How do you like your coffee?

I'm of the ones that love a good cup of coffee in the morning.  Lately, however, I had started to tire of my regular hazelnut decaf.  

Besides her roommate who loves everything from oatmeal to ice cream and everything in between pumpkin, I don't know of anyone else who loves it more than Emily.  So the other day when I came across this pumpkin spice coffee syrup at Target, I decided to get it and surprise our girl with a nice pumpkin spice latte when she comes over on Thanksgiving Day.

However, all week the pumpkin spice syrup has been sitting on my kitchen counter teasing and taunting me to give it a shot.  By no means am I a barista, I finally succumbed to the temptation.  I'm still trying to figure out the difference between a frappucino and a cappuccino.  Phew!  Was it good!  What a pleasant surprise.  Except for hazelnut, I must admit I've never been a huge fan of flavored coffee, yet I loved this pumpkin spice.  I think I'm hooked. 

My "decappuccino" was a concoction of decaf, oodles of fresh organic whipped cream, a teaspoon of sugar, a dash of cinnamon, and a teaspoon of the pumpkin-spice syrup.  One word: cappulicious!  Try making your own.  You may never go back to Starbucks. 

I will definitely go back to get more before they run out of this limited edition. Hopefully, they won't have run out of it.

How to sleep a couple extra hours on Thanksgiving morning

If you, like me, want to sleep a while longer on turkey day without fear of serving the perfect bird, fear not. I am here to tell you you can. I am the queen of short cuts.  I love to lounge in bed a little while longer in anticipation of the festivities and preparations of this most favored holiday.  I also am a lover of great-tasting cuisine. 

With that said, we must broil that bird face down and flat.

Laying the bird flat gives it a larger, more uniform surface area, allowing for more even cooking. It also exposes all of the skin to the heat (hence, more browning), so you'll get the super crisp skin you're looking for. This method cuts the turkey's roasting time almost in half. 

I discovered spatchcocking (the process of splitting a whole bird in half, removing its backbone and roasting it flat, skin-side up) about five years ago.  Friends thought I was crazy to roast the prized bird that way, yet the more I thought about it the more convinced I was that this was the fool-proof way for the amateur cook (so as not to say, laid-back) to broil the bird.  It was the way to get juicy flavorful meat and that prized, magazine-worthy golden skin.

Once the bird is fully cooked in about 3-4 hours, when serving it, you can either prop it up again to look like a regular whole roasted turkey, or just serve it flat. Either way, you can dress it up with an assortment of roasted herbs and veggies. I have also served it stuffed, after broiling it flat. If you are creative enough and passionate enough, it can be done.  If the tasty bird doesn't stay propped up, which it will normally do, you can hold it together in various ways with either twine or skewers, or whatever else you can think of.  As long as you're creative in how you serve it, no one will care.  And if anyone does care, the minute they have a bite of your succulent bird, they will be praising your ingenious spirit. 

So go ahead and oversleep on Thanksgiving Day without the worry of dinner not being served on time. Just don't forget to wet or dry brine the bird the day before.

Happy Thanksgiving. Everyone!

Snap Krackle 'n Pop!: Where can you find the best fish tacos in Manhatta...

Snap Krackle 'n Pop!: Where can you find the best fish tacos in Manhatta...: Aside from pizza, tacos are probably the most popular go-to food for most of us.  In our case, fish tacos!  I can't stress enough how mu...

Where can you find the best fish tacos in Manhattan?

Aside from pizza, tacos are probably the most popular go-to food for most of us.  In our case, fish tacos!  I can't stress enough how much we love tacos, either homemade or at a restaurant.  And while these tacos from The Grey Dog in Lower Manhattan may look like your regular run-of-the-mill tacos, they were without a doubt, out-of-this-world delicious!  I think the trick is that they are well-seasoned in savory spices and then battered-fried in a light oil, thus creating a highly gustatory, yet healthy dish.  The addition of roasted cherry tomatoes and garlic, along with other spices, brings these fish tacos to a couple of notches above the rest.  It's safe to say that they were the best fish tacos I've had anywhere.

Emily ordered two dishes for us to share.  The rice and black beans was another delightful surprise.  They serve it in a medium-size square deep dish, and trust me they are not stingy with it.  We were pleasantly surprised to find that topping the rice and beans is a generous amount of avocado, in addition to some type of green salsa, white shredded cheese (maybe manchego), and oddly but pleasantly enough, another salad of fresh corn and diced tomatoes—all highly delectable to the palate.  Here again, Emily and I were both impressed with the array of fresh ingredients and the infusion of flavors—truly an epicurean's delight.

