pleasant reading

This is what I'm currently reading:

And then I noticed it. My taste in reading material. Can you notice a common theme among a few favorite reads?

Yes. I have a bit of a thing for food books, both fiction and nonfiction. It's phrases like the ones below that appeal and speak to me like no other:

"She turned her head, and her eyes met Pedro's. It was then she understood how dough feels when it is plunged into boiling oil. The heat that invaded her body was so real she was afraid she would start to bubble -- her face, her stomach, her heart, her breasts-- like batter" - Like Water For Chocolate

"On a recent Saturday morning, my friend Judith and I shopped for breakfast at the Greenpoint farmers' market. We bought eggs, butter, cheese, fresh bread, and plenty of apples--the makings of a princely meal--and I chattered enthusiastically about the apple French toast and scrambled eggs with cheese that we could whip up" - In the Kitchen With a Good Appetite

"You are what you eat eats - In Defense of Food

"The fish should be so fresh, it's practically still breathing, grilled over smoldering embers. An open fire, though more poetic, would just kill the delicate flavor. The only seasoning needed is salt, and perhaps a little bit of olive oil. the best way to attack a plate of roasted turbot is with your hands. Your fingers will be glued together by the gelatin in the fish flesh by the end, but you only need to lick them to release them clean again" - The Foodie Handbook

That last quote is my favorite. Bliss. And it reminds me that turbot is on my list of things to try.

So what are your favorite types of books to read?

-jillian m.

easy stovetop macaroni with peas and cheese

I grew up on Kraft Macaroni & Cheese. Damn, that stuff was good (still is)! But the time came when that orangey, cheese-like powder was just not cutting it for me anymore. Slowly but surely, I started coming to terms with the fact that macaroni and cheese should, in fact, be macaroni and cheese. As in real, gooey, non-neon cheese. Don't you agree?

Easy Stovetop Macaroni with Peas and Cheese
adapted from In the Kitchen with a Good Appetite
serves 2-3


8 ounces elbow or shells pasta
1 tablespoon of butter
1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
1 cup of frozen peas
3 tablespoons of heavy cream
2 teaspoons of lemon juice
1/2 to 1 cup (or more) of Parmesan, Gruyere and cheddar cheese, shredded
salt and pepper, to taste


In a large pot of salted water, cook the pasta according to package directions.
In a large skillet over low to medium heat, melt the butter with the oil for a few minutes.
Stir in peas and cook for a minute. Add heavy cream and pepper. Stir and let cook for about 2-5 minutes.
Drain pasta (reserve a bit of pasta water) and add to skillet with peas. Drizzle with lemon juice.
Stir in the cheese until pasta is completely covered. Add a touch of pasta water, if necessary.
Serve and top with more Parmesan, if desired.

Gruyere, cheddar and Parmesan cheeses are the dream team. The slight sweetness and softness of the Gruyere with the sharpness of the cheddar and Parmesan made me a little weak in the knees. And I'm not stopping here because mac and cheese is one of the fun, versatile recipes that can be made any which way. It can be baked, crusted with bread crumbs or cooked with garlic or chili peppers. And of course, it requires extra cheese (more than what the recipe calls for). Of course.

-jillian m.

p.s. I still give in to boxed mac and cheese from time to time. Only I've moved on from Kraft to Annie's. Tastes just as good, only better for you.

adventures in weekending: chapter one of our apartment-hunting journey

Growing up in Brooklyn for 20+ years, I had always assumed I would stay a BK girl . But since I've met Bob, he has slowly put me on to the possibility of living in Queens.  We actively sought out apartments in Astoria this weekend and I immediately fell in love with its diversity, charm and most importantly, affordable rent prices. After looking at a couple of apartments in the area, we decided to explore for a short while.

So coffee and brunch commenced, followed by a long walk through the neighborhood.

By the end of the day, we were exhausted and wanting to fall asleep before the sun went down. Apartment-hunting is hard work. But fun, too. I'm excited (and a bit terrified) to embark on this new chapter. Here's to changes!


What were you up to?

-jillian m.

p.s. If any of you New Yorkers hear of any vacancies through the grapevine, let me know! I'm also open to any legit rental search sites suggestions besides Craigslist, Trulia and The New York Times.

friday!

