Crunchiest cookie ever

So while I know most people are really into the soft chewy cookie, I'm always a big fan of the crunchy crispy edges (of cookies, brownies, pizza crust, etc etc) and was pleasantly surprised when this turned out to be the recipe for the crispiest cookie ever (though I'm pretty sure that paying attention to the cooking time would've resulted in a normal chewy cookie, but these things have a way of working out in the best way =) ). Also, they're apparently healthy cookies! Though I don't believe that. But I'll tell myself it as I munch away on that super large one...

Ingredients:

1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup oil (I think this is where the healthy claim comes from...used canola instead of butter)
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg
1 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 cup oats
2/3 cup chocolate

Mix in any order (I never believe the whole wet and dry things separate for cookies...they're not nearly complicated enough for it to matter). Bake for about 10 minutes at 375 degrees.

Expensin' continues...

11:40 am flight was canceled
re-booked 2pm flight was canceled

What to do? Eat...

pineapple at Au Bon Pain and then

http://www.samlagrassas.com/home.php

for this Pastrami Corned Beef Combo sandwich yumminess (with PICKLE yes):

Which was super and very very large. And I was probably the only female in there...eating a pastrami sandwich and dripping all over the place so you know, nothing unusual.

And then as a "slush sucks so here's a present to you" present, I gave myself this:

The Dark Chocolate Decadence from Finale http://www.finaledesserts.com/ which is just like the best part of all those Harvard debate tournaments way back when. It's like a huge chocolate truffle pretending to be a flourless cake (which is obv fantastic as well) and then it's all covered in even more chocolate, and can only be eaten over 2-3 days with about a gallon of milk. So, there's that.

And now I should probably hit the gym or something.

Eating on an Expense Account...

is the best thing ever...

Got snowed in in Boston but it was for work and there was money to be spent. Made some new bffs from the bank (miss CLT again) over an amazing dinner at Blue Ginger http://www.ming.com/blueginger.htm

Obviously I yelped this place beforehand and knew exactly what I wanted...

Waiter: "Is this your first time? Let me walk you through the menu. There are no specials or additions because everything is special."
Me: "Uhm I yelped? I'm a practiced eater? I know what I'm getting..."

To drink: Some rum punch with pineapple juice and other flavors going on...times two for tipsiness.
To eat: Found my food soul mate...namely we wanted the same dishes for each course and I conned him into splitting and swapping after knowing him for about 1 hour...
Tasty apps: split this amazing Hawaiian Bigeye Tuna Poke* with Crispy Sushi Rice Cake & Peppercress-Tosaka Salad. omg. the food photos began here, I was laughed at, we got over it. Also split Shiitake-Leek Springrolls with Three Chili Dipping Sauce. Wish the tuna picture was better...but whatevs.

Entree: split the Sake-Miso Marinated Alaskan Butterfish (Wasabi Oil, Soy-Lime Syrup and Vegetarian Soba Noodle Sushi) and the Orange Miso Glazed Long Island Duck Breast (Sunchoke Purée, Citrus Jus and Sunflower Seed-Thai Basil Pesto). The soba noodle sushi thing was ok, but the butterfish w wasabi concoction...fantasmic. And the DUCK. Oh I'm so glad we were able to share that b/c the duck was divine. No duck pic.

Dessert: Sesame Macadamia Caramel Nut Tart (Toasted Coconut Ice Cream Housemade Hot Fudge and Gosling’s Rum Caramel Bananas) where I could do without the bananas...but everything else needed to be there. Again, delicious. And well, that came out and we dug in too quickly for photos to be taken...which I think was definitely the right decision.

Overall? I'd probably return just for that tuna poke...and mainly for the sushi rice cake which was such an excellent but simple sounding thing. Mmmm. Back to life without a corporate card =(

Saturday night stew...

It's freakin' freezing outside and the only appropriate reaction is something meaty that warms the whole apartment...so I messed around on http://www.tastespotting.com/ and found this recipe:


http://healthy-delicious.com/2010/12/ropa-vieja-with-olives-and-capers/

With a few adjustments (rump roast instead of brisket, a bit more water, and ignored the olives and capers), it turned into a delicious meal that's fed me for 6 meals as of now (and it looks like at least 2 more)! Food win for sure.

- 3 Tbs olive oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 10 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 large green pepper, chopped
- 1 jalapeno, chopped
- 28-ounce can whole peeled tomatoes
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1/2 cup red wine
- 2 lbs beef rump roast
- 2 cups water

Eat drink eat drink eat drink

drop off serviceThe way I like my Saturdays =)

Friends in town from DC meant big NYC weekend, which always means eating and drinking as much good stuff as possible in as short a time as possible...challenge accepted. Saturday morning started at this really cute indoor park somewhere in the NoLiTa area

see green! and the giant-est bean bag pillow seat ever! I could live on that thing for sure. So hung there for a tad until everyone's stomach started to grumble and we wandered through delicious smelling Little Italy to my favorite soup dumpling spot (and to be honest, the only one I've been to in NYC, but I have no reason to venture beyond it cuz well, I can pig out there and never pay more than $6 and yes I miss China) where we gorged ourselves on soup dumplings, scallion pancakes, and this delicious tofu thing called kau fu that was just excellent.

Post dumplings, started a walk towards...more food. Well, we were wandering and it was cold and we had no plan and Alex is a garbage disposal apparently so I suggested finally going to the doughnut plant which was one of my better ideas =) Bought an assortment and headed to Mona/Christine's for tea and donuts

That's...a couple tres leches, a creme brulee, a hazelnut, and the massive Meyer's lemon. Delicious/disgusting all at once =)

Post donuts, we all got pretty and headed out for the drinking part of the night. First my favorite happy hour at drop off service for $3 drafts of deliciousness (got my checker cab ale yum), then moved on to Spitzer's which was unfortunately packed so we hung around munching on fries and drinking beers while waiting for our meal. Now...we came to Spitzer's because someone is obsessed with their truffle mac & cheese, which it turns out they stopped making...but we continued to wait cuz at 10:30pm on a Satuday night, well, you're waiting no matter what. Finally got seated and it was totally worth it...started with the most amazing oysters ever (they were warm! but not cooked through! and delicious omg) and then Mona and I shared excellent picks: mac & cheese bars (think mac & cheese, coated in bread crumbs, fried - yes, please) and venison puff pastry things

Mmmmmmmm yummy. Then went dancing for a few hours at the delancey which had surprisingly excellent dance music (once the DJ switched, anyhow), and this crazy upstairs room that was super warm...like...80 degrees. All in all excellent day =)

I Was Told There'd Be Pancakes

High school reunion meal at our place - excellent friends, lots of cooking, lots of boozing. Too food happy to take a photo (but trust me). Food success includes:

bacon
cornbread
scrambled eggs w/potatoes, peppers, onions
fried eggs
mimosas
bloody marys

Kyle's reaction?

I was told there'd be pancakes.

So here's to all the delicious food I eat that makes me happy (and keeps me going to the gym, and which sometimes means no pancakes for K but whatevs).