My Current Obsessions IV

I'm aliiiiiiiive!

Sorry for sucking at blogging lately. I'm still trying to figure out a schedule with my "new normal." The new job is fantastic - challenging and fun with a lot to learn - but it's also time-consuming. I'm still also doing some freelance writing on the side, so when I actually have time to breathe, all I want to do is spend time with Z, friends, family, and my bed.

With that being said, cooking is pretty nonexistent in my life these days - but I know it will come back. In the meantime, I've been obsessing over other things, like TV shows and booze. Read on:

1.) "The Leftovers"

[Source]

This new HBO show is why I actually look forward to Sunday nights now. (Sadly, the season finale is a week from Sunday). The first episode was slightly confusing, but each episode after that explains more and more about the [interesting] characters. And the protagonist isn't hard to look at, either. The show isn't uplifting by any means, but it is so well written, and the actors/actresses are fantastic. Watch it!

2.) Cornhole

OK, so Cornhole (also called "bean bag toss") has been an obsession of mine for awhile now. We don't have a huge backyard, by any means, but it's just big enough to play a competitive game of Cornhole every single weekend. My cousins actually gave us a customized set (each board is painted with our alma maters' logos), causing us to love the game even more. The only rule at our house: You must have a beer in-hand while playing. No exceptions.

3.) Infusing booze

Z and I have been wanting to infuse our own liquor for quite some time now. So, a few weeks ago, when a friend sent us home with two giant cucumbers from her parents' garden, I decided to get started. I sliced up one of the cucumbers and grabbed some dill from our backyard, and threw them into a mason jar - which I then filled with gin. We're poppin' open the jar this weekend, so I will let you know how it came out! I'm already excited to use the hot peppers in our backyard with a vodka concoction.

4.) My new niece

My 3rd niece was born on August 20th, and she is the cuuuuuuutest. Z and I are finally meeting her next Sunday, and I am counting down the minutes until then. Becoming an auntie for the fourth time (I also have a nephew) makes me feel so damn lucky - being an aunt is so much fun! Now if only my sister would move a little closer to us (she lives in Maine)...

5.) My new camera

For my 30th birthday/new job, Z surprised shocked me with a brand new, grown-up camera: a Canon Rebel T3i. The first photo I took was a picture of the beer I was drinking at the time, and wow - this camera is worlds better than the point-and-shoot I had been using all these years (although, that camera still has its place and time). I still have a lot to learn with my new toy, but I am loving it so far. Get ready for some much better photography here on The EE!

What are you currently obsessing over?

P.S. Happy Labor Day weekend!

New Normal

Hello! I'm alive, I promise. Just trying to adjust to my "new normal."

Our trip to Iceland was magical. We spent a few days in Reykjavik, the capital, and then hiked for five days through rain, snow, and sunshine. The hike was actually pretty treacherous, but it was an once-in-a-lifetime experience nonetheless. It was also hard getting used to the sun only going down for a few hours very late at night/early in the morning, but we eventually found a way to fall asleep.

This was at 10:30 p.m.!

After we got back from Iceland - as in, the next day - I started my new full-time job as Chef Tony Maws' personal assistant + marketing "guru" for both his restaurants, Craigie on Main and Kirkland Tap & Trotter. So far, the job has been a lot of fun while also being challenging (in a good way). I've learned a lot in the one short week I've worked for him so far...and I've also eaten a lot.

I'm still doing some freelance work on the side (mostly food writing), but this new gig is my main priority. I think it will take a few weeks to see how much "side work" I can manage without going completely insane, but this blog will always remain.

I have a pancake recipe (made with beer!) coming soon, as well as some Iceland restaurant highlights. So stay tuned for those. ;)

What's new with you? How's your summer going?

Blog Tour: My Writing Process

Happy Monday!

I'm kicking the week off with a post that's a little out of the norm when it comes to this blog. Meaning, this post isn't about food. This post is all about writing, which is the number one reason why I started this little blog in the first place.

Bianca from Confessions of a Chocoholic invited me to join the “My Writing Process” Blog Tour. Throughout this tour, bloggers share how and what they write, then invite several other bloggers to do the same. (It's almost like a chain letter...remember those?). I've met Bianca at several blogger events over the years, and she is just so sweet, enthusiastic, and hilarious - and she knows how to bake some delicious chocolate-filled treats!

