Where In The World Are Lizzy & Jenny?

As you read this, Lizzy and I have embarked on our East Coast Roadtrip 2011. Ok it's not a formal roadtrip, more like a collection of visits and stops we have selected for a variety of reasons, but it will keep us pretty busy and surrounded with people we love for the next week. I'm sure Lizzy will give you some recaps of our trip in coming weeks, but just to give you a taste... some of the places we're planning on turning up in the next week include...

st michaels, maryland

villanova, pennsylvania

hingham, mass

jamestown, rhode island

providence, rhode island

Thank You Tracy Reese.

I can admit it. I love beautiful clothes, but I also love a good sale. Often these two worlds cannot see eye to eye. However, Tracy Reese remains my style hero because she consistently has awesome sales on her adorable dresses. I've found her dresses to be flattering, fun and just great staples to have in the wardrobe. Check out some of her awesome sale dresses I'm lusting over right now! With beautiful Jennier Lattif's Florida wedding in the Fall, I might be able to justify one of these :) Which one do you like best?

plenty overlapping ovals WAS $248, now $148

frock! "Laurisa Maxi" WAS $295, Now $177

pale pinapple falling leaves dress WAS $315, now $189

frock! "bailey" in blue raspberry. WAS $198, now $118

plenty baby chick/wicker twist cowl frock WAS $215, now $129

Do you know Nneka?

Photos of Nneka from German Vogue, August 2010

You may not know Nneka. But if you don't, you're missing out. She is a Nigerian born and raised singer that I was introduced to a couple of years ago. Since the moment I first heard her soulful, pure voice, I was in musical bliss. I've since been to three of her shows in New York, and next time she comes, I'll be there. Her sound is hard to pin down in one category, but it's sort of a blend of Bob Marley, Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu and K'naan. She has her own very unique style, and although she's a tiny person, she has an enormous presence and has a true passion for her country and her continent that really shines through in her musicality.
The video below gives a good introduction to Nneka with her music in the background. I think after you check her out, you'll be "Nnekafied" and be downloading all her albums :)

Remembering Maura.

With August already upon us, I have more than a few times already thought about last August, when I was lucky enough to attend the most life-changing event of my life as of yet.
On August 7th of last year, my Aunt Maura swam in an event called SWIM Across The Sound. It's a fundraiser run by St. Vincent's hospital, and it raises money for cancer patients to cover costs of treatments.
What set Maura apart from all of the other inspirational swimmers involved in the 15.5 mile fundraiser swim relay, was that Maura was dying of cancer when she did the swim.

The irony is that Maura never would have described herself as "dying", even up until her last day. She was full of life and passion and a desire to raise money for other people suffering from cancer. I truly think in all of her training and effort before and during the swim, she was never doing it for herself, always for others.
Her teammates were very fittingly her three sons, my cousins, David, Danny & Bart and her doctor.

As you can see from the photos, she was very weak at the time when she completed the race. So weak most cancer patients would very rightfully so be in bed, already resigned to their time ending soon. But Maura got out there and showed her guts, both physically and mentally. She was a lifelong marathon runner and swimmer, and was passionate about fitness and health. So although she was very frail and incredibly sick from the disease and the treatments, she still got out there and completed three fifteen minute legs, a feat simply unimaginable to most---that is most who didn't know Maura.

Maura was a fighter. She fought a breast cancer diagnosis in 2007, and then she fought a Leukemia diagnosis in 2008, but after a bone marrow transplant, her body just couldn't seem to keep up with her spirit.

But the pride on Maura's face, almost a year ago today---the pride she had in herself and in her sons, was the most inspirational thing I've ever experienced. With her entire family on the sidelines in bright green shirts cheering, she emerged from the water with her sons looking like she'd just won the lottery. Nothing but gratitude and spirit and love on her face.

I was lucky enough the evening after the race to get to spend some precious time with Maura at her home with her amazing husband Bill and all her closest friends and family. She walked from person to person, embracing them with warmth and love, and all she could do was profusely thank people for being there and talk about how happy she was. Of course she was cracking jokes too, because that was one of the things she was best at.

I can still hear her husky voice saying to all her friends, "This is Jen, the cute cousin!" She kept teasing me about why I didn't have a boyfriend and asking me if the guys in New York City are crazy. She was certainly my biggest fan, and I hers. I know we knew that about each other, and that was part of what made our relationship very special.

