Monday, September 17, 2012

I HAVE A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT....




I know I have been an AWFUL blogger, but I swear I'm going to turn that around.  November 1st I'm moving to Madrid for a year to teach English and do some traveling around Europe so of course Espresso Cookie Ice Cream will be coming with  me.

Until then I will keep you all in the loop with the visa process, packing and the move...I know those don't seem like the most exciting posts but once I get there it will be posts about food, travel, teaching English and other adventures!

WISH ME LUCK!

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Blueberry Banana Greek Yogurt Bread

Blueberry Banana Greek Yogurt Bread

Whenever I go to Trader Joe's I end up with way too much produce for one person to go through in a week.  So yesterday I realized there was no chance of eating the bananas and blue berries before they went bad, so I decided to do a little baking.



           Ingredients  

  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 cup flour



  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt


  • 1/2 cup brown sugar


  • 1/4 cup organic cane sugar


  • 2 large ripe bananas


  • 1 tsp vanilla


  • 2 eggs


  • 1/2 cup Greek yogurt


  • 1 cup fresh blueberries

                                                                              Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Start by combining flour, baking powder, and salt in a large mixing bowl.
In a separate bowl, mash bananas with a fork until they are gooey and liquid-like. Add eggs, sugars, vanilla, and a dollop of Greek yogurt.
Whisk until combined (and the lumps are gone).
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, and mix until just combined.  At this point, fold in the fresh blueberries.
Pour batter into a greased loaf pan and distribute evenly.
Bake for 1 hour or until Golden Brown and toothpick comes out clean
**Mine started getting a little too brown before the inside was cooked so I tented it with tinfoil the
    last 25 min


Don't worry... Laguna Beach/Newport, Italy, and Hoboken still to come on restaurant week!!!

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Restaurant Week Part 2...Paris

Obviously one of the best cities in the world for food. In a city where one meal was better than the next I narrowed it down to just a few for the sake of not letting this post get to lone. I understand that they say "french women don't get fat" but send an America there and its all over....




Lasserre this may have been one of the most amazing meals I have ever had. From the time you enter you're treated like royalty brought up the elevator by the impeccably dressed staff to a stunning dining room I've ever seen.  I can't even make a suggestion for what to order to because everything was amazing.

Le 404 in Paris, is a trendy Moroccan restaurant and they only take reservations a week in advance, and they only have two seating times each night. The food is good, portions very big (especially for french standards), and its not too expensive. The Tagines and couscous are delicious!!! 

L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon has two paris locations, and is absolutely amazing. With two Michelin stars this place has impeccable food as well as service.   When you walk in it's set up like a sushi bar and when I went they didn't take reservations we had to head over when they open at 5:30 to put out name in for later that night, but I think that may have changed now.  Their famous mashed potatoes were complementary and oh so creamy and rich. Make sure you try the souffle, Le Jambon Iberico de Bellota (aged Iberico ham on toast), and the foie gras amuse bouche.

Other Favorites
Lunch and macaroons at Laduree


Next up...Miami




Monday, July 23, 2012

Restaurant Week...Part 1 NYC

Last Monday, the 16th started NYC's Summer Restaurant Week, its actually more than a week long, ends August 10th.  Since I have two more weeks of my life revolving around reservations and food, I figured my blog should also follow suit, so each of my next posts I will choose a different city around the world and highlight some of my favorite restaurants/plates in that city.  Today, the greatest city in the world...New York.



Sushi of Gari this actually may be my all time favorite restaurant in NY.  Most sushi places its just about the grade of fish, but here the sushi chefs are just that, "chefs" they use sauces, searing and vegetables to make the most amazing meal you'll ever have.  When you go you have to do the chef's tasting menu, the salmon with sauteed tomatoes is absolutely to die for .  While it may a bit on the expensive its well worth it. They aren't participating in restaurant week but I'd still suggest making your way over.


Il Mulino amazing staple NYC Italian food.  It may be a bit on the expensive side but its just too good to avoid.  Favorite dish is the Scaloppine De Vitella Al Champange. Its veal sauteed in chicken, champagne and vegetable, mushroom and prosciutto. They are participating in restaurant week but only for lunch.  Make a reservation ASAP.


Flex Mussels I actually ate here on Friday.  This place is great for groups, when we go everyone gets a different pot of mussels and we just keep getting endless amounts of bread to throw in each other's pots and sop up the mussel juice. Friday I got the french onion soup mussels, which were amazing but I also have to recommend the parma mussels a guilty pleasure where the sauce is made with cheese and cream.  You also cannot pass up the dessert, the donuts are light fluffy and there are tons a flavors to choose from, and the fried whoopee pie is a must!

There are so many good restaurants in NY I think I'm going to have to start posting one a week before this post gets too long.

Tomorrow....Paris.






Friday, July 20, 2012

Happy Friday!

Quote to live by
Champagne date on the stoop to celebrate gorgeous weather














Thursday, July 19, 2012

I may not be a fashion blogger...

...but I can still post a fun summer day drinking outfit.

Vintage DB Purse, Madewell Dress, and Beige belt

....and perhaps a summer charity event outfit or two (LET ME KNOW WHICH ONE YOU WOULD WEAR TO A NIGHTTIME CHARITY COCKTAIL EVENT.)
French Connection Dress with Beige Louboutins or Navy Marc by Marc with Black ones


Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Madeleines.