Participants in the blog tour answer the same four questions below. Fellow writers/bloggers: feel free to play along in the comments section!

What am I working on?
As of right now, I am working on a new restaurant review for The Boston Globe as well as an article for Parenting New Hampshire magazine. No, I am not a parent, but I wrote for this magazine in my home state several times after I graduated college, and I recently rekindled my connection there. The article I am working on for them is all about dairy-free treats in New Hampshire - just in time for summer!

I also freelance for The Culinary Guild of New England, and I've been working on some larger-scale projects for them recently, along with managing their email marketing campaigns. This job is so much fun for me, basically because everything revolves around food, but also because I get to continue writing marketing copy. I did a lot of this at Eversave (my former "day job"), and I loved it - so being able to continue doing that on top of food writing has been great.

How does my work differ from others of its genre?
I think one notable difference is that I am vegetarian, and a lot of my blogger peeps are omnivores (or vegans). I'm also big on eating and cooking delicious food that doesn't cost a fortune, which I hope is something that my readers find useful and valuable. My background also may be slightly different as I started out writing for newspapers, and my first newspaper job got me into blogging. (After I graduated from Quinnipiac University with a degree in journalism, I landed a food writing job with my hometown newspaper, The Nashua Telegraph. They eventually created a food blog for me, called Live Free or Dine). That's really how I got into blogging, and eventually - when I moved to Massachusetts - I decided to start my own blog.

Why do I write what I do?
I'm not sure if many of you know this, but I originally went to college to become a music critic (I minored in music theory). I had big dreams of becoming a writer for Rolling Stone. But about two years into college, I realized food just came so much more naturally to me - I've always been a big eater! So, I started doing some freelance food writing in college to get a feel for it, and I loved it.

How does your writing process work?
When I'm writing an article for, say, the Globe, it can take me days. I usually do a "dry-run" for a rough draft, then the next day I'll edit it, then I send it to Z for final edits, and then I clean-up the final draft. It's quite the process, but I can never write an article once and be happy with it right away. It takes me lots of proofreading, revising, and coffee. ;)

When it comes to the blog, I'm a little less hard on myself. One reason why I really enjoy blogging is because I can write however I wish, with no word count, etc. required. This is my place to write about whatever I want, whenever I want, and it's really nice to have that flexibility.

Next Monday, May 12th, two of my blogger friends will be participating in this “My Writing Process” Blog Tour. Here's a little more information about them:

Kerrie from Urban Foodie Finds - I've met Kerrie at quite a few blogger events over the years, and I am always so delighted to see her. We recently had dinner together at Orta, and I also spent the night chatting with her at Beat Hotel a few months ago. In addition to her food blog that focuses mainly on restaurant reviews, Kerrie is also one of the co-founders of Blog and Tweet Boston. Blog and Tweet Boston puts on great (and fun!) networking events for bloggers on a monthly basis. Definitely check them out if you're a local blogger.

Lisa from The Vegan Pact - I met Lisa at a cooking class she taught last year, and I instantly was drawn to her passion for cooking. Since then, we have talked quite a bit on and offline about catering, vegan food, blogging...we have a good amount in common! Lisa's blog focuses a lot on healthy, delicious vegan food made with real ingredients - you won't see much tofu on her blog, or anything with hard-to-pronounce ingredients.

What's your writing process?

My Current Obsessions

Here's another edition of My Current Obsessions! (Other editions can be found here, here, here, here, and here). Here are all of the trivial, random, and/or delicious things I am loving lately.

1.) Whole bean coffee

Z and I got a coffee/spice grinder for our wedding, but we didn't try using the whole bean coffee until a few weeks ago. Z went on a trip with his dad to Utah, and came home with a fresh bag of beans. I immediately grinded a few handfuls and brewed them...and, let's just say, coffee never tasted so good. The beans provided a much more intense yet smooth coffee flavor, and the taste was so much more fresh than the grounds I am used to. I'm officially converted! (Note: Z got the coffee at Beans and Brews).

2.) Pretzels dipped in Nutella

Seriously...how have I never thought of this before?? Salty, crunchy pretzels dipped in sweet, creamy Nutella. It's a divine (and addictive) combination. 