"But now in September the garden has cooled, and with it my possessiveness. The sun warms my back instead of beating on my head … The harvest has dwindled, and I have grown apart from the intense midsummer relationship that brought it on." – Robert Finch

• Top 100 blogs for the frugal gourmet. The cheap foodie in me celebrates. 

• The confessions of a "bad" teacher working in a south Bronx school. This was heart-warming, heart-breaking, hilarious and poignant all rolled into one well-written article. If you have a few minutes to spare, I highly recommend you read this.

• Yumi's vegetable cheat sheet is super helpful. And something I need to put on my fridge.

• Watch these kids react to planking. Funny stuff.

• An easy how-to on making your own laundry detergent. A cheaper and more environmentally safe alternative to the store-bought stuff.

• Happy weekend to you! See you on the other side..

-jillian m.

nap time at the bronx zoo

All were fast asleep...

All except this super excited little guy...

who was on a major sugar rush...

and soooooo into his map.

Happy Thursday! Happy because it's that much closer to Friday. I'm breathing a sigh of relief.

-jillian m.

p.s. For all those who are new here, that cute little boy up there is my nephew Mason.

the post-vacation slump: how to get over it

Coming back from a blissful break into the daily grind again can be a rough transition. No one likes to come back from vacation, especially if you've been having the time of your life eating cheese and bread in France, sunbathing in the Caribbean or even skiing in Vermont. Ever since I've returned from St. Lucia, I've been missing it terribly. However, I've been finding effective and fun ways to deal with the post-vaca blues:


1.) Create your own travel photo album/journal. This is a great way to reminisce and recall wonderful memories. And for all of you bloggers or photographers looking to get your travel photos noticed, Flickr, Tumblr and Pinterest are a few great (not to mention popular) places to do just that. Want an example of one of the most exquisite travel diaries? Check out Olivia's for inspiration. However, if you're looking for something a little more personal, Snapfish always has great deals on custom photo books.

2.) It may be far off, but start preparing for your next trip. It's never too soon to start researching, especially if you plan on visiting a place with plenty of sights to see and history to digest. And in order to to sniff out the very best deals, lots of reading and Googling is absolutely required! Side note: I had pretty much cleared out the travel section of Borders in its last week and scored some pretty amazing deals. What was originally priced at $29.99, I bought for less than $5!

3.) Plan your weekends or off time accordingly. That is, plan to attend fun weekend events in advance so you have something to look forward to during the week. If I'm running low on funds, I'll check the local paper for free or cheap activities in the area. And homebodies need not be left out! There are tons of cool, creative ways to spice up a typical night. Another idea: create seasonal bucket lists in which you designate your free days as opportunities to check a few things off. On my fall list? Pumpkin-picking and more bike-riding.

4.) If you can afford it and have the time, plan a mini-trip. Nothing too crazy, just somewhere you can take a train, bus or car (road trip!) to. I love having somewhere new to go and the idea of riding in my car with the windows down, sunglasses on and the music blasting. It's important to break the monotony of your routine once in a while, even if just for a day or two. Your mental health will thank you. Bonus: in the off-seasons, things like gas and hotel prices tend to cost much less.

-jillian m.

adventures in weekending: riding bikes on governor's island

Bike-riding on Governor's Island (just 15 minutes away from NYC on ferry, for those that don't know) was on my summer bucket list. And though temperatures are dropping to the sixties and and fifties around here, technically it's still summer, so...I can check that one off now.

In spite of the dark and overcast clouds, the day stayed dry and cool--perfect for riding bikes. How very fall of you, Mother Nature.

A bit of performance art on the lawn.

And the art didn't stop there. We came across sculptures and pieces made of things like recycled bottlecaps and inflatables.

A picnic featuring pork and chive dumplings from Vanessa's Dumplings.

Riding around this tiny island, we started to notice the enormous, regal estates now abandoned. In person, I felt a sense of eeriness anytime we rode past one. There's something about a once-occupied, now empty structure that makes me think of trapped lost souls. Spooky stuff.

