Summer is here!

 Loving summer, don't mind the heat, always better than the cold! Even though I'm sweating to death all the time LOL.

Speaking of hot, made soup yesterday....

Tortellini en brodo, extra garlic

Also, Lemon Blueberry Loaf:

And for dinner:

Boeuf Bourguignon (with a 2019 Decoy Cabernet)

I guess I just felt like cooking.  That feeling goes away from Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon, loe reservations for Friday and Saturday night dinners.

Going to Finback tonight, our usual Friday night hang with FinFam.  

 

Just Sayin"

Just sayin', no one's really reading these so if I write it will be less frequently and when I have something to say, or photos to post.

Just a few phots from the past few weeks of cooking at home :)

Tom Yum soup (Thai) with mushrooms, shrimp and tofu...always cilantro and good tom yum paste.

Tuscan chicken with roasted tomatoes, spinach over farfalle.

Winter crumble with apples and blackberries topped with oat/butter/flour/sugar crumble.

Truth be told, this looks amazing and the crust was perfect, but it just doesn't have the right airy-chewy inside that I am looking for....always another bread on the horizon.

Recently...

Happy Bull Pizza is a pop-up operation run by one guy named Felix who comes to 2 of our favorite breweries: Finback Queens and Grimm.  He has a varied menu, and can make something not on this menu if he has the time, and the inclination LOL.  This is the margherita, and if you are trying ANY pizza ANYWHERE for the first time, please get the simplest.  That way you can truly judge the smell, flavor and texture.  If you like it, move on to variations.  This margherita is wonderfully crispy, yet perfectly chewy.  The sauce and cheese are mildly salty and just right.  The bottom is always cooked through. No weak spots.  Dough is hand-thrown for each pie you order!

Michael's favorite bake of mine are chocolate chip cookies (sometimes with other chips ie; espresso, white, Heath). This week I decided to make my favorite (which I make and eat less than once a year) shortbread.  I added espresso chips for an interesting change.  

Grilled chicken marinated in olive oil, rosemary and thyme (both growing in pots on our terrace).  I roast cherry/grape tomatoes in the oven with a head of garlic covered in olive oil, salt, pepper and pepper flake from our friend Steve (who grows his own, then dries them and crushes them). You cannot compare this to dried packaged hot pepper.

Pork stir-fry with julienned veggies and couscous.  Marinated-thinly sliced pork, carrots, bean sprouts, scallions.

Everyone's favorite, pappardelle with mushrooms and onions in cream sauce.  I think there's a video on here somewhere of us making ravioli with the mushrooms and onions inside...

Chicken cacciatore. Needs no explanation :)

YES, I am retired and I spend my time MY WAY, which includes cooking whatever and whenever I want.  It's dreamy!!!

Rolo's

Last night Michael and I went to dinner at Rolo's on Onderdonk in Ridgewood. Made reservation on Resy. Unfortunately, reservations can only be made on Resy either early (5pm ish) or late (after 9:30), but we had a party to go to at 7pm, so we took a 5pm reservation.  First ones in the restaurant.  Parking is usually pretty bad, but Michael snagged a good spot!

Lovely service by all staff.  Many staff members around to take care of all your needs, even when not asking.  Really nice, take plates and silverware and replace as needed, fresh water carafe brought several times, table cleared and cleaned.  Atticus was a great and friendly server, always around to see if we needed anything, but not pushy.

We shared wood-fired polenta bread with olive oil and salt (they have other styles) but we wanted to see what it really tasted like without heavy toppings and it was absolutely delicious.  Chewy and light and flavorful.  Then we shared a dish of golden beets with Gouda cheese crumbled on top tossed in a citrus vinaigrette.  That was the show stopper.  Super flavorful, sweet and savory and great texture from the crumbles.  I had grilled artic char over cauliflower.  The char (think salmon) was PERFECTLY cooked and seared and I was in heaven with each bite.  Michael had the double cheeseburger with coppa bacon and yes it's pricey for a burger (comes with no sides) however, the flavor was outstanding and it was juicy and yummy.

We had two cocktails: Mezcal old-fashioned (with 3 cherries) and a dirty vodka martini (with 3 olives). They were made and presented perfectly.

Dessert was an apple brown butter galette that while delicious, should have been served warm or room temp and not cold...Added a cordial of Forthave "Brown" coffee liqueur (https://forthavespirits.com/) and we were done and off to Finback Queens for a friend's birthday celebration. 

