melon martini at a local restaurant. Although the drink itself disappointed, the idea appealed and I set out to make a better version. The result is an amazingly refreshing and well balanced drink that's just perfect for summer.

Lima Beans with Sautéed Onions

When I was growing up, my mother frequently served wonderful lima beans and I've loved them ever since. She rightly believed that adding sautéed onions to foods usually made them taste good and I often follow that philosophy and prepare the beans much as my mother did.

Key Lime Martini

On a recent vacation in Mystic, CT we dined at the highly lauded S & P Oyster Company and had a delightful Key Lime Martini while we waited for our table. Of course we had to try the recipe at home! None of the recipes we found online were exactly identical to the one the bartenders at S & P made but we're going with their wonderful version. It's sweet, sour, refreshing, deceptively powerful and lip-smacking delicious. Cheers!

Summer in Mystic, CT

S & P Oyster Company

1 Holmes Street, Mystic, CT 06355, 860-536-2674 www.sp-oyster.com

When we mentioned to people that we were going to spend a few days vacationing in the Mystic/ Stonington area, anyone who'd been there told us to eat at S & P Oyster Company. The opinions of the place were universal and unanimous and now that we've sampled it ourselves, we'll add our voices to the cheering choir.

Inn at Stonington

60 Water Street, Stonington, CT 06378, 860-535-2000 www.innatstonington.com

Situated at the quiet end of the town's main street and just off the river, the Stonington Inn is pretty, elegant and comfortable. We stayed in room one, a somewhat small but beautifully decorated queen bedroom with a private little terrace facing the water. The room's marble bathroom is actually huge and offers an inviting looking whirlpool tub as well as a large stall shower, toiletries and comfortable robes.

My Furry Sous Chef

Sous Chef Hadley

I have a very small Manhattan kitchen so it's just as well that my sous chef is only a foot tall. She's not been to culinary school but has displayed a great deal of natural talent. For example, she's helpfully pointed out to me that bacon tastes much better than carrots and that the full fat yogurt is far superior to that fat-free stuff I keep trying to push.

Low Fat/Low Sugar Apple Tea Bread

When the angel on my left shoulder and the devil on my right start bickering about wanting cake, it's often time to bake a healthier version.

Torta Di Riso (Risotto Tart)

Recently, a chef friend and colleague was cleaning out her collection of old cookbooks and she brought me a couple to see if I wanted them. There was a great tome on pasta making that will go into my "someday" pile and there was an old Martha Stewart entertaining book. I generally enjoy flipping through the Martha Stewart Living Magazine when it happens across my desk at work, whether I actually attempt any of her ideas or not. But the old entertaining book felt quite old indeed. The recipes and ideas seemed very dated and way too fussy for me. But then I happened on a large photo of a risotto tart. Huh? A risotto baked into a tart? The thought had never occurred to me...but I liked it.

Aperol Martini

Last month, Brian and I were invited to a Sunday afternoon party at a brasserie downtown. It was a very warm day and we weren't exactly sure what we wanted to drink so we gave the bartender free reign to mix up something cool and refreshing for us.

Grilled Corn Salad

The first time that Brian and I ate at Sojourn Restaurant, now one of our favorite tapas places, we ordered an amazing roasted corn salad. The ingredients came together in such a perfect blend of flavors and textures that I knew I'd have to try to recreate this dish at home. Happily, it was fairly easy to do and now I serve this salad frequently. Enjoy!

Do You Brunch? A Review of Orsay

1057 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10021, 212-517-6400 www.orsayrestaurant.com

We usually choose not to review a restaurant based only on brunch, particularly if their regular fare is quite different. Around here there are plenty of Italian, Greek and other ethnic cuisine restaurants offering Sunday brunch menus filled with omelets, pancakes and other expected American favorites. And that brings us to the question of how popular brunch is in other parts of the country? Here in New York City it's practically required and all restaurants seem compelled to offer it.