If you happen to be in Chelsea, check them out.  Oh, and the prices are reasonable—$14.00 for three generous tacos, green salad, and a sauce; and $11.00 for the rice and beans dish—a steal in this day and age.

The Grey Dog

4.3

(143)

 · $ · 13.2 mi

American · W 16th St

Zagat - Best Cheap Eats in Chelsea

Long Island's History - A Treasure Trove

So, as  wannabe writer, I would like to call myself a voracious reader.  Unfortunately, that is not the case.  However, one thing is for certain, when a certain book grabs my interest, I will devour it. I will immerse myself in it completely for days on end, until I finish the book. 

 

Two month's ago I took a trip to the local dumpster by us out on Long Island.  A box of old books by the dumpster caught my eye. At the top of the pile was an old dilapidated book titled Long Island's History. It so grabbed by attention that I immediately picked it up and asked the fellow who was standing by, "Are you throwing this book out?"  To which he replied, "Yes.  You can take all of them?"  

I was so excited with my newfound treasure that I passed on the other books. "Thanks," I answered.  "I'm really just interested in this one," I added, referring to the book I was holding. 

I drove off feeling as if I had found Cofresi's treasure.  What a find!

The book by Jacqueline Overton, was published in 1929 by Doubleday Doran & Company and contains a wealth of information on the history of the Island, as well as on Brooklyn and Queens, which were then considered part of the Island.  

Ms. Overton was a librarian, who writes in a no-nonsense concise, clear style, sparing us all the fancy words, but at the same time giving us a highly and thoroughly informative narrative that goes all the way back to the time of the Indians and the first English settlers.  The book is riddled with day-to-day life accounts from journals and diaries of some of the brave people that sacrificed and ventured out to the new land across the ocean, most of whom succumbed to the harsh and crude winters, and the conditions of unexplored territory.  Ms. Overton ingeniously covers the very important role the Island played in the history of the State of New York, the Revolutionary War, and all subsequent events leading up to the year 1929.  

I cannot say enough good things about 

this book and how much I've learned from it. The fact that Brooklyn was part of the Island then and played a very important role in the progress of all of New York and the country as a whole, cannot be stressed enough. This made it all the more interesting and valuable to me, as our own Emily has been living in the Fort Greene section of Brooklyn for over five years now.  

I found myself fact-checking practically everything Ms. Overton states; pinpointing the various towns on today's maps; and comparing important buildings, localities, and such. I also found the story of the Long Island Railroad quite interesting.

For those interested in further reading, I did additional research and found various other available sources on Google, as well as copies of the book on Amazon, and other similar venues.

On a lighter note, while you're enjoying the book, consider having a Long Island Tea.  I've attached a vintage photo of the recipe for your enjoyment.  I don't guarantee some of you will be able to concentrate on the book after just one of these "teas", but at least you'll get a nice buzz!

•  Your comments are always much appreciated and welcomed.

Life in my kitchen...

Rice and sardines with avocado 

Life is hectic in my kitchen but I wouldn't have it any other way. There's always something being whipped up in there.  Now more so, that I may be gluten-intolerant. I may have to resort to magic or some otherwise wild tricks to continue creating delicious but healthy dishes. 

While my kitchen focuses on healthy eating (boricua cuisine is, for the most part, one of the healthiest around) I still love to indulge in decadent desserts. That's where the resourcefulness has to come in. It's only two weeks since I ventured into new territory of gluten-free anything.  It's going to be a roller coaster of a ride, so brace yourselves! 

Bacalaitos with avocado!

 

One of my favorite all-time desserts is pecan cream wreath.  Here again is the challenge to make this winner dessert gluten-free.  But check in below for the oatmeal version recipe. 