I didn't know when seeing Maura that amazing weekend that it would be the last time I would see her, or hear her voice or feel her amazing presence. But it was. Less than 2 months later, I grew worried when Maura hadn't returned an email I'd written her earlier in the week. We were great email buddies and she was always so good about getting back to me. When I got an email from her husband through her email account asking me to call him as soon as possible, I crumbled. I can still picture it perfectly. I was at my desk, after school, at work and I could feel the tears spring to my eyes from the moment I read that email. I literally crumbled. I knew it was time.
Maura died on Monday September 27th, 2010 in the company of her dear husband Bill. She was 53 years old.
And let me be clear, as much as I miss Maura and mourn for her children losing their incredible mother, and Bill losing the love of his life, and the whole planet for losing such an inspiration, Maura would want me to plug the race. Not promote her. :)
So I will. I'll let you know that although Maura is gone, the SWIM Across The Sound continues to raise money for cancer patients who desperately need it. This cause was such a passion for Maura that she was willing to push her body beyond its own limits to be a part of it.

So very fittingly, this year the race is dedicated to Maura, in her memory. If you're near Westport, Connecticut on August 6th, you should consider going and watching this wonderful event. And if you can't be there, please consider supporting a swimmer here.
Although I'm again wiping tears from my cheeks when rehashing these memories of My Sweet Aunt Maura, I think it's best to end by showing you a video taken at the race last year. My favorite part is at the end, where in her greatest accomplishment, she won't walk up the ramp without her boys. And she finishes that race the same way she finished life, with her head up and cheering.

The Bay.

Around when I graduated from college, my parents moved to the Chesapeake Bay to a small town called St Michaels, Maryland. They've lived there ever since and couldn't love it more.

When I first came down to visit, I couldn't help but feel stir-crazy, confused about what to do, and just in shock from the slow pace of the little town. However, in more recent visits, I've come to embrace the small community and the beautiful nature that abounds there. I love to take Sadie on long walks by the water and through the woods.

They have the most beautiful farmers market every Saturday at Muskrat Park. It's right on the water and it has such a lovely hum of neighbors checking in. People are buying croissants and fruit to go home and enjoy with their families or eat outside as they watch the boats pass by. It's a pretty special way to spend a Saturday morning.

Lizzy and Teacake will be making the trip down with me next weekend and I'm so excited to be able to spend time with my family and oldest, dearest friend in a peaceful place where we can just BE. :)

Breakfast By Yellow.

Sometimes the seasons tells us exactly what we should be eating to feel good. By now you all know I love breakfast, and yesterday morning, I couldn't help but notice that my breakfast had a very orange-yellow theme. I figured I would share the beauty of this fresh, color-themed produce with you all!

I had a handful of mixed red and yellow cherries. I couldn't choose just one at the store, but it turned out the yellows were sweeter!

I also had a juicy apricot. These guys are like candy in the summer, and such a pretty color. I want a dress this shade.

Then the most complicated part of this easy-peasy breakfast was a slice of Whole Foods' 12 grain bread, topped with a slathering of Trader Joes' edamame hummus, sliced yellow grape tomatoes and finely shredded mint.

No cooking required, but such a bundle of great flavors! It was hard to eat just one slice....

I hope you're going out to your local farmers' market and finding the adventures they offer at this time of year. Colorful produce makes for not only a delicious meal, but one that's also healthy and as beautiful as a piece of art! Go yellow! :)

Summer Reading.

Looking for a new book? If you're like me, you're always on the lookout for a great recommendation. This is what I'm reading right now. I won't butcher it by trying to explain what it's about, but it's a memoir that somehow manages to balance being heart-wrenching, hysterically funny, authentic, poignant and addictive all in one. Pick it up if you're in need of a good summer book! Hope you're enjoying the weekend. :)

How To Make A Great Salad (without cheese!)

This summer I've set a few goals for myself. Most of them are around getting and staying healthier. I've been actually enjoying yoga for the first time in my life, trying to cut back on sweets and trying very hard to eliminate cheese from my diet for the summer.
Why cheese? Cheese is delicious, right? Well, that's the problem. I treat cheese like chocolate and coffee, I think they are so delicious that I can really go overboard. If it were up to me, I'd have cheese at every meal and then more before bed :)
However, I realize all that cheese can't be good for a girl. So, just as a test of willpower, I've been trying to cut cheese almost entirely out of my diet. I'm not going nuts over it, but where I'd usually top my scrambled eggs with sprinkled cheddar, I'm using salsa or sliced avocado. When I want pepper-jack in a sandwich, I'm trying to replace with extra veggies like beets or shredded carrots. It's nowhere near as delicious, but I am losing my taste for it, or rather, my need for it in my food.
However, the place where I have struggled the most has been in salads. I love a creamy goat cheese crumble or chunks of salty feta in my salads, so I've had to find satisfying replacements to make my salads delicious. I think I've done okay, so I'll share with you, the anatomy of a delicious salad, with no cheese!