On another note, this week a large bulk of the fall television shows are coming back (welcome back, How I met Your Mother, it's so good to see you!) and a few new ones (hellooo, New Girl. Oh and X-Factor too.). I am once again a slave to my TV (ugh). How about you?

-jillian m.

friday!

"Ponder well on this point: the pleasant hours of our life are all connected by a more or less tangible link, with some memory of the table". - Charles Pierre Monselet

 

• Things that make me go "aw, how cute"? Watching senior citizens learn how to work today's technology.

• A Willy Wonka dream come true! Now if they could make a chocolate river and everlasting gobstoppers , I'd die happy.

• "No one can resist my Schweddy balls...ice cream!"

• 26 stars who surprisingly turned down major roles. I was shocked that Sarah Michelle Gellar had to turn down roles for Cher in Clueless and Juliet in Baz Luhrman's Romeo + Juliet. But she rocked it as Buffy, so I guess it all turned out for the best.

• The ultimate guide to brown-bagging it (no more soggy bread!).

• Have a happy weekend!

-jillian m.

black bean burgers

Recently, I picked up a bottle of banana ketchup, which is supposed to be a healthier alternative to regular ketchup, and I'd been itching to use it. Since I was all hamburgered out from all the bbqs this summer, I thought it might be a good idea to try my hand at a vegetarian recipe, like black bean burgers. And bean burgers stayed consistent with my theme of healthier alternatives, so it seemed fitting to put these and my new ketchup together.

Quick note: I'm a big dope and ended up deleting my "prepping" photos, so all I have are pictures of the end result. Oh well...these are prettier anyway.

Black Bean Burgers (adapted from Kath Eats Real Food)
1 serving

1/3 cup of black beans
1 tablespoon whole wheat flour
Barbecue sauce, to taste
Adobo seasoning, to taste
Salt and pepper, to taste


Combine and mash the beans and whole wheat flour with a fork. 
Add the remaining ingredients and continue mashing.
Form a patty with your hands (the fun part!).
Coat a skillet or pan with cooking spray and place on medium high heat.
Place patty on skillet or pan and let sit for about 3-6 minutes on each side.

One thing that's great about black bean burgers is that the seasoning possibilities are endless. Kath suggests using any or every pick of your favorite ingredients that include but are not limited to Worcestershire sauce, corn, chopped mushrooms, curry powder and chili powder. I improvised and used what I had at the time. Which meant slicing up the sliver of avocado that was left in the fridge from days before and using it as an add-on for my burger. The rest got mixed into a spinach salad dressed in olive oil and red wine vinegar. Damn, I did good.

-jillian m.

my trip to st. lucia (part II)

The second and final part of my vacation posts largely focuses on a land and sea excursion we took around the coasts of the island. We started out in an open Jeep and rode around the westernmost part of the island, exploring fishing villages, botanical gardens, the volcanic Sulphur Springs, a plantation and more. Then, we boarded a catamaran and cruised along the coastline. I felt like one of those rich people who vacation on their yachts in the south of France!

Our tour guide, Gilliana, showing us the different fruits and vegetables that are grown on the island. According to her, there is such an abundance of food grown here that no one in St. Lucia should ever go hungry (key word being should).

The Sulphur Springs is a drive-in volcano! The craters are filled with bubbling black water over 200 degrees Fahrenheit and they emit something of a rotten egg stench.

The Fond Doux Estate is a cocoa plantation in the town of Soufriere. Shown here is known as the Cocoa Dance and this preps, polishes and preserves the beans before they are sent to be processed for Hershey's and Cadbury chocolates.

I can not stop raving about the most amazing authentic food served at the plantation. I had rice and beans, salad with a vinaigrette-type dressing, starfruit, fresh and flavorful fish, fried plantains (the darkest ones are always the sweetest) and my personal favorite, creamy breadfruit pudding. Served with fresh guava juice and delicious hot pumpkin soup appetizer. Seriously, is your mouth watering yet? Because I'm dying just writing this.

Wind in my hair, sun on my face = happy.

 Some pretty spectacular views from our catamaran

-jillian m.

*If anyone is ever looking to vacation in St. Lucia, the land and sea tour is must. There's so much to learn and see of this island and I would dare to say this tour is the best way to do it. We learned so much and had the time of our lives while doing so.