Pecan Cream Wreath

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 40 min. Bake: 40 min. + cooling

MAKES:10-12 servings

Ingredients

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup butter
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup ground oatmeal 
• 4 eggs
• FILLING:
• 1-1/4 cups cold milk
• 1 package (3.4 ounces) instant vanilla pudding mix
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream, whipped
• GLAZE:
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1-1/2 teaspoons light corn syrup
• 1-1/2 teaspoons milk
• 
  

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Directions

1. Cover a baking sheet with foil; grease the foil. Trace a 12-in. circle onto foil; set aside. In a large saucepan, bring the water, butter and salt to a boil. Add oatmeal flour all at once and stir until a smooth ball forms. Remove from the heat; let stand for 5 minutes. Add egg, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Continue beating until mixture is smooth and shiny.
2. Drop batter by rounded tablespoonfuls along the inside of the circle (mounds should be slightly touching). Bake at 400° for 40-45 minutes or until golden brown. Lift foil and transfer to a wire rack. Immediately cut a slit in the side of each puff to allow steam to escape; cool. Carefully cut ring in half horizontally and set top aside; remove soft dough from inside with a fork. Transfer to a serving plate.
3. In a bowl, whisk the milk, pudding mix and extract for 2 minutes. Chill for 5 minutes or until thickened. Fold in whipped cream. Spread over bottom of ring; replace top. In a microwave, melt butter; stir until smooth. Stir in corn syrup and milk and pecans. Drizzle over ring. Refrigerate until serving.
4. Yield: 10-12 servings.
5. Tip: to cut preparation time in half use Pilsbury flaky rolls as you would make a wreath. Follow directions on the package and bake as instructed. Let cool and cut in half then fill with the cream and top with the pecan topping. 

Snap Krackle 'n Pop!: there's still time. Oktoberfest is on til Sunday ...

Snap Krackle 'n Pop!: there's still time. Oktoberfest is on til Sunday ...: If you haven't had a chance to celebrate this popular German festival, there's still time left to do so. It's been six year...

there's still time. Oktoberfest is on til Sunday ....

If you haven't had a chance to celebrate this popular German festival, there's still time left to do so.

It's been six years exactly that Emily and I celebrated Oktoberfest in Munich.  How lucky were we!  It is one of my favorite festivals, probably second only to the San Genaro Festival in downtown New York City.   In years past, a good friend Elizabeth Lucas, would round up a couple of office beer-guzzling friends.  Immediately after 5:00 on a Friday night, we would drive into the City to any of several biergartens to have our fill of beer, veal-schnitzel, and sausage.  

Nowadays, one of the popular places to celebrate is the Radegast Hall & Biergarten on 113 N 3rd St. in Brooklyn.  This uber-hip establishmen offers all kinds of meats from rabbit (no thanks!) to classic Schnitzel.  You'll fine dozens of beers to choose from, to accompany the fine fare.  Another place to have your fill of a Bavarian epicurean experience is The Biergarten at the Standard,  below the High Line in Manhattan.  

As you are probably well aware of, Oktoberfest is the world's largest beer festival.  Held annually in Munich, it is a 16-18 day festival.  It is a very important part of the Bavarian culture and continues to draw hordes of people particularly throughout Europe. 

Below are some pictures of our 2009 Munich trip during Oktoberfest.  I hope you will enjoy looking at them, but more importantly, that you go out there and indulge in this very popular festival.  

Checking out one of the many produce stands while looking for the Wiesn, near Munich center.

Another market along the way......

Found the dried nuts and fruits!

Lowenbrau Market 

Traditional Oktoberfest garb for revelers in need.....

Posing in the famous entry into the city

Buildings on the way from the train station to the main square.......

the closest to Oktoberfest garb I could get on such short notice....

Taking time out for another picture....

at the palace.....

One more picture.....

Almost there....

Okay, well just one more picture.....

So get out there while you still have the time to celebrate.  It will all be over by Monday morning.  

Snap Krackle 'n Pop!: Top 10 reasons we love fall in the Northeast...

Snap Krackle 'n Pop!: Top 10 reasons we love fall in the Northeast...: Okay, here goes.... 1) the weather - You won't find more pleasant weather than you do in September in the Northeast.   I'd say tha...

Top 10 reasons we love fall in the Northeast...

Okay, here goes....

1) the weather - You won't find more pleasant weather than you do in September in the Northeast.   I'd say that 80% of the days are sunny, clear and seasonably warm.

2)  the food -  some of the best produce is available in the fall, and that means apple pies, blueberry pies, any kind of pie...  Hello, what about apple cider or blueberry wine?  Who doesn't enjoy a nice hot toddy with your favorite muffin.  Not to mention squash, pumpkin, chestnuts.   You can't walk down  New York City streets and not be enticed by the smell of roasted chestnuts and hot pretzels.

3) football - it's time to bring out the beer, and the corn nuts, and hang out with your favorite people.