The X-Rated Martini

My first taste of X-Rated Fusion Liqueur was a year ago on summer vacation in Maine. The interesting cocktail menu at One Dock in Kennebunkport offered an X-Rated Martini and it sounded to fetching to pass up. The drink itself was a delightful pink hue and had a summery sweet and sour kick. I loved it and determined to buy a bottle of that liqueur. But somehow a year passed and it always fell down the list as we experimented with other delectable concoctions.

Pappardelle Pasta Bolognese

Last summer, while on vacation in Maine, I had pasta bolognese that was so under-whelming and bland that it never occurred to me to want to make it for myself. But a more recent experience was far more pleasant. Over the Independence Day weekend, we dined at a lovely waterfront restaurant on the south shore of Long Island and I ordered the bolognese. I wasn't sure what to expect but I wanted a pasta dinner since the rest of the holiday weekend was shaping up to be a meat-intensive grill-fest.

Frozen Blood Orange Martini

Frozen blender drinks are terrific in summer but a great alternative to plain ice is to use a bit of sorbet. And what better summery flavor than the sweet and tart blood orange. Our easy formula for cocktails is a little tart, a little sweet, a flavorful mixer and the liquor of your choice. In this case, our liquor is vodka, the flavorful mixer is Cointreau (an orange liqueur), some lemon juice for the sour and the sweetness of blood orange sorbet. Blend up a big batch, pour into cocktail glasses and stash them in the freezer. It's slushy and sweet...and powerful! Cheers!

Creamless Creamed Corn

I love creamed veggies as much as anyone but the "cream" part usually keeps me away. But while flipping through the pages of a food magazine, my eye was drawn to a recipe for "creamless" creamed corn from chef Daniel Boulud. Although he left out the cream, he did substitute gratuitous amounts of butter! Nevertheless, the idea seemed adaptable and my leaner version came out quite delicious. Enjoy!

The View

3 Consuelo Place, Oakdale, NY 11769, 631-589-2694 www.viewoakdale.com

Dinner at The View was a confusing experience, filled with conundrums. Reservations at a waterfront restaurant on Long Island on a summer holiday weekend should be hard to come by but we had no trouble despite a late decision to dine here.

Lychee Martini (aka The Rapture-tini)

It occurred to me, as we were mixing up this weekend's cocktails, that if the world had ended on schedule back in May, we would not have been subjected to photos of Anthony Weiner's various... um... parts. Or forced to endure any of the other subsequent political scandals, for that matter. But, the upside of the doomsday delay is that we can continue to enjoy the cocktails we experimented with that night.

Chop Chop (Adventures in Dips)

My Cuisinart food processor is as old as the hills and I hate the thing. There's no reason to replace it because it works perfectly but it's heavy and cumbersome and annoying to clean. It is the perfect tool to make my pie dough and ideal for my favorite cheesecake recipe. But for the majority of the year it sits tucked away in the bottom of a cabinet. Sometimes I encounter recipes that require a food processor but I'll either pass them up or just chop things by hand.

The Frozen Balalaika

We're all for the interesting and complex where cocktails are concerned but sometimes simplicity and expedience rules. Our favorite, go-to cocktail is the Balalaika which is the fancy name of a classic Sidecar made with vodka instead of gin. Three simple ingredients - equal parts vodka and Cointreau and a half part of lemon juice, shake well over ice and serve in a chilled glass. The drink tends to be on the sour side so we prefer it in a glass with a sugared rim.

A Celebration of Grains

As a nutritious change from pasta and potatoes, whole grains taste great, are loaded with fiber, protein and vitamins and make wonderful side dishes. I usually have some type of grain salad in the fridge for easy lunches and snacks. Most supermarkets sell whole grains and they can usually be found in the rice aisle. So, if you're not familiar with some of the more popular ones, look for them the next time you go grocery shopping and try one of these delicious recipes.

The Ethiopian Restaurant

1582 York Ave, New York, NY 10028, 212-717-7311 www.theethiopianrestaurant.com

Neither Brian nor I had ever eaten Ethiopian food before. The opportunity hadn't presented itself and we didn't seek it out. But there does happen to be a little Ethiopian restaurant, appropriately named 'The Ethiopian Restaurant' about 5 blocks from our apartment. We'd passed it dozens of times, usually on our way back from taking our pup to the river promenade, and when we were almost certainly headed to our favorite outdoor cafe to eat.