Great and fun night, as always, with Michael. xo

Rack of Pork

Yesterday I met with retired and on-sabbatical school friends for lunch at Grand Lux Cafe near Roosevelt Field. Yes, they have a large menu and all the items are described nicely...the food, however, does not live up to the hype of either the restaurant or the décor.  The service was lovely though and much appreciated. The best part of lunch, the people we ate with, and talked with and laughed with and caught up with. Let's do it again!

When I got home I started to make dinner.  Rack of pork from Costco.  Lately their bone-in pork chops and their racks of pork have been fantastic.  Firstly, 6 double cut bone-in pork chops were $14 for the pack.  Secondly, the rack of pork with 8-9 ribs was $17.  Can't beat the prices.  The flavor and consistency of the chops were surprisingly flavorful, soft and well trimmed.

I don't have photos of the chops (they were from a few weeks ago) but here are photos of the rack:

The crust on this was crispy (lol) and super flavorful: spicy mustard, horseradish cream, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper.  Roasted at 375 convection for approx 55 minutes until 150 degrees inside. Let sit and then enjoy.  
 

During the Week Banana Cake

During the week, I cook dinner and bake a bit. On the weekends, we go out to dinner usually Friday and Saturday nights and I bake occasionally.  

Recently I've made Banana cake. 

I always like to add chips to the batter; chocolate, espresso, heath, white. This cake had chocolate chips inside with Heath-toffee chips on top.  The recipe is easy and always comes out great:

4 overripe bananas, mashed

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla (or maple syrup if you like)

2 eggs

1/3 cup melted butter

1 and 1/2 cups all purpose flour

chips for inside and outside

Pre heat oven to 375. Mix all ingredients (I do wet, then add dry) and pour into a baking dish you've sprayed previously (or buttered).  Add chips on top (streusel works well too).

Bake for 30 minutes uncovered, then cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes more.  Check for doneness and take out or adjust time to your oven.  

Serve warm.  Michael's 2nd favorite (after chocolate chip cookies).

About Last Night

Yesterday afternoon ('cause I'm retired bitches, and don't have to wait 'til after 5pm)I went to the Union Square Holiday market with my friend Barbara. We used to go to the Bryant Park market every December which was especially great when the kids were little and we could go during the day, more hectic when we worked and went afterwards.  Anyhoo, we've been to the Union Square market before (one exceptionally freezing evening a few years ago) and decided to try it again.

Thanking our lucky stars, the weather cooperated and we were not cold at all so we could walk leisurely.  Very beautiful jewelry, interesting felt ornaments and decorations, really great hats and scarves, yummy smelling food vendors too.  

We thought it would have been bigger, there is certainly space for more, but all in all we bought a few gifts and felt festive. Which is really the point of it all...getting into the holiday spirit.

Afterwards, we had reservations at Max Brenner.  Barbara had always wanted to go, I'd never heard of it, but knew the "chocolate theme " would be right up her alley.  Nice little chocolate shop in the front, beautifully packaged gifts (didn't buy any). 

We each started with the "Iconic chocolate Martini $16.                                                  
Créme de cocoa, vanilla vodka, milk & white chocolate & hazelnut dipped strawberry."  There is no photo because (1) the strawberry had seen better days (2) the hazelnut had mushed off into the drink (3) I think they waved the vodka bottle over the glass but forgot to pour any in. The food is NOT why anyone goes, trust me.  The OMG Quesadilla was more like WTF.  Dry, thin, had to hunt for the black beans.  The Brenner burger was good however. Not a $19 burger, but whatever, it's the holidays. 

The star of the evening was the "CLASSIC EUROPEAN FONDUE $29.
The one and only Max Brenner original bananas, strawberries, chocolate chunk
cookies, marshmallows and fluffy chocolate sponge cake. Served with toffee sauce
and your choice of two chocolates (milk, dark, white)." Straight from the menu. 

They light a small grill (very cool) so you can flame roast the marshmallows and then you can dip (yes, double and even triple dipping was done) in the different sauces.  Of course we chose dark and milk (absolute discussion of how white chocolate is NOT chocolate). 

My advice, go for fondue after you've eaten elsewhere👍

What is Switchel?

What is Switchel? You may ask...some may already know...some may like or dislike, however, I think it cannot be denied that it is good for you.

Switchel is "Switchel, switzel, swizzle, switchy, ginger-water or haymaker's punch is a drink made of water mixed with vinegar, and often seasoned with ginger. It is usually sweetened with molasses, though honey, sugar, brown sugar, or maple syrup are sometimes used instead." According to Wikipedia.

