November Wipocalypse Update

Well, I didn't completely keep my promises from last month. I did complete the two most recent sections of the Papillon Mystery Sampler. Below is the most recent installment.





This is the mystery sampler to date:

Also, I made substantial progress on TW's Miniature Winter Sampler (below). As you can see, I have only a little left to do on this before it is finished!! That tableau with the skaters? That is all 1 over 1.

The pictures are a little washed out, so you can't see how fabulous this is with all the beading and metallics. Hopefully I will have a better picture next month, but it was rather gusty and cold outside so I couldn't take my pictures out there to get that great daylight.

NaBloPoMo - Things I love about New York Part 3... Ben's Delicatessen

I love Ben's. Ben's is a traditional kosher deli in NY, and is now in its 40th year. Everything they make there is amazing! I'll usually get one of their traditional deli sandwiches, or their two "Specials" grilled. Their matzoh balls are large enough to have eaten Manhattan. Your mouth sings a happy song at Ben's!

When you are first seated, they place a basket of challah and rye bread on the table, as well as a bowl of their famous pickles. And OH MY GOODNESS. Their pickles are amazing. My favorite are the garlic sour pickles, which are so hard to find anywhere out of the tri-state area. (Incidentally, at my local whole foods (not to be confused with Whole Foods) market they do sell "Bubbies" which are a good substitute.

I remember that, when I was little, whenever my mom and Gram wanted to go to Filene's Basement, we would go to the Ben's in Carle Place. Then as I got older, we discovered that there was a Ben's in Bayside. I think that almost every time I came home from college at Thanksgiving, the whole family would go there for dinner my first night back. Lots of happy memories, and lots of fantastic food!

As a side note, there was a Chinese Restaurant next door that we used to go to sometimes. As fast as you could drink even *part* of your water, the bus boy would come and re-fill your water. My brother and I would make a game out of who could get them to race back to the table with the water pitcher faster. Ha! Very funny, at least to us.

Sky



My and my brother with Angel (on the left) and Sky (in front)



Sadly, earlier today my mom had to lay Sky to rest. She was born in 1997.

I remember that I was taking an SAT prep course up at Queens College, and my dad came to get me one Saturday. I came home to find a new addition to our family - a chow/husky puppy, and a real bundle of energy. The story goes that my dad went to the pet store to get more dog food, and saw Sky, with whom he fell in love. He's such a softy!

I will always remember her "mad dog" runs around the house. I will always remember curling up with her on the floor, with my head on her chest. I hadn't had a chance to see her as much since I got married and lived further away, but every time I saw her, she was so excited to see me.

A few months ago, Sky had a stroke. While she did ok for a while, she started to fail after a while... weak legs, listing, lethargy, and not really eating. You could just tell it was time.

As Tom said to me today, your gram and my Dad are up there taking care of her.

NaBloPoMo - Things I love about New York Part 2 - Ferrara Bakery & Cafe

Ferrara Bakery and Cafe. Easily one of the best places to eat. Ever. This pasticceria opened in 1892 at about the intersection of Mulberry and Grand. I can't even remember the first time I ate here with my family, but I am sure I was VERY young. You almost always have to wait to get a seat at one of their marble-topped tables. I've had more cannoli and rainbow cookies that I can even remember, and my mom would almost always get Baba Au Rhum. Coming in off the cold streets in the winter there would always be hot chocolate and coffee, and in summer there was always gelato to go with your dessert. If you are ever in NYC, GO. You won't be disappointed. It is a true New York institution.

If you click here, there is a great little video from behind the scenes at the Cafe.

Below, a picture of me and mom at Ferrara a few years ago.

 

NaBloPoMo - Things I love about New York Part 1

Most of you probably don't know that I grew up in NYC. Actually, my family has been there since the day we settled it in the early 1600s! Although I grew up in Queens, my parents always made sure that we had ample access to the fantastic-ness in the City. Since this is NaBloPoMo, and all of my thoughts are focused on my friends and family in NY,  I thought I would focus on one thing a day in NYC that I love, and the stories that surround them.