3.) LevelUp

Source: www.forbes.com

Have you guys ever used this app before? Basically, you download it for free, securely enter your credit card information, and you can use it to pay at participating retailers. The best part is: Most of the time, when you first use LevelUp at that retailer, you get a discount (anywhere from $1-$5+ off). From there, after you spend a certain amount of money at that particular store, you get another discount. And, as far as I can tell, LevelUp only works with locally owned businesses - so it encourages you to support local businesses while giving yourself some money off! Win-win. Z and I use LevelUp all the time at Pemberton Farms, and I recently scored $2 off at When Pigs Fly Bakery, too.

4.) Dr. Mario

Source: http://nintendo.wikia.com/wiki/Dr._Mario

I realize I am basically a 12-year-old boy, but this game is SO fun. I never played it as a kid, but Z recently introduced it to me on our Wii, and...well, I am a teeny bit obsessed with it. It's basically like Tetris (which I also love), but with Mario characters and pills, which are used to kill off the viruses in the Tertis-like board. I just described the game horribly, but trust me - it's fun.

5.) Dirty martinis

...especially with blue cheese-stuffed olives. I never thought I'd be a fan of a cocktail like this, but it's got a great kick to it (especially my Jalapeno Dirty Martini), it's strong, and it's the perfect beverage to end a long week and kick off a great weekend. We make these a lot at home, but I also love the dirty martinis at Toscano in Harvard Square, Beat Hotel (also in Harvard), and West Side Lounge, right outside of Porter Square. 

What are you currently obsessed with?

Random Thursday Things

Today's post is totally random. I have a few fun things to share with you guys, so it's all going in one super random post!

First up, for the local readers: On Sunday, April 13th, I'll be one of the judges at The Painted Burro's 2nd Annual Guac Off. The event begins at 3 p.m., and you can join in on the fun by eating all of the guac that's up for the grand prize: bragging rights, a $150 gift card to The Painted Burro, and the honor of being featured on The Painted Burro’s menu. I hope you can make it!

Second: Have you tried Stonyfield's new Frozen Yogurt Pearls yet? They dropped off a few samples at my house for me to try, and so far, I've had the Peach and Vanilla flavor.

The peach "skin" creates an edible protective layer around the vanilla center by harnessing molecular interactions between the skin's ingredients, which are organic fruit and natural ions. Sounds a little scientific, right? Thankfully, the ingredients are mostly legible, with a few unfortunate exceptions (i.e., sodium alginate and sodium citrate, to name a few). 

The skin is melt-free, which made this little treat that much more enjoyable on a [finally!] warmer day. The vanilla center was fantastic with the peach flavor, but I did find it hard for my sensitive teeth to bite into this frozen pearl. (My hands were also stinging a bit from holding the frozen pearl, but you don't necessarily have to eat these as cold as I did). I do see these being a quick, low-calorie treat on a hot day (two of peach/vanilla pearls = 50 calories) - I just wish the ingredients in the skin were all familiar/natural. 

And, finally, we have a winner for my Birds Eye frozen veggies giveaway! The winner was chosen using Random.org.

And the winner is...

Mike Gurney!

"Definitely would use the steamed veggies for a soup!"

Congrats, Mike! Please email me within 48 hours to claim your prize.

Anything random you feel like sharing today?

The Yogurt Pearls were complimentary. All opinions are my own.

10 Things I Am Thankful For

'Tis the season to reflect on what we are thankful for and, this year, I am feeling especially grateful. With that being said, I wanted to share just ten of the things I am thankful for this year with all of you. I could go far beyond ten, but I'd rather not bore you all to death.

10 Things I Am Thankful For:

1.) My health. This is probably an obvious one, but without our health, we seriously have nothing. I am grateful to wake up everyday feeling healthy mentally, physically, and emotionally (despite the random, normal illnesses and moods that creep up every year).

2.) My family and friends. This year, my family has officially extended to include Z's family, and I couldn't be happier. I seriously lucked out. His family has been nothing but welcoming and warm since the day I met them. My family also rocks, and it's so fantastic (and fun!) to be an auntie. Z and I are also so lucky to have a group of friends - near and far - who we can always count on and have a great time with.

My youngest niece gorging on a cupcake.

Me, my other niece, and my nephew jumping into a leaf pile.