4) while on the subject of beer, let's not forget Oktoberfest.  Hello?!!  A favorite festival for those who love beer and wiener-schnitzel (or not?!).  Who, in their right mind, would turn down an opportunity to party with cool people, while downing pints of ice-cold beer?  Not I!

5)  Feasts, feasts, and more carnivals -  specifically the Saint Genaro Festival in lower Manhattan, where we get to hog on sausage'n peppers, funnel cakes, and every one's favorite cannolis.  And let's not forget Tony—that would be Danza!

6)  Hay rides, apple picking, and rides in the country to see the changing of the leaves.  Or how about you take the long-awaited trip abroad.  Airfares are at their lowest at this time of the year.

7)  Halloween - I'm not a huge fan of Halloween, but I'm probably alone.  So an ode to Halloween, the day you get to be whoever you want, and eat all your kids' candy then say you're gonna go a diet.

8)  New Cars - in the mood for a new car?   Now's the time to trade in that old jalopy and get yourself some shiny new wheels.  Prices go down in November when they bring in the new models, so take advantage of the great sales (if you can).

9) Thanksgiving - how great is the second greatest holiday ever!  Another opportunity to hang with the family and friends (put up with that one family relative); show off your Martha Stewart-entertaining skills; and/or eat turkey for four or more days.

10)  Prelude to winter  - Okay, so it's not all about food and drinks, or is it?  (Oh, yes it is!!!).  But seriously, fall is a prelude into winter and all the greatness of that season—evenings by a blazing hot fireplace, weekends reading in bed while snuggled in warm fleecy PJ's, while looking forward to Christmas and New Year's.

In addition, our lovely Crissy's birthday is in October.

I've listed my ten favorites reasons to love fall.   What are some of yours'?

Awesome views of leaves changing....

did anyone say Oktoberfest?!

Wiener-Snitzel

a good time to plan to take that long-awaited trip.....

fresh produce and more:
Di Pieros Farm
300 W Grand Ave, Montvale, NJ 07645
(201) 391-4576


apple picking: 
91 Wemrock Rd, Freehold, NJ 07728
(732) 462-0756

Oktoberfest celebrations
132 W. Houston St. (SoHo location) and 7A 109 Avenue A (East Village location), (212) 812-1482; (212) 812-1482

Comments are always welcomed.
  

Snap Krackle 'n Pop!: Ode to the Jersey Shore.....

Snap Krackle 'n Pop!: Ode to the Jersey Shore.....: Having bought a small place on long Island eight years ago, I don't often get the chance to visit the Jersey Shore as often as I'd l...

Ode to the Jersey Shore.....

Having bought a small place on long Island eight years ago, I don't often get the chance to visit the Jersey Shore as often as I'd like.

This summer I had the rare opportunity of visiting three times, and what a treat that was!

love the color of the water and the calm waves......

Bathers soaking it up......

Rocks in background home to thousands of tiny small creatures....

Sunset somewhere at the Jersey shore.

As the picture reads: Point Pleasant in 2009.  

Yet, as the three-year anniversary of Sandy approaches, I call to mind the devastation we suffered in the Northeast at the hands of Sandy.  And while I realize that New Orleans and surrounding areas didn't have it at all easy with Katrina, we here in the Northeast, particularly in Staten Island and at the Jersey shore had our share of devastation with Sandy.  I'm sure most of you remember the pictures, the jokes, and all the comments on social media.

I had forgotten just how breathtaking our shores are.  How crystal-clear and green our waters can be.  How the good the grainy Jersey sand feels under our feet—no rocky sand here!  The contrasts to Long Island beaches are quiet obvious.  For one—the water is much warmer, as are the waves more tolerable.  And of course, the people are so friendly.  We can still get taffy at any beach, and there's always the amusement park at almost every beach.

Barnegat lighthouse on the northern tip of Long Beach Island towers magestically......

one of so many beaches along the Jersey shore.....

Point Pleasant sunset.....

What Sandy did to New Jersey and New York, particularly to the Jersey shore was inconceivable, as the pictures show.  But what a welcome change!  Sometimes God works in mysterious ways!  Take for example the town of Asbury Park.  I remember looking at houses there in the summer of 2007 when we were in the market for a second home; and passing the abandoned casino and the beach bereft of any human life.  And now it has taken a new life—modern buildings and restaurants, well-manicured green areas, and new updated parks sprouting about everywhere.  If you missed a trip this year, there's still time.  Now that most of the tourists have gone home and the beaches are freer may be one of the best times to visit.

