Tag Archives: sauce

I Am A Little Stitious

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Hello, 2024! I am not superstitious, but I do like to start every new year with a run and some traditionally lucky foods. This year we got in black eyed peas, collard greens, and grapes. Plus something sweet for a sweet year!

Highlights from a tasty week…

1/1/24 brunch date at For Five while I set up my planner.

I got a roasted turkey sandwich with cheese, sprouts, and avocado.

Plain skyr with strawberries, persimmon, and sugar cookie granola.

These jelly sakes are my favorite drink. Related – we played trivia at a bar midweek and got to try Abomination Brewing’s Christmas cookie Fog Nog (fantastic).

Hawaiian fruit jellies; the starfruit and passionfruit ones were obviously the best.

The best snack plate of the year – Trader Joe’s Chicken Tikka samosas (with spicy truffle mayo and plum sauce) / Lolliberry strawberries / jam grapes.

Not a bad runner up – soy marinated eggs / cucumber / cheddar.

Dinner on the 1st – sauteed collard greens with green onion and garlic and black eyed pea salad with garlic and black pepper almonds, green bell pepper, Kerrygold Dubliner cheddar, and mayo and chipotle Cholula.

We tried the Bombay Sando from Oak and Orange – toasted ciabatta with grilled chicken, amul cheese, seasoned potatoes, pickled red onions, and a housemade chutney. Plus the best green smoothie I’ve ever made – frozen spinach, banana, and cherries, fresh tangerine, and water.

Sheetpan hash. Roasted brussels sprouts, grapes, poblano peppers, sweet potato, and chili verde chicken sausage with green onion and dried cranberries. I went back and topped this with a maple-Cholula aioli.

‘Twas Christmas

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Merry Christmas to all my readers who celebrate! Some fun things from the past few days…

Dalgona iced latte with eggnog!

I was off from work on Friday and I took some review materials to a local coffee shop for a cinnamon iced latte and a matcha sugar cookie.

Lunch at Sup Vietnamese. I got the shaking beef.

And a Thai iced tea.

A very orange tasting plate dinner. Baked wontons / baby bell peppers / crispy baked chicken fingers with panko, egg, flour, sisig seasoning, and smoked paprika / a ranch onion dip situation with sour cream, Kewpie, ranch seasoning, chives, sautéed shallot, and white cheddar.

These Muddy Bites were a 9.5/10, very satisfying.

We went out as a family to admire Christmas lights with cups of drinking chocolate — our favorite holiday tradition after Thanksgiving nachos!

‘Twas The Week Before Christmas

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Highlights…

I made an affogato with vanilla frozen yogurt and it was an excellent idea! With tons of caramel and sprinkles.

My parents sent us such a fun box of Christmas goodies! Including homemade caramels, toffees, and seven layer bars.

I saved up my most obscure Christmas beverages – pine cone alcohol / eggnog protein shake / holiday cheer kombucha.

Brunch at Mekelburg’s. Guava cinnamon iced latte.

Smashed burger with cheddar, pickles, and charred onions.

Pizza from Taglio – buffalo chicken and a vodka slice – smothered in chili crisp.

Giant burrito from Burrito Blvd. With rice, pinto beans, chicken, zucchini, corn, tomatoes, cheese, and sour cream. Roasted zucchini makes this hands-down my favorite Mexican spot in Long Island.

Crispy beans. Butter beans tossed in evoo, ranch seasoning, gochugaru, furikake, and panko and baked until crispy. Plus roasted cauliflower and pimento cheese for dipping.

Creamy mushroom pasta. Cut noodles tossed with tons of mushrooms, ground turkey, sour cream, tomato paste, paprika, and urfa chile.

A winning plate of leftovers. Pasta (topped later with Sriracha and furikake), cauliflower, and steak (from a fun dinner last weekend at Bowery Meat Company).

(Pepper)Mint To Be

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Highlights from a tasty week…

Peppermint coffee – candy cane cold brew from Blank Street.

This week’s home coffee combo wasn’t my best. I did not care for the Browny cold brew, too sour. The Ronnybrook egg nog was crazy thick, almost too thick, so it was good but not my favorite.

