Adventures in New York City

I recently took a short trip to New York City to celebrate the 30th birthday of one of my leading ladies. And while, in theory, seven women should be able to take the town hard, I found many of us were mostly content with wandering the streets snapping photos, enjoying slow meals, having some cocktails, and calling it a night early (that's not to say that some didn't stay out to witness the sunrise). I have to admit that I'm really trying to accept the fact that my early twenties are so far behind me. I guess it happens.. C'est la vie!

Now if I could only think of something to do for my own 30th this year! Sure, I might not do anything near as exciting as escaping to one of the busiest cities in the world, but I'm sure it'll be great all the same. Without further ado, here are some photos from my adventure...

*Scroll down to the bottom for spots I especially enjoyed on this mini-vacay.

foggy

Laura, sweet Laura.

 

Brooklyn 

 Midtown

the High Line

 

                                                    

Central Park

these street performers were KILLING it

The Frying Pan (or, a place for people who like to wear boat shoes and nautical-themed apparel when approaching a boat) (also, kinda fun)

For many of you, a list of all the best spots in NYC might be a no-brainer, but it had been ages since I had been and wanted to visit some places that might not be on everyone's must-see lists.

Some of my favorites included:

The Butcher's Daughter Juice Bar & Cafe
19 Kenmare Street, New York, NY, $$

Fresh vegan eats at a pretty affordable price for the city. We were able to sit outside, albeit underneath a scaffold for construction, which actually worked in our favor because it was raining. The restaurant itself might be the cutest place I've ever eaten, and the food was pretty incredible. Go! (The place next store has great ambiance if you're looking for a pre-show cocktail. The pop music from my teens that started halfway through our visit, however, was a little off-putting. Beware!)


The Coffee Shop Restaurant
29 Union Square West, New York, NY, $ - $$

I have some mixed feelings on this place. First, I really liked the atmosphere at the front of the house; however, our party was seated in the back and it was COMPLETELY different. It was a bit too loud to actually have any type of conversation, but the cocktails were A+ in my mind (try the passion fruit bellini). The food was so-so. I had a salad with some interesting toppings but nothing to write home about. All and all, I've heard great things but didn't really see it myself. Go for the drinks but maybe settle for a meal somewhere else. (This place is notably open 23 hours a day, so probably for the drunk crowd who can't really tell what food tastes like at that point anyway.)

Momofuku Milk Bar
Multiple Locations
15W 56th St, New York, NY (between 5th and 6th avenues), $

Momofuku Milk Bar was a stop on this trip no matter what happened. I actually ventured there by myself after strolling for hours at Chelsea Market and realizing I didn't really care about what everyone was looking at. I headed to the shop near our hotel, in Midtown, and picked up an assorted variety of freshly baked cookies to bring home (try blueberry and cream, compost cookie, cornflake marshmallow, and confetti). I'm also guilty of indulging in a cereal milk milkshake because where else are you going to find those? Bonus: my friends surprised the birthday girl with a cake from this place and it was TO DIE FOR. So moist and delicious. IF you are in New York, go, and try ALL THE COOKIES! P.S. The other half once had compost cookies shipped to me in Atlanta and I've been craving them ever since (easy peasy shipping, people). Momofuku is also famous for their noodle bar, so hit that up too. I wanted to try the ramen but just couldn't work it in.


We actually visited quite a number of little cafes in Brooklyn to enjoy a beverage and rest for a bit, but I didn't manage to document those places despite how pleasant they were. Darn! I can definitely say skip the Thai in the food halls at Chelsea Market, DO NOT order a specialty cocktail from the Beauty Bar, unless you enjoy drinking straight sugar (note: head towards the back with a beer to avoid the fumes of nail polish and you'll be rewarded with comfortable seating and prime people watching), and try to see a show at The Bowery Ballroom if you're hankering for live music. The space is beautiful, the sound is good, and drinks reasonable. Just make sure you like the band you're seeing or it'll be a long night.

I know I missed so many cool spots in the Big Apple, but it was a short trip and I really enjoyed spending time with my lady friends now that we're scattered all over the world (literally). Hope you can use some of this information to plan your own trip and maybe share some spots that you think should never be missed.

Bon Voyage!

Share on Facebook| Share on Twitter| Share on Pinterest

Love and Olive Oil's April Kitchen Challenge: Eclairs

If you can believe it, there was once a time in my life when I couldn't make pie crust from scratch. Actually, before that, cupcakes. For whatever reason, I decided during my sophomore year of college that I was going to teach myself to bake. I had never cared for baking before, or cooking for that matter, but loved gazing at all the beautiful sweet treats at my local bakery and thought I could make those too. I'm a sucker for a challenge and will accomplish anything I put my mind to, so, when I saw that one of my favorite food bloggers, Love and Olive Oil, hosted monthly challenges, I decided to join.

