Carousels & Macarons

Our itinerary wasn't concrete, but we knew we needed to get out of New Haven & that the Big Apple would be our final destination. We walked to the train station and rescued some beached worms from the sidewalk along the way. They didn't really say anything, but I could tell they appreciated it. Our friend Kellee joined us and together we dined on peanut butter cups and diet ginger ale. 

^^^After spending some time sniffing handsome man perfume in Grand Central we rounded out our breakfast with some giant pistachio and salted caramel macarons. They were the perfect combination of crunchy, gooey, creamy, fluffy nonsense. ^^^

{via Andrew}

^^^After meeting some new friends, we headed to Brooklyn where we discovered a carousel. Some of the horses moved up and down aaaaaand^^^

It. Was. Thrilling. 

^^^notice the seat belt^^^

After eating a yummy pizza dinner, we headed back to campus. All in all, a very successful adventure. 

P.S. Mother's day is coming! We've had some pretty wonderful celebrations in the past featuring truly delectable menus. 

Here's what I'm thinking for tomorrow:

Some Balloons

A bouquet (or two)

Flower Salad 

The best yogurt you've ever had  Ambrosia

Eggs Benedict

Roasted potatoes

Cheese

and 

Some Chocolate

Field Guide to Austin

I was beyond thrilled when Three and Five agreed to visit me at the end of my internship! I knew they were a bit dubious about the prospect of coming to Texas, but I think I speak for all of us when I say the visit was practically perfect in every way. I spent my summer living and working in Houston, but when they came we decided to drive up to Hill Country to explore Austin--which. we. loved. Hit the jump for our complete guide and itinerary.

Pie Sisters

Wednesday was Pi Day, so--per Three's brilliant suggestion--we decided to try out the pie joint near her house. It was adorable, delicious--and started by two REAL LIVE sisters! 

Ahhh, I love sisters.

Our in-depth analysis of the individual pies follows:

Cherry Pie = Too Sweet

Banana Cream Pie Puff = Yummy (but not mind-blowing)

Key Lime Pie = Mind-blowing.

 

Someone clearly needed more pie

YUM

By the way, there's still time to enter our mad-awesome GIVEAWAY!

DO IT!

Now that's what I call cheesecake

Source

Happy Cakes!

Yesterday afternoon our beloved Indonesian sister P kidnapped Five and me for a much needed break. (We had been packing for school all day and were both suffering from a severe case of cabin fever.) We went to a cute little bakery called "Happy Cakes", and after doing a complicated mathematical equation, we discovered that six cupcakes would satisfy the three of us. Lemon Raspberry, Chocolate Chocolate, Vanilla, Lemon Drop, "Vegan" (which tasted like French Toast), and, of course, Buttercream Bacon (which--as avid vegetarians--we couldn't eat, but for some reason still wanted to buy...I'm not exactly sure what that says about us). Unfortunately we only made it through four of them, and, surprisingly, my favorite was the vegan one! It was so good.

On a slightly unrelated note (read: while I have your attention!): Any suggestions about what I should bring to school? So far I've been told: Halloween costumes

A Rose by Any Other Name Would Taste as Sweet

What can I say?  I was inspired by Two's fresh take on flowers yesterday, but there's one that she left out, ICE CREAM FLOWERS!!!!  Sigh. I'm getting goosebumps just thinking about them.  I promise these are the last pictures we'll post from our most recent European adventures, but I really feel the need to share.  I was in Budapest for 10 days and I went to this place 4 times within that period. The really glorious thing about these flowers in particular is that they're pretty and delicious.  Seriously, some of the best gelato I've ever had--and just between us, I eat a lot of this stuff.

So.  If you find yourself in Budapest go to this place --Gelartorosa?-- it's right next the the basilica in St. Stephan Ter.  If I had to recommend one flavor, I couldn't.  I was equally thrilled by all of them from the lavender-white chocolate to the orange-Nutella (oh yes, they go there).  In fact, part of me is grateful Gelartorosa doesn't exist here in D.C., because I think I'd start resembling a rose myself if it did.  And with that, I shall close with my favorite poem from Shel Silverstein (written from memory, I can't remember its name...).

"You're eating like a pig again!" My mother scolded me.

"If you keep eating like a pig, a pig is what you'll be"

I really cannot fathom what the fuss is all about.

For haven't I a lovely tail, and see my splendid snout?

If only that was life-sized...

Poppy-seed and Pistachio

Watermelon and Elderflower-strawberry

White Chocolate Lavender and Lemon Basil

Darrrrrk chocolate and Hazelnut

Pure Contentment

Brothers Can Be Cool, Too

*apologies to C, who decided to be lame and not come to a family gathering. He had to
have his head superimposed onto JP's body, and my heart just wasn't in it.

I love my brothers. They're sweet some of the time and can usually be persuaded to take the trash out. What more could a sister ask for?

Along with those virtues, all of my brothers can cook. And I don't mean 'boil water and put the macaroni into it' cook (in fact, S sometimes has trouble with that); they can really cook. The swankiest and most exotic things that I've ever eaten have been served to me by my brothers. From fried artichokes with clarified lemon butter to seasoned eggplant stuffed with garbanzo cream (I know, right?!), their skill and ingenuity in the kitchen never ceases to amaze me. Well, Z realized this. He realized this and decided that he wanted to share his skills with the world. He decided to start a blog.

