Author: Laren

  • This Week’s Posts

    Ok, ok, so I've been somewhat crappy with the blogging around here, but busy with my weekly posts elsewhere!  So far this year on Serious Eats New York:

    Mix It Up: Kumquat Caipirinha at Yerba Buena Perry

    Meet & Eat: Adam Roberts, The Amateur Gourmet

    Mix It Up: Sicilian Sling at Veloce Club

    Meet & Eat: Gianfranco Verga at Louis 649

    More writing to come over here, I promise.

  • Ice Ice Baby

    Ice

    These spherical beauties didn't make it into my last Mix it Up column but I thought they needed a moment in the spotlight.  Pretty, huh?

  • I’m Tall!

    According to my doctor, I am 5' 1 3/4".  Having been 5' 1" my entire life, this means that either I have stopped slouching or have actually grown 3/4 inch, either of which would be a minor miracle.  That said, my drivers license says that I'm 6' 1", which is clearly not true.

  • Pure Porcine Pleasure

    Bacon (before)

    (bacon — before; forgot to photograph the after)

    One of the highlights of this past weekend was yesterday's all-day brunchfest.  It began even before my co-chef arrived at 9 a.m. (guests weren't due till 1, but he was slightly overeager about our cooking schedule), when I put two trays of thick-cut bacon in the oven at 200 degrees.  This bacon then proceeded to cook for about 4 hours, caramelizing into the most delicious bacon ever. 

    I have to thank my friend Rachel for this recipe — and I promise you it's well worth getting up early for.  If you can flip it once during the four-hour cooking time, great, but if not, no worries.  And not only is the end result amazing, but it'll fill your home with bacony aromas while it cooks (and while, ideally, you go back to sleep). 

  • Interesting Tidbits

    Good reading out there this week!  First, be sure to read about Justice Sotomayor in the New Yorker.  Next, learn how lack of sleep is impacting women, and get on board for the challenge of sleeping a minimum of 7.5 hours per night (I am failing miserably thus far).  Finally, read about breakups in the age of digital social networking and how it makes them suck all the more. 

    And, of course, my weekly interview on Serious Eats; stay tuned for Mix It Up there later this afternoon!

  • Nap vs. Gym

    On certain days, when I haven't gotten as much sleep as I'd like, I always wonder which would make me feel more refreshed — a nap or a trip to the gym.  Given the fact that I don't really have the option of napping at work, I tend to go to the gym, which perks me up for a bit, but then I'll often feel more tired in an hour or two afterward.  If a nap was a true option, which do you think would help you get through your day — a nap or a quick work out?

  • A Sluggish Start

    I rang in 2010 with dear friends and great food and wine (which is how all New Years Eves should be spent, in my opinion) in cozy condo in snow-covered Ludlow, VT.  I cross-country skied on New Years Day, working up a sweat and enjoying being outside on a gorgeous day.  But by the end of the evening, I wasn't feeling great, and woke up with a fever and a vicious sore throat, which is still lingering.  I spent the entire next day in my red flannel pj's, sleeping on and off, and watching the snow blow around outside.  This, of course, was not a bad way to spend a day, but I had planned on downhill skiing, so it wasn't quite the same.  I did get to have tomato soup and grilled cheese for lunch, though, which was a bonus. 

    Having just been hit with a massive head cold right before Christmas, I have to admit that I'm slightly concerned about the heartiness of my immune system these days, so I plan to tone things down a bit this month in order to rebuild and strengthen it.  Any/all suggestions are welcome.

  • Resolution

    In keeping with the theme of two-word resolutions, I offer my resolution for 2010:  Let Go.  I was inspired by this article, which I hope can inspire many of you as well.  There are certain things articulated in the article that I can certainly focus on more than others, but overall, the message is to let go.

    I am going offline until 2010.  I wish you all a happy, healthy New Year and, as always, I am grateful for all the magnificent people who have made my life so amazing thus far.  See you on the flip side.

  • Puppy Love

    Teddy_photos

    Considering getting a dog by the end of 2010, which will give me enough time to build up a budget for a dog-walker, doggie insurance, food, and the occasional kennel/dog-sitter when I travel.  Thoughts?
  • Older, and Hopefully Wiser

    It was my birthday yesterday.  This is the first time I genuinely was not particularly looking forward to it, but that said, it turned out to be a chance to reflect and to be reminded of how amazing my life is and to treasure the people that are in it.  Now, granted, Facebook makes it very easy to wish people a happy birthday, but that doesn't make receiving the birthday greetings any less special.  Several of those who took the time to post a note on my wall or on Twitter were people I didn't even know a year ago — this year I've met more people than any year in recent memory.  Others who reached out both there and by phone and email were people who have been in my life for a very long time.  I hope they will all be in my life for the rest of it.

    A special thanks to Jenn D., Sara & Arlan, Lauren, Caroline, Kim & John for closing out the day with great company and Momofuku fried chicken.