Creamy Blue Daiquiri

This heavenly concoction came about by happy accident. I was watching a Food Network show about confections that highlighted the Sugarland Bakery in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. In addition to traditional bakery goodies, they serve gelato cocktails including a signature blue Tartini that caught my eye. It looked so delicious that I instantly wanted one! But although the show mentioned some of the ingredients, I could not find a recipe. So, after a quick trip to the store for Blue Curacao, I got out my blender and began to experiment.

Golden Beet Salad

We love beets but, although I make a few different variations of beet salad, they are not always the dominant ingredient in the dish. In this version, though, it's all about the beets. And while I don't usually object to getting a little help from cans and frozen packages, in this case I must insist on starting from scratch. No prepared beets I've tasted quite match the home roasted version, not to mention that it's very easy to do. The delicate flavors of this salad make it a great start to either summer or winter meals. Enjoy!

Trumpets on the Bay

58 South Bay Ave, Eastport, NY 11941, 631-325-2900 www.trumpetsonthebay.com

Long Island, with its pristine beaches and seasonal rentals, attracts a large summer crowd. And there are plenty of casual waterfront eateries that cater to this young crew, offering live music, flowing beer and fresh seafood. But we were looking for a more sophisticated waterfront option and so, on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, we reserved a table at Trumpets on the Bay.

A Hungry Couple Facebook Page!

Hungry Couple now has their own Facebook fan page.  I've started uploading links, recipes and photos although there's lots more coming.  Please do check it out and "like" us!

Hungry Couple - on Facebook!

Dances with Luggage Carts

Those of you who don't live in Manhattan would have no idea what chaos to expect on Memorial Day evenings, or for that matter, any long summer weekend. Oh sure, you might imagine or have heard of terrible traffic problems coming back into the city. But the scramble to unload cars, find a luggage cart to deposit all your belongings and leave it to begin a desperate search for parking can cause harried doorman to have fits of nerves.

A Long Time in Coming...

We've been waiting for Memorial Day weekend almost since the end of last summer.  Sure, there were some fun autumn events and winter holidays to distract us.  But once New Year's Day came and went we started crossing the days off the calendar.  Not that we want to wish parts of our lives away but this winter was so cold and snowy and dreary and long...  Spring came late this year so there wasn't even that to cheer us up.

But at last, summer has come.  Maybe it doesn't officially arrive until June 21st but, at least here in New York, it unofficially arrives on Memorial Day weekend.  That is when summer shares in beach houses begin, corporations start their summer Friday hours and long lines can be seen waiting for the Hamptons Jitney to take them out to the south shore of Long Island.  For those of us blessed enough to have access to a home out there, Memorial Day weekend marks the start of summer grilling, frozen blender cocktails, time spent by the water and a happy doggie chasing her ball on acres of green grass.  It means farm stands and sweet summer fruit and relaxation.  It means happiness.  And we've been waiting a long time...

Cauliflower and Broccoli Salad

Both cauliflower and broccoli are staples in my veggie crisper. The broccoli I occasionally sauté with some garlic and olive oil but am most likely to just eat it raw, dipped in hummus. Cauliflower, however, I always cooked. My favorite preparation was roasted with olive oil and a little parmesan cheese but Brian actually likes it raw just fine. He'll usually eat a few raw pieces while I'm chopping it up to be roasted but the idea never appealed to me. That is, until I tasted cauliflower salad.

A Day in the Life

One of my friends has been taking a photography for blogging class and she inspired me to recreate one of their assignments. This is a day in my life, chosen at random and told in pictures with a minimum of written explanation. Obviously not all days are identical but this one was fairly typical of a weekday/workday for me and it was great fun doing it.

Boeuf Bourguignon

Brian and I are way behind in our movie watching but have been trying lately to catch up somewhat with Netflix. Last weekend brought us to Julie & Julia and a tasty looking Boeuf Bourguignon.

