September 9, 2010 · 2:00 am

Mid-Week Comfort Food

Sometimes when things are stressful in life, in work, whatever, I come home and I want to cook but then I see the loaf of potato bread, the jar of peanut butter, and the ripe banana and I think, “Mom would totally let me have this for dinner right now.” This sandwich is a glorified and indulgent take on your standard PB&B (that’s peanut butter and banana for those of you not so quick on the uptake) and is more dessert than dinner but why the heck not?

The recipe is simple and the results are faaaantastic. Just make your standard peanut butter and banana sandwich to start.
Next, melt 2 Tbsp of butter in a frying pan and fry the sandwich on both sides for around 4 minutes, or until the bread browns.
In a shallow plate, mix together 2 Tbsp of sugar and 1 tsp of ground cinnamon. Once your sandwich is fried, dip it in the cinnamon sugar so both sides are coated.

And voila. Now… isn’t that better?

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September 8, 2010 · 2:00 am

Do Gooder

I’ve posted about my not-so-exciting-but-maybe-inspiring dinners before, but this time I have an ulterior motive. This post is a dedication! To the woman who could look into the fridge and whip up something that looked restaurant quality; the woman who taught me to trust my eye and write my own instructions down in the cookbook next to the typed ones; the woman who showed me that roasting a chicken with lemon and herbs is easy as pie; and most importantly, the woman who introduced me to popcorn with Sno-caps. My lovely friend, Joelle.

Joelle is currently traveling through Mozambique and South Africa, working with charities along the way, and chronicling her amazing adventures here at Afternoon Tea Comes Early. She’s one of the most inspiring people I know, and when I look into my fridge and pull out something like this, I always think of her. Safe returns, J!

Fried eggs over romaine hearts and sauteed mushrooms and grape tomatoes, with parmesan cheese and fresh cracked pepper

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September 3, 2010 · 2:00 am

Bon weekend!

Happy weekend, friends! Good riddance to this week. It was hot, it was long, it was busy, and I can’t wait for a beautiful three day weekend.

Dill and yogurt chicken salad c/o The Kitchn

If you’re bored on Sunday, head over to Parked, a food truck festival on Governor’s Island. Admission is free and you pay for the food as you go. Participating vendors include Rickshaw Dumpling, Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, Joyride Truck, Red Hood Lobster Pound, and sooooo many more.

A few weeks ago I had an ugly mishap with a jalapeno (wear gloves when you cut these!!!) but if you enjoy a spicy pepper, try this chocolate jalapeno cake! It’s such an unexpected flavor combination but so very delicious. (c/o my lovely friend, Nina from What We Ate)

Eataly opened this week, and while I can not bring myself to brave the crowds yet, you should! I’ll be all about it next week.

Sleeping in on Monday? Make these pancakes with this lemon curd for your hunny and soak up the last unofficial day of summer.

Attending a Labor Day picnic? Lounging in your apartment avoiding Hurricane Earl? These dishes from The Kitchn will work in either scenario.

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September 2, 2010 · 7:34 am

Long Week

Happy Thursday! This has been the longest, slowest week ever and I’ve been a terrible food blogger. Last night I made a pasta dish that I can HIGHLY recommend, seeing as the person who joined me in eating it cleaned his plate and asked, “Is there more of this?” Sold.

If you’ve never read The Pioneer Woman Cooking, go now! The pictures are incredible and the recipes are even better.

Pasta with Pancetta and Leeks

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August 31, 2010 · 2:00 am

Puppies, Tacos, and Pie, Oh My!

Two specific things will get me out of bed and on a train to a far off land called Brooklyn on a Sunday morning: food and puppies. Not necessarily in that order. So when my lovely friend Ben invited me out to Park Slope for tacos, pie by the slice, and quality time with his golden retriever puppy, I was all about it.

Carlin! Who couldn't love that little furry face?

Reyes Deli and Grocery 4th Avenue between 14th Street and 15th Street, Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY. This tiny deli and Mexican grocery offers up an incredible array of tacos, including chicken, pork, beef, and veggie. There is one man behind a stove, whipping up amazing tacos for only $2, and they are huge. Look at these beauties, and then make your way to Reyes. They offer eat in, take out, or delivery.

Crispy pork taco with cilantro and white onion

Chicken tacos

Four and Twenty Blackbirds 3rd Avenue and 8th Street, Park Slope/Gowanus, NY. This new little pie shop offers up seasonal flavors in an adorable, high-ceilinged, multi-windowed space with faded gold paint on the walls and large wooden communal tables. The salted caramel apple pie (pictured yesterday!) was a standout, with crisp apples packed tightly together in a lightly salted crust. I can’t wait to go back to this place place in the fall when they serve up bourbon sweet potato pie and honeyed pumpkin.

Nectarine plum crumble

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August 30, 2010 · 6:34 am

Farewell, Sweet Summer

Happy Monday, dear readers. This is the last week of August! Can you even believe how fast this disgustingly hot summer went? I have some tasty posts about tacos and pie for you (with maybe a puppy thrown in?) but all that’s to come tomorrow. Now, to whet your whistle:

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August 27, 2010 · 2:00 am

Weekend roundup!

Happy Friday, my sweets! This weekend I have big plans to visit Park Slope and eat tacos and pie (more on that Monday), but for now a quick roundup of things that are on my radar at the moment.

c/o The Kitchn

How gorg is this cake? And it’s just a watermelon. Seriously.

Ever heard of fried margaritas? Fried Pop Tarts? Texas Fried Frito Pie? I hate to say “Hey Texas, this is why you’re fat” but well… if the shoe fits…

Have you heard of Eataly? Oooh be still my heart! I can’t wait to go.

Artichoke Basille’s Pizza is opening a second location in Chelsea! The soon-to-open (don’t worry, I’ll give you an exact date when it surfaces) restaurant will be located on West 17th St and 10th Avenue. You can sit down, you can have a glass of wine, and hoover in multiple slices of the spinach artichoke pie all dainty like at a table with a fork and knife. Class-E.

Did you know that Tuesday, August 24 was National Peach Pie Day and yesterday was National Take-A-Shot-At-Lunch Day? Okay, that last one might’ve been a joke but doesn’t that sound like a nice little warm-fuzzy to ease you into an afternoon at the office? I’m thinking of rain-checking and celebrating next week instead.

This week felt like fall, and the Dublin-like weather forced me to eat half a stick of Kerrygold butter. If you enjoy butter, and you have never had Kerrygold, get off your duff right this minute and go to your grocery store and buy some. And then sit back down on your duff, cut yourself a fat slice of brown bread, and go to town (a little cold-weather-weight never killed anyone). It’s hard to describe why this butter is so incredible, but I’m telling you you won’t be sorry.

That’s all for the week, dear readers. Enjoy the sunshine this weekend!

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