Peppermint breakfast – a chocolate mint Perfect Bar and a peppermint mocha La Colombe can.

Peppermint doughnut – Doughnut Project‘s peppermint bark.

Peppermint watermelon is my favorite Aura Bora seltzer flavor.

Peppermint booze – Smirnoff peppermint vodka with lime and club soda (and food coloring!).

Six Point Bone Chill pear and spruce double IPA (8.5/10).

Peppermint mini meringues – from Trader Joes. 

Peppermint ice cream – with candy cane bits, fudge, and cookies.

I had the day off on Thursday and spent the afternoon admiring decorations in the city and got lunch at Chelsea Market. Very Fresh Noodles‘ very spicy vegan dan dan mian. These were super spicy and numbing and wonderful and topped with crunchy soybeans and cucumber salad that were the perfect foils.

It was Adam’s birthday on Monday and his dinner choice was Subway. I got a tuna salad sub with mustard, pickles, banana peppers, and cheese. Plus leftovers from Sunday in Brooklyn – brussel sprouts and the amazing roast chicken.

And I made him his favorite cinnamon brownies – just the Bakers Chocolate one-bowl recipe with 1 cup of chocolate chips instead of nuts and 2 tsp of cinnamon extract instead of vanilla.

Salad #1 – romaine / homemade ranch dressing – sour cream, dijon mustard, ranch seasoning / red bell pepper / pickled banana peppers / homemade croutons / baked chicken – marinated in Greek yogurt and banana pepper juice.

Salad #2 – romaine / homemade ranch dressing – sour cream, Cholula, lime, ranch seasoning / sauteed ground turkey with Rotel / avocado / hot honey cashews.

Salad #3 – mixed greens / homemade miso dressing – with brown sugar, lime, rice vinegar, and soy sauce / homemade baked wonton crisps with togarashi / cucumber / water chestnuts / baked extra-firm tofu coated in a mix of honey mustard pretzel and roasted seaweed.

Festival Of Festivals

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We had such a yummy weekend! NYC is doing so many fun pop-ups/holiday specials this year! Here was everything festive we did this weekend…

A trip to the Milleridge Inn Village to admire the lights.

787‘s coquito and tres leches iced lattes. These were too milky for our tastes but still so good; the coquito was perfectly spiced.

Cafe d’Avignon in Essex Street Market makes the best breakfast in the city – an iced vanilla latte and a fruit and nut bun with butter and cheddar.

We went to Supermoon Bakehouse for the eggnog kouign brûlée croissant (and gingerbread cheesecake filled doughnut).

But what ended up blowing our minds was the twice baked sugar cookie croissant filled with funfetti almond cream. <– swoon!

Brigadeiro Bakery‘s seasonal specials included cinnamon and gingerbread.

Brooklyn Cupcake‘s coquito cupcake.

Pokito is making seasonal jello shots! And they were beautiful and delicious! We also got an El Tigre – frozen light and dark rum, orange liquor, coconut, Thai tea, cinnamon, and cardamom.

Sleyenda at Leyenda.

Their Candy Striper is always my favorite drink of the season – frozen Cachaça, coconut, maple, peppermint, vanilla, lemon, and cardamom.

We also shared the arepa with chipotle-lime shrimp and pineapple salsa.

And fried green plantains with ropa vieja.

Snow Days at Sunday in Brooklyn. Polar Bear Club – frozen coffee-distilled rum, Aquavit, banana, coconut, pineapple, and cucumber / Comet’s Cosmo – tequila, ginger shochu, yuzu brandy, tart cranberry, elderflower, and shiso soda.

Jungle Bells – mezcal, prickly pear, Campari, poblano, pineapple, and tamarind.

The drinks/decorations were fun but the food was the standout. We adored everything we got to share. Roasted honey nut squash with brown butter, sesame, and coffee tahini.

Wood roasted brussel sprouts with pistachio, golden raisins, and lemon gremolata.

Wood roasted half chicken with Herb De Provence and roasted garlic jus and seasoned fries. I couldn’t get a good photo but this was outstanding – juicy, savory, and one of the best things we’ve eaten all year.

Plus we got a sundae with housemade hot chocolate and eggnog soft-serves for dessert.

