January 10, 2006

Maltesers - a UK Treat!

I'm off to UK today and I'll spend a total of two hours in London, sitting in our offices, listening to a show-n-tell by various groups (yawn), while wishing I was roaming the streets of London, where I've never been, looking for yummy delectable treats like cheese, or pints, or these yummy things pictured above.

My first introduction to Maltesers happened through a former friend who was dating a Brit at the time (they've since went and got themselves hitched). She went on and on about these incredible chocolates called Maltesers. How they're better than Whoppers and how you just can't get them in the States (a theory, I've since disproved, but only recently).

Because I'll have absolutely zero roaming/shopping time, I'll be buying my chocolate at the airport in the Duty Free areas. Rest assured, my bags will be full of these tasty treats - so that I can share them with friends and family!

November 12, 2005

Cheese & Pâté - From Your Neighborhood Grocer!

It was last weekend that the conversation about duck pâté ensued. The craving for it, the anticipation of the richness in your mouth. We were sitting in a Sea Food restaurant in Boston, when my boyfriend mentioned craving it. Never to be one to stand in the way of unsatisfied cravings, I offered to go pick some up immediately. But a few seconds later, we all agreed that lobster and pate did not quite go together. And so the pâté feast was to be postponed.

Back in New York on Monday, in anticipation of a nice homemade dinner, I left work at a decent hour to meet my boyfriend en route home. It was right before the meeting place that I passed by Fauchon. The shiny countertops, the alluring glow of lights, the bonbons - I was defenseless against the beckoning dessert (and besides, we needed dessert) and so I hopped in to pick up some Chocolate-Meringue Cake and a Chocolate Eclair. Yes, there's a theme here!

Further down, we stopped by Grace's Market for our delectable treats. Since we wanted more than just duck pâté, we decided to get some soft-ripened cheese and went with a basic, but oh-so-luxurious Brie. Gracie's cheeses are never tasteless and plasticky, so we were guaranteed a brie that was creamy and flavorful. I had a peppered salami at home, but we needed some bread. After picking up a baguette, our dinner was complete.

We had long planned to drink a fantastic bottle of a Super Tuscan I once received as a gift, but couldn't find an occassion. So we decided to randomly pick a night for an Open-That-Bottle Night. The wine review will shortly follow because it was quite something.

Our dinner was so simple, yet so tasty! Virtually no preparation (unless you count unwrapping, cutting and arranging as preparation) went into it. And yet, it felt so decadent, so satisfying, so civilized. One doesn't need to cook a meal in order for it to have soul in it. There was something honest about our dinner, and its simplicity made it somehow more comforting. It felt like a real home with a real dinner, despite the fact that everything came wrapped and ready to consume.

Grace's Market
1237 3rd Ave (at 70th Street)
New York, NY 10021
(212) 737-0600
(212) 734-3661

September 21, 2005

Duncan Hines Brownies

While normally, I'm a "from-scratch" girl, I make a few exceptions, notably the brownies.

You see, brownies just taste better when they're made from a box. I've tried and tinkered with many a recipe in my day perusing all kinds of dessert cookbooks, incuding the famed Rose Levy Berenbaum ones, only to discover that no one satisfies my brownie craving like Duncan Hines Dark Fudge brownie mix.

I've this thing for gooey, fudgy chocolate and I'm not afraid to admit it. Give me a glass of milk, a rich, chewy brownie and watch my stresses melt away!

The box provides you instructions on how to make the brownies, giving you an option for cake-like, or fudge-like brownies. Frankly, I'm a little confused as to why a choice even needs to be made - fudgy of course!! By adding 1 egg, 1/3 cup of water, 1/3 cup of oil and the contents of the box (which includes a packet of gooey chocolate) and mixing your concoction, your brownie mix is ready to be poured into an 8"x8" baking sheet and baked til done.

The resulting brownies are rich, decadent, and oh-so-satisfying!

** The Napa posts are coming along but it's been hard to write them while in-and-out of the hospital.

August 10, 2005

Snacking Made Addictive

I'm not sure what I can say about the Triscuit other than the fact that in the last week, it's made its comeback into my favorite list of snacks, not to mention my top choice for a cracker.

With Triscuits, you can't have just one. And while you're crunching away on the rough texture, you can't help but realize that these are as good for you as crackers can get. What with four ingredients that include whole wheat, oil and salt, you can't go wrong. And they're high in fiber too!

Persoanally, I say screw the nutritional rubbish and embrace the taste! But it doesn't hurt that they don't qualify as junk food either!