The challenge for April was eclairs and whoa man! are they work. I must note that these really are for an experienced baker. Seriously. Start with cookies or cupcakes if you're wanting to get into baking and move from there. They may not be the most difficult but they're incredibly time consuming (try 7 hours from start to finish). Honestly, my biggest challenge, aside from lack of patience, was getting the filling in the pastry, so it could have been much worse.

Fortunately, I had tasted an eclair pretty recently to know what I didn't want mine to turn out like. It seems that eclairs often get a bad rap because bakeries around the country keep them on the shelf past their best taste date. Bummer. So this was my chance to make a fresh eclair and enjoy it immediately. They were delicious!

Eclair recipes can be found anywhere on the internet, but I used the Bouchon Bakery recipe found in their book:

Tasty!

In the end, my book club group got to enjoy fresh eclairs during our meeting, and I got to try something new. It was a win. The monthly challenge is such a great idea and I can't wait to do it again. Thanks, Love and Olive Oil for hosting!

Share on Facebook| Share on Twitter| Share on Pinterest

Dark Chocolate Fudgy Brownies for VDay

Following my last post on Valentine's Day, I'm going to introduce you to the most delicious brownies you'll ever taste that could also be the perfect little addition to your love notes. I'm totally serious when I say these are the best you'll ever taste. We can discuss this after you've made them. Deal?

It's been sometime since I've really craved something sweet; however, when I saw this recipe on Pinterest, I was determined to make it for a Valentine's Day treat and devour it myself. I'm big on honesty over here. I changed it up a bit because I LOVE dark chocolate and desired less chocolate chunks in the batter than the original recipe called for, but I've linked the original so you can try them either way. It really is a recipe that you could alter to your own liking without ruining the whole thing. So... enjoy!

1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/4 cup dark cocoa powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Line a 9x9 baking dish with parchment paper.  (I don't actually own a 9x9 dish and didn't want to use my 9x13 for fear of really thin brownies so used a 9" pie dish instead. It works!)
Beat the butter, sugar, and vanilla in a stand mixer. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well between each addition.
Stir together the flour, cocoa powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture. Mix in the baking soda.
Mix in the chocolate chips with a spatula.
Once a thick batter forms, scrape it into the prepared dish and spread evenly.
Bake for 25 minutes, until brownies begin to pull away from the side of the pan. *I pulled mine out just before so they'd be extra gooey, but that's your call.

*Recipe taken and adapted from somethingswanky.com

Let me be honest for a minute. My first approach to this recipe consisted of scooping the batter into the cutest little heart-shaped silicone molds so that you'd have many servings of little brownie treats to hand out. That whole plan, however, was thrown out the window when I found my heart-shaped cookie cutter in the utensil drawer while prepping. I thought I could get away with using it instead. And you can. Sort of. You can use a cookie cutter once the brownies have cooled completely. I, needless to say, did not wait. I only got one out before realizing I was being a greedy idiot and waited so that I could get three more out. Of course, I saved all the scraps and have been snacking on them since, but it was a little messy. If you're looking for more treats,  I'd say go with the molds, or stick to a pan and cut them out yourself. It's just prettier.

The drill... Bake > cool > wrap up all crafty like > snack on a few pieces > hand out to the one(s) you love!

 

And just like that, you've gone and outdone yourself without doing much at all. :)

 Cheers!

Share on Facebook| Share on Twitter| Share on Pinterest

A Recipe & Review: Cocoa Almond Granola by Joy the Baker

If there's one blog you absolutely need to be reading, it's Joy Wilson's Joy the Baker food blog. People, she is hilarious, and her recipes are always incredibly tasty. I think most of her subscribers secretly want to be her best friend. Right?! If you're thinking about getting a cookbook that offers sweet treats, baked goods, and green smoothies, this one has to be on your kichen shelf! 

As part of my decision to start including recipe books in my review list, I've been confronted with the dilemma of how one actually reviews a cookbook. Do you try everything single recipe and then report back? Or, do you try a few things, give it a yay or nay, and call it a day? 

The latter seemed like the most reasonable option because if you're anything like me you probably have a ton cookbooks-- some you rely on to make a few delicacies on special occasions, gifts that are beautiful but too scary to actually bake from, and then all the others that are totally reliable companions (save from a fire type books). So, with all that being said, this recipe will be the first installment of three recipes sampled from one title. 

