• New York City, food, books, friends and love

    M and I recently had the pleasure of taking a very quick trip to New York City. We celebrated the 9th anniversary of our first date by enjoying a long walk through Manhattan, eating real pizza, splurging on ice cream sundaes from Serendipity 3 and generally just loving every second we got to spend together.

    Other things that happened:

    * We tried two new restaurants — Five Napkin Burger and Polpette — both of which were excellent.

    * According to his Fitbit, M walked more than 70,000 steps. Because he’s insane.

    * I walked about a third of that and still managed to develop huge, squishy, debilitating blisters on both of my feet. The last two days of the trip were spent hobbling, which made me feel old. Very old.

    * We had the opportunity to see movies in the morning and late at night, neither of which we can do in New Hampshire.

    * The company of friends was thoroughly enjoyed.

    * A rousing game of Cards Against Humanity ensued, one that will be forever remembered for its hilarious use of tentacle porn and corn starch.

    * M turned me around on a hot button political issue.

    * A fictional president fired his wife.

    * I finally learned who Castle’s father was.

    * We went on a shopping spree at The Strand. Here’s what I’ll be reading in the months and years to come:

    strandbooks

  • chocolate ice cream

    2 scoops of Häagen-Dazs happiness

    Back in the early 1990s, I used to buy ice cream from a Häagen-Dazs store in south Miami. The tiny shop was always an air-conditioned oasis from the miserable South Florida heat and humidity, and just walking through the doors would put a smile upon my face.

    Each Häagen-Dazs store offers different ice cream options — including flavors you can’t buy by the pint at the grocery store — and this one was no exception. My favorite flavor was chocolate chocolate chip mint, served in a bowl without adornments. The creamy bittersweet chocolate ice cream was filled with tiny shards of chocolate chips that were tinged with a refreshing hint of mint. I’d order a large, two-scoop cup topped with a lid, hide the container in my purse and then sneak it into the movie theater next door. Once the house lights dimmed, I’d surreptitiously pull out my treat and revel in every spoonful.

    I haven’t been back to Miami in several years. I don’t even know if that store is still there. Nor have I been able to find that flavor in any other Häagen-Dazs shop. But I still dream of that delicious ice cream, and I hope that one day I’ll get a chance to taste it again.

    (Photo by og-vision)

  • Books

    5 true confessions of a jaded mind

    When I was in high school, I worked the phone bank for the The MDA Show of Strength over a Labor Day weekend. On Tuesday morning, after my alarm went off, I hit the top of the clock and automatically replied, “Jerry Lewis Telethon. How may I help you?”

    On the rare occasions that I mix ‘Quik into a glass of milk, I always add an extra scoop. I won’t stir it in, though. I like to eat the gritty bit that doesn’t dissolve.

    If you see me in the grocery store, and I’m wearing headphones, it’s likely I’m running from zombies.

    My home is far more cluttered than I’d like it to be.

    Whenever I start a new novel, I read the first five chapters. Then, I flip to the end to see how many chapters are left. Don’t know why, but I must know this in order to keep reading.

  • pots and pans

    My latest cooking/baking adventures

    This week, I created the following dishes:

    * Pork chops, spicy couscous and corn
    * Balsamic steak with roasted carrots and potatoes
    * Pizza
    * Chicken tacos
    * Tortilla soup
    * Chicken tikka masala with basmati rice and naan
    * Pork chops with macaroni and cheese and broccoli

    Recipes are available upon request.

    (Photo by Damian Siwiaszczyk)

  • Knives

    Roundup of my cooking/baking adventures

    This week, I created the following dishes:

    * Prime rib with mashed potatoes and salad
    * Tonkatsu with sushi rice
    * Tortilla soup
    * Pork tenderloin with pomegranate glaze and a cauliflower gratin
    * Chicken ramen soup
    * Blood orange-glazed wild Alaskan sockeye salmon with brown butter gnocchi
    * Steak with mashed potatoes and asparagus
    * Blondies

    Recipes are available upon request.