Happy Birthday Mom!

I had to go home to CT last night for a rather lame and embarrassing reason (ahem traffic court), but it ended up being perfect because today is my mom's birthday! So between driving to a no-name town of Lewisboro, pleading down my measly little speeding ticket, and still paying an exorbanent amount of money - yes I am a little biter - I was able to bake some cupcakes for my mom. I feel like everyone in my family has a favorite kind of cake that they don't like moving away from; my dad's is Spice Cake, mine might be Carrot Cake (but nothing really beats confetti), my brother likes anything with sugar, and my mom has been really leaning towards Angel Foods Cake, if there is no chocolate souffle laying around ;). So I whipped together some super simple Angel Food Cupcakes with some whipped cream frosting and whatever fruit and other toppings we had around. Happy Birthday mom!

Highlights

Hey hey! Again, I have not kept up with my daily eats, but in all honesty, they really haven't been anything special: morning oatmeals, lunch ab&j's (which I am so happy to have reinstated), fruit as an afternoon snack, yada yada.
However...I have had a few highlights this week that I am happy to report:

1. Grocery Shopping at Chelsea Market last Sunday! The fruit exchange has amazing produce and is NOT expensive - who knew! I picked up a few goodies, including some almonds, tomatoes, apples - the basics.


2. My family came in for dinner, since it's my brothers Spring Break, and we went to Market Table It's this nice little restaurant in the west village with great ambiance (personally I think it would be better for a date with a boy, than a date with a my family, but...ah well) The food was really good though...
I had a cod dish with butternut squash risotta; I forgot how much I loooove risotto. Must be the italian in me ;)
My brother god a whole fish -- legit whole thing. And he completely butchered it. I triiied to teach him how to do it correctly, since I lucked out the other night and had my own lesson, but boys will be boys...c'est la vie

Topped off with a fabulous homemade gelato from an ice cream shop on Bleeker.

And 3. saving the best for last...I have been walking by the Cake Boss in Hoboken for the last few weeks just dyyying to go inside but the line is OUTRAGEOUS! Always! All I want are some cannolis...and I don't know how I got so lucky but I got a little gift later that day <3 and let me just say they were everything I dreamed of and more. mmm mmm mmm

Headed to a beer garden tomorrow to resume my favorite past time of day drinking [in the rain]?! Have a great weekend!

Memorable Weekend Eats

I swear I didn't eat this whole thing...but I wish :)

My mom and brother came into the city on a whim (definitely a perk to having my family close by!) and we all went out to lunch! If you are ever in New York and are having a hard time deciding what/where to eat, Chelsea Market is a no-fail solution. There is sooo much going on in there! After perusing the mutliple options available, we ended up at Friedman's deli. I was seriously in the mood for a sandwich, so I got the Vegetable with Turkey on sourdough bread. 

It was HUGE and delicious and messy. Just perfect :) Oh and a side of sweet potato fries. If they're on the menu, they are being ordered, let's be serious.

 I also was able to make myself a little quick and easy dinner on friday by following this recipe from Nourish Network with a few tweaks to suit my needs:

White Bean and Kale Ragout with Sweet Potato and Sausage

1 T olive oil

1/2 cup chopped onion

1 Chicken sausage (roasted red pepper but choose whatever flavor you like)

2 sweet potatoes (cut into cubes)

3 minced garlic cloves

4 cups of de-stemmed and chopped kale

1/2 cup of vegetable stock

1 can of cannellini beans, drained

1/2 can diced tomatoes, undrained

sea salt and pepper

Heat oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Saute onion and sweet potato until bronzed. Sprinkle with S&P and then add the sausage and garlic. Cook for 2 more minutes, add kale and remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until kale is tender. Finito!