 I may have a new obsession...Madeleines.  You know...the fluffy french butter cakes shaped like shells.  While the Madeleines from BJs may be delish nothing beats warm homemade ones, and they are oh so easy to make.  Someone gave me a silicone Madeleine pan so naturally I had to make myself a batch...or two.
  • 2 eggs
  • 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/8 teaspoon Salt
  • 1/3 cup white sugar
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest
  • 1/4 cup Butter
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar for decoration

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Butter and flour 12 (3 inch) madeleine molds; set aside.
  • Melt butter and let cool to room temperature.
  • In a small mixing bowl, beat eggs, vanilla and salt at high speed until light.
  • Beating constantly, gradually add sugar; and continue beating at high speed until mixture is thick and pale and ribbons form in bowl when beaters are lifted, 5 to 10 minutes. ****VERY IMPORTANT TO INVEST THE TIME MAKES THEM LIGHT AND FLUFFY
  • Sift flour into egg mixture 1/3 at a time, gently folding after each addition.
  • Add lemon zest and pour melted butter around edge of batter. Quickly but gently fold butter into batter. Spoon batter into molds; it will mound slightly above tops.
  • Bake 14 to 17 minutes, or until cakes are golden and the tops spring back when gently pressed with your fingertip.
  • Use the tip of the knife to loosen madeleines from pan; invert onto rack. Immediately sprinkle warm cookies with granulated sugar. Madeleines are best eaten the day they're baked. Leftover madeleines are wonderful when dunked into coffee or tea.


Ingredients lined up ready to go

Light fluffy batter ready to go....



Finished product


I also melted some chocolate and dipped them...while they tasted amazing they were a bit on the messy side so there are no pictures of it. 

My next venture with the pan will be attempting these Coconut Madeleines




I love the look of the minis too....Make sure you don't over cook them






Monday, July 16, 2012

Loving summer...or at least trying

I know I have been MIA lately but work has been crazy and I have been trying to enjoy a few moments of summer in between.  Here are a few pictures from Nantucket a few weeks back... and by a few weeks back I mean Memorial Day Weekend. 


 It was a weekend of Figawi partying, champagne, oysters, beach, boats, sunsets and relaxation.

View from my bedroom.

View from the beach.



Breakfast Doughnuts


...From The Amazing Downyflake


Boating


Kids at heart



My sister hanging out before dinner


Champagne Sunset

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Smoothies

Since I have a problem waking up more than twenty minutes before leaving for work I need on-the-go breakfasts, and since its finally warm out oatmeal is no longer an option... this week's choice was a smoothie, banana, kiwi, and chai to be exact.
Chai vega one from Whole Foods
 The five minute breakfast.  Eight ounces of water, a pack of Vega One, a banana, a kiwi,  and two-three pieces of ice thrown in a blender.


Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Shuttle Fly By


n my blogger absence last week I didn't get a chance to share my shuttle fly by pics.  The first one is a bit edited, the second one not edited at all.  Either way an amazing sight!


I

Monday, May 7, 2012

Weekend Wrap Up...Instagram style

The only pic I have of my derby outfit :( myspace much?!?!?!

Mint Juleps

Sunday View from the pier

Sunday Funday Sangria

Freedom Tower...officially the tallest in NYC as of last week.  Can't wait to see it completed.

Friday, April 27, 2012

Long Days Short Dinners

I love nothing more than coming home and cooking myself a big dinner while drinking a glass of wine but lately that hasn't been an option when I work late I try to get to the gym and at that point there is no time for cooking so this dinner has basically been a staple in my apartment the past few weeks.
Grilled Cheese, Trader Joe's Creamy Tomato Soup, Pinot Noir
For the grilled cheese I love Trader Joe's lacey swiss & colby marbled cheese.




Thursday, April 26, 2012

Next Read...

I just started a new book Spin by Catherine Mckenzie...I'm excited for this book you can read a summary here and I'll post my humble opinion as soon as I'm done

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Fat Camp The Musical.

I have a confession...I really think one of my true callings in life is to open a high end "fat camp". I can't tell you all the details because I wouldn't want you to steal my idea but it will involve a high end chef, gorgeous dorm rooms (no bunks), nutritionists, sushi, trainers, yoga, kick boxing, and any other exercises fad that is in at the time.  So when Gilt City was selling tickets to a musical called Fat Camp I had to go...


IT WAS AMAZING, while the theatre was a bit budget the show was absolutely hilarious.  Do you remember the movie Heavy Weights?!?!?! This show was heavy weights for an older crowd with 10 times more laughs.  If you go see it please remember to tell "Harry Potter boy" that I love him!!

One last confession...I wasn't the only one counting down to the opening of this show.  One of my high school friends and I have an ongoing joke that when anyone asks where we met we tell them Fat Camp, and come up with some crazy story (a new one each time).

Sunday, April 22, 2012

5 Favorites....

Here are some of my current fav items
Adorable measuring cups and spoons from Pier One

Every germ freaks dream...covered toothbrush holder (it even fits my electric toothbrush)

Baise scented oval from Diptyque Paris I think I need to order the candle.

New nude Louboutins for the spring

Hanging out with Bailey on a 78 degree spring day.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Birthday Weekend Recap

Ready to party.

AMAZING cake my sister made me...ganache, butter cream, and chocolate chips.  Recipe posts to come later this week.

Ready to light...

The cake decorations

White sangria at Friday night Cuban dinner.