fwords

Baby's Arms

Friday Fridge Check

Dear Abby,

I always say that one of the best parts of living by yourself is that if you want to listen to Gotye at 2 a.m. or start baking some strawberry cupcakes—or go crazy, do both at the same time—you can.

That and not having to get dressed. Hey, it was a threefer!

So, yes, last night I decided to try this old recipe for strawberry cupcakes once again. In the past, they have always ended up spattering the insides of my oven, like the aftermath scene in Ghostbusters when the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man explodes all over Gotham. But pink! Last night was no exception, as you can probably tell from the picture above. Nevertheless, they're still tasty. I didn't bake them with anyone in mind. But I'm thinking since it's Random Acts of Kindness Day that I may deliver them to my guy on the corner who sits in front of the grocer asking for spare change. I guess it would qualify as "a change" if not actual coinage.

Anyway, after I clean up the mess in my stove (Yes, I left it and went to bed. Sometimes that's how I roll, man.) I plan to go shopping for some undeniably needed vegetables. Those 3 lbs of leftover French fries with three dipping sauces are not really cutting it, y'know?

p.s. Happy Birthday.

xx

Beth/Rest

Friday Fridge Check

Dear Abby,

Have you ever meant to grab the garlic-flavored Sabra hummus in the Mediterranean section of your local supermarket, but picked up the jalapeño version by accident? For me, something like that would qualify as a happy accident. But I suspect in your book, it's more likely to be the inspiration for a future TheSuccub.us post? In case that happens, here's a sample headline for you: "Aliens Are Slowly Trying to Kill Me By Adding Capsicum To All Of My Food!"

Just saying.

Did you hear that the magical marmot saw his shadow yesterday? So six more weeks of nondistinct-Winter-suffering-from-climate-change it is, then! That groundhog sure knows how to milk it. Speaking of milk, I added a little bit of Almond Milk to my new favorite coffee—Brooklyn Roasting Company Winter Blend—this morning. Rich, raisiny, with notes of chocolate and black pepper, It was like a cup of stolen fireside moments.

xx

p.s. I still can't believe you didn't like Bridesmaids.

Good Good Things

Friday Fridge Check

Dear Abby,

I hope you're enjoying your trip to Arizona. It sounds like the food there so far has been really tasty—Jamaican Smoked Mussels, Fried Plantains, Rum and all.

This week, as you saw, I was at several events. The beer and cheese pairing at Artisanal on Monday yielded a take-home bottle of Double IPA and a thick wedge of funky bleu. I shaved a little bit of the latter onto my salad earlier of arugula (I just can't quit you!), radicchio, and salted cashews. But don't freak out. I haven't become a COMPLETE health nutter or anything. In fact, for lunch I went full-on comfort mode with a cup of Stelline mixed with Pecorino Romano, salt and pepper. Star-shaped pasta always inspires me to keep shooting for 'em.

Ba-dum bum!

Anyway, I still have a lot of different butters in my fridge leftover from recent baking adventures. And frankly, they are beginning to piss me off. These magic sticks stand up straight like the middle finger every time I open the door, practically defying me not to make cookies for someone. Tomorrow. If he's lucky.

But, I mean, it's Friday night for crying out loud... Do I really want to spend it chilling dough balls or do I want to dance till the breakabreakadawn? Cliffhanger, I know.

xx

Then He Kissed Me

Friday Fridge Check

Dear Abby,

To paraphrase that old adage regarding wineglasses, I think in life you can choose to see the fridge as half empty or half full. While I haven't done much grocery shopping over the past few days, I've maintained the major necessities: coffee, soy milk, flavorless baby carrots for dipping in hummus.

As you can see, after purchasing "Morning Joe" java by Starbucks, I decided to stay on theme with two bottles of Joe Lemon Tea and Lemonade. In fact, I purchased a third bottle of Joe Green Tea. But I already drank that. Why did I buy these things? This is something we internally refer to at fwords HQ as JPPMA (JP pi**ing money away). It probably means that I am due for a theme party and I should schedule that midwinter Punch & Cookies get-together I mentioned a couple weeks back.

In other news, I drank the mini Black Box Chardonnay the other night when Philzie bailed on our plans to get together for coffee. He said he had to meet with some animator. I'm thinking that was a Singapore film-school euphemism for "hot date." Anyway, it was his loss because the Chardonnay was accompanied by dancing around my apartment to vintage Madonna. I may have even vogued.

xx

p.s. The Early Bird granola is a new find. Less sugary than most, super crunchy and with a hint of salt! I think you'd like it. I've been sprinkling it on my oatmeal the past few days and it's pretty dreamy. You can purchase it at Whole Foods.