DUN DUN DUNNNNNNN. . . DUN.

Today I am writing to declare a turf war. If my kid brother Z things that he's got what it takes to make it in the blogosphere, he better think again. WAAAATCH YOUR BACK ZEEEEEEEEE!!!

Just kidding (I got you good, didn't I?)! I think it's an awesome idea, and I'm excited that our readers are going have the opportunity to sample some of my brothers' delightful delicacies.

Here's a video to whet your appetite (PUN!)

So go and check out CookingwithZTD.blogspot.com, because it's tight. 

Don't cry for me...

This morning I wept while reading the New York Times. My tears were brought on by eulogy of sorts, though it did not appear in the Obituaries section. This story ran in the Dining portion of the paper, and it memorializes the life and death of the Minimalist column written by Mark Bittman.

Don't tell Dr. P, but I have often felt that Bittman is my culinary soul mate. I love the spirit he brings to the kitchen. He's dynamic, funny, confident, yet totally not cocky. I get his humor, I dig the way he writes recipes, and I deeply appreciate that he is not a respecter of ingredients. I'm completely devoted to his weekly videos, and perhaps too enamored with his amazing 101 Recipes series that comes out 1 or 2 times a year. Add to all of this the fact that the first EVER Minimalist column ran on my 10th birthday, and I think it's safe to say that WE WERE MEANT FOR EACH OTHER. *sob, sniffle, sob...*

And now, it's over. Just like that. Last week we were happily making innovative pancakes together, and today... POOF!

The truth is that Mark won't be gone, but things are going to change. He's moved on to a new column in the opinions section, and I just don't know what that's going to mean for us. I guess all I can do now, is remember the good times we had, and try not to be bitter about the way things ended. Love can be so confusing...

In the spirit of Five

When I saw this (super awesome) clip it reminded me of Five's post about popcorn on the cob. I guess this is what it would look like if you were inside that paper bag (well, this x750... i checked).

I don't know why you say goodbye...

Yesterday I woke up at 3:48am to drive Dr. P to the airport. If I’m being honest, I was being extremely magnanimous. I didn't want to get up, I didn't want to drive him, and I certainly did not want him to actually get on the flight to New Mexico. He'll be away for about two months (here he would have me clarify that it's actually only 7 weeks), first in Indian Country, and then to the country India. I know that I should be excited for him, (and I am) but I hate goodbyes. One of the reasons they are so hard for me is that I'm horrible at keeping in touch with people, it was one of the main motivating factors behind starting this blog! It's an awful characteristic, in fact, I think it's the worst thing about me. So in the days leading up to (and months following) my adieu to my beau, I'm trying to follow the wisdom of my fathers when they rallied round the cry of "I don't know why you say goodbye, I say HELLO!"

In the spirit of the season (and the Beatles) I'm going to look for opportunities to spread cheer and say hello. Hello to old friends, new activities, and maybe even a little time alone. I'm going to sat hello to STATA, and Santa, and the 100 Push-up challenge. And hopefully, if you're one of those I love dearly, but have been neglecting, I'll say hello to you too (and not just though our blog :).

So Hello Friends!



Helloooo Coco Sala!

Goodbye Dr. P!!

i miss you!

Mother Trucker!

I work in what is known as a food desert*, so food trucks--or as I like to call them restaurants without borders--are not just bearers of food, but bearers of hope. Unfortunately these aid workers experience many of the same set backs facing their colleagues abroad. Supply shortages, government negotiations, and massive throngs of people in need often make it difficult for aid to reach those most in need (read me, Three!) So when I heard about DC's Curbside Cookoff, a gathering of all of the city's best food-mobiles I thought it must be too good to be true.

Annnnnd, it kind of was. Here I was thinking the lines at work were long, but this was probably 10x worse. But luckily our search for the great food truck gathering brought us out of the desert and into the land of milk and honey that is China Town. So Brother S and I got falafel at a normal restaurant and called it a night.

*note: I work in a desert, not dessert (though one day the latter will be true, whipped cream wrestling here I come!)

a true dream machine

Now that's a noble cause.

CAUTION! Giant hungry people ahead!

Soooo happy to have food!
Soooo BUSTED
Why does Brother S make me look so trashy?

"The World's Most Exciting Restaurant"

Casa Bonita looks like, well, as a writer for Westword aptly put it, "like Disney had [a love child with] Tijuana and left the goofy-looking bastard to fend for itself in a random strip mall on Colfax." His words--not mine. It is a bizarre--yet magical--place where (as their posters boast) one can observe daring cliff divers, enjoy strolling mariachis (who we always convince to sing a special birthday song--even when no one in our group is celebrating a birthday), witness exciting gunfights, explore underground caves, marvel at amazing magicians, dance with a Bermuda-short clad gorilla, and devour as many baskets full of the all-you-can-eat sopaipillas as possible! When we were younger, a visit to Casa Bonita was a treasured gift. Though we now recognize that the food has never been anything to write home about (the "piñata plate" consists of a shriveled corn tortilla "enchilada" covered in gloopy, lukewarm nacho cheese, a soggy taco shell with ground beef and wilted lettuce, and lard encrusted refried beans with beige fried rice), we still agree that the overall experience cannot be beat. So, last week, when One called and gave us the exciting news that she, Mr. One, and their adorable chillins had arranged to stop in Denver for the night, we knew in an instant that Casa Bonita was the only place to go!