Category Archives: New York

All Eyes on the Weekend

10 Thursday Jan 2019

Posted by in Epicurean, Italian, Maine, Maryland, New England, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Travel, Vermont, Weekend

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The weekend is upon us and I’m staying local.  For those looking for something a bit different, following is a roundup of offbeat activities throughout the Northeast culled with the specific mission of getting you out and about.

In Portland, The Maine Historical Society is seizing upon the culinary renaissance taking place throughout the state with  two distinct programs:  Maine Eats and Maine Brews.  The exhibits are on display at the Society’s home in downtown Portland.  A bit further North, The Brunswick Inn is having a Murder Mystery Weekend. A quasi-embarrassing confession, my husband and I love these types of excursions; on the surface they seem like they could be cheesy, but when done right, hilarity usually ensues (note, you must call the Inn to reserve as reservations can’t be made online?!?  Phone:  207.729.4914).

Out and about in New Hampshire, the Prescott Farm Educational Center in Laconia offers a Snowshoe program on Saturday.  And, Stowe, Vermont is hosting its annual Stowe Derby, one of the oldest and most unique ski races in North America.

If you’re around Providence, RI, take the Federal Hill Food Tour.  Hosted by Master Chef and Historian, Walter Potenza, the tour touches upon the great foods and history of Federal Hill and walkers will have the opportunity to sample cheeses, charcuterie, and antipasti.

In New York, check out the New York Botanical Garden’s Bar Car Night (Saturday is the last night for the Bar car evening).   On these nights exclusively for adults 21 and over, the wintry landscape of NYBG sets the scene for festive outdoor adventures, with an after-dark viewing of the Holiday Train Show.

The weekend also appears to be the start of a smattering of Restaurant Weeks.  In Philadelphia, the City Center Restaurant Week begins on Sunday, where those in the know can enjoy a three-course lunch for $20 and a three-course dinner for $35.  In Maryland, it’s the Baltimore Restaurant Week (as well as in a few other, key towns throughout the state).  They fancy themselves a ‘delicious city’ and the week’s specials feature two-course brunch and lunch menus range from $12-20, and three-course dinner menus range from $20-$35.

May inspiration be upon you to get out and about this weekend; I myself might just end up at the Botanical Gardens Saturday evening.  As always, I wish you all safe travels, smooth sailings, and, of course, bon appetite.

Lights Out!

18 Tuesday Dec 2018

Posted by in Christmas, Connecticut, Festivals, Friday Night, Holidays, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New England, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Travel, Vermont

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I’ve been to Lights in the Parkway in Allentown, PA and the Christmas Light Show and Village at Skylands Stadium in Augusta, NJ. Both were pretty fantastic (albeit, I enjoyed the Allentown lights better as you literally drove through a park). I almost went to Bright Nights Springfield (MA) over Thanksgiving, but, unfortunately, time was not on our side.

Waiting to be Lit Up in Hershey, PA

With the days winding down, I am hoping that you’re able to take some time to enjoy the season. And, if that happens to be in the evening consider taking a road trip to your local “light shows.” The roster of displays I’m most familiar with is limited, so I did some legwork and gathered some favorite picks up and down the east coast as culled by people more intimately knowledgeable on the subject than myself:

Eastern PA – The folks over at The Patch identify their Top 5 light displays in the easterly part of the state. While Mommy Poppins (I love Mommy Poppins; even if you don’t have kids, she does a fabulous job curating what’s going on — for young and old alike — in the NJ area and often includes neighboring states!) details out more than 15 shows in the greater Philly area, including the burbs

Hudson Valley, NY – Our friends at Hudson Valley Magazine have gathered 12 light shows ranging from a tree lighting in Nyack to a show in Newburgh that has dancing arches.

Maryland – Chesapeake Family lists out tree lighting ceremonies and on-going displays throughout the month. Most of the ceremonies have taken place, but the static displays are still going on.