*Note: I would never actually save a cookbook from a fire, or any book for that matter (gasps), but I would certainly get my cats out. 

I decided I'd tackle a recipe that's popular, seldom made at home, and perfect for gifting. 

GRANOLA

Yes, granola. I love the stuff. I eat it sprinkled over my oatmeal or cereal, I mix it in greek yogurt, or scoop it up for a quick snack. The crunch is such a beautiful thing. Plus, granola is incredibly easy to make and doesn't require a lot of time. Win!

Recipe from Joy the Baker Cookbook: 100 Simple and Comforting Recipes

Cocoa Almond Granola  

  

4 cups old-fashioned oats

1 cup raw whole almonds

1 cup sweetened shredded coconut

1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

2 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup honey

1/3 cup vegetable oil

2 Tbsp butter

2 tsp pure vanilla extract

Place racks in the center and upper third of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside. (I used one large baking sheet and a silpat liner.)

In a large bowl, toss together oats, almonds, coconut, cinnamon, cocoa powder and salt. Set aside.

In a medium saucepan combine sugar, honey, oil and butter. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves and mixture begins to bubble. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.

Pour the warm sugar mixture over the oat mixture and toss with a wooden spoon. Toss until all of the oats and almond bits are at least moistened by the sugar mixture. Spoon mixture onto prepared baking sheets and place in the oven.

Bake granola for 30 minutes, removing from the oven to toss and stir 2 to 3 times during baking. Granola is done when it is toasted around the edges and fragrant. 

Remove from the oven and cool completely. Store in an airtight container, at room temperature, for up to 2 weeks.

Recipe: 4.5 stars out of 5 (reliable companion).

Give it a try! I'm sure you'll love it. 

Share on Facebook| Share on Twitter| Share on Pinterest

A Post: Recipes for Bookworms?

Hi there, bookworms!

I can't tell you how much I enjoy blogging. I love setting goals, working towards them, and meeting great people along the way. However, as much as I love it, I want to make sure you love reading it!

As you know, I occasionally feature my baking creations and really love the process and the feedback. With that being said, I'm thinking about incorporating reviews of cookbooks and the like into the blogging schedule, but wanted to put some feelers out first. Is this something you'd want to see here? If so, let me know in the comments below. Specific requests? Go ahead and throw those up there as well!

Feel free to leave any other suggestions of things you'd like to see in this space!

- Beth

Share on Facebook| Share on Twitter| Share on Pinterest

A Post: Blondies for Your Valentines

I'm not actually a huge fan of the holiday that pushes candy (I'm ok with the chocolate) and roses and diamonds. However, I am a big fan of the pretty little cards that you can find at places like here, here and here. And baking treats like those you see above... I'm sorry, but also not sorry because they are delicious!

I snagged this recipe from one of my favorite foodie sites, Simply Recipes:

Things you'll need:

• 1/2 cup of butter, melted
• 1 cup of tightly packed dark brown sugar
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/8 teaspoon of baking soda
• Pinch of salt
• 1 cup of all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup of butterscotch chips (I added chocolate chips, too.)

To make:

1 Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly butter and flour an 8X8 pan. Whisk together the melted butter and sugar in a bowl.

2 Add the egg and vanilla extract and whisk.

3 Add the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt, mix it all together. Add the butterscotch chips or other mix-ins.

4 Pour into the pan (I poured mine into individual silicone cups) and spread evenly. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool. Cut into squares and serve.

(Gooey goodness)

So, what are your plans for the holiday? Any treats you'd like to share?! I'd love to see them!

Happy Valentine's Day, bookworms!

Share on Facebook| Share on Twitter| Share on Pinterest

A Post: Deliver the Christmas Cheer

I can't believe it's already mid-December! It seems like Thanksgiving just ended and I was just starting to decorate the apartment, begin the wrapping and light the pine scented candles. It actually felt too early. Like I was betraying Thanksgiving in some way. However, I guess I'm glad I got a start on it all because it's less than a week away! I got the shopping done early, and actually only had to call about two gifts that were missing, and fight over one parking space to replace one of those aforementioned gifts. So. I'm officially done with the gift getting and have a few packages to wrap up before I can sit back and relax.

Our apartment's generally clear surfaces are currently covered by boxes wrapped in festive paper and bags full of surprises. I love to choose little things for my loved ones that I know will bring the biggest smile. I keep mental notes of all the things they've mentioned throughout the year so they get the perfect little something. However, purchased items aren't always the meaning of success, so I decided to throw in some homemade gifts to lighten the load and spread the love. Sorry for all the Instagram/camera filtered photos... I was too lazy to get out the dslr.