Egg(nog)head

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Food things from the 1st week of December – good dinners / baked goods my parents brought us from home during their visit / EGGNOG! Highlights included…

Jelly doughnut iced coffee! Iced coffee with blueberry jam and a cold foam with cinnamon, brown sugar, and cocoa powder.

As much as I adore plums and plucots I think I am most excited for mandarin season each year. These are seedless and the peel slips right off so they are so easy to eat.

Trader Joe’s spicy tempura seaweed snack. This is heavy on togarashi, which I love.

Eggnog in my coffees, of course.

Eggnog iced matcha latte.

Trader Joe’s eggnog Greek yogurt (my favorite) with nutmeg, fresh persimmon, and Target sugar cookie granola.

Chobani eggnog yogurt with cinnamon, blackberries, and coffee cake (from my mom).

Boozy tiramisu eggnog from Dante West Village.

Abomination Brewing‘s best beer – Fog Nog, a double IPA with spices and lactose.

Xi’an Famous Foods‘ spicy cumin lamb hand-ripped noodles are consistently an 11/10.

A take on the broccoli salad we are obsessed with. Roasted broccoli / sauteed green onion / crispy baked tofu / dried cranberries / food-processed sauce: evoo, serrano pepper, parsley, peanuts, smoked sardines, soy sauce, rice vinegar, gochugaru, and brown sugar. Plus pumpkin bread (from my aunt) toasted with butter.

Roast‘s weekly special was a short-rib grilled cheese so we obviously had to get it, with cheddar and crispy onions on sourdough. Plus leftover broccoli salad and leftover roasted cabbage with Sriracha and Sriracha-ranch peanuts.

A 1st night of Hannukah feast. Trader Joe’s cheese blintzes topped with blackberries, blueberry jam, and Greek yogurt with lemon and brown sugar. Plus Trader Joe’s latkes, roasted brussel sprouts, and a honey Sriracha dipping sauce.

P.S. Happy Hannukah to all of my readers who celebrate!

Chestnuts Blending

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Five things from the 1st weekend of December…

Chestnut iced coffee – I blended skim milk, half and half, chestnut paste, brown sugar, and cinnamon. The flavor was good but unfortunately the blender did not work at all to create a cold foam texture.

I am still very much enjoying these Trader Joe’s dried baby pineapples.

These nuts from 7-11 were very ranch-y but not as spicy as I was hoping for.

A red and green yogurt bowl. Plain Greek with pomegranate, pumpkin seed butter, and halvah.

A weirdly wonderful dinner. Roasted cauliflower / roasted baby zucchinis / sauce – Greek yogurt, Kewpie, Sriracha, and lime juice / Trader Joe’s frozen fish sticks.

P.S./Number six – I had the cheesy nacho fries with steak from Taco Bell this weekend (I didn’t take a photo because I ate them out of the bag like a rat) and they were fantastic.

December 2023

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It’s the first day of Eggnog Month! Also known as December. I am very excited about this year’s cache of themed goods.

Also a time for peppermint.

And other good tidings and joy.

Highlights from the last week of November include…

Several good yogurt bowls. Plain skyr with blueberries, chia seeds, and Seed & Mill lemon and white chocolate halvah.

Plain skyr with blueberries, leftover cranberry sauce, and Target sugar cookie granola.

The newest Reese’s big cup. The caramel layer is THICK and wonderful.

The last of the stuffing-inspired fried cauliflower-rice. Topped with the last of the cranberry sauce and pineapple hot sauce. I am definitely making this dish again next November!

Roasted spaghetti squash with baked turkey meatballs (stuffed with panade, tons of garlic, urfa pepper, and cheese). Plus Trader Joe’s pizza sauce and chili flakes.

Hot/cold tofu. Cold silken tofu topped with a mix of soy sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, chili crisp, gochugaru, sesame seeds, and furikake. Plus roasted baby cauliflower.

Chicken and veggie dumplings from Mandu (the best!) the best with spicy sesame miso green beans (steamed, then sauteed in a mix of lime juice, brown sugar, gojuchang, miso paste, tahini, and water) and leftover tofu sauce.