(Finally) Perfect Matzo Balls

I think this is the first time I've blogged a recipe while annoyed. Let's start at the beginning. I've always prided myself on my matzo balls and happily announced that they were the best. Deli matzo balls were too soft, soggy and flavorless whereas mine were scrumptious. The basic recipe calls for two tablespoons of fat and, while my grandmother used chicken fat, my mother used melted butter and I'd long since switched to healthier canola oil. The scrumptious taste remained unchanged.

Flourless Chocolate Soufflé Cake... Passover or Not

Brian and I have always gone to his family for Passover Seder and have always brought one of the desserts, traditionally the flourless chocolate cake. Manhattan has no shortage of bakeries offering the Passover-friendly treat at this time of year and we've shopped around for ours at quite a few of the more popular venues. We've learned a few things...we need to order early...we need to pay a lot...we need to prepare ourselves for a very thick, dense, fudge-like creation that will sit like lead in our stomachs after the large holiday meal. Yes, some of the specialty gourmet stores offer a lighter "soufflé" version...at an even more outrageous price.

Mom's Egg Salad...Sort Of

When I was growing up, my European mother frequently made egg salad. The flavors in her cooking were always mild and refined and the egg salad was no exception. She would never consider just coarsely chopping cooked eggs nor would she add an "exotic" flavorings. She grated her hard cooked eggs on the finest side of the grater, added plenty of mayonnaise, salt and a little pepper. Occasionally she'd add a touch of finely chopped onion but my father and I always seemed to prefer it without and so, plain became the house standard. No one thought much about cholesterol then and the egg salad was a weekend favorite for breakfast and a particular delight at Passover since egg salad and matzo were two flavors meant to be together!

On Vacation - The Towns of Cape Cod!

Welcome to Cape Cod!

Crossing the Bourne Bridge across the Cape Cod Canal

On Vacation - The Beaches of Cape Cod!

Paines Creek Beach in Brewster

Ardeo Tuscan Tavern

280 Underpass Road, Brewster, MA 02631, 508-896-4200 www.dineardeo.com

On our first night staying in Brewster, we searched for a casual, local place for dinner and came upon the Ardeo Tavern. It was late, we were tired from traveling and craving some comforting food. The dining room was quiet and comfortable and we relaxed into a nice big booth with menus that seemed chock full of comforting favorites such as pizzas, paninis and lots of pastas.

Fanizzi's Restaurant by the Sea

539 Commercial St., Provincetown, MA 02657, 508-487-1964 www.fanizzisrestaurant.com

While spending the day strolling around Provincetown, we chatted up a local store owner for a good place to eat and he recommended Fanizzi's.

The Beacon Room

23 West Road, Orleans, MA 02653, 508-255-2211 www.beaconroom.com

While vacationing on Cape Cod, we stopped in for dinner one evening at The Beacon Room in Orleans. It had a nice homey feel with lots of wood and green plants - the kind of place where you might find good upscale comfort food. We settled in at a nice table, nibbled on bread and scanned the beverage menu for some interesting cocktails.  las, none were noted so we just ordered some red wine and looked at our menus. Our waitress immediately gave the impression of being overly busy, flustered and not that sure of what's going on. Later in the evening, we chatted with the owner and asked if she was new but were told she'd been there for a few years. Hmm.

Bramble Inn & Restaurant

2019 Main Street, Brewster, MA 02631, 508-896-7644 www.brambleinn.com

While on an early spring getaway for a few days on Cape Cod, we stayed mid-Cape in Brewster and were searching for a place to have dinner. Driving around town, we happened upon the elegant looking Bramble Inn.

Brewster by the Sea

716 Main Street, Brewster, MA 02631, 508-896-3910 www.brewsterbythesea.com

This nice little bed & breakfast has lots of high points and perhaps a couple of low ones. We booked the Refugio Suite and it was very large and very comfortable. The bedroom features an oversized California King bed, a desk and chair, television and lounge chair with ottoman. Beautiful French double doors lead to one of the loveliest features of the room which is a private deck with chairs.