I am soooo full!

Stuffing with whole wheat bread, chestnuts, mushrooms, etc.... Roasted chicken, gratin dauphinois, and green beans. 

Apple-cranberry oatmeal crisp served a la mode, of course.

This was our thanksgiving. The below photo belongs to Johan and is from one of his past thanksgivings. I just thought it would be fun to pretend that we had a dining table and table cloths and champagne flutes. Maybe next year. 

give thanks people

A friend of Battali

Meet sweetiepie.... imagine your 9 years old and piecing together your dream restaurant then add a dash wacky, touch of chic and pinch of over the top.
A giant gold bird cage in the window, pink quilted banquettes, marble floors and bar, mirrored walls and ceilings, soda fountains, ice cream parlor chairs and charming older gentleman with fresh white shirts and little black bow ties.
I can really only liken the expience to having room service at your favorite five star hotel in LA, NY, London or any other cosmopolitan destination of your choice meets Serendipity. Tablewares consist of silver, crystal, linens, and candelabras. The fare is classic American.
I had chicken noodle soup and a grilled cheese. The chicken noodle soup was light and not full of sodium with nice sized pieces of shredded chicken, long stands of thin spaghetti and tiny cubed carrots and celery. The grilled cheese was kraft American cheese slices melted on white bread with the crusts cut off. The bread was more toast like in texture and was dry and not greasy like most grilled cheese sandwiches.

So far they have been written up in Vogue and they'll be in the NY times tomorrow so check it out!

Sweetiepie- 19 Greenwich Ave btw 10th and Christopher

A not so random selection of Laura's everyday favorites

Hemp Milk

Laura actually likes Hemp Dream but I can't find an image of it anywhere so instead I put an image of the brand I like called Living Harvest. It seems they just came out with a new version, which is unsweetened and vanilla flavored. I think it looks better than Living Harvests original vanilla hemp milk because it has virtually no sugar, no carbs and fewer calories. It's good and creamy maybe even a little nutty tasting too.

Unsweetened carob chips by Sunspire

These are a long standing favorite of Laura's. I also kinda like the Vegan carob chips by Sunspire too. I think these might be an acquired taste but they are kinda great for snacking on.

Artisana Raw organic Cashew Butter

Just plain delicious! Laura likes to eat this frozen, straight out of the jar and chip away at it. I am not sure how, but she manages to eat a jar of this in a day or two.


Here is her favorite make at home sweet snackie treat originally found on foodandwine.com.
She says they are "RAWSOME"!

Coconut-Almond Balls with Dried Fruit
1 cup raw almonds (5 ounces)
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 vanilla bean, split and seeds scraped
1 cup dried pineapple (4 ounces), coarsely chopped
1 cup soft Medjool dates, pitted (4 1/2 ounces)
2 tablespoons dried cranberries
1/4 cup shredded unsweetened coconut

In a food processor, pulse the almonds with the salt and vanilla seeds until very finely ground. Add the pineapple and dates and process until the mixture holds together. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and stir in the cranberries. Roll into 1-inch balls. Roll the balls in the coconut until coated. The coconut-almond balls can be refrigerated for up to 3 days.


These next ones aren't salty nor has Laura ever tried these so they probably shouldn't be included in this post about Laura's favorite foods. But this variation was inspired by her recipe. They are also pretty good, because they have that magical ingredient, Chocolate.

Chocolate Salty Balls makes 10 aprox 20g each
1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
4 dates (50g)
1/8 tsp salt
1 tbs agave
2 tbs water
1 scoop protein powder (NOW, unflavored)
Almond extract- about a half of a cap full

Put in food processor, make into balls, and dip into melted chocolate... if you’re into that sort of thing. Refrigerate for about 20 mins or until chocolate hardens. Eat balls!!!


Genji Ginger Miso dressing

Though she usually makes her own salad dressings she has recently come across a ready made one that suits her standards. Genji Ginger Miso dressing is sold in the front aisle of sushi bars @ Whole Foods. I couldn't seem to find am image of this either but after looking around on the Internet this product seems to have a big following. I haven't tried it yet but am going to look for it next time I am at whole foods, or what Laura fondly refers to as "whole paycheck".

Vegetables

As for vegetables... it's all about sweet potatoes and Brussels sprouts, both treated rather simply. Cut into chunky pieces, tossed with olive oil, salt and pepper and roasted in the oven till cooked and slightly crispy.

Maybe one day she will send me the poem she wrote about sweet potatoes. And might there be a poem about Brussels sprouts in works?

a new fave

(If you click on the menu it will be legible)

Newly opened this week on Hudson and Gansevoort. This is not a store front but instead is a catering company that delivers their menu from 11-5 each day. It's all local and organic and the menu changes weekly.
Unfortunately their delivery is limited from Houston to 23rd st from the west side highway to 5th ave. So if you are in the hood and you read this give it a try. You won't regret it.

Uh, Puerto Rico - Ohhh!

Welcoming another new coffee shop to the hood. 636 Grand Street btw Manhattan & Leonard

Brown rice for breakfast

This concoction came about the other night when I had extra brown rice left over from dinner.
After most meals I am searching for a little something sweet. There was nothing obvious or ready made in the house so I had to be crafty to satisfy my sweet tooth.
I kind of just started looking around kitchen and adding things to the brown rice. Then I started to think about middle eastern deserts like baklava and halva, so I went for sweet, spice and nutty. I have since decided that this can be for breakfast too.

If you have extra time then you can gently toast the sesame seeds and slivered almonds.
Other add-ins could be raisins, currents, dried cranberries, grated apple, walnuts, etc...


Sweet brown rice
1/2 cup of brown rice, cooked
1 tbs agave
1/4 tsp cinnamon, ground
pinch of cardamom, ground
1/8 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp sesame seeds
1 tbs coconut, dry shredded
1 tbs flax seeds
1 1/2 tsp tahini
2 tbs slivered almonds

Stir together and enjoy.


Vanilla tofu cream
1/2 cup of firm silken tofu
1 tbs wax orchard fruit sweet
couple of drops of vanilla
zest of half a lemon

Blend and serve. I usually eat with fruit.
If you don't have fruit sweet you can use honey, agave or whatever else.