Today's installment is about Wonton Garden in Chinatown. I have many happy memories with my parents, husband, and oldest friend Erica there, where we would usually go before hitting up the *other* side of Canal Street for dessert in Little Italy! There are a few things on the menu other than soups and stews, but not too many more. I think we almost always get steamed roast pork buns.

You guys, this is not the place to go if you want "ambience" but damn, that food is good and cheap. It really is almost the first place I go when I get back to NYC. What I usually order is pretty basic -- fresh noodles in soup, sometimes with roast pork, and Tom tends to go a little more out of the box. The noodles are amazing - I've never been able to find anything like them anywhere. "Regular" Chinese food is dull once you have had Wonton Garden.

There is another blogger who did a more formal review of the place, with some great pictures. Check it out here! See if those pictures don't make you rush off there for lunch (once they reopen from the storm, of course). 

Be prepared to wait to get a table, and don't be surprised if you wind up sharing a table with total strangers if you go as a small party.

French Toast Bread Pudding

Every year I went out to Montauk during the summer (the very east most point on Long Island) for a little R&R with my mom, gram, and brother. Dad would join us the last weekend after he was done with work. Even before I came into existence, this had been an annual tradition for my mom and gram, I think beginning right after my great-gram had passed away.

Anyway, in Montauk there is a great breakfast place - Mr. John's Pancake House and we would eat there almost every morning. There was always a wait to get in, and the staff there knew my mom and gram by their first names.

My standard fare for breakfast has always been french toast with bacon. My gram would always chime in "make sure the french toast is well dipped". What she meant by this was make sure the bread is well soaked through before you put it on the griddle. Otherwise the egg scrambles and hangs off of the bread. Or you get scrambled eggs on top of your soggy bread. YUCK! (Incidentally, Tom and I went to a nice place for our anniversary last year and the shrimp was egged and breaded and just what I hate happened -- there were scrambled eggs hanging off the shrimp... BLECH)

A few weeks ago Tom and I went to the Farmer's Market at the park downtown, and a co-worker of mine was helping out Vossen's Bakery at their booth. When he saw me he gave  me a loaf of raisin bread for free! By itself I wasn't sure what to do with it since it was a sweet bread, but then I though - AHA! French Toast Bread Pudding! I saw Ina Garten make this on her show one day, and it looked delish. I didn't use her whole recipe -- just the basics, and then made it my own. This method makes it custardy, and the bread is definitely soaked through (which is what made me think of my gram) -- no scrambled eggs on my french toast here! This is perfect if you have a crowd for breakfast and don't want to slave over the stove, or you can just serve it up traditionally here, with a scoop of vanilla custard and maple syrup drizzled over. The recipe is also pretty versatile - you can really add in whatever you like. Ina's recipe is here if you want other inspiration.

Preheat your oven to 350.

Slice your sweet bread (raisin bread, challah, etc...) about 3/4" or so thick. This is not an exact science.
Line an 8 1/2" x 11" baking dish with one layer of your bread, breaking it into smaller pieces if necessary to fill the cracks
Repeat with a second layer of bread.
Mix together 5 cups of milk and 8 eggs wells, and add cinnamon to taste
Pour your mixture over the bread, and once you have poured it all in, put small plates on top to weight your bread for about 10 minutes (this will ensure your bread it soaked through)

Place your baking dish into a roasting pan, and fill the roasting pan with lukewarm water, about 1" up the side of the baking dish.
Tightly wrap the top with aluminum foil, and then cut a few slits into the foil to vent. Make sure the foil does not touch your bread pudding.

Bake for 45 minutes with the foil on, and then remove the foil and bake for another 45 minutes (at which time it will be puffed and golden brown.

Remove from the oven and try not to burn your mouth as you gobble it down!

October Wipocalypse Update

So I started a new piece! It's one I've been meaning to start for a while: TW's "Miniature Winter Sampler". I stitched the Miniature Autumn Sampler which you can see here. I'm still waiting on my LNS to get in Kreinik, and I still have to add most of the beads. This has been really enjoyable to work though. I plan on completing all four samplers, and they work up pretty fast.




