Sweet Blog O'Mine

Category: Food and Drink

  • COVID-19: A Food Diary

    Hi all — I know it has been forever and ever, but I figured with all the time I might as well do something productive on my dear old blog. Moxie and I are decamped in CT with a well-stocked larder, and we wanted to share everything we're eating while we're social distancing including recipes. The pantry and freezer are stocked to the brim, but we are being mindful of eating things that will go bad first, then attacking the rest. We got here Saturday and after a snack of cheese and crackers, we had some barbecued ribs (frozen with sauce; thawed and heated in the oven) and a salad for dinner.  Sunday brunch was bacon and a broccoli, mushroom and onion egg scramble, snack was hummus and pita chips, and dinner was a hangar steak, roasted potatoes and a salad. I made some chocolate chip brownies for dessert, which we served with ice cream.

    Today is a normal work day, so we each did breakfast on our own (I had a toasted english muffin with butter and jam), and I am now making a pot of lentil soup — some to eat sooner and some to freeze for later. Stay tuned for more and I'll start to take pictures as we go. Stay safe and healthy, everyone!

  • In Today’s News

    1) My blog went down while I was on my European bike trip. That said, I was so exhausted from the cycling that I could barely draft daily summaries anyway. I started on the first two days, then gave up. I'll post a summary/pictures soon.

    2) The Queen of England Enjoys Four Cocktails Every Day #lifegoals

    3) Ode to the Buttered Roll, That New York Lifeline #truth

  • Beantown

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    This past weekend, Dad and I went away for a weekend in Boston — mostly just to spend some quality time together. We each took the train from our respective homes (NYC and Portland) and met up in Boston, staying at a cozy AirBnB on Newbury Street. We started our weekend having a drink and catching up with friends who have a cabin down the road from us in Casco, then headed to dinner at Harvest, where my uncle used to work when he lived in Boston many years ago (somewhere in the family archives, there is a picture of me, aged 6ish, dressed as a waitress there with a napkin tied around my tiny waist).  On Saturday, I started off with an early morning FlyBarre class, then joined dad for coffee at our local coffee spot, Wired Puppy. Afterwards, we headed out to the JFK Library for a little American history, then had a tasty lunch at Flour in Back Bay.  We than proceeded to stroll around the city, wandering through the Public Garden, the Boston Common, Beacon Hill, and down towards South Station and the Rose Kennedy Greenway. After a much-needed rest, I went out to Cambridge to have a drink and catch up with my cousin Warren and two of his daughters (one was at a slumber party), then back into town for dinner with dad at Select Oyster Bar. We rounded out our weekend with more walking around the city to work up an appetite, then dim sum brunch at Myers & Chang to fortify us for our walk back and respective trips home. All in all, a fantastic weekend!! Here's a goofy and totally unflattering selfie commemorating the trip.

  • Classically Delicious

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    At least once a season, I make sure to get the heirloom caprese salad at Otto. It never, ever, gets old. #perfection. If you haven't had it yet, go get it!!!

  • Catching Up

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    Where to begin? Let's see . . .

    First, I just returned from a wonderful weekend celebrating my brother and Becky's wedding on a lovely farm in Western MA. Welcome to the family, Becky, and congratulations to you both! Also got to spend time with family, friends, and (best of all, but don't tell everyone else), my nephews.

    Next, I'm down to the wire for the NYC Triathlon, which is happening this Sunday whether I'm ready or not (but I feel pretty ready). More details to come on how to come out and cheer me on if you're so inclined.

    Finally, thanks to an enthusiastic co-worker's recommendation and a major sale (40% off plus credit card points means I got it for $22), I am now the owner of an Instant Pot. Stay tuned for the culinary experiments.

  • Weekend Wrapup — Beacon Edition

    I was lucky ​enough to have a lovely and relaxing weekend up in Beacon. My initial impetus for the visit was the #AEKarpediem wedding (where I got to see many Tufts friends in addition to the groom), but I stayed with my dear friend John, so I got to catch up with him as well! Over the years, my friends Lynnette and Ty have invited me up to their weekend place in Beacon, so I wanted to make sure I saw them as well (in addition to introducing them to John, who lives up there full time). They graciously invited me to stay for an additional night, and we proceeded to catch up with Jess (and her adorable new baby!) and cook up a storm. We made lamb three ways — lamb liver pate, kofte, and lamp chops, grilled up veggies galore, and washed it down with rose while relaxing around the fire pit. All in all a food, fun, and friend-filled weekend, with great weather to boot. Thanks to all for the hospitality and big mazels to Anna and Ethan!!

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  • Booze You Can Use: Have a Gimlet

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    photo courtesy uk.thebar.com

    The other night, I had a sip of a gimlet for the first time in ages. The gimlet was likely one of the first cocktails I ever had or made on the regular — buying myself a bottle of Rose's Lime juice and splashing it together with vodka over ice. And then somehow I forgot about them. Somewhere in the mix, about 6 years ago, I rediscovered them, albeit briefly, when I tossed out the bottle of Rose's and started making them with fresh lime juice or Employees Only Lime Cordial (does this stuff still exist?), and swapped gin for the vodka. That sip the other night made me remember what a great, refreshing summer drink it is. Perhaps I'll make one tonight . . .

    Gimlet

    2.5 ounces gin
    .5 ounce simple syrup
    .5 ounce lime juice

    Shake and strain into an ice-filled rocks glass. Garnish with lime.

  • My Staycation Was for the Dogs

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    And it was soooooo relaxing.  I took an extremely long Memorial Day weekend to recover from an incredibly busy past month or so. In addition to a trip to Ikea and some continued work unpacking my kitchen, I didn't have much on the agenda. I once again moved out to Brooklyn Heights with Moxie, this time to dogsit for Barley & Hops while their humans took a vacation. Aside from an impromptu dinner at Noodle Pudding on Thursday, hosting a barbecue Friday night and attending another barbecue on Sunday, I did a whole lot of NOTHING. It was glorious. I slept late, went running, cooked/grilled, read, binge-watched Season 2 of Bloodline, and watched the sunsets over the Brooklyn Promenade. Oh, and there were dogs. This shot was taken yesterday evening sitting on a lounge chair on the patio, a glass of lambrusco to my left, enjoying the evening breeze with my dog posse. Rachel & Nagib — happy to hold down the fort at the #dogpalace anytime.

  • Notes on a Renovation #5: TA-DA!!!!!

    PhotoGrid_1463447306241Here it is in all of its glory!! I'm still putting things away, and I haven't put up any personal touches like my "Eat" sign, but man, what a difference.  In case you forgot what the before looked like, here it is. Visits/dinner parties start soon!

  • Breakfast of Champions

     

    A photo posted by @sweetblogomine on

     

    Fully agreed, Sam Sifton. My breakfasts, particularly during the week, are not elaborate affairs.  They're not always pretty, as shown above, and are more often than not taken to-go, but they are a vital part of each day. Often it's a wedge of fritatta, sometimes an egg white omelette or a nuked egg with veggies, cheese and bacon if I've got some (not the best texture, but quick and portable). Sometimes it's a hard-boiled egg, and today it was an English muffin with smashed avocado. Lately I've been adding fruit — half a grapefruit or pineapple chunks. The coup de grace is coffee — generally just a pour-over directly into my travel mug, but sometimes a latte or shakerato.

    If I didn't eat breakfast, I'd likely bite someone's head off by about 11.