I Present to You This Rose Because I Think You Are Neat

On top of a delicious muddled something-or-another mojito from Chai on N. 6th. Thank you everyone...you are sure neat, you have great taste, and that shirt is very flattering on you.

Breakfast: Behind the Scenes.

Before they were Long Island Eggs they were just plain ole' eggs. Or your brain on drugs.

Long Island Eggs Wrapped = Another Lazy Sunday

Sooo...another summer weekend, another lazy Sunday. This morning we decided to do things differently than usual. Eggs how? Scrambled? No. Fried? Oh no...its called "overhard," and it is delicious.

Long Island Eggs Wrapped

1 Whole Wheat Tortilla
2 Eggs Over Hard = Long Island Eggs
5 Small Slices of Hot Pepper Jack Cheese - melted on the tortilla underneath the egg
3 Slices of Turkey Bacon - thin and crispy- sprinkle with pepper while frying


Long Island Eggs: Cook the eggs in the Bacon Pan please

***Please note that these eggs have no official affiliation with Long Island itself. They were simply made by a Long Islander.

Dash of Olive Oil w/ a pinch of chopped garlic and chopped onion
2 Eggs Cooked Overhard

Side Dish: Pan Fried Red Potatoes
Olive Oil and Huge Clove of Garlic
1/2 White Onion
4 Small Red Potatoes Sliced and then cut in half
Tons and Tons Of Greek Spice to taste

Warm the tortilla and melt the cheese, then eggs and bacon and WRAP. Serve with side potatoes and a not so great cup of coffee and a Mug Root Beer still in my fridge from last night.

Cooking Channel: Food Network's Hip Cool Friend

You know...that food channel that wears a Jack Spade bag and Ray Bans. Or whatever. A couple of months ago this "Cooking Channel" thing just showed up on our tv right underneath the Food Network. The Cooking Channel is what the Food Network looks like on Sunday eating brunch and hanging out.

You will adore the wide array of cooking shows with bad ass chefs who like to "listen to music" and "hang out with their foodie friends" on their off days and have a cooking show to do their own thing. There is a mixology show called Drink Up and Food Jammers is show about 3 dudes from Toronto who build meals like science projects.

Thus far, the Cooking Channel smartly channeling this urban food renaissance going on right now, and it is doing so wearing thick framed glasses (really it is. Mo Rocca has a show). And they have Iron Chef Japan, thank god.

Okay, you got me Cooking Channel. But, I must admit I would rather learn to cook from the one and only Hip Hop Chef Chardon.

Late Night Adorable Picnics with Ms. Sharon Jones

We discovered the perfect menu to enjoy Ms. Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings in Prospect Park on Saturday evenings, all packed into the adorable plaid picnic bag. All of it can be bought at the grocery store in under 10 mins., which makes for a perfect lazy Saturday. I did muddle that grapefruit myself, I promise...

1. Bag o' Bread from Northside Bakery - onion rolls, ciabatta, and one other form of delicious carbs.
2. Amazing Herbed Goat Cheese
3. Raspberry Jam
4. Laughing Cow Swiss Cheese
5. Sharp Cheddar
6. Bagel Chips
7. Hummus
8. Vodka, Soda Water, and Fresh Muddled Grapefruit. I just knew I would be muddling all summer.

And THEN Sharon Jones all night long on our adorable picnic blanket...soooooo perfect.

Barbie Eats Candy While Wearing Sexy Heels

11.5 inch Barbie® doll "Dylans Candy Bar Barbie" has shiney brown glamorous hair, green eyes and looks just as delicious as the large swirled lollipop she comes holding. She is all things sweet in her multi-colored, swirly gown, whos pattern resembles the lollipop; complete with a "candy" necklace and sexy heels. This scrumptious look was inspired by the ultimate candy queen, CEO and founder of Dylan's Candy Bar - Dylan Lauren.
Barbie®

Designed by: Linda Kyaw

Mattel

BBV0676

Currently in stock at the Doll Genie for 34.99. Well, it's better for your daughter than Spin Class Barbie I guess. And that candy necklace does look delicious!!! Ps . Have you seen this?

Thanks to a Canary for sending this my way!!!