First, start with your favorite lettuce. I usually gravitate towards the arugula or baby spinach, but I also think adding shreds of endive or radicchio can be great for contrast!

Then, add a protein

I like hard boiled eggs, cooked just barely hard. I do this by putting the eggs in cold water, turning the water on until it comes to a boil, and then turning it off and letting the eggs sit in the water until it returns to room temperature. I find this helps prevent the eggs from becoming rubbery or gray. Instead of or in addition to eggs, you could add chick peas too for your vegetarian protein kick!

Next, add something creamy

I like avocado, because it crumbles and coats the lettuce, almost like a cheese would. It also has folates, healthy fats and Vitamin E that are great for your overall health. Mostly, it tastes indulgent every time, even though we know it's good for us!

Then, you'll need something sweet

I like a little palm-full of dried cranberries and walnuts. You could of course substitute any fruit though: grapefruit, orange segments, figs, pomegranate seeds, strawberries, the list goes on. I think the nuts help add crunch and flavor too.

Finally, you need flavor

I love the punchy, strong flavor of red onion. I think its sweetness along with its intensity really makes the salad. If you hate onion, try beets, carrots, jicama or roasted eggplant to jazz things up.

My last secret ingredient is something seedy

You may have wondered what the little black dots were on all my salad photos above. They were chia seeds! If you don't know about the benefits of these little powerhouses, check this website for details. However, in addition to all the wonderful health benefits of sprinkling these in your salads, I also love the added texture of a seed. Some of my other favorites include flax seeds, pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, sunflower seeds or poppy seeds!

Your final step, once you've chosen your favorite ingredients is assembly

In terms of presentation, I like to separate each ingredient into its own little section, so whoever is eating it (even if it's just me) can see exactly what they are eating, and toss it together themselves. On this particular night, I also added roasted chicken breast that I baked in lemon juice with olive oil, garlic, shallot and adobo seasoning.

And just for kicks, I tossed the roasted shallot and garlic in with the salad for extra flavor!

So whatever it is you're trying to kick....whether it's cheese or coffee or chocolate or cursing...there's always something you can replace it with. Maybe it won't be as good as the original, but the body is amazingly resilient, and we can get used to lots of things, if we just give them a chance. (Lizzy's been trying to tell me this for years and I'm just starting to get it). So from one imperfect, cheese-lover to a reader, I hope you stick with whatever your current goals are! Even on those tricky weekends :) Have a good one!

Take me away...to Rockaway!

It was a while ago when Lizzy posted photos of a place called Rockaway Taco in a post here on Puddin' Pie. She captured me with the images and then I watched a clip of the film about this place, and ever since then I have had it in my mind that I must go to Far Rockaway and visit this place!
It was so hard for me to really believe that there was a place on the end of the A train that really existed where people surf, eat tacos and have bee hives on their roofs. So yesterday Alana and I adventured out on the subway to seek what was out there at the very end of the line, 2 hours away. I knew it was good when this was the view out the subway window when we got close:

Seeing water is never a bad sign.
However, when we got there, we truly felt transported. The beach was nearly empty and yes! People really do surf there! It is a super mellow beach where you really can't imagine the rush and bustle of midtown being accessible by public transportation. We relaxed, took a dip in the water and really took in the beauty of where we were!

After a day of sunshine, we were dehydrated and of course HAD to check out rockaway taco, so we headed a few blocks over to see what it was all about. The first thing I noticed and fell in love with was the vegetables and fruits they were growing on the roof! Amazing.... and they use their own veggies in their tacos and their own fruits in the juices they blend.

Anyone who knows me well already knows that I have a strange love affair with growing plants and veggies, so this warmed my heart. Alana and I were too stuffed from our beach picnic to squeeze in a taco (I realize this makes no sense and trust me, I was dissapointed in myself)... but we did get a carrot-apple-ginger juice, squeezed fresh over a cup of ice and the perfect end to a beautiful day. I highly recommend a day trip to Rockaway if you can manage it. It's our new favorite place, and we already have plans to go back this week! And I can promise you, I'll be going hungry next time :)

3 photos above courtesty of http://chalk-jenny.blogspot.com/2010/10/shop-love-rockaway-tacos.html

NYC Cheapeats for Cheapskates.

The only thing worse than not being able to afford all the beautiful, delicious food available to us here in NYC is when New York Magazine comes out with their "Cheap Eats" edition. I don't know about you guys, but I often find that their idea of "cheap" is slightly different than mine.
With this being said, there are a few places I've either tried in the past few weeks of summer freedom OR staples that I go back to again and again that I feel I simply must share with my reader community. Now it's hard to narrow it down, there are so many cuisines and neighborhoods to cover, but these are my top five of cheap eats in Manhattan at the moment. SO in no particular order, here are my picks!