Here's a couple I'd like to share that are simple enough to finish just in time for the big day.




S'mores Kits

I initially found this gem on Pinterest during Halloween. When I saw Christmas tree shaped Peeps at the grocery story, I figured I'd give it a go. S'mores just happen to be one of my most favorite desserts, and these festive little trees make it the cutest treat.

What you'll need: (Note: I'm a craft hoarder, ask J.. he'll confirm, so I had all of this stuff around the house. I'm saying this so you don't feel like a weirdo if you don't.)

1 box Christmas tree shaped Peeps (they also have gingerbread men and snowmen)
1 bag Hershey's mini bars
1 box of graham crackers (if you're feeling up to it you can make your own, I like this recipe.)
Sandwich bags
Treat bags
Ribbon, Yarn or Twine

I use sandwich bags to keep the contents fresh so that the recipient can choose to eat them right away or save for later. If you have a vacuum sealer, you're way cooler than me, and should definitely use that. Place two graham crackers, two Peeps and two hershey bars next to one another (you can also play around with the placement) in the sandwich bag and seal. Place within a festive treat bag, or sheet of tissue paper, or piece of burlap, and make a neat bow with the decorative ribbon, yarn or twine. I also bought mini snowflakes, used a hole punch, and threaded the ribbon through to make gift tags, but you can do whatever you want to add a little extra flair. Finish by smiling innocently while handing over to children already full of SUGAR.

I gave these to all the kids in my extended family and they loved them. Their parents can pop them in the microwave for a quick dessert, or they can snack on the items individually. It might not be the most HEALTHY holiday treat on your list, but it's definitely tasty! It's also really quick and easy. So... you're welcome & enjoy!


Chocolate Chunk Blondies (recipe featured and adapted from Shutterbean.com)

If you haven't tried a recipe from Tracy's blog, you need to do something about that ASAP because they are the best. Like Joy the Baker (they actually have a podcast together), she features delicious goodies that are sometimes healthy, and a lot of times not, with good ingredients and awesome photo steps to match. To say I'm in love with her blog is an understatement. When I saw her recipe for these blondies, I knew I had to make them for my Dad's family Christmas party. Total success. Seriously, I didn't even get to bring any left overs home, which is rare considering the amount of desserts often present.

(I briefly considered using butterscotch with chocolate chips, which you can totally do, but decided against it. Next time, I say!)

What you'll need:

• 1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed I used half dark and half light, but it's whatever
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts I'm weird about nuts in my desserts so I didn't add these
• 12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips 
• Small bag of decorative M&Ms of your choice I chose the green and red colored, dark chocolate.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour an 8 x 12 x 2 inch baking pan.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar on high speed for 3 minutes, until light and fluffy. With the mixer on low, add the vanilla, then the eggs, one at a time, and mix well, scraping down the bowl. In a small bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda and salt and with the mixer still on low, slowly add flour mixture to the butter mixture. Fold in chocolate chips with a rubber spatula.
Spread the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. I chose to add festive M&Ms to the top of the blondies to make a little design. Lightly press them into the very top of the dough in whatever design you choose or sprinkle them over (again lightly pressing in). Bake for 30 minutes (or what seems like forever in my ridiculous oven).

The finished product: 

Hope everyone is having a happy holiday! Remember to reach out to all those that love and let them know how much you care. :)

Share on Facebook| Share on Twitter| Share on Pinterest

Snacks from Scratch - Homemade Cheez-Its

This blog kind of turned into all the things that take up my free time.  Hey, you guys must reap the benefits sometimes. I hope, anyway.

A week ago, J and I went on a little Midwest adventure to visit family and take a mini-vacation before returning to the routine.  We drove from Atlanta to Illinois and then back again in the of span 5 days.  We stopped in Chicago (my first visit!) and Louisville before the grand finale: Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee.  It was fantastic.  J + the road + singalongs + open fields + new destinations. What's not to love? To make the trip a little better (and to save a little $$) I decided to pack up some goodies, made in our very own kitchen, to satiate J's need for delicious snacks while driving 11 hours.  Eek!  (This especially works if you're trying to clean out the fridge or cupboard before taking off for a bit.)

I'd love to call this one my own. Sadly, I'm relegated to saying that I can bake them fantastically, but certainly didn't think this one up.  If you don't follow The Cozy Kitchen, please take a moment after reading to take a peek. You will thank me.

Homemade Black Pepper Cheez-Its

Way easy.  And SO much better than that big red box you pick up at the grocery store.  If you love to bake, you have to try them.  I give you my word.

Enjoy! 

Share on Facebook| Share on Twitter| Share on Pinterest