3.) My job. Remember when I quit the corporate world a year ago? It was horrifying and incredibly exciting at the same time. Today, I am doing nothing but writing, eating, cooking, and marketing for food-centric companies for a living. I will provide a longer update soon, but I am so, so, so thankful to do what I love every single day.

4.) Bagels with cream cheese and tomato. My favorite breakfast treat of all time (Cafe Rustica turned me on to the tomato addition). There's seriously nothing like a crispy bagel slathered with cream cheese and topped with fresh, juicy tomato. I am only not thankful that I don't have one sitting in front of me right now.

5.) Our home. I refer to our house as our "little slice of heaven in Somerville." We put a lot of work into our place, and we truly appreciate it every single day. I'm especially grateful for our home, our security, and our warmth when I think of the many people who have recently lost their homes, like in Washington, Illinois, the Philippines, etc.

Our white picket fence, right after it was finished.

6.) Debt. Sallie Mae and I are not friends (let's just say I owe her a lot of money), but the debt I have was well worth it. This may sound really odd, but every month when I go to pay her, I am grateful for the experiences I had in college, and all of the friends I made. I am still so close with many of my college friends today, and I would have paid double what I did if I had to go back and do it all over again.

7.) Traveling. My job allows me the flexibility to make my own schedule, which makes taking vacation time dangerously easy (thankfully, my bank account makes it not so easy). But having the freedom and finances to travel several times throughout the year - whether it be a short drive from home or a plane ride - is something that I really cherish.

Me and Z on a bike ride in Chianti.

8.) Boston. We've had a rough year here in Boston, but - as expected - we came out on top. It's been amazing to see the city come together in times of tragedy and success (hey, Red Sox!), and I really have a new appreciation for this city. I'm also thankful for all of the heroes - police officers, doctors, civilians, etc. - that helped save so many lives the day of the Boston Marathon bombings. If it weren't for them, a lot of people would have been much worse off then they already were.

9.) Craft beer. This stuff just makes my life better, and I'm so glad Z (a self-proclaimed beer geek) got me into it. I would much rather drink a stronger, delicious stout vs. 10 light beers any day (apparently, I am not in college anymore). Having the financial freedom (and a healthy liver) to try a slew of delicious beers on a regular basis is pretty fantastic.

10.) Z. I know it's cheesy, but I saved the best for last. I mean, it's pretty darn awesome to get to spend every single day with your best friend. I am beyond grateful I found a guy who's not only wonderful himself, but is perfect for me.

Your turn! What are you thankful for?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Two Things

Hey all! I hope everyone is having a great start to the week. My week is a little bonkers - lots of holiday [ugh...already?!] deadlines and new projects picking up, which is all exciting - just a little crazy. With that being said, I just have a quick post for you today about two things I am excited about - and think you guys might be, too.

1.) Vegetarian Food & Wine Pairing at Boston Wine School: Six wines paired with seven courses. I'm doing the cooking, while the folks at Boston Wine School are picking the wines. Updated menu for fall: Sweet Potato and Black Bean Tacos; Pumpkin Mac and Cheese; Orange and Fennel Salad; Roasted Parsnips; and Apple Bread Pudding. Tickets are $100, and I assure you you'll leave happy and full. It's going to be a fun evening! Buy your tickets here.

2.) Warby Parker: Random, but I just ordered glasses through this website and I could not be happier with my experience (and no, this post is not sponsored by Warby Parker in any way. I just had a fantastic experience, and wanted to share it with my fellow four-eyed friends). Here's how it works: you pick out five frames on their website, and they're shipped to you free of charge so you can try them on at-home. Then, you return them all within a few days (return shipping is also free), and then pick out which frames you liked best on their website (I ended up not liking any of mine, but tried the "virtual try-on" and found a pair I liked). From there, they get your prescription information, make your glasses, and send the final product to you - with 30-day free returns, in case you aren't completely satisfied. Oh, and did I mention these prescription glasses were only $95?? Yeah. They also have sunglasses, if that's more up your alley.

What's new with you? Do you have anything exciting going on this week?

My Bachelorette Party

Well, I survived my bachelorette party (barely). It was this past Friday night to Saturday afternoon, and it was a total surprise. My bridesmaids planned an entire evening and day in Portsmouth, N.H., complete with a booze cruise Friday night (followed by more drinks at Gas Light), breakfast at The Friendly Toast the next morning, then a brewery tour (and more drinks) at Redhook Brewery. Some friends even came as far as Long Island. To say I felt special would be an understatement.