Into The Groove

Belated Friday Fridge Check

Dear Abby,

Like everyone else on the planet, I'm repenting for all of my indulgences during the holiday season by making an effort to start 2012 off light. I'm trying to run five days out of seven, I cut back on my cocktail calories, and I've been eating salads for lunch all week. Inside the blue Tupperware container is a mix of radicchio, mushrooms, black beans, gorgonzola, olive oil and vinegar that I scoop on top of mixed greens around noontime. It's kind of an intense flavor profile, given the bitter radicchio, unctuous cheese and balsamic. But I like it. So far, so healthy. (Ok, the gorgonzola may not be so healthy. But it was leftover from that pasta bake I mentioned in my last post. Waste not, want not.)

Elsewise, I'm sure you noticed the two jars of jam. They were canned by my sister(!) and I'm excited to make some toast in the very near future. Speaking of toasts, the wine bottles are racking up once again on my bottom shelf. Too bad you and Robkore aren't in New York to dispose of them for me. I miss you guys. Lots. Visit again soon.

xx

Going Out For Ribs

Belated Friday Fridge Check

Dear Abby,

So last week the good people at Black Box Wines sent me some samples of their Chardonnay, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. I think the white is quite cute standing up here inside the fridge. Like a grown-up juice box.

The Brooklyn Local 1 was purchased to bring to a holiday party on Saturday night on the Upper East Side. Somehow the drummer from a certain metal band we know ended up consuming the entire thing. Typical.

The Momofuku Milk Bar bag contains secret ingredients I purchased to make their Corn Cookies for the Holiday Cookie Swap (more on that later). And the other white paper bag contains a pretzel roll from Union Market that I used to make a delicious veggie sandwich. It wasn't as amazing as the pretzel croissant I enjoyed two weeks ago. But it'll do.

xx

Song of the Gondolier

Friday Fridge Check - Guest Edition

Dear Abby,

I'm upstate visiting the coolest niece in the whole world, and I decided I had to share a picture of my sister and Bou's refrigerator. Not sure whether I should stage an intervention on the half & half addiction. But if that's what fueled last night's delicious kale and cannelini bean soup creation (see: top shelf Gladware container), bring on the vices!

xx

 

Try Sleeping With a Broken Heart

Belated Friday Fridge Check

Dear Abby,

As previously expressed, last week was very hectic. My nights were filled with holiday parties and catch-up sessions with friends. My mornings were challenged by consequential headaches. My afternoons were spent tearing through writing assignments and e-mails. I didn't cook (or eat, come to think of it) much, save for a variation on this recipe because I have an unconscionable number of leftover anchovies in my fridge—see top shelf baggie. As a result, the Friday Fridge Check you see here is just the sort of shamefully spare situation that launched this weekly series to begin with.

I purchased most of the items above at my corner bodega. A Korean woman and her son trade shifts behind the cash register there and after a year of shopping we often exchange pleasantries. Sometimes it even happens on the sidewalk, in passing; more often with the mother than the son. It makes me feel good, in a sort of neighborly, "I am part of this community!" way. Perhaps I seek out these quasi-relationships because I don't have a roommate. Anyway, it's nice. Right?

But every once in a while, I am put in my place. I'll say "Have a nice day" as I pick up my heaving bags of beverages and, instead of a reciprocal cheery tiding, hear only the sound of her clearing her throat in response. When I look over, she is already reading her newspaper and clearly didn't even process what I said. And then I feel like an idiot because, duh, we are not really friends...

Everything in there is overpriced anyway.

xx

Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses

Friday Fridge Check - Thanksgiving Leftover Style

Dear Abby,

My mom packed a bag of leftovers for me to take back from yesterday's gorge. I told her to surprise me with whatever she didn't want/thought I would like. Just returned home (thanks for the ride, Neil!) and unwrapped the contents:

1 slice spinach and mushroom lasagna

1 slice seafood lasagna

half a loaf of whole wheat French bread

2 cups of vegetarian stuffing that Mom forgot to serve at the actual meal

some whipped sweet potatoes that my sister made

some wild rice salad with watercress that I made from The Mitsitam Cafe Cookbook recipe

some Brussels sprouts with cannelini beans and pecorino that I make every year

2 vegan pumpkin muffins that my sister made

6 of my mom's world-famous stuffed mushrooms

2 marinated artichoke hearts in a snack bag (a joke?)

a handful of fresh anchovies

some smoked oysters

2 big chocolate brownies

1 chocolate-dipped connoli

and a bag full of various Italian cookies...

This should last me through the night.

xx

The One That Got Away

Dear Abby,

I kind of got on a little squash kick at the super market this week, could you tell? There's a chill in the air and that means soup. So I am pretty excited to do some roasting and then puréeing with my immersion blender for the first time this season. Who knows, I may even catch the baking bug and whip up some homemade cookies for my neighbors. Or friends. Or hairdresser! (You would love Maria if you met her.)

p.s. Try not to let the coconut shavings tied up with an old watch blow your mind too much. All I can say is that sometimes I pull out the MacGyver moves when things get crazy in the kitchen. 

xx