New England – Yankee Magazine details out some of the best light shows in New England. For state-specific shows, visit: Kicks 1055 for CT (good ol’ Mommy Poppins also has a list); our friends at Visit Maine present 20 sites throughout the state; in NH, the writers at NH Magazine give their selections for the best; the folks at The Globe have chosen 10 displays from MA, including Bright Nights; and WPRI Channel 12 in RI serves up their choices for the best shows in the state. I’ve left Vermont off as that turned into an expedition of hunting and pecking and, like the writers at Yankee Magazine, I’m left scratching my head.

New York – Of course the City is all all aglow this time of year (more so than usual) and has some fantastic displays as described in Time Out NY (again, Ms. Poppins also has a listing for NYC). For those North of the city, New York Upstate details list out some offerings.

This list is by no means exhaustive, just some thought starters for those of you looking to fill time between now and the new year. If you can’t find what you’re looking for or are traveling outside the Northeast, Travel + Leisure has a list of Christmas light shows in every state.

It’s time for to start thinking about turning out the lights here at Casa Rivera; and, with that, I’m wishing you all safe travels, smooth sailings and, of course, bon appetite.

Cookies, Cookies; Cookie Monster!

05 Wednesday Dec 2018

Posted by in Christmas, Cookies, Epicurean, Festivals, Holidays, New York, Recipes, Travel, Weekend

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As I was saying, there really is a day for everything; apparently, for cookies, it’s an entire week.  Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest are laden with posts about #NationalCookieWeek and the hundred upon hundreds of recipes are mind boggling. 

The Fruit of My Labor

While technically I’m probably done baking, I have this nagging feeling I didn’t make enough cookies. This is a feeling I’m well used to as it occurs most every year.  Last year, that was an unnervingly accurate feeling.  Recovering from an operation, my heart wasn’t really into the whole Christmas season and I thought I could get away making the bear minimum amount of cookies needed.  Big mistake as that was never really enough. Inevitably, every few days, I found myself making more and more cookies.  I wasn’t a happy camper. 

In an effort to alleviate that nagging feeling, this evening I made what should be the last batch of cookies this year — gingersnaps.  Out of the oven, they’re OK; give them a few days and #todiefor! 

Gingersnaps; Not Monster Cookies

In honor of #NationalCookieWeek, I’m sharing that one staple recipe that receives rave reviews and makes quite literally, hundreds of cookies.  I made a 1/2 batch over the weekend and ended up with north of 250 cookies.  I was convinced this was a secret family recipe handed down for at least one generation and something that only us Stifter’s knew about; then I got on Pinterest. Apparently, it’s most everyone’s secret family recipe, sigh.  With that, I give you the coveted Monster Cookie recipe:

  • 12 Eggs 
  • 2 Pounds Brown Sugar 
  • 4 Cups Granulated Sugar 
  • 1 Tablespoon Vanilla 
  • 8 Teaspoons Baking Soda
  • 1 Pound Margarine (I always use butter and I melt it) 
  • 3 Pounds Peanut Butter (I get the super chunky) 
  • 18 Cups Oatmeal (It doesn’t indicate quick or regular — I use quick)
  • 1 Pound Chocolate Chips 
  • 1 Pound M&Ms (if I use peanut M&Ms then I won’t use the super Chunky peanut butter)
  • 1 Tablespoon Corn Syrup 

Mix the ingredients in order given. Drop by Tablespoon onto cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 10 – 12 minutes.  This makes a large, chewy cookie. If you start lifting weights in September, mixing this in December won’t be so painful…oy. 

 I’m looking forward to the weekend; I’m trying to squeeze in a trip to Sugar Loaf, NY for the town’s annual holiday celebration on Saturday.  Saturday night we’re entertaining friends and on Sunday we’ll be attending a Christmas concert #Fun. 

On that #Yummy note, I wish everyone safe travels, smooth sailings and, of course, bon appetite. 

 

Waffles For All My Friends

01 Saturday Dec 2018

Posted by in Connecticut, Cookies, Epicurean, Holidays, Massachusetts, New York, Travel, Very Best Baking, Washington DC, Weekend

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Gourmet’s Creme Brulee French Toast

According to Food & Wine, today is (ok, at this juncture, technically, it should be ‘yesterday was’) #NationalFrenchToastDay; who knew — I swear, there’s a day for everything.  I never enjoyed waffles growing up, they reminded me of eating soggy sponges.  And, the way they were prepared in the Stifter household, they kind of were.  It wasn’t until later in life that my mother became creative with her French Toast.  Can’t really blame her, she did have 5 kids to raise and worked full time — if I were her, I don’t think I’d have put too much creativity into my french toast. 