Here are some of the non-embarrassing photos from the occasion:

My awesome cake.

This photo does not do the double rainbow we saw on the cruise justice.

Life Lately

I don't think I've given you all a work, wedding, or life update in a while - so, here's what's been going on in my life lately:

#1: Our wedding: This little life event is less than two months away. We've picked our menu, sent out our invitations (which we used a Groupon for), and have finally started planning our honeymoon (more on that below). We still haven't purchased wedding rings or done anything remotely important (half kidding), but planning is coming along.

The design on our invitations.

#2: Our honeymoon: One day after the wedding, we're heading to San Francisco, then Napa Valley. We'll be gone for about two weeks, and I. Can't. Wait. We have our flights booked, and we know we want to visit a lot of breweries and wineries while we're out there...as well as see the Full House house. Does that exist in real life? Because if it does, I want to see it. The only thing we don't have yet is lodging, but...that will happen soon, I'm sure.

Source: http://fullhouse.wikia.com/

#3: Work: Since I told you that I quit my job to pursue a freelance career, a lot has changed - in really, really great ways. I still do freelance copywriting for my old company, but the rest of my gigs are food-related. In all honesty, I work for about seven companies right now, and I've also started working for myself as a private caterer and cook. My most consistent food writing gigs are with Scout Cambridge and Scout Somerville, LocalinSeason.com, and I just started writing for Boston Globe North's Dining Out column. Work has been keeping me really busy, which is an awesome thing. Bonus: I haven't gained 100 pounds since eating and cooking full-time, either. Success!

#4: The homestead: Remember when our house looked like this? Thank god those days are over - although they have really paid off. We love this house. Although there is always something that needs to get done, our next big projects are building a back porch (right now we have a little landing with steps) and getting our basement redone. Right now, our basement floor is made of dirt...and when it rains, that dirt becomes mud. Good times! So, we're going to get French drains put in to help with the flooding, and get a cement floor put in to replace the dirt. When will this be done? Hopefully by 2014...if not sooner. Woo!

Trees we recently had planted in our backyard.

Well, that's pretty much all that's been going on with me lately. I feel like with the wedding, our birthdays (Z's is 7/4, mine's 7/10), work, and just regular summer activities, this is going to be one busy - and awesome - summer. 

What's been going on with you?

Off to New Orleans

Z and I are off to New Orleans with his family for Christmas! We leave in a few hours, and I could not be more excited. None of us have ever been there before, so it shall be quite the fun adventure. I'll be sure to recap our trip upon my return late next week!

In the meantime, I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!

Have you ever been to New Orleans? Any places, restaurants, etc. you recommend we check out?

My Current Obsession: Broccoli Sprouts

Source: mymadisonbistro.com

I know – “broccoli sprouts” sound gross. I used to think so, too…until I tried them in a sandwich.

You see, I bring lunch to work pretty much every single day. Nine times out of ten, my lunch is a sandwich, with chips and a pickle on the side. Get crazy, right? But my lunch isn’t as routine as it sounds – I love mixing up what’s inside my sandwiches, and I even mix up the bread that I use fairly frequently (I’m currently on a wrap kick right now. Again...get crazy).

Z and I didn’t even think to buy broccoli sprouts – which can be purchased in the produce section of most grocery stores – until a friend visiting from NYC made us a sandwich with sprouts in it. For some reason, the sprouts just made the sandwich. They were crunchy and delicious, and just added a nice texture. Since that day (which was about 4 months ago), we’ve been buying broccoli sprouts every week.

Apparently, broccoli sprouts are also healthy for you: According to sproutpeople.com, broccoli sprouts contain 50 times more antioxidants than broccoli heads. Boo-yah.

Oh, and if you do decide to use broccoli sprouts in your next sandwich, hummus also makes a killer sandwich condiment. Just sayin’.

Do you bring lunch to work everyday, or are you a take-out person?

Weekend

Sox game. College friends. Beautiful wedding in Western Mass. Too many beers.

How was your weekend?

deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum

This past weekend, two of my friends from college came up to Somerville and spent the weekend with Z and I. We hadn't seen each other in months (and these two friends recently got engaged), so I was really looking forward to spending time with them.

