What The Holidays Bring…

TAKING FULL ADVANTAGE OF MY GRANDPARENT’S WET BAR DURING THE HOLIDAY GET TOGETHERS

Who actually gets excited for dry holiday get togethers? That’s right — no one. Unless you’re wildly fascinated by your own family whom you’ve done the same holiday annual dinners with for 20 years plus and still find them intriguing. If you’re one of them? You should be studied. Every year I feel like it’s like an adult version of Christmas/ Hannukah when you walk into a warm familiar home and see an array of bad for you foods, mostly fried but even better a full on wet bar, ready for the taking. It’s like a bat miztvah, but so so much better.

 

127 HOURS WITH JAMES FRANCO

So here’s the deal — I read the book, while semi-queasy throughout, I thoroughly enjoyed the captivating story of the real life hiker that had to drink his own urine and sever his own arm to survive. While the story did it for me, the movie starring one of my favorite celebrities, James Franco, makes me over-the-top excited to shell out way too much money for an overpriced ticket and overbuttered popcorn. The reviews have been unreal — everyone praises Franco for an A+ job, can’t wait to see you Franco in the near future.

MARIAH’S LATEST CHRISTMAS INSTALLMENT (JUDGE ME AND I KICK YOUR ASS, PERSONALLY)

No I don’t like Mariah. And no I don’t celebrate Christmas. But yes am I already playing Mariah’s updated Christmas CD on repeat at the office. She just knows how to belt the Christmas tunes so effectively that I can’t help but sing along to “Oh Holy Night”. This CD and the N*SYNC Christmas album dated to about 2004 (don’t judge I repeat) are the only tunes that get me in the holiday spirit in a BIG WAY.

THANKSGIVING HOMEMADE STUFFING

Now that Marilyn Monroe apparently had the “most innovative stuffing recipe to date” — I can’t wait to try the varieties of stuffing available to me during this time of year. I think the mushroom/leek/onion varieties are my favorite but I’m not picky, whatsoever. I think I prefer stuffing over the turkey itself — I mean, what’s so special about a turkey basted and roasted? B-ORING.

KANYE WEST TO MAKE HIMSELF LOOK MORE LIKE A JACKASS THAN HE ALREADY HAS (IF THAT’S EVEN POSSIBLE)

Kanye never ceases to amaze me — he is a psychopath, cocky to no avail and unable to deal with his VERY VISIBLE issues with women. I thought his grab of the award from TSwift last year was going to conclude his crazy ass behavior, but low and behold it was only the beginning. He just debuted an album cover closely resembling ape like behavior with a white woman straddled over top of himself with a hard stiff drink in hand. He also recently struck chords with two of the most prominent people in the US: Matt Lauer and George W.Bush.

My Freakish Obsession With All Things Greek

FIRST OF ALL — TODAY’S A HUGE DAY FOR MY BABY BLOG — 5,000 and counting hits today alone!!! Thank you guys, you’re amazing.

My obsession with Greek food stems from the very simple fact that I love mostly every ingredient used in Greek food –– fresh fish, feta cheese, dill, tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant, the list goes on... I thought I’d go through some of the most mouth watering dishes I’ve come across/ate. Enjoy.

SAVEUR’S GREEK MACARONI AND CHEESE

I have yet to make this but I am literally WAITING for the next available day I have off to try this recipe — pretty much the dish, crafted by Greek Genius Michael Psilakis, is one of the most innovative mac and cheese recipes I’ve seen this year. It incorporates cinnamon, feta, scallions, spinach, kefa cheese and dill — out of this world. Cannot wait to make this.

KEFI’S BAKED SHRIMP, TOMATO, ORZO DISH

When I think about dishes in the city that make me happy? More times than not I come across Kefi’s Baked Shrimp, Tomato, Orzo Dish…. It is just perfection. The portion size is just right, the ratio of pasta/protein/vegetables is spot on. And not to mention the fact that I found this dish at a hole in the wall Greek joint at home and never thought anywhere else could make as good of a baked dish — Kefi, you exceeded my expectations. Thanks for that.

CLOSET COOKING’S BAKED TOMATOES, EGGS, DILL

The blogger who writes Closet Cooking is hands down one of my favorites — he whops out new recipes by the HOUR, I wonder if he even has time to shower….. Regardless, one of his specialities is hands down his Greek recipes. Some include Spinach Fritters, Zucchini balls etc… I picked this dish out of the MANY because I’m such an egg buff… and love tomatoes, so again I say, ya can’t really go wrong.

GREEK STYLE NACHOS — NEW YORK TIMES

I wrote a blog about this dish that Mark Bittman came up with — it’s genius in my opinion. I have seen variations of Nachos, most definitely, but this one is just one of the more innovative one in my eyes. It incorporates ground lamb, Kalmata olives, diced cucumbers, tomatoes and cumin. Brilliant.

It’s Time For An (Absolut) Stoop Party…

I’m not much of a “drink” girl. No, I didn’t say I don’t like to DRINK — I just don’t do mixed “pre made drinks” at bars. I tend to associate all mixed drinks with scenes from Sex and The City 2 unfortunately, and refuse to purchase any beverage at a restaurant or bar that comes in a girly glass with pink content…. All of this was true until, of course, me and my roommate stumbled upon Absolut Brooklyn.

To say that I’m obsessed with this speciality Vodka? Is a wild understatement — I am addicted to this, it’s unreal. With hints of Apple and Ginger, this alcohol is insanely good.

I decided to do something I’ve never done — go on the company website to find out what their signature cocktail is. It’s called “Stoop Party” — and it will forever be “The Drink” of my apartment here in the city. The drink is insanely simple:

– Absolut Brooklyn
– Ginger Age
– Cranberry Juice

My Favorite Breakfast– Everything But The Kitchen Sink

1) START WITH EGGS (REGULAR EGGS, WHITES, OR BEATERS YOUR CHOICE)

2) ADD CHEESES INTO THE MIX — INCORPORATE MORE THAN 1 FOR ENHANCED FLAVOR PROFILES

Parmesan CheeseFeta Cheese

American Cheese

3) INCORPORATE ANY COMBINATION OF THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL INGREDIENTS

Spinach (Sauteed or Steamed)
Asparagus

Mushrooms of your choice

Smoked Salmon (Lox)

1. Sauté the veggies of choice in an additional saute pan
2. Once cooked to your liking, incorporate them into the already scrambled eggs in the other pan
3. Add in your cheeses — however many you desire and scramble all ingredients together. Add the amount of salt and pepper (and dill if you’re adventurous)
4. Serve with wheat toast or an English Muffin.
5. ENJOY TAYLOR’S EVERYTHING BUT THE KITCHEN SINK