Fast forward some 20 odd years (gee, just 20 you wonder, how can she be so pithy at such a young age?!?) and I’ve grown to love French Toast.  It started after I met my husband who himself makes a mighty fine Toast of French. In our younger days, we would frequent a local diner called Rosee’s.  Rosee’s was located in a former gas station and had kitschy items on the menu like gas pedal meatballs and windshield wiper hot dogs.  Paola, the owner/chef, made fantastic French Toast — her secret ingredients a dash of cinnamon and a bit of nutmeg — that was absolutely divine.   

Very Best Baking’s (aka Libby’s) Pumpkin Cookies

While Food & Wine’s Instagram account specifically calls out the day, I wasn’t able to grab the link to its ‘8 creative takes on French Toast’ post.  Their Pinterest site doesn’t specifically pay homage to the day, but a simple search for French Toast served up a bevy of recipes.  My favorite, and one that is great for a brunch, can be found in the trusty Gourmet Cookbook (same one that my biscotti is from): a french toast creme brulee.  #SoGood. 

Nyack Chamber of Commerce

It’s now after midnight and I’ve missed French Toast Day 😦  (I should really post during the day time, perhaps that would help expand my roster of Western followers).  I’m making cookies and have a good cadence going on so that I’m able to whack out a graph in between baking cycles.  Tomorrow, we’re off to Nyack, NY which is a fabulous town along the Hudson, it’s actually nestled right next to the Tappan Zee Bridge.  We’ll walk the downtown area and attend its annual tree lighting ceremony. Really, what’s a Christmas without going to some sort of tree lighting — whether a big city like DC or NYC or a small town, like Mystic, CT, where Santa arrives on a boat, #fun, or Harvard, MA, a quintessential New England town.

Ah, only a few more trays of cookies to go — for tonight that is, tomorrow is biscotti day.  I’m wishing all of you a wonderful weekend, safe travels and, of course, bon appetite!

Let’s Hear It For the Northeast!

14 Wednesday Nov 2018

Posted by in Connecticut, Holidays, Maryland, Massachusetts, New England, New York, Pennsylvania, Travel, Washington DC, Weekend, Winter Solstice

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DC in WinterI love the winter. From its first days being the darkest with the winter solstice, yet brightest with the Christmas holidays, to the freezing storms of February that leave the trees a glistening wonderland, I really enjoy all things winter, especially here in the Northeast. I tend not to get the doldrums as I like outdoor activities as much as I find comfort in lounging on the couch with a cup of something hot — hot cocoa, hot toddy, not mulled cider — and alcoholic to warm my soul.  And, as a New Englander traveling, more specifically driving, in the winter isn’t an issue.

So, I was tickled when I tripped across a USA Today article about the best destinations for cold winter vacations.  The article is based on a WalletHub study that analyzed a locale’s costs and hassle (of getting to/from), overall destination costs, attractions, weather, activity, and safety.  The study looked at more than a 100 destinations and of the top 32, 13 were in the Northeast; woo hoo!! Washington and New York placed in the top 5 (NY ranking highest for attractions), the others are:

6: Boston

9: Philadelphia

10: Pittsburgh

18: Baltimore

21: Rochester, NY

27: Buffalo, NY

28: Worcester, MA

29: Providence, RI

30: Hartford, CT

31: Albany, NY

32: Bridgeport, CT (I’m a bit dubious about this one)

According to the folks at WalletHub, sports are a constant driver for winter travel; however, food (yeah, all things epicurean), heritage, and spa services are growing influencers of travel to cold weather destinations.

While people tend to get depressed with the shorter days, I encourage you to breath deep and take a cold weather trip; you’ll enjoy it. If you do go, safe travels and, of course, bon appetite!

via The best destinations for cold winter vacations in 2018