Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Hey, I Like Your Cocktail!

August 23, 2012 by Jenny

I was introduced to a very special friend, Vodka Gimlet, back in 2009. I went to dinner at Sweetwater Restaurant with my friend Katy and her husband  (Hi, my name is Jenny and I’m a third wheel) and I had a variation of a gimlet that was so delicious I’ve been drinking them ever since.

A traditional gimlet is made with gin, and although I can’t say I’ve ever had gin, I’m convinced I don’t like it.  There are tons of ways to jazz it up, but all you really need is ice, vodka and FRESH lime juice. If you try to make this with bottled lime juice (I’m looking at you, Rose’s Lime Juice), consider yourself a failure at making cocktails and go open up a wine cooler like it’s New Year’s Eve 1997.

Some prefer simple syrup to sweeten it up a bit, others like it shaken with some mint or basil (yum!). I recommend it on the rocks because I like a strong drink to be frosty cold. Depending on how strong of a drink you like, you can use anywhere from 1.5 to 3 parts vodka for every ounce of lime juice.

On a recent trip to the Berkshires, Matt and I stopped for a cocktail at Allium in Great Barrington and I loved how the bartender served my gimlet with a sliver of lime, not a slice or a wedge, but the thinnest little shaving. It looked so elegant and delicate. I’ll definitely be copying that next time I make them!

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Hey, I Like Your Dessert!

August 18, 2012 by Jenny

Matt and I headed back to Red Hook for some foodie goods and this time I made sure to stop by Baked on Van Brunt Street. I was not disappointed. Miraculously, I managed to make it home before I cracked open the box (maybe that’s because I had just eaten a lobster roll and mini-key lime pie).

We bought a Nutella cookie, a sweet and salty brownie, and the big winner… the salted caramel bar. Upon taking my first bite of the salted caramel bar, I said, “Oh. Oh wow. That is very, very special.” A shortbread bottom, caramel middle, and chocolate top, sprinkled with flaked sea salt. Heaven.

Baked has a few cookbooks out so many of their recipes have made their way onto the internet. This one in particular looks promising.

image: annies eats

Heads up, it has five sticks of butter. FIVE.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a Comment »

Hey, I Like Your App!

August 15, 2012 by Jenny

I downloaded Red Stamp last week after seeing it mentioned on A Cup of Jo. The app is free and available on iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. (According to the website, there is no Android version yet because of technical issues.)

Using Red Stamp, you can create cool thank you cards, invitations, birth announcements, holiday messages, etc.

Many designs can be personalized with photos and can be sent via text, email or with a physical postcard (!).

Using the app to send digital cards is free.  Paper postcards cost $2 and decrease in price if you’re ordering in bulk.

Since it’s free, you don’t even need a holiday to send a card. (Here’s Nolan with a surprise he woke up with)

On A Cup of Jo, Joanna Goddard suggested it as a modern twist on sending thank you notes from new moms. If you are a new or new-ish mom, you’ll probably remember the whirlwind that is the first few weeks and months of motherhood. While friends’ and family’s generosity is beautiful and kind, sending out those thank you notes can zap every free moment you have. Everyone suggested, “Sleep when the baby sleeps!” but I couldn’t. I had laundry and thank you notes to write.

What do you think? Are digital cards (particularly thank you cards) as “acceptable” as paper ones?

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a Comment »

Hey, I Like Your ____________!

August 14, 2012 by Jenny

Probably a dozen times a day, I find myself thinking, Oooooh, I like that house/haircut/dessert/blog/app/podcast/etc. It’s usually followed up by, I should put that on my blog!  Then I sit down at my computer and realize, Ummm…I don’t have a lot to say about that. So that’s why I’m starting, Hey, I Like Your ____________! Quick little posts with things I come across and want to share.

#1 Hey, I Like Your HOUSE!

I spotted this house in Floral Park’s West End, just down the street from the elementary school. Isn’t it charming? The picture definitely doesn’t do it justice.  I was trying to inconspicuously take a picture while strolling past with Nolan and my mom. It was obvious that people were home and my mom was hissing, “Be careful!!!”

I want to live in this house.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a Comment »

Over-Modesty?