On Saturday, the weather was beautiful, albeit a bit windy. Over breakfast, we contemplated how we could spend the day outdoors; then Z suggested going to deCordova in Lincoln. I had only been once before, with Z and his family, and loved it; and I knew my friends would, too. Once breakfast was cleaned up, we hopped in the car and made the scenic, surprisingly short drive out to Lincoln.

If you've never been to deCordova, I highly suggest checking it out. It's an unique, fun way to enjoy some art while being outdoors.

Admission to the park is normally $14 for adults, $12 for seniors (65+), and $10 for students. Children 12 and under get in for free. Through May 25th, however, these prices are half off due to the indoor portion of the museum being closed for installation until then. 

After enjoying our time at deCordova, we stopped in Lexington for a late lunch at Nourish. I ordered a Sam Summer and the Falafel Wrap ($11.50). It was a little pricey, but worth the extra few bucks considering Nourish's devotion to responsibly sourced food. 

In summary, we had a great time enjoying the sunshine on Saturday. It was a pretty fabulous weekend overall!

Day Off

 

Sunshine. Bike rides. Clover Food Truck. Russell House Tavern. Charlie's Kitchen. Best day ever?

I think so.

11 Things

Last week, my pal and co-worker, Colleen, tagged me in her "11 Things" post. It seemed like a really fun idea, and something different to share on my blog, so I decided to play along.

Here's how it works:
1. Post these rules.
2. You must post 11 random things about yourself.
3. Answer the questions the person who tagged you set for you in their post.
4. Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.
5. Go to their blog and tell them you’ve tagged them.
6. No stuff in the tagging section about you are tagged if you are reading this. You legitimately have to tag 11 people.

So, without further ado, here are 11 random things about me:

1. I eat my food really, really fast. Like...it's scary.
2. When I was younger, I had my adenoids removed.
3. I met Mel Gibson at 75 Chestnut several years ago.
4. I'm Irish, English and Scottish.
5. When I was little, my dream was to become a singer/songwriter.
6. My first job was at Honey Dew Donuts (I was 15...and gained about 14 pounds).

Source: trulyweddingblog.com

7. My middle name is Patrice.
8. I've been to nine Hanson concerts (I was one cool teenager!).

Source: www.theykid.com

9. I've never seen "The Wizard of Oz."
10. I'm obsessed with Ina Garten.
11. The first time I went to Krispy Kreme, I ate seven doughnuts in one sitting.

And here are the questions Colleen asked me:

1. First thing that comes to mind when you read the word: work… Busy.
2. Fill in the blank: Today is going to be a long one.
3. Beer, wine, or a cocktail? All 3.
4. Favorite holiday? Christmas.
5. Guilty pleasure? The entire Real Housewives' series.

Source: www.dirjournal.com

6. Celebrity crush growing up? Taylor Hanson (don't judge).
7. Food or meal you couldn’t live without? Bagels.
8. Have you ever had a dream with a famous guest star? Who was it? I don't think I have...
9. What did you want to be when you grew up? Several things, including a teacher or singer (I also wanted to be a gas station attendant - my younger mind thought being surrounded by candy all day would be amazing).
10. Favorite song to belt out in the car? Gotye - "Somebody That I Used to Know"
11. First concert? Hanson.......

Now - tag, you're it!

Amanda from Pickles & Honey, Molly from Cheap Beets, Melissa from The Foodies at Work, Sydney from Crepes of Wrath, Katie from The Small Boston Kitchen, Bianca from Confessions of a Chocoholic, Lillian from Lillian's Test Kitchen, Theresa from Nurturing the Natural Mama, Amanda from Tales of a Kitchen Misfit, Pam from Cave Cibum, and Fiona from A Boston Food Diary.

Here are my 11 questions for you ladies:

1. Most embarrassing moment?

2. Favorite movie of all time?

3. If you could have dinner with any famous person, living or dead, who would it be?

4. Your favorite vice?

5. Milk, dark or white chocolate?

6. Pancakes or waffles?

7. Place you'd love to travel to?

8. If you could be eating anything right now, you'd be eating __________.

9. Favorite book and/or author?

10. Pinterest or Instagram? 

11. Favorite part about being a blogger?

Have fun!