1. Taqueria Y Fonda on Amsterdam between 107th & 108th Streets.
This place is amazing for so many reasons. They serve a delicious burrito that's about the size of your head, the people who work there are actually Mexican and cook like Mexicans (sounds simple, but strangely difficult to find), and the environment transports you immediately to a small joint you might actually walk into in Mexico. You can sit down at one of their tables at any time of day & order a Pacifico or a Negro Modelo, or 12 and no one looks twice at you (even if it's 3pm...trust me, I've done it). Seriously though, the prices are ridiculously reasonable ($5.95 for a quesadilla & $9.50 for their "giant burrito") and you don't have to worry about how fast you're eating, how much you're spending or how many beers you've thrown back. You're surrounded by friendly, mellow people and awesome food. What more could you ask for in a neighborhood spot?

2. Acapulco Caliente on Broadway between 143rd and 144th streets. I can hear you now... "Another Mexican place? So far uptown?" Well don't even think about questioning this choice my loyal, new blog-reading friends. This place is KILLER. It is simple in its decor, and truly strange in its music volume and taste....but there are so many things I love about it. First, they are BYOB. I don't think I need to speak more on that point. Second, they have one of the best enchiladas this side of...well, Mexico. The green sauce is garlicky, fresh and perfect. Plus, they open up their doors and you can sit in the window, eating chips and salsa with your own icy beers and great company. I don't ever stop craving this place & it's always worth the trip. Trust me on this one.


3. Hummus Place at various locations including East Village, West Village & 2 Upper West Side spots. I don't usually grow such an affinity for chain restaurants. They often feel impersonal and the food seems to lack in character and flavor. The Hummus Place refuses to fit those ugly chain-restaurant stereotypes. They are dirt cheap and taste like a small Israeli Grandma made me my tahini herself. Some of my must-haves at this restaurant include their creamy fava bean hummus and their shakshuka halumi, a tomato stew topped with oozy cheese and 2 over-easy eggs. Oh and don't even get me started on their delicious health salad which tastes like you're eating a garden in a bowl. My absolute favorite part about this place is that they have a dinner special at all their locations, that allows you and your dinner partner to get 2 appetizers, 2 entrees and a bottle of house wine for only $39.95. Do I enjoy the flavor of the house wine? Nope. Do I mind when I have delicious shakshuka halumi melting in my mouth? Not a bit.

4. Terakawa Ramen on Lexington Ave between 22nd & 23rd streets. Oh how do I begin to explain the love affair I share with Terakawa? Well let me begin with this: $1.50 gyoza. Yes, you heard me correctly my thrifty followers, for only $1.50 you are served 5 plump, little gingery delights on Sunday nights for half price (they're usually $3.00. So outrageous huh). Anyway, this place is totally unassuming and tucked away, easy to miss for sure. However their soup bowls warm you from the inside out with pungent pork flavors and soft boiled eggs that must have been laid in heaven. All for about 10 bucks, you can choose a soup that fits your perfect flavor profile, and then if you're anything like me, you'll then smother that deliciousness in the fried garlic flakes that abound at the table along with the hot sauce and other mystery condiments lined up for your dousing delight. This is comfort food at it's best, and you'll walk out of this place stuffed, satisfied and feeling like ramen in a microwave is blasphemy.

5. Ottos Burger Bar on 5th avenue at 111th Street. A great burger is like a God-given gift. It must be a divine combination of being juicy, plump, flavorful, appropriately priced and of course decorated in only the finest combination of condiment perfection. It is for all these reasons that I am addicted to my neighborhood spot, Ottos. During the school year when I'm having a bad week, there's nothing like coming here for a margarita and a texas burger. What makes the texas burger my "ultimate" you may ask? Well it is high quality meat, cooked to that slightly bloody, medium rare (on the rarer side), and it's topped with cheddar cheese, crispy bacon and a generous dollop of BBQ sauce. Sounds simple, but something about the way they assemble this gem, paired with a sprinkling of waffle fries hits the spot every time. This meal of champions will cost you a mere $9.95 and the staff there is so friendly and kind, you really feel like your business is appreciated, which is pretty rare these days. They also have a bench outside where you can sit, try to digest that hefty burger and still see Central Park on the horizon with the company of your choice. For me, it doesn't get much better than that.

Please feel free to comment with your own favorite cheap eats... a good, cheap restaurant is a gift indeed! :)