August 14, 2012 by Jenny

With all the civilized discussion (shit show) that occurred over the Time Magazine cover recently, I wonder if we’ve now gone to the other extreme of being overly modest about breatfeeding. I popped onto Buy Buy Baby’s website yesterday to look into booster seats and saw this on the homepage:

So that’s cool, they’re using Breastfeeding Awareness Month to sell stuff, I get that. Contrary to what some people say, breastfeeding does cost money. You need a pump; a pillow helps; a blanket or nursing cover is handy, etc. The thing is, though, that lady isn’t breastfeeding. I’m all for modesty and consider myself a master of the public breastfeed while offending as few people as possible, but that’s not what’s happening there. It’s just a lame picture of a woman, fully clothed, holding a baby on a pillow.

Considering the amount of cleavage that’s EVERYWHERE, would it really have been so offensive to show actual breastfeeding while promoting Breastfeeding Awareness Month? Especially considering that it’s a website most often frequented by mothers.  I don’t know what it is about that picture that bothers me so much, but I would have much rather had no mother/baby image at all than the pseudo-breastfeeding that’s going on.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | 1 Comment »

Sticky Steamy Summer Sad Face

August 13, 2012 by Jenny

As you may have deduced from my blog’s name, I live on Long Island. I used to believe that Long Island had an appealing climate. Wintery winters, springy springs, summery summers, you get the picture. After this summer, I’ve changed my mind. Heat wave after heat wave – and the humidity! Ugh. It’s like this evil weather-killer. I take a peek at the week’s temperatures and see low and mid-80s and think, Ok, that’s not so bad. And then I step outside and it easily feels ten degrees hotter and so much stickier.

Remember when summers had cool nights and breezy mornings? When you needed a cardigan or denim jacket if you were headed out to dinner? Not this year. Here are some ways to keep cool.

1. Go to the mall – Not only will you cool off, but you will also forget that it’s even summer. Stores are pumping up the A/C to encourage you to buy fall clothes. We stopped at Roosevelt Field the other day and the stores were easily 60 degrees, with the employees warmly bundled in the latest collections.

PS I want this:

And these:

I also wouldn’t say no these:

Ok, so maybe spending too much time at the mall would be a bad thing.

2. Go to the beach – If you are fortunate enough to have a child who doesn’t enjoy eating sand, the beach is always an option. Nolan enjoys eating sand by the handful. He maintains direct eye contact while he does this because he knows he isn’t supposed to. If you try to give him real food to eat, he will cover it with his favorite condiment, sand.

3. Drink cold drinks – Like these

Or my favorite tasty drink that I wrote about here

Just say yes to a vodka gimlet. If you’re feeling adventurous, try these basil infused ones.

Stay cool, people!

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 1 Comment »

Best Breakfast Spots

August 2, 2012 by Jenny

Breakfast is, without a doubt, my favorite meal. I love a spontaneous pancakes-for-dinner night and when I’m on vacation I’m most certainly NOT an, “Oh, let’s just grab a bagel,” kind of girl. No. Breakfast should be delicious and fattening and be served with tasty coffee beverages. Here are some of my favorite spots for this very special meal:

1. Toast in Port Jefferson – it’s a hike to get there (for me) and I haven’t been there in ages, but I dreamily think about this place at least once a week. Everything is delicious and they make the best cappuccino I’ve ever had. Seriously, the best. It’s very small and they don’t take reservations (that I know of), but if there’s a wait you can put your name down and stroll around Port Jeff.

2. Thomas’s Ham and Eggery in Carle Place – Thomas’s looks like a diner but the breakfast is definitely not typical diner fare: Croissant French Toast, delicious egg skillet things, etc. There is often a wait but sometimes even when there is a line you can score a seat at the counter.

3. Brownstone’s in Amityville – After many glowing reviews from a foodie friend, we tried Brownstone’s this week and were not disappointed. Friendly service, good coffee, and the Pecan Stuffed French Toast was well worth the drive to Amityville.

4. Love Lane Kitchen in Mattituck – Very charming decor, quality coffee and they always have good breakfast specials. The outdoor area is pretty but the seats are ridiculously uncomfortable so opt for inside if it’s available.

I’m certain that I’m missing tons of good breakfast places. Where should I head to next?

Image: Flickr

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a Comment »

Older Posts »

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

%d bloggers like this: