Newark, NJ…Really?

29 Thursday Nov 2018

Posted by in Epicurean, New Jersey, Portuguese, Travel, Williams Sonoma

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Homemade Mustard…#Yummy

I’m a bit of a crazed woman at the moment.  I recently read that as a content creator, yes, apparently, that’s what I’m trying to be, I need to publish at least one post a day — actually, the website I read this on the guy was saying multiple times a day. I’m down to 3 minutes left in Wednesday and the odds of this going live before midnight are slim.  I also wanted to write about my mustard, a recipe I was planning to share (and it takes a lot for me to share a ‘secret’ recipe), but I lost the bloody card w/ the recipe jotted down on it. 

I make great mustard.  It’s actually a recipe I adapted from a Williams Sonoma purchase (not really nor’eastern, but a fantastic store none-the-less).  A few years ago, while desperately scouring the one table in the store with ‘deep’ discounts I came across a make your own honey mustard kit.  Ripping open the ‘honey’ package, I realized I was about to dump a bunch of brown sugar into my mustard mixture; I tossed it instead.  While one might say I ruined the whole ‘thing’ I really made a fantastic discovery.  The flavorful mustard I created, which my spice-loving husband can’t get enough of, was amazing.  And, thankfully, for some reason, I jotted down how much flour was in the pre-packaged envelope and how much mustard seed was provided, thus creating my own recipe.  Of course, at this exact moment, when I have 3 minutes left in the day, I can’t find the effing little card the recipe is on. 

Welcome to…Newark Ironbound District!

With that, I’m going to share a cool blog, 
 The #1 Itinerary, I tripped across and an even cooler post. The #1 Itinerary folks have liked a few of my posts and I decided to meander over to the site.  As I was perusing it, I found a really informative write up about the Iron Bound District of Newark, NJ.  The thing about Newark is that it gives the rest of New Jersey a bad rap (yes, I know, everyone from Jersey says that).  But, it really does.  However, if you’re a traveler, it’s probably not uncommon to find yourself, at some point or another, going through Newark Airport.  And, if you’re going through the airport and have a few hours to spare, go to the Iron Bound District…just do it.  It’s a 10 minute cab ride (assuming all goes well with the traffic) and for the food alone, #Yummy, that 10 minutes will be worth your while.

Tales of Newark will be the subject of another post, when I’m not 1+ hours late in posting my ‘blog a day.’ 

Newark Airport

Thank you, as always, for visiting.  For those on the road, I wish you safe travels, smooth sailing, and, of course, bon appetite!

Shopping and Baking and Decorating…Oh My!

27 Tuesday Nov 2018

Posted by in Christmas, Cookies, Holidays, Recipes, Very Best Baking

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The Woods of Warren, MA

As I settle back into reality from our week in the woods, I’m beginning to plot out those pesky things that need to be done for Christmas; you know shopping and baking and decorating.   First up is baking, this weekend’s project. 

I absolutely love to bake but don’t do it as much as I would like.  It’s just my husband and myself and baking for two leads to over-indulgence (and, he’s gone Paleo on me).  So to get my fix, I make cookies — hundreds of cookies — for my husband’s students, usually about 400 (which isn’t that many when you start doling them out).

Italian Cookies…Yummy!

On the list are My Italian Grandma’s Cookies, a standard; Biscotti from The Gourmet Cookbook edited by Ruth Reichl, a book stuffed with some of the best recipes that are relatively manageable to make; pumpkin cookies, a recipe ripped from Very Best Baking; and, new to the roster, traditional gingersnaps.  The gingersnaps were added last year and  while I didn’t feel they met proper gingersnap standards — I tasted them right out of the oven — I realized a few days later, the secret to a great gingersnap is to let them rest for a few days.

While not necessarily pertaining to baking, but having everything to do with Christmas, I tripped across a pretty cool website: Eat This, Not That!  A journalist I worked with in a previous life, Laurie Wilson, writes for them and penned a fantastic article, 24 Vintage Christmas Dinner Recipes.  It’s a fun article filled with fantastic bits and intriguing recipes from Christmas’ past.  For the traditionalists among us, check it out. 

That’s it for this evening (I need to take stock of the cupboards and put my cookie shopping list together).  As always, I wish you all safe travels and, of course, bon appetite!

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Surviving Thanksgiving

26 Monday Nov 2018

Posted by in Epicurean, Holidays, Massachusetts, New England, New Jersey, Thanksgiving, Travel

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A Thanksgiving Table

Well, we survived Thanksgiving; at least those of us who traveled during the peak Sunday travel period did.  24-hours later, the country is being assaulted by rain and snow.  In reflection, I’m glad to have gone home yesterday.  Ah, hindsight, you are indeed 20/20. 