Fran Appler's Famous Charm City Baked Brie

I must admit I made up the Charm City part of this recipe name, in honor of my wicked crush on Chef Duff and the hometown of Fran Appler's Famous Baked Brie. Well actually, it's hometown is right outside Baltimore, where people wait eagerly at every holiday and dinner party for this dish. Last Sunday, at our weekly Mad Men-apalooza, I waited no more. Thanks to my roomate (the esteemed dish creator's daughter) I spent most of the evening hudled around brie and jam in puff pastry like a campire or religious relic. Was it delicious?...It was delicious.

Fran Appler's Famous Baked Brie

1 Wheel of Brie- in the skin? casing? the white stuff...

Fresh Jam - something tart is better. We used Raspberry Jam.

Puff Pastry in sheets

1.Roll out the sheet of puff pastry and cut lengthwise in three pieces

2. Place the wheel of brie in the center of on third

3. Spoon jam on the top of the brie- about 1/2 inch thick

4. Cut the other two thirds diagonally to make 4 triangles.

5. Tuck the wide ends of the triangles under the brie and wrap the the puff pastry pieces over the top. Make sure that the puff pastry is sealed. That is key! Puff pastry everywhere.

***please note that I got a C in geometry and am unable to describe shapes and spaces, so please feel free to email me and I will send you a pic of the puff pastry set up deal.

6. Cook at 400 degrees for about 30 mins on a baking pan. When the puff pastry is a solid golden brown then remove from the oven. You just have to watch it.

Oh my god. You are going to die. Seriously. Enjoy. Be prepared to want to eat an entire wheel of brie. At once and with glee.

The Deconstructed Candy Bar

Because I have been saving my money to buy a new dress for the ball, my dessert budget has plummeted from Baked Alaska to Starlight Mints. Oh, what is one to do? I reached into my cupboard that contains ridiculous amounts of sweets and baking supplies, but never anything to actually eat, and pulled out:

Reese's Peanut Butter Chips***my fave, heavy on these

Hershey Dark Chocolate Chips

Chopped Walnuts

Joe-O's that I borrowed from my patient roomate.

Dash of thick grain sea salt

Grab a handful of each and mix in a bowl and VOILA! A deconstructed candy bar. Mix Me!

Junior's: Last Sunday

"You never had Junior's cheesecake? It's the most famous cheesecake place in the whole world. Right in Brooklyn." - Jay-Z

Last Sunday we piled into my friend's car with 5 adults and 1 two year old, and drove to Junior's. First introduced to me by Jay-Z in a life changing 2000 episode of MTV Diaries, I finally experienced the original Junior's.

When your efficient, no nonsense waitress recommends that maybe we should not order that 2nd batch of corn bread and side of potato salad because "We give you a lot of food and you might want save some room for cheesecake" you should (1) most likely listen to her and (2) get ready. And I am also partial to the those tiny sword toothpicks, it is like a pirate made your grilled cheese.

Between the 5 1/2 of us:

3 cups of coffee with milk

1 Diet Coke

14 glasses of water

1 Cup of Chicken Velvet Soup

4 Complimentary Sides of Cole Slaw, Pickels, Pickled Beets, and Cucumber and onions : awesome

1 Side of Corn Bread (not the originally intended 2)

1 plate of ridiculous corn beef hash with scrambled eggs and french fries****mine, seriously ridiculous. all of it. A little oily and very rich.

1 cup of Matzo Ball Soup

1 Grilled Cheese with French Fries

2 Chocolate Milk Shakes

1 Griddle Cakes with 2 Sunny Side Up Eggs, Turkey Sausage, and Cinnamon Apple Preserves
1 Cheeseburger with French Fries

1 Bacon Cheeseburger with a huge onion ring on it and French Fries.

1 Very Very large, fluffy Chocolate Swirl Cheesecake to go...saved for approaching weekly Mad Men party

Junior's gets a bad rap for being overrated. It is a fun destination and has ambiance. The food was good diner food, delicious, appreciated, and discussed long after it was consumed (always a good sign).

Do not go in Times Square. Don't go at Grand Central and please do not go at MGM Foxwoods. Go to Flatbush Avenue. I thought it was all it was cracked up to be, there is a pretty good dollar store nearby, and also, Jay-Z said so.