Also, I'm continuing my work on Papillon Creations' 24-part Mystery Sampler "Around the World in 80 Stitches", which most recent installment I just started this weekend.

Also, my husband had some surgery during the last month, so I picked up TW's Noah's Ark Sampler for the first time in... well... about 8 years I guess. A few months ago I frogged out a major section, and have made some steady progress since, as that was my travelling project for the trips to the ER. He is on the mend though. Yay! I suspect I will have these both finished by the next update.

Tom's Birthday Dinner

Just as Tom's Birthday rolled around this year, we found ourselves with a sudden onset of Autumn. Usually here in Utah we don't get a real autumn until November, it feels like. With both of us being native East Coasters, we love the crisp in the air, the smell of the fireplace burning, and the leaves under foot.

Autumn also starts to bring to mind comfort food. Tomato Soup is one that comes to mind! With this in mind, we ran (well, we drove) to the Millcreek Farmer's Market and snagged up 8 pounds of end-of-summer tomatoes. It took me about an hour to make Cream of Tomato Soup, and we have several bags frozen for the cold months ahead! I used Ina Garten's recipe and I can tell you that nothing tastes as good as fresh tomato soup long after fresh tomato season is over. If you can get some end-of-season tomatoes, I would strongly advise you to make some soup and stock up!


For Tom's Birthday Dinner, I made him Steak Pommes Frite. Yes, those are home made french fries! Silly me though, I neglected to replace my oil thermometer (lost my other) before making the fries, and of course I decided to just wing it (bad idea), so of course the first batch came out burnt to a crisp, setting off the fire alarm and Tom scrambling to open all the doors and windows to air out the smoke. OOPS. Anyway, All's Well that Ends Well. The butter is a maitre d'hotel compound butter (YUM) and my guidance came from the Bouchon cookbook.

Last but not least! Birthday Cake! Traditionally I make Tom a Black Forest Cake from scratch, but this year he wanted to try something a little different. He had never had Sachertorte (I've had it regularly from a young age), and I found a good recipe on Epicurious. It was a HUGE HIT. Velvety dense chocolate cake layered with homemade Apricot Preserves, and swathed in a chocolate glaze (with more apricot preserves underneath it). Remarkably easy to make. I think I will make another one soon!

 

September Wipocalypse Update

Today we have a few updates! First off, my progress is up to date with the latest segment release of "Around the World in 80 Stitches" by Papillon Creations. I love working this! It goes be so fast, and I am always a little sad when I am done stitching that installment.



This is an up close of the latest section. I am actually doing all of the hardanger/cutwork as I go along. It's so much fun!

Also, I am still making steady progress on my Celtic Banner by MLI/Butternut Road. I thought it would take a lot longer to work than it actually is taking me, but I find myself tiring of it quickly these days (mostly when I get to the border).

I hope to have some new starts soon. I have the pattern printed out for TW's Miniature Winter Sampler, as well as the Tracery Ornaments, so we will see!

August Wipocalypse Update #2, and some baking

This has been a busy few weeks for me!

First up, I continued my progress on Celtic Banner (MLI/Butternut Road):

 Secondly, I won the Traveling "Tribal Penguin" pattern from Annette's Acre! I started and finished this in just a few days, and stitched it on PTP's "Meditation". If you want to be the next home for the traveling pattern, post in the comments below...

And lastly, I FINALLY started Around the World in 80 Stitches, the new SAL by Papillon Creations:

I also got Jacques Pepin's new Cookbook "Essential Pepin" and made the Chocolate Paris-Brest cake from it. It is a delicious Pate-a-Choux dough, stuffed with Chocolate Pastry Cream, and topped with Whipped Cream. It is shaped as a bicycle wheel, to commemorate the annual Tour de France from Paris to Brest. It may look complicated but it definitely is not! Here is a picture:

Lastly, here is a picture of me and one of my little dogs. It's a terrible picture of my in my pajamas, but isn't he just adorable? We love to cuddle. :-D

AGAIN - if you want to win the traveling tribal penguin pattern, post to the comments of this blog by Midnight on Monday (Labor Day).