A Thanksgiving scene from a flick that sticks in my head is Meg Ryan in The Doors (note, link to a great overview of the scene, albeit a bit light on the Meg analyzation). She performs Jim Morrison’s girl friend who has a melt down as she prepares Thanksgiving dinner, banging the duck on the ground, sobbing, “all I wanted to do was have a nice Thanksgiving” or something to that effect.

That’s usually how I feel at the beginning, mid point, and even end of each Thanksgiving we ‘host’ — OK, it’s only happened twice — like a crazy chick banging her bird on the floor wanting something just a bit better, something a bit nicer for the holiday.

The weekend was fine and I only had to deal with a meal for five; three of whom aren’t that picky.  After dinner — I swear the whole time I felt like poor Meg — we lounged about.  Saturday, my sister joined the festivities and hiked with the goats.  We walked through the woods — the cabin has about 80 acres to trudge through — and made a final meal over the fire, Bacalhau Assado.   

Bacalhau Asado 

As promised, we did take videos and I’m now figuring out how to use the software I purchased (which was to eliminate the ads among other actual needed tools — the ads are still there).  We did do a teaser video to send to his friend, included below for test purposes only.  It’s pretty good for the third video created that weekend and kind of amusing. 

For my husband, I’m including a clip I tripped upon while posting the Nor’east Epicurean video, it’s rather apropos as, indeed, the Maker’s Mark was flowing this past week.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83Q-B6KepX4

I’ll posts more thoughts about Thanksgiving dinner (OMG, the acorn squash thingy was so delicious), which, thankfully, ultimately turned out really great and will update you on our adventures over the coming days/weeks.  And, as  we enter the holiday season, I’m wishing everyone safe travels and, of course, bon appetite. 

To Blog or Not to Blog …

24 Saturday Nov 2018

Posted by in Thanksgiving

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“You should do a cancer blog, Aunt Paula,” Addie exclaimed as I was attempting to explain my blog to her.

“Well,” I gulped, searching for the words that would appropriately answer such a statement.  “It would be boring as I’m actually really fortunate,” I meekly responded.

It’s Friday evening; black Friday has been in full swing for more than a few hours. And here I sit, with the utter knowledge that I should be elated, so thankful, and operating in a state of complete, joyous gratitude.  But, that’s not how I’m feeling.

Don’t get me wrong, I do give thanks.  I don’t talk about it much but ~ 14 months ago I was diagnosed with cancer.  Today, I sit here typing, basking in the glory of being in remission for more than 5 months. From start to finish, this endometrial cancer messed with about 10 months of my life.  Some people give birth; others get diagnosed with and treated for/cured of cancer in that time frame.  It’ been quite the ride.

But throughout my ordeal, I never faltered from being a person…a person irked at having to organize and do the heavy lifting of a Thanksgiving away; a person perturbed that for the second time today she had to clean the kitchen from top to bottom knowing that in less than 24 hours she would be faced with cleaning and closing down the wonderful cabin she’s been residing in for the past week, or a person who should be rejoicing in the fact that she now sits here in front of a fire, in the quiet, wee hours of the morning – cancer free– enjoying the remaining hours of her Thanksgiving weekend.

In early November 2017 I had a hysterectomy which was to cure me of the cancer I had been diagnosed with less than 4 weeks earlier.  Two weeks later, a few days before arriving at this fantastic cabin for Thanksgiving 2018, I was advised that the cancer had spread and was now classified as stage 3. Today, I type this in the glow of a fire, smiling at the fact that I am in remission.

I reflect upon all those inspirational sayings and poems about feet walking in the sand, or sob, sob, sob “when you’re 96 you’ll look back, glad that your hands were busyed with the work of a crazy person” or, better yet, “while you were alone, I carried you,” blah, blah blah…And I want to scream.  This is not how it’s supposed to be (‘Suck it people,’ I bellow to myself, in my head; “just because I have cancer, doesn’t’ mean it’s my last days!!”).

While I sit here with conflicted emotions, at the end of the day, I’m happy – happy that I’m in remission, happy that I was able to treat my brother and his kids to a great weekend with the goats, and thrilled that I’m even able to enjoy such an evening.

As we look toward the beginning of Christmas, I want to thank you for listening; wish you safe travels and, of course, as always, bon appetite..

The Turkey Ran Away

22 Thursday Nov 2018

Posted by in Epicurean, Holidays, Massachusetts, New England, Thanksgiving, Travel

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Upon Thanksgiving Day…they said they’ll make a feast of me so I shan’t stay….

Earlier in the week, a bunch of Toms ran through our yard.  On the most appropriate of days, here’s a picture of them running…for their dear lives. 

Wishing all my North American Friends the happiest of Thanksgivings. 

And, to all my followers, safe travels and bon appetite!