Lastly, I would like to mention the Stella Marina Restaurant right on the beach and adjacent to the old casino, it is by far one of the better restaurants I've had the pleasure of dining at.  The food is fresh, delicious, and presented in a pleasing way.   The ambiance is chic and modern and there is a well-stocked bar and a wine list to rival any.  We hope that this place stays in business for many years to come.  I will certainly go back.

more interesting artwork at the old casino......

Gables Inn & Restaurant in Beach Haven. on LBI ....

there's nothing like the fresh ocean air to bring you invigorate one's soul....

the newly renovated  boardwalk....

Jersey native Bruce Springsteen gave a free concert here just a day before we arrived.  Other popular musicians like Jon Bon Jovi, Patti Scialfa, and Southside Johnny all started their careers here.

Depictions of Jayne Mansfield, reminicent of Andy Warhol's work, grace the outer walls of the old casino.

All pictures are courtesy of Google Pictures!

 

Snap Krackle 'n Pop!: New York City—it's always a good time!

Snap Krackle 'n Pop!: New York City—it's always a good time!: Living only fifteen minutes from the City via the George Washington Bridge, you'd think I'd get in more often.   Yet the truth i...

New York City—it's always a good time!

Living only fifteen minutes from the City via the George Washington Bridge, you'd think I'd get in more often.   Yet the truth is that since being diagnosed with fibromyalgia, it's getting harder for me to do so.  I will, however, on occasion drive my car in.  For the most part, I have no problem finding parking in the street, as was the case this Sunday when we attended Emily's inaugural yoga class.  And whenever I'm in the City I aim to fit as much as I possibly can into my trip.

Needless to say, it turns out our girl is a great teacher.  I had already preset my own standard of her abilities as a first-time instructor and she passed the test with flying colors.  Because of my recent diagnosis, I need to be careful about venturing into anything that may make things worse.  The message on Emily's top, which read, "Take me to Nirvana" was definitely a precursor to putting me (and everyone else) in a positive frame of mind.

Emily in front of giraffe with Victoria on left and moi on right

another shot of the group.....

Because the yoga class was held on Chrystie Street, a mere steps from Canal Street which leads right into the classical Manhattan Bridge Arch and into the Manhattan Bridge, after our class I invited the girls to tour the area with me.  As I'm sure often happens with most folk who live so close to any famous city,  I am totally guilty of not taking full advantage of what this exciting city has to offer.

Posing in front of the Manhattan Bridge Arch

Our yogi

The renovated Manhattan Bridge 

For starters, there's Chinatown which is always a thrill to traverse on foot.  I love the variety of goods for sale, from all kinds of fruits and vegetables, clothing and accessories, to just about anything else under the sun.  The scents and smells that emanate from this part of the City is unlike anything else.  The smell of both rotten and fresh fish invigorated my nostrils and brought me back to the present.  A couple of steps down, a young Asian couple seemed at odds—the  girl pleading with the boy, as tears rolled down her pretty but pale porcelain face.  Across the street at the five-block outdoor park that runs parallel to Chrystie, a concert of sorts was taking place, infusing the air with somewhat unfamiliar sounds of music.  And I could go on.

Upon my recommendation, after our sojourn through probably Manhattan's most colorful neighborhood, with Emily leading the way, we walked in a northerly-western direction in search of healthy fare.  After all we had just done yoga and were in a healthy-food state-of-mind.  We passed on pasta at Little Italy and continued up Bowery to Kenmare to Spring, where after careful consideration we decided on Spring Street Natural Food on the edge of Soho.   This is, without doubt, one of the best natural food offerings on this side of the island.  Emily has brought several out of town guests here and they have all loved the food.  Although the pictures don't do the dishes much justice, take my word everything was superbly fresh and delicious, from the carefully stacked beet salad in a ginger-honey dressing, to the veggie burgers and the roasted chicken salad.

Roasted Chicken Salad 

all natural veggie burger....

Beet Salad.....

Clean and aesthetically pleasing atmosphere.... 

All in all, the day trip was perfect from beginning to end.  No, I didn't end up driving Emily home to Brooklyn, but she got herself home on the subway even before Victoria and I got back home.

• Spring Street Natural 
  62 Spring St
  New York, NY 10012
  b/t Mulberry St & Lafayette St 
  SoHo
• Get Directions
• Transit information466XSpring St. and 2 more stations
• Phone number(212) 966-0290
• Message the business
• Business websitespringstreetnatural.com