Gay Pride Parade in New York

After going to the gym on saturday I realized the parade was going on right outside my building so I decided to take a couple of pictures

Saturday Baking

I took a cake baking class and we made the following

Old Fashinoned Coconut Cake with buttercream frosting
Mini Raspberry Diamonds with Ganache glaze
Double Chocolate Pear cake
Carrot Cake with Cream cheese frosting
Devils food cake with meringue icing

I'm voting Republican because...

Pridefest 2008 NYC

Brunch in NYC

I'm reviewing some of the restaurants I've been for brunch in New York

Popover Cafe, 551 Amsterdam Ave (at 86th St)- This place has a huge line so if you have time to sit and wait and not knaw off your arm from hunger then its worth the wait. They have these popovers wich is flakey outside soft hollow inside breadish side that comes out warm from the oven. Spread some butter and strawberry jam, mmmm good.



Sarabeth's, 423 Amsterdam Ave (at 80th St)- Sarabeth's is probably one my favorite brunch places I've been too in the UWS. The atmosphere is great, its comfortable and the decor is shabby chic. The serivce was very good and the food well the food is absolutely amazing. Some of their food off their menu that I like are garden omelette and pumpkin muffin, lemon ricotta pancakes, goat cheese omelette, Goldie Lox, and all their preserves are great.

Arte Cafe , 106 W 73rd St # 1 btw Columbus and Amsterdam (closer to Columbus)- This brunch place is great. The food isnt the absolute best but they have an unlimited drink special where you add $10 to your entree and you can get unlimited champagne, mimosas, screwdriver, strawberry sangria, blood mary or peach bellini, they dont stiff you like most places and not give you refills here, they are pretty good about it. Its great to go here with a group stay from 12-4 (thats when the party must end) and eat and drink away on a sunday afternoon. They also have a garden out back and a patio where you can sit on a sunny New York afternoon.

Film Center Cafe, 635 9th Ave # 9 btw 44th and 45th.- If you want a quiet place to catch up with your friends this isnt the place to go. I've been here twice, once with a friends and I thought I was at a club. There is a dj booth and sometimes they play very loud music. The second time I went here there was no dj so it all depends on the day you go, I think. The food is decent and they also have a unlimited drink special, but its not as good as Arte Cafe's. They are pretty frigid about the 'unlimited part'.

Le Bilboquet- 25 E 63rd Street btw Madison & Park avenue- This tiny and I mean TINY hole in the wall may seem like it doesnt have good food but it is great. As I walked into this place I felt like I was underdressed (Should have gone to Prada before) and had stepped into the south of France were the young adults got off there mommy and daddy's yatchs to come in and eat. If you dont mind the bumping techno music and rose wine that is being passed around and sometimes even sprayed around then this is the place for you! I gotta say the chicken was the best chicken I had and the I had some of my friends steak...AMAZING! Here's a article in the New York times about it.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/22/nyregion/22hangout.html

Cafe Lalo- 201 West 83rd street between Broadway and Amsterdam- This place has been in the movie You've got mail with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. The service isnt the best here. The staff of youngsters dont seem to want to be there and are a little sluggish at times. The ambience is nice, they have huge windows they open when the weather is nice out and a french feel indoors. A huge selection of desserts & coffee's. The food is good, I had there Salmon sandwich on crispy french country bread with sliced tomatoes and fresh cucumbers a cappuccino (which was great) and a fruit tart for dessert. This place is Cash only!!

Crumb cake!

I made this the other day for the first time and it was absolutely amazing. I shouldnt be eating this but it was so good and then I gave it all away because I couldnt have it sit in my house.

If anyone tries the recipe let me know how it turned out.

INGREDIENTS

Cake
1/2 cup margarine or butter
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
3/4 cup milk
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla

TOPPING
1/2 cup margarine or butter
1 cup sugar
2 cups biscuit mix
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4-1/2 cup powdered sugar

DIRECTIONS

Cream butter and sugar.
Beat eggs and milk; mix with butter.
In another bowl, mix flour and baking powder, then add to butter mixture.
Stir in vanilla.
Pour batter into a greased 9 x 13 pan.
For crumb topping: Cut butter into sugar, biscuit mix, and cinnamon.
Sprinkle over batter in pan.
Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until done.
Top with the 1/4 - 1/2 C powdered sugar when cool.

Balloonacy

So you guys might see the squirrel in the bottom of the page. I’m participation on the Orange World’s First Internet Balloon Race.

People from all over the world are participating, they will follow the balloon and visit the blogs/sites that are participating, this means more traffic, new visitors and possibly new readers.

The balloons will fly across a range of sites, picking up speed & distance bonuses as they fly. They can also pick up tokens for entry in to free prize draws. First prize is a trip to IBIZA, this is sponsered by The Sun and Yahoo so its legite.

So follow my balloon and give me a boost

http://www.playballoonacy.com/show/8ee08c31ea185644d0f04fbf467464e3

Baked Ziti Recipe

So I made baked ziti last night and I have perfected my pasta sauce, finally!! It was so good.
Again I didnt use the jars of spaghetti sauce just used my recipe for pasta sauce. I will post it under sauces

Level of difficulty: Average

INGREDIENTS

1 pound dry ziti pasta
1 onion, chopped
1 pound lean ground beef
2 (26 ounce) jars spaghetti sauce
6 ounces provolone cheese, sliced
1 Cottage cheese
6 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese


DIRECTIONS

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add ziti pasta, and cook until al dente, about 8 minutes; drain.
In a large skillet, brown onion and ground beef over medium heat. Add spaghetti sauce, and simmer 15 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Butter a 9x13 inch baking dish. Layer as follows: 1/2 of the ziti, Provolone cheese, sour cream, 1/2 sauce mixture, remaining ziti, mozzarella cheese and remaining sauce mixture. Top with grated Parmesan cheese.
Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until cheeses are melted.

Treats Truck

This is why I have a love/hate relationship with New York...because there is food everywhere and its really good, I mean really really good

http://www.treatstruck.com/

Another really good place is a block from my house Levain bakery, its amazing a hole in the wall shop that makes the best damn cookies in the world, yes I said it...IN THE WORLD!

Italy!

I finally bought my tickets, I fly out in September for 11 days. Im so excited