Now that we've gotten that out of the way.  My sister-in-law brought some for Thanksgiving (thanks Margo) and she's mentioned it before and thought Jesse and I would like it.  It does have a kombucha-like quality to it, but different, especially if you use flat water as opposed to sparkling or club soda or seltzer.  We've experiment with all, even added lemon seltzer.

Ingredients:  Fresh ginger peeled and sliced, about 1/4 cup

2-ish cups of water

1/2 cup apple cider vinegar (we always use Bragg's)

Most recipes call for 1/2 cup + of honey. I am not into too much sweetness so I have cut the honey down to 2 tablespoons (but you can do what you like)

Sparkling, flat, club, seltzer to finish, about 2 cups

Recipe:  If you LIKE ginger, boil the sliced pieces in 2-ish cups of water and let cool. Or you can leave the sliced ginger in water standing on the counter for a few hours. I always leave the ginger pieces in the finished product, but you can strain out.

Add honey to warm ginger water, let cool.  Add apple cider vinegar and more water to finish to your liking.

Keeps in the fridge for about 5 days, however, if you are like us, it's gone by nightfall.

Hey There Friends

 Hey there friends.

It's been years....seriously...2020 was the fucking worst.  Couldn't go out to eat for so long, thought I'd collapse. I did cook a lot and worked from home most of the year, but I cannot say that makes up for sitting and being served. 

Now, however, I am RETIRED. Last day of work was Wednesday November 30, 2022 and I am beyond THRILLED to be home.  

Call me crazy, I like to be home: cooking, laundry, projects, reading, movies, Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO Max and Paramount+.  Movies for me all day and International series all night, or vice versa, makes no difference.  

Recently Michael I spent a few days (maybe 2) brewery hopping.  Our favorites are Finback Queens (Finbackbrewery.com) and Grimm (Grimmales.com) on Metropolitan Avenue.  We also frequent Evil Twin, Wild East and Talea. Shout out  to the best bar tenders Bailey, Marcus and Ian.  Lest we overlook a great and happening bar in Queens called Bierwax (Bierwaxqueens.com) where the BEST cocktails are made by Rudy and the bar is tended by Ariel.

Since I retired I've made a few dishes that are family favorites: 

Getting prepared for Feta Spinach Wraps

The finished product

Also, 

Brie Cranberry Bites (leftover brie and homemade cranberry sauce from Thanksgiving)

 And: 

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with onion, garlic and balsamic glaze

Pappardelle with mushrooms, onions and cream sauce

Romanian Meat Borscht with short ribs and matzoh balls

So happy to be home and hopefully writing here more often about food, friends, bars, restaurants, etc...

PS:  Follow me on Instagram if you'd like @Jandonna

Today is March 27, 2015

No one will read this because no one will know that I've started writing again (maybe only this once, who knows).  In any case, write I will.

I have been working for almost two years now at PS174 as a school secretary.  I still cook, and we go out to eat and now we also go on vacation.

There are days when I have absolutely no desire to go home and cook, so I don't.  I go home, but no cooking.  Lots of naps. Really need the sunshine and warm weather to come back.  Need to plant on my terrace and feel the sun on my face.

Last night I made Spring Carbonara.  Linguine, leeks, garlic, asparagus, fresh peas, pancetta, eggs (6 wow), pecorino romano, salt and pepper.  It was good.  I brought leftovers for lunch today.

Tonight will be Honey Bourbon wings.  Funny story about honey bourbon:  Visiting Mike and Margo in Ithaca, drinking Barenjager Honey Bourbon (not their honey liquer), Michael gets up-we think he's gone to the bathroom, he comes back 20 minutes later (not been in the bathroom) from the liquor store with 6 or 7 airline bottles of all the honey bourbons he could find and we did a taste test, passing the glasses around the table.  We like Barenjager the best! 

I am also going to try my hand at dumplings with a filling similar to roast pork buns.  Desserts will follow:  Banana's Foster Pudding and Monkey Bread (or Pull-Apart Bread).

That's all for now.  Who knows if I'll be back any time soon. xo

Last Blog....

This is my last blog for a while, maybe forever. I am working full time now and can't seem to keep up with this thing.

I will say that it's been fun and I LOVE all of you for reading what I've written.

In the past few weeks we have been to Station House on Austin Street, Barosa on Woodhaven, Bamboo Ya on Queens Boulevard, Sunswick in Astoria, Good Eats Diner in Maspeth, Classic Diner in Woodhaven, NanXiang Dumpling House in Flushing, Abbracciamento on Woodhaven Boulevard, 5 Burro on Austin Street, Tower Diner on Queens Boulevard, the Brooklyn Flea in Williamsburg, Thai Pot (no, you don't smoke it) on Queens Boulevard and Maria's on Bell Boulevard in Bayside.

In the near future we will be at Miranda's in Williamsburg and Ferrara's on Grand Street in Little Italy.

Michael and I are also going to ICE Culinary for a Bourbon, Bacon and Beingets evening!!!

Recently I have made Old Bay Drumsticks, Chicken marsala, Roasted turkey breast, Chicken sausage with broccoli rabe, frenched lamb chops and chicken cutlets.  Probably made a whole lot more, just can't think of what right now.

Bye and happy eating!!
xoxo

Super Bowl Treats

We were home. I didn't watch the game. Michael did but wasn't very excited.

I made:

Meatball sliders:  I got freshly ground 1/2 pounds of pork, beef and veal at Fairway.  I added an egg, chopped onion and garlic, handful of parsley flakes, salt, pepper, grated parm, bread crumbs and a half cup of sauce.  I baked the balls on a cookie sheet covered in parchment paper.  Then put them on mini pretzel rolls. 

Also, Chicken wingettes baked on parchment with olive oil and Old Bay seasoning.

And, phony Matlaw's baked clams with hot sauce.

Went to bed early, woke up to snow and went to work :)

Christmas!

 Roasted Turkey with Potatoes and Sauerkraut

 

Lasagna

Thanksgiving!

Brined Turkey with Herbed Butter

Sweet Potato Fries

Linguine with Peconic Bay Scallops

Haricot Vert and White Beans with Caramelized Shallots

Carrot Cake with Cranberries on top

Danny Brown's

Last Saturday night we went to Danny Brown's on Metropolitan Avenue with Joe and Debbie.  They had given me a gift certificate for my 50th birthday and so we invited them to share dinner with us.

They stopped at our apartment for drinks and snacks first, then we drove over.  Parking was great (surprisingly).  Our reservation was ready.  I love banquette tables.  Joe ordered a bottle of Tempranillo that was very good.  We shared a goat cheese app and a grilled calamari app.  Joe ordered a half portion of short ribs angiolotti too. 

Dinner was chicken under a brick (Michael's favorite), salmon, beef something (I can't remember) and I had white beans and escarole (two side dishes on the menu).  They don't have their scallops anymore (bummer, because they were the best).

Service is good and the ambiance is warm.  I wish it were a bit more quiet.  There were a lot of twenty-somethings, guess they're noisier than fifty-somethings.

We had a great night.  Our first time out with them even though we've been friends for a few years now.

There is a rumour that Danny Brown's is moving (not closing), but the waitress wouldn't confirm or deny, so we'll just have to wait and see.

Since November, Where the Fuck have I Been?

Holy Shit!  I knew I hadn't posted in a while, but I am sorry I didn't realize it had been this long.

I know I have many photos to post too.  Just have to figure out how to get them here :)

I also opened an Instagram account, which I can link here too.  (As soon as I figure that out...)

Otherwise, been babysitting Clayton for a few days while Jesse is in Florida visiting his grandpa.  Cooking for Michael (Meatloaf, chicken soup with matzoh balls, farfalle with pink sauce and peas).

We've been out a bunch too:  5 Burro, Station House and Flying Pig (and that was in one night LOL) with Jill, Lenny, Steve and Sue.  Also went to Katz' Deli with Michael (still so good).

New Year's Eve we went with our usual crew (Joe and Denise and Tom and Monica) to Il Triangolo in Corona.  My review is on Yelp and I am not going to reprint it here as it took me 3 tries to get it right on Yelp.  But needless to say, I'm not going there again.

Sato on Queens Boulevard used to be our favorite Japanese place, but after our recent experience, we're not going back there too soon either.  Really lousy service.

I will try to get the photos, etc...up soon.

xo and thanks, if you are still reading this!

Ready for Fireplaces and Blankets

This cold snap sucks!

On other fronts, We've been to Keuka Kafe; Nick's Mediterranean (not to be confused with Nick's Pizza); Sunswick; a weekend in Montauk; MOMA; the shops at Bryant Park and Two Boots Pizza.

I've also cooked:  Big pot of sauce with meatballs and hot sausage; Turkey London broil baked with sauerkraut; Filet Mignon roast with pearl onions; and macaroni with red clam sauce.

I had the tattoo on my foot fixed.  It never really took this summer.  Probably the sun, sand and sunscreen issues.  Hurt more than hell, but at least it's over now.

Montauk with friends was a great weekend.  First time Michael and I have been away since Italy in 2008.  We were due.

Thanksgiving is almost upon us and I am so ready for days of prepping; baking; cooking; table setting and most of all, having our family here!  It's the greatest day of the year when we are all together.

Happy Turkey!!

It's Tuesday

That doesn't mean very much, not working today, switched with the other secretary for tomorrow. Work's going well. Staff are really nice and I'm getting the hang of things.  Need to learn about payroll, then I'll be all set.

As for going out...We've been to Tuscan Hills with Jill, Lenny, Patty and Vince.  (http://www.tuscanhillsnyc.com/).  Food is pretty good, shrimp dishes not so good (shrimp is canned, maybe, small, definitely).  Service is good.  We had a good time all around.  Same crowd, but with Karen and Brett also, went to Dinosaur BBQ in Harlem after the Avon Breast Cancer Walk that Jill and Brett do every year.  We had the usual:  Chipotle garlic wings, fried green tomatoes, beer, hard cider, pulled pork, brisket, ribs, bbq chicken...Always a special annual outing for all of us!  Jill, Sue Boyle and I met at Bonfire last week.  Drinks and apps at the bar.  We had a really nice night.  Michael showed up near the end for chicken wings and while we walked home, he biked around us :)

As for staying in...I've made pork roast, spare ribs and Guinness stew, along with usuals like roasted chicken, Greek salad, etc...Mike and Margo were here for the weekend.  Glenn and Eileen joined all of us for Chinese on Saturday night.  Love hanging with friends at home.  Need to do this more often. 

Passed a few birthdays too:  Ryan was 21, Sarah was 19 and Barb was 60!!! Gotta love milestones (where would we be without them)?

Since Then...

Since the scotch tasting...I've cooked a bit. Jesse was home for a long weekend and I made chicken meatballs (I don't make them, Costco does) but I made the sauce and etc...The Wisners shared that dinner with us :)   The next day for lunch I made French Onion (soup) grilled Cheese:  Grilled rye bread with rare roast beef, melted gruyere and caramelized onions with spicy mustard (yum).  I also made seafood stew (cioppino) with chorizo, shrimp, scallops and calamari.  These are cooked with fennel and celery root in San Marzano tomatoes and white wine (also yum). 

Before Jesse left we went out for Chinese (http://www.yelp.com/biz/grand-sichuan-ny-ii-rego-park)
at Grand Sichuan across the Boulevard.  We have only ordered in but decided to try it.  They love the spicy wontons in red oil (shrimp and pork).  We also had soup dumplings (which cannot compare to others, but are fine nontheless).  The place got busier and busier as we ate, we had good timing that night.  It's good for take out and it's a real eat-in restaurant.

Thursday night, Michael and I went to Jack and Nellie's (thanks Tom and Monica).  Yummy as always.  Good wine specials, nice beer selection too.  We shared:  Warm olives with lemon zest; spinach and artichoke dip with crostini; veggie quesadilla and a chicken sandwich with mozz and peppers.  Jill and her friends were at the next table :)    Fun night.

Tomorrow is the CT Garlic Festival and we are going again with Ryan.  Last year was so much fun.  Looking forward to it!!

A Scotch Tasting and More

Michael and I met Britt and JoAnn for a scotch tasting at the Flatiron Room (http://www.theflatironroom.com/).  Before we met up, Michael and I were across the street at the Flatiron Hall (http://flatironhall.com/).  Both places are very cool.  At Flatiron Hall we sat at the bar, had beer and a GIANT pretzel (for $9.95 it had better be giant) but it was good.  The place is very colonial looking inside and the bathroom was tiled nicely too (lol).  I really liked the vibe in there, but it was early (6:30pm) so it might get louder later.  They have a large downstairs room with long tables that are shared.  The menu is:

    

 

 

The Flatiron Room was across the street, fancier place, funky live music and cute room upstairs for the tasting.  We had Bowmore.  12 year, 15 year, 18 year and 25 year.  With and without water, which was the theme of the evening.  What water (by varying amounts) can do to the flavor of your scotch. It was pretty interesting and the served a nice cheese board alongside the drinking.  They have a single malt chocolate malted on their menu so we asked if we could try it and they gave us one on the house.  It was delicious and very much appreciated.  Next time you have a chocolate shake or a chocolate malt, add a shot of single malt scotch to it.  It's really good.