I *heart* NY

"NYC

What is it about you?

You're big, you're loud, you're tough"

What is it about New York City

that makes me want to break out

in tunes from Annie?

I love everything about the city.

The crowds, the sounds, the smells...

yes, the smells.

There's something about the mix of exhaust

and street vendor food carts

that blends into the perfect aroma.

Whether in winter, when the city is

aglow with Christmas lights and the air is

so cold you can barely feel your fingers and toes...

            

...and a Frozen Hot Chocolate at Serendipity III

is so worth the wait...

...or in spring, when the flowers and trees are

blooming...

...and the NYC parks are

 just about the best

place in the world to spend a

Sunday morning...

...or in the fall, when the air is crisp and clear

and a walk through Central Park

makes you feel

 that all is right with the world...

...and a trip to Magnolia Bakery

is ALWAYS in order...

...whatever the reason, no matter the

season

I *heart* NY.

The Perfect Pizza

Anyway you slice it, I love pizza.

So when a friend shared her secret to making

the best pizza, I was excited.

But I was a bit stumped when she rattled off about

five ingredients, none of which was sauce.

So, although skeptical, I tried it. 

And I loved it.

So here is my version of the best pizza.

Enjoy!

Step 1: Heat oven to 425.

Step 2: Gather your ingredients.

I like to use an italian cheese blend (asiago, parm, mozzarella), sweet mini peppers (or better yet, fresh pimento peppers if you can find them!), mushrooms,

olive oil, and garlic.

Oh, and of course the most important part:

I bought the small crusts (Boboli are the best, but I had

to settle for another brand this time).

Step 3: Brush crusts with olive oil, then sprinkle with freshly pressed garlic.  Add a little cracked pepper.

Step 4: Add your toppings.

Step 5: Pop in the oven for 10-15 minutes...veggies will still be a bit crispy.

Ta-Da! The finished product:

Step 6: EAT and ENJOY!

The Sound of Silence

there is nothing like it, the sound of absolute silence. 

i typically am not a fan. 

i always have a tv, radio, something on to drown out silence.

i even sleep with a fan on all night.
i'm not sure why this is - most likely some deep-seated psychological issue, i'm sure.

but i was faced with a long bout of silence on my recent drive up the coast of

oregon and washington.

about halfway to my destination, i lost radio and cell phone reception.

it was at this moment that i realized the fancy new car i rented had no

ipod plug-in options (darn ford motor company).

after a few panicked moments (i mean, no cell reception AND i am headed into an area that, according to my mom and America's Most Wanted, is a hotbed for serial killers),

i looked around and suddenly noticed it...

i was in one of the most beautiful places in the world.  and i was given the

gift of silence.

no distractions from the panoramic views, earthy smells, and sounds of the ocean.

what better way to take in the beauty of creation.

so, after a quick prayer of thanks, i continued on my way

grateful for the small things i take for granted.

besides, who needs the radio when you have a library of

show tunes stored in your brain? 

*side note: my apologies to all the forest creatures who had to listen to me..."tomorrow! tomorrow! i love you tomorrow!"

You Goonie!

I recently took a trip to Portland, OR and decided to take a day to drive up the coast to visit Astoria...home of many wonderful films including one of my favorites:

THE GOONIES!

What a wonderful town!  I drove down the hilly streets and headed for the water.

Astoria is located near the mouth of the Columbia River and was a hub for the fishing and lumber industries.  It's also home to some other great films including:

Free Willy, Short Circuit, Into the Wild, Overboard, Kindergarten Cop, The Ring

One of my first priorities after getting my bearings was to find the

Goonie House.

It didn't take long, but it's not easy to get to, due to the long, gravel PRIVATE drive.  Since I didn't want to be one of THOSE people (you know, the ones who scale over fences and trespass on private property), I drove to the bottom of the hill and took a (kinda fuzzy) pic:

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

I couldn't stay long, so it was over the Astoria Bridge and into Washington from there.

This bridge is just over 4 miles long!

It was a wonderful, albeit short, visit.  I hope to get back someday soon!

I leave you with one of my favorite Goonie Quotes:

"Don't you realize? The next time you see sky, it'll be over another town. The next time you take a test, it'll be in some other school. Our parents, they want the best of stuff for us. But right now, they got to do what's right for them. Because it's their time. Their time! Up there! Down here, it's our time. It's our time down here. That's all over the second we ride up Troy's bucket."

Les Fleurs

Spring is in the air!

Move Over, Martha

I saw a cupcake recipe in Martha Stewart Living that I just had to try.  But the cupcakes and icing looked way too complicated.  So, I decided to make my favorite chocolate cake recipe with vanilla buttercream frosting.  The thing I really wanted to try was the chocolate filigree hearts.  Of course, Martha had about 10 steps for this element.  I decided I could make it much simpler.  Forget chopping the chocolate squares - use chocolate chips.  Forget the double-boiler - use a bowl in the microwave.  And so I attempted the hearts, and I think they turned out really well!

Let It Snow

Okay, I am making no apologies for not posting anything for a while. I've just decided to post when the mood hits.

We've had a particularly snowy winter thus far, so I thought I'd share some of the photos I've taken